Jazz Lab Show Sunday Night- Almost sold out! ACT NOW!
From K.C. Clifford
Today at 12:16pm
Hi friends!
I wanted to give you a heads up that the Jazz Lab show this Sunday night is almost sold out. There are only 25 SEATS LEFT, and they're going fast.

So if you are hoping to come- please reserve your seats NOW by emailing or calling my dad, Hal Clifford: hhclifford@aol.com or 818-5591.

This show will sell out, and it's going to be a good one! I wrote two new songs last week and plan to debut them... hope to see you there!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
Peace,
KC

It's hard to wrap my head around the last week. When I last left off in the tour blog, we were on the way to Johnson City, TN, and David was not feeling well. Much has transpired since then. In just a week we've traveled through 7 states, played numerous shows and showcases, met new friends, connected with old ones, been pulled over for going 43 in a 25, felt like death warmed over, driven in a snowstorm, and taken more decongestants and over the counter concoctions than any previous time I can recall. We've also shared heart-felt conversations, eaten amazing burgers, laughed over beers, gotten cranky and fussy a dozen times over and then apologized a dozen more. We've been lost and found our way, gone the wrong way down a one-way street, and conquered driving in Manhattan at night on four hours sleep. We've exchanged songs and stories and we have steeped in the warmth of welcoming homes and hearts full of all kinds of hospitalities. And so it is that I struggle to know how to begin to tell you about it all, knowing that I could never do the journey justice. Nonetheless I will try, in small bits and chunks to illustrate just a few of the moments that have defined this tour.

We arrived at the home of Jordan and Patrick Ware in Falls Church, VA on Monday late afternoon. Thankful to unload and unwind a bit, we stayed for 2 days. Jordan is my cousin, and I have enjoyed getting to have the second chance at knowing one another as adults, since our insecurities clashed some as kids. Our stay in their home was one of ease, with no pretensions. Children run about freely at play and if you want something, you help yourself. Mi casa e su casa style. I like this version of hospitality, because it feels most like my own home.

David continued to recover, and I stayed focused on having a health-filled tour, taking walks and runs. We connected with Holly, an old college friend of mine and Kristin, a newer friend who has also lost over 100 pounds. On Wednesday morning, I was driving to meet Kristin for a run on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, and I got pulled over in the little downtown area of Falls Church. I was actually more focused on being lost than what speed I was going, and I had no clue what the speed limit was at that point. Apparently I was going 43 in a 25, so I was indeed a glutton for punishment. The young policeman told me of the crime I had committed and I, having no excuse whatsoever, admitted that I was paying more attention to being lost than the speed limit and that I was sorry. Tail between my legs, I gave him my license and registration.

This is where it got kind of bizarre. After he took my info, he asked if the address on my license was correct. I paused for a moment, told him that we had moved and rattled off our new address. He repeated it back to me, but like a question. I recited it again and all the while he was looking at me sideways and indicating suspicion. He again repeated it back to me, with a question mark at the end, and like a good girl, I repeated it to him yet again ver-y clear-ly this time a-round. Seeming not at all satisfied, he told me to stay in my vehicle and walked back to his squad car. I sat there thinking about how much we couldn't afford a ticket on this tour, and kicking myself for being lost and oblivious to the speed limit in the first place.

Upon returning, to my relief he informed me that he was only issuing me a warning for the speeding violation. He was however giving me a $25 ticket for a "defective equipment" charge because of my cracked windshield. He still seemed to be treating me suspiciously, but I thought maybe that was just his driver-side manner. Thinking to myself that I made out like a bandit and that this would soon be over and I could finally drive (slowly) away to meet Kristin, I waded through the formalities with the officer. After signing the form about the ticket, he hands everything back to me except my license. He then asks me, "Ma'am how long ago did you get this license?" I had to stop and think, and as I was forming the words, "I got the license on my birthday last year…" a large cartoon light-bulb lit up above my head. As he was still eyeing me like a felon-at-large, I smiled and said, "Oooohh, I've lost a hundred pounds this year!" For the first time during our exchange, his face relaxed, and he replied in a bit of a gently admonishing tone, "Ma'am, this picture looks nothing like you." I drove away like a skinny bandit.

