I'm beginning a series in Wallkill, near New Paltz, NY. I have John Flynn starting it on April 16th, Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen on May 16th, Cliff Eberhardt on June 13th, Rik Palieri on July 18th, Magpie on Aug 8th, Jay Mankita on September (attending on April 16th), et cetera through February 2011. My house holds 25 and I provide dinner for free. My deck holds 40 and will get some use in the Summer. My first is now ALMOST booked and will bust my hump to be booked a month in advanced for everyone. I am booking only well known performers to start until I build a reputation, then some emerging/visiting artists. My walls will display rotating visual art from Ulster County artists. The principal help I need is in building a list-serve for future outreach. I have done everything including handbilling to get this one started. I have ads in the Hudson Valley Music news and the New Paltz local and have inveigled local folk musicians for mailings to their lists. I have joined concertsinyourhouse.com and houseconcerts.com. I have good rapport with the most prominent folk radio station in the area and am friends of Jay and Molly. I learned this 'trade' from Jonathan Parsons in Old Lyme whose 20 year series runs in Stonington, Ct. I am on MySpace (myspace.com/gunks-house-concerts), ReverbNation and FaceBook. I have attended the house concert workshops at FalconRidge and elsewhere. I have made myself ready for this for many years as I have volunteered at about 350 festivals over the last 20 years, getting to know many performers through repeated viewings and personal service as a volunteer. I am getting great advice and support from Sol Zeller on a daily basis. He's great and a friend-I-have-not-met. Dick and others on this site probably can help, too, and I thank you in advanc.
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