Let's not let it stale; FTM vs AMS

And that's why I write now.
Happy thanksgiving.

The past month, as you can guess, has been hectic. I would say I accomplished quite a lot and experienced a lot. I think I grew at least a little.

Let me outline some similarities and differences between the FTM and the AMS:
1. It's easier to correlate contents and theories across sessions in FTM. In the AMS, topics are totally different across the wall.
2. It's easier to socialize at FTM, whereas in AMS, you feel like everyone has known one another, and the newbie easily gets lost.
3. However, in some cases, it is easier to meet people at the AMS. There is a large book exhibit where people hang around when they're not sitting in sessions. People there are free to talk to.
4. In both conferences there are good and bad papers.
5. The variety in AMS is stunning. It's really good for me to browse different areas of research, including music and philosophy, western colonial music, keyboard music, feminist theory, Beethoven, etc.
6. There is no keynote speech in AMS.
7. There is no free coffee in the morning in AMS.
8. There is a buddy program in AMS, where a senior become a mentor for a first or second time AMS attendant. Last year, my friend said his mentor never showed up. This year, we shared a very kind-hearted mentor, assistant professor for Belmont University.
9. FTM papers can be more extreme and exciting. I can never imagine Elizabeth Gould's paper on lesbian performativity in Joan Sutherland's and Marilyn Horne's "Flower Duet" can appear in AMS. But gosh, that's a provocative paper!
10. There are junior papers in FTM. In AMS, papers are more mature.
11. There are independent scholars as well as scholars from Germany in the FTM. In AMS, there are a few from UK, and one from Taiwan.
12. FTM has a more contemporary interest than AMS. The repertoire on contemporary music is much larger in the form, ranging from Johanna Beyer to Diamanda Gallas and Bitch. There are also much more interest in fringe artist-musicians.
13. In a way, the selection in FTM forces me to know different kinds of music, which is very good. That includes different kind of pop and American music. In AMS, I'll just go to European and Asian-western music sessions.
14. FTM has a few non-music scholars, from literature and sociology departments. In AMS, there is a one from history department, but she always hangs around at Eastman, as far as I know...
15. Susan McClary is in both.
16. Richard Taruskin argued with a speaker in the AMS, an exciting scenario that I barely missed!!!
17. There is a cute mom and cute baby in the FTM. No babies in AMS.