Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Set up live gigs with each other, announce gigs you're playing around the country or whatever, talk about how the show went, post links to recordings, etc.
Post Reply
User avatar
Lunkhead
You're No Good
Posts: 8104
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 12:14 pm
Instruments: many
Recording Method: cubase/mac/tascam4x4
Submitting as: Berkeley Social Scene, Merisan, Tiny Robots
Pronouns: he/him
Location: Berkeley, CA
Contact:

Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by Lunkhead »

http://tinydeskcontest.npr.org/

Winner does a Tiny Desk concert and a gig at the Lagunitas "Couchtrippin' to Austin" show in March (wtf that is). Judges are Bob Boilen, John Congleton, Valerie June, Reggie Watts, Robin Hilton, and Thao Nguyen. Only unsigned acts can enter, you have to provide a YouTube video, less than 10 minutes long, of you playing one song at a desk.
User avatar
fluffy
Eruption
Posts: 11028
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:56 am
Instruments: sometimes
Recording Method: Logic Pro X
Submitting as: Sockpuppet
Pronouns: she/they
Location: Seattle-ish
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by fluffy »

Do you have to be sitting down at the desk, or...?
User avatar
Lunkhead
You're No Good
Posts: 8104
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 12:14 pm
Instruments: many
Recording Method: cubase/mac/tascam4x4
Submitting as: Berkeley Social Scene, Merisan, Tiny Robots
Pronouns: he/him
Location: Berkeley, CA
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by Lunkhead »

From TFA:
Record one original song (no covers) the way you'd perform a Tiny Desk Concert – at a desk (any desk!), perhaps in an office, maybe in front of an audience. Post your video to YouTube and fill out the form below. Check our Official Rules for all the requirements.

We'll choose a winner to be flown to Washington, D.C., to perform behind Bob Boilen’s desk as part of the Tiny Desk Concert series for NPR Music. Winner will also play the Lagunitas "CouchTrippin' to Austin" showcase in March. Enter by January 19, 2015, to be considered to win.
Official rules here:

http://tinydeskcontest.npr.org/rules
User avatar
fluffy
Eruption
Posts: 11028
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:56 am
Instruments: sometimes
Recording Method: Logic Pro X
Submitting as: Sockpuppet
Pronouns: she/they
Location: Seattle-ish
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by fluffy »

That doesn't define what they mean by "at a desk." If you're standing in front of a desk (from the camera's vantage point) does that mean you are at a desk? Or do you have to be sitting behind it?

They do have some exemplar videos from the judges which imply that standing behind the desk is fine, as is putting a bunch of gear on the desk (in the case of Reggie Watts).

I'm tempted to just record something standing in front of my Ikea DAVE laptop desk. Maybe I can find a used schoolhouse desk and put that next to it.
User avatar
jb
Hot for Teacher
Posts: 4159
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:12 am
Instruments: Guitar, Cello, Keys, Uke, Vox, Perc
Recording Method: Logic X
Submitting as: The John Benjamin Band
Pronouns: he/him
Location: WASHINGTON, DC
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by jb »

pretty sure they don't give a shit how you position yourself vis-a-vis the desk, fluffy...

i wanna win for that sweet trip to D.C.
blippity blop ya don’t stop heyyyyyyyyy
User avatar
fluffy
Eruption
Posts: 11028
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:56 am
Instruments: sometimes
Recording Method: Logic Pro X
Submitting as: Sockpuppet
Pronouns: she/they
Location: Seattle-ish
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by fluffy »

But what if they do, JB? WHAT THEN?
User avatar
fluffy
Eruption
Posts: 11028
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:56 am
Instruments: sometimes
Recording Method: Logic Pro X
Submitting as: Sockpuppet
Pronouns: she/they
Location: Seattle-ish
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by fluffy »

So I did this as a quick practice (with a terrible performance) to learn more about how to put together a video like this:

Mostly I learned just how bad Final Cut X is compared to the old Final Cut Pro. But I also learned a bit about setting up shots so the next attempt will be a lot better. (And I'll probably try Premiere.)
User avatar
jb
Hot for Teacher
Posts: 4159
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:12 am
Instruments: Guitar, Cello, Keys, Uke, Vox, Perc
Recording Method: Logic X
Submitting as: The John Benjamin Band
Pronouns: he/him
Location: WASHINGTON, DC
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by jb »

What camera are you using?
blippity blop ya don’t stop heyyyyyyyyy
User avatar
fluffy
Eruption
Posts: 11028
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:56 am
Instruments: sometimes
Recording Method: Logic Pro X
Submitting as: Sockpuppet
Pronouns: she/they
Location: Seattle-ish
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by fluffy »

That's my Sony Nex-5. (The audio was from my Firestudio.)
User avatar
Lunkhead
You're No Good
Posts: 8104
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 12:14 pm
Instruments: many
Recording Method: cubase/mac/tascam4x4
Submitting as: Berkeley Social Scene, Merisan, Tiny Robots
Pronouns: he/him
Location: Berkeley, CA
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by Lunkhead »

Not to get off topic, but, do you like that camera? I am looking at this deal of the day on Amazon, wondering if this would be a good buy?

