free house concert
how-to guide

In short, he said, “you don’t.”

House Concert Logistics

Let’s consider the numbers and other factors.

People who host house concerts on a regular basis do about 10 shows a year. They have hundreds of artist clamoring for those positions and they have their own roster of personal favorites and repeat performers.

Let’s assume they have 20 favorites they want to rotate into their schedule. And assume that half of those want to play there at least every other year. That means that out of 20 spots over 2 years, 10 are perpetually booked. That leads 10 spots over 2 years.

They have another 10 performers who they are going to request for those 10 spots. Assume that half cannot fit into their schedule but half can. You are left with 5 spots over 2 years.

Let’s make another assumption – probably a safe one. That they are seeking people they know and people referred by other performers first. So every 2 years, there are 5 potential spots open, dozens or hundreds of artist asking for those spots, and a select few who are closer to the inner-circle.

Do It Yourself House Concert Tour

Kevin’s advice was to create your own house concert tour. Friends, families, and friends of friends. People who become passionate listeners.

And then, when you perform at a house concert, connect with people there and see who else might host one.

As you do so, you might find that some of those house concert host hear about you and take an interest. I’ve been contacted by a couple but the logistics have not worked out. Also, I’ve had between 20-50 people at the house concerts I’ve done and those numbers seem to be as high as what I might get at one of the regular house concert venues.

Make It Easy For Your House Concert Host

To make it easier, I created my simple guide to house concerts and my one page guide to house concerts. Potential hosts have a fear that it is complicated or a lot of work.

Honestly, cheese, crackers, chairs, sofa, or mats on the floor. That’s all you need.. and music passionate guest who want a unique and intimate music affair.

I’ll be traveling through various cities both performing music and providing workshops on various technologies and strategies for musicians who wish to both organize and promote their music business.

July 24, 2010 – time to be determined Sam Ash Music, Westminster Workshop: An Effective Roadmap for Online Success

Other performance and workshop dates

Current Sponsors (more coming)

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If you are interested in sponsorship, go here.

I really want a new video camera. The external mic on mine – as with many camcorders – filters audio based on the most prominent noise. So.. conversations closer to the camera can filter out louder noises further away and more distinct sounds – like my lead guitarist’s tones – jump out more clearly.

The Band:
Tom Galella – Drums
Leif Pedersen – Bass
Jack Hale – Lead Guitar
(Jack’s first time to play any of my songs was Wednesday, 2 day prior)
Matt Moran – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

Dangerous Girl

She’s a Little Bit of Everything

In 2007 I had made a decision to be a bit more intentional with my songwriting. Rather than wait on inspiration per se – writing when the mood struck me, I would pick some general themes or stories and write to them on a schedule. Still, “American Dream” sat for awhile longer while I wrote, “South To Mexico”, “Everyday Lies”, and a few other theme – as opposed to inspiration driven – tunes.

Then I picked up a file I keep with scraps of paper with lyric ideas and American Dream was the first scrap that came out.

The song is one of the most simple musically – largely 3 chords. But it is one of the favorites for the band and one that I get a lot of comments on when performing live. People love the middle-of-America, back to basics, universal lesson.

In this version of the recording, Bill Dutcher, an Arizona guitarist, songwriter, and performer added some slide dobro and electric guitar to “flavor” to the song.

LISTEN:
DOWNLOAD

AMERICAN DREAM
Copyright © 2009 – Matthew Moran (Sounds Like Life Music)

An old yellow note read government repo
Just a sign of the times since the factory left town
The windows are dark, lonely, broken, and boarded
I see a half dozen more just a half a block down
And I can recall the tears on mama’s face
When daddy handed her the key
Just three rooms and a garden out back
But it was called the American Dream

I’ve spent half my life chasing prey so elusive
My burning desire is this dream to be free
From East Coast to West, through the soul of the heartland
Though I’m in pursuit I know it’s chasing me
And I’ve seen the look in the older men’s eyes
They shake their heads in disbelief
”Son,” they say, “don’t miss the life that you’re living.”
”Cuz that’s the American Dream”

For 20 long years I’ve been seeking asylum
My dream just a prison, my ambition a chain
Through my sacrifice I leave you this lesson
To save you this sorrow, to save you this pain
It’s love that you need to live for a life that’s worth living
Don’t trade it for some vagabond dream
It’s a heart, not a purse, that you should be filling
Because that’s the American Dream

Many of you know I’ve been doing a lot of work with other performers and musicians teaching them how to use various technologies, websites, and online strategies to run and organize their music business.

