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Wow!!! Big Change to Website! 

So, with a little inspiration and some AI intervention the re-formatting of the 12StringMemories.com website has occurred.  You’ll find some new info on the home page and some more direct action buttons associated with how to book a show.  

What did this gain me?  In the past if you asked Google if 12StringMemories would be a good act to book for a show you would get nothing about me or the type of show I could provide.  Now you get a plethora of information.  It’s all about how to tie in your marketing with how potential customers might be looking for your services.  It’s amazing how much you can learn just by doing a little research and asking appropriate questions. 

We've got lot's going on! 

Well, there has been a whirlwind of activity since my last blog update.  Website changes, marketing changes, educational guidance, bookings at new venues.  It’s just been crazy.  Throw in some travel, some shows and some relaxation time and you know how these last few months have been for me.   

Let’s start with educational guidance.  I searched out and found some really good information on how to book “higher end” venues (as opposed to bars, restaurants and those gigs that are overhead expenses to the customer's bottom line).   It all comes back to “marketing”.  Where you advertise and how you advertise and who you talk to are all keys.  Upon review, it became obvious to me that my website was more dedicated to supporting the current and next gigs as opposed to “marketing” me and my music as the musician that is a perfect fit for your next big event.   

 

From that, you’ll already see some minor changes already incorporated into the website.  A standalone tab directed towards booking inquiries.  Various buttons have been added to start the booking process.  The current show setlists have been moved off the home page and on to the “shows” page.  Upcoming changes to be implemented soon include home page improvements that speak more to how I am the musical solution to what your event needs, addition of a “partnership page” which will list the venues and businesses I have cultivated a “preferred performer” status with. Enough said about webpage changes.  Look for the changes; they’re ongoing! 

 

New venues added this year:   

Sit & Stay Winery – 2 shows booked here this year.  Great little place right in downtown Kalamazoo.  Wines are excellent and they really know how to throw a party.  Lots of events going on all throughout the year.   

The Grill House – 2 outdoor patio shows booked this year.  Recognized as one of the premier steak houses in Michigan.  Located in Allegan, The Grill House has been featured on a couple of restaurant review shows on various TV cooking channels. As an aside, they purportedly have a ghost which inhabits the old house in which this steakhouse operates. 

Final Gravity Brewery & Distillery - Located in Decatur, Michigan, I just completed a show here opening their summer Suds & Sounds patio music program.   Right in the heart of Decatur, MI, their craft beer is great.  The food is over the top and the musician list for this year is looking like it’ll be a rocking year in Decatur.   

 

But now I have a few weeks off until the next show.  Going camping, which in musician terms, means a great time to learn new songs or try new arrangements.  I’m sure it’ll be a mix of both.  Might be a few “adult beverages” thrown in as well.   

 

Hope to see you soon at a show!  Till then – Be well! 

Tom

 

Late Start, but things are happening. 

So, it has been a very long while since I've written a blog post.  I am so sorry, but life and other priorities have gotten in the way.  Health is pretty much perfect (for a Sr Citizen).  I can't seem to lose the travel weight added from trips to Egypt, Florida, Japan and Korea.  But at least it isn't going up anymore.  

The year finished off well with a few December shows and one very big lesson learned.  That lesson,  if it isn't in writing you don't have an agreement.  To make a long story short I was asked to perform a 2 hr Christmas show at a new (for me) venue.  Played a great show with about 12 friends coming in for a full dinner, cocktails and show.  2 hrs on the button, zero breaks.  Start packing up and the bar tender says the owner wanted you for 3 hour show. Forget the fact that I even sent, and they used, promo material showing a 2 hour show.  So yeah, now I send out a Performance Agreement for every show (unless the venue asks for an invoice) as soon as the show is booked.  

Booking for 2026 has been ok.  A few less shows than other years, but I have a lot of travel planned throughout the year so not really a big concern.  I did add 2 new venues (Sit & Stay Winery and The Grill House).  Hopefully they turn into long term repeat venues for me.  I did not get any work at Fenn Valley this year, but it was a super long drive for me.  Biggest news is I am singing in a benefit show on May 9 to support Elizabeth's Library International.  I'm a little nervous about this one because the other acts are professionally trained top-notch performers.  Throw in the fact that I'm playing the song (Caladonia by Dougie MacLean) in Open C tuning.  What that means….It's like learning a whole new stringed instrument.  New fingerings for each of the (fortunately only) 4 chords.  

On the website front, some changes have occurred and other changes planned.  Recently I added set list buttons on the home page so people can see the songs planned for the next/current show.  Also, a button on the about me page showing the 180 or so songs that I consider “show ready” meaning they are a couple of practice runs away from being ready to go onto a set list.  Those two changes were requested by one of my followers. A planned upcoming change will be to add a site-wide music player which will feature my music.  I've recorded a set of music clips which will give a good feel for people coming to the site looking for what I do and how I sound.  That was a suggestion from a website review by my website host Bandzoogle.  They are so good to work with!

