house concerts and 21st century touring

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Message from Fran:

Our video page is starting to have an impact, as several artists (and hosts) have been sharing it with their fans and friends. 3,000 views in just 2 months. It’s led to a few artist gigs, and a few new hosts joining the site.

It’s not too late to send pictures (you own) to be included in the next video. Please send pictures that “look” like a house concert. The “non-headshot” pictures in the video above will give you a good idea of what I like.

It’s time to plan for the folk alliance conferences, which are an amazing opportunity for hosts and artists to network and get to know each other. There are tons of opportunities for artist showcases (even if you don’t get selected for an “official” showcase.) This provides an ideal situation for hosts to check out a LOT of artists in one, single, amazing weekend. Stay tuned this week (subscribe to our RSS feed) as I hope to announce our conference plans (which ones we’ll attend, and showcase possibilities) very soon.

CIYH stats and developments:

Since the recent site upgrades, we now have more than 200 updated house concert presenters on the site. We’re also approaching 500 artists, and the quality of talent continues to astound me. It’s really time to poke around if you haven’t yet. We’re also working on a way for hosts to provide meaningful feedback about the artists on our site. (Who would you recommend?) More on that next month.

New CIYH Hosts: (artist members can search 2008-07 on the advanced search page.)

11 New Host Members:

McLoudLand(AU), Fifth Street Farms(CA), The Outpost(FL), Equestrian Concerts(FL), Backyard Concert Series(MI), Garfield House Concerts(MI), Real Musik(NY), MAXimize yourself(NY), Lewis Circle(PA), deLyn’s Gallery(PA), Concerts at Hill House(VA)

New Talent Agencies:

We’ve come up with some attractive packages for agents who represent 2 or more artists. We’d like to welcome Laura Thomas of Combo Plate Booking to the CIYH family. 10 of her excellent acts are listed below.

New CIYH Artists: (A big thank you for your support.)

Check out these 38 new artists!
A.J. Roach, Alyse Black, Amy Meyers, Beaver Nelson, Ben Arnold, Ben Bedford, Bruce Mandel, Chuck McCabe, Dave Nachmanoff, David Nigel Lloyd, Elizabeth McQueen, Emily Lacy, Eric Hisaw, Girls With Vices, Gove Scrivenor, Harmonic Vocals (with tibetan horn and exotic world instruments), Holly Sedgwick, Jean Synodinos, Jeff Larson, Jess Yoakum, Jim McCarty (Yardbirds), Joe Rathbone, Lee Feldman, Lonnie Knight, Marc Gunn, Marc Silver & The Stonethrowers, Mark Elliott, Matthew Clark, Megan Boyer Band, Michael Fracasso, Nathan Hamilton, Nels Andrews, Peter Lang, Pop Stars: Dads Who Rock, Sharon Bousquet/Beaucoup Shakti, Stacy Robin/Imaginary Friends, The Starlings, Will Derryberry

Renewed Artists: (A HUGE thank you for your continued support!)

Tom Rawson, Clarke Buehling, Sarah Pierce, Jenn Franklin, Sam Pasco, Bill & Kate Isles, Jill Jack,

Schwag of the Month:

Our new Welcome Pack: A great deal to help you spread the word about house concerts. A nice black short-sleeve shirt, 20 postcards, and 2 instrument case/bumper stickers. Have a look!

Artist of the Month: Molly’s Revenge

Celtic music gets an update, a facelift, and a shot of adrenaline. This tight 4/5some can light any room on fire with their enthusiastic delivery of a wide range of almost traditional music. Here’s our fun interview with links to their website and latest CD.

Host of the Month:Hillbilly Haiku

Denise Williams’ recent “House Concert Primer” (O.K. - it’s more of a declaration of house concert love) inspired me to name her Host of the Month.

It’s nice to see someones’ dedication complemented by smart enthusiasm. Go Denise! Read her piece called “Music from the heart, not for the charts.“

Welcome to our home
Music that always pleases
Hillbilly Haiku

Tip for Artists:

I seriously believe everyone can benefit from these:

Is Your Mailing List Working for You?
Another Great House Concert Pitch for your Fans

and for you helpful, ambitious types: help me pick the best 3 tips:

Tip for Hosts: House Concert Contract

Are contracts typical of house concerts? No. However, more and more exceptional, reputable artists are being drawn to house concerts, and a healthy percentage of these artists are used to working with agents and receiving guarantees.

Fact is, it’s all good news. As a host, you always have the option to work with any artist you choose. If they need a contract, you have the choice to consider it, cancel out clauses you aren’t comfortable with, or move on. If you prefer to work without contracts, there are plenty of great artists available who will not require contracts - especially if you’ve established a good reputation as a host.

Here’s an informative post on house concert contracts, and a sample agreement that you can use to make sure everyone has realistic expectations.