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-NEX-5TL-Comp ... PDKIKX0DER
User avatar
fluffy
Eruption
Posts: 11028
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:56 am
Instruments: sometimes
Recording Method: Logic Pro X
Submitting as: Sockpuppet
Pronouns: she/they
Location: Seattle-ish
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by fluffy »

That's pretty off-topic!

I like it a lot, but the a6000 is a much better camera and doesn't cost much more. I actually just ordered an a6000 today because I saw that gold box deal and then got into a discussion with someone who's used both of them. But for that price the NEX-5TL is a really good deal, and a lot better than the a5100 that replaced it in the lineup.
User avatar
fluffy
Eruption
Posts: 11028
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:56 am
Instruments: sometimes
Recording Method: Logic Pro X
Submitting as: Sockpuppet
Pronouns: she/they
Location: Seattle-ish
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by fluffy »

Okay, I redid it tonight. I ended up using Final Cut again because I've gotten the hang of it enough for this.
User avatar
jb
Hot for Teacher
Posts: 4159
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:12 am
Instruments: Guitar, Cello, Keys, Uke, Vox, Perc
Recording Method: Logic X
Submitting as: The John Benjamin Band
Pronouns: he/him
Location: WASHINGTON, DC
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by jb »

Aight I got tired of thinking about this so I made a new song and video'd myself with my iphone.



There's my entry. It's short, so I hope the NPR intern manages to listen the whole way through.

JB
blippity blop ya don’t stop heyyyyyyyyy
User avatar
fluffy
Eruption
Posts: 11028
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:56 am
Instruments: sometimes
Recording Method: Logic Pro X
Submitting as: Sockpuppet
Pronouns: she/they
Location: Seattle-ish
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by fluffy »

That was nice. I hope they like it.
User avatar
fluffy
Eruption
Posts: 11028
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:56 am
Instruments: sometimes
Recording Method: Logic Pro X
Submitting as: Sockpuppet
Pronouns: she/they
Location: Seattle-ish
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by fluffy »

The rules said nothing about multiple entries but I don't think I'll be submitting this one all the same.

User avatar
ken
Hot for Teacher
Posts: 3869
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 6:10 pm
Instruments: Guitar, bass, drums, keys
Recording Method: MOTU 828x, Cubase 10
Submitting as: Ken's Super Duper Band 'n Stuff
Pronouns: he/him
Location: oakland, ca
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by ken »

The Tiny Desk Concerts Contest RETURNS!

http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/20 ... ntent=2041

Here's how you enter:

Make a video of yourself performing an original song behind a desk of your choosing. Gather your friends and grab a smartphone (if you think like last year's winner, Gaelynn Lea) or an iPad (if you're like our inaugural winner, the now-Grammy-nominated Fantastic Negrito) or a full-on camera rig (if you're, oh, say, Cactus Tractor). Shoot it however you like. What matters is the music, and that you have as much fun as possible bringing this together.

We'll take submissions between Jan. 13 and Jan. 29, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. ET! We're giving you a whole month to get started on your entry video. You can use the time however you like — make an elaborate set for your video, write a new song, start a new band, learn a new instrument or learn how to play several instruments all at once.
Ken's Super Duper Band 'n Stuff - Berkeley Social Scene - Tiny Robots - Seamus Collective - Semolina Pilchards - Cutie Pies - Explino! - Bravo Bros. - 2 from 14 - and more!

i would just like to remind everyone that Ken eats kittens - blue lang
User avatar
Pigfarmer Jr
Jump
Posts: 2293
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:13 am
Instruments: Guitar
Recording Method: Br-900CD and Reaper to mix
Submitting as: Pigfarmer Jr, Evil Grin, Pork Producer, Gilmore Lynette Tootle, T.C. Elliott
Pronouns: he/him
Location: Columbia, Missouri
Contact:

Re: Tiny Desk Concerts Contest

Post by Pigfarmer Jr »

Here is a link to the winning entry for the current year (2018):

https://youtu.be/nk8HEO_60ms
Evil Grin bandcamp - Evil Grin spotify
T.C. Elliott bandcamp - T.C. Elliott spotify

"PigFramer: Guy and guitar OF MY NIGHTMARES." - Blue Lang
Post Reply