First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow

Subject: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 Dec 00 - 02:23 PM

OK Gang, brainstorming time!

I just got hit by this idea in another thread. I haven't thought it through but wanted to get it out on the table.

Consider, a performer band sometimes leaves on a tour. They expend get amounts of cash and energy going from town to town performing in small venues and building an audience.

Consider, we have members scattered across the world.

Consider, people generally want to hear what and who they are used to hearing.

Idea, the First Ever Mudcat "Touring Roadshow" could be made up of local performers augmented by other members from neighboring towns. The only thing that goes on tour is the name.

Example: The New Hampshire contingent hosts a house concert featuring Barry (Finn and Haddie) and guest starring Kendall (or me). The "tour" then moves on to Boston where Finn & Haddie are the guests at a concert featuring Peg. The tour then moves on to Connecticut where Peg is the guest at a concert featuring ____.

You get the idea.

That's the bare bones of the idea. Can we put some flesh on it?

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 31 Dec 00 - 02:24 PM

This sounds wonderful! Count me in!

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 Dec 00 - 02:30 PM

BTW, any money that comes out of this should be dedicated to the Mudcat.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Matt_R
Date: 31 Dec 00 - 02:33 PM

Sure, if you're ever down Eastern Carolina way, and have the urge to hear the most insanely mixed bag of music...I'll be here.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: joshleik
Date: 31 Dec 00 - 03:06 PM

yes yes yes yes!!!

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: GUEST,Indigo
Date: 31 Dec 00 - 04:37 PM

Naemanson, that is a great idea! Good luck! Indigo

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: kendall
Date: 31 Dec 00 - 04:39 PM

This sort of thing could make my declining years more enjoyable, count me in!!! LOL

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Allan C.
Date: 31 Dec 00 - 04:50 PM

Absolutely ingenious! I love it!

Among the beauties of it is that there is no time limit (as I understand it). The gigs can happen whenever it is convenient to the performers involved. Club appearances would be possible but not requisite. House concerts would also be among the possibilities. It is also possible that there might be one or more of us who could be "core members" who could lend some continuity to the process.

This is great! Isn't it great? Just great!

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Ribbit
Date: 31 Dec 00 - 05:11 PM

Count me in. I'd love to be a part of this in whatever capcity that I could be of assistance.
thom

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: R!
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 03:41 PM

Here's where I feel left out. I can't play an instrument and I can't carry a tune, even in a bucket. BUT I am a very good audience. If you bring the tour to the Philadelphia/southern New Jersey area, please let me know. I will carefully and appreciatively listen.

Go well, Rowana

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Amergin
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 03:46 PM

Rowana, I'm with you there, I currently can't play an instrument, either, and I'm not sure how my singing is.....but I am a great audience.....would love for this to come to the Portland, Or area....

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Allan C.
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 06:46 PM

Without an appreciative audience, there is no meaniful performance. Audience members are extremely important!!

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Barry Finn
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 09:36 PM

I've no shame, I'd sing anywhere. Count me in. Barry

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Mark Clark
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 10:53 PM

Sounds great! Who'll be guesting when it moves to Iowa?

      - Mark

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 10:54 PM

Unbridled enthusiasm is fine and appreciated but I started this looking for ideas on how to make this a reality. This thread is intended as a brainstorming platform.

Remember, as I said in the first post, I haven't really thought this through. I'm looking for ideas on how to make it work, some devil's advocates to say it can't work and WHY it can't work (the why is important), and anything else the genius of the 'Cat can come up with.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Allan C.
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:18 AM

It seems to me to be not dissimilar to the Adventure that Bill and I had (seems odd to say this now) LAST YEAR. Perhaps it would be helpful for you to know a little about how it was accomplished.

I began by mapping out a tentative route (which was later changed radically) that would pass through places I knew some 'Catters lived. I sent some emails to the people I hoped to visit, asking how they would feel about the possibility of having a 'Catter or three appear on their doorsteps. After receiving some tentative but positive responses, I began planning the route with greater definition. I sent a few more emails to those whom I knew lived along the new route. More positive responses and more adjustments were made to the route. This route/itinerary was posted in a thread along with a probable starting date and a request for more 'Catters to let me know if the route was passing somewhere near their cities. A zillion emails later, I finalized the route and the plans for departure. Then I had a brainstorm about doing a "hit the road" show at a local coffeehouse and made arrangements for that as well.

