[Dixielandjazz] FW: Home concerts-- Kathy Lyon responds and takes action!

[Norman Vickers]

To:  DJML

From: Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola   nvickers1 at cox.net

Re:  Barbone’s post about Jazz Home concerts.  See how this has been adapted
by vocalist Kathy Lyon of the Jazz Society of Pensacola.  Since it
originated with DJML, I pass along to you for information and any use which
you wish to make of it.

 

Also, I repeat an invitation to join our “Musicians and Serious Jazzfans”
e-list. This is a list of about 100 persons seriously interested in the
music, mostly US but a few Canadians, a Brit and a German also are on the
list.  It’s easy to get on or off the list—just ask.  There are some lively
discussions which I moderate just enough to keep us on track.  We welcome
you or any friends with serious interest in the music—not limited to any
specific style or time period. 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Norman Vickers [mailto:nvickers1 at cox.net] 
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 7:02 PM
Subject: Home concerts-- Kathy Lyon responds and takes action!

 

This is a discussion list.  Contributions solicited.  Your comments may be
sent to the list unless otherwise instructed.

 

To:  Musicians and serious jazzfans list

From:  Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola

 

Kathy Lyon, jazz vocalist ( and graphic artist) of Pensacola area and Jazz
Society of Pensacola has seized on the idea and has come up with her own
version.

She’s ready for action in the home concert field.

 

See her document.  I have permission to send out to this list as well as the
Jazz Society of Pensacola list.

 

See Kathy’s website for photos and other data.  She acknowledges thanks and
permission from Cathy Britell, autoharpist of Seattle, WA for use of some
material from Britell’s website.


Hi friends and music lovers –
 
As we are experiencing, the times they are a changin’ – higher gas prices
and tighter budgets are affecting all of us.  As a professional jazz
vocalist, I can tell you that clubs and venues that present jazz are getting
fewer and far between.  Plus, as I often hear from jazz lovers in the
community, going to clubs can be expensive, and even a short drive home (let
alone a long drive!) after a couple of adult beverages risks a DUI or even
worse, an accident.  
 
Norm Vickers, in an email on his jazz discussion list, made a brief mention
of an idea that has been very successful for the folk music community for
many years, and I think could easily be adapted to our jazz community:  Home
Concerts!
 
I have attended several home concerts (before moving to this area), and they
were wonderful all around – for the listeners, as well as the musicians.
 
Here are just a few advantages for the jazz community members:
-     a relaxed, informal performance by your favorite jazz artists, in the
comfort of your own home
-     no financial obligation
-     a great way to introduce some of your other friends to the music
-     that warm feeling of supporting the music and the artists
-     you can save money by providing your own drinks and food rather than
pay “restaurant” prices
 
For the jazz musician:
-     a very personal way to present your music in a supportive listening
environment
-     a way to meet new people and expose your music to a larger audience
-     an opportunity to sell CD’s
 
After all, if the clubs and restaurants aren’t presenting the music, why not
have it in a more intimate home setting!?
 
I’ve borrowed some suggestions from a website that was focused on home
concerts for folk and Celtic music. Please read it over, and let’s start a
new tradition for supporting Jazz!!!

Making the Music Happen:
Producing concerts and workshops for your favorite jazz musicians.

When you hear about a wonderful concert or workshop by a jazz musician, do
you wish you could have heard it or taken part, or think about how nice it
would be if these things took place in your community?    
 
Well, having those things happen is quite possible...not a far-fetched idea
at all. As a matter of fact, if you want to enable musicians you enjoy
hearing to keep improving their art and craft, to continue making new
recordings, and to share their music with others, wishing isn’t enough.  You
are the one who can and must make the music happen.    Most jazz musicians
are at the mercy of club owners who base their booking decisions on how many
people turn out, how many drinks are bought, etc. Even in clubs where we
think jazz would be nice don’t want the “hassle” of hiring musicians in the
hopes of drawing a crowd. It is a financial risk for them, and
unfortunately, drawing a crowd isn’t easy. An evening out with drinks, food,
etc. can be expensive for many people.
 
