I will be headed out to Mountain View, Arkansas in mid-October for the Southeast Region Folk Alliance Conference. I was an official showcase artist last year out there and don't know what my status on that count is this year. However, I already have a full plate of private showcases booked and I'm looking forward to the trip. I've been working on bookings after I leave Mountain View and head east. I'm hoping to pick up something for Sunday night, perhaps in Memphis or Nashville and probably hang around Nashville on Monday. On Tuesday I'll pick up Judy at the Tri-City airport outside of Johnson City, TN and we'll head to Mount Mitchell for a couple of days in the peak of the leaf change with friends who live there. I've got a Wednesday gig there in Burnsville at the Mt. Mitchell Country Club. For my return engagement, Chef Teo has planned a Florida Cracker dinner program in a separate dining area and my show will follow the meal - an ideal set up! Friday we head down to Saluda for my return to The Saluda Inn and Wine Cellar. This is a much better date and Joni is very pleased to have me returning for the fall season. Saturday night is tentatively scheduled as a house concert in northern Georgia, but it is not confirmed as yet.
In November I head back out to Texas. I'm waiting for my schedule to firm up before booking my flights so I know whether it makes more sense to fly into Houston or Austin. Two shows are confirmed and several more are in the works. The weekend days are not hard to book, its the week nights that are tough. However, I have a number of musician buddies out there working on those and I'm looking for some "Dinner and a Song" gigs as well.
"Dinner and a Song" is the name put to smaller weekday house concerts by Fran Snyder of Concerts in Your Home. Essentially, it is a brief, relaxing dinner gathering that feature music and conversation with a traveling artist. The host gathers 8 - 15 attendees for a low-effort dinner, followed by a short, unplugged concert in the living room. Attendees donate $5-10 each for the artist and also have the opportunity to purchase CDs after the performance. The host provides dinner and overnight lodging (guest room, etc.) for the artist.
Dinner and Song is perfect for you if: 1) you love the idea of house concerts but feel your space or number of friends is too small; 2)you’d like to have dinner parties but need a “Wow!” reason to do it; or, 3)you’d like to support traveling musicians and see them perform in a special environment - your house. These events are designed to minimize setup and preparation, so that you can have a wonderful, low-stress event on a weeknight - lasting only 90 minutes from start to finish.
I've done a number of this type show here in Florida over the years and am always available for them when I'm in your area. If you're anywhere near my routes of travel and would be interested in hosting a Dinner and a Song evening with me just let me know. I'm a firm believer that its the quality of your audience, not the quantity which comprises it, that makes a show rewarding.
I left September open in my schedule intentionally. Preparing for conferences like SERFA is a time consuming process. I'll be recording a demo of some new songs at Gatorbone with Lis & Lon Williamson in September for Ron Litschauer to combine and master with some existing material. This will be something fresh for me to give presenters and Folk DJs not only in Arkansas, but also in Memphis in February 2011. Plus, there's writing, working on the presentation of new material, updating websites, preparing PR releases and all that other stuff that comes in between the joyous opportunities to share some songs with you guys.
So, that's how things sit for now. Let me hear from you if you have shows you'd like for me to be part of in the coming months and on into 2011. I'm always booking and looking for the next new gig. Don't be shy! And please stay in touch!
Doug
"It's not how far you've come, it's what you've done with the miles"
Doug Spears
36 Interlaken Road
Orlando, Florida 32804
407-257-4242
dcsnole@yahoo.com
www.dougspearsmusic.com
www.reverbnation.com/dougspears
www.concertsinyourhome.net/artists/dougspears
www.facebook.com/dougspears
www.myspace.com/dougspears
www.sonicbids.com/dougspears
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