Two gents with guitar + mandolin
Saettele Studio in 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

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This post addresses typical program, budget, logistics & publicity issues that concert hosts ask when they plan an event. These matters can also be reviewed in a 15-minute phone call. And though some alien lifeforms can only deal with such matters by text or email, I'll always welcome an opportunity to talk directly with concert hosts — the people 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 on an individual concert. Instead, I tell hosts the fees I earned last year were modest – ranging between $300 and $600 per concert — and averaged $475.

I'll ask three key questions: Which of my 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 the Theme that will please their audience – the folks I'm going to entertain. These are familiar pursuits for me as well.

 

                                       OTHER DETAILS

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                   Concerts offer ragtime, swing, jazz + pop tunes,

                   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 and senior audiences 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 offer hosts a 1-page Concert Letter or Voucher

                   signed by both parties as well as Invoice, W - 9

                   form, press release, photo, posters, bookmarks.

                   Concert fee payment is expected at event.

                   KL Note    2x vaccinated, 3x boosted Covid-19

                                   Has Certificate of Liability Insurance

                                   N J Business Registration Certificate

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                                                  © 2025 — Ken Lelen — All Rights Reserved