11 Creative Places to Hold a Concert for your Music Lessons
If you teach any kind of private or group music lessons, you’ve probably thought about where to hold a concert. The recital gives your students a goal to work toward, and gives their families a chance to see what they have learned. Plus there is just nothing like live music and the way it brings people together.
Planning a concert is a lot of work, and finding the perfect venue to hold your recital is a big task – you want it to be a smooth, positive, and memorable experience for everyone! If the concert is done well, it can be an excellent way to bring in new fans and music students. This post will give you some performance location ideas you may not have thought about!
When looking for a recital location, you’ll need to consider:
- Your location – try to stay within your local area to make it easy for your audience.
- Your budget – Don’t let this stress you out; there are great venue options for all budgets!
- The size of the audience – your concert location should be large enough to seat your audience comfortably, and small enough to feel intimate.
- The instruments and equipment you’ll need – Speakers, microphones, stage, chairs, piano, etc. Be sure to find out what the venue can provide.
- The weather, if you’re considering an outside performance.
Here are some ideas to help you find your perfect place to hold a concert:
- Recital Hall
We’ll start with the obvious! I actually didn’t know this one was obvious when I first started booking recitals. You can do a google search for “recital hall near me” and see what comes up, or search for “music stores” then check their websites to see if any of them have small recital halls. You’ll want to book a few months in advance to make sure you can get the ideal date and time. You can also check Giggster or Peerspace for recital halls and other venues in your area.
2. Schools
If you have a large enough audience, you may want to consider booking a school auditorium. The budget for this can vary greatly depending on the school and district. If you can’t find information on their website, try giving them a call! You can check elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities near you.
3. Outdoor Amphitheaters
Do you have a large park nearby? Some of these have outdoor amphitheaters, where families can sit in the grass or on built-in seating to enjoy the concert. Even though it’s outdoors, you’ll probably still need an official booking through your city’s parks and recreation department – check their website for availability! You’ll also need to provide your own sound, and you might want to have a backup location in case of bad weather. Families with small children enjoy outdoor concerts because their kids can run and play without having to keep still.
4. Churches
Many churches have some sort of stage they’re more than happy to rent out. Check websites and make some phone calls!
5. Performing Arts Centers
These can be higher budget venues, but very classy if you want your students to feel like professional performers for a night. Usually they have some small theater options off the main stage as well.
6. Backyard
If you’re low on budget, a backyard is a great option! If your own yard isn’t suitable, you can ask around to people you know. The fun thing about backyard concerts is that you can customize them however you’d like. The tricky part is making sure you have all the essentials – a small stage or area to perform, seating, sound equipment, etc. Just make sure the neighbors are OK with it too, and don’t hold your concert too late at night!
7. Nursing Homes
It really depends on the nursing home, but many of them have a suitable performance space for small groups. The residents love getting to hear live music, and you’ll leave feeling all warm and fuzzy. This can also just be a fun add-on or rehearsal for your actual concert, especially around the holidays. Call the nursing home to book a date, then get a handful of students who want to participate.
8. Restaurants
This will take some creative thinking. Do you have any family friendly restaurants in your area that feature live music? Performing at a restaurant can be a really fun opportunity for soloists, pianists, or small groups. Just be aware that the audience might be mingling more than listening, depending on the restaurant. Sometimes that can be a good thing as it takes a little pressure off the performer. Growing up, we had a restaurant nearby with a big grassy area outside, and it was perfect for our acoustic band and children’s singing performances.
9. Community Center or Library
Check your local community center or library – they might have a stage or at least a room you can book at a low cost for your performance.
10. Home
If you have a large enough space in your home, or if you know a kind person with a large home, you have an easy venue right there! This can be especially nice for small piano and voice recitals. You can rent chairs, decorate however you’d like, and provide refreshments too!
11. Parade
A parade is a fun way to perform AND get visibility for your music teaching business! Like a nursing home or restaurant, you probably don’t want to use this as your ONLY performance opportunity, since it is hard to listen without distraction. However, a parade is such a great practice because your students can perform the same piece multiple times, switch it up, and maybe even do some improvisation, without the pressure to be perfect. The constant cheers are so encouraging, and being in a parade is an experience they’ll always remember.
Have you tried any of these venues for your performances? What places would you add to the list?