Hey Neighbor,

MFU on May 3rd went great!  A huge thanks to everyone that came out and helped.  Extra bonus thanks to our fellow fire safety person Juli!  Now for the rest... I'll keep it short.

The set up for load in and load out was a million times better.  A quick reminder to the bands; be sure that you don't leave your parked car or truck in the load in area.  For the most part, it wasn't a problem and it made everyone's life easier because of it.  Thanks for playing and working with each other!

To the awesome MFU audience, thanks!  The event went off great and everyone seemed to have a great time.  We need to make sure that everyone at our events knows that the Cultural Arts Center has to field all kinds of weirdness from some people downtown whenever they have something - be it tap dancing, Barmitzvah, or MFU.  It's important not to hang out in the parking lot next to them.  Past that, we hope everyone understands that they can't block the sidewalks or exits to the Center.  Where can you go?  The area in front of the courthouse is public property... Market street has tons of interesting stuff... Check these things out and make it easier for us to have more of these events by not amassing in front of the Center!

We'll get back to everyone on the date of the next MFU.  Tentatively, we'd like to do it in late August.  Why so far away?  Because no ones around during the summer, we're already doing stuff for the 4th of July downtown, and we need time for more promotion of the event.  We'll also hold another public meeting in the near future so that bands, interested promoters, and random interested people can come, talk to us, and tell us what they'd like to see at the next event.

That's all for now.  Thanks for being you!

Don, Megan, Ryan, Soren, Krazner, Brian, Juli, and Matt

Greetings Earthlings,

I wanted to take a minute and go over a few things about the MFU on May 3rd, how bands can get involved in playing an MFU, and just some general insanity that I dispense when typing/talking/getting on in life that makes the process tolerable.  It's my party; I'll cry if I want to. (... see what I mean?)

May 3rd is going to be sweet.  We're confident that we have a decent line up and we've been really trying to think about how to change the layout of the whole MFU event.  We'll be tinkering with the way the stages are set up so that we can do both stages with less PA gear.  All the bands will have a dedicated load in/out area in front of the Patrick Street entrance to the Cultural Arts Center.  The big thing for the audience will be hanging out outside of the building; here's a bit on that.

When you want to go outside because you want to talk to friends or duck a band you may not be into, it's important that you don't hang out in front of the building or in the parking area next door.  Not being in front of the building is important in case there's a fire or some other catastrophic event (think Krasner in a thong) that will make people want to get out of the building in a hurry.  I know it sounds improbable, but the Fire Marshall's Office here in Frederick has been trying to get things to be safer for these kinds of events.  While most people groan about it, the fact is that a safe event is the vital if we hope to have lots of shows in the area.

They're trying to keep this kind of thing from happening: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e97_1175350379 <--- notice that it takes 2-3 minutes for serious injury/death to happen if the proverbial poop hits the fan.  ...so don't hang out in front of the doors.

Past that, the people next door to the Cultural Arts Center get grumpy if you park in the area beside their building and cause us absurd amounts of drama.  They get the same way if you hang out on the bench; so you can't be there either.

So where can you be?  The courthouse is right up from the Cultural Arts Center.  They have lots of benches and an open area that's good for hanging out (it's built for that).  Just be careful if you're smoking; there's a ban on smoking throughout downtown that doesn't seem to be getting enforced consistently... Big Brother is watching, listening to your conversations, planning your future... *spooky music*

So what can you do without eliciting the wrath of old people everywhere?  Come into the MFU event and have a good time without being a jerk to anyone else there.  Do this and I'm fairly confident that things will be ok.

Recently, some bands have been wondering how to play an MFU event.  That's a fair thing to wonder... so I'll take a moment and just go over what we're looking for with bands.

1) It really helps if you actually come to the events.  If you're in a band and come to the events, then introduce yourself to some of us.  You don't have to pretend to be our long lost lovers or something; just be nice and say hi and tell us what band you're in.  Any conversation past that is optional, but appreciated.

2) While we're doing our best to read the thoughts and minds of others, most of us aren't doing very well in our Jedi/Sith studies.  If you want to play an MFU, it helps to actually tell us that you're interested.  The bands that play MFU have told us this on multiple occassions.  Some of the members of those bands do a lot of work helping MFU.  Being involved with MFU helps - volunteer to help out with something and we'll be very into getting you on at a show.  It makes it more of a cooperative and less a corporate situation - we're all fans of that!

