House concerts don't have to be inside! Here we are playing on Muscongus Island in Maine.
Sometimes getting there is half the fun. Here I am bringing the Codfish in to the dock at Round Pond for the instruments.
Here is our hostess on Muscongus. There isn't a dock on this side of the island, so getting the instruments on and off the boat was a bit of a challange!
We know that a lot of folks who buy records by Castlebay and many other artists don't come out to our live shows. Late show times, and long, late night drives home are both valid reasons for not supporting live music. The fact is that we, the artists, depend on both live shows as well
as merchandise sales to survive. What if you could have your favorite artist come to your house instead? What if you could have your own private concert in your living room or on your deck? Why not? We folkies have been doing it for years...it's called a "house concert."
Here's the basic scenario:
You contact the artist and set a date...it can be, and often is, on a weeknight. The week ends are our prime working nights in clubs, festivals and concert halls. Let's say that Castlebay is going to be in your neck of the woods on a Tuesday and needs a place to play. Typically Tuesdays are hard to book since not many venues book acts on nights early in the week. It would be mutually beneficial to both the artist and you to have a show on that night. So, Tuesday it is.Now how do you afford to pay Castlebay to have them perform for you?
Easy! Invite your friends! Think of about twenty or thirty friends who either already like Castlebay's music or to whom you would like to introduce them and send out a flier. The invitation states: "In order to have a personal concert and sit within twenty feet of the artist in a smoke free environment we are asking for a $10-$15 donation." It's just like any party, it takes a little planning to make it a success. Start a couple of months in advance and follow up with your guests. Serve some beverages, put out some chips and take up the donations. Twenty-five people at $12 each is $300. That works."How can I get twenty-five people in my living room?"
Again, it takes a little planning. Move the coffee table into a bedroom...borrow some folding chairs, use the kitchen chairs, put pillows on the floor. Give the artist a corner. Sometimes the performer can be set up in a spot where he can be seen from two rooms at once...set up two separate seating areas. Make sure to inform folks to arrive promptly at say 7:30. Get everyone into their seats by 8:00. Now, thank everyone for coming, introduce your favorite performer and sit back and enjoy the most satisfying concert of your life. The artist plays for an hour and a half or so...sells a few CD'S....and your guests are home by 10:00. You, of course, are having Castlebay in your guestroom or on your couch...so you get to wind down and ask all those questions you've always wanted to ask about songwriting, etc. Up in the morning...a quick cup of coffee and everyone is on their way.It's your call!
If this way of enjoying a Castlebay concert sounds like something you might want to do...we'll be more than happy to help you pull it off. You can call 207-529-5438 and we will get you started, or you can email (although with all the SPAM these days there is a lot not getting through)Think about it! Hope to see you soon!