FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is Make Music New York? »
2. Where did the idea come from? »
3. Who can participate? »
4. How do I sign up to perform / host a
concert? »
5. Where will the musicians play? »
6. How do I sign up to perform with my friends? How do I curate a show with
multiple artists? »
7. Will musicians be paid to perform? »
8. Who will provide a stage / backline / tuned grand piano / etc for my concert? »
9. How late in the evening can my performance go? »
10. Can MMNY performers sell CDS, or ask for donations? »
11. What happens if it rains? »
12. Can I charge admission for a Make Music New York concert? Can my concert be “invitation only”? Can I perform outside the five boroughs? Can I create a MMNY event that does not include any live music? Can I have my event indoors? »
13. What if my band signs up now, and has to back out later? »
14. Will this be a yearly event? »
15. Who puts this all together? »
16. How can I get involved as a volunteer? »
17. Where can I donate to Make Music New York? »
Make Music New York is a new live, free musical celebration across the city each June 21.
On that day, public space throughout the five boroughs – sidewalks, parks, community gardens, and more – become impromptu musical stages, dance floors, and social meeting points. Thousands of amateur musicians, in every genre, perform on sidewalks for the biggest crowds of their lives. Professional musicians perform for new audiences, who come out from under their headphones to hear unfamiliar groups risk-free. And everyone is invited to sing along and enjoy the first day of summer.
Last year, the inaugural MMNY included 560 free concerts with 1,927 musicians. Along with hundreds of performances by individual musicians, dozens of New York cultural institutions took part — including Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, BAM, the Jazz Gallery, Afrikan Poetry Theatre, Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, the New York Mets, and more.
This year, Make Music New York will fall on a Saturday, and is sure to draw even more musicians and bigger crowds.
Make Music New York is based on France's “Fete de la Musique,” a national musical holiday inaugurated in 1982. Ever since, the festival has become an international phenomenon, celebrated on the same day in more than 340 cities in 108 countries, including Germany, Italy, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Australia, Vietnam, Congo, Cameroon, Togo, Columbia, Chile, Mongolia, and Japan.
In just one year, MMNY has become the largest such event outside of Europe. Following New York’s example, “Make Music Boston” and “Make Music Pasadena” are slated to debut in 2008.
Anyone and everyone, in every borough of the city. Amateurs, part-time professionals, and established artists are all welcome.
HOW DO I SIGN UP TO PERFORM / HOST A CONCERT?
Go to www.timeoutnewyork.com/makemusic; the website will lead you through the sign-up process.
WHERE WILL THE MUSICIANS PLAY?
SIDEWALKS: Most musicians will perform on New York's 12,000 miles of sidewalks. MMNY organizers secure the necessary permits from the City, so that musicians don't have to deal with all the paperwork.
If you have a rock band, and you want to set up outside your building and play for your neighbors, we can help make that happen. If you want to perform Bach's cello suites outside your friend's convenience store, you can do that, too. Almost anything is possible.
To use a sidewalk, you must leave a 5-foot wide path for passers-by, between your concert and the curb. Please choose a space that gives you the room you need.
PARKS: MMNY has also secured dozens of City park locations for June 21st concerts. These locations are listed along with the rest on www.timeoutnewyork.com/makemusic.
If you don’t see the park you’re looking for, it is probably already being used, or unavailable to us. However, it may be possible to secure some additional park spaces; email makemusicny@gmail.com to inquire.
COMMUNITY GARDENS AND PLAZAS: Some public spaces are privately controlled by community groups, management companies, or individuals. These can be fantastic performance locations, quiet yet accessible. People who control these spaces will make them available on the website.
STREETS: Finally, dozens of community organizations are closing off streets around the city for block party concerts. If your group wishes to produce a concert in the street, you must file an application with your local community board by March 21st, using this form: http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/downloads/pdf/block_party-street_festivals.pdf
Although your organization will be responsible for securing this permit, Make Music organizers can talk you through the process: email makemusicny@gmail.com for details.
OTHER SPACES: If you want to use some other kind of outdoor location – such as a cemetery, bridge, subway platform, pier, or ferry – send a proposal to makemusicny@gmail.com with a detailed proposal of what you want to do, and who you have already spoken to at the location. We make no promises, but we’ll see what we can do.
HOW DO I SIGN UP TO PERFORM WITH MY FRIENDS? HOW DO I CURATE A SHOW WITH MULTIPLE ARTISTS?
Great idea! Each artist should sign up separately -- we need to have a unique musical description and web address for everyone. Then have each match themselves to the same location, at different time slots. If the entire program has a particular theme or title, put that in the location's description box.
WILL MUSICIANS BE PAID TO PERFORM?