3) If you're in a band that's playing in Frederick 5 times in the two weeks leading up to MFU, then we're not going to book you.  You're overexposed.  If you're always playing in our area, then people will be lukewarm about coming to see you.  We want the bands that play our events to draw an audience. 

4) If your band doesn't draw people yet, that's ok.  If we can help you out, we'd love to do it.  Just don't tell us how 800 people would come to see your band if we booked you when we know you've played one show in a garage.  Honesty means a great deal to us.  We're not some big group after all... just a few local musicians and music lovers that want to do what we can to give local talent some space to do its thang.  If your a small band with little or no following, just cop to it.  You'll stand out in a good way.

5) Lastly, if you make a habit of being crappy to MFU (acting like an ass onstage after we've booked you, endless complaining about how we didn't book your band, cancelling at the last minute and telling your friends that they can play in your place and not telling us, expecting us to let 20 of your friends in for free, etc.), then we're probably not going to be real into booking you or whatever band your in next time we have a chance.  Tons of bands are forming every day and many of them have members that are really cool people.  Things go wrong from time to time and we get that; if you can't make it, tell us immediately and let us handle it (it's our show, after all).  There are bands that we overlook and kick ourselves afterwards for not having - be cool about it and ask us about the next one.  The general idea is this: acting like a penis wrinkle will not be appreciated.  We won't be impressed or think you're uber punk rock; we'll roll our eyes and turn our attention to someone that we're psyched to work with.

That's about it; sorry it's long winded.  All of us are really looking forward to the show and we're hoping to be a more regular thing now that we're getting our stuff together and aren't swamped with other projects (or, less swamped).  Thanks for reading.  Thanks for supporting local music.  Thanks for coming to the old shows and coming to the future ones.  Thanks. :)

Kraz, Megan, Ryan, Brian, Soren, Don, Matt

Hey there,

"When's the next MFU?!?!?!  Get off your lazy asses, MFU'ers!!!"

-this is the mantra we've heard.  So why have we been so quiet?

First, each of us has had a lot going on.  From martial arts testing, work changes, buying houses, finishing up the last bit of schooling... I know that I've been slammed with other projects personally not to mention each of us having longterm flu issues at different times.  We've just not been able to really do much.

Second, the Mudd Puddle has been having shows with local music and so we didn't feel a huge press to have one.  The goal of MFU isn't simply to have shows, but to make sure that local music is getting performed in some way so that people can check it out.  Many MFU'ers were among the many others working with the Mudd Puddle to help set up shows there.  So it isn't like we were totally uninvolved.  However, we hear that the cool people at the Mudd Puddle may have some problems having more than 50 people in their place at a time.  If that becomes an issue, that will very much motivate us to get another one together sooner.

Lastly, we've had a tough time getting a time out of the cultural arts center.  There are a lot of different people that want to rent that space and if they have to choose between a tap dancing recital (moms and dads watching - minimal work) or a 400+ people event (lots of clean up, freaks out some of the people next door), then it becomes rather obvious what they choose.  Yet again - we need to find a place that's just for MFU.

What keeps us from doing it?  The price and the fact that none of us have time to handle the details of running a venue.  However, we are constantly looking at places and, if we can something for the right price, we'll be able to pay someone to do that job.

In the meantime, we'll try to get something set up between now and June.  We can't promise anything because it'll depend on the Cultural Arts Center, but we're going to do what we can.  We want to have another one, too. :)

Many of the really cool people that come to MFU often ask "what can I do to help?"  We need to find a place that is leasable for us (proper zoning and such).  Frederick City told us that our best bet was something in a strip mall.  If anyone knows someone that leases these places and can help us out, get in touch for the love of god!

Past that, we wish everyone all the best.  Thanks for supporting local music and just generally kicking ass.

The MFU crew

Hey there,

As I sit here typing this with sore feet, a mess of equipment in my living room, and little sleep, I also sit here smiling because yesterday was - for the most part - how an MFU is supposed to happen.  All the bands played well, the audience had a great time and were good to each other, and our friends in other groups did their thing as well.  This is starting to look like what we had envisioned so long ago.

...but we're not there yet.