Among the deciding factors for the direction of the route I chose was the hope of being somewhere near certain areas when festivals such as Old Songs and the Wyoming Cultural Fest were taking place. There were other events such as the monthly meeting of the Oklahoma City Traditional Music Association that we wanted to be around for as well.

The hard part was that I was only able to be away from my job for a certain amount of time. For that reason Bill and I had to absolutely RACE from one stopping point to another in order to complete the route on time. Another part of the planning involved making certain that we usually didn't travel more than three or four hundred miles in any one day. (Ha!) Yet another part was ensuring that there were accommodations of some sort at each potential stop. This involved a multitude of hotel reservations for which I managed to acquire a number of discount deals.

The planning for all of this required a whole lot more effort and time than can easily be imagined. In the two months before we launched the Adventure, I received and sent an average of six PM's and two emails each day. There were countless phone calls (many of them long distance) as well.

I hope that by knowing some of what I did you will get some idea of where to begin. I won't say that I chose the very best methods for accomplishing my goals, but they worked (or Bill and I and various Mudcatters MADE them work!). It is because of the success of the Adventure, that I have every faith that the Roadshow can become a reality.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 02:05 AM

Capital idea, Naemanson...and let's take Rowana and Amergin on the tour as the designated Mudcat audience ringers!:-)

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Amergin
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 02:29 AM

or maybe I could get up and recite a little poetry or something.....

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 06:00 AM

Well, however you set it up, would some of you please come here? (Shepherdstown, West Virginia.)

It's a beautiful little college town with lots of accomodations for anyone who wants to come in from out of town, and several possible venues, from large ones to small intimate ones. The audiences here are great. (When events are promoted effectively.)

Carol

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: John P
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 06:20 AM

Naemanson,
I've been trying to figure out why this won't work, but I'm not coming up with anything. The mechanics would be fairly simple -- local musicians would set up a gig in a normal way, except that they would split the evening with a performer from a town not too far away. At some later point, they would go share a gig set up by someone else in a different town. Sounds pretty easy. The folks from out of town get to play a gig without having to set it up, or attract an audience all on their own. Mudcatters get to meet and jam with each other. Sounds great.

OK, here's a potential hurdle to overcome. The world of folk music covers an extremely wide spectrum. Our audience may not go for a bluegrass band. A singer/songwriter audience may not like our music. I have seen split evenings with very different types of music work well, but I have seen some very unfortunate pairings as well. Usually it seems better to have similar but not identical genres next to each other. This might be hard to arrange. Or we could just stick anything together and see what comes up.

It might also be fun to ask the performers who are sharing an evening to work up at least one song together. I could see great possibilities here, both for performers in similar genres and for people who don't have much in common.

This is a wonderful idea. I live in Seattle and perform around the Pacific Northwest. I know of two or three venues I can probably book with a couple of months' notice, and we have a nice guest room in our house.

John

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 07:02 AM

Traveling distance is the main problem I see out here in the wild west, but the idea is really great and I hope ti works out.

kat

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: GUEST,Big Mick
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:18 PM

Any gig that falls within the constraints of schedule and travel, I would be happy to participate in. At various times we could actually travel a bit further. Here is an idea. Why don't we begin planning now for next years FSGW Getaway, and then stay the extra day and do Max's Radio Show. Several of us did the show this year and had a ball. We could make this the highlight annual show. With almost a year's notice we could probably convince some of our out west and overseas Catters to plan and make the trip. Kind of an All MudStar Revue. Waddya think? I will be there and at any others that are practical. If we do a Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Windsor, or Toronto show I could probably be there as well with enough notice.

Sounds fun!

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: GUEST,Big Mick
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:21 PM

Another idea just hit me. How about doing a series of these things in established folk clubs, regionally? I am thinking of The Ark in Ann Arbor and The Old Town School of Music in Chicago? What other venues are out there like this? Tranzac in Toronto? We might be able to schedule something that is a joint fundraiser in each venue.

Mick

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Stewart
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:27 PM

I'd be happy to work with John P. in the Seattle area. Our Northwest Folklife Festival on Memorial Day weekend is an occasion that brings a lot of folk musicians together and might be a good time for Mudcatters to get together. I am involved in an open mic and acousstic concert venue in the NW part of Seattle and also know of some possible venues. The Roadshow sounds like a great idea.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: bill\sables
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:38 PM

Please let my know when you want me to come over, I wouldn't want to miss this . I might be able to bring Sam Pirt this time
Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:41 PM

I'm in Nashville..... let me think on this awhile...... great idea........ hmmmmmmmmm........

