friends, for the past year i’ve been looking at the world with absolutely no idea what to write. from the highly volatile and rapidly shifting political space to the increasingly complex world of social media, i’ve honestly been struggling to find my voice in it all. i briefly tried writing ‘mockingbird’ / ‘the ringing bell’ era protest songs but just didn’t know where to start. with songwriting being such intimate and personal work, it’s important to anchor to something that really hits close to home. once i remembered that and refocused, it hit me.

as an artist, a citizen of the united states, and a father of teens, when i look at the world today there’s one group that clearly stands out to me as being in imminent danger and desperately in need of soundtrack to comfort, encourage, and empower them: queer people, and specifically queer kids. i am feeling this so urgently that in the past few weeks i’ve written almost an entire album, which i am vigorously working on. it’s called ‘survival songs’. i’m going to release it as soon as possible, over the coming months.

so here’s where i need you. i am really anxious to get out and play these songs for folks. i am needing hosts who feel the same passionate care and concern about this community that i do, who would be willing to host and help promote a super early preview show for the new songs. we’re hoping to book these shows between april 1 and august 31. if that’s you, please follow the link below as soon as you can to let us know you’re interested. thank you!

Interested in hosting?

hosting a derek webb show

MARKETING THE SHOW:

We need your help connecting with your local community! Once your show is confirmed, a member of Derek’s team will reach out to discuss how you can support the marketing efforts. While Derek’s team actively promotes every show, we rely on hosts like you to collaborate with us in spreading the word to existing Derek fans in your area.

We will provide you with everything you need (photos, marketing materials, ticket links, Facebook events, and more) to help get the word out to your friends. Social media is an effective and great way to spread the word. Sending out personal text messages and emails is greatly effective too.

TICKETS:
All tickets are sold in advance, typically for $20-25. Your name & address will never be public. Ticket buyers will only receive the house show address after purchasing their ticket(s). No tickets will be sold at the door. As the host, everyone in your household will get in for free. Everyone else will be directed to Derek’s website to purchase tickets.

Derek will arrive 1 hour before showtime. Expect ticket holders to begin arriving 30 minutes before showtime.

FOR THE GUESTS:
Consider rearranging furniture to maximize the space. Though it isn’t required, you may choose to get some extra chairs for the night, whether from friends or rentals. It’s also totally fine (and certainly easier) to have people sit on the floor, which can sometimes make room for an extra 10-15 people. This is entirely up to you.  

Refreshments for guests are NOT required but are always welcomed. Some people choose and enjoy providing an array of appetizers, wine/beer, and small snacks.  

ALCOHOL POLICY:
Typically, house shows are BYOB (our message to guests: “You are allowed to bring a few beers or a bottle of wine to enjoy at the show. Please be responsible with both your consuming of alcohol and the disposing of waste after the show."). If you prefer people not to bring alcohol, no worries, just let us know when confirming your show. 

If you have pets, please prepare to keep them in an area of the house where they won’t disturb the guests or disrupt the show. 

FOR DEREK:
Derek’s house shows are played without amplification. Derek will need a small space for a music stand & guitar stand (both of which he'll bring) and to stand for the performance. Think ahead of time about a good spot for Derek to perform to accommodate the most people and provide the best viewing & listening experience for everyone.

Please decide upon a designated 'green room' somewhere in your space. Whether it’s a guest room or a bonus room, Derek would like a private space to prepare before the show and spend a few minutes after. If possible, Derek would appreciate a few bottles of water in the 'green room.'

What’s a show without merch? Please set aside an area on a table for Derek to have his merchandise items for sale during the evening. Derek will set up the merchandise before the doors open and the table runs on the honor system.

AFTER THE SHOW:
Once the show is over, Derek will typically go back to the 'green room' for a few minutes to rest before coming back out to pack up and greet whoever is still around. This time will need to be kept to a maximum of 30 minutes in order to be respectful of Derek’s time as well as your own. This will allow your house to be clear by approximately 45-60 minutes after the end of the show.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us.