Handwritten Lyrics to House Concerts: Supporting Your Favorite Small Business Musician
It may not be as obvious of an example as the little shop down the street in a strip mall selling handmade scented candles and hippie soap, but your favorite independent music artists are all most certainly small businesses as well. So are many of your favorite locally-owned music venues, local festivals, independent record labels, community-owned radio stations, and the like. This makes them the perfect entities to support on Small Business Saturday, observed the day after Black Friday each year.
Along with all the obvious ways you can support your favorite small business artists like dropping coinage on T shirt and hoodies, caps and koozies, vinyl records and the like, another option to not overlook is handwritten lyrics to some of your favorite songs, or the favorite songs of your significant other, daughter, sister, husband, wife, brother, son, etcetera. It truly is the gift that you can give to that person that has everything, is perfect if you’re stumped on what to get someone, is a sentimental option, and most importantly, it supports you favorite small business.
Kaitlin Butts, Sunny Sweeney, and BJ Barham of American Aquarium are just some of the many artists that offer this option around the Holidays. A few others from the country/roots world who’ve been promoting the service are Morgan Wade, Gretchen Peters, Sean McConnell, Will Hoge, Rhett Miller of The Old 97’s, Evan Bartels, Kip Moore, and Joe Pug (in limited quantities). I’m sure there are more. Poke around and you will find them.
And even if you navigate to your favorite artist’s online merch store and don’t see the handwritten lyrics option, don’t be shy clicking the “contact” button, or slipping into their DMs on social media, and offering them too much money to make you a one-of-a-kind gift that will mean something to the music fan in your life. The worst they can do is tell you “no,” especially if you’re a twit and ask James McMurtry for the handwritten lyrics to “Choctaw Bingo” or something. I mean, are you trying to kill him?
Some artists are also joining the new app Cameo, which allows you to order customized messages or performances from musicians. “For the next few months I will be on Cameo offering a special gift for that AA fan in your life this holiday season,” BJ Barham of American Aquarium says. “It’s super simple. You pick a song of mine and tell me who it’s for, give me 24 hours and I’ll deliver you a one of a kind video message.”
Texas-based songwriter Courtney Patton is taking that idea to the next level. “Having a hard time deciding what to get a certain someone for Christmas? How about a Courtney Patton House Concert?? I’ll come to your house and play unplugged to a small group of your friends. Living rooms, kitchens, porches, backyards, decks or docks—it matters not! I’m only selling a VERY limited number of these, so act FAST! Direct message with serious inquiries only. Out-of-state options available.”
Maybe none of these things make sense as a gift for someone you know. Maybe it’s concert tickets to the next show, or none of the above. Maybe you do plenty throughout the year to support your favorite artists. But let’s just all recognize on this Small Business Saturday that your favorite music artists are small businesses too, and in independent music, it’s up to all of us to support them.
November 26, 2022 @ 10:13 am
I saw Kip Moore in Hershey, PA last week. He had handwritten lyrics for sale. I thought it was a cool piece of merch, unlike the norm. And I notice on Morgan Wade’s website you can pick a song and purchase handwritten lyrics. Very cool idea. – Thanks
November 26, 2022 @ 12:30 pm
I purchased handwritten lyrics for a song I particularly liked off the debut album of an independent artist regularly featured on SCM. I received a completely different song, heavily damaged (destroyed) in transit, and a brush off. For the small business artists I’d suggest if you want to sell this style of merch, don’t half ass it or you can do more bad than good to your business.
November 26, 2022 @ 1:29 pm
Well that sucks. Yes, this option is not for every artist. Some seem to really get into it like BJ Barham. If you don’t, perhaps trying to get a part-time job for UPS during the holidays.
November 26, 2022 @ 12:35 pm
do Rhett Miller’s lyrics to the Old 97’s “Champaign, Illinois” come in Bob Dylan’s handwriting?
November 26, 2022 @ 1:08 pm
I do an open mic session every Friday night, 6 to 9 PM- there have been some pro’s and trying to be pro’s show up and the core regulars are local talent… the place is; Cork This Tap That, in Dobbin, Tx. It bills itself as The Live Music Capital of Dobbin, Tx.
The owner, Karla Nash, is an advocate of local musicians and books them on Saturday and Sunday nights.
If you’re on the north side of Houston, in the Montgomery County area, do yourself, and local musicians a favor and give it a visit. You won’t be disappointed and you will be, as a customer, appreciated and treated well by a staff that takes pride and delight in making you feel comfortable.
College Station’s Mo’s Irish Pub also has an open mic night on Wednesday’s. It’s a different, usually younger crowd and fun to be at. It’s like a Sports Bar/restaurant…
There are at least a dozen open mic venues in and around Houston… that’s where the pro’s get their taste for being pro… those venues appreciate your support.
There is also, Main Street Crossing, in Tomball, Tx that features only pro’s, in a small venue setting. I’ve seen Confederate Railroad, Charlie Robison, Shooter Jennings (not impressed by him) and Roger Craeger and Crystal Bowersox perform there. They always have their merch on sale. The Dose-do has pro’s too (my oldest son drank beer with Cody Jinks at the bar there, 3 weeks to the day before he blew up nationally)… there is a face book page, Montgomery County Music Scene that posts all the venues.
Help support the businesses that support live music period.
November 27, 2022 @ 7:26 am
I paid for this once and will say, be careful. I bought handwritten lyrics from Crowbar (metal band) well over 3 years ago and even chipped in extra as one of the members (Kirk) was having surgery. I was patient as demand was high. I reached out via FB and PayPal a couple times (well over a year after paying) and was told they were backed up because of touring, etc. They’ve never arrived and I gave up. I hope artists that choose to offer this know there may be a high demand and to be prepared instead of using this as a quick cash grab. Love the idea though.
November 28, 2022 @ 7:16 am
I just bought lyrics from BJ from American Aquarium and will get it matted and framed. May do the same from Reckless Kelly although the price is 2.5 times what I paid for the AA lyrics. BJ also does Cameos (as do many other musicians) which also makes sense as you are building your brand.