In This Moment, In This Home Tour -
Host Checklist and Info
Hosting anything is about holding space. I promise to bring good energy with me, to create an experience that is special and unforgettable for you and your guests. I will be playing music from In This Moment, and invite listeners to feel the music with me. I am also working towards certification in Mental Health First Aid training, and if you are open to it, I would love to run a training either before or after the show to encourage a conversation around mental health, seeking resources, and getting the help you need.
Space and Time
I am currently a solo act, so I won’t require too much floor space. I will have my guitar, and if accessible, my ukulele, and possibly my keyboard. I have my own PA that we can use if necessary, but I find often times in these smaller spaces, extra amplification is not needed. If we do want to use it, all I’d need is accessibility to electricity.
I will play for about an hour, and we can decide on if we want to break it up with an intermission or not. If you are an artist, I would love to encourage you to play! Together, we can have up to a two hour set with an intermission.
Check:
Open space with access to power and/or extension cords
space for people to sit; folding chairs/couches welcome, as well as rugs for floor seating
a small table for merch
Guests + Tickets
As this is your home, you have full power over who you would like to have over! This can be a ticketed event, where I market tickets to people in your area, or a suggested donation event, where you invite whoever you’d like, and I don’t advertise the show. If this is a ticketed event, I would sell tickets for $20, and you can review the guest list before allowing anyone in.
Check:
Choose between a ticketed, marketed event or;
Curate a guest list of your choosing with and prepare for a donation announcement
Ambiance
The music is intimate and emotional, and I would love the space to reflect the mood! I’m happy to send you a link to listen to the album ahead of the show if this helps! I will have with me some battery powered twinkling lights that we can drape, and a bluetooth speaker to play a curated playlist before and after the show.
Check:
Anything you believe will make the space cozy
Lighting that we can dim/control the brightness is a plus!
Merch
I will be traveling with some merch and opportunities for people to join my email list! I will have a square and cash with me as well as everything I need to make a cozy merch set up. All I need is a table we can set up, and if you would like to, a volunteer to help run the table during the performance.
Check:
A Table. to set up merch
Optional; A volunteer to help run the table
Meals
If you are able to provide dinner for me, I would be so so grateful! I am vegetarian and sensitive to dairy, and I understand this could be difficult to accommodate. No worries! If you are not able to provide a meal, any recommendations for nearby places would be gratefully appreciated!
Check:
Choose to provide a vegetarian meal or;’
Provide recommendations for food nearby :D
Lodging
I am running this tour out of pocket, and to help save some money, It would be incredible if I could stay on your couch for the night. I would not stay more than one night! And I will be very tidy. I can provide previous airbnb reviews that hosts have left of me if you’d like!
Creating A Volunteer Hosting Team
This is probably one of the most fun parts! You can curate the show of your dreams, and involve whoever you want to do that! In the past, some people have designated someone in charge of food and drink, ushering, merch table, and designated donation announcer! These are just some ideas, and you can form your team (or not form a team!) however you would like! If you know upon application if you will have a team, please let me know your team number and t-shirt sizes so I can get them to your crew!
FAQs
Got a question you don’t see? Shoot me an email at: sunflowersummit.music@gmail.com, and together we can improve this FAQ <3
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Many people who host shows often do provide some light snacks and drinks, but this is entirely optional and totally up to you!
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Though my music is universal, I do believe there is something special about being fully and totally connected with each other during the show. Children are welcome, but if you would like to feel more connected, in this moment, a sitter might be a better option.
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You are totally welcome to host the show all by yourself - but I will say - the more the merrier! I am designing t-shirts for hosts and their volunteers to help run the night, and I’m happy to provide tees for everyone on your team.
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If you would like to host but don’t think your place is the most amenable to hosting, here are some ideas.
Cohost! You likely know someone with a bigger space. Introduce them to the idea of co-hosting, and you can become a dream team!
Reach out to a venue near you! This might be a little trickier to do, and may include some upfront expenses, so I don’t really push this one, BUT there are some creative work arounds, like community spaces, libraries, high school gyms, etc.
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Hosting can be totally free if you like! You don’t have to provide snacks, you don’t need to let me stay the night or provide a meal. I understand we are all in different places, and getting to come play in your home is already such an amazing gift!
You are also welcome to craft the show of your dreams! I have hosted many shows at my own apartment for Chicago indie artists, and I often give myself a 50$ budget to account for drinks and chips. I keep it simple!
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Getting to go on tour is an absolute dream! (A dream that I’m funding out of pocket!) I do not have a car, and the cost of renting or buying a car is likely the biggest obstacle - soon to be mastered! Essentially, the life of this tour is largely dependent on donations. I can walk you through making a strong call to action to help gather donations at the end of the show! I am also looking into different mental health organizations, and will be donating 10% of whatever I earn to support their mission.
What is Mental Health First Aid?
You likely have a first aid kit somewhere in your home. A place with bandages, painkillers, ointments, etc. This first aid kit serves the purpose of being able to help someone if they get hurt. Perhaps a first aid kit is all that’s needed. Or, maybe what’s in the first aid kit isn’t enough, and you need to call in for extra help (calling an ambulance for example). While you wait for the ambulance, the first aid kit can provide some tools to assist the situation, even if it’s only in a small way. Every little bit counts towards helping the person get the resources and help they need.
Mental Health First Aid is very similar. Instead of bandaids and advil though, we have our words, and our knowledge of who to call. First, we learn what a mental health challenge looks like by identifying times we’ve experienced mental health challenges or have seen others undergo a mental health challenge. Next we identify the signs that someone is going through a mental health challenge, and ask questions that can help us determine the situation. Within the training, we will dig deeper into examples of these conversations and discuss ways you can respond. Ultimately, the goal is to be able to help someone in need, and be able to provide resources to them that are appropriate to their needs. It is important to note we are not therapists or medical professionals, and we should not assume that role. But, just like with regular first aid, little bits of help do count, and can guide the person in the right direction.
Who is Mental Health First Aid FOR?
Anyone and everyone. Going through the process of being trained in MHFA helps us demystify what mental health is, and helps us break stigma. If we become safe spaces for other people, we also help our community and come together more unified and with more compassion and empathy.
If you are a teacher, someone who works in community spaces, or someone who works in service where they are constantly interacting with people, MHFA is really great. You can really become someone who is safe for other people to talk to, and that makes a world of difference.