November. The trails are muddy, and less crowded. I like that.
And somehow the music calendar is full.
This month's issue is heavy on the Snoqualmie Valley. I have been in love with this valley for longer than I've lived here. Many things, but especially the music scene. Amazing artists, supportive venues, killer open mics — there is a wonderful sense here that lifts music and musicians up. I love it.
Tim McKamey is holding down two regular spots in town. Tommy Wiggins is at Buckshot Honey most weekends. A handful of Si Sessions artists are out playing rooms up and down the region.
That's what MRC is about — not building something from the top down, but noticing what's already growing and making sure it has room.
Go see something this month. Bring someone.
— Kyle
Residencies
Coming in December
Dec 11 — Flamenco Jam · Cafe Paloma, Pioneer Square · Free · Call (206) 405-1920 to reserve
Dec 18 — Flamenco Festero · Harissa, Ravenna · $25–$35 Tickets ↗
Dec 18 — Fern Spores · Cocoa Legato, Seattle · 8:00 PM · All ages · w/ Amy Laybourn
Got shows coming up? Hit reply and I'll add them to the next issue.
Singer-songwriter, melodic, unhurried — the kind of set that rewards repeat listens. Five songs out.
Erin Lau on vocals, Sebastian Quintero on guitar — his third Si Session. Three videos out. The range is striking: a jazz standard reimagined as a bulerías, an Amy Winehouse cover, and a flamenco bamberas in tangos. Erin is new to the series and brings something the channel hasn't had before.
Your town is your first market.
Look at this month's residencies — Tim McKamey holding down two regular spots in Snoqualmie, Tommy Wiggins at Buckshot Honey most weekends. Neither of those is a career-making gig on paper. But consistency in a small market builds something that one-off shows in bigger cities can't: a room that actually expects you. People bring their friends. The bar starts promoting you because you fill seats. That momentum is transferable; anonymous plays in a big city aren't.
The venue is the product.
This issue features shows at a wine tasting room on Whidbey Island, a restaurant in Kirkland, a flamenco tablao in Bellevue, a brewery in Snoqualmie, and a converted events space in Portland. The bar-with-a-stage model isn't gone, but it's no longer the only path. Audiences are willing to make a night of it — dinner, music, an experience — if you give them a reason to. The venue shapes the expectation before anyone hears a note.
Know what you actually take home.
Most independent artists have a rough sense of their gross revenue from shows — the door split, the guarantee, the merch table. Far fewer know their net: after gas, after splits with bandmates, after the meal you bought before load-in. If you can't answer "what did I make last quarter from live shows," you're making decisions without real data.
The MRC Gig Map shipped a handful of updates on October 27th. If you use it to track your shows, here's what changed.
Track who gets paid what per show. Add your roster with roles and rates, log who played and what they're owed, mark it Paid or Unpaid. Includes per-artist totals, running "to pay" lists, and CSV export. Rolls into each gig's net profit.
Filter your Finances view by this month, this quarter, this year, last 90 days, upcoming, or a custom range.
Click any gig in Finances to jump straight to it. Revenue, artist pay, and expenses in one panel, auto-saving.
If your band shares one login, signing out on one device no longer boots everyone else.
Two ways to make music at Alpenglow Studio in North Bend, WA.
Si Sessions — A filmed live session, released to the world. Free. 3–6 songs at sunset. You keep your music and approve everything before it goes public.
Studio Recording — Your record, made in a room with a direct view of Mount Si. From $50/hr, packages from $300/song. 100% of your masters stay yours.
Need a clean agreement with a venue? Build one in minutes on the MRC site. Fill in the details, get a PDF you can send or print. No lawyer required for the basics.
Generate Your Agreement