Our recent tour of Hawaii! We were all around the area not long before the volcano eruptions. Much of the area you see in the video is now covered in lava and changed forever.

 

My first article came out today in Music Connection Magazine!

It is short excerpts and ideas from my new book. This magazine has been around since I was just starting out and as a young musician in L.A. I would devour every issue. It’s still going strong and now I am helping them help musicians too. Will wonders never cease? You can link directly to the download of the issue and article at http://www.musicconnection.com/ You can download the whole April issue for free and my “Career Connection” is on page 45.

My very first official review. I’m so excited!

Lisa Lynne Franco has more than survived the ups and downs of the modern music business. She has made her own way through the maze of record labels, falling CD sales, billboard chart fatigue and has developed an almost scientific process by which to thrive as a musician, and is generously willing to share it all in her book, How to Succeed at Self-Produced Concerts; A Guide for Performers and Presenters to Navigating a Successful Event. The author takes the reader through her history as a bass playing classic rocker, to chart topping recording artist for Windham Hill, through her experiences developing programs for community medical centers bringing musical healing into the lives of people so desperately in need. All leading to the eventual realization that acting on her own behalf as a completely independent musician, successfully managing, in every sense of the word, her own artistic journey, was the perfect fit.

This text helps the artist navigate the exploration of alternative venues vs established ones, working promotion and social media leading up to the event, dealing with tangibles like contract agreements, ticketing, merchandise, and accounting when the event has come to its successful conclusion. It’s not a study in “successful event management made easy” because Ms. Franco makes it clear that a successful return only occurs through diligence, focus and hard work. However, with specific email templates, action timelines, spreadsheets for organizing press contacts and possible venues, the author manages to elevate some of the sting of mundane business tasks and offers even the most disorganized person a foundation for success with an effective step by step process.

Equally inspirational and motivational, the book helps the reader to see venue performance opportunities through a broader view, enabling innovative ways to build an audience and make a living by breaking each piece of the process down into actionable and approachable steps that seem palatable even to the most easily overwhelmed artist. A quintessential DIY manual for the performing musician that manages double duty as a guide to also inform possible Presenter-Hosts in preparation for a successful event. In addition, the practical applications bridge several artistic platforms and it’s safe to say, this would be beneficial text for anyone organizing a public event or for any type of performance artist who wants to advance the trajectory of their career.
Overall, Lisa Lynne Franco offers a concise, comprehensive, and entertaining manual. How to Succeed at Self-Produced Concerts provides many thoughtful options for success and leaves the reader feeling empowered and prepared to embrace their own independence, while reaching out to endless possibilities for creating a magical entertainment experience for host, performer and most importantly, audience.

Hi all, It’s been a full and busy year, new home in new state, new book, new cat and new band! Very exciting stuff I’ll elaborate more in future posts. Here’s a sample of what we are doing. We’ll be doing some more touring along the west coast next year and hope to see you soon!

 

It was a wonderful time. A month of exploring Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden. We met many wonderful musicians and visited old friends and family too. We played concerts, did workshops and had many jam sessions. The great moments were too many to capture but here is the best I can do. Hope you enjoy!

A labor of love is almost complete! For so long I have wanted to share all I have learned from my years of experience overseeing every aspect of my own concerts and tours.

I am writing this book for two reasons: to empower performers to create their own opportunities and to assist new presenters in hosting concerts or building an ongoing series. This amounts to more places for us to play, and new ways to connect with live music patrons and appreciators.

In my own touring, I have helped many good folks from all around the country who are a connected to churches, community centers and other unique spaces to host their very first concert (mine). I have found there are many willing people who have the space and desire but just need a little guidance and inspiration to make it happen.  This step by step guide will help both artist and presenter determine who can or should be doing what, and when it should be done. This will empower artists to ascertain each situation and take responsibility to maximize every opportunity and avoid common mistakes.