Saturday brought an interesting series of twists and turns on our travels. As I mentioned before, we were staying with friends in Franklin, TN. Sadly, that morning they received word that their brother-in-law in Denver had died of cancer. They quickly shifted gears from leisurely day with house guests to get Julie on a plane to be with her sister as soon as possible. Death is the interruption none of us can ignore. We grabbed lunch at my favorite Nashville spot and, after a brief living room concert for Julie (she was sad to be missing the show that evening)- we said our goodbyes. Please join us in praying for her family as they grieve.

Later that afternoon, we met up with my lovely friend Margaret and her precious family for a walk at Percy Warner Park. She and her husband Reb have 3 children- Lyla, Ava, and Mac. Marg is a mid-wife who also teaches midwifery at Vanderbilt University. Our friendship is dear to me, and I have learned much from her. Percy Warner was showcasing fall front and center; the trees were showing off their best reds, yellows, greens and oranges. Our feet walked on leaf-covered paths as we spoke of our current joys and sorrows, passing friendship back and forth like a ball at play. As David and Reb walked behind us with a stroller, we could hear snippets of their talk of David Foster Wallace, travel and wine. It is rare to find a couple with whom we both feel comfortable, and I am grateful when we do.

Saturday evening brought our first gig of the tour, and we weren't sure what to expect. I have come to believe that Nashville has a love/hate relationship with me and I never know which one it will offer at any given moment on any given trip. I know plenty of people who have been chewed up and spit out by Nashville, and let me be clear that I don't count myself among them. But I do have a complicated emotional history in Nashville. You can read more about this in previous journal entries. But my point in mentioning it here is to illustrate that I really did not know how the gig would turn out, or should I say who would turn out at the gig. I had sent a slew of emails and promoted the best I could, but I had received no less than 15 emails from Nashville friends saying they would be out of town this weekend and couldn't make it. Add to that we were playing a place I had never laid eyes on that I had found on the web after our attempts at booking a house concert had failed. So, for me this was an exercise in embracing the unknown and taking it as it comes, whatever "it" happens to be.

The place, Ugly Mugs Tea and Coffee, turned out to be great. We were warmly welcomed by the owners, a lovely young couple named Jared and Courtney. Tim, the guy helping with sound, was on top of things and so kind to help. A few people we know ended up coming, and we were truly grateful for the familiar faces in the crowd. What I didn't see coming were the ample number of strangers who sat down and listened with wrapped attention. The audience was engaging and responsive, and it wound up being a great show! It's hard to describe, but I really needed to start this tour off well and encouraged, and that wish became a reality. Thanks to all of our friends, new and old, who made the gig such a delightful experience. To learn more about Jared and Courtney's place, visit www.uglymugsnashville.com

After the show, we shared a comfort-laden meal at Eastland Cafe with my friend Ivan. He has always supported my music, and has served as an encouragement to me even when things didn't feel like they were going anywhere. We caught up and commiserated over funky higher than usual alcohol content beers. What I didn't know through the course of the meal is that David was going south, way south, and in a hurry. By the time we walked to the car in the cold, I looked over and David was shivering. Now, please understand I don't mean the "oh, I am sort of cold" kind of shivering that could be cute. No, no. This version of shivering is when David has a high fever and his body starts to border on what looks like convulsing. To say this is a mildly disturbing sight is putting it lightly. As a wife who loves her husband, the sight of him like this is really disconcerting. And the hard part is not knowing how to help him feel better. We piled in the car, cranked up the heat, covered him in a blanket from the backseat and drove the long 35 minutes back to Franklin. I loaded in the gear while he went to bed with the ibuprofen bottle in hand and his coat and jeans still on. I opted to sleep in a separate bedroom in an effort for one of us to try and stay healthy, and well-rested. He was one room away and I could hear him call if he needed me.

