house concerts and 21st century touring

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Message from Fran:

After a year of talking about it, I finally finished our “house concert invitation” video - a tool that can help anyone raise interest in attending their house concerts.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’ve had a thousand “look-sees” in just one week. I’m happy to see our hosts link to the video in their invitations and flyers, and and to see artists blogging about it to share the concept with their fans. I look forward to the first report that yes, “someone we’ve been trying to get to attend finally did because of the video.” Who will it be?

KERRVILLE/Carpool - I’ll be attending the first weekend of Kerrville this year for the New Folk Competition. I’m driving from Lawrence, KS and possibly stopping in Dallas on the way down and back. It’s mostly I-35, so email me if you live along the way and need a ride.

Major CIYH improvements:

This is the kind of email you get from putting your events on the house concerts calendar.

To: Duncan House Concerts
The person below is inquiring about your show with: Kenny Edwards
On: 05/16/09

Full Name: Jaime C.
Email: j@changedforprivacy.com
Guest Zip: 90230
Occupation: teacher/writer
Join Host List: Yes

Note from inquiry: Hi,
My wife Nora and I are passionate music fans.  I’m actually a keyboard/vocalist myself who used to perform in bands and solo, but now just jam for fun.  We live in Culver City and try to patronize the local music scene, from Boulevard Music (Culver City) to McCabes (Santa Monica) to Kulak’s Woodshed (In the valley) and even Jazz at the A-Frame (Hollywood Hills). We would love to be put on your calendar list for upcoming events!

We get one or two inquiries each day that look something like the example above. The state calendars are a great way to expand your circle of friends and a nice source of potential new invitees. Your private information is protected, so you have the luxury of choosing if you’d like to reach out to those who show interest. Just log in as HOST and list your shows!

New CIYH Hosts: (artist members can search “member since 2009-04″ using the advanced search. )

New House Concert Presenters in NB, ON, AK, AL, CA, IA, IL, ME, MS, NJ, NY, OH, OR, TN, TX, VA, WA, and our first host in Wyoming!

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

Look for these new artists here!

All My Pretty Ones, Aly Tadros, Amanda Pearcy, Amanda West, Arvel Bird, Ben Mallott, Clockwork, Dan Janisch, Elizabeth Jonasson, Henhouse Prowlers, James Talley, John Albert Thomas, Kira Small, LaMay & Reese, Lilli Lewis, Lisa Lynne, MaMuse, Matthew Francis Andersen, Michael Pickett, Mike Vial, Miss Quincy, Muza, Neal Fox, Open Range, Peter Janson, Richard Berman, Rick Hill, Rob Lutes, Smile Pretty Misery, Stormin’ Norman & Suzy, Teresa Storch, Susan Gibson, The Don’t Tell Darlings, The Lime Hollow Boys, the Mickeys, The Victor Mourning, Vlada Tomova’s Balkan Tales, Yahaloma

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

Adam Payne, Jeanne T. Arrigo, Julie Sutton, Tom Smith, Michael Gulezian, Kim Angelis, James Casto

Schwag Star of the Month:

Dave Arsenault with sisters-in-law at the Bill and Kate Isles concert.

Tip for Artists and Hosts:

• Doing Interviews about House Concerts
• New Blog: House Concert Basics: Invitation Lists, Choosing Location, Choosing Date and Time
• Artists log in here | Hosts Log in here

Want to hear from CIYH more than once or twice a month? Catch the tweets or get connected here.

In the CD Player:

George Ensle’s “Build a Bridge.” Heart-felt rootsy ballads perfect for laid-back folk radio, and building monthly newsletters.

Please share this information with people you like. — fran

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Reporters are increasingly contacting CIYH artists and hosts through our site for interviews regarding house concerts. Will you be ready if they contact you?

The press seems to like the topic of house concerts (especially if there’s an angle) but historically it hasn’t always been a great fit. Some articles have resulted in local “official types” making inquiries about zoning issues, and actually caused a few exasperated hosts to stop hosting their events.