In addition to my own experience, I have integrated lessons learned and sage advice from fellow performers and experienced presenters. I couldn’t resist asking for their weird and funny stories, too. I have included advice from newspaper writers and entertainment editors on how you can get the press coverage you need to have your music and your mission get the attention it deserves.

I am currently in the editing process and searching for a layout artist now, as assembling the text and cartoons is best left to the professionals. I love the many brilliant illustrations from my friend Christine who did wonderful upgrades to my silly little doodles (samples below).

When the book is ready it will be available in both digital and paper form.  There are task graphs to print out and checklists to utilize. This will take the mystery out of all that it takes to get the word out and inspire people to come to your show. You can create your own concert tours and be successful at it while your are helping new presenters to open their spaces, contribute to their community, and be patrons of the arts.

Here are just a few of the illustration. There are four main characters, Debbie DoRight, Diva Diana, Lazy Louis and Desperate Dan, all finding their way through this ever evolving business of music.  Here are some of the subjects covered.

It’s a New World

The Current Landscape

Your Mission

What is Success?

Reaching Out To

Established Venues

Alternative venues

New Presenters Overview

 

Choosing The Date

Agreements

Ticketing

Sound

Unique Opportunities

Master Promotion Plan

Who Does What and When?

Presenters Checklist

Task Graph and Timeline

Your Visuals

Press Releases

News & Calendars

Radio & TV

Social Media

Show Day Logistics

Merchandise

Accounting

Follow Up

Also included is my story and many more tips and advice from artists, hosts, presenters and journalists.  Last but not least, a helpful collection of resource links.

If you would like to get notified for when this book is ready for purchase, please sign up for my newsletter on this website or friend me on Facebook

 

Here it is, a video collection of moments and memories from our latest tour. We were on the road for almost two months playing concerts, teaching workshops and some musical visits to schools and hospitals.

I have taken my harps to many schools but these kids were the youngest yet. Head Start preschools is a government funded orgainzation. serves the lower income families with an opportunity for kids to be exposed to arts and music in preparation for entering schools. I had six classes of 3-5 year olds in one day!

The local newspaper came and did a nice little story and posted this video to go along with it. It was pretty early in the day before my caffeine.

Ahh…. to be relaxing after all the Winter gigs… its was a lot to do, but every moment was rich and diverse. Here’s a collage of just some of the fun. There were shows with our trio with Patrick Ball, shows with Windham Hill Winter Solstice, and some regular gigs too.

 

 

 

 

 

Rehearsing music.. an abundance of awesome tunes to choose from.

Packed up my little trailer for a swing up the Northwest to do our seasonal show with Patrick Ball called “A Winter Gift”

Rainy days in Portland, Highway 5 had a landslide. We couldn’t get to our Seattle show three hours away. After eight hours in a traffic jam, we had to give up and cancel the concert. painful.. wah!

 

 

 

 

Walters Cultural Art Center near Portland, Oregon.

Patrick’s dog Max went on tour with us this time.

 

 

 

 

Hands-on-Harps at a San Francisco Library.

I join Aryeh for a farmers market and our yearly Christmas Craft fair booth in Grass Valley. It’s a perfect chance to work on all the music for the concerts. Its fun.

Ashland, Oregon

I still get to play bass sometimes.

A show with Patrick in Kelseyville, not far from the devastating fires.

Special guest Olof Soderback sat in for some Swedish tunes.

The Winter Solstice Concert lineup was left to right: Alex Kelly, me, Barbara Higbie, Alex DeGrassi, George Tortorelli and Aryeh Frankfurter

Grass Valley Performing Arts Center

Two shows at SF Jazz in San Francisco. There was several pro video cameras so I will have footage soon. Unbelievable sound quality and crew there.

New Years eve at Centerpoint drug rehabilitation. A traditional gig that our good friends organize every year. They rock. It rocks.

And then a party of musicians! (sorry for the abrupt ending I ran out of space on my phone).   Happy New Year!

 

This was really fun to do. The host called it ‘mindblowing’

Listen to the interview here  http://femusician.com/027/