house concerts and 21st century touring

A Primer for Artists Who Care Enough to Adjust

Even though politically charged music is on the upswing again, it’s been a mainstay of folk music since it’s inception. Music is an effective tool for protest as well as communion, but neither is without the potential of alienating members of an audience.

If you perform house concerts, it’s especially important to be mindful when taking your act to someone’s home. Don’t take it for granted that the host is fully acquainted with your catalog and point of view. If your songs, and especially your banter are politically charged or confrontational, make sure the host is comfortable with it. You’ll find that many of them are.

I don’t generally do political music, so I thought I’d share this post from Annie Wenz, an artist who has a thoughtful approach to sharing her political material with audiences. Thanks Annie, for sharing this.

The Songs, The Mission, and the Audience

by Annie Wenz

Because I have the honor of both performing and teaching political songwriting, I’ve really tried to articulate the many aspects of the issue… there are so many variables IMHO.

The Songs..

* those which clearly make a statement about a controversial issue in a serious way:
anti war - Phil Ochs “i ain’t marching anymore” and Pete Seeger’s “bring them home”

* making a statement in a cynical “in your face” manner:
pro choice - Eric Schwartz “keep your jesus off my penis”
anti Bush - my “vote him gone” song (written before our last election)
Anne Feeney - “teenage immigrant welfare mothers on drugs”

* songs about issues most all people will agree with:
Paul Kamm and eleanore macdonald’s “calling on love”
Pat Humphries “swimming to the other side”
Steve Seskin’s “don’t laugh at me” (anti bullying)
Amy Carol Webb’s “i come from women”

* disturbing songs about issues people will agree with, but they may be difficult to hear:
domestic violence- Suzanne Vega’s “my name is luka”
my song “little white lies” (about my own 8 month pregnant grandmother’s abuse)

* rallying songs like “we shall overcome”

* and there are songs about controversial issues which just put you in another’s shoes to think:
Andrew McKnights “these shoes” my “vietnam” song which (i’m honored) gets kudos from both those who protested and those who went.

The Mission…

* Am I trying to rally the converted to help spread the word?

Yes - sometimes one person speaking out can just push those who were complacent to get more involved… and numbers sure matter! You can do this by pushing their anger buttons, their sympathy buttons, their solidarity buttons…

When i teach, I do point out - when an artist sings songs from the “in your face/controversial” pile, they make choices. You may totally lose some fans… but you may chose to sacrifice the few to gain other strong supporters. So you may opt either way… I carefully consider that particular audience and venue (see below.)

Pete Seeger’s “bring them home” and Eric Schwartz’s “keep your jesus…” both clearly steer some people away, but the passionate fans they win by making those commitments may be worth it to them. My other artist friends Paul Kamm and Eleanore MacDonald, Rod MacDonald, sonia, Freebo, Elen Bukstel, and Ronnie Cox… (on and on) clearly make committed political statements in their music, conversation and newsletters, but again their strong fans applaud them for it and are even more loyal.

* As to the “disturbing song” category. I choose them very prudently, place them carefully in a set when I do sing them and play something more gentle afterwards.

* On the other hand, sometimes I’m just trying to show those who are clearly of different opinion that “folks like me” aren’t so bad but we can work together. (I think I finally worked with my parents;) I attempt to make my life and art an example of standing by my principles in hopes that good will come. I also try to deliver the message that if we get involved even if by being honest and kind and trying to find common ground, we may be better able to coexist.

* Sometimes I just try to open some eyes by little things I say “I have a really kind/wonderful/talented son who happens to be 1/2 puerto rican… when I wrote this song, I was thinking about him telling me how hurt he was when people crossed the street to avoid him at night.”

* Since my audiences often cross cultural boundaries, I often say “if we of different backgrounds can sit and share music together in this room, we can in life as well” (”spirit wing” are wonderful with this!)

* Sometimes just coming from healing and comforting (post 9/11) can do more to create dialog that creates change.

Always consider the venue and audience.

* I choose “songs and mission” from all of my writing above accordingly

* With conservative audiences, I am mindfully respectful. They’re coming to hear me, so I prefer to meet them in the places where we probably see eye to eye. (I’m not going to sing “vote him gone”.) I may say and sing something about honoring our diversity or some struggle we all have in life. I may talk about my visit to Pakistan and how 99% of the people I met when I went were are loving kind struggling families just like ours.

* With all audiences I’ve been known to try to make a difference by things like mentioning “this amazing book I read called ‘one heart’ which takes the major religions theme by theme (thou shall not kill, honor thy neighbor… yadayada) and lists almost the same the quotes from each religion… see we really all do want the same thing!
Maybe then I’ll joke and sing my song about being brought up catholic (most everyone can relate to “religious guilt” and everyone loves singing “hallelujah, we’re going straight to hell.” It’s all a delicate and mindful but fun dance if done right.

* With rally audiences (and those who are clearly 99% “the choir,”) I do let go at the risk of offending 1 or 2 people, believing the outcome is worth it. I feel the purpose of a rally is to shake the numbers and people out. If I truly feel our country is going to hell in a backhoe, I personally can’t sit back and watch and I’m OK with being labeled as a political artist of a particular side… it’s a choice I personally make.

All in all, I truly respect and applaud artists who make mindful choices as to how and when to sing particular songs, because being too “in your face” at times can do way more damage than good. — Annie Wenz

So… for this particular election… I will tread cautiously… but I WILL tread… choosing VERY mindfully from all of the above. I do believe the choices made in this particular election have huge ramifications.

Bottom line… (and I guess this applies to my life more than in concert) love it or hate it, it’s a blessing and a curse, it’s just the way I am… I can’t sit back and keep my mouth shut and I often call people on their s***.

With respect and much HOPE,

Annie
http://www.myspace.com/anniewenz