Next Link Submission Instructions
After you create a NYMF application account online and pay the submission fee, you will need to submit your materials in three different sections of the Participant Control Panel:
SUBMISSION MATERIALS TAB – script, synopsis, excerpt, track listing, production history
Under this tab, please upload the following documents:
• Your complete script, including the lyrics to all the existing songs. If possible, please indicate the placement of your demo tracks within the script (e.g. "[Cue Track 5 - "Anything Goes"]"). Please be aware that the upload module will only accept one file per document, so if you have a two-act musical and each act is in a separate pdf file, you will need to merge them into one pdf before uploading.
• A 2-3 page synopsis, noting the placement of all of the songs you are submitting for evaluation. An example can be found by clicking here.
• A script sample consisting of a 15 consecutive-page excerpt representing the heart of the show and including lyrics for at least one song from the demo
• A document containing the track numbers and song titles from your demo. This is used by the NYMF staff to make sure you've uploaded all the songs you want to submit from your demo, so it should match the list of songs that you upload to your Media tab.
When uploading your materials, please be sure that none of your documents contain any identifying author names on the title page, script header and/or footers, file names, or anywhere else within the files.
In the Submission Materials section, please also provide the following information:
• Cast size: Please list the total number of actors you plan to use
• Band size: Please list the total number of musicians you plan to use
• Proof of rights: Please click on one of the three options to indicate if your show is based on underlying material. If it is an adaptation and the source material is not in the public domain, you must also mail your proof of rights to NYMF at 250 W. 49th Street, Ste. 601, New York, NY 10019. Please note that if you are a producer submitting material and are not also the show's author, you must also submit proof that you have the author's permission to present the show at NYMF.
• Estimated Running Time: Please list the expected running time of your musical. If this will be its first production, please make your best guess of its length.
• Production history: Please submit a 1-page production history, describing any previous development this show has had. Please be advised this will only be used for administrative reference and will not be seen by the Next Link readers or Grand Jury. Please note that the production history should contain authors' names and other identifying info, as it will be reviewed after the blind evaluation process is completed.
Please note that files are only accepted in pdf format. For best results, please avoid using non-alphanumeric characters or spaces in your file titles. (e.g. “ShowTitle.pdf” is better than “Show Title!.pdf”)
To upload documents to the Submission Materials page, please follow these steps:
▪ Hit "Browse" next to each individual submission item and locate the file you are uploading from your computer.
▪ Click "Submit" and in a few seconds your file name should pop up underneath the field and a green checkmark will appear next to it.
▪ Repeat process for all the other documents you need to upload.
MEDIA TAB – demo music tracks
Under this tab, please upload the music files for at least 50% of the songs from your show. The songs must contain vocals (i.e. sung lyrics) with accompaniment, and all tracks must contain completed songs and not excerpts. Music files are only accepted in an mp3 format.
To upload your music, please follow these steps:
▪ Choose “Music” from the drop down menu next to Type on the right hand side
▪ Put your Track number and Title of the song you are uploading into the Title box, using the format “Track #XX - [song title]” (e.g. “Track 04 – Anything Goes”). Please note that all songs must be labeled with track numbers AND song titles. PLEASE DO NOT FILL OUT THE CREDIT OR CAPTION BOXES.
▪ Hit "Browse" next to where it says Media File and locate the file you are uploading from your hard drive (remember to insert your demo cd into your computer before you hit browse, if you don’t already have your music files on your hard drive!)
▪ Unclick the box marked "Public" on the right hand side
▪ Click on "Add Media File" and in a few seconds your song should pop up in the middle of the media page screen
▪ Repeat process for all music files you are uploading
Please be advised that if you have individual tracks that are longer than 15 minutes, the files may be too large to upload. We recommend that you split the track and then label the two parts as “Track # - [song title] pt1” and “Track # - [song title] pt2.”
If you find that your music files are too large, you can always compress them through iTunes. Basically, what you’ll need to do is import your demo CD at a lower bitrate to convert it:
- Open up iTunes and then put your demo CD in your computer, which should cause it to appear under “Devices.”
- Click on the CD, which should cause its tracks to appear in your iTunes window.
- Click on the “Import Settings” button (located in the bottom right of the screen) and set it to "Good Quality" mp3, which is the lowest setting at 128kbps (rather than “Highest Quality”). Then click “Okay.”
- Click on the “Import CD” button (located next to the “Import Settings” button). All the songs will then be ripped on to iTunes in smaller file sizes without any discernible difference in audio quality.
- After you’ve done that, you should double-check them to make sure that the songs are the right size. To do that, find them in your iTunes library (the quickie way is to go to the “Recently Added” playlist) and then right-click each song to access its “Get Info” option. The file size should be listed in the “Summary” tab.
- Once the files are ready for uploading again, you can either pull them off your hard drive (the locations will be listed in the “Get Info” summary tab under “Where”) or you can burn the new iTunes tracks back onto a new cd and then upload them from that.
If you need to convert your music tracks to mp3, you can also use iTunes to do it:
- In iTunes, select “Edit” in your tool bar and select “Preferences” from the drop-down menu (If you’re on a Mac, “Preferences” may be located under “iTunes” in the tool bar.)
- In the “General” pop-up window, locate the “Import Settings” button. It should be next to the option “When you insert a CD,” Click on the “Import Settings” button.
- In the “Import Settings” pop-up window, select “MP3 Encoder” from the “Import Using” drop down menu.
- Click “okay” to exit out of the “Import Settings” window, and then click “okay” again to exit the “General” window.
- Find your song in your iTunes library and right-click on it. Then select “Create mp3 version” from the drop-down menu that should pop up. This will create a copy of the song as an mp3.
- After the copy is completed, we suggest that you rename the track “[song title] mp3 version” to make it easier for you to find it when you upload it to your account.
PERSONNEL INFO TAB – author information
Under this tab, please submit the names and bios of all of the show's authors. You are also welcome to submit background info for anyone else who is currently attached to the project. This info is for administrative purposes only and will not be available to any Next Link readers or Grand Jury members.
Although you can upload photos through this form, please refrain from doing so. Headshots are not necessary for the submission process and production photos will not be considered.
If you have any technical difficulties, please email literary@nymf.org with a detailed description of your problem and we'll respond within 2 business days.
Please note that there is no "final submit" button to indicate that you are officially finished with your application. The NYMF staff monitors your account weekly so we will email you a confirmation that your files have been received and your application is complete within 5 business days after you finish your last upload.
Please also note that once you’ve submitted your materials and received an acknowledgment of receipt from NYMF, you may not revise any of it. The Next Link evaluators begin reviewing applications within hours of upload completion so any last minute edits you make may throw a monkey wrench in the adjudication process.
