~ view online ~

In it, I discussed some of the challenges I had with my current recording and a rush of creativity.
 
I’m writing a lot of new songs – and while I am happy with the output, it sort of seemed to be derailing me from recording the current CD.
 
The fact is, it really isn’t derailing me. I am making headway with the new CD. A friend and fellow songwriter (Jim Pipkin) said to me, “Don’t bemoan the muse, Matt. She can be a jealous bitch!”

I’ll take his word for it. He’s been writing songs a lot longer than I have.

As a side note: I mentioned that my muse looks like Raquel Welch in 1 Million Years BC. He replied that I was lucky – his looked like Ma Barker.

Also, in fairness to the recording schedule, I have been interviewing/meeting with potential band-members. They have all expressed a desire to be part of the recorded project – and that makes sense.

So rather than simply plow through the recording process, I wrote up chord charts, arrangement ideas, and made demos for them to listen to and work out their respective parts.

One of them is recording at his home studio – remotely collaborating. The other, a female vocalist, is hopefully going to come by this weekend to record.

Needless to say, I really am not bemoaning the muse. Whether she looks like mine or Jim’s, as long as she feeds the mind and pushes the fingers, I’ll welcome her in.

Either click the image to the right or read it here.

Updates have been a bit sparse of late – mostly due to the schedule of recording, consulting work, and other writing projects.

I did recently provide an update to the Facebook Group – Performing Songwriters (United Worldwide) – covering some tools and technology to help the songwriter on the business side of product/merchandise and promotion.

I’ll be sharing that information here and at:
TheSongwriterOnline.

Stay tuned!

 
~ the latest newsletter ~

The question are very much the same as non-songwriters…

What is a house concert? How do you book a house concert? How do you organize a house concert?

Fortunately, there are a ton of resources on the web, on youtube, and elsewhere.

I wrote a simple House Concert Resource Page and downloadable guide to make it simple for listeners to organize and schedule a house concert but if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

The short answer to the above questions are:

What is a house concert?
An actual concert (not a party) where friends, family, fans, and lovers of music listen to and support a songwriter. Typically, it involves donations (not tickets), 2 40-45 minute sets, and a break for the songwriter to talk to listeners (connect) and perhaps sell CD’s and other merchandise.

How do you book a house concert?
There are standard house concert “venues” – where they book musicians regularly (perhaps 8-10 a year) but, if you wish to make this a mainstay of your music career, reach out to current listeners, family, and friends. Book them on your own and make sure you build your mailing list as you do. Attendees to a show are your future house concert host.

How do you organize a house concert?
I’ve played house concerts where the host rent tents, chairs, and lights for outside and others where I play in a small living room to 20 people. You do not have to make it such a production that it is a burden.

Put out some snacks – if you are going to allow alcohol – ask guest to bring a bottle of wine.

Invitations can be simply emailed (EVITE.COM, EventBrite.com,etc.) or you can print them up. My guide has some sample language – but I am sure you can come up with your own.

My advice is to make it simple but follow up. I always try to make myself available to help my hosts with their invites.

If you have any questions, look at my house concert page (link above) or simply contact me…

The frustration is that I am typically giving a house band a hand-written chord chart or simply a key. You learn a lot about house bands at that point – sometimes we sounded great – like we had rehearsed. Other times.. well.. not so much so.

I am now formalizing a band project for some recording and future gigging. Details can be found here. If you know of players who might be interested, point them here.

And so, when there is a disagreement, you take it public.

Help me name the new CD project. You can hear demo’s of the respective songs – Where I Belong & Everyday Lies – right here. Plus

I am in the process of re-building my website. The goal is to make it simpler to navigate and quite frankly, less schizophrenic.

Look for an announcement soon in relation to the new CD project..

Where I Belong or ???? – name to be determined