Tour notes below for College Programmers and much more music and information at: The New Music & Video Link!!! & The Big Bio Link!!!

Dear Activities Programmers, Student Activities Directors and Concert Bookers,

In the years that I've spent touring colleges I've learned that presenting small concerts, coffee houses, noon shows, dinner shows, and music at special events presents a great programming opportunity, and also unique challenges to ultimately successful music entertainment. I've played more than 2000 colleges over the years and my approach to presenting successful music events on campus respects all of the needs and expectations of not only your audience, but also programmers, advisors, staff, offices next to venues, and classes in session nearby.

FOR YOUR AUDIENCE

Great original songs and some cover songs too!

A variety of styles to keep your audience interested. Acoustic and Electric: Country, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Pop, Folk and a uniquely engaging Singer Songwriter style.

A mellow but intense style of singing and guitar playing produced at moderate volumes (never too loud!) that engages your concert listeners, yet also allows for the balance of your audience to enjoy the music as a background for studying, having lunch, talking to friends, or getting involved in special events like Club Fairs, Job Fairs, Health Fairs, Blood Drives or any activity to which you would like to attract attention.

Great dynamics in performance from softer solo acoustic songs to bass guitar, drum and some keyboard backing tracks to spice up the sound and allow for some excellent lead guitar solos and improvisations.

And a performer who knows just when the time is right to quote the great philosophers (or cartoon characters, as needed!) to inspire the students to dream sweet dreams and work very hard, to keep their hearts and heads open to new and different things not because of the music, but because it's an important approach to their own hopes and dreams, or to joke around, to emcee, to promote student involvement, student activities, or to talk about upcoming events on campus, and of course, for the most part: to simply pipe down and play music!

FOR STUDENT PROGRAMMERS & STUDENT ACTIVITIES DIRECTORS

I've got a great sound system and even a cart to wheel it in! I'm often half way set up by the time you get the message I've arrived. And it's important to me to make sure that I'm 100 % equipped, prepared and ready to play so that you can focus on your busy day and busy schedule without concern about the music event. All of my shows go smoothly, professionally, and begin on time, even early! when appropriate.

No stage? No problem! I find that when I move a few tables to clear a space in the corner of the cafeteria or coffee house, I'm closer to the students, I'm looking directly at them and not down at them from the stage, and making a more direct and personal connection with them throughout the performance. I can also dance around on the floor more energetically than I can on some stages because the vocal microphone picks up more noise from a portable stage than the solid floor.

FOR STAFF AND OFFICES NEAR THE VENUE

In my experience it does not matter how much the students enjoy the entertainment if the Student Activities Directors and Programmers receive complaints from teachers in classes nearby, staff in offices, or the cashiers and managers at the cafeteria saying the music is just too darn LOUD! I used to joke that I was the only entertainer in America who they have to tell to turn up! And I go out of my way to make certain that the music volumes are always at respectful levels. I introduce myself to anyone in the vicinity who might be affected by the volume and ask them to let me know if the music is too loud. I'm always happy to turn down because I know that if the music is too loud for staff to work in their offices and teachers to teach in their classes, then it's certainly too loud for the students in the venue where I'm playing.

RESPECTFUL IS SUCCESSFUL!

Now and then Student Activities Directors say to me that they don't like to put live music in cafeterias or lounges because the students just don't respect the music. But, I believe that my job is to earn the respect of the students. Whether it's music volumes at levels that allow students to enjoy the music as they please, or a variety of different styles of music that touch a much wider audience than simply one style, or the knack I've developed for knowing exactly when to pipe up or pipe down with music, with philosophy or with comedy jokes, or all of this and more, I've enjoyed great experiences performing in venues that are often overlooked as opportunities for campus programming. And I know that the students appreciate the music even when they're not sitting up front listening directly. At one cafeteria show, at a school in Iowa, a girl sat with her back to me, just a few feet from the stage, for an entire two hour concert. She had headphones on, she was studying and she never looked up once. After the show, to my great surprise, she came up to me and said how much she enjoyed the music. She even bought a CD! I've seen and appreciated this response to the music countless times and in countless ways. And beyond the students at the show, I've had teachers at Music and English classes arrive unexpectedly to listen with their students, and the staff at Day Care Centers on campus show up with the kids. I've had the doors to libraries and offices actually opened! to let the music filter in. I've had crowds drawn by the music add to attendence at Job Fairs, Vendor Fairs, Club Fairs and other special events. And I've had staff, students, and advisors of all ages express their appreciation for the music whether they're enjoying the concert up front, or listening as background.

Music can succeed on campus! Thanks for the opportunity to show you how I work and entertain!

For a truly successful and unique music entertainment event consider Singer Songwriter David Harris for your music programming needs on campus. There is more information at The New Music & Video Link!!! & The Big Bio Link!!! and throughout the web site!