HOW HOME CONCERTS CAN WORK:
House concerts are a uniquely personal way to present music.   There are a
number of considerations unique to hosting a house concert that will
maximize your success and enjoyment.
 
It’s really just a house party – do you enjoy having people over socially?
It’s a continuation of a long tradition in jazz music – they used to call
them “rent parties”, getting a bunch of musicians together to raise
contributions to cover the rent.  But instead of your own rent, you’ll be
helping your favorite jazz artists keep their careers financially possible.
 
To make it financially viable for the performer, you should be able to
accommodate 20 or 40 people (or more, depending on your home).  Do you have
a large family room or living room?  Or if you have a nice backyard, with a
deck or lanai, an outside concert could work (preferably with a covered area
for the musicians), with people bringing their own lawnchairs, etc.  
 
It’s important to respect the neighbors, of course.  A week or so before the
concert, let your neighbors know that you’ll be having a home concert party,
and inviting them to come.   Often, neighbors love the house concert, many
will come and contribute to its success, and it’s important that they all
know what’s going on and aren’t upset about all the cars parked there that
night.
 
If you’re doing a house concert, you may want to consider a friendly potluck
dinner beforehand or afterward, or a snack at the break.  If you do so, you
need to think about how you want to orchestrate the food, the seating, and
the music. Let people bring their beverage of choice, just like you would
for a party.  
 
Always remember that the music is the primary reason the artist and the
audience are there, and so your job is to provide an atmosphere that
supports the music as well as possible. Chairs are very important for a
house concerts.  Don’t expect people above the age of 25 to sit on the floor
for any length of time.  Often renting good lightweight folding chairs (most
places will rent them for under a dollar apiece) is a good way to insure
that people will be comfortable.   If your concert is outside, people can
bring their own lawn chairs.
 
In a house concert, the performer is generally quite willing to mingle with
the guests, and part of the fun for the performer and the guests is the
personal nature of the interaction.   
 
At house concerts babies and toddlers can often make the situation  just too
close and distracting.  Sometimes it’s useful to tell parents that although
children are most welcome, they really must sit still and be quiet during
the performance, and if they just can’t do that, the parents need to take
them to another room or outside.
 
You will need to give directions to your home. If you make a flyer to let
people know about the concert, include your phone number, and be ready to
give directions.  It’s a good idea to write out directions to your home to
post near the phone, so that when family members answer, they can simply
read something out to people.  The night of the concert, put something on
the door that says, “The house concert is here at 7:30.  Come right in.”
That way, people aren’t ringing the doorbell and you don’t have to keep
running to the door.   It’s a good idea to have a table prominently next to
the door with whatever “admission” you decide to charge.  I use a “donation
basket” with some change and signs making it clear that I’d like a voluntary
donation of a specific amount of money to support the artist.  It’s also
good to have a guest list/mailing list signup at that place.   And you can
set up the performer’s product however he/she wants.
 
A house concert is unique in that it’s a public gathering that feels like a
private party.  Almost always, people will behave just like personal friends
you’d invite over.  Occasionally you will get someone who may want to do
something you don’t want to happen in your home.  It’s important to have a
forceful, appropriate, comfortable way of saying, “It’s time for you to go
home now.”
 
ADMISSION
How much do you want to charge for admission?  You’ll want to have a ticket
price appropriate to the resources of the target audience, and in line with
other quality professional performances in the area. A fee of $10-$15 per
person could raise $200 to $400 (based on 20 to 40 people in attendance.)
Audience members will see that they can actually save money (as opposed to
going to a club/restaurant) and have a much better musical experience! Many
area musicians would be happy to consider accepting such a gig, and can help
bring in people through their own fan lists and supporters.
 
