Hey audio pals,

- For everyone going to Third Coast- have a safe trip! For everyone not going to Third Coast- have a great weekend too!

- Planning an audio-specific costume for Halloween this year? See one in the streets? Tag it #soundscenedc

- We are looking for a friendly host for the November Listening Lounge- it could be you! No prior experience needed.

- Highlights from our October lounge below (and some fun announcements if you read to the end)!Thanks to Lizzie for hosting the October Listening Lounge. It was so fun! She can tell you about it. You should try it! (oh, by the way yes, we are looking for November and December hosts- it could be you! Click the CONTACT tab on this website if you'd like to host).

Oct Lounge Highlights for real this time...
We started the night off with stories of lost tape or lost data or things we thought we lost but didn't but then sort of did...
Rene shared the story of managing 24 hours of tape and thinking he lost a lot of it but realizing that he didn't but then realizing later that he actually did lose some small bit of something (his sanity?)

Lizzie shared the tale of a lost passport which was really missing (not lost) and then she realized that the prompt might have been audio-specific so she shared a story of deciding to interview someone about a relationship ending, at a time when things were still raw, and that she felt like it was quite painful and then when both she and the subject made it through the whole thing she realized she had not been recording (#standbymode).

Joey talked about the epic crashes of Audacity just when he was about to be done with a podcast episode. He also mentioned that he worked on a pod targeted at people selling their wedding and engagement rings after divorce (who knew!?). The podcast is called: “Divorce and Other Things You Can Handle.”

And Jocelyn made a guest appearance! (in DC for a quick visit/work trip) but she can't remember what she talked about as she writes up these notes! So that's meta...

Sonic highlights from the night:
Rene shared audio from a skate park short doc-in-progress including the producer “dropping in” - did he keep “rolling?” (yes that was an audio pun/joke...and also a question we asked him.)

Joey shared audio from his KCRW Radio Race submission- the story was motivated by a family trying to say thank you to a person who helped save a life and ultimately connected estranged siblings.

This lead to a conversation about audio mapping and then later over the course of the evening a few delightful expressions were brought out such as, “Which alligator is closest to the boat?” and “...with faces newer than their hands.” (yes, I know what you're thinking: you should definitely attend the Listening Lounge in November)

Lizzie shared audio recorded from a pink bolder beach in France. It featured “small and clackety” sounds from a grotto-esque cave near the water and rocks- also...there were bees.

Jocelyn shared a recording made surreptitiously in a small tea shop where a classy tea aficionado spoke with the abrupt tone of (a former New Yorker) someone who can't be bothered with people asking to smell the teas.

That lead to a conversation at the Listening Lounge about how and when to ask for permission to record (before, during, after, all three?) and tales of correcting those choices when they are made in the wrong order.
Then we all had a robust brainstorming session about all the things a creative audio collective can offer up at a silent auction and if an audio group can even create a silent auction without sacrificing a sense of group identity (a la “if a tree falls in the forest...”). It was really fun to brainstorm and we're thinking of organizing some events ahead of Sound Scene 2020 (June 27-28th, 2020) to raise money (like an auction) build hype (like a mini sound scene), raise money (like a fancy party we invite rich people to attend) and to get more organizations and individuals involved (a strategic mingle?)! Click the CONTACT tab on this site to get in on the planning!

Also, we're going to announce the Sound Scene theme in November and publish a CALL FOR WORK!

So get your sonic thinking caps on and start considering what kind of interactive audio art work you might want to produce, perform or teach in a small group workshop! Stay tuned
--
Special Thanks to Teaism for being a Sound Scene 2019 Supporter!

You can support us too! Email dclisteninglounge@gmail.com to learn more.

​Hey Listening Loungers,

We had a great time listening together in September. We're looking forward (listening forward?) to October's gathering.

You should host!

It doesn't take more than a living room to host.

Please contact us via our website contact form if you're interested in hosting this month's Listening Lounge or next month's!

Here are some highlights from the September Listening Lounge!
Thanks to Zach for hosting and Rene for taking notes to share.

9/19 DCLL Zach’s House
As we mingled before the introductions, we discussed Sound Scene. Rene mentioned that he didn’t like the idea of DIY wind-chimes when he first heard about it—he thinks wind-chimes sound lonely—but after working with them at the table it is one of his favorite aspects of Sound Scene.
Ice breaker: A lonely sound.
Rene: Wind-chimes. About three years at DCLL
Roger: A barking dog.  Second DCLL
Zach: When his family’s African Gray Parrot is alone it will start making garbled sounds that are like a person talking. Also, the parrot loves wind-chimes.
Amy: A snowplow on a quiet snow day. Five years at DCLL.
Liz: The silence after a slamming door. Whether someone leaves in anger, or everyone leaves in excitement and the door slams. First DCLL.
Listening:
Rene is preparing to spend four days field recording. Instead of sharing a recorded piece he asked the group for input on the story idea. He will be recording his uncle and friends as they skateboard to raise money for Seattle Children’s Hospital. He is concerned that there is no inherent tension to the story. The group had several good suggestions.
Sports stories often follow a simple chronological arc: lead-up, event, reflection.
Pre-interview participants. Stay general.
There may be a shift in the tone as the participants get tired
Get someone describing what someone else is doing.
If you can figure out the ending, you can build a structure from it. Among other things, an ending should be surprising, inevitable, and the resolution of tension.
Liz shared three minutes of an interview about exhuming then disposing of a decaying elephant. Memorable quote, “It started out great!”.
Zach Shared a Midi arrangement he created from a clarinet quintet he found on vinyl when he was in school.
Amy shared a mystery clip. It turns out that her new upstairs neighbors have very heavy footsteps.
Discussion turned to other sounds of row-house living. Particularly rats in walls.
Rene played an excerpt from a conversation about a POW camp during WWII. This is the second selection he’s shared from a conversation with fellow DCLL member Bohdan.