house concerts and 21st century touring

There was a great artist who once said, “I joined CIYH, but haven’t had the time to explore the site.” –Hope Fully Notyou

In this brave new world of music, there are so many opportunities that it can feel overwhelming for artists who book and represent themselves. Sonicbids, TAXI, MySpace, CDBaby, etc…

You joined concertsinyourhome.com because you feel or know that house concerts are a good fit for the music that you do. There’s no better resource than CIYH for people who want to be a part of that community. I want to do my best to help you get the most of your membership.

So here are 5 ways (and why) to get more house concert bookings:

1. Make sure your artist profile (at CIYH) is complete, accurate, and that the content you chose emphasizes what’s great about you in the intimate house concert environment. Most artists just copy their bio from their website. Boring.
Log in here: http://concertsinyourhome.com/artist_resources.html

Why? Because with 12,000 visitors per month, someone will eventually look at you!

2. Make sure you link to concertsinyourhome from your website using one of the banners or text links we have available at http://concertsinyourhome.com/banners.html
This site is turning new people on to hosting concerts (we get 10-15 new hosts per month).

Why? Because one of your fans could become a host, which might give you
a decent chance at a gig.

3. Email your fans regularly (at least 4-6 times per year). Every act has to find a balance between too much and too little communication with their fanbase. Whatever you choose, always include your house concert pitch with a link to our site, so your fans can get a taste (videos, articles) of what the house concert experience is like.

Why? Because people forget. No matter how much they like you, they forget. Most people need to hear something 3-5 times before they’ll take any action.

4. Talk about house concerts often. Whenever you find yourself in conversations about music, performing, or touring, mention house concerts. Talk about how this trend is allowing artists to perform in front of attentive crowds - a situation that is increasingly hard to find in many venues! The fact is, most people don’t know that house concerts exist. We call that UPSIDE POTENTIAL. Ask people to host a concert with you. Ask. Ask. Ask. There’s beauty in it. Ask.

5. Host a concert! Choose an artist you admire, and schedule yourself as the opening act. There’s no better way to show your neighbors and friends how much fun a house concert can be. Your place too small? Host the show in someone else’s home.

Why? Next time, YOU can headline.

Fran Snyder

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You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete” – Buckminster Fuller

Is that what we’re doing?

What’s the existing reality? Well, thousands of otherwise very competent artists are trying to become “stars,” assuming that the model of the 20th century can still work for them.

Back then, you played bars and tried to gain industry attention until a record company offered you a deal.

But you’re an acoustic act (or solo, duo, etc.). Tough to get the good bar gigs because so many full bands are willing to play for the same amount of money. So if you want to get paid, you find yourself playing coffeehouses and restaurants, for the most part. These places can pay you because they sell food and drinks and provide an atmosphere with enough distractions to please everybody. YOU are one of those distractions.

So you play covers to get attention, and sometimes you actually get a little. But these crowds are fickle, and lose interest easily. Furthermore, they see 5 guys/girls like you every week, and to the untrained ear you sound much more like them than you think.

If you’re persistent, you can do 4-8 of these shows a week, mixing in as much original stuff as you can. You sell a few CDs, get a few email addys. Go home, take a shower, and repeat. You are making a living.

10 years go by.

It seems email addresses go bad faster than you can add new ones. You’ve put out 4 CDs, and still have plenty of first pressings around. Your friends are all having babies and staying at home. Your new “fans” seem to have as much depth as a toenail, and no cash for CDs. What’s an artist to do? Has the music world passed you by? Or are you ready for a new experience?

To be continued….

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Part Two:

a. Review Part One of this article!

b. Don’t lose heart if things don’t happen quickly. Hardly anything good ever does.

c. Don’t underestimate travel costs, and travel time.

d. Remember to build your mailing list. If you want to return to this area, it’s more important that selling CDs.

e. Pay close attention to the musical tastes of the host. If they want bluegrass - don’t call if you can’t play bluegrass!

f. Don’t expect financial guarantees. If you must ask, be gentle, and be prepared for a “no.”

g. Be realistic about your ability to headline and do two sets. It’s hard to thrill an audience for 90 minutes if you only have one album of material.

h. Remember to ask about pets/smoking if you are allergic to or dependent on either.

i. Don’t be desperate. Don’t act like a star. Be yourself, even if you’re a jerk. Better they know now. 8^)

j. Remember that people want to have fun. If your music is depressing, your stage patter better not be.

k. Don’t underestimate the intimacy of house concerts. Some artists are uncomfortable being that close to the audience.

l. Don’t assume that the host can fill the room without your help. Be ready to promote if their house concert series is open to the public.

m. Don’t assume room and board are included, or anything else for that matter, until you ask.

and finally…

If a host’s website (or CIYH profile) says they are not looking for artists at this time… please leave them alone.

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