Morning brought a hopeful outcome to the unwelcomed visitor that invaded David's body. His fever had broken overnight, and though he was not 100%, it was clear he was on the mend. Thanks to all of you who sent good thoughts and prayers for David on Sunday, we felt them. I am amazed again and again at the principle that where there is mission and vision, there is always opposition. We can pretty much count on it, and the way you handle it will make or break you and your dream.

Next stop, Johnson City.

First let me say: Happy Birthday Mom! Sorry we can't be there to celebrate with you. Hope it's a lovely day.

Woke up in Nashville.. 7:30 am came much, much sooner than I would have liked. But, I am bound and determined to make my health a priority on this tour, so I went for a 5 mile run. I figured I should start the trip off right with all that. We are staying with old friends in their new house, and my run gave me the welcomed chance to explore their gorgeous neighborhood. They live in Franklin, TN, a cozy town south of Nashville known best for it's quaint downtown and sprawling farms- home to Nashville's country music royalty. This little nook of Franklin is no exception, and the farms and fence lines, horses and the flow of the nearby Harpeth River made for a lovely backdrop to my morning jaunt.

Our drive yesterday was a long one. As it is with any marriage we have off days and on, and our moods happened to be the former as we barreled eastward across I-40. We were both pretty spent and lacking proper sleep from trying to gather our lives and stuff them in the car and get out of town for 3 weeks. And in case you didn't know this about me, the princess needs her sleep. No sleep= no fun. Needless to say, I fully expected us to have days where we felt more "dear God why did we choose to be crammed together in this house on wheels" and less "wow we are loving this adventure together and happy happy joy joy, kisses all around." When we are at home and in weird clashing, dark and twisty moods, we can give each other space, go to another room, run an errand. You'd be amazed how much tension a home can absorb. A car, not so much. But given the alternatives (staying and trying my luck with the whistling truckers at the Flying J), I think I'll take my chances with the moody SUV and get over it. So, I am not phased by it really.

I was thinking on my run this morning about how much embarking on this journey inspires me. In the past few years, I have been a creative girl stuck behind a counter, an apron and a desk. I fit music in where I could, but it always got the cast-offs and second-hand remnants of my time and energies. Until taking this gigantic leap into the artistic and financial unknown, I don't think I realized how much those years of waiting and being boxed in took out of me. It's as though a part of my spirit is being revived after a time that felt like I was giving in to a slow and silent creative death. I know it must sound dramatic, but I assure you that living through it has felt like an intense and suspenseful drama where I truly didn't know what would come in the end. Caught in the daily grind, I struggled to see how the massive change could ever come that would allow me to make music for a living. I was sure at times that my career was drawing to a close, and that I was on the verge of fading away into some mediocre, ordinary version of my life that didn't really involve music. My kids would find the CDs in a box in the attic one day and not believe that their mom had this "other life" once. Fast forward through this crazy year where everything in our life seemed as if it got turned upside down and inside out. And then suddenly, (and not suddenly at all) I find myself waking up in Nashville on the cusp of a 3 week tour. So here I am, a girl and her dream- living at last in the sweet momentum of actualization. More to come....

Hey Everyone,

David and I are really excited to be commencing our first East Coast Tour this Saturday in Nashville!! Here are some of the places we will be performing next week...If you are in these areas, or know people in these areas, we hope that you can help get some folks out to listen and support what we're doing. We really can't wait to play for you! If you have any questions about any of these shows, please email me here at kcclifford@kcclifford.com, and we'll tell you what you need to know!

Peace,
K.C.

P.S. Don't forget to vote!

Saturday, November 8th, 2008
Ugly Mugs Tea & Coffee - http://www.uglymugsnashville.com
7-8 pm
1886 Eastland
Nashville, TN
USA

Sunday, November 9th, 2008
The Acoustic Coffeehouse - http://www.acousticcoffeehouse.net
8 pm
415 W. Walnut Street
Johnson City, TN
423-434-9872
Price: Free!

