My bad! I rarely login to myspace these days. So many other ways to connect, so...

There is a lot to catch up on here. Let's get this going...

First, the latest newsletter. It should answer a lot!
http://bit.ly/VpIzU

Which includes, "Help Name My CD"
http://www.matthewmoranonline.com/music/cdproject/

And house concert information:
http://www.matthewmoranonline.com/bio-2/house-concert-info/

Plus - a new song in my profile here, A Little Bit of Everything. You can catch my youtuve video or recording of it on my website too:
http://www.matthewmoranonline.com/2009/11/12/new-tune-a-little-bit-of-everything-from-youtube/


As I move forward recording the new CD, look for some additional news items. We are ramping up some press info and new appearances and venues.

Additionally, we've been asked to provide a few workshops geared towards performers and online presences. If you are a performer, take part in a performer's organization (songwriting organization) and want a workshop in your area, contact me. We can make it happen.

Also, the best way to stay up to date on what I am doing is to sign up for the newsletter. If you don't want to do that, shoot me a message with your email and I will add you myself.

Thanks!!!!

Matt

I posted a few videos from my Next Coffee Performance last Friday.  One of the funnest gigs played in awhile.


Is It Too Late

More videos here:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.showvids&friendID=375518379&n=375518379

Enjoy!

I've booked a couple house concerts this year and now that my CD is nearly complete, I'll be doing more of that.

If you are unfamiliar with house concerts, check out my house concert information page and download the guide I've created.

You can get it here:
http://www.matthewmoranonline.com/bio/house-concert-info/

What is a house concert?
A chance to connect intimately with a performer and an opportunity for a performer to play for a listening audience.

First, what it is not:
This is not a party - where the performer plays background music while people mingle.  It is a listening event.

The host provides a home and invites friend, friends of friends, and local music lovers.  They do not have to provide food but might provide some snacks.  Booze is not necessarily encouraged but an evening of acoustic music with a glass or two of wine does sound pretty nice. The host sets the tone and the guidelines.

There is no charge to attended but donations are encouraged (charging a fee would constitute a business and no one wants that hassle).

The way past host have handled it is a simple, "We are getting a performer right in our living room. If you attended a concert, you'd be paying parking, a high-ticket price, contending with a crowd, and all those hassles.  We are suggesting a donation of $20 per person; more if you, less if you can't."  That's pretty much it.

Visitors can sit on provided chairs, couches, cushions, the floor, or stand - it is as formal or informal as you make it.

The artist performers 1 or 2 sets - 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.  Two sets allows the performer to speak with attendees, sell merchandise, talk about songwriting or other interest.

A basket/hat is passed or mentioned to allow visitors to leave donations before, during, or after the show.

If it is out of town for the performer, the host typically provides a couch/spare bedroom for the performer to sleep on - and food.

House Concerts are a great way to have an interesting and fun gathering, hear some great performers, and basically be viewed as the coolest person among your friends.

Well, I can't promise the last one but it couldn't hurt right.  If you are interested, contact me and I will be happy to help you with the details.

I have posted a couple new entries on techniques, strategies, and tools to help you build a mailing list - plus the 3 primary initiatives I am working on from a marketing and promotion standpoint.

Marketing, Mailing list, convenience and 3 things.
http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/matthewmoran/marketing-mailing-list-convenience-and-3-things-ndash-part-1-29168

And on my personal blog.

Build your mailing list - make it easy.
http://www.matthewmoranonline.com/2008/12/29/building-your-songwriter-mailing-list-make-it-easy/

Booked a few more gigs today - I'll be posting here tomorrow.

I'll be playing a little music on Good Morning AZ.  Sunday, January 18 - between 9:45-10:00am.

I'll get two bump out segments (a minute or so) and then a short interview and full song - so basically, 2 partial songs, 1 full song.

Should be a great experience, unless I totally freeze up, blankly staring into the camera...

Not likely...

More at my personal blog:
http://www.MatthewMoranOnline.com

I recorded several musicians at Cave Creek Coffee Company last Thursday.  Mike Assad and Kevin Brennan accompanied me on three tunes.  The mix was a bit heavy on the reverb but overall it was a blast and sounded good.

Check it out at:
http://www.matthewmoranonline.com/2008/12/12/recordings-from-open-mic-cave-creek-coffee-company/

Just started looking at Kompoz.com - an online music community and collaboration website.

You create a project, define what talent you need (lead guitar, drums, keyboards, lyrics, etc.) and upload a base track.

I've started a project with my song, How It Goes - along with some help vocally by singer/songwriter, Andrea Stolpe.

My profile on Kompoz can be found here.

In re-formatting my website - adding a new theme - I had removed the link to my guide to house concerts.

While I have it branded/geared towards helping someone host a house concert with me - where I am the house concert performer - the guide has helpful information for performers who might want to start promoting their music this way.

Over the past several days I published four tutorials on creating and publishing your performance videos on the web.  The tutorials use Microsoft Movie Maker but just as easily apply to almost any video editing software.

Find all four here.

Hope you find them helpful.