First of all, I don't want to get your hopes up – I have many musical friends and many musical strangers asking to play here all the time, and quite the backlog of musicians I really want to get in, when our schedules line up.
I try to present one artist a month (other than December and the summer months), and even that depends on my own touring schedule and other life events. As I'm not doing this to make a profit (and, in fact, usually lose money on these shows), I have to like you. Really, really like you.
How will I know if I really really like you? Well, there are three ways:
This community is looking for original acoustic, rootsy music – we love good lyrics, we love modern twists on old styles, we love quirky. Take a peek at some of our upcoming and past shows, if you'd like to get a feel for what floats our boat, and the calibre of musicians I present.
Concerts are generally unamplified, although we can set up a couple of mics to balance voices with instruments, etc. I tend to present solo or duo acts – the size and shape of the room doesn't allow for much more than that, although if you're friendly and showered, we might be able to squeeze in up to a quartet.
Honestly, I hate to be rude, but... if you've sung a couple of open stages and your best friend loves your songs... please don't force me to be rude. You're certainly not required to be a household name – presenters love new discoveries – but if you haven't invested in a website or album for yourself, don't expect me to invest my time and money in you instead. And if you're applying as a DJ or hip-hop or heavy metal or 6-piece cover band, I may just have to hurt you... Okay, I'll go back to my usual gentle self now.
With a flexible set-up, the room can work with a super-intimate audience of 15 up to a cozy crowd of 50. Depending on how well you're known by our community, we ask between $15-$25 per person as artist donation. We do not offer guarantees. You get 100% of the artist donation, minus what we need to pay to SOCAN (unless you'd prefer to go under your own license, in which case, you can keep that too), and 100% of all merch sales. We'll also feed you before or after the show (or both!), and there are tons of guest beds if you'd like to stay the night. But I should warn you, in case it's an allergy deal-breaker: I've got two dogs (Labrador Retrievers).
I do accept CDs and press kits in the mail, although I'm just as happy (and you've lost less money) with links to EPKs. If you do wish to snail-mail something, the address is:
Take Note! Promotion
PO Box 1351 Barrie
Barrie, ON L4M 5R4
I try to present one artist a month (other than December and the summer months), and even that depends on my own touring schedule and other life events. As I'm not doing this to make a profit (and, in fact, usually lose money on these shows), I have to like you. Really, really like you.
How will I know if I really really like you? Well, there are three ways:
- Generally, the people I present I've seen perform elsewhere – ideally in a house concert or similar situation (I have learned, the hard way, that some people who are fantastic on stage are intimidated by the intimacy of a house concert). So if you're playing a concert around the Barrie area, or showcasing at the FMO Conference, please do let me know, and I'll do my best to make it out.
- Most of the folks I've presented but haven't previously seen myself have built a name and reputation for themselves already, and other presenters and industry folks are buzzing about them, and passing their names along.
- Barring those first two options, a link to live video (please, don't send a video, just the link!), plus hearty recommendation(s) from fellow house concert presenters may also do the trick.
This community is looking for original acoustic, rootsy music – we love good lyrics, we love modern twists on old styles, we love quirky. Take a peek at some of our upcoming and past shows, if you'd like to get a feel for what floats our boat, and the calibre of musicians I present.
Concerts are generally unamplified, although we can set up a couple of mics to balance voices with instruments, etc. I tend to present solo or duo acts – the size and shape of the room doesn't allow for much more than that, although if you're friendly and showered, we might be able to squeeze in up to a quartet.
Honestly, I hate to be rude, but... if you've sung a couple of open stages and your best friend loves your songs... please don't force me to be rude. You're certainly not required to be a household name – presenters love new discoveries – but if you haven't invested in a website or album for yourself, don't expect me to invest my time and money in you instead. And if you're applying as a DJ or hip-hop or heavy metal or 6-piece cover band, I may just have to hurt you... Okay, I'll go back to my usual gentle self now.
With a flexible set-up, the room can work with a super-intimate audience of 15 up to a cozy crowd of 50. Depending on how well you're known by our community, we ask between $15-$25 per person as artist donation. We do not offer guarantees. You get 100% of the artist donation, minus what we need to pay to SOCAN (unless you'd prefer to go under your own license, in which case, you can keep that too), and 100% of all merch sales. We'll also feed you before or after the show (or both!), and there are tons of guest beds if you'd like to stay the night. But I should warn you, in case it's an allergy deal-breaker: I've got two dogs (Labrador Retrievers).
I do accept CDs and press kits in the mail, although I'm just as happy (and you've lost less money) with links to EPKs. If you do wish to snail-mail something, the address is:
Take Note! Promotion
PO Box 1351 Barrie
Barrie, ON L4M 5R4