Community Concert Series in Our Home

[David]

It seems a shame to live next door to people for decades and not know many of them, so we decided to do something about it by starting a community concert series, held in our home. We had our first one Tuesday night:

 

 

Grand piano, professional a/v, and Suzi Ragsdale, no. 15 on the Americana chart and recently featured in the WSJ. We only had 16 people, but we're okay with a slow start. The idea is to have 30-40, eventually.

 

Here's more about what we're doing. They'll be held on Tuesday nights every six to eight weeks.

[philbytx]

Good on you David!

 

Deb and I attend a couple of local House Concert venues in Kerrville and get to hear and see some great country & folk/rock artists.

 

HERE is our favourite venue.

 

 

 

 

[David]

Very cool! It seems like house concerts are a great venue for artists, too. I hear of more and more concerts like that.

[ericfoerster]

I can’t hear the music, but I like that room. The floors and ceiling are awesome! Looks like a great space to hold such a gathering.

 

Consulting fee when I build my next home?

 

 

As a crime prevention officer for many years I can tell you that this sense of building a community will pay off in many ways. Now some of these folks will take a more active role in looking after their neighbors...hence the neighborhood watch program.

 

Again, good on ya for doing this.

[David]

The piano sounds really great on that wooden floor. Julie's the designer, though.

 

We feel really good about the connections already made. It seems like we were more connected to neighbors when our kids were younger, waiting on the bus, playing, or doing school events. Now that all our kids are gone, we need a different excuse!

[Rinkydink]

I noticed you have the L1 Bose system...very nice. I bet it sounds fantastic.

[David]

I noticed you have the L1 Bose system...very nice. I bet it sounds fantastic.

 

That's what I use for my seminars: two towers and eight subs. I am happy with how it sounds.

[T.M. Roe]

Well done Sir!

[hANNAbONE]

wHEN yA want me to come down, D..? =B^)

[Albert]

I want to move to your neighborhood.

[David]

I want to move to your neighborhood.

 

And suddenly I want an HOA.

[marty mayer]

Looks nice.

 

I'll bet the neighbors liked that a lot better than when myself and a few others had our tents pitched in you back yard, along with a couple dozen bikes parked all over the place. That still was a great weekend. Learned a lot.

 

Marty

[David]

That was a great weekend! One of my best memories. Taking Kenny's bike apart, those two great rides, all the BBQ and beer.

[Les is more]

Nice service to the community and enriching for you. The early Music Society here in San Diego has home concerts. It's nice to hear music in an intimate setting like that and great community building!

[David]

We enjoyed the informal interaction with the artist, where you can ask questions and such. Lots of fun.

[upflying]

Thanks for sharing. Reminds me of simpler times when entertainment was live, people were expected to know how to play an instrument and neighbors were considered your extended family.

No one in the audience is holding a cell phone or iPod. Amazing.

 

[Mike]

Cool! I've considered doing eggzactly what you are. Here's the big question, though: How do you compensate the artist?

[David]

Cool! I've considered doing eggzactly what you are. Here's the big question, though: How do you compensate the artist?

 

Our budget for each performance is $300, which is a tad on the high side, but I want to support artists. People can donate to help offset that, but we don't ask them to. It's just sort of our contribution to community.

[beemerman2k]

This is a great thing you're doing, David.

 

One question: I would have thought your walls would be filled with your photographic artwork! C'mon, man, all those brilliant pictures you take; the people who come to hear the music would love to view the artwork while they're there.

 

So why no photos on the walls?

[David]

We haven't quite gotten around to decorating after a major remodel.

[Mike]

Cool! I've considered doing eggzactly what you are. Here's the big question, though: How do you compensate the artist?

 

Our budget for each performance is $300, which is a tad on the high side, but I want to support artists. People can donate to help offset that, but we don't ask them to. It's just sort of our contribution to community.

 

That seems reasonable. We've hired pianists for parties and have spent that in an evening. It looks like you've got a great space for it. We'd have to be a little more creative. A few months ago we asked Alex and a few of his friends to participate in a "Canon-off," a friendly competition to see who could come up with the most creative, professional, off-base interpretation of Pachelbel's Canon in D. Alex and a couple of his friends played it on the piano, one gave us a guitar rendition, and another, an excellent trumpet player, played a brass rendition. There's nothing else that brings life to a home like live music.

 

 

[russell_bynum]

Cool! I've considered doing eggzactly what you are. Here's the big question, though: How do you compensate the artist?

 

Our budget for each performance is $300, which is a tad on the high side, but I want to support artists. People can donate to help offset that, but we don't ask them to. It's just sort of our contribution to community.

 

That seems reasonable. We've hired pianists for parties and have spent that in an evening. It looks like you've got a great space for it. We'd have to be a little more creative. A few months ago we asked Alex and a few of his friends to participate in a "Canon-off," a friendly competition to see who could come up with the most creative, professional, off-base interpretation of Pachelbel's Canon in D. Alex and a couple of his friends played it on the piano, one gave us a guitar rendition, and another, an excellent trumpet player, played a brass rendition. There's nothing else that brings life to a home like live music.

 

 

I would have done it using samples of Formula One engines.

[David]

Yes, I agree about music. It's a language that brings people together.

 

We might do an outdoor movie instead on one of the summer nights, against the garage door.

[Couchrocket]

David,

 

Wonderful. And I'd call that crowd a success. Word will spread quickly now, and you'll have an overflow at the next one.

 

I listened to some of Suzi's music on YouTube. Good stuff.

 

Congrats...

 

Patricia is in love with the concept, too . . .

[philbytx]

The way that "House Concerts" work around here is:

 

Everyone "donates" at the door. The donation is disclosed before the event and is usually around $10/15 per person. All donations go to the artist. The artist usually brings in CD's, T-shirts etc for the attendees to buy, if they wish.

Time dependent, there is a Pot Luck Dinner so you bring a dish "to pass" and, of course, your own choice of beverage.

 

Our gracious hosts usually make ice tea and supply water etc.

 

We love 'em....

 

 

[David]

Had our second one last night--a very gifted violinist and session keyboard player. We had 15 people, in spite of the flooding. We're going to stick with it and hope it really takes off. I've thoroughly enjoyed the two we've had so far.

[beemerman2k]

David, you da man

[DaveTheAffable]

David,

 

Wonderful. And I'd call that crowd a success. Word will spread quickly now, and you'll have an overflow at the next one.

 

I listened to some of Suzi's music on YouTube. Good stuff.

 

Congrats...

 

Patricia is in love with the concept, too . . .

 

I've been to Scott's home... That sounds like an invite to me!

 

 

Good going David.