Letters From Ned

This month, Ned shares the events of the first Earth Day, back in 1970, with a star-studded cast and “crew” including Robert Redford, Pete Seeger, Manhattan, a disjointed symphony orchestra and a heckuva rainstorm.

This website is sponsored by: D’Addario, Artist Direct, and our Member Artists!

Please share this information with people you like. — fran

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Message from Fran:

97 degrees. In Kansas. Our pool is 4 feet wide, 6 inches deep, and made of 1/8 thick blue plastic. And yes, we’re using it. Best $7.99 I’ve ever spent. Kiddie pool my …

CIYH stats and developments:

Most of our hosts (200 or so) have now updated their information, and have their own, edit-anytime page on the site. I’m committed to providing accurate (and helpful) information, so our hosting community will be a little smaller until our remaining hosts complete the transition. (Email me if you aren’t sure if that means you.)

We’ve fixed most of the bugs with the login and search issues, with a few remaining tweaks necessary for Windows XP users. (Firefox seems more stable than Internet Explorer). I appreciate everyone’s help and patience in improving this site.

I’m pleased to announce a new feature, “Letters from Ned.” Ned Treanor’s unique and quirky stories about folk music and Woodstock era superstars are a joy to read. With some positive feedback from (YOU) our readers, I think we can make this a monthly feature.

June was hectic, with 36 new artists, and 15 new hosts. It was especially fun to chat with Jack Williams (one of the busiest and most respected house concert acts) about his experience, and chatting with Larry Hoppen (of Orleans… “Still the One,” “Dance with Me”) about his desire to do more house concerts. Steve McCarty (guitarist and co-writer with Steve Miller Band) also jumped into the house concert world - and might just sit in with me in Phoenix this fall.

The talent on this site keeps getting better and better. I encourage you to browse, and check out some names you don’t recognize.

New CIYH Hosts:

Creekside (BC), Sounds Across the Valley (BC), Live @ Angel’s Serenity (AZ), Equinox Productions (CA), Nurse Judi’s (CA), Aspen Meadows (CA), Mama Bird (GA), Hitaga (IA), Red Box (IL), Indy Hostel (IN), Music at the Kitchen (IN), Concerts in the Valley (MD), Red Bear (NC), Alive in Madison (NJ), Port Royal (NV), Pinewoods Folk Club (NY), Vanna’s (OK), Dancing Beagle (VA)

New CIYH Artists: (A big thank you for your support.)

Ali Weiss, Arthur Yoria, Bill Whyte, Cady Finlayson & Vita Tanga, Chris Foster, Dean Station, Debbie Zepick, Jack Williams, Julius Curcio, Kaleo Wheeler, Kathy Zimmer, Kelly’s Lot, Kory Wilcox, Kurt Michaels, Larkin Gayl, Larry Hoppen & Fly Amero, Laura Zucker, Lou & Peter Berryman, Luke Sayers, Maria DuBiel, Melissa Greener, Noah Earle, Ray Peal and Friends, Rich Wyman, Shotgun Party, Sing along with Phoebe, Siobhán O’Brien, Spencer Brewer, Stephen Foster (Howler), Steve Eulberg, Steve McCarty & Friends, Teri Wilder, Tey, The Border Blasters, The Hayburners, Tracy Kash Thomas

Renewed Artists: (A HUGE thank you for your continued support!)

Arlon Bennett, John Batdorf, Sonya Heller, Renee Mixon, Jim Patton, Shay Watson, Five Little Monkeys.

Artist of the Month: Jack Williams

This month we feature Jack Williams, who some might call the “House Concert King.” I forgot to ask him about how he’s managed to avoid “trucker’s back,” after touring 50,000+ miles per year, for decades (and decades.) Somehow, he feels like he’s just hitting his prime, and I bet many of our hosts would agree. Read about Jack…

Host of the Month: James Casto

It’s one thing for an artist to have an impact with their music. A great lyric, a memorable message, an unforgettable performance. For some artists, that’s only the beginning. Visit James Casto, an compelling artist who tirelessly (yes, he gets tired - but you’d never know it) promotes the music of his friends, co-writers, and other fine artists who have the good fortune to cross his path. Read about James…

Tip for Artists: Create a regional network of house concerts.

With the escalating costs of travel, it’s important to develop local opportunities… here’s an idea. Will this be the post that inspires you, or will you wait until next month?

Tip for Hosts: Video Your Next Event

Just like artists, I’m sure you have trouble getting the concept of a “house concert” to resonate with some people when you invite them to your events. I’m doing my best to create some video to help you, but I think you could do even better with some footage of your next event.

What if you could put up a video of a great song (all you need is one!) from your next act on the web! You could link to it whenever you send out an email invitation, to give your friends are real taste of how fun these events can be.

Take a look at these videos, and see how simple (and low-tech!) it can be to put a little charm in your invitations. If you don’t have a website, you can upload it to YouTube, and send us the link.

