I got a few replies to my call for a California Circuit, all positive. My thinking is that if I am going to generate any real interest, I would have to create a more developed overview of the concept and, as I opened my big mouth in the first place, I might as well give it a try. So, I threw together something on my web site that I think I'll call a concept piece (that is my way of saying the site isn't even well along enough to call it a draft). I am asking that people on this list surf over to the site and give me feedback on how to proceed.

To recap my earlier comments: I've long envied the existence of a "circuit" of venues stretching along the east coast. Taking advantage of this circuit, an artist can schedule a two or three week tour from, for example, Boston to DC and back, without ever having to drive more than a few hours between venues, avoiding expensive plane tickets between gigs. The result has been that many folkies have been able to "stay in business" due, at least in part, to this circuit and the folk music community has prospered as a result. It has long been commonly believed that such a circuit did not exist on the west coast and that touring in the west, including California, could not be done profitably unless you were playing venues large enough to justify flying from LA to SF to Seattle for three gigs. The result has been that folk music is less viable, and less popular, on the left coast than on the right.

However, doing a tour of California is possible. Via the inland route, there are at least 7 cities (independent cites, not suburbs of larger cites) with populations of over 190,000 each. Along the coast, there are 4 resort cites with resident populations greater than 50,000, plus many thousands of tourists (all looking for something to do at night). Most of these cities have venues that regularly schedule folk concerts and there are numerous occasional or house concert series in the state. The distances between cities compare very favorably to those along the east coast. It is less than 450 miles from SF to LA, while it is 440 miles from Boston to DC. The city populations also compare very favorably. For example, Fresno's population is approximately 400,000, Stockton and Bakersfield are both over 200,000, while along the coast, Santa Barbara is over 85,000; by comparison, Providence, RI is about 160,000, Worcester, MA about 170,000. It is possible for a musician to tour California in two to three weeks (and not go broke) much as one would tour from Boston to DC. But while most artists know about the vitality of the folk music community on the east coast, few know about the possibilities that already exist in California. (I have frequently heard it said that, if you want to make a living in folk music, you have to move to Boston or NY.)

As I conceive of it (at this time), the goal of the California Circuit is to foster the development of the folk music community in California (and the west coast in general). To achieve this goal, I have set two objectives. First (and the one I will concentrate my activities on at least initially) is popularizing and promoting of the existence of the California Circuit. Second is the creation of an organization which will assist (by whatever means we can come up with) those organizers who are attempting to create additional venues along the circuit.

I got one reply to my earlier comments which stated: "You build it, we'll come…" This comment set me to thinking and I'd like to share my thoughts with you because I think they'll help illuminate my concept of a California Circuit, and the part of it which I am willing to try and tackle.

First, the "You build it" part. I don't intend to build anything, especially of the bricks and mortar type. I know what it is like to start and run a venue. I ain't interested. (For the record, in '68 I started a coffeehouse on the Umass campus at Amherst called "Hello Friend". I had a lot of help. I left the campus in '69, but I've been told it continued on for a number of years into the 70s. I've often wondered if the existence of Hello Friend, which predated the Iron Horse in nearby Northhampton, had any influence on that legendary venue's startup. I also had a few presenter escapades while living in Canada during the 70s and for the past few years, I have been part of the team managing Strings, the popular "underground" venue in Emeryville.) Much goes into starting a venue. Regardless of whether the venue is for profit, non-profit or (as my friend Joey Lent likes to say) "no profit", arguably most important is the financials. A venue has to find a way to at least pay its expenses to keep afloat. Other than attracting quality artists to an area with venues which the artist might, over wise, not even know about (which, of course, will help the financial end of things), I don't see the concept generating funds to build venues. However, I do harbor hopes that as the California Circuit becomes better know, an organization might evolve which fosters cooperation among venue operators and which supports and aides the creation and survivability of new venues. I also want to note that the Circuit doesn't have to be built from scratch- much of it already exists. Venues are in place which make it possible to schedule a tour of California without going broke in the process. Instead of bricks and mortar, my main activity will focus on popularizing and promoting the existence of the California Circuit.

As for the "we'll come" part, that's all well and fine. And certainly there is an intent to attract touring artists from other parts of the country, just as the east coast circuit has benefited by attracting musicians from all over the country (and beyond). However, my primary desire is to promote folk music on the west coast in general and within California in particular. What I hope to do is quite simple in concept. The east coast circuit has engendered a close knit community of operators, musicians, fans, radio programs, record labels, and the like. This community has helped keep folk music alive and popular on the east coast for many years, well into its second generation now. The creation of the Circuit (or, more correctly, the broadening awareness of its existence) will, I believe, foster a similar community here on the west coast.

Finally, I should add that I am neither a venue operator nor a touring musician. (I am a recording engineer trying to get an acoustic record label off the ground on a very thin shoestring.) I am coming at this from the standpoint of a fan of the music. (The very first record I ever bought, when I was 12 I believe, was Tom Dooley- I've been a fan a long time.) I would like to see folk music become as viable and as popular here in California as it is in my native Massachusetts.

The web site has a (rather poor) map of California with some principle highways and cities. Clicking on a city will get you a listing of the venues located in (or near by) that city. (Only two cities are "active" on the demo, ah concept, page- Oakland and Berkeley.) Other buttons on the site will provide additional information helpful to an artist planning a tour of California. The intent is that an artist would visit the site, checking out venue information and location, as well as other helpful information when beginning to plan a tour.

Only two venues are listed, one each in Oakland and Berkeley- and the information about each venue is minimal. This is a concept piece, remember. My intent is to give you an idea of how the web site might work and to ask what kind of information should be on the site, including what kind of information should be listed about each venue. Also, what type of venues should be listed? I am thinking about listing venues which regularly schedule folk music (broadly defined) at least one night a week. Also, I will list only venues with less than 400 seats (if you are regularly playing greater than 400 seats, you don't need the circuit- and your booking agent should be earning e's keep). But what to do with occasion venues (those without fixed schedules, such as the Musicians' Coffeehouse series in Walnut Creek) and the various house concert series in California? This is the kind of advice that I am most interested in, but I would love to get comments of any kind about this project.

Also, I am not very proficient at creating web pages (and what I do, I do "by hand", HTML coding), so, I could use some help in that area as well.

Finally, Dave Nachmanoff and I have been discussing hosting a meeting, what I've started to call a summit, of interested parties. The purpose of the meeting would be to discuss ways to insure the viability of Northern California venues. We are thinking about holding the meeting over dinner (my partner, Sharon, is gaining quite a reputation for her cooking). I could use input on this idea as well. Thanks.

Please email me your advice. You may use the email link listed on the page.

Please DO NOT send me information about venues at this time. I am not ready to start accepting such info- I don't even know what info I'll be listing. When I am ready to start listing venues on the web site, I will make an announcement to this list (and I'll post it periodically, just in case you missed it the first time).