NERFA Showcases, November 13th-16th.
See www.kcclifford.com for details.

Sunday, November 16th, 2008
Pete's Candy Store - http://www.petescandystore.com
9:30 pm
709 Lorimer Street (b/t Frost & Richardson Sts)
Brooklyn, NY
718-302-3770

Co-bill with Gretchen Witt... I'll play from 9:30-10:30, she'll play 10:30-11:30.

Monday, November 17th, 2008
The Saint - http://www.thesaintnj.com
Doors open at 7:30
601 Main Street
Asbury Park, NJ
732-775-9144
Price: $10

There are performers before and after me starting at 7:45. My set will begin at about 9pm.

WANNA HOST A HOUSE CONCERT?

(taken from Christopher Bingham's website: www.gaiaconsort.com)

I LOVE doing house concerts and I'd LOVE to come play for you. It's easier than you might think. It's a great way of making new friends and creating a community of people who love the music you love.

WHAT IS A HOUSE CONCERT?

A house concert is a concert in a living room (or a basement, or a backyard...). They're happening more frequently as artists find that 30 to 60 people can fit into a living room quite comfortably. There is much less overhead, no smoke, low or no amounts of alcohol to compete with, little advertising necessary and ticket prices can be whatever the artist and presenter agree upon.

Before you start to think that this is something that only amateurs do, think again - you'd be amazed at the quality and notoriety of artists that do (or have done) house concerts, even when they were filling clubs and getting airplay. Often artists who play house concerts will have a show at a coffeehouse or club the same week or weekend. Imagine seeing Dar Williams or Lyle Lovett in your living room the year before they were playing large halls. It happens.

GETTING STARTED

It's best to start planning at least two months in advance, though some folks do it in a month. Some people treat their concerts as an ongoing series and will book artists a year in advance. Keep in mind that touring artists live by their performances. Take your commitment seriously - a low turnout is like showing up for work and having your boss inform you that today you're working for less than minimum wage. Not fun for anyone. That said, it's usually a good time for all concerned. Like many good things, sometimes a little work is involved.

WHEN TO PRESENT/WHAT TO ADVERTISE

Our experience shows that Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights are best, but Sunday afternoons work well in a lot of cases too. The most important factor is that the show is advertised as a "sit down concert" - audience expectation will be the difference between having a party with guests talking through the music and having a concert that changes peoples lives.

SAMPLE ANNOUNCEMENT/INVITATION

The easiest ways to announce a house concert is by sending an announcement or invitation online. Here's a sample of a house concert invitation:

You are invited to a House Concert!!
(INSERT NAME OF ARTIST)
www.artist'swebsite.com
will be performing original songs
for your listening pleasure.
(INSERT BRIEF BIO OF ARTIST)
Saturday, January 25 2005
7:00 - 9:00pm
(doors open at 6:30)
at the home of Fred and Wilma Flintstone
Bedrock, USA

Coffee and munchies will be provided
But please feel free to bring whatever
food or drink you desire
There is no ticket price, but we will be accepting
SUGGESTED DONATIONS
of $10-$20
(all proceeds go directly to the artist)
Reservations are strongly recommended

Please RSVP to Wilma (214) 555-5555
or Fred at (214) 555-6666 for directions
and to let us know how many will be in your party.

WHO TO INVITE

Make a list of your closest 50-100 friends and their addresses. Then make a list of another 50 people who you think might want to see this particular artist. Our experience is that you can expect anywhere from 20-40% of your invited guests to come.

WHEN TO MAIL

Send your mailing out 3 weeks in advance (Two weeks in advance at the latest!) to the 100 to 150 people on the list. Getting the invitation into the homes of your audience with enough time to plan to attend is the most important aspect of the advertising! We've found that if we send the invitation too early, (more than three weeks in advance) people tend to forget about the show. Too late (less than two weeks before the show) and people have made other plans.

Be sure to include your phone number, info how to RSVP and get directions, the date and time of the show, information about food, the amount of donation you expect, artists names, "IN CONCERT" etc.

