Attracting younger people to coffeehouse

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: JHW
Date: 26 Jul 13 - 09:24 AM

Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Jul 13 - 06:28 AM

Are you trying to preserve the coffeehouse as an institution, or perpetuate the kinds of music it was originally intended to put on?

They need different strategies.

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: Amergin
Date: 26 Jul 13 - 12:04 AM

Bobert had the right of it...a good open mic session. Around here there are a lot of younger people playing guitar, banjo, bluegrass, newgrass, folk music, singer/songwriter, acoustic versions of punk/metal tunes...but you have to encourage them to come out of the woodwork...encourage them to inspire and be inspired.

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: mg
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 11:56 PM

i would set aside one evening per month and ask them to put on their own show...

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 10:02 PM

Snother thought: Some colleges have student groups that do unaccompanied singing for fun and in competition. A few years ago a local college had a group that dressed as pirates and sang nautical songs. I wish my local coffeehouse had brought them in. I wonder if there are any similar groups now that do folk music.

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: Jack Campin
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 02:58 PM

Many schools require that students do some kind of public service.

In the UK, so do the courts. Maybe you could get your local judges to impose evenings of listening to Dylan as an alternative to prison?

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: folkie43
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 01:28 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. However, we only run on Saturday evenings from 8-10. But I do like the idea about high school students volunteering for credit. I might just check that out. Was also thinking about student admission prices.
I have no idea what 30 something's listen to as far as acoustic music. I guess I will have to find me some and ask them!

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 24 Jul 13 - 12:58 AM

Have a kids night? Might sound odd to some for a coffeehouse .. but most offer hot chocolate .. then it makes it a family night out .. so younger parents

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 09:54 PM

Many coffeehouses are nonprofits. Many schools require that students do some kind of public service. That could include volunteering at a coffeehouse. They can do any of the work involved, from setting up and putting away chairs to being trained to work a soundboard and then doing that.

Bring in younger performers who promote themselves heavily on social media. Local performers who show promise could do short opening sets. Their family and fans should show up. Hopefully some of them will stay for the rest of the evening and come back again.

Offer a discounted price for student tickets.

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 08:25 PM

Open mic...

B~

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: bobad
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 07:52 PM

Try asking some young people what it would take not us old farts.

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 07:47 PM

The old story, get complacent about advertising until the old crowd start dying off and then can't get younger people in when there is a 30+ year age gap between the newcomers and existing audience.

The simple answer is "with great difficulty"

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 07:17 PM

Sex and drugs and rock and roll

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 06:23 PM

Hookah.

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 06:20 PM

folkie43: You could try offering free guitar lessons on a specified night. Then the idea would be to get those interested in performing up on stage before a live audience after a few months training.
You probably will have to get used to the idea that what THEY are listening to, will not be the same thing YOU are listening to, e.g.. Avril Lavigne vs Judy Collins...Be ready to hear some new music.

When I started, it took me some time before I could find somebody who knew how to tune a guitar. Then, there was one guy who knew 3 chords and showed them to me.

After, I think it was a few months, PRETENDING I knew how to play, the light came through and I did my first 6 minute show in the girls dorm at College. I remember my knees shaking...

Sure would have been nice to have free guitar lessons...

If what we know as Folk is allowed to evolve to include the music the kids are listening to, we still will have Folk, but not necessarily Grandpas Folk...BR

Subject: RE: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 04:37 PM

There was a thread on this in the last two years. I don't know how to access/find it, but I'm sure someone will be along with a link.

Subject: Attracting younger people to coffeehouse
From: folkie43
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 03:12 PM

I need Mudcat's help! It seems that our coffeehouse's audience is getting older and we are having a hard time attracting younger people. Any suggestions people? Thanks in advance!