One of the ways we're not there is that it's tough for bands to load in and out.  While this is out of our control because of the constraints put on the Cultural Arts Center, we think we'll have a solution to that problem next time - reserve the parking spaces in front of the Cultural Arts Center and leave that specifically for band load in.  We've also had trouble keeping a second PA system/sound guy.  That has to do with the fact that we can't pay much since we're a nonprofit.  In spite of that, I think we have something worked out there, too - we're going to start putting together our own PA system and Jordan (from Society Ills) will most likely be the sound guy for that stage as consistently as possible.  Since it would be our own PA gear, we wouldn't need to pay as much for the other stage (that and because Jordan is awesome).  It seems easier to get price reduced/donated gear than it does to get someone as awesome as Paul.  Thanks again, Paul!

... and while we're at it.

Thanks to all that came to the event.  The audience, the bands, and the humanitarian groups (Food not Bombs, The Thread Exchange, Talking Tree Infoshop) all came out and did a wonderful job.  Along with that, an extra special thanks to all the volunteers that made this show go a lot smoother than other shows in the past.  Without all of you, I'm fairly sure that I'd have a lot more grumbles then the little bit of soreness I'm being a wuss over today.

That's it for now.  We'll be trying to set up another show in January or at least the soonest date the FCAC has available for us.  Keep an eye out for our next public meeting in October, as well.

Thanks!

Don, Ryan, Krasner, Justin, Bryan, Soren, Megan, and Matt

Hi Campers,

We wanted to drop a line on here to hopefully get out the word on a few important things... well, we think they are important anyway.

First, we wanted to have a more public MFU meeting.  We typically get together about twice a month just to go over things that we're trying to do, but it is tough to get a lot of people involved because it is usually late on Wednesday after a bunch of us get out of work.  Since we wanted to have a more inclusive meeting, we'd like to welcome anyone interested in MFU - bands, audience members, interested people - to come to a public meeting August 24th at 8:00 pm.  Drop us an email here to tell us if you're interested.  Where we have it will all depend on how many people are interested in attending.  We want to go over what it is we want to do for the local music and humanitarian community, how to best get that done, and also to hear any and all ideas from anyone interested.  If you've ever wanted to get involved with what we do or help improve it, this is your chance!

The second thing is more specific to the bands interested in playing an MFU.  We are always looking for new bands to play our events, but often times we're limited because of the way the bands do things.  When you see a line up repeat a lot at MFU, it is because of two things - 1) they do a lot to promote the event and sell tickets and 2) they do a lot to promote MFU.  The idea, at this point, is to have events that will get us enough money to have our own venue that will be set up to do shows.  Any money made over our costs would then be donated to local charities.  Too often, a band will contact us and ask to play a show and not know a thing about us.  Either that, or we take in a new band and they don't promote.  So we're looking for bands that are aware of what we do and are willing and able to promote themselves and the event as a whole.  In that way, the success of an MFU event can be the success of the local music community.  A successful show gets us closer to a permanent venue - which will lead to more and better promoted shows.  Please keep this stuff in mind when you contact us about playing an event. 

So we look forward to people meeting up with us on the 24th and, even moreso, on September 15th for the next MFU event!

Hey out there,

Thanks for coming out and checking out all the bands that played at the Summer Jam Stage this year.  We'll look forward to working with the city of Frederick next year as well as Emily Conrad.  Each year gets a little better and we're already looking ahead to the next one.

I want to take a minute and mention an event that's coming together July 13th.  While it isn't an MFU event, some of the people that are involved with MFU are helping to put it together.  Our friends at the Frederick Non-profit Building Supply are in need of some extra money to help them with their new location and some of us have helped put together a small fundraiser on July 13th at the Mudd Puddle.  We're still putting together the bill, but something will probably go up by tomorrow about it.  At any rate, we wanted to put together a full event for these guys, but couldn't because of the lack of available space.  The acoustic show is a non MFU style show, but the root interest is the same - helping out cool things in the community.  So, keep your eyes and ears open for the details and come out for some great acoustic music.

Our next event is September 15th.  We'll be picking bands for it this Wednesday at our next meeting.  We're starting to slowly put together more volunteers with great energy and ideas to help us expand what it is we do.  We're interested in getting more volunteers in the future - so those of you with ideas on how MFU can grow and be better and are willing to do something about it, we'd love to hear from you.  We're really looking to be a vehicle for the energies and interests in the community that are universally good for all.  With that, we'd like to take a minute to thank those involved with The Thread Exchange and Food Not Bombs.  Keep up the good work!