Every host has their own circumstances, and some appreciate (or feel they need) some press to have successful events. Some hosts don’t really care about coverage, but they realize that it can be helpful to their performers, and so they oblige. As long as press continues to happen (and it will), we may as well be smart about it.

I’ve done a good bit of press over the past 3 years, and here’s a quick summary of what I’ve learned.

1. You will be misquoted in almost every article
2. Reporters will often want to focus on conflicts - real or imagined
3. If they can’t find conflict they will settle for humor.
4. They will want to run a photo without giving proper credit.
5. They will often assume that a particular house concert adequately describes all house concerts.
6. Even if the reporter gets everything right, chances are the editor will chop a very important section that leaves something important totally out of context.

So what to do?

Just like (oxymoron alert!) a good politician,  you need to have some talking points. Politicians live off TV and press interviews, and there’s a very good reason they stick to a narrow message and repeat it endlessly.

Reporters tend to look for facts that fit some sort of narrative or point of view. Scan your favorite news source and look for the phrase “on the other hand” - chances are, you won’t find it. For the general public, balanced writing is dull. Give me a point of view so I can love you or hate you. Otherwise, I won’t care. On cable television news, this trend is particularly ridiculous.

Example:  I recently did an interview with a reporter who had an interest in house concerts. About half-way through the article she starts talking about how quickly you could pull one of these together… like maybe 3 days. 3 DAYS?

Turns our her headline/angle was “Fun events you can put together in 3 days.” She asks me to confirm that house concerts fit the bill, and to recommend how to find performers that quickly. So I start to back track… “Well, chances are you won’t find great talent in that amount of time, or be able to get a significant number to attend, and so on…” I try to make it clear that someone who tries this will most likely end up with a “party with music” and not a “house concert.” No matter, her mind is made up, she only wants the facts that fit her story.

Tips for artists and hosts doing interviews that mention house concerts.

TALKING POINTS

1. Be sure to use the word “donation” or “suggested donation” and NOT “charge” or “tickets.” These last two are buzz words that make the event seem like a business. House concerts are not a business, and we have to make sure they aren’t interpreted as such.
2. Focus on the fact that the audience is essentially friends, neighbors, and acquaintances of the host - not the general public.
3. Have a short, fun/funny house concert story. Make one up or call me if you need one. 8^) Again, even if the reporter is a fan of house concerts, the editor most likely will not be. The editor most likely will look for conflict or humor… which will you provide?
4. Talk about what you love most about house concerts - getting to know the guests, a listening audience, great feedback on new material, the cozy atmosphere, the food, etc… again don’t focus on money. Even though we all know the money can be much better than other types of gigs, the less said about it the better. For some people, it’s very difficult to understand why someone would host concerts “simply for the love of it.” It’s very easy for them to think the homeowner is getting a cut and/or running a business.
5. Talk about why your music (hosts: “the artist’s music) is well-suited for these types of events.

STYLE POINTS

1. Don’t talk fast unless you know they are taping you. Speak at a measured pace if you want to be quoted correctly.
2. Don’t ramble. Give the interviewer plenty of space to ask questions.
3. Be courteous, but not too excited - especially if you’re new to the process. Remember, the press needs you as much as you think you need them. Stay positive, and look at the interview as something you are doing to help someone. Help them write an interesting and accurate story.

THE MANTRA
While doing interviews about house concerts, constantly ask yourself, “How can I keep this positive, and be so clear that I can’t possibly be misunderstood?”

House concerts are increasingly vital to performers who no longer want to play to half-empty rooms of distracted people. Let’s nurture this beautiful thing, O.K.? - Fran

P.S. - I’d love to see your comments if you have something to add from your experience with the press.

Monica from Tripping Lily shows how to properly accessorize a CIYH shirt while recording their latest record.

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