Another homework assignment for my music production class:
Author Archives: BettyW
Small Performance Venues in Somerville and Cambridge MA
[NOTE: Updated 24 March 2014]
I just answered a question about where someone’s folk-type band could play in the Somerville/Cambridge area, so here’s a not-comprehensive list of my suggestions:
The Arts at the Armory Cafe in Somerville – info@artsatthearmory.org
There are also some monthly open mics there where you can play 2 songs/pieces:
Both of those are pretty open to any sort of music – last time I was at the Sunday one a cellist who had stopped by to go the Yesterday Service classical music store in the basement played a couple of Bach pieces. Check their event calendar for any current open mics.
If you want to do your own show, Outpost 186 in Inman Sq Cambridge can be rented evenings or Sunday afternoon for $75 for 1 event or $50/ea for a series of 3 or more.. Contact: Rob Chalfen – robchalfen@hotmail.com
There’s also the Lily Pad in Inman Sq, but booking a full slot can be $$$ – $70/hour, though you get to set the door charge (typically $10) and keep it. They also now serve beer and wine, though your audience can be all ages. As of early 2014 the booker is Jesse – contact him at bookthelilypad@gmail.com
Third Life Studio is in Union Sq Somerville – it is a dance studio with a grand piano, no PA. It is $25/hr for the 1st four hours, then $15/hr for longer.
Somerville does not have any specific rules about busking (unlike Cambridge, which requires a $40 permit), so you could try something impromptu in Davis Sq when the weather is better.
Gallery 263 in Cambridgeport (a couple blocks up Pearl St from memorial Drive) hosts music shows.
Out Of the Blue Gallery on Prospect St Cambridge across from Whole Foods does, too:
You might also look up opportunities at local farmers’ markets if you don’t mind playing outside:
This was off the top of my head – please list other ideas in the comments!
Super Short Run Physical CD Manufacture
I mentioned this in passing a while ago, but I just now set up and placed an order with Kunaki.com for a very few – five – CD albums of the 10 tracks my band Ginger Ibex wrote and recorded in February for the RPM Challenge.
Unlike our professionally-recorded 2009 album Firefly, these pieces were written quickly, in styles different from the band’s usual sound, and all recorded in my office-studio with GarageBand, MIDI patches, Apple Loops, and one Snowball USB microphone. The resulting music is fun, but not anything on which we wanted to spend a thousand dollars or more to master and press more crates of CDs to keep in my basement!
How did it work and how did it turn out?
Using Automation In GarageBand
Here’s another Music Production class homework assignment video. Automation means adjusting the amplitude level of an individual recorded track at various points to balance its volume vis a vis other tracks – for instance as in this video to make the vocal track “pop” out on top of the accompanying instrument tracks: