house concerts and 21st century touring

House (Concert) Conference Call - November 27, 2007

I just participated in a conference call with members of the Positive Music Association, and spent about an hour talking about house concerts and CIYH. The invitation came from Scott Johnson, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to speak to his audience. They had some interesting questions, and I think you might find the conversation interesting.

My favorite part was Randall Williams‘ cheerful testimonial, which he succinctly summed up with “Yay!”

The conversation was recorded and you can listen to the call by… calling.
Dial 641-715-3412 and enter the Access Code: 980985#
This recording is only available for two weeks, so grab a snack and have a listen. 8^)

Here’s a some information about the PMA:

The Positive Music Association (PMA) is a professional trade organization dedicated to expanding and promoting the Positive Music genre, also known as Poz, and supporting the individuals who participate in our industry.

There is a huge, untapped market of people hungry for this healthy, life-affirming music. Think of Poz as the music version of Oprah, the multi-billion dollar Self-Help Industry (with authors like Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson), the more than 50 million people in the U.S. alone who make up the Lifestyles Of Health And Sustainability (LOHAS) Market, and the Environmental and New Thought Movements.

The PMA is about seeing music not only as entertainment but as a means of creating positive change in the world. People drawn to Poz music often are interested in subjects like personal development and empowerment, social transformation and peace, and in creating healthy environments, relationships and communities. We encourage artistic integrity and social responsibility.

A primary goal is to establish Poz as a new music category. This categorization makes it easy for the millions of people looking for healthy, new music to find and buy it.

The PMA provides the largest collection of poz artists and music in the world, and provides resources and networking opportunities for members to grow and market their music. Through Poz Radio, members get a chance to have their music heard online. See news clippings about Poz and the PMA here.

This site includes a list of PMA members and links to their websites, Poz Radio, member spotlight, music resources, links to other positive media, songs by subject, and positive music events.

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I’ve noticed several professional CIYH artists are members of the PMA, so it’s definitely worth checking out.

Fran

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and CIYH testimonials…

“Fran Snyder…is more than a musician and entrepreneur who has built a better mousetrap; he has done so based on a wide range of firsthand industry experience.” — Present Magazine

It’s a nice problem to have, but it’s getting hard to keep track of all the nice comments I’ve been hearing from people who use the site. This post will be updated from time to time so that new visitors can be encouraged by the people who are actually using the site - hosts and artists alike.

These are all great reasons to join ConcertsInYourHome.com… as an artist, or as a house concert host. — fran

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This one comes from Audrey Auld Mezera:

“Hi Fran,
Thanks for all the time and energy you’ve spent in creating this fantastic resource. I refer to your site frequently and have successfully booked house concerts as a result. Thanks to folks like you, house concerts will become a main-stream concept as time unfolds.

love Audrey x”

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Here’s another one, from Wayne Gratz:

“I should have emailed you. I have already booked a house concert for March and I’m looking forward to more. Thanks again for your personal attention - it is appreciated!!!”

~~Best, Wayne Gratz

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And here’s a good one from a host:

“…that’s just a cool, cool site! I’ve contacted four folks already….now that’s what I call service. At this point I have so many folks that I’m booked into the summer of 07, so I’m going to bookmark you and keep checking back. I’m really full of folk/bluegrass/singer-songwriters but need Blues and Jazz like there is no tomorrow. Those guys just don’t tour unless you are big city! Thanks for what you are doing,”

–Mary Palmer, hppr.org (and Living Room Concerts)

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12-07-07

I recently performed a “Concert In Your Home” in Atlanta. It was one of the best live playing experiences of my career! There were about 40 people packed into the living room/den of the host’s home sitting on the floor, couches, chairs, and standing. It was unbelievable. It’s so refreshing to have total strangers listen to every note and every word. …They were so close it seemed that I was able to connect to them on a level that I’ve never been able to do from a big stage.

After the show I had the opportunity to meet most of the guests, hand out business cards, and sell a lot of product. What a great night! So many people told me that this was one of the coolest ideas they had ever seen and wanted to host their own show. I sent all of them to your website! Please keep up the great work and I’ll do my part to promote “Concerts In your Home.”

