This is a timely series for me as I'm about to move from Prague, where I've integrated into the free improv scene, back to somewhere in the US I don't know yet where... Thanks for writing openly and honestly!
Michelle, you speak to Steve Coleman, who instituted a further concept along these lines. Early on he left NYC for Allentown, PA. But I remember in the 90's he actually created a spoked wheel or spiral concept to touring. He would rent a house for a month or longer and take out his band with a large van. That house would be home base for the time there, but he would work with musicians in that specific locale, but slowly move out from there like a wheel with spokes or spirally. He did that in the Bay Area or slightly north of there. Folks like Vijay, Josh Jones, Liberty Ellman were all beneficiaries of working with his band or doing gigs in the area and beyond. While in the Bay Area, he would venture as far I believe as Seattle going north He could probably go into more detail. He also did the same in Bahia as well as in Cuba. In Cuba, folks like Dafnis Prieto and Yosvany Terry were also beneficiaries. I know this is a little off the beaten path, but I think it's a novel approach to extend your reach and cultivate relationships.
Although I know most folks aren't set up to go as DIY as they were, but Medeski, Martin and Wood basically got in a van with their equipment and travelled to small towns all over, but definitely in the south east. They would pull up to a bar and work out a deal to play for the door and develop their fanbase. I know it wasn't all fun and they were in some very dead places culturally or at least looked that way from NY, but look where it got them in the end with a fan base all over. Hitting the college chitlin circuit might give you some ideas about where to stay a while as well. #mytwocents
This is a really fascinating series. (And for the record, I was just in Whitefish this past weekend — it's about 45 minutes' drive from Bigfork, the town I've been living in for almost a year. I haven't done any Burning Ambulance-related events or activities yet, but have connected with a couple of other writers in the area.)
This is a timely series for me as I'm about to move from Prague, where I've integrated into the free improv scene, back to somewhere in the US I don't know yet where... Thanks for writing openly and honestly!
Michelle, you speak to Steve Coleman, who instituted a further concept along these lines. Early on he left NYC for Allentown, PA. But I remember in the 90's he actually created a spoked wheel or spiral concept to touring. He would rent a house for a month or longer and take out his band with a large van. That house would be home base for the time there, but he would work with musicians in that specific locale, but slowly move out from there like a wheel with spokes or spirally. He did that in the Bay Area or slightly north of there. Folks like Vijay, Josh Jones, Liberty Ellman were all beneficiaries of working with his band or doing gigs in the area and beyond. While in the Bay Area, he would venture as far I believe as Seattle going north He could probably go into more detail. He also did the same in Bahia as well as in Cuba. In Cuba, folks like Dafnis Prieto and Yosvany Terry were also beneficiaries. I know this is a little off the beaten path, but I think it's a novel approach to extend your reach and cultivate relationships.
Although I know most folks aren't set up to go as DIY as they were, but Medeski, Martin and Wood basically got in a van with their equipment and travelled to small towns all over, but definitely in the south east. They would pull up to a bar and work out a deal to play for the door and develop their fanbase. I know it wasn't all fun and they were in some very dead places culturally or at least looked that way from NY, but look where it got them in the end with a fan base all over. Hitting the college chitlin circuit might give you some ideas about where to stay a while as well. #mytwocents
I'm trying to distill some of these stories and lessons to behind the iron curtain in Fort Myers, Florida. Wish me luck!
This is a really fascinating series. (And for the record, I was just in Whitefish this past weekend — it's about 45 minutes' drive from Bigfork, the town I've been living in for almost a year. I haven't done any Burning Ambulance-related events or activities yet, but have connected with a couple of other writers in the area.)