Regularly scheduled Irish music sessions at different levels have been working well for us in Dallas: beginner sessions twice a month at an apartment complex game room, intermediate sessions twice a month in the meeting room in a local pub, full-speed sessions twice a month at another pub or in someone's home, and invitation-only sessions as the Sunday, on-stage entertainment at a pub. Beginners are often folks who first heard the music at one of the pubs or at a festival like the North Texas Irish Festival. Sometimes folks who are already expert with one instrument will work on a new instrument at the beginner or intermediate session.

Why does this approach work for us? Some of it is being located in a large urban area where there a lots of players, and lots of opportunity for the public to hear Irish music. Another key is regularly scheduled sessions that people can make part of their routine, particularly since, in Texas, some of us may spend an hour or more travelling to and from a session. Spending hours travelling and then finding there was no session that day would be real turn-off.

More info:
http://www.traditionalirishmusicsessions.com/

- Phil