– James Casto

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1-11-08

Our last 3 concerts (Jeff Black, Christine Kane & upcoming one on Saturday with Kevin Connolly) have all sold out… and now we have a waiting list for Kevin’s show, in case someone cancels at the last minute. I think your site has helped people find out how fun these concerts can be. Thanks for all your work!

– Alexa Huegel, Las Alturas House Concerts

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1-12-08

Thanks so much for concertsinyourhome.com - it has certainly made finding performers a snap. Now all I have to do is build a steady audience. Thanks again for your awesome support.

– Lee Herman, Our Kind of Folk

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1-23-08

What makes house concerts so wonderful is the variety of individual experience. But real people in their real homes don’t always conform to a particular set of business-y standards (thank goodness!), which makes compiling a useful database of hosts, artists, and history difficult.

ConcertsInYourHome.com does a wonderful job of providing complete information while honoring the spirit of the hosts who open their homes to all of us. As a performing artist, I appreciate the access to contacts and frequent updates; as a citizen, I rest easy knowing CIYH respects *all* parties and contributes to a sustainable model of accessible live-music!

– Wes Weddell,
artist and founder of Puget’s Sound Productions

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2/01/08

Just thought you’d like to know that I scored one from the website.

It’s in Charlevoix, MI, a small town where my father ran a sports fishing business for many a summer and where I have fond, fond memories. Fun to connect with these folks and I’m looking forward to that show and visiting the town again

– MJ Bishop

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2/10/08

Fran -

I just want you to know how helpful this site has been for me. When I first signed up, I noticed a house concert venue near me that I’d never heard of — Michelle Payne’s Echo Park House Concerts. I wrote to her and sent my CD and she invited my group and I are playing on Saturday night, March 8th.
Thanks for your hard work!

Tracy Newman (and the Reinforcements)

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2/29/08

Hey Fran,

I actually did get a house concert booking already this year through the site. This was their first concert to host, and though small, it was a great night. I also had an interested response from another host who is working on their 2008 calendar.

Thanks!

John Tracy

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3/10/08

Fran,

Just a quick note to say thanks! I’m booked for my first two house concerts, have a third where we’re negotiating the date, and two others showing high interest — and that’s all before the end of 2008! All but one of those resulted from your website. Thanks, and keep up the great work.

Jack Brown
jackbrown@jackbrownmusic.com
www.jackbrownmusic.com
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4/8/08

Thanks Fran.

By the way, I have booked two concerts in a week with a really good one in Texas interested for next year… your hard work for us indies is really having a great effect.
Lauren Adams

www.laurenadams.com

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4/12/08

I’m doin’ it, Fran!

A friend of mine invited me to do a house concert in Tallahassee the weekend before MagnoliaFest, and shortly after that a concert promoter I have worked for in the past asked me if I’d like to do one in Atlanta at that time. And when a friend asked me when I’d be coming back to Jacksonville, I asked if he’d be willing to host a house concert and he said yes.

So come October, I’ll be doing three of ‘em in three days, and then I’ll chill for a couple of days and head for the festival.

Everybody seems to like the idea of taking beer sales out of the formula. Better sound systems, a more intimate and pleasant setting for the music, and probably about the same number of people in the audience as I would have had in that grubby dive anyway.

David Gans

—-Please add your comments below…

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House Concert Newsletter from CIYH - October 2007

Message from Fran:
This is our first newsletter and I hope you’ll enjoy the scope and character of what we are doing here. I have to start by expressing my gratitude to the artists who have supported this site through it’s beginning. I also thank the hosts who have discovered and joined this great community, and the artist/web developers Bryan Tilford and Jody Whitesides, who have spent much underpaid time helping this CIYH thing blossom. The site is doubling in every which way every 6 months. Whew!

Stats and Developments in October:
270 hosts, 410 artists, 14,000 visitors per month.
We simplified the artist search page, and we added video channels, this newsletter, 13 new hosts and 30 new artists. We also created some great looking shirts and hats to promote house concerts.

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