Maplewoodstock

A local resident approached us to volunteer to coordinate sign language interpretation.  Evidently, she and her colleagues/friends have been doing this for the http://www.clearwaterfestival.... for a number of years.

We loved the idea, and asked her to run with it.  So, those volunteers coordinated among themselves their shifts.

That's how this festival is done.  Just local volunteers stepping up to design t-shirts, sell t-shirts, sell sponsorships, negotiate with bands, answer email questions, take photographs, staff the Beer Garden, coordinate the Arts and Food Vendors, haul in (and out) equipment and supplies, decorate the stage, etc.  

jersey_boy said:

So, what was the deal with the sign language interpreters? They were incredible. 

I noticed there seemed to be a different interpreter for each band. Were they assigned to a band, or did the bands bring their own? They seemed well matched to the performers and really appeared to have a special dancing way of doing sign language unlike what I've seen with straight verbal signing.


I was close to the stage for one performance, and I started to have this emotional reaction to the way the sign language interpreter was communicating the song. It was so effective and genuine. I started to tear up and couldn't look at her without wanting to cry from joy or empathy or something else I couldn't understand. It really had a potent effect on my experience.

It was truly wonderful to add this to the concert. Is signing music a specialty within sign language interpretation? It appeared to be another talent on display at Maplewoodstock.

This in an event that defines Maplewood and makes me proud to live here.  Entirely volunteer effort.  No cost to enjoy two full days of great music in our beautiful Olmsted park.  My advice to anyone with complaints - volunteer next year.  Congrats to everyone involved, from 14 years ago when John Williams used to shlep his own equipment out of his basement to put on this show, until today.  I'd try to thank everyone but I would miss so many.  Thank you from an old time resident.  Spectacular job.  

jeffl said:

This in an event that defines Maplewood and makes me proud to live here.  Entirely volunteer effort.  No cost to enjoy two full days of great music in our beautiful Olmsted park.  My advice to anyone with complaints - volunteer next year.  Congrats to everyone involved, from 14 years ago when John Williams used to shlep his own equipment out of his basement to put on this show, until today.  I'd try to thank everyone but I would miss so many.  Thank you from an old time resident.  Spectacular job.  

This. ^

maplewoodstock said:

>> If only there wasn't a massive sheet of sponsored cloth on either side destroying my view of the actual artist.

Those sponsors are the reason we are able to offer free two-day festival of this caliber.  Please support them and thank them for their sponsorship.  We will see if we can prevent the stage advertising banners from blowing around so much next year.

It was a minor inconvenience which could have been rectified if I got my lazy *** out of the chair and went to the front. 

I wondered the exact same thing about the sign interpreters too, and asked on FB but no one replied.  Glad to hear how it came about.  Freaking AMAZING.

#Boomie

How'd I miss you? Why didn't you visit my hard earned awning spot?

I missed it this year.   You know I'd never skip the Big Green Tent o' Joy.  I watched videos on facebook though, and loved the interpreters.  Was on a mother/daughter trip this weekend.

Someone posted the Sunday closing sets on Youtube: