datamusicata

Received this post the other day and I thought we could all benenfit by considering the questions asked. Here’s the post:

How are you? I try to stay connected through your blogs and advice. Thank you for sharing the wisdom!

I have a question...I've been working hard on stepping into the next level of performing. I managed a few festivals this year, I am working on breaking into house concerts and I have my eye on opening acts! I went to Memphis in February for the Folk Alliance Conference and through that was asked to perform a house concert in Virginia (Bob Grahamm House Concerts). He is booking into 2010 and has offered me Sept. of 2010...the question...Does this create an opening for other house concerts? Is it worth the travel? Is it possible to book a tour around 1 date?

Stay cool and I look forward to hearing from.

House concerts are a wonderful experience for everyone. The only down side is that the audience is so gracious and kind that they make it seem easy to entertain them.

You won’t grow exponentially just doing house concerts. You need to perform in all kinds of situations, because the situation is always going to be different until you are as big as the Rolling Stones, then the sameness sets in.

But for now, yes on the house concerts (I myself play as many as I possibly can. I love the audience, the experience and the remuneration), and while most house concerts don’t give you a guarantee, you can usually depend upon them to do well by you.

So take the gig and then try to find as many places in the same state or bordering states as you can. If you don’t know how to do that, then go to the sites of people who are in your genre and your ability level and see where they are playing. This kind of harvesting is okay to do.

Then contact everyone you can find and let them know that you are already performing at a particular venue (or house concert). If you are playing someplace with a good reputation, that only helps you.

It allows people to perceive you as a pro and not a wannabe. And remember it’s your job to get the gig. It’s not their job to make it easy for you. Venues get hundreds of contacts a week and they do the best they can.

And they will probably lose what you send them sometimes. Here’s what you do. Contact them by email, by phone and then send them a package if they agree that you may send it. Then contact them a week or so later to ascertain that they received it. At that point tell them that you are merely ascertaining that they received it. Tell them that you will be calling back at their convenience to find out if they would like to book you. Ask them when would be a good time to call back. Then send them a little thank you note for taking their time with you. Then contact them exactly whey they told you to. Good luck. The competition is fierce but that’s what makes us all get so damned good.