We have some really exciting news to start out the new year…
Starting in March 2022, Peoria Music Live operations will be handled out of our new offices at 1133 N North Street, in Peoria.
We’ll share the building with my other business, Hire A Housewife, and also launch a new non-profit that hopes to expand music opportunities to Peoria-area children and youth. The building is a perfect fit for us and for this mix of businesses. We couldn't be happier!
Just a couple of the things you can expect to see happening there in time:
Not-For-Profit (NFP) Activities - There will be more about this in the coming year, but the NFP I’d like to create once we are in the building will aim to expand music opportunities to Peoria-area children and youth by offering free or low-cost instruments (of all types) and lessons to those who are interested in music but find cost and availability a barrier.
We all know music changes lives. My ultimate goal is to hear a young adult say someday, “Because someone handed me a guitar, I never picked up a gun.” or “Being involved in that program unlocked a talent and gave me a sense of pride that put me on a different path than I would have been on otherwise.”Rentable Practice Space - There are several offices in this building that would make great practice rooms for bands and artists. We’ll be able to get one open fairly quickly. The others will depend on demand and how expensive it ends up being to keep the sound from leaking into the other rooms.
Lessons & Group Classes - Whether we are organizing the events or renting/trading with others who want to organize these types of events, having the space to do so really opens up a world of opportunities for everyone!
One way we hope to fund lessons through the NFP is by offering teachers the opportunity to give a certain number of regular lessons without charging them for the space in return for teaching a participating student for free.More & Better Music News & Green Room Content - In order to make this happen, I need to hire some writers and interns for Peoria Music Live. This is difficult when the only place we have to work together is a coffee shop or my kitchen table. We’ll finally have a place to get together regularly and collaborate on content that will continue to help people connect to live local music.
Live Music - Don’t get me wrong. This building will never be considered an actual live music venue. But I love the idea of having an acoustic band on our front lawn on a summer afternoon, a singer/songwriter inside while we also display community artwork, or even a “garage band” open mic for area youth who start getting involved in our music scene through other programs. (Yep, this building has a nice big garage and plenty of parking!)
I have other thoughts too… it would be awesome to have a Green Room where visiting bands could hang out and jam or practice while waiting for shows in town. I’d also love to host small workshops and art shows and maybe even a fundraiser every now and then. The sky is the limit.
There is a lot more space than the highlights I’m showing below, but these will give you a good idea about what great things you can hope to see coming from this space.
