house concerts and 21st century touring

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“I just booked 5 more house concerts in the last week.. I wanted to extend a thanks to you for the site and for the great advice.. It’s helped immensely and is one of the main reasons I’m surviving out on the road.” — Jesse Terry

Fran’s Message :

Just returned from a great show in Atlanta, GA. If you look, you can find signs of life, and places where music is thriving. In the past few years, a friend of mine has built a monthly concert that now draws more than 200 people to each show (at $20/person to see unknown acts like me.) This was their biggest turnout ever, and an amazing time. Don’t let redundant media messages get you down… you have more power than ever to shape your destiny. Find work that inspires you, downsize your needs, and recharge your life.

I’m doing my first appearance at the Bugle Boy in La Grange, TX this month. This lovely place is one great example of the venues we intend to support with ListeningRoomNetwork.com.

Conferences and Showcase Opportunities:
Hosts and Artists! Please join us at a music conference near you. The regional get-togethers put on by Folk Alliance provide a wonderful opportunity for us to meet, share, and enjoy some great music. Several of these conference offer discounts to CIYH hosts, so please get in touch ASAP if you’d like to meet up. See dates and locations.

CIYH Artists - here’s the info if you’d like a guerilla showcase in our room at SWRFA, NERFA, Far-West, or SERFA. (space is limited, so inquire early)

“Dinner and Song (DNS)” Update:
Many hosts and artists have shown interest in this new program, designed as an easy weeknight event. Hosts will be able to “opt-in” to this program, or even sign up for this DNS only if they prefer. It’s a great fit in so many ways… more news soon.

“ListeningRoomNetwork.com (LRN)” Update:
We’re having to make significant modifications to CIYH so that the two sites will work well together… more news soon!

Video Contest:
Last year’s contest was so much fun and so rewarding for the participants that we are doing it again. This year’s grand prize? How about a 10-day house concert tour? Details very soon, but in the meantime, artists… let’s make a video that rivals last year’s top 10 entries.

“I really really like the Personal Light Show… It makes the music sound even better! — R. Poole, House Concert Host

“We’re getting great reviews from hosts and artists who have purchased these great lights.”

New CIYH Hosts: (artist members can search “member since 2010-08″ using the advanced search.)

10 New House Concert Presenters in CA, CO, FL, KY, NJ(2), OR, PA(2), TX
Due to the extra attention now given to new hosts, we have a bit of a backlog in activations right now. We want to give each new host the best chance at early success, and to educate them on the importance of using the “booking lights” effectively, as well as the courtesy of responding to artists who make personal, professional, and kind inquiries.

New CIYH Artists:

(Welcome Aboard!)

Alex Gordon Hi-Fi, Amy Petty, Angie Marie, Astrid Young, Bruce Kurnow, Buffalofitz, Cyd Ward, Daniel Sperry, Declan McGarry, Dexter Carlson, Gerry Griffin, J.R. Byrd, Jared Young, Javier Mendoza, Jeremiah Birnbaum, Johnsmith, Keeley Valentino, Lipbone Redding, Lisa Lindsley Jazz Trio, Lisa Torres, Lore Constantine, mamalama, Mark Kroos, Mark Radcliffe, Merry Ellen Kirk, Molasses Creek, Molly’s Revenge, Randy Palmer, Rob Morsberger, Ron Murray, Shannon McNally, Stephanie Nilles, The Gatorbone Trio, Vivian Sessoms, Wilson & Moore

Our Audio 6-Packs (free downloads) are back! This month, download 2 tracks from each of our featured artists. Lovely music!

Look for these new artists here!

Renewed Artists:

(Signed on for another great year!) Alfred James, Amanda Duncan, Andy Hill & Renee Safier, Annie Moscow, Austin Ladd Roberts, David Leask, Dewveall, Home Grown Tomatoes, Jan Krist & Jim Bizer, Jeff Larson, Jenn Grinels, Joanna Burns, Karyn Oliver, Laura Zucker, Lynne Hanson, Marc Black, Mary Hartman, Americana, Mayes2, Muriel Anderson, Putnam Smith, Rhonda and Peco, Rod MacDonald

Schwag of the Month:

It’s getting near the time of year to keep yourself warm in some long sleeves, while revving everyone up about the excitement of having concerts in your home. If they’re not close enough to see your awesome stylin’ shirt, then you better send them one of your House Concert-loving postcards.

Choose your style and size shirt here!

Tips for Artists and Hosts:

• CIYH Artist (guerilla showcase) Opportunities this fall
• Amy Petty: A Case Study on How to Get Started as a CIYH Artist.
• Things you should know about hosts at CIYH
• Getting Your Music into Pandora
• Another EPK? Why, CIYH, why?
• House Shows vs House Concerts vs House Parties
• Russ and Julie and “The Wrecking Crew”
• ListeningRoomNetwork.com now in development
• Dinner and Song - new format creates mini house concerts.

Artists and Hosts log in here

Please share this newsletter with people you like. — fran

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Join us at a music conference this fall!

Folk Alliance International provides 5 regional opportunities each fall to allow us to get our hosts and artists together under one roof. It’s great time, very inspiring, and a great way to make new friends and hear new artists. Many hosts attend these conferences to collaborate with other hosts, and to experience artists first-hand so they can book their house concerts with more confidence. Check the link for your area… Let’s meet up!

SWRFA (southwest regional folk alliance)
conference dates September 30 - October 3 in Austin TX
FARM (folk alliance region midwest)
conference dates October 7-10 in Bolingbrook, IL
SERFA (southeast regional folk alliance)
conference dates October 14-17 in Mountainview, AR
FAR-West (folk alliance region west)
conference dates October 21-25 in San Jose, CA
NERFA (northeast regional folk alliance)
conference dates November 11-14 in Kerhonkson, NY

Have a look at this “after hours” video, and some of the others on youtube. This one is a walk-around during the guerrilla (hotel room) showcases that take place on three floors of the hotel.

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One of the best things about the Folk Alliance conferences is that it gives Jeff and I the opportunity to personally hear you play. As much as we strive to make the website as personal and attractive and effective as possible, nothing will ever rival the opportunity to meet in person. We’ll also rally as many of our hosts to attend as possible.

I hope you’ll join us at one of the five regional conferences coming up. Be sure to let us know if you plan to attend, especially if we’ve not heard you play before. We’ll be hosting small showcases in our hotel room at 4 of the 5 conferences.

You must register for the conference to showcase in our room, but we do not charge artists for a showcase in the CIYH room.

Opportunities are limited, and we’ll be most interested in booking artists who follow instructions. 8^)
If you want to showcase, here’s what you do.

Send an email to the appropriate address below, and include a link to your CIYH profile.

Subject: Artist/Act name

swrfa@concertsinyourhome.com for (Austin, TX) SWRFA
nerfa@concertsinyourhome.com for (Kerhonkson, NY) NERFA
farwest@concertsinyourhome.com for (San Jose, CA) Far-West
serfa@concertsinyourhome.com for (Mountain View, AR) SERFA

Please do not ask for a showcase if you already have 3 or more on a single night.
Please tell us if you will only be attending on specific days.

Also, it’s not too late to get Performance Alley showcases at FARM in Bolingbrook IL (near Chicago)

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