house concerts and 21st century touring

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Message from Fran:

97 degrees. In Kansas. Our pool is 4 feet wide, 6 inches deep, and made of 1/8 thick blue plastic. And yes, we’re using it. Best $7.99 I’ve ever spent. Kiddie pool my …

CIYH stats and developments:

Most of our hosts (200 or so) have now updated their information, and have their own, edit-anytime page on the site. I’m committed to providing accurate (and helpful) information, so our hosting community will be a little smaller until our remaining hosts complete the transition. (Email me if you aren’t sure if that means you.)

We’ve fixed most of the bugs with the login and search issues, with a few remaining tweaks necessary for Windows XP users. (Firefox seems more stable than Internet Explorer). I appreciate everyone’s help and patience in improving this site.

I’m pleased to announce a new feature, “Letters from Ned.” Ned Treanor’s unique and quirky stories about folk music and Woodstock era superstars are a joy to read. With some positive feedback from (YOU) our readers, I think we can make this a monthly feature.

June was hectic, with 36 new artists, and 15 new hosts. It was especially fun to chat with Jack Williams (one of the busiest and most respected house concert acts) about his experience, and chatting with Larry Hoppen (of Orleans… “Still the One,” “Dance with Me”) about his desire to do more house concerts. Steve McCarty (guitarist and co-writer with Steve Miller Band) also jumped into the house concert world - and might just sit in with me in Phoenix this fall.

The talent on this site keeps getting better and better. I encourage you to browse, and check out some names you don’t recognize.

New CIYH Hosts:

Creekside (BC), Sounds Across the Valley (BC), Live @ Angel’s Serenity (AZ), Equinox Productions (CA), Nurse Judi’s (CA), Aspen Meadows (CA), Mama Bird (GA), Hitaga (IA), Red Box (IL), Indy Hostel (IN), Music at the Kitchen (IN), Concerts in the Valley (MD), Red Bear (NC), Alive in Madison (NJ), Port Royal (NV), Pinewoods Folk Club (NY), Vanna’s (OK), Dancing Beagle (VA)

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

Ali Weiss, Arthur Yoria, Bill Whyte, Cady Finlayson & Vita Tanga, Chris Foster, Dean Station, Debbie Zepick, Jack Williams, Julius Curcio, Kaleo Wheeler, Kathy Zimmer, Kelly’s Lot, Kory Wilcox, Kurt Michaels, Larkin Gayl, Larry Hoppen & Fly Amero, Laura Zucker, Lou & Peter Berryman, Luke Sayers, Maria DuBiel, Melissa Greener, Noah Earle, Ray Peal and Friends, Rich Wyman, Shotgun Party, Sing along with Phoebe, Siobhán O’Brien, Spencer Brewer, Stephen Foster (Howler), Steve Eulberg, Steve McCarty & Friends, Teri Wilder, Tey, The Border Blasters, The Hayburners, Tracy Kash Thomas

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

Arlon Bennett, John Batdorf, Sonya Heller, Renee Mixon, Jim Patton, Shay Watson, Five Little Monkeys.

Artist of the Month: Jack Williams

This month we feature Jack Williams, who some might call the “House Concert King.” I forgot to ask him about how he’s managed to avoid “trucker’s back,” after touring 50,000+ miles per year, for decades (and decades.) Somehow, he feels like he’s just hitting his prime, and I bet many of our hosts would agree. Read about Jack…

Host of the Month: James Casto

It’s one thing for an artist to have an impact with their music. A great lyric, a memorable message, an unforgettable performance. For some artists, that’s only the beginning. Visit James Casto, an compelling artist who tirelessly (yes, he gets tired - but you’d never know it) promotes the music of his friends, co-writers, and other fine artists who have the good fortune to cross his path. Read about James…

Tip for Artists: Create a regional network of house concerts.

With the escalating costs of travel, it’s important to develop local opportunities… here’s an idea. Will this be the post that inspires you, or will you wait until next month?

Tip for Hosts: Video Your Next Event

Just like artists, I’m sure you have trouble getting the concept of a “house concert” to resonate with some people when you invite them to your events. I’m doing my best to create some video to help you, but I think you could do even better with some footage of your next event.

What if you could put up a video of a great song (all you need is one!) from your next act on the web! You could link to it whenever you send out an email invitation, to give your friends are real taste of how fun these events can be.