So, thanks for being music lovers, community minded people, and individuals willing to think outside of conventions.  At a time when it is hard to feel good about where the country is now with war, environmental denial, and corruption, you demonstrate qualities that make the world - more than just the country - a worthwhile place.  Thanks again!

Don, Em, Kras, Ryan, Justin, a bunch of other people, and Matt

Hey everyone,

This last MFU went very well!  A big thanks to all the people that came out - bands, music lovers, cool humanitarian groups.  All of you are the best!

Everyone's been asking "hey, where's the money going to for this one?"  It's really simple, unfortunately.  The money is going towards keeping MFU afloat.  Since this all started back in '02/'03, the price of having an event has more than doubled!  However, we're starting to get ahead and we're still trying to put together a dedicated MFU venue.  We know we've been talking about it for awhile and all, but it isn't strictly up to us.  We need to have the bucks to do it.  However, more shows like this last one will make it easier for us to do it.  So once again, big thanks to everyone involved.

Our next MFU event will be September 15th at the Frederick Cultural Arts Center.  That's not to say that we'll be sitting on our rears all summer... MFU is handling one of the stages (with our friend Em Conrad!) at the Fourth of July Celebration in Baker Park. 

During the summer, we'll be putting together a comp disk of this MFU.  Each of the bands had their sets recorded and we'll be taking some of these songs that'll be for sale at the next MFU for $3.  If it goes well, we'll try to put together a disk from the last MFU and selling it at the next one.  We'll do a very short run of these (probably only 50?) and see what everyone thinks.

Lastly, we have some more interesting stuff planned for MFUs of the future.  One of the things that has really started to help us out is a bunch of new people volunteering to help us out.  MFU started out with a very small core of people that did a bunch of work and often felt overwhelmed.  As we slowly start finding dependable people that enjoy what we do, we've been able to grow the events.  The future looks even better because of it.  That said; if you want to get involved with MFU, drop a line to matt@musicforunity.org or just here on myspace.  If there's something you want to see at an MFU that isn't there (and is legal), then let us know that as well.

So thanks again and we'll look forward to seeing everyone in July!

Brian, Donnie, Krasner, Justin, Ryan, and Matt

Hey everyone,

The show went very well and we're glad everyone came out and had a great time!  This recent show was the kind that everyone likes... All the bands had great shows, the audience had a good time, and we're another step closer to having an MFU venue all our own.  You guys are the best!

The next show will be in April; more details as we get them together.  Any interested bands need to contact us with demo material, a press kit (a decent myspace page can pass for these two), an explanation of why they want to play an MFU event, and a paper signed that says they understand the way our show works (show up an hour before you go on, play for free, won't break stuff, won't sacrifice babies during performance, etc.).  All of that info is located on our website:  www.musicforunity.org.  If you're in an organization that would like to table at MFU, contact us here and give us specific details on what you do and what you'll be handing out at the event.  We have to be a bit more particular about some things because we want to keep our nonprofit status, so do be specific about your description.

So, we'd like to thank the bands, the audience, the Frederick Cultural Arts Center, and all that have helped out.  This is the first show since the new board of directors for MFU came in and it was great success for us.  We look forward to seeing everyone in April!

Thanks again,

Ryan, Amanda, David, Justin, Donnie, and Matt

Hello MFU'ers...

No, we're not dead. 

The paperwork, typing, planning, and all that other fun stuff should be covered under the Geneva Conventions as "cruel and inhumane treatment."  Talking to endless people about the best ways to do this or that and not having many people to help do it  (those that have, you know who you are and kudos... those that haven't, no kudos for you!) has been a pretty big annoyance.  On top of that, it's nice to have a life outside of work, MFU, and whatever other things we're interested in.  Nonetheless, we're bouncing back on here to tell you what's been going on.  Here it goes:

There will be an MFU venue - let there be no mistake.  There is a lot of work involved in setting up a permanent venue, however.  This venue will be rentable to other bookers/promoters as well.  So, instead of searching around for a decent barn to have shows in... or dealing with some other weird issues because the venue isn't set up for anything other than volleyball... we're trying to have a consistent place that's decent for seeing local music.  There's financial planning, meeting with city permit people to get the initial information together about how to have a venue legally (it isn't easy!), and then talking with local musicians to try to brainstorm on what they want to see (big thanks to David Krasner - always good for ideas!).