PRODUCT SALES
How does the performer want to do this?  Many like to do their own. If you
do this for a performer, make sure to keep careful accounting of how much
product you have, how much money you collect, etc. And make sure someone is
overseeing this.  It's understandably upsetting to performers to have
product "walk away".
 
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
It's really important to have a good, polished, short introduction to kick
off the concert, somebody announce the intermission and its end, call the
performer up for encores, and say goodbye and thank-you, as well as
encourage food and product sales. If you're not good at it, get somebody who
is.  
 
SOUND
Home parties are ideal for smaller groups, most likely a duo or trio. Most
professional musicians own or have access to quality sound gear that will
serve nicely.  The volume level should be very comfortable for the
listeners, and shouldn’t be a problem for neighbors.  A sound check will
need to be done before people arrive (usually about an hour before the
concert).  Check with the performer for his/her preferences on this.
 
PUBLICITY
You may only want to invite people you know, making it truly a personal home
concert.  You may also use e-mail lists from an organization that supports
the music (such as the JSOP list).  Have people make reservations ahead of
time so that you know how many people to expect.  Depending on the size of
your concert space, word of mouth, phone calls, emails, etc. could fill your
audience up.  
 
THE MONEY
You need to discuss money carefully and openly with the performer.  Find out
how much he/she expects to make from the concert, and be frank about what
your expectations are as to proceeds, if you can.  Some performers will
require a guarantee of a certain amount of money to perform; but most will
not. Be clear about what your expenses are, and whether you want to “donate”
your expenses to the performer, or whether your overhead will come out of
the proceeds before the performer is paid. The most common arrangement for
house concerts is to give the performer everything that is collected, unless
you have to rent equipment.  
 
Many performers will have a contract for you that will outline specifics of
remuneration, benefits and working conditions.  If your performer does not
have a contract, it is a good idea to write him/her a letter outlining your
understand of what you’ve agreed upon.  Often people whose concerts you’re
producing are also good friends, and you may assume this formality is
unnecessary; however, making the financial arrangements clear in writing is
a good way to avoid straining those friendships.
 
If possible, pay the performer directly after the concert in cash.      It
is courteous to give the performer an accounting of how many people came,
how much was collected, and how the money was divided.
 
BRINGING UP THE IDEA
Keep in mind that it’s up to you to initiate contact with the performer
whose concert you’d like to host.  If you like a performer, contact them by
phone and discuss dates, money, and other details. The artist by and large
will be happy that you are interested, and eager to work out the details to
make it happen.  Many artists have websites with their contact information.

 
Try to give the performer some sort of realistic ballpark idea of the
remuneration they can expect, how many people you think you can accommodate,
and how you will solicit attendees.  They may also have ideas about how to
fill the room.
 
So…it’s time to pull out your pen and paper, make some notes, and have a
concert!   
 
REMEMBER, JAZZ IS OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE.  We cannot hope that jazz will
survive by depending on clubs and traditional venues.  As we’ve all noticed,
more and more music that is presented commercially is canned “karaoke” with
backing tracks. Jazz musicians, if they are to continue to present
professional-quality music, must have the support of people who love the
music.  Many musicians are retired with other sources of income and do the
music as a hobby, which is fine.  But those of us who are trying to do it on
a professional basis are struggling – we don’t talk about it, except to each
other.  While it’s lovely to get compliments and kudos for our performances,
nothing shows real support like helping us financially.
 
I truly believe there are jazz lovers out there who would be willing to have
the occasional “jazz home concert” – and it could help your favorite jazz
musicians continue sharing this wonderful music.
 
Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you at a JAZZ HOME CONCERT!
 
Kathy Lyon
Jazz Vocalist
850-936-5634
www.KathyLyonMusic.com HYPERLINK
"http://www.KathyLyonMusic.com"<http://www.KathyLyonMusic.com> 
 
 
Thanks to Cathy Britell, Seattle WA, an autoharp artist
HYPERLINK "http://www.cathybritell.com/"http://www.cathybritell.com/

 

                                                --end--


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