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Amergin
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:47 PM

How about sending an American representative across the pond?

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Allan C.
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:51 PM

Who said it had to start in the colonies?

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Noreen
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:52 PM

Good idea! If you're volunteering, Amergin, you'd be very welcome... :0)

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: GUEST,Melani
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 01:08 PM

Great idea! We're in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have sofa space for one and floor space for several.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 01:09 PM

Fine idea Naemanson. I just noticed this. Sounds like some good suggestions here.

I'm not sure how typical my situation is but here's how I've approached my work in the last few years.

After years of playing "Commercially viable" gigs in order to earn a living, I decided to play only "folk" clubs and festivals, and suppliment my income with teaching. That worked fine for about five years, but I quickly realized that most of the clubs and festivals were as much in competition for survival dollars as the "commercial" entities, and were focusing almost entirely on singer-songwriters, with little emphasis on the kind of "trad-oriented" pickin' and singing that I do.

I started sending my info (CDs, reviews etc.) to folks who were known to put on "house concerts", and within a short while realized that I was having infinitely more fun with music than I'd ever had before.

You get virtually NO mainstream (or even "folky") publicity, but that has always suited me just fine. What you DO get is appreciative audiences, enough money to survive on, the chance to sell your recordings without a "retail cut" and one hell of a lot of satisfaction.

Heather and I have hosted house concerts in Toronto, and have helped set up larger venues for musicians who can draw larger crowds. Please count us in, and keep brainstorming.

Right now we're trying to make it viable for Matt Watroba and a couple of his musical friends to come to Toronto from Ann Arbour. Gonna bill it as "Michigan Folkies evening". Maybe we can get Mick to take part.

Rick

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Amergin
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 01:11 PM

Well, what my thinking was that since Bill came over for a tour last year, why not we send one over this year?

Noreen, I would love to volunteer, but I start a new job today at 1300 Pacific time (that is 1600 Mudcat time)....

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: kendall
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 01:20 PM

Can I have the hotdog concession?
SINSULL

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: GUEST,Pete peterson
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 01:32 PM

Sounds like a good idea! I live about 15 miles south of the little town of Bethlehem, PA (as Tom Lehrer put it) home of Godfrey Daniels, notorious coffee house of ill repute. I would be happy to give a night's lodging to any musician playing that venue, or even host a house concert (I have a large living room) but would want pointers on how to do this. I am about 90' away from West Chester PA, home of the Mudcat itself. Naemanson, I think this is a good idea; above are some specifics on how I might be able to help.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Dani
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 08:16 PM

Here, Here! Or is it Hear, Hear...

Whatever can happen in the middle of North Carolina, I'd be happy to help arrange. Clubs? House concerts? Coffee joints? I'll be thinking how it could work and what I could do to help... short of actually performing ;)

Let's keep this percolating! Even if, as Mick suggested, the Getaway serves as a launching pad.

I love this....

Dani

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Big Mick
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 08:23 PM

Rick, I would love to come over when you do the Michigan Folkies piece, especially if Matt brings his wee son with him.............that kid is a player.........LOL.

Mick

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Biskit
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 10:39 PM

WOW !!!!! count me in when in Southern Arizona, We live in Tucson Home of University of Arizona and lots of other kewl places. Now that I've got a town job I can't travel much but the Blues and folk club scene around here is terrific.-Biskit-

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 11:05 PM

Naemanson,

I have had good luck with art centers. I buy a mailing list from the Southern Arts Federation, then send promos to arts centers and museums which look promising to me. My stuff, like Rick's, is pretty traditional; Arts centers might not go for singer-songwriter concerts, but they seem to like a thematic approach. For example, they would like a concert on seafaring songs, or railroad songs, or War Between the States songs, as they can mount a show of art pieces based on this theme, and then use the concert to draw folks to the show. They like also to feature their state-- i.e. 'Traditional Music of Maryland,' and this sort of thing would work well for using musicians from within a relatively small radius. They like also to use story-tellers and readings by local or regional writers in conjunction with musical performances.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 12:12 AM

I know that nobody wants to drive into NYC but if a group happens to be here, my apartment is available. Big living room/dining room with woodburning fireplace and congenial neighbors. There are sometimes a few free beds and always lots of floorspace.
Mary - back home.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: GUEST,Winters Wages
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 10:14 AM