I used to post that information here. However, to better organize that information, and keep it separate from my activity as a songwriter and performer, I’m moving that content

and activity to TheSongwriterOnline.com

There is, of course, some overlap and hopefully this site, just through the work I am doing, will be an example of how to use what is taught at TheSongwriterOnline.

At times I am a great example of the cobbler’s children having no shoes. Part of that is a time issue and part is simply creating a plan of action for the various social media outlets – like YouTube and ReverbNation, for instance. I do this for business clients and for others but often do not take the time to do it for myself.

Hopefully, this will help change that.

Check back and spread the word!

Thanks,
     Matthew Moran

The latest newsletter was emailed this morning. You can read it by clicking the image to the left.

Contains:

• Songwriter Showcase
• Recording news – including “Running”
• Band news
• The Songwriter Online info

Check it out!

Anyone who has been through a relationship gone wrong will probably relate.

Lyrics below…Still Gone
Copyright © 2010 – Matthew Moran

VERSE:
My friends they call keep telling me it’s for the best
But memories and moments they leave me a mess
And every decision that I second-guess
Leave me certain that I’m failing this test

She still captivates, she still catches my eye
She still makes me wait, she still makes me wonder why
(chorus)

CHORUS:
She’s still dealing every card
The Joker, Ace, the Queen of Hearts
She still walks above the clouds
She’s still laughin’, I’m still down

She still calls me from the dark
Those words that tear my soul apart
I turn to look and she’s not there
But still I see her everywhere

She still turns me round and turn me on
I’m still spinning, She’s still gone

VERSE:
Time is what they say will ease the pain
But time with her ‘s the one thing I want back again
Those hours, minutes, seconds that I can’t redeem
Those hours, minutes, seconds taking longer than they seem

She’s still holding on even when she’s letting go
She’s still leading me, she’s still hot, she’s still cold
(chorus)

I also showcase a new song, “Running”. See below.

As explained in the newsletter, Running, was inspired by The Zac Brown Band’s song, Highway 20 Ride – about a divorced father visiting his son (child).

I recorded in on my PC camera yesterday for Youtube. Enjoy!

Running
Copyright (c) 2010 – Matthew Moran

VERSE 1
I pick her up early Friday morning
Begging for a little extra time
I’m battling the guilt, time and the schedule
And praying about the impact on her life
She’s pays for my mistakes with smile
And she pays me back with tender-lovin’ grace
Not what she deserves, not what she asked for
My selfish tears fall as I drive away
(Chorus)

CHORUS
Sometimes I feel I’m running in circles
Sometimes I feel I’m just running down the line
But when this life and living leaves me longing for more
I know that I’m just running out of time

VERSE 2
Once upon a time I played the hero
Once upon a time I lost my way
And once upon a time I was so certain
Now I’m certain I know so much less today
I can’t redeem those calendars discarded
I can’t pull back the time that’s passed me by
And memories are sweet but their just memories
It’s making them that makes us come to life
(Chorus)

If you come out to see my play and purchase a t-shirt, or if you purchase a t-shirt on my website you will be provided a postcard with a digital download code.

(click image to see larger version)

Shhhh… don’t tell anyone but when people who come to see me play throw a few bucks in the t-jar or even just say they really enjoyed themselves, I’ve been known to hand out a few as well.

The front of the card has the image below – although I’ll be getting some additional postcard designs as well.

 
(click image for larger image)

We still like CD’s but for me, a songwriter on a budget, this is an inexpensive way to get you copies of my music.

I’ll be adding digital download cards for purchase. Then you can buy 10 of them and give them away as gifts. Or download a copy of my CD for every computer in the office.