Our organization does not pay musicians -- nor do musicians pay us. We are simply setting up the framework by securing the permits, coordinating the concerts, and publicizing the event city-wide with tens of thousands of posters, earned media stories, concert listings with our media partners, an interactive website, and a volunteer street-team.
Most musicians will be performing for free. But artists and venues are welcome to make any financial arrangements they wish, as long as the concerts are outdoors, free, and open to the public.
WHO WILL PROVIDE A STAGE / BACKLINE / TUNED GRAND PIANO / ETC FOR MY CONCERT?
Make Music New York is not just another music festival. Yes, there are major stages with major artists, but most of it is closer in spirit to Halloween: people getting together in their own neighborhoods, in a do-it-yourself fashion, putting together their own musical events.
Our organizers set up the framework for concerts – the rest is up to you! Artists and locations collaborate to produce the events, find electricity, and provide whatever equipment is needed.
Unlike most music festivals:
• New York City itself is your stage. We're not constructing stages (though some local promoters are doing so – and securing additional permits to do so). Performances generally take place at the same level as the audience.
• You have complete artistic control. It's your concert. If you want to perform with a different bass player than previously announced, or take an extended kazoo improvisation on Dies Irae, you don't have to ask our permission! (But let us know if we need to update your concert description.)
• Everyone can take part. From professionals to amateurs, from the mainstream to the unfashionably bizarre – if you can find a spot for your performance that works, you can be part of Make Music New York!
HOW LATE IN THE EVENING CAN MY PERFORMANCE GO?
If your music is unamplified, musicians can perform outside until 10pm. If it's amplified, it depends on where you are.
First, look up which precinct your location is in: http://gis.nyc.gov/dcp/at/f1.jsp
Generally speaking, amplified sound in the following precincts can go until 10pm:
5, 14 (Midtown South), 20, 33, 45, 68, 94, 104, and 115.
Amplified sound in these precincts can go until 9pm:
7, 10, 18 (Midtown North), 19, 23, 24, 32, 42, 49, 63, 72, 73, 101, 105, 108, 122, 123
Until 8pm:
17, 28, 30, 34, 67, 78, 79, 81, 83, 111
Until 7pm:
40, 44, 46, 71
Until 6pm:
113
If your precinct is not listed, the time limit may depend on exactly where you are. Sign up with your preference, and we will let you know what we can do!
CAN MMNY PERFORMERS SELL CDS, OR ASK FOR DONATIONS?
Musicians are not allowed to solicit donations, nor can we provide the permits to allow vending at your event.
On the other hand, musicians are encouraged to pass out fliers to promote their upcoming shows and recordings, ask listeners to sign their mailing list, and generally promote themselves.
In eight of the past ten years, it has not rained in New York City on June 21st. If it does rain, concerts planned for sidewalks may take place inside a building lobby or store front. In this case, we simply ask that a door or window be opened so that the music is audible from the street.
Locations on the website will indicate what they can do in case of rain.
CAN I CHARGE ADMISSION FOR A MAKE MUSIC NEW YORK CONCERT? CAN MY CONCERT BE “INVITATION ONLY”? CAN I PERFORM OUTSIDE THE FIVE BOROUGHS? CAN I CREATE A MMNY EVENT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY LIVE MUSIC? CAN I HAVE MY EVENT INDOORS?
No. No. No. No. Only if it rains (see above).
WHAT IF MY BAND SIGNS UP NOW, AND HAS TO BACK OUT LATER?
Once your event is confirmed by your chosen location, and by the Make Music organizers, we will block off your spot and pay for your permits. We are counting on you to perform!
If you do need to cancel, it is your responsibility to find another performer to take your spot. Please let the location – and us – know about all program changes ASAP.
Yes, Make Music New York will take place every June 21st. (In 2008, it will fall on a Saturday; in 2009, on Sunday.) It is our hope that Make Music New York will start big and expand from year to year, eventually to the point where, as with the Village Halloween Parade, New Yorkers will organize themselves largely without prompting.
Make Music New York, Inc., is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization. The board of directors consists of Aaron Friedman (President), Alison Cheeseman, Ethan Kent, Peter Kostmayer, Robert Singerman, Todd Spodek, Steven Swartz, Matthew Washington, and Paul White. Artistic advisors include Don Byron, John Corigliano, Paquito D'Rivera, Meredith Monk, Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), and Steve Reich.
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED AS A VOLUNTEER?
Email makemusicny@gmail.com, with “volunteer” in the subject line.
WHERE CAN I DONATE TO MAKE MUSIC NEW YORK?
Right here! http://www.makemusicny.org/supporters.php
All contributions to Make Music New York are 100% tax deductible. And if you donate $100 or more, you'll receive a complimentary Make Music New York DVD/booklet.