MAP Chat transcript for full proposal applicants Friday Dec.11th

Moira at MAP: Hi, if you have a question, fire away.

Fracelis: Should the audio sample on the CD be identical to the sample on the public website?

Moira at MAP: yes.

Fracelis: Can we host samples on our website for all the lead artists?

Denise at MAP: Yes you can host samples on your own website.

Fracelis: Is it preferable to have several samples of music for each lead artist/ensemble, or one long track?

Moira at MAP: Best to have a couple of shorter tracks

Fracelis: Should audio work samples for lead artists be on separate CDs, or can we put all samples together for all artists/ensemble on 1 CD?

Kelly at MAP: If you want to submit all the audio on one CD, that would be okay.

Fracelis: Our project title has changed slightly since our LOI.  I'm guessing we should now use the current working title?

Kelly at MAP: Yes.

Oakland: Should video work samples be sent on separate DVDs?

Kelly at MAP: You can put them on the same DVD, as long as they are clearly labeled in the menu and on the DVD.

theaterlab: Is there anyplace on your website that we can view full past applications which you funded?

Kelly at MAP: Unfortunately, no. Not at this time. You can, however, see descriptions of past projects in the “Grantees” section.

Caitlin: When submitting audio samples (for a composer) by uploading to a video-sharing site, we do not have to have actual video associated with the audio clip, is that correct?

Kelly at MAP: Yes, that's correct.

theaterlab: Is there any limit to the age of the work samples? For example, my proposed project is more relevant to particular work I have done some years ago.

Kelly at MAP: At least one sample for each artist must be from within the last 5 years.

theaterlab: Hmmm. So if the work sample is from within 5 years, can you submit a second sample for that artist which is older?

Kelly at MAP: Yes you can submit two samples.  One from within 5 years and one that is older.  Not totaling more than 10 minutes of material total.

theaterlab: Haven't looked at the guidelines carefully yet, but sometimes one is given a limit of words for project description. Is there a limit and what is it?

Denise at MAP: It is 5600 characters (about 800 words)

fracelis: We are a choral organization and one of our lead artists is a violinist.  Under the work samples for Performance Ensembles and Solo Performing Artists it looks like you're asking for DVDs, but could we submit audio CDs instead?

Kelly at MAP: Yes, you could submit CD's instead.

caitlin: If a work in progress sample is submitted, does that take the place of the sample that must be within 5 years?  Also, am I correct in thinking two unique works per artist should be submitted?

Kelly at MAP: No, it's in addition to the 10 minutes of sample.  You are only required to submit one work per artist.  You can send more than two, as long as they add up to 10 minutes of material. Though, we recommend that artist sending video samples not send samples shorter than 5 minutes.  So for video, no more than two. So overall, its 10 minutes of material for each lead artist, plus one (optional) work-in-progress sample to represent the project.

Oakland: If my organization is submitting a work sample representing our organization's work in addition to the work sample for the commissioned artist(s), does the ten minute maximum length for work samples also apply to the org?

Moira at MAP: If the ensemble is going to be performing the commissioned work, it might be wise to list them as a lead artist (and therefore send samples). Can you tell us a little more about the project/company?

Oakland: Okay. The project is a multidisciplinary instrumental, vocal and spoken word piece that we are commissioning a local musician / dancer to compose and premiere next fall.

Moira at MAP: Who will perform the final work?

Oakland: The lead artist we listed in the LOI with two other collaborating artists and possibly some other artists.

Moira at MAP: If the commissioning body is performing the work, then you would want to list that body as a lead artist and send samples. An example (from outside the MAP universe) would be if the Chicago Symphony Orchestra were commissioning Beethoven to write a new piece of music that they will premiere. In that case, you'd list the CSO and Beethoven as lead artists, and send samples for both. If the commissioning body is NOT performing the work, no need to list it as lead artist or send samples.

streetpic: (riffing off of Oakland) - if I listed our composer as a collaborator rather than a lead artist (as I should have) on the LOI can I bump them up for the full proposal?

Moira at MAP: Yes, you can explicitly name your composer as a lead artist, and send a sample.

NealL: On the topic of work samples:  If we have a draft of the play we're applying for, do you want us to submit only that?  Or would you like to see another play in addition?

Kelly at MAP: Its good to also submit a completed work, if possible.  so you could submit the draft as a work-in-progress sample and then a past completed script as the playwright's work sample.

emmanuel: Hello, one of our lead artists is the playwright.   As far as her work sample, shall I send only copies of her written work, or shall I also send a video of her work being performed on stage?

Kelly at MAP: For playwrights, only send a script sample uploaded to our website.

emmanuel: Great, and the total is 4 MB correct? 

Kelly at MAP: Yes. 4MB.

NealL: Re $$ request:  do you recommend an amount?  Is there a max figure that you'll consider?

Moira at MAP: A good rule of thumb is 25-35% of total budget. Average award size is 25K. Biggest is 45K. Smallest around 10. Depends on the budgets.

emmanuel: Would you recommend including the work that is being proposed in addition to existing work already published?

Kelly at MAP: Yes, it can be good for evaluators to be able to see a finished work, in addition to the work being proposed.

NealL: Is it okay to ask how many applicant organizations are in this round and how many grants will likely be awarded?

 Moira at MAP: About 450 projects moved forward. And we'll make approx. 40 grants. Overall, we received about 850 LOIs.