Question Of The Week: Where Do You Perform?

And now it's time to add your own two cents to the Folkcraft newsletter.

We all love to play. The instruments and music we play are a part of our lives. In good times or bad, the music is always there for us. And sometimes we're able to share it with others. So this week we ask...

Where do you perform? How often? Do you play solo or with a group? What type of music?

Nick Young of Folkcraft has an acoustic duo he plays with on Thursdays (photo courtesy of his mom)

We want to hear it all, whether you play on weekends at church, you travel 5 hours to play a 30 minute gig and your payment is a steak sandwich and a Diet Coke, or your parakeet sings harmony with you. There are NO wrong answers. We'd love to hear from ya! (And don't forget to send us a photo of your gig!)

Your Answers

Where do you perform? How often? Do you play solo or with a group? What type of music?

Another great week of reader response. Thanks for sharing, and keep 'em coming! Your replies and pictures are posted below.

Name: Yvonne M
Location: Eldridge, ND
"I perform violin/dulcimer duos with a very talented violinist at our church. During the summer months I volunteer once a week at an historic church located at Frontier Village, Jamestown, ND and play my mountain dulcimer as well as piano."

Name: JimB
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
"As a beginning uke player, I plan to be at the jam each month."

Name: Marji H.
Location: Ashland, OH
"I'm 78 yrs. old long past traveling to music events, but blessed by long-time dulcimer friends who visit the 3rd Sunday each month (weather permitting long distance travel) to play music with me. The mix includes mountain dulcimers, a folk harp, and whatever other acoustic instruments that play well with dulcimers happen in that afternoon."

Name: Cynthia Wig
Location: Fairlee, Vermont
"I often play dulcimer or stick dulcimer at church - speaking of which, we need a Folkcraft Stick - not fancy, just functional. I travel an hour twice a month to play with a dulcimer club. I pick up and play my dulcimer/stick about 25 times a day. At the moment I have the Folkcraft cardboard kit I built, and a Rock-it Stick, plastic or ply ukes. I'm a happy camper as long as I can make music a lot."

Name: Mac S.
Location: West Hartford, CT
"I play a tricone steel guitar at the children's hospital. Sort of a slow open improv to lower stress, but since I play for 2 hours, I switch to blues and bottle neck slide when my fingers tire. I have also played mt dulcimer and native style flutes there. It's been very interesting and rewarding."

Name: Graham W.
Location: Monroe, VA
"I usually play solo, acoustic-electric Taylor guitar and a 1982 hourglass dulcimer built by James Jones of Bedford, VA. My next gig is December 6, my parents' anniversary."

Name: Ron and Kay S.
Location: Knoxville, TN
"Ron and Kay S. from Knoxville, TN learning to Play the Dulcimer in their sunroom at home. Although we are neither one musically inclined, can't carry a tune in a bucket, we became interested in the Mountain Dulcimer while visiting Deborah and Alan McCord at the Florida Gulf Coast Dulcimer Retreat in Homosassa, FL last January. We have already signed up for the 2015 event this winter in order to take lessons."

Name: JLT
Location: Sacramento CA
"Three places I perform: 1. Jamming with my friends three or four times a month. 2. Playing in an art gallery once a month as part of their open house. 3. Around the campfire, usually solo."

Name: Linda R.
Location: Canterbury, NH
"I play at local open mikes, schools as well as a few festivals in the summer. The picture is with two Kindergarten kids in a class where I'm a teacher's aide. The Limberjacks Alice Mr Ray are always ready to do some flatfootin."

Name: Peggy M
Location: Park Ridge, IL
"I have a wonderful group that I organized at my local senior center 4 years ago. The Uketones (you can probably guess what instruments they play) perform at retirement homes, other senior centers, and local churches. We do a variety of songs from Tin Pan Alley to country-Western, Beatles and more. We also have done combined programs with ukulele ensembles from our local elementary schools. The uke is a wonderful way to bring all ages together."

Name: Twins at Play - Cindy B. and Kelly F.
Location: Marshall County, IN and surrounding area
"I and my duo partner perform mostly at weddings, luncheons or dinner parties, nursing homes, and small receptions. I play either the hammered dulcimer or piano and Kelly plays flute. We average about 1 performance each month - a bit busier during the holiday season and traditional wedding months. Our payment varies from Thank you! to a more standard fee for the weddings/receptions, etc. We play a variety of music and I am always having fun transcribing pieces that I think will work well on the hammered dulcimer. :)"

Name: Nick Young (from Folkcraft)
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
"I've played guitar in a 4 or 5-piece band for over 20 years. Weekends away from home, late nights, smoky bars... it takes its toll after a while. So this summer I started a duo with the singer from the band I've played with for the last 5 years. She sings, and I play acoustic guitar, uke and dulcimer. Songs range from 70's rock to 80's pop to today's top 40 stuff. We normally have an early gig on Thursday evenings for the after-work crowd. I'm usually done by 10, in bed by 11, and my weekend's free. And the pay splits up way better 2 ways, rather than 4 or 5."