12String Memories

Let me say first off, “I know”.  I had planned 2 blog posts per month…that was my plan.  Well, life (travel) got in the way.  Spent most all of April in South America, Chile and Argentina.  I could blame it on no internet, but that wasn't the problem.  I was just too enthralled with taking in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feels of Easter Island and Patagonia.   But…. I'm back, show season is upon us and I'm excited for that first spring show. 

Before that, I get to do one of my favorite musical activities.  Saturday May 3 Miss Rebekah Hill's vocal music studio is holding their Spring Recital.  I get the pleasure and honor to run sound for her students.  I also get to break out the 12String and accompany 2 of the students with their songs. For most it will be their first time in front of an audience.  I hope they get to feel and embrace the energy an audience brings to music. 

I attended their rehearsal last night to work out the particulars of the songs I was to accompany and then took the time to listen to the rest of the vocalists.  Let me tell you, I was thoroughly impressed.  Each of these burgeoning artists, all in different stages of their endeavor to learn how to master the vocal instrument, will remember this coming Saturday for many years. They will be awesome!

My first spring show is Mother's Day at the sold-out Mother's Day Banquet.  The show is at “The Farm” in Bloomingdale.  My first patio show we bee up in Rockford Michigan at St. Julian Winery Tasting Room on May 24th. The rest of the current show schedule is up to date on the “Shows” tab.  

Ready to Rock

Tom

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!

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

Maybe it’s the “Big Boy” job I retired from. Perhaps it’s my need for having stretch goals that push me to learn and grow as a musician and as a business person (yes i do think of my music work as a business).  Whatever it is, I do create a business plan and set goals for myself.  Here’s my list of goals for 12String Memories for 2025:

1. Learn 20 new songs and add them to my “ready to perform” list.
2. Perform 15 of those new songs at a live venue.
3. Learn 3 new ukulele songs (as part of the 20 new songs goal).
4. Book at least 15 shows. 
5. Perform at 2 new venues.
6. Investigate the possibilities that “Merch” might be able to bring.  
7. Write at least 2 blog posts per month. 
8. Increase FB Followers to >200 people. 
9. Monitor Website hits and continuously improve site with a goal of reaching 1,000 visits. 
10. Write 2 songs. (I am not, and never have been a writer, but now is the time to try).

So, if you wonder what I’m up to besides performing, you can have a pretty good idea it’s working on these goals (or traveling, or doing work around the house, etc.).  I’ll give a wrap up of how I did against these goals in December.  

Know that 2025 booking season is off to a great start.  All booked shows are shown in the schedule.  There are already two new venues booked (St. Julian - Rockford, MI and Fenn Valley Vineyard - Fennville, MI) and I’m in discussions with more.    

Stay tuned for the next blog post!  In the meantime may you be blessed with the best of everything. 

Tom 

Jan 20th, 2025

I will rarely publish on social media if a show is not cancelled due to weather or other.  I will publish something if a show is not going to happen.  Knowing how social media works, you may or may not see that publication.  If you are on the email list here at 12String Memories, you will get an email every time!  You will only get the important information: Major updates like important news, cancellations, etc.  No spam, no transfer of your name and email to other sites. 

Sign up today!

Jan 19, 2025

When the weather is bad (in today's case, blowing snow and single digit temps) and there's not too much publicity around the event you can expect a low people turnout.  The question is how do you put out quality work in that case?  Me, I set up my video recording equipment.  That seems to keep me on my toes, focusing towards the audience (eg camera) and working more like a show than a practice. 

Must have seem weird for the staff to hear me doing “between song” patter to absolutely no one there.  

January 17, 2025

“Booking Season” has official opened for me!  It's nerve wracking waiting for venues to being their Spring and Summer booking.  I know, they'll get me a spot or two, but still.  

My friends at St. Julian Winery in Paw Paw broke it open for me.  6 Patio Pary shows and 2 shows for Wine & Harvest Festival.  There, I feel better.  

There'll me more to come (I'm hopeful).  Especially the regulars at The Memory Cafe and the Paw Paw Farmer's market, 120 Taphouse & Bistro, Warner Winery & Vineyards.  Also hoping for a return trip to entertain for the “Friends of Ludington State Park.  Perhaps another ”up North" show for the Sable Point Light Keeper's Association in Pentwater Michigan.  

Finally pressing for some new venues like The Grill House in Allegan, Final Gravity in Decatur and a trip to St. Julian Winery at the Rockford MI, location.  

So yeah, hopefully another busy music year for me!  Can't wait to see you!

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.  

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!