A reflection by Kris Rodolico, Founder and Executive Director of Follow Your Art Community Studios:
“Back in MY day…”
As a new college graduate who had just moved to Boston, I worked second shift plus overtime at a residential center for children. I had no local friends or family, no money, and no life.
I don’t remember how I found Club Passim in Harvard Square, but I’m still grateful every day.
Back then (we’re talking the 1990s), if you volunteered for a show, you got to see that show, AND you got a free ticket to another show, plus a kitchen voucher! Thus began my subsidized education in the Boston area folk scene. I was a fixture every weekend, falling in love with musicians through their music.
Having live music at The Big Yellow House started out as a pet project of mine – it was an opportunity for me to invite some of my long-time favorites (Mark Erelli, Peter Mulvey, Antje Duvekot, and upcoming Vance Gilbert and Pamela Means, hoping for Kris Delmhorst!) for an intimate concert. Making these events a regular occurrence with a full house of paying audience members has been a code we’ve yet to crack, but we’re working on it.
Now, I’m fully aware that my 20-something Boston singer-songwriter vibe isn’t everyone’s. As we grow into our mission as a resource for creatives, we know there’s a tremendous amount of talent in our local community and the greater Boston area. To become a regular venue, we need to open up the space more, and trust that – like everything at the Big Yellow House – we’ll figure it out and make adjustments as we go. We want musicians to be seen, heard, and paid for their performances.
What does that mean for you?
Are you a gigging musician, or know someone who is? Do you want to hear and support local musicians by buying a ticket with some friends to attend a show? Can you be an FYA Guitar Hero and sponsor an artist to come play?
Follow Your Art Community Studios has both indoor and (summer) outdoor performance spaces for more than 50 people where you could hold a concert or gathering. Book the space for an event, sell tickets, and we’ll help you spread the word. Let’s work together. If you’re interested, please reach out and we can discuss details, show you the space, and geek out over live local music.
The “house concerts” we’ve held have been truly special, and we’re excited to share this opportunity with more performing artists. Let’s make Big Yellow House Concerts a thing.
In the meantime, please check out all the live music options we have coming up, including some where you get to play along!
See you at the next gig,
Kris