Chipspace Guideline and Q&A Time!

Wait, so what is Chipspace again?

Chipspace is where the chiptune community meets up, plays some music, and do a bunch of other cool stuff together. To compare it to other places, it’s like Jamspace Plus: Chiptune Edition. Except we’re in an open hallway, and use vintage electronics. Electronics that we don’t supply for a tl;dr-tier number of reasons.

Where can I find Chipspace?

Head to Main Stage, keep walking past it until you get to obvious signs that say Chipspace everywhere.

Oh cool, there’s an Open Mic? How does this work?

We have a pad of paper and pens; you sign up with the name you want to go by and sign the waiver. We’ll call you up when we get to your number. You have a total of ten minutes to set up, play some music, and head off the stage. Plan for about 6-7 minutes of music. No huge setups, save that for your own gig. Make sure your equipment is working and ready before-hand. As standard procedure, we reserve the right to cut you off for any reason.

Is this open mic for everyone?

Performance-wise, we only welcome chiptune and chipmusic-related acts onto the stage. People-wise, everyone that isn’t a bigot or a form of prejudiced, hell yeah.

Hey, I wasn’t around when my name was called. Can I…

Most likely no. The queue is there for a reason even if it can fill up very quickly. It’s typically inconsiderate of the people to crowbar into somewhere you see fit. That said, if things are quiet, and you’re one of two artists that are around out of the 40 on the list, guess which two artists will be going up next?

What should I bring?

Your… uh, well what’s it on? Your Gameboy? An Atari? Your Laptop? Whatever you need for that, but minimally. Save the huge setups for your own gigs. Bring your own cable or adapters if you need something that isn’t 1/8” or 3.55mm. We usually have all the adapters and cables one could need, but luck favors the prepared.

Also bring your own batteries if you need them. We normally don’t have any.

This song would go past the ten minute mark on stage, is this okay?

If we’re not busy, maybe. We can be flexible, but the decision is entirely situational and up to the staff.

That seems kinda strict, is everything gonna be that way?

Nope, we’re a pretty laid-back and friendly bunch. I’m just blunt and direct because this is gonna be lengthy otherwise.

Hey so this is only kinda chiptune, I [insert talent here] over some retro/8-bit/chiptune VGM. Is that cool?

If you’re not sure if it counts, let us hear a sample and we’ll let you know. The reason this is sometimes tricky is because of the massive overlap between what we use for the medium. We love VGM (obviously, otherwise we wouldn’t be here,) but chiptune is more than an extra-niche nostalgia trip.

Chiptune is a very DIY and creative appreciation for music and sound design through specific limitations of vintage electronics (mostly, but not exclusively, gaming hardware.) This is partially why some soundtracks were so legendary for their times—the way they could create chorusing, reverb, echo, and tons of other tricks only magnified the great composition.

How about if I [insert talent here] over music I made on [a Gameboy/NES/TI-86 calculator/etc.]. Is that cool?

Hell yeah. The only thing we ask for is that it’s your own original work.

Hey so I made this in [tracker name] but it’s on my laptop. Is that cool?

Hell yeah. Not everyone can afford to buy, fix, and modify the original hardware. All we ask for is that it’s your own original work.

Hold on, define “original work”? What about covers or remixes?

In this case original work means any form of music you have worked on and can claim majority percentage of its contents, alongside derivative works such as (but not limited to) remixes, covers, and arrangements.

I still have questions, can I ask you at the event?

Hell yeah. We’re all glad to help, answer questions, and even clarify things that might be confusing. Our golden rule is “just ask, it’s better than guessing.” I intentionally put that this far down because I wanted to reward the people who took the time to read this. I appreciate you. <3

Why do you keep answering questions with “Hell yeah”?

Hell yeah. (Translation: I’m the king of wit. Here is my resumé.)

Cute. Is “yes” not in your vocabulary?

Hell yeah. (Translation: I’m glad it bothers you so much that I’m now doing this out of spite. I hope to see you at Chipspace and I also hope you have a great time there!)