If you or one of your guests has a camcorder (DVR), but you don’t know how to manipulate or upload the footage, you can mail me the tape. Get the artists permission (ahead of time) and read these tips…

New Feature: Letters from Ned

I’ve recently exchanged some emails with Ned Treanor, who has a rich history (and memory!) of the folk music heroes that many of you will be familiar with. This one is a funny story about Don McLean and Lee Hays.

This website is sponsored by: D’Addario, Artist Direct, and our Member Artists!

Please share this information with people you like. — fran
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Message from Fran:

Concerts In Your Home is 2 Years Old…

Two years ago, CIYH was born out of equal parts inspiration and frustration. I decided there needed to be a place where you could find current, helpful information about house concerts. A place where both artists and hosts could come together to enhance and expand this wonderful community.

I want to thank everyone for their kindness and encouragement, especially the artists and hosts whose testimonials help spread the word about CIYH. I’m consistently impressed with the caliber of people who involve themselves with house concerts, and I’m grateful for everyone’s help in taking care of this toddler. — fran

CIYH stats and developments:

Last month we took a major step to update EVERY host. Essentially, every host had to rejoin, and update their information to show up in our listings. Most of our hosts have now rejoined, and I’m hoping all our remaining active hosts will take this step in the next few days.

Here’s what our new host pages look like.

Here are the advantages:

1. hosts can now edit/update their information instantly
2. hosts can be found more easily by appropriate artists
3. artists can more easily “screen themselves” by having easy access to the most relevant information about each house concert series.

I believe this will improve and simplify communication between artists and hosts, and take much of the guess-work out of artist inquiries. More of what you want, less of what you don’t. Hold the sprinkles, please.

Hosts, please review this month’s tip to get the most out of your house concert listing.

New CIYH Hosts: (artist/agency members receive these by email)

(Every host is new again.) I’m still working on separating the “actual new hosts” from the “new again” hosts. Sorry for the delay during this transition.

New CIYH Artists: (A big thank you for your support.)

Al Dawson, Alex Woodard, Andina and Rich, Cady, Claudia Russell, Colleen Sillver, Deanna Dove, Dennis O’Rourke, Glass House, Glynace, Jerry Yates, john tinger, Julie Christensen, K.C. Clifford, Kim Angelis and Josef, Kim Carson, Lee Ferris, Lucky Overton, Marshall Artz, Musical Origins, Pagan, Paul Roub, Paul Sanchez, Phil Christie, Ralston Bowles, Retta Guest Choate, Roesy, Smallfish Adventures, Stephen Lee Rich, Susan Cowsill, Suzahn Fiering, The Light Brigade

Renewed Artists: (A HUGE thank you for your continued support!)

Ed Petterson, Marina V, Pure Evidence, Greg Trooper, Effron White, Brad Yoder, Lauren Adams, Michael Morales, Jody Whitesides

Artist of the Month:

Adrianne

“Adrianne’s recordings feature modern, tasteful production of that rare type - the kind that creates an alternate world you can walk into, but which never eclipses the power of the song. It enhances every nuance of her skillful, understated musical ability.” — Yep. I said that.

What’s the most important thing about being a performing songwriter? Is it the instrument chops? Is it the voice? Is it the ability to tell a story? In Adrianne’s case…
Read all about it.

Host of the Month:

PocoNotes

… the idea for PocoNotes was conceived in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center as Pat was making his way out of the building for what we now know was the last time.

Two decisions were made that day: to continue to live our daily lives without fear…and to make the second half of our lives count - in a way that mattered to us…and live music matters a lot. Continue..

Tip for Artists:

Video Pitch to/for Your Fans…

…I’m sure you’ve noticed that many people “don’t get it” when you try to explain what a house concert is. So here’s a new tool we just added to help you illustrate and sweeten your house concert
pitch. Read on.

And please Digg or rate the video on YouTube. Thanks!

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Tip for Hosts:

“Instructions for Artists:”

Recommended information for your host listing…

• What is your booking window? 2-4 months out, 3-6 months out, 6-12 months out, more than one year?
• Are there certain months you won’t do shows?
• Do you need to see them live, or at least a video?
• please continue…

FUN STUFF

Hosts! Please send me the most embarrassing, bad, unprofessional emails you’ve received from artists. I’m writing an article about the best and worst ways to pitch yourself to house concert hosts (and other venues). I promise to clean up the names to protect the guilty.

They don’t have to be funny, but here’s one of my favorites:

“I plays house concerts. You like me. Please call xxx.xxxx”
and that was from David Wilcox. Kidding, of course.

This website is sponsored by: Artists, D’addario, and AirPlay Direct.

Your feedback is always appreciated.

Tell your friends about house concerts. It’s too important to keep it our little secret. — fran
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