We've found that providing drinks and some munchies before the show, with a potluck AFTER works best for feeding people and making the music happen. If there is an intermission, people will grab food then as well. Keep the food simple and cheap. The focus should be the music.

If you're short on chairs, request that people bring folding chairs or pillows. It's not unusual to end up with a handful of devoted (and limber!) fans sitting on the floor down front at our feet. Not a problem!

CREATING A STAGE

You can create a stage in the corner of your living room by putting a guitar stand there in a way that says "This is the performance space," or by rearranging a bit and placing a small area rug for the artists to stand on. Set the stage as if the musicians are story tellers (they often are, they just sing their stories) and they deserve the same amount of attention as if you were sitting in a theatre about to see a play. (REMEMBER, this is not background music, it's the focus of the evening!)

HANDLING MONEY EFFECTIVELY

The method that seems to work best for us (and it's not the only way by any means) is for the host to keep a list of reservations and to encourage as many folks as possible to send in their donation BEFORE the show. Some hosts give their guests incentives for "pre-donating" such as letting them have their pick of the best seats, or entering their name into a drawing for a CD etc...

Since not everyone will send a check in advance, it's best on the day of the show to have a volunteer sitting strategically close to the entrance with the guest list at hand. Then names can be checked off as donations are made.

Because it's always possible for folks to slip through the cracks, it's also a good idea to make an announcement regarding donations at the beginning of the show and again after the break, making sure that everyone is aware of where the CLEARLY MARKED donation jar/hat/basket is located.

You should also provide a place for the artist to sell their CDs and to provide a mailing list. A small table or piece of furniture in a location that allows for traffic flow works well. After the concert, enjoy good food and conversation! Encourage folks to buy CDs and get on the artist's mailing list. And if you plan to host more shows, have a mailing list of your own!

I hope this is helpful to you! Feel free to email me with any questions you might have or to schedule a house concert! kcclifford@kcclifford.com

This a friendly reminder that I hope you can join me to celebrate the
release of my new CD, "Pockets Full of Hope," this Friday, June 20th
at the Blue Door.

The details are as follows:

Friday, June 20th, 2008
Blue Door - www.bluedoorokc.com
7:30 pm
Doors will open at 6:30pm- arrive early to get a seat!!
2805 N. McKinley Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
$10

CDs will be on sale for $15, as well as the first ever K.C. Clifford
t-shirts- hot off the presses! We take cash, checks or credit cards.

For some reason, the advanced online ticket sales are now closed, but
don't let that fool you: THE SHOW IS NOT YET SOLD OUT-- so plan to get
your tickets at the door. Pay no attention to the online sales thing,
just come on out (and bring about 10 friends with you!) Tickets are
cash only at the door.

My last show was a sell out, so I DO recommend you plan to arrive
early. And one last thing: the Blue Door is BYOB, they serve no food
or drinks. So eat before you come, and bring a cooler of whatever you
wish to drink- beer, wine, coke, water-- whatever you want to drink
you can enjoy!

See you on Friday!
KC

PS.... oh yeah, there is a parade happening on Classen Blvd. between
NW 30th and NW 42nd Streets starting at 7 pm on Friday night.... I
highly suggest approaching from a different direction- the easiest way
to avoid the parade would be to come from NW 23rd St. to McKinley-
(one block west of Classen,) and then go north to the Blue Door.

Hi all..

Wanted you to know that we have an official date for the Live CD Release Concert! Here are the details:

Friday June 20th, 2008
Blue Door
2805 N. McKinley Avenue
OKC, OK 73107

7:30 pm
$10
BYOB (yes, really)
All ages welcome

The live recording was a sold-out show, so if you want to reserve your tickets now, go to www.bluedoorokc.com

Hope to see you there!
KC

So, here it is at last-- the long awaited Barbie Song Video is now on YouTube! This was recorded live at the Blue Door on Feb 2nd, 2008... enjoy! And please spread the word!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orkWpVHtDI4