Tie & Tails Reception
Every FilKONtario begins with the Tie & Tails Reception, an opportunity for guests to get signed in, mingle, catch up with friends, check out the program, find seats for the Friday night concerts, and more. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in whatever interpretation of “tie and tails” suits them best. A few (very few) people come in an actual suit; others wear animal tails, skirts or vests sewn from repurposed ties, outfits based on puns like “Thai and tales,” or other unusual and creative interpretations of the theme; some dress as penguins, or in outfits featuring that noble convention mascot; and still others simply come in their favourite geeky, nerdy, filk music-y outfits—or just whatever they’re comfortable in. It’s a fun, informal opening to the convention that serves more as a gathering of friends than a gala.
Take It Back
FilKONtario officially begins with the opening announcements, introductions to the guests and program for this year’s con, and comments from the concom, before MC duties are taken over by the Filk Waif. We also sing Take It Back, written by Kathleen Sloan based on the Filk Hall of Fame acceptance speech given by Barry and Sally Childs-Helton in 2003. FilKONtario has adopted the song as part of our opening ceremonies, and everyone in attendance is invited to sing along. You can read the lyrics and listen to a recording on the Filk Hall of Fame’s Take It Back page!
Take Me Home to FilKONtario
On Sunday afternoon after our final concert, we bring the convention to a close with Take Me Home to FilKONtario. The official closing ceremony song of FilKONtario was written by Debbie Ridpath Ohi in 1999; we sing it every year to say goodbye. The lyrics are reproduced below.
I used to feel the lyrics slide inside my head
The music filled me up, and I felt I would explode in a
burst of coloured static, and the people all around, their eyes
on the ground.
CHORUS (x2):
Bring me home to FilKONtario
Stay, sing with me – we’ll
be all right, sing all night
with my friends at FilKONtario
One fateful weekend, my friend took me to a filk, “What’s a
filk,” I said, and she laughed and took my hand, led me
to a room of people with guitars and easy smiles, and I
stayed a while.
CHORUS:
Bring me home to FilKONtario
Stay, sing with me – we’ll
be all right, sing all night
with my friends at FilKONtario.
So now I’m hooked, I go to filk cons every year, never
get much sleep, why sleep? I could be filking…
The circle changes but the smiles are still the same, and the
song remains.
BRIDGE:
(but each time, I) find it harder to say
good-bye at the end of day,
may our paths cross again,
my friend.
Our voices may not be all perfectly on key, but we
lift each other up, and share the melody as we
fill the room with music, and I know I’ll be all right as we
sing into the night.
CHORUS (x2):
Bring me home to FilKONtario
Stay, sing with me – we’ll
be all right, sing all night
with my friends at FilKONtario.
The Dead Penguin
After the convention has formally ended, there is a closing jam that typically takes place in the main hall while members of the concom and volunteers pack up the stage and audio equipment. This segues into the end-of-con Dead Penguin filk circle, which runs through the evening until everyone mutually agrees to give up and go to bed. Some people are occasionally known to play all through the night, and only reluctantly end things to catch a quick nap, eat breakfast, and check out of the hotel on Monday.