house concerts and 21st century touring

Thanks to Russ Paris for sharing these pictures…

The reviews are in, and Far-West was a resounding success. Really, you guys are gushing a bit much, aren’t you? 8^)

Next year, in Irvine, California. Check it out at http://far-west.org

Dear fellow FAR-Westers,

It was another wonderful FAR-West conference. So much great music,
so many wonderful people. Julie and I feel truly blessed to be part
of such a vibrant, warm and talented community.

This was the first year that I brought my camera to FAR-West, so I
thought I’d share some of the images I came home with. These are
just some of the best photos that I took. It’s a small sampling of
what went on over the weekend. There was no way that anyone could
possibly get to every showcase, panel, discussion, jam session,
class, etc. So it’s not even close to being all-inclusive. It’s
just what I ended up with before my camera’s memory chip filled up.

The official FAR-West photographers have done a FAR better job of
covering everything and those photos will be going up on the FAR-West
website over the next few weeks, as time permits.

I’m already looking forward to next year.

Russ Paris
Russ & Julie’s House Concerts
http://www.houseconcerts.us

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Message from Fran

Folk Alliance Past and Future

After attending 5 or 6 Folk Alliance conferences, I kind of feel like I’m getting re-acquainted with a family I was taken from as a child. Each gathering piles on generous helpings of kindness, talent, and good times on the overflowing plate of this musical life of mine. Thank you.

And if you weren’t there, what are you waiting for? These gatherings are getting better organized each year, and providing more and more opportunity to recharge your artistic batteries - whether you are an artist, house concert presenter, or a plain ol’ music lover. The next one is in New York.

As for CIYH, the stream of “hey it’s working!” comments grows steadier, and I was pleased to learn several success stories at the last few conferences. Read some…

Make no mistake about it, the music industry is changing, and for most of us, house concerts are a critical antidote to the poisonous ways of radio and records.

Interesting stuff in the works:
Audio 6-Packs

New CIYH Hosts: (active artist members look them up here)

These hosts signed up in September: Whoopieman House Concerts (Switzerland), Gong Concerts (UK), Moveable Feast, Still River Concerts, PineCrest Club House Concerts, Diamond M Barn Concerts, Triangle House Concerts, Live in My Living Room, The Psalm Salon, ThinManMusic Concerts, Spellbound Nights

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

These artists signed up in September: Arrica Rose, Brian Hartman, Bruce Goldish,Chuck Suchy, Dave Stamey, Eliza Jane, Emily Easterly, Gabrielle Louise, Garret Swayne, Haley Breedlove, Ian Ethan Case, Jen Cass, Joe Crookston, Joe Rathburn, Joseph Hasty, Jud Caswell, Linda McRae, Lynne Hanson, Mark Wilkins, Matt Brown, Michael Ballew, Mikey de Lara, Shaun Cromwell, Steve Deasy, Steven D. Lightspring, Tanya Pluth, The Kumalo Band, The Legendary Panama Red, The McKinney Washtub Two, Trevor Larkin, Uni and her Ukelele, Volatile Baby, Walter Strauss

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

Hans York, Barb Ryman, Sarah Sample, James Hurley, Jan Seides, Jaime Michaels, Jennings and Keller, Steve Mason, Claudia Nygaard, Jack Brown, Tracy Jane Comer, Jay Mankita, Matt Meighan, Stevie Coyle, David Nevue, Lee Quick, Freebo, John M., Coyote, Doug Spears, Bob Sima.
Schwag of the Month:

House concert hosts can have just as difficult a time building an audience, as a new artist coming to town. I think these shirts are a great way to get people to ease you out of your shell, and get you excited about talking about your next event.

Have a look at the many choices of style and color, and show off your love of music.

Tip for Artists:

You should find some helpful advice for your next conference here. There’s also a guest post about political music, and some contradictory evidence about hosts not booking artists they haven’t seen.

Conference Tips from Jack Williams
Conference Tips from James Lee Stanley
Politically Charged Music
Must see live before booking?

Click here for more easy promotion tips.

Tip for Hosts: Update your profile, and send us your dates

We continue to get more “first time visitor” traffic, and questions about how to attend shows. We also keep getting 10-20 new hosts per month, and many of them would love to attend the shows of more experienced hosts. Send us your events.

Also, keeping your host profile up-to-date allows you to enhance or restrict communication from artists. If you are booked up for 12 months, say so. If your genre descriptions are too vague, make some adjustments to limit requests from artists who aren’t well suited for your series. If you want help adding a photo to your profile, just email it to us. Log in and have a quick look.

Send us Your Live Reviews:

I’ve seen some incredible talent this month, both at the Southeast and Far-West Conferences. Here are some notable standouts:

Becca Loebe, amazing singer-songstress with dead-on delivery, powerful and poignant songs.
Walter Strauss, one of the most unique acoustic players I’ve seen, with delightful african-infused melodies, and knock you out lyrics.
Shaun Cromwell, whose words, music, and fingerstyle technique would stand out in any group. I could go on and on… more next month.

Who do you want to rave about?

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

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Some people really understand how to communicate with humor. I hope to someday nail it like Jim, announcing his upcoming residency at the Living Room in NYC. Behold.

Katie Couric asked me last week if a Fall residency at the Living Room was really the best thing for the country. I’ll tell you what I told her:

“That’s why I say I like every music-lover I’m speaking with we’re ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the performer looking to residency. But ultimately what the residency does is help those who are concerned about the tour support reform that is needed to help shore up my economy. Helping the . . . it’s gotta be all about gig creation too, shoring up my economy and putting it back on the right track. So tour support reform and reducing tour support and reigning in spending has got to accompany tour support reductions and tour support relief for labels and trio gigs - we have got to see trio gigs as opportunity not as competitive scary thing but 1 in 3 musicians not being paid in the performing sector today we’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of gig creation. This residency is a part of that.”

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