Big Orange Tarp
A community of artists and friends providing a home base for performing artists
Who are we?
Big Orange Tarp is a well known 30+ year old community of artists and friends that provides opportunities for performance, information exchange, growth and development while feeding the body, mind and soul of musicians, songwriters and performers at all levels at no cost to the community it serves.
History of BOT
BOT is a 30+ year old community founded by Alan Rowoth in 1994 which has continuously supported artists in a myriad of ways since its conception. Having offered showcase opportunities, mentoring and just about anything an artist would need including a last minute place to sleep, internet access at festivals and conferences long before wifi was commonplace, well known listserve online resources for artists and of course, a bite to eat when nothing was available. BOT has a reputation that spans decades.
BOT has presented at more than 33 years of festivals, more than 20 years of FAI showcases, dozens of conference showcases, every NERFA since its inception and has been to each of the other regional conferences at least 5 times and had live-streamed almost all of our showcases. We helped support hundreds of artists through workshops, mentoring, and classes over our many years in operation. Names of note who have been through our doors: Tom Prasado-Rao, Ellis Paul, Michael Lille, Lynn Miles, Mary Gauthier, Mark Erelli, Cliff Eberhardt, Dar Williams, Lucy Kaplansky, Susan Werner, Christine Lavin, the list goes on and on.
Who Runs BOT?
Over the last 20 plus years Alan has gained a stalwart, strong and talented staff who help make the magic happen.
Mark Wahl is a songwriter and performer (2022 FRFF emerging Artist), a respected luthier and knowledgeable Tech director who owns a construction business, and decades of experience running The Ontario Center for Performing Arts in Oswego NY, a 200 seat venue which produces 100+ shows a year. Mark has been working with BOT since 2022 as our main sound tech, bringing, setting up and running our sound system for showcases even until the wee hours of the morning.
Andrew Dunn is a songwriter and performer(Kerrville New Folk), a music educator who owns his own Handyman/Construction business. Andrew has been with BOT since 2016 and takes on the enormous tasks of working with our host festivals, setting up our sites, securing and inviting most of our showcase artists and schedules most of our showcases. He is the guy who is the magnetic and energetic forward face of BOT as Alan has stepped into a more advisor role. Andrew has been working tirelessly to bring the BOT into more venues and in front of ever more audiences.
Alan Roworth toured across the US as lead singer of his own band long before he started his role supporting literally everyone else as was mentioned above. He continues with us onsite and remotely when necessary as BOT advisor and our GURU of streaming and everything Web related.
Joe Crookston is an internationally touring, well-loved songwriter and performer. He developed and runs the Feeding the Bard songwriter workshop/retreat series which immerses attendees in the creative process. Joe, our newest addition, joins us as a mentor and coach and will continue with us as a performer and music educator as we venture forward into new areas and models.