Merch sales have been suspended due to cost.  Tariff and transportation costs have raised the breakeven price for mugs and coasters more than I would want friends and followers to pay.  So, I have shelved my graphic artist ideas.  I still have a few mugs and coasters that I will sell at original cost.  Hit me up if you want them.  

So that's a big update.  Show season kicks off for me in about 11 days.  Time to go down into the studio and get some quality practice time in.  

Stay true to yourself!

Tom

Somebody has been busy! 

Did you see it?  Home Page!!!  The official 12String Memories store is open for business.  First item on sale, 11 & 15oz coffee mugs with our logo and website address!  New products will be coming on line in the next few days.  Keep venturing back to visit.  The link is: 

https://12stringmemories.printify.me

On the music side of things, the 2025 schedule is almost full.  16 shows on the books, hoping for 2 or 3 more drop ins.  Added another new show venue. Got signed up for a Mother’s Day show (May 11) for Chef Sean Hale’s Texas BBQ better known as The Farm at Bloomingdale. 

I played a 3hr private party show on Saturday March 15.  Such a great vibe with energy from young and old alike.  You know it is really true that the crowd really can make a show better!  I’m also trying to get out to a few of the local Open Mic’s. Great place to find potential clients for private shows as well as interacting with all my musician friends!

New songs aren’t coming along as fast as desired, but there are 3 in the works; Birthday -Beatles, We Just Disagree - Dave Mason and The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel.  If you have a suggested song addition, leave me a comment!  

Finally, I’m considering going to “camp”.  The internationally renowned Interlochen Music Camp is offering a 5 day acoustic guitar camp.  It doesn’t interfere with any booked shows.  I’m just trying to determine if the cost makes sense.  Or as a good friend of mine used to say “Is the juice worth the squeeze”.

Yep, been busy, but I love busy!  And it’s almost show season!.  

Until then, 

Be good!

 

Where did February go??? 

I know, it’s only 28 days, but where did February go??? While I have been traveling down south I have been doing my fair share of “business” too.  

In a nutshell I’ve been:

  1. Booking shows for this summer (already up to 16 shows on the books with shows at 2 new venues).  
  2. Working to improve “search ability” of 12String memories.com.  There’s a lot of behind the scenes work on having your own website that I was totally unfamiliar with.  
  3. Working on new songs.  (Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress by the Hollies, Dream On by Aerosmith, Brown Skin Girl by Bo Bice & Santana and Your Song by Elton John).  
  4. Designing a new logo which should do well on merch.  
  5. And, of course, everywhere I travel I listen to the rhythm of the area to find new music to add to my repertoire.  This time I found some great  ideas in Old San Juan Puerto Rico.  

So, maybe I do know where this short month went.  

Til next time, 

Be fun!

 

Tom

Some clean-up and improvements 

January 10, 2025

Nothing seriously changed.  Added an EPK, then stored it in the background because it really doesn't suit venues as a one page stop for info about me and my music.  It really needs a print page option!  Anyone from BZ Listening? 

Biggest change was I found a way to connect and post past Facebook Reviews on the home page.  

Other than that, moved some features and changed some backgrounds to make the overall site appearance work better with mobile devices.  

I'm waiting on a call from Bandzoogle to help with search engine optimization.  Evidently, I can't be found on Google yet (that might be a good thing).  

Having fun….watching it snow.  

 

 

We're Live!!!!! 

Wednesday, January 8, 2025: A Day to Remember!

I'm thrilled to announce that 12Stringmemories.com is now live on the World Wide Web! And since you're here, you already know that. I'm so glad you stopped by. This site is a one-stop shop for friends, fans, and hopefully, hiring venues.

What's on the Site?

Pictures: A gallery of performance moments.

Video/Music Samples: Listen to my latest tracks and watch a montage of past performances.

My Bio: Get to know me better.

Message Board: Connect and share your thoughts.

Contact Me: Reach out to me privately. Bookings start with a conversation here. 

And there's so much more to come! Want to stay updated on new arrivals? Sign up for the mailing list. I promise not to bombard you with emails—I'll only send them out when big things happen. I'll likely add to this blog without sending notifications, so I suggest you check back frequently to see what's new.

New Logo Launch!

I'm also excited to unveil the new logo for 12String Memories:  

This is another step in taking my music business to the next level. Keep an eye out for the logo—there's a good chance it'll be showing up on hats, coffee mugs, shirts, and other merchandise. I might be the only one wearing it, but at least it'll make it easier to decide what to wear to a show! Where can you find the hats and other merch? That's in the works, and if you're on the mailing list, you'll be one of the first to know.

 

Finally, I'm not going to abandon my Facebook presence quite yet, but all the important info will be consistently posted here before any social media posts.  If you haven't been there, hit the Facebook logo below.  

Until the next blog post, keep those musical memories going!