Onward

With St. Patrick's Day behind us, we here at Irish Fest HQ turn our bloodshot eyes to the next big event on our calendar, the once-every-year-and-a-half (does anybody know a good word for that?) convention of Irish and Celtic Festival Directors. Last held in Nova Scotia, this year the gathering comes right here to Kansas City, April 3-5. Most of what goes on at these things is closed to all but paid conference attendees, but you can get in on some of the fun and get autographs on your collection of Irish Festival Director trading cards. My rookie card is currently available on eBay for a 89¢ if anybody needs it to round out their series.

Friday night, April 3rd the conference will host a local music showcase at Raglan Road Irish Restaurant and Pub downtown. Come join us and all of Kansas City's best Irish players and singers all in one venue, all on one night as they show their stuff to the folks who book talent for festivals like ours from across the US and Canada.

These conferences are a few days of informative, interesting and valuable workshops and discussions where ideas get traded, concepts are born, knowledge expanded and hotel bartenders pad their retirement funds. They're great events and the benefits of holding them can be seen every time we open the gates Labor Day weekend at Crown Center.

Incidentally, I'll be giving a lecture at the conference entitled "Irish Festival Blogging: The Kansas City Model and How Your 4 Year Old Could Do A Better Job." Should be fascinating.