house concerts and 21st century touring

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“I gave up on concerts until I was turned on to Concerts In Your Home …….this is an excellent way to enjoy good company and hear new & wonderful music.” -
Greg Brooke

Message from Fran:

Happy Independents Day

There is much to celebrate this month, for patriots of all stripes. This great community continues to show commitment and excitement about creating the types of shows we love - gigs where people listen.

We’ve seen quite an uptick in activity on our Facebook Page as well as our Facebook (host) Group. It’s a lot of fun from where I sit to see you introduce yourselves and support each other with your amazing hobby (hosting) or career (performing.)

Lots of great and unfinished projects here, and I expect to make a lot of progress on that this month. So sun-over your studio tan, and kick out the jams. You’re here, and you’re awesome. — Fran

Thanks, and I’m really loving the community of folks on your site. I’m booking tons of stuff through it. For me it almost seems that I can book an entire mini tour on hosts from here. It’s ridiculous how many irons I’ve got in the fire right now. I’m super excited. I really think that this year is going to be huge. So, I just want to thank you for being the one to start such a cool thing. I should have been doing it sooner. That’s the only bad thing about it. LOL! - Sarah Peacock

Here’s the updated U.S. and Canada
MAPS of DNS hosts!

New CIYH Hosts: (artist members can search “member since 2011-06″ using the advanced search.)

15 New Hosts! We welcome
Jenine and Summer Joy both from BC
Beth from CO
Bethany from FL
Mary from GA
Michael from IL
Bill from MD
Kirk from MI
Jo and Katt both from NY
Rae from OR
Jimmy from TN
Bob and Dennis both from TX
Malik from UT

CIYH hosts can elect to do DinnerAndSong events instead of, or in addition to house concerts.

New CIYH Artists:

(Welcome Aboard!)

Alec Gross, Benita Hill, Callaghan, Chris Jacome Flamenco Guitarist, Daniel Whittington, djphillips, Emily Baker, Gordon Bok, Jim Dorie, Kyle Carey, Stephanie Rogers, The Andreas Kapsalis and Goran Ivanovic Guitar Duo, Tish Hinojosa

Our Audio 6-Packs (free downloads) are back! This month, download 2 tracks from each of our featured artists. Lovely music!

Look for these new artists here!

Hey guys! Just booked my first Dinner and Song! I didn’t think i’d be into it but i’m really excited! We had a HC booked for the end of june and an artist i really wanted to host became available in early july…too close for us to stage 2 events so we’re doing a DNS in july!! - Brian M. - host

Renewed Artists:

(Signed on for another great year!)Abi Tapia, Anna Dagmar, Barbara Lamb, Ben Bedford, Carolyn Cruso, Craig Bickhardt, Ken O’Malley, Lisa Lynne, Melissa Greener, Morgan Bracy, Orrin Star, Suzahn Fiering, Terry Holder, Vanessa Peters

“We recently wrapped up great mini-tours for two of our 2010 CIYH Video Contest winners, Suzie Vinnick (midwest) and Big Wide Grin (southwest). And Jeff is excited to now work up bookings for Barnaby Bright, our third contest winner. The target is the northeast between October 16 and November 19. Let Jeff know right away if you’re available! jeff@ListeningRoomNetwork.com

Schwag of the Month:

We know it was a busy Spring, and getting one of our DinnerAndSong t-shirts may have slipped your mind. It’s ok - and still not too late to get in on this cool shirt before everyone has one.
Let your car in on the new trend as well with a DinnerAndSong bumpersticker - get those folks behind you wondering what you’re up to. Maybe a singer/songwriter will jump in your car at the drive-thru and croon you a tune or two!

Host Reward Winners!

Congratulations to Gloria Arjona and Jim Emerson. Each host wins a $50 gear voucher from D’Addario and Planet Waves. We’ll look at the CIYH calendars each month and randomly pick two winners from our active hosts. Login and post your events! (It takes about 90 seconds.)

Tips for Artists and Hosts:

• Seven Artists from CIYH Finalists for Falcon Ridge
• Top Ten Reasons Why DinnerAndSong is Better than House Concerts
• DinnerAndSong.com - Mini House Concerts are a Major Development
• Has this email created $100,000 in artist income?
• Pizzazz in the House Concert
• Better than House Concerts… DinnerAndSong

Our new blog, for hosts only.

• Not on our DNS host map yet?
• A reminder about the essence of house concerts
• Why DNS is such an amazing option for you
• DNS groups (updated)
• How to quickly review artist inquiries for booking
• House concert attendance – get proactive and tame the angst (part 1)
• House concert attendance – get proactive and tame the angst (part 2)
• When someone cares enough
• Loving your CIYH profile

Artists and Hosts log in here

Please share this newsletter with people you like. — fran
Thanks to D’Addario and Planet Waves for their kind support of this community.

