It’s time for another front porch concert!  This event—the TJC Spring Jam and Recital—will be the sixth Front Porch concert I’ve hosted (I think), and I’ve learned quite a bit from the others, including the last Spooktacular.

This year marks the third Spring Jam, which has become a popular event with my private music students.  These front porch concerts started out as a way for my buddy John and me to play gigs during The Age of The Virus, when nobody was open for live music.  I realized that if I wanted to play in front of a live audience, I’d have to circumvent the hysteria and become the venue and talent.

Gradually, the concept morphed from a self-indulgent concert into a recital for my private music students.  The Lord has really blessed me—far beyond what I deserve—with a large clientele of private music students (around twenty-two at the time of writing, working out in practice to anywhere from twenty-to-twenty-four lessons a week), so it made sense to offer a couple of recital opportunities a  year for them.

Rather than go through the hassle and expense of booking some venue, I figured, “hey, why not take a good thing and make it better”?  The kids and their families seem to prefer the more laidback approach.  It’s hard to get nervous playing in front of an audience when it’s on a tiny front porch and everyone is eating hot dogs.

I take up a “suggested donation” of around $10 per family, though it is completely optional.  Many families donate more, while others bring baked goods or dishes for the potluck.  I do sell some t-shirts and other merchandise, but I’ve gradually shifted away from making the Spring Jam and the Spooktacular moneymaking endeavors.  They typically break even or have a minor loss (usually less than $100), but that’s a small price to pay for putting on a good party and giving my students a chance to play.

After my sister-in-law complained (subtly) about the paint-based activities for kids, I’ve decided to scrap the birdhouse painting contest in favor of a LEGO building contest.  I picked up a massive set of random pieces for $30 (half-off!), and I’m going to let the kids’ imaginations run wild.  That should be a fun and clean activity, and I’m going to hold it inside my den (I don’t want to lose precious LEGO pieces in my lawn!).

Another change:  instead of having the recital and then John and I jamming for an hour afterwards, I’m going to weave in our songs, and substantially shorten that portion of it.  We should be able to get everything done in under two hours, which gives everyone plenty of time to get home at a decent hour.

A full review is to come!  In the meantime, rock on!

—TPP