When will it be done?  It is going to be a while longer, but that can't be helped.  We literally have two active people doing the bulk of the work.  When the shows dried up and the work got heavy, the help thinned out.  Maybe it just got boring or maybe they had different motivations for being involved - we don't know.  This is not written as a slight to those people, but it does explain why there hasn't been much else going on.

In the interim, Ryan from Critical State is putting together a show in early November (the 3rd?) that will support MFU's efforts to have a venue.  While it isn't an MFU event, some of the MFU people will be supporting him and helping him get it running.  We're going to be collaborating with some other people in the near future to try to get some shows up and running again.  However, we really need to stay focused on having a stable venue instead of having shows in Damascus that people can't get to - or having shows in Frederick where the venue owners are difficult to work with.  MFU genuinely feels like it's energy can best be put to creating a place for shows.

MFU is still here to support local musicians.  So if you're promoting shows in the area, post them on here in the comments area.  If you want to put on a show and need some assistance, email us here.  If you want to donate money, time, or ideas to the cause, email here as well.  We're probably going to need some fresh faces in here to really turn this into a group effort again.

One last thing; MFU was set up to be a promotional entity that put the music, the musicians, and humanitarian efforts out in front instead of promoting the individuals in the group.  The reason?  If someone is genuinely doing something for the greater good, then the reward is in it working.  That's why you won't see our faces plastered on things.  So if you want to help, please be aware of this beforehand.  We don't want anyone being dissapointed.

Once the MFU venue is up and running, we're going to need lots of bands (and different bands) to play there since we'll be having no less than two shows a week.  I'll type that again: we'll have no less than two shows a week.  While they won't be the old-school two stage all day kind of shows, they will be regular.  We'll need to get in a lot of people to keep the place open, too.  So we'll need lots of bands as well as other promoters that would be interested in renting the place out.

In October, we'll hold an open meeting to allow other people to talk with us about what their ideas are and what would be important to them.  Musicians, nonprofits, audience members - everyone will be welcomed.  If you wanted to see this happen in a way that can really last, then now is the time to get involved!

That's all for now.  As soon as we make another step, you'll be the first to know.

Thanks for supporting local music!

Hey everyone,

It looks like we have a plan in place...

We're going to go back to ticket sales through the bands.  Before you groan, realize that we don't do tickets the way other places do tickets.  I'll explain.

A band is given 20 tickets when they sign up to do MFU.  If they sell 2 tickets, no one complains to them or anything.  All we want is either the ticket money or the unused tickets.  The only thing we would be upset about is if we have money for 10 tickets with no unused tickets coming back.  The reason: because that means the band could have potentially sold all 20 tickets and kept half the money.  If that happened, then there would be some issue.

The ticket price will be 5 dollars while the door price will be 8. 

Why do tickets?  Simple; many of the bands don't promote the shows.  If we see one band selling out of tickets and asking for more, then we know they are promoting the event and it will increase their chances to play more MFU events.  This will also help us to get some "fresh blood" in terms of bringing in new bands.  If a band plays an MFU and sits on their rear, then they probably won't get to play another.  The band that gets up and does things is a band that has a future; we definitely want to be involved with them! 

Why raise prices?  Simple; these events are expensive to put together.  The prices for most things has almost doubled since the first MFU.  The prices have gone up so much that now it might be CHEAPER to have our own place.  We are really having to struggle to keep the ticket prices low (why do you think we've been in Damascus?).  Fewer and Fewer places are willing to have shows.  If people think that we're charging too much, then hopefully they don't complain when there's nothing in Frederick to do.  If you want something, you have to pay for it.  Besides, MFU operates on volunteers.  It isn't like the money gets wasted on us!

Past that, we're looking for two things:  First, a place to have one or two more MFU events before we find our own place.  Second, we're narrowing down the search for our own building and we'll need some donations soon to make that happen.  Once we get specifics, we'll pass them along.

Thanks for having patience with us, everyone.  None of this is easy or quick, but it'll happen.

Matt Thompson

Music for Unity