On Concert-Series Sign-Ups...
Read on for sign-ups and performance details...
Introduction
Today’s post is going to be more of an announcement and less of a longwinded story about me finding myself. The announcement is:
I am hosting a concert series in NYC. Surprise!
Those of you who were at my Songwriting Workshop on January 25th already know this, as I made an announcement about it at the end of my session. (This was the super-secret-extra-special announcement I was alluding to in my earlier post: My Songwriting Workshops Origin-Story.)
The reason I am doing this is because I believe it is an extremely important part of the artist-development process to practice sharing one’s work. I wanted to provide my fellow artists with the space to do so in the beautifully unique loft-space and ecosystem of creatives which I have access to, as a member of Verci.
But Sofia, how do I sign up? Keep reading.
Important Details
We are aiming for the first concert of this series to take place at the end of March. The working date as of now is Saturday, March 29th, 2025. (This date is subject to change).
This will be an intimate show, open to the public, where artists can promote their work, sell merchandise, put a short-set together sampling their songwriting-portfolio, and get exposure to new audiences.
The first concert of this series will be modeled after the NPR Tiny Desk Concert Series - think an intimate acoustic set, against a bookshelf backdrop, at a loft-space in the Flatiron District, New York City.
Here are some examples of NPR’s Tiny Desk-Concert setup. We’re trying to replicate this vibe:
We are asking artists to prepare 2-3 songs, all-original work, to be featured in a 2-hour sit-down event, with brief intermissions between sets.
This will be an excellent way to get your original work out there, to connect with fellow artists, and to draw in new listeners of your music.
Note: I am working on ways for artists to walk away from this experience with professional photos/video-documentation of their performance…stay tuned.
This concert series is also an invitation to experiment with putting out your own promo, making your own merch, and basically being your own boss. As hard as it is for indie musicians to do all the work themselves these days without the help of labels & health insurance (girl we feel you) - it’s also a blessing in disguise, in a way. Consider this a moment where you can design your dream show/set and get as creative as you want without labels bossing you around. We’re willing to work with you when it comes to production design, ect…so if you have any ideas, reach out.
While I work out the details for our first show with the help of my amazing collaborators at Verci, we implore artists who are interested in performing to fill out this form by Sunday, 2/9, to give us an idea of what material we’re working with so that we can put together the best possible show.
We anticipate hosting more than one of these concerts in the future - however future concerts may be stylistically different depending on the artists who sign up and potential space limitations. By signing up, you will automatically considered for future events.
More details to come.
Rapid-Fire Details
First Concert Date (to be confirmed): March 29th, 2025
Set-Length: 2-3 Songs
Can I perform with friends/bandmates? Yes.
Do I have to be a regular attendee of your workshops to perform? Not necessarily, but we will prioritize slots for our loyal regular workshop goers. Don’t let this deter you though, as we’d love to consider you for future shows. If anything, just respond to this email/dm me on insta and we’ll talk. @sofiarosaabianchi
Are we allowed backing tracks? We’re trying to keep this first show mostly acoustic. But you should still fill out the sign-up form even if acoustic is not your vibe, because I am already scheming up future shows which I’d love to consider you for.
Will this concert be open to the Public? Yes.
Am I guaranteed a spot? No, but we’ll do our best to accommodate as many performers as we can. If not for this show, you’ll be considered for future shows.
What is the judging criteria? We are not and do not claim to be the gods of music… If you are not picked for this first show, do not consider it a reflection on your quality of your work at all. I cannot emphasize this enough. It really comes down to how many sign-ups we have and what genre trends we’re seeing across sign-ups. If you’re not chosen for this first show, do not take it personally - it probably means that we realized that your sound/vibe will lend itself better to a future group that we’re putting together which will be just as epic and cool.
Are you willing to entertain my production-design ideas? Let’s talk. Make a note of this on the form or email/dm me. @sofiaorosaabianchi or hisofiabianchi@gmail.com
Lastly, to be considered, please submit the form by clicking the link below by Sunday, February 9th.
I can’t wait for what’s to come! This is gonna be epic guys. As always, feel free to reach out to me with your questions & ideas. Dm me on insta @sofiarosaabianchi or email hisofiabianchi@gmail.com.
That’s all for now. Talk soon,
Sofia