Take a look at these videos, and see how simple (and low-tech!) it can be to put a little charm in your invitations. If you don’t have a website, you can upload it to YouTube, and send us the link.

If you or one of your guests has a camcorder (DVR), but you don’t know how to manipulate or upload the footage, you can mail me the tape. Get the artists permission (ahead of time) and read these tips…

New Feature: Letters from Ned

I’ve recently exchanged some emails with Ned Treanor, who has a rich history (and memory!) of the folk music heroes that many of you will be familiar with. This one is a funny story about Don McLean and Lee Hays.

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

Please share this information with people you like. — fran
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Message from Fran:

Concerts In Your Home is 2 Years Old…

Two years ago, CIYH was born out of equal parts inspiration and frustration. I decided there needed to be a place where you could find current, helpful information about house concerts. A place where both artists and hosts could come together to enhance and expand this wonderful community.

I want to thank everyone for their kindness and encouragement, especially the artists and hosts whose testimonials help spread the word about CIYH. I’m consistently impressed with the caliber of people who involve themselves with house concerts, and I’m grateful for everyone’s help in taking care of this toddler. — fran

CIYH stats and developments:

Last month we took a major step to update EVERY host. Essentially, every host had to rejoin, and update their information to show up in our listings. Most of our hosts have now rejoined, and I’m hoping all our remaining active hosts will take this step in the next few days.

Here’s what our new host pages look like.

Here are the advantages:

1. hosts can now edit/update their information instantly
2. hosts can be found more easily by appropriate artists
3. artists can more easily “screen themselves” by having easy access to the most relevant information about each house concert series.

I believe this will improve and simplify communication between artists and hosts, and take much of the guess-work out of artist inquiries. More of what you want, less of what you don’t. Hold the sprinkles, please.

Hosts, please review this month’s tip to get the most out of your house concert listing.

New CIYH Hosts: (artist/agency members receive these by email)

(Every host is new again.) I’m still working on separating the “actual new hosts” from the “new again” hosts. Sorry for the delay during this transition.

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

Al Dawson, Alex Woodard, Andina and Rich, Cady, Claudia Russell, Colleen Sillver, Deanna Dove, Dennis O’Rourke, Glass House, Glynace, Jerry Yates, john tinger, Julie Christensen, K.C. Clifford, Kim Angelis and Josef, Kim Carson, Lee Ferris, Lucky Overton, Marshall Artz, Musical Origins, Pagan, Paul Roub, Paul Sanchez, Phil Christie, Ralston Bowles, Retta Guest Choate, Roesy, Smallfish Adventures, Stephen Lee Rich, Susan Cowsill, Suzahn Fiering, The Light Brigade

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

Ed Petterson, Marina V, Pure Evidence, Greg Trooper, Effron White, Brad Yoder, Lauren Adams, Michael Morales, Jody Whitesides

Artist of the Month:

Adrianne

“Adrianne’s recordings feature modern, tasteful production of that rare type - the kind that creates an alternate world you can walk into, but which never eclipses the power of the song. It enhances every nuance of her skillful, understated musical ability.” — Yep. I said that.

What’s the most important thing about being a performing songwriter? Is it the instrument chops? Is it the voice? Is it the ability to tell a story? In Adrianne’s case…
Read all about it.

Host of the Month:

PocoNotes

… the idea for PocoNotes was conceived in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center as Pat was making his way out of the building for what we now know was the last time.

Two decisions were made that day: to continue to live our daily lives without fear…and to make the second half of our lives count - in a way that mattered to us…and live music matters a lot. Continue..

Tip for Artists:

Video Pitch to/for Your Fans…

…I’m sure you’ve noticed that many people “don’t get it” when you try to explain what a house concert is. So here’s a new tool we just added to help you illustrate and sweeten your house concert
pitch. Read on.

And please Digg or rate the video on YouTube. Thanks!

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Tip for Hosts:

“Instructions for Artists:”

Recommended information for your host listing…

• What is your booking window? 2-4 months out, 3-6 months out, 6-12 months out, more than one year?
• Are there certain months you won’t do shows?
• Do you need to see them live, or at least a video?
• please continue…

FUN STUFF

Hosts! Please send me the most embarrassing, bad, unprofessional emails you’ve received from artists. I’m writing an article about the best and worst ways to pitch yourself to house concert hosts (and other venues). I promise to clean up the names to protect the guilty.

