house concerts and 21st century touring

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Message from Fran

The year end holidays always make us reflect on the ones we love and the things we’ve accomplished (or not) since the last time around. It’s been an interesting year for me personally, and evidence continues to mount that what we’re doing is indeed helping a lot of people.

I continue to be thrilled each time one of you reaches out and tells me your personal stories and how much these little house concerts are (becoming) an important part of your lives. I’m honored by your friendships, and I know there is still much to do.

I plan to tour a lot more in 2009, and would be delighted to meet any of you, whether it’s performing at your series, sharing the stage, or just meeting up for a cup of coffee. No matter how bleak our economy gets, there is always time for friends and fun to be had.

And I WILL be at 2009’s Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis for all of that and then some.

Your fan,

Fran Snyder

Website Improvements

I’m still giddy about the new music players on the site, and the ability to create a play list just by searching for a word. Go here, type “americana” where it says “search for acts with this word”, and hit the play button on the first profile. You’ve created a playlist. Chill out and enjoy.

We’ve also fixed a login hassle that artists were experiencing when switching from their profile to the host searches.

Finally, we’ve changed a few fields (content/instruments) in ARTIST profiles, and there are still a lot of artists who need to log in to make those adjustments. Once this is done, a fan of mandolin, dobro or harp will have a much easier time finding artists who play their favorite instruments.

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

Treehouse Collective (ON), AUER-house (ON), Seals Cottage (UK), In the Pines (AL), Echo Park (CA), Kaohe Church (HI), HomeSpun (MD), Black Crystal Cafe (MI), Ask Me House Presents (MI), Melinda’s Home (MI), SSC Library Fireside Concerts (NE), Family House (NJ), RiverFolk (NY), Winter08 (OH), Hickory Tree (KS), Occasional Concerts (VT), West Seattle (WA)

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

Al Greco, aka: Speed Limit, All Wood and Stones, Andres Codon, Andy Vine & Island Time, Austin de Lone and Paul Rogers, Brooks Williams, Brother Dan, Bud Buckley, Christina Grimm, Dana Hubbard, David Myles, Diana Rowan/Sirenharp, Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott, Gordon Michaels, Jackie Morris, Jan Randall, Jane Eamon, Jeffrey Halford, Jon Shain, Kate Power & Steve Einhorn, Lost Immigrants, Roy Schneider, Rupert Wates, Shawndell Marks, SisterMonk Trio, Tony Cox, Stephen Simmons, Terry Kinakin, The Highway Girl, The Northside Southpaws, Two Worlds Theater - Claire Roche. Also featured… Mikey DeLara.

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

Sonia Lee, Angelo M., Roy Zimmerman, John Batdorf, Steve Mason, Sky Nelson, Genevieve, Robert A. Johnson, David Glaser, Jon Roniger, New Territory – (Angelo M. and Roy Zimmerman both kicked serious butt in their performances at NERFA!)

Schwag of the Month:

Take Care of you Crew this Holiday!

Also, consider a 10-pack of CIYH compilation CDs - a great gift for your guests, as well as an incentive to those friends who haven’t come to your shows because they still “don’t quite get it.”

Nothing says “thanks for moving the couch” like a nice shirt named after a bad haircut.

Tip for Artists:

December is typically a slow month for booking activity. Why not use this time to sharpen your promotional materials for the new year?

Gather up the new quotes, finish a few new recordings, and most of all - make a couple of simple videos of yourself playing your best tunes in the living room. If the song and delivery are there, you don’t need anything fancy.

Here’s David Glaser doing a nice one. A lot more convincing than an mp3, isn’t it?

Log in and have a quick look at your artist profile.

Tip for Hosts:

The answer to “where do I…” is usually the “host log in page.” You’ll see “Hosts” at the top of every page on the site - just point and click.

That’s where you’ll see links to promote your events, get hosting tips, get booking help, and order the (almost free), critically acclaimed ConcertsInYourHome CD.

Please bookmark the link and use it often. It’s so easy to make quick changes to your profile.

Have a quick look at your host profile.

Letters from Ned:

Fran,
…here are some more “bits”, before senility takes its toll…

About 20 years ago ['88-'89], Lena Spencer fell down the stairs of her 2nd-floor emporium and into a coma from which she unfortunately never recovered. Her place, Cafe Lena, in Saratoga Springs, NY, had been one of the original clubs you HAD to play to have made it, back when there was an active folk club circuit. continued…

Who do you want to rave about?

Enjoy the holidays… and hug just a little longer than usual. — fran

And I almost forgot to thank you for this… you know who you are.

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Ned Treanor is a folk historian, with more memories than you’d expect from someone who was part of the Woodstock generation. Maybe the haze only filtered out the boring events.

I was compelled to share his recent enlightening and funny emails to me in what I hope will become a monthly series.

You want credentials? Shawn Colvin used to baby-sit his kids. Take it away, Ned

Fran,
…here are some more “bits”, before senility takes its toll…

About 20 years ago ['88-'89], Lena Spencer fell down the stairs of her 2nd-floor emporium and into a coma from which she unfortunately never recovered. Her place, Cafe Lena, in Saratoga Springs, NY, had been one of the original clubs you HAD to play to have made it, back when there was an active folk club circuit.

In the hospital, one of the attending nurses happened to ask a visiting employee of Lena’s if she could think of anything that might help stimulate a reaction from Lena, who had become totally unresponsive. She was told that “about the only thing that could guarantee a reaction from Lena would be a song from Michael Smith. Keep in mind that Lena’s club had presented everyone who was anyone - including Gordon Lightfoot and Bob Dylan! Anyway, they checked Mike’s usual haunts in Chicago and learned that he was in New York City, of all places, writing music for his first Broadway show.

As soon as he heard about Lena and the comment about his music, Mike dropped everything until he had taped a collection of his songs that he knew were particular favorites of Lena’s and got his “care package” off to Saratoga. The nurses and doctors were amazed by Lena’s sudden and continued smiling; and although she never regained consciousness, Lena immediately reacted to Mike’s tape, which helped prepare her for her “final reward”.

Rolling Stone Magazine has referred to Michael Peter Smith as “the greatest songwriter in the English language”; Chicago Magazine dubbed him “an enchanting & riveting performer”; and Sing Out! rightfully acknowledges that he “stands out as one of the undisputed geniuses among singer-songwriters”… but all of that doesn’t begin to describe Mike Smith!

– I’d say you describe him quite well, Ned.

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For immediate release, December 1, 2009

Fran Snyder named in Music Connection’s “Top 50 Innovators, Iconoclasts, Groundbreakers, and Guiding Lights of 2008.”

The magazine’s annual list also includes Derek Sivers, Irving Azoff, Brian Eno, Victor Wooten, and Jack Johnson. Fran is commended for his work and website which support the development of house concerts worldwide.

Link to magazine.

Blurb on Fran

Contact Fran Snyder
http://fransnyder.com
http://concertsinyourhome.com
817-789-2936

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