 |
| Two gents with guitar + mandolin Saettele Studio, St. Louis - 1894 |
Concert Booking Info
Updated for 2025
Ken Lelen
609-306-8711 - mobile
609-730-9313 – office
PO Box 64 Titusville NJ 08560
www.KenLelen.blogspot.com
Kenneth.Lelen @ gmail.com
_________________________________________________________________________
This post addresses typical program, budget, logistics & publicity issues that concert hosts investigate when they're planning an event.
Over the past 25 years I've found such matters can easily be covered in a 15-minute phone call. Nevertheless, some folks today are only willing to deal with such issues in a back-and-forth stream of texts and emails. Still, I'll always welcome a chance to talk directly with a concert host — the person I'm going to work with to deliver an event.
I perform concerts for a diverse group of small & medium-sized venues, including churches, arts & culture commissions, public libraries, life-care communities, acoustic music clubs, social, charitable & fraternal groups, community colleges and local senior centers. Each weighs a distinct mix of considerations as they assess program content, budget, logistics and publicity for an event.
Given the range of venues and events I work on, I find it difficult to set a one-price-fits-all fee for individual concerts. Instead, I tell prospective sponsors the fees I received during the last year were modest and wide — ranging from $300 to $600 per concert — and averaging $475.
Then I ask three questions: Which of my two dozen concert themes will suit your audience? What dates do you prefer? And what budget do you propose for this event?
Not surprisingly, when we reach the nitty-gritty of a booking call, every host wants to negotiate their fee, jockey back and forth on a preferred date, and discuss a concert theme that will please their audience – the folks I'm going to entertain. These are familiar pursuits for me as well.
ADDITONAL BOOKING DETAILS
_________________________________________________
Concerts offer ragtime, swing, jazz & pop music,
playing of vintage American acoustic guitars and
programs on historic, romantic, musical themes.
I request 6 ft table, one bottle water, staff intro.
I bring sound system, guitars + equipment cart.
I request 45-minute set-up and 30 min. re-pack.
I insist on NO cells, texts, videos during concert.
Concerts range from 60 to 90 mins w/o a break.
Adult & senior audience age range: 40-90 years.
I check that my audiences can all hear me, and
I inform them when we’re nearing concert’s end.
I do not sell merch, CDs, tee shirts or literature.
Always booking dates 2 - 18 months in advance.
I send hosts one-page Concert Letter or Voucher
to be signed by both parties with Invoice & W-9.
Also offer PR release, photo, poster & bookmark.
Payment of concert fee—expected at event.
_________________________________________________
Please Note:
Ken Lelen is 2x vaccinated and 3x boosted for Covid-19,
maintains a current Certificate of Liability Insurance and
has N.J. Business Registration Certificate.
_________________________________________________
© 2025 — Ken Lelen — All Rights Reserved