The same here in san Francisco. I live in a beautiful 1897 victorian apartment with a Captains Quaters, fairly sized living room with fireplace and queen sized sofa bed as well as a guest room in what I call a sun room. Its in Pacific Heights, and the neighbors (part of the Getty clan are just some of my next door neighbors)are used to musical jamming. And even better, I live alone so there is plenty of room. Regards WW

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: folk1234
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 10:56 AM

As a variation to the famous Allan C & Bill S road trip of 2000, we may consider a Pied Piper version. That is one where one or more additional people could tag along (in their own vehicle) to the next several stops, then return home. This could be repeated throughout the entire trip. We still may need a solid core of one or two, but even they could drop out enroute and be replaced by another.
The up-side of this is that more 'catters could actively participate. The down-side of course would be a greater burden on the hosts/hostesses. The 'core' members should have priority on free room & board, while the 'followers' should be prepared to pay their own way as necessary.
It goes without saying that there will always be comfortable beds, good food, good friends, and fine music awaiting the travelling minstrels in Ada, OK and at the Oklahoma City Traditional Music Assn. octma

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Patrish(inactive)
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 11:52 AM

I used to be a foreman for a North West Morris Team and can teach a few dances, or if anyone feels really adventurous I could teach a little (or Big)belly dancing.
I have family in West Chester and could camp out there - the only problem would be time and airflight. I would love to meet and hear all of you - I dont have a sound card and can't listen to paltalk, so I'd make a real willing audience.
I hope this becomes a reality, with or without me
Patrish x

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 01:42 PM

Just so everyone knows, I am here, listening, taking notes, and formulating a plan. Once I have it put together I will put it on the table looking for pros and cons. I need some real constructive criticism here. Feel free to tear it apart. there is no pride of aauthorship here. We will be working as a team to make this a reality.

I will have that plan by tomorrow evening Mudcat time.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: Susan A-R
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 10:39 PM

My husband and I have talked about the house concert possibility. We've done clasical concerts in our living room, and can fit thirty or so folks. We also have sleep space for a couple of folks. I'll also mention the possibility to the LiveArt folks who present a mix of singer/songwriters and trad folks. There are also several coffee ouses within striking distance of Montpelier so we might be able to "block book" if folks could only do mini-tours. I'd also be glad to be fidle/vocal back-up.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: WyoWoman
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 11:12 PM

I'm happy to offer lodging and to try and set up venues for anyone who wants to come to Colorado. I'm certain BlueJay and that other guy ... oh, yeah, LEJ ... might be able to do some legwork as well. I'll sing whenever and wherever y'all like, but I'll probably need someone to accompany me on guitar, fiddle and whatever else anyone wants to strum, pick or plunk.

the other WW

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: kendall
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 08:58 AM

I dont have a big place, but, if you are under 6 feet tall, my sofa is quite comfortable. At least thats what Sinsull said.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: MMario
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 09:04 AM

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: JedMarum
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 09:12 AM

Whatever format is decided, and whatever the timing - I would love to participate, and help in any way I can. I'm not sure my home is appropriate for house concerts, but I may be able to find a Dallas home that is ... or locate another venue ... I am pretty well plugged in to the good music venues in this area and could very likely find us a good one, and earn us a few bucks at the same time.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 12:29 PM

The sofa is comfortable but only if you are partial to large dogs. Seamus is a self appointed alarm clock who places his humungous cold wet nose within a quarter inch of your face and gently blows. Ignore him and he climbs.

Subject: RE: First Ever Mudcat Touring Roadshow
From: annamill
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 01:42 PM

My house is open, of course. You all know you don't even have to ask, just let me know your coming. Rowena, where are you? We'll be having some people over soon for a gathering and you'll hear some !fine! music as well as meeting some !fine! people.

This is a great idea! Good luck and I hope it happens. Like some of you, I'm a wonderful audience and I'll come wherever a Mudcatter is playing near me.

Bill, you know the drill. I'd love to meet Sam. Bring Lorna, please! She can stay at my house if she doesn't feel like traveling ;-)

I was going to have a gathering this month, but my money is short due to tuition for my son. Hopefully we can do it next month. BTW, you who have seen my home, should see it frozen. Magnificent. We have plenty of room and plenty of beds, and yes, we have a heated hammock for Max ;-)

I desperately need to hear some Mudcatters and hold them close.

Love, annamill