A comprehensive guide for organizing Make Music Vermont events, from initial planning through day-of execution — for chapter organizers, venue hosts, and musicians.
What is Make Music Day?
Make Music Day is an annual celebration on June 21st — the summer solstice — when people in over 800 cities worldwide make music together. In Vermont, we join this global celebration by activating our communities through free, live music everywhere.
The Vermont Vision
Make Music Vermont turns our towns into impromptu stages: village greens, front porches, general stores, farm stands, library steps, and mountain trails. We celebrate the natural musician in everyone — from seasoned professionals to someone who just learned three chords.
Getting Started
If Your Town Already Has Make Music Vermont Events
- Connect with your local coordinator — reach out to vt.makemusicday.org
- Choose your performance location — Vermont's best spots are often outdoors: town greens, covered bridges, general stores, farms
- Register on the Make Music Vermont website
Starting Something New
- Contact Make Music Vermont — email the statewide coordinator
- Identify local partners — libraries, arts councils, schools, farms, local businesses
- Start small — even 5-10 performances can launch a successful chapter
Event Ideas for Vermont Communities
Vermont-Specific Ideas
- Porch concerts — musicians play from their front porches while neighbors stroll
- Farm & field music — performances at working farms, orchards, or farmers markets
- General store jams — acoustic sessions outside Vermont's iconic country stores
- Covered bridge concerts — unique acoustic venues throughout the state
- Mountain music — performances at ski areas, hiking trailheads, or scenic overlooks
- Library lawn performances — partner with local libraries for family-friendly shows
Classic Make Music Events
- Drum circles — gather percussion for community rhythm-making
- Instrument petting zoos — let kids try instruments for the first time
- Free lessons — ukulele, harmonica, guitar basics for beginners
- Open jams — bring your instrument and join in
- Showcase concerts — curated lineups featuring local talent
Planning Timeline
When | What to Do |
Jan–Feb | Connect with statewide coordinator, identify local partners, set goals |
Mar–Apr | Recruit venues and musicians, secure any needed permits, begin promotion |
May | Finalize schedule, create marketing materials, send press releases |
Early June | Confirm all participants, coordinate logistics, final promotion push |
June 21 | Make Music Day! Document everything with photos and video |
July | Thank participants, share impact, debrief for next year |
Pre-Event Preparation
Confirm Schedule Accuracy (by June 1)
The Make Music Vermont map with schedule will be posted by June 1 at the official website. Search the listings for your venue or act name and confirm it matches your plans.
If there are errors:
- Change the show yourself within your account (all parties and the admin will need to approve)
- Or email changes to the Make Music Vermont coordinator
Check-in Conversation (2+ Weeks Before)
Contact all your performance partners at least two weeks prior to discuss:
Publicize Your Event
Your biggest job leading up to Make Music Day is to promote your event:
- Use Make Music Vermont's social media resources
- Tag @MakeMusicVT in your posts
- Use #MakeMusicVermont and #MakeMusicDay hashtags
- Post on Front Porch Forum
- Contact local newspapers and radio stations
Get Your Venue Kit (Early June)
Venue hosts should watch their email for a request form to pick up venue materials. Materials may include:
- Yard sign
- Vinyl banner
- Busking bucket
- Posters
Day-Of Responsibilities
For Venue Hosts
- Assist artists in setup and break down, as needed
- Watch the clock and provide time warnings — keep performances on schedule
- Have your own volunteers in place, if needed
- Crowd management and logistics — consider traffic patterns, ensure pedestrian paths
- Prominently display your banner, yard sign, etc.
- Document your event — post videos and pictures with #MakeMusicVermont
- Keep an eye on crowds and estimate total attendees for the post-event survey
- Be kind to the musicians — consider offering a token of appreciation (gift card, food, drink, discount)
- Be kind to your neighbors — notify them in advance; all quiet by 9 PM
- Clean up — leave your site as clean as when you arrived
- Return materials — store or return banners, signs, and tip bucks for next year
For Musicians
- Plan your show — how much material will you play?
- Provide a list of needs — equipment and space requirements to your host in advance
- Consider music rights — discuss PRO licensing with your venue host if applicable
- Watch the clock — keep performances on schedule
- Have your own volunteers in place, if needed
- Document your event — bring a friend or ask your venue host to capture photos/video
- Be kind to venue hosts — be patient, clarify questions early
- Clean up — leave the site as clean as when you arrived
Weather Preparedness
Stay Hydrated! Most performances will be outdoors. Average temperature in Vermont on June 21 can reach into the 80s°F.
For Venues: If possible, provide water or non-alcoholic beverages for performers and volunteers.
For Artists: Come prepared, especially at larger venues. Bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.
Rain or Shine
Make Music Day is a holiday, not just a festival — the date doesn't change due to weather. Rain or shine, the show goes on in over 1,000 cities worldwide every June 21st.
Weather contingencies:
- Some storms blow through quickly and allow festivities to continue
- If there's extreme heat, try to move inside or into shade
- Consider adding fans, canopies, misters, or sprinklers
- Discuss backup plans with your performance partners in advance
Promoting Your Events
Social Media
- Official hashtags: #MakeMusicDay #MakeMusicVT #MakeMusicVermont
- Share photos of musicians of all ages
- Video clips of participants sharing what MMD means to them
Local Media
- Contact local newspapers, radio stations (Vermont Public, local community radio)
- Send press releases in early June
- Invite reporters to cover specific events
Community Outreach
- Post flyers at general stores, libraries, coffee shops
- Partner with Front Porch Forum for neighborhood outreach
- Connect with local arts councils and chambers of commerce
Emergency Situations
No one can anticipate every scenario. For the most part, we rely on artists and venues to use their best judgment.
If there is an immediate crisis involving health or safety, call 911 first, then notify Make Music Vermont of the situation.
More Ways to Help
Help us recruit volunteers! We're seeking volunteers to roam throughout Vermont communities on Make Music Day to:
- Greet attendees
- Hand out performance schedules
- Help people locate our schedule on their phones
- Take photos and videos
- Troubleshoot any issues
Resources
Vermont Contacts
- Make Music Vermont: vt.makemusicday.org
National Resources
- Make Music Alliance: makemusicday.org
- Media Assets: makemusicday.org/media
- Contact: Aaron Friedman — aaron@makemusicday.org
Adapted from Make Music Madison and Make Music Alliance resources for Make Music Vermont