By Jeri Goldstein Copyright 2006 The New Music Times, Inc.

There is great advantage to concentrating the majority of your development in your hometown as you plan for future tours to new territories. I have always been a believer in starting your career in a central place, like your hometown or a town nearby that would be conducive to your career development. Then, expand outward systematically from that central point. I picture a stone dropped into a pool of water—ripples cascade outward from the center where the stone landed. This approach helps you build your fan base and business skills in a step-by-step strategic manner.

Let's examine some of the benefits of developing a home base of support.

1. Build performance confidence - Your home base provides a supportive environment to test new songs and performance styles. Hometown fans want you to succeed and will be encouraging of each new effort. Most artists will be quick to say, "There is nothing like playing a CD release concert for their hometown fans." As you network with other artists locally, open mic nights and songwriter's groups offer avenues for creative growth, testing and critique. Your first fans grow out of those creative groups turning out at upcoming gigs to fatten the audience. These fans are also among the first to promote you to their fans as your accomplishments grow...

Jeri Goldstein is the author of, How To Be Your Own Booking Agent The Musician's & Performing Artist's Guide To Successful Touring 2nd Edition UPDATED. She had been an agent and artist's manager for 20 years. Currently she consults with artists, agents and managers through her consultation program Manager-In-A-Box and presents The Performing Biz, seminars and workshops at conferences, universities, for arts councils and to organizations. Jeri has released a 3-hour seminar on CD-ROM, Marketing Your Act. No expensive conferences to attend-learn at your convenience to boost your career. Her book, CD-ROM and information about her other programs are available at www.performingbiz.com or phone (434) 591-1335 or email Jeri at jg@performingbiz.com.

The Songwriter's Circle was modeled after the famous "Writers in the Round" nights at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe, the NYSC began as the brainchild of Randi Michaels, currently the Booking Manager / Tin Pan South Shows Coordinator of the Nashville Songwriters Association International who proposed it to Ken Gorka, Manager and Booking agent for the Legendary Bitter End in New York City. The concept is simple: songwriters in the spotlight, sharing their songs in an intimate, unplugged format.