Sign up for this newsletter through RSS or by emailing us here.

“Five out of 10 shows on my last tour out East were the result of an email I sent to my mailing list about the ‘Dinner and Song’ concept. Some shows were held in churches, some in homes, and most were like full-blown house concerts, however all were fan-created and came about in direct response to the DNS pitch. It helped me put together a great tour at short notice!” -Teresa Storch

Message from Fran:

Thrilled to celebrate 5 years with you. I’ll be on the road again in July, and looking to meetup with southeasterners, specifically around Atlanta, Charlotte, and Tampa. Please get in touch if you’d like to meet up, or host me for a DinnerAndSong.

In the video:
5 Years, Thank You
Jeff’s long awaited repeat cameo appearance
DinnerAndSong Meetups
Craig dreams up Breakfast and Song
PeachGigs and ListeningRoomNetwork update
PrivateRecitals.com - Classical House Concerts
Fran as a Pirate

Hi Fran,
Things are going great. I just came back from a five day mini-tour to New Jersey, Pa and Ohio. Of the five shows, two were obtained through Concerts In Your Home. I’m a believer. -
Bob Marshall

House Concert Radio?

Check out JohnnyBoyRadio.com
It’s been a lot of fun seeing our hosts and artists tune in and comment live on JohnnyBoyRadio.com - a fun way to listen to a great mix of our house concert artists and well-known folk-americana acts. Thanks Johnny!

(Artists… want to get played?) JohnnyBoy Radio now featuring CIYH artists.

I do get quite a few requests through my site, SonicBids and ReverbNation, but the overall caliber and savvy of CIYH artists is superior. CIYH artists are almost always more personally accessible, more roadworthy and more understanding of the needs and capabilities of HC hosts. They are easy to work with and easy to love. — Wayne S.L.

Here’s the updated U.S. and Canada
MAPS of DNS hosts!

New CIYH Hosts: (artist members can search “member since 2011-05″ using the advanced search.)

20 New Hosts! We welcome
Bridges and Mason from AL
Rebecca from AUS
Jon from CA
Robin from CO
Chris from IA
Amy from IN
Beth from MA
Carol from MO
Doug, Lynne, and Rufus from NC
Cindy and Harold from NE
Rich from NJ
David from PA
Leah and Sam from TX
Shanie from WA
Mark from WY

CIYH hosts can elect to do DinnerAndSong events instead of, or in addition to house concerts.

New CIYH Artists:

(Welcome Aboard!)

Diane Dandeneau, Harry Bolick, Jefferson Fox, Matt Simons, Mike Gibbons, Prester John, The Better Halves

Our Audio 6-Packs (free downloads) are back! This month, download 2 tracks from each of our featured artists. Lovely music!

Look for these new artists here!

Hey guys! Just booked my first Dinner and Song! I didn’t think i’d be into it but i’m really excited! We had a HC booked for the end of june and an artist i really wanted to host became available in early july…too close for us to stage 2 events so we’re doing a DNS in july!! - Brian M. - host

Renewed Artists:

(Signed on for another great year!) Ben Carroll, Bev Barnett & Greg Newlon, Bob Marshall, Darren Raleigh, Doug MacLeod, Fred Gillen Jr., Lisa Bianco, Liz Longley, Richard Berman, Teresa Storch, Yampa Valley Boys

Schwag of the Month:

Everybody’s been so busy lately, we think it’s a good time for a reminder how cool our classic black logo t-shirt is. Your old one is probably worn out anyway and you want a fresh look for the summer. .
Here’s another chance to get your DinnerAndSong mug - this is an excellent place for your favorite starbuck beverage but with far more substantial conversational capability. Get people thinking while you’re drinking.

Host Reward Winners!

Congratulations to Don Tait and Dan Bober. Each host wins a $50 gear voucher from D’Addario and Planet Waves. We’ll look at the CIYH calendars each month and randomly pick two winners from our active hosts. Login and post your events! (It takes about 90 seconds.)

Tips for Artists and Hosts:

• Conference Invitation for Midwestern HC Hosts
• Writer/photographer looking for HCs this summer.
• Bianca Garza: Research Paper on House Concerts
• DinnerAndSong - Getting Carried Away
• Better than House Concerts… DinnerAndSong

Our new blog, for hosts only.

• Pizzazz in the House Concert
• Adding BreakfastAndSong to the mini concert menu!!
• Skyrocketing gas prices – hosts respond
• Artist guarantee – debunking the myths
• Top Ten Reasons Why DinnerAndSong is Better than House Concerts

Artists and Hosts log in here

Please share this newsletter with people you like. — fran
Thanks to D’Addario and Planet Waves for their kind support of this community.

Sign up for this newsletter through RSS or by emailing us here.