They don’t have to be funny, but here’s one of my favorites:

“I plays house concerts. You like me. Please call xxx.xxxx”
and that was from David Wilcox. Kidding, of course.

This website is sponsored by: Artists, D’addario, and AirPlay Direct.

Your feedback is always appreciated.

Tell your friends about house concerts. It’s too important to keep it our little secret. — fran
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Message from Fran:

We are just days away from re-launching the host information on the site. From now on, each host will have their own dedicated, full page, which they can update any time they like. A host page will look like this.

It’s been an incredible amount of work, and I’d like to thank the hosts for their willingness to participate in these nice improvements. If you’re a host and haven’t “re-joined” yet, please take a moment to do that now.

These improvements will be a huge leap forward in making artist-host communications much more effective. For example, do artists contact you to do shows on Thursday nights when you can only do Saturdays? The new layout will save everybody time and attention, and allow our hosts much more control over how their information is displayed.

Artists will love this too.

CIYH stats and developments:

CiYH stats as of April 30, 2008:
300 Hosts
420 Artists
22,000 Monthly Visitors

In April we added 18 new hosts, and 25 new artists. We also deleted 11 inactive hosts from our listings.

New CIYH Hosts: (artist/agency members receive these by email)

Desert Song, Starry Night Gatherings, Stonecliffe Summer Concert Series, Blue Moon House Concert Series, In The Mood for Food, Tara’s House Concerts, Red Bear House Concerts, NB House Concert Series, Room With A View Concerts, Big Pink House Concerts, Terra Cotta House Concerts, Equinox, Wairarapa Folk Club, Canedy’s Cape House Concerts, Kerrville House Concerts, Vanna’s House Concerts, SMS Backyard Concert, Varney’s Cabana, Francis and Camille’s Home Grooves

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

Adam Payne, Beki Hemingway, Brad Reynolds, Chris Valenti, Christina Martin, Dan Montgomery, DC Sills, Deanna Dove, Dennis Caraher, Doug Alan Wilcox, Gabriella, Jason Heath & The Greedy Souls, Jeanne T. Arrigo, Jim Wilson , Julie Sutton , kyle knapp , Laura Marie, Lisa Graciano, Nathen Aswell, Phil Putnam, Ruth and Max Bloomquist, Stella & Jane, Steve Pinnock Mood Indigo, The Translators, Tom Smith

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

Andy Hill & Renee Safier, Colin Spring, Big Hands Colvin, Jennifer Leonhardt, Perpetual Motion, VK Lynne, Michael Gulezian, Marianne Kesler, Andrea Wittgens

Merch of the Month:

We kept hearing how much people like American Apparel shirts and we discovered a great site which now features our designs on many brands including AA. Please have a look, and buy something you love.

Artist of the Month:

Craig Bickhardt

We have a bunch of hit songwriters on this site… I won’t name names because I’m sure to forget a few. However, Craig Bickhardt is one of our most successful songwriters, and he’s totally embraced doing house concerts. Check out his credits, and see about knocking out some of your friends with a few of their favorite songs - straight from the source. Read all about it.

Host of the Month:

Carrick House Concerts

They’ve really built a nice community of volunteers, and now have started broadcasting their shows on local radio. That kind of exposure (and effort!) is not something we recommend for everybody, but kudos to them for pulling it off, and grabbing some great talent on a regular basis. Read all about it.

Tip for Artists:

Upgrade Your Artist Listing

We’ve reduced the price of the full page upgrade to only $18 (was $25) for limited time (May). This allows you to upload 3 times the audio, visual, and bio, as well as including a link to a youtube video if you have one. Upgrade here.

Have you seen this fun survey yet?

It compares what artists, duos, and bands make in different types of venues (coffeehouses, bars, house concerts, colleges, festivals) Check it out, participate, and rate it!
Tip for Hosts:

Have you seen the house concert survey lately? Fascinating stuff (for me at least)
This post is an intro to it…

Or you can skip the intro and dive right in.
http://www.squidoo.com/houseconcertfastfacts

This website is sponsored by: Artists, D’addario, and AirPlay Direct.

Your feedback is always appreciated.

Tell your friends about house concerts. It’s too important to keep it our little secret. — fran
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