Checklist for Folklife Project Planning Goals/Mission Statement Project topic Why do this project? What are the desired outcomes? Resulting Products and/or contracted Deliverables Audience Preliminary Research Research existing sources Community members/local experts to be consulted for background With whom should the project be cleared? Obtain any rerequisite permission or clearance. Identify potential partners Personnel Who will be involved? What tasks will they do? Is any expertise lacking? Project Scope Define boundaries of project: Geographic area Community or culutre(s) Historical period of study Specific topics Specific genres Duration of project Documentation Methods Sound recording Interviews Processes/performances Video recording Interviews Processes/performances Photography (digital) Measured drawings of large objects -- buildings, boats, etc. Collecting or borrowing artifacts Copying historic or family photos Survey or data forms Release forms Other Processing and Preserving Materials Where will materials be stored? How stored? How processed? By whom? Back-up copies of all media files and text documents Equipment and Supplies List equipment/supplies you already have and those you must acquire Equipment Audio recorder Microphone Video recorder Headphones Camera(s)/lenses/flash Tripod Copystand/lights Computer/laptop/printer/software for photography, audio, or film processing and editing Transcription software Other equipment Supplies Media cards for camera, audio recorder, of film recorder. Note: a separate card should be used for each function; it is not recommended to use media cards interchangeably among different types of equipment Extra media card for each piece of equipment Batteries/rechargeable batteries and charger, plus exra batteries; where equipment has its own rechargeable battery packs, be sure to carry an extra rechargeable battery Cables, adapters, and AC cords Survey or data forms and release forms, where applicable Business cards for self and employer, if applicable If working on contract for employer, brochures, letter of introduction, or other information about organization or business Brief, concise project description (usually one page) for outreach Clipboard Archiving supplies: discs, jump drives, or external drives for duplicates of all media and text materials disc or drive storage file folders storae for business cards and other emphermera collected Timetable Time varies, depending on: Familiarity with area Scope Product and/or contracted deliverables Personnel resources Deadline imposed by outside entity as well as informants' and fieldworker's schedules and commitments Fact: 6 hours transcribing per 1 hour interview Fact: Everything takes longer than you think it will Budget Consider all costs, e.g.: Transportation, including to fieldsite, where applicable Lodging and per diem, where applicable Photocopying/fax Postage Telephone or internet access fees Equipment/supplies Salaries or honoraria, where applicable Courtesy copies of media materials Costs associated with product/deliverables Funding Identify funding sources Apply for funding Locate support, including matching, cash, in-kind, or donations Excerpted from: Eff, Elaine, (ed.). "You should have been here yesterday": A Guide to Cultural Documentation in Maryland. Crownsville, MD: The Maryland Historical Trust Press, 1995, pp. 28-33. (To order, make checks payable to MHT Press and send to Maryland Historical Trust Press, PO Box 500, Crownsville, MD 21032. $10 plus $2.50 postage and handling, 410/514-7600). Adapted and updated by the Louisiana Folklife Program and Laura Marcus Green, 2013.

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