We just did our first “Dinner and Song” in Iron Mountain. What fun, and what a great concept.
You rock! - Jenny Bienemann

Message from Fran:

May is House Concert Month, and this year’s theme is DinnerAndSong. Never before has it been so easy to have such a special impact on the tour of an artist, while providing a weekday boost for some of your closest friends and neighbors.

Please start here, and see which artists are looking for opportunities in your area.
Send them an email if you can help - it is such a thrill when a host reaches out. Go ahead, make someone’s day, and help us celebrate House Concert Month! Even our artists are hosting shows for friends!

Jeff: You wanted some feedback on my first DNS, Success! Lots of fun, 7 listeners, simple sandwiches, chips, salad and wine. The musician was Michael Reno Harrell He was GREAT! Touching songs and engaging stories. It was Michael’s first DNS too and he really enjoyed it. Both of us would do it again.
- Alice Schaefer

House Concert Radio?
Check out JohnnyBoyRadio.com
Why? It’s a fully licensed station that loves to play artists from ConcertsInYourHome, that’s why! Always on, always great. Thanks Johnny!
(Artists… want to get played?) JohnnyBoy Radio now featuring CIYH artists.

Fran on the road this month. (Recording in Marietta, GA / Attending SERFA Conference / House Concert in Charlotte, NC / A couple of days at the wonderful Kerrville Music Festival.)

I always use the WebFlyers, even for our first DinnerAndSong last Thursday with Roy Schneider and Kim Mayfield. The DNS event went very well with 9 paying attendees and virtually everyone buying at least one CD. Roy and Kim are very nice folks and put on a very entertaining show.

Someone from our neighborhood, who I didn’t know previously, came because his wife was out of town and he was looking for dinner and something to do. He emailed me this shortly after he left our house:

“Thank you so much for introducing me to a very unusual evening’s entertainment. Your musical guests were wonderful. I never knew such things took place.”

Keep up the good work Fran. — Jim Emerson

Here’s the updated U.S. and Canada
MAPS of DNS hosts!

New CIYH Hosts: (artist members can search “member since 2011-04″ using the advanced search.)

17 New Hosts! We welcome…
Ian in AB
John in BC
Becky, Tess in FL
Alex in MA
Cindie in MD
Michael, Kathleen in TX
Hans in NETH
Zack, John in NJ
Tom in OH
Jess, Matthew in PA
Bobbe in SASK
Diana in TN
Matthew in UT

CIYH hosts can elect to do DinnerAndSong events instead of, or in addition to house concerts.

New CIYH Artists:

(Welcome Aboard!)

Bianca De Leon, Brigitte London, Grandpa Banana, Ian Ethan, Jackie Bristow, Jessi Lynn, Juliana Finch, Kurt Scobie, Mark Cote, Maura Jensen, Sarah Peacock, Steve Dan Mills

Our Audio 6-Packs (free downloads) are back! This month, download 2 tracks from each of our featured artists. Lovely music!

Look for these new artists here!

Renewed Artists:

(Signed on for another great year!) Adler & Hearne, Eric Taylor, John Zipperer / John Zipperer & Friends, Kacey Jones, Laurie McClain, Michael Gulezian

We’re now putting some additional spotlight on artists who renew for 3 years - you make us feel good and we think you’re smart.

Schwag of the Month:

Here’s the latest edition of DinnerAndSong merchandise - it’s time to get the word about with a great looking DinnerAndSong classy “pocket” logo t-shirt.
There’s also a new DinnerAndSong.com bumpersticker. Raise the curiosity of those who follow you!

Host Reward Winners!

Congratulations to Peter Chitty and Jill Padua. Each host wins a $50 gear voucher from D’Addario and Planet Waves. We’ll look at the CIYH calendars each month and randomly pick two winners from our active hosts. Login and post your events! (It takes about 90 seconds.)

Tips for Artists and Hosts:

• JohnnyBoy Radio now featuring CIYH artists.
• Managers, Agents, and DinnerAndSong
• Pitch yourself for a (dinner and) song.
• Do house concerts hurt or help public venues?
• Michael Terry of Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse Passes
• Grants for Massachussetts Artists - Innovative Program
• Folk Music Day - A timely idea?
• DinnerAndSong.com introduces “quick and easy” house concerts.
• Social Tips from Mom - blocking Facebook apps… not so fast!

Our new blog, for hosts only.

• House Concert Tour Winners Hit the Road in May
• Set the tone for the concert with our opening MC comments
• Love our artists = reply to their booking inquiries
• Tackle the suggested donation opportunity eyeball to eyeball
• “DNS clubs”
• Tame your DinnerAndSong preparation

Join us in Montreat, NC for the Southeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference in May. It’s a great way for our hosts and artists to network with each other.

Artists and Hosts log in here

Please share this newsletter with people you like. — fran
Thanks to D’Addario and Planet Waves for their kind support of this community.