In just two weeks we've had more than 40 artists and 22 hosts sign up on our website, and the pace is accelerating. I had no doubt there was a need for this website, but I did have reservations about my ability to get the word out in a meaningful way. Your response is very encouraging.
While we still have a lot of development left to do, I must offer thanks to Bryan Tilford, our webmaster, who has done an incredible job of keeping up with all the listings, and my incessant requests for webpage tweaks and the design of new pages.
We are developing a search engine and database, that we hope will automate the signing up process much like what happens at CDBaby.
I especially want to thank the established house concert hosts, for getting onboard. These folks have selflessly carried on this great tradition without much help. It is my wish to shed light on the great example they have set, and to encourage others, even artists themselves, to follow in their path.
Yes, there are bound to be artists that sign-up, hoping that the house concert world will beat a path to their door. I will keep affirming that the artists who will most benefit are the ones willing to work this market (turning their fans into hosts with our help), and the ones willing to start a concert series of their own.
You can stare at an empty fireplace all night long, and wonder why there is no fire. Or you can put some wood in, and light a match.
I look forward to reading some comments!
Fran Snyder
www.fransnyder.com
www.concertsinyourhome.com
Monday, April 17, 2006
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Taking Care of the Hosts.
Concerts in Your Home .com
Taking Care of the Hosts.
While our main goal at concertsinyourhome is to grow the house concert market, there are other ways in which we must serve. The artist's needs are relatively clear. They want to find more place to perform, and a good source of up-to-date information.
However, the needs of house concert hosts are a bit more diverse.
For new hosts, they need to be turned on. They need to find acts whose songs connects strongly enough to make a music-lover take the leap, and schedule the first show in their home. They need advice, suggestions, and to learn the lessons of the experienced hosts, who have seen much of what can go right or wrong when inviting art, and sometimes strange people into your home.
Experienced hosts have very different needs. Many of them DON'T want new artists to find them. Due to the small size of the current house concert market, they've already been found, and have the difficult task of saying "no" to a lot of fine artists. They just don't have the time to schedule everyone they like.
What they DO need is a bigger audience. They want to people with a genuine love of music to fill the seats, be inspired, and leave the party with a smile. They have no budget to advertise, and their press releases must compete with the releases of Label Acts who are filling large concert halls and clubs. They too are underdogs.
So here is how we plan to help:
1. We grow the market, inspiring more people (and artists!) to become hosts.
2. We publicise the concept of house concerts, inspiring people to attend these shows.
3. We cultivate an online community, making it easier for everyone to find each other.
4. We take suggestions from you, below, through this blog, and give them careful consideration.
5. Rinse and repeat.
Taking Care of the Hosts.
While our main goal at concertsinyourhome is to grow the house concert market, there are other ways in which we must serve. The artist's needs are relatively clear. They want to find more place to perform, and a good source of up-to-date information.
However, the needs of house concert hosts are a bit more diverse.
For new hosts, they need to be turned on. They need to find acts whose songs connects strongly enough to make a music-lover take the leap, and schedule the first show in their home. They need advice, suggestions, and to learn the lessons of the experienced hosts, who have seen much of what can go right or wrong when inviting art, and sometimes strange people into your home.
Experienced hosts have very different needs. Many of them DON'T want new artists to find them. Due to the small size of the current house concert market, they've already been found, and have the difficult task of saying "no" to a lot of fine artists. They just don't have the time to schedule everyone they like.
What they DO need is a bigger audience. They want to people with a genuine love of music to fill the seats, be inspired, and leave the party with a smile. They have no budget to advertise, and their press releases must compete with the releases of Label Acts who are filling large concert halls and clubs. They too are underdogs.
So here is how we plan to help:
1. We grow the market, inspiring more people (and artists!) to become hosts.
2. We publicise the concept of house concerts, inspiring people to attend these shows.
3. We cultivate an online community, making it easier for everyone to find each other.
4. We take suggestions from you, below, through this blog, and give them careful consideration.
5. Rinse and repeat.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
House Concerts
It is astounding to me how many music-loving people have no idea what a house concert is, and the caliber of artists that are available for concerts in their homes.
Despite the few major media articles that have run, there's been no focal point for the movement, which has made it hard for the media to stay interested. I see www.concertsinyourhome.com as the tool to solve this problem.
I'm thrilled to see some of the most respected house concert series on our list, but I'm dedicated to multiplying that number many times over. There's simply so much talent in this country, and so many people that would enjoy the experience, if they only had some exposure to it.
I know some hosts are reluctant to list because they are such "hot targets" already, and can't bear to have to say "no" to more artists than they already do. That's why we offer to keep their contact info hidden, allowing them to state that "they prefer to browse our site". I feel it is important to build our host listings quickly, to build momentum, and to encourage existing hosts like yourself to lead by example. In turn, this encourages artists to sign up, and they have to be the catalysts, for they stand to gain the most.
I intend to provide the tools for them, encourage them, and hopefully inspire them by doing what they should also be doing:
1. starting their own series, where they can host and be openers for artists they respect
2. seeking publicity, using well-written press releases, photos, and quotes that show that they are part of a larger movement worthy of national media attention.
3. promoting our site to their fans, and their musician friends, who have much to gain and much to offer to grow an entirely new market for singer/songwriters. In turn, allowing them to escape the drudgery of promoting themselves to bars, restaurants, and clubs that provide too many distractions for any meaningful connection to happen between artists and their audience.
As you see, it's easy for me to ramble on about this subject, and I look forward to doing radio, tv, and print publicity for this project. I'm grateful for your involvement, and your shared passion for this cause. Please check our website, and keep in touch.
Fran Snyder
www.fransnyder.com
www.concertsinyourhome.com
Despite the few major media articles that have run, there's been no focal point for the movement, which has made it hard for the media to stay interested. I see www.concertsinyourhome.com as the tool to solve this problem.
I'm thrilled to see some of the most respected house concert series on our list, but I'm dedicated to multiplying that number many times over. There's simply so much talent in this country, and so many people that would enjoy the experience, if they only had some exposure to it.
I know some hosts are reluctant to list because they are such "hot targets" already, and can't bear to have to say "no" to more artists than they already do. That's why we offer to keep their contact info hidden, allowing them to state that "they prefer to browse our site". I feel it is important to build our host listings quickly, to build momentum, and to encourage existing hosts like yourself to lead by example. In turn, this encourages artists to sign up, and they have to be the catalysts, for they stand to gain the most.
I intend to provide the tools for them, encourage them, and hopefully inspire them by doing what they should also be doing:
1. starting their own series, where they can host and be openers for artists they respect
2. seeking publicity, using well-written press releases, photos, and quotes that show that they are part of a larger movement worthy of national media attention.
3. promoting our site to their fans, and their musician friends, who have much to gain and much to offer to grow an entirely new market for singer/songwriters. In turn, allowing them to escape the drudgery of promoting themselves to bars, restaurants, and clubs that provide too many distractions for any meaningful connection to happen between artists and their audience.
As you see, it's easy for me to ramble on about this subject, and I look forward to doing radio, tv, and print publicity for this project. I'm grateful for your involvement, and your shared passion for this cause. Please check our website, and keep in touch.
Fran Snyder
www.fransnyder.com
www.concertsinyourhome.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)