Make your own performance opportunities Options

[RoseRodent]

I need to perform some works to help me get my backside in gear. I have a music festival in February and will be performing at my university late in the year, but would really like some places I can play without the pressure all being on me, that people have come for another reason but I will be playing in the corner. I know National Trust has allowed some people to do that sort of thing in their historic houses. It's all out of copyright music at the moment, so that reduces the licensing requirements, though I will have a copyright piece to perform later in the year. Do you know any other easy opportunities for performance? I don't have friends or work colleagues and I don't go to church, so that's the usual easy starting points scored out. I don't know if you need a license to busk, and in any case it's not exactly the most popular music in the world.

[ali bali bee]

I don't know where you are based but Finchcocks Music Museum might be an option. It's about 10 miles from Tunbridge Wells. Here's a link to their website http://www.finchcocks.co.uk/

[BadStrad]

A friend of mine used to play the piano at a Torbay hotel, for their Sunday lunch crowd. Is there anywhere near you that you could try that approach?

[Bass Clef]

How about organising a recital with a small group of friends? I was involved in something like this at university. There was about 8 of us (all singers): we all did solos, a couple of big group numbers and then some smaller ensemble pieces. It was great knowing that I only had one solo piece to prepare but I was involved in lots of gorgeous duets and trios.

[RoseRodent]

How about organising a recital with a small group of friends?

I have exactly 3 proper friends, as opposed to "mate of mine" friends. One doesn't play anything, one lives 275 miles away and the other lives 1,092 miles away. I know, sad case, but I have been ill for a number of years and didn't go outside the house, you lose touch with people when you are too sick to talk to them. I'm trying to rebuild, but I'm still nowhere close to being well, everything has to be built up so slowly, it's painstaking. I haven't had time for a social network yet as I see most people at single one-off events. It's this total lack of a social setup that makes this all so difficult, if I had a starting point of some friends it would be a whole lot easier, but that's just exactly what I don't have is any contacts. So annoying.

[viola-mad]

You mentioned busking. In some towns you will need a licence, in other towns you won't. E-mail the licensing department at your local city/borough council to find out. Even if you don't need a licence there might be other things you need to know, like how long you are allowed to busk in one location, etc.

I know you say it's not the most popular music in the world, but I don't think that matters if you're looking for performance opportunities. Busking is about the most laid-back, easy to organise performance opportunity there is. But you are still performing your pieces to an audience, and I for one still get pre-performance nerves. If you want to use the opportunity to generate a bit of cash for yourself, simply add in a few easy popular pieces.

[jim palmer]

If you're within reach of Central London, the CityLit, London WC2 and Morley College London SE1
have classes at all levels, they're very sociable. I assume you're a pianist?
http://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/Music/Piano_and_keyboards
http://www.morleycollege.ac.uk/courses/mus...no+%26+keyboard
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/xmas_tree.gif)

[RoseRodent]

If you're within reach of Central London

Only 405 miles away (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) and not a pianist either, I must remember to post my sig on things where it might be important!

[jim palmer]

If you're within reach of Central London

Only 405 miles away (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) and not a pianist either, I must remember to post my sig on things where it might be important!

Sorry, you're obviously versatile!
People do travel amazing distances to study or teach.
The violin/viola teacher at Morley College lives in Devon, ~200 miles, and spends part of the week in London.
At the City Lit we had an oboist/pianist/recordist from Abingdon School, ~50 miles, deputising for a day.
Then we had Alexandra from Norway who had studied at the RCM.