"Tape" likely has nothing to do with it, but almost everyone is creating and recording some kind of music these days:

TapeOpCon 2004 comes to New Orleans May 28-30

Tape Op magazine is pleased to announce the third annual TapeOpCon in swinging New Orleans, LA. TapeOpCon is a conference/get-together aimed at producers, engineers, studio owners, musicians, the growing legion of home-recordists and anyone with an interest in the creative side of the music recording industry. It's a chance to meet, greet and soak up the knowledge and opinions of an incredibly wide range of studio talent in workshops, panel discussions, live shows, a trade show exhibit area and the inevitable after-hours encounters. And it's in the great city of New Orleans, a perfect setting for the kind of easy-going and down-to-earth atmosphere that the Con is creating.

This year's panelists and participants are a (frankly) terribly impressive array of recording pioneers, legends, heavy hitters and serious talent, including the likes of Jim Dickinson, Ian MacKaye, Tony Visconti, Steve Albini, Steve Fisk, Jack Endino, Mitch Easter, John Goodmanson, Jenny Toomey, John Parish, John Doe, John Agnello, Steve Berlin and keynote speaker Cosimo Matassa (who recorded the likes of Fats Domino and Little Richard) and more--many, many more (see the website below for a complete list).

A multitude of workshops are geared towards specific career paths: Workshop Paths include "The Studio Owner," "The Engineer," "The Gear Enthusiast" and more. Panels include subjects like "Using Our Ears More Effectively," "Using the Studio as an Instrument," "Serving Your Community More Affordably" and several others.

Numerous sponsors will have an exhibit area showcasing their studio wares and services. And the event will be topped off with terrific live shows on Friday and Saturday nights and an after-Con party on Sunday night. Check out the line-ups: on Friday night Vic Chestnut, John Doe, Pedro the Lion, Jenny Toomey and Sue Garner & Angel Dean will perform acoustically; on Saturday evening Calexico, Steve Wynn, The Black Heart Procession, Sasha Zand and the North Mississippi Allstars (w/special guest Jim Dickinson) will be playing full band shows (venues TBA).

TapeOpCon 2004 is being held in the historic Fairmont Hotel. Special rates for accommodations have been secured trough the Fairmont Hotel, allowing participants to stay on-sight for a extremely reasonable price. Reservations can be made by calling their toll free number: 1-866-540-4472.

Regarding registration: the sooner the better, as rates are lowest in advance and rise as the Con approaches (details on the website). Student discounts are available.

Tape Op magazine began in 1996 as a home-spun collection of interviews with artists and recordists who didn't get coverage in the "other" recording magazines, It has since grown to a bi-monthly magazine with 40,000 readers across the globe. Its sub-title, "The Creative Music Recording Magazine" explains part of its intention - to foster creativity and action in recording instead of promoting "new gear you must have." Past issues have covered people making records on 4-track cassette recorders to the production of U2 and David Bowie records.

Something can be learned from all these scenarios, and Tape Op is where you will read about them all.