A comprehensive guide for starting, organizing, and running a local Make Music Day chapter in Vermont.
Welcome to Make Music Vermont!
You've decided to bring Make Music Day to your community. Congratulations! On June 21st, you'll experience the magic of bringing your town together through music.
What is Make Music Day?
Make Music Day is an annual, worldwide celebration of music that takes place every year on June 21st — the summer solstice and longest day of the year. Originally started in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, it has spread to over 1,000 cities in 120 countries.
Core Principles:
- Free — All events are free and open to the public
- All Ages & Skill Levels — From beginners to professionals
- All Genres — Every style of music is welcome
- Public Spaces — Performances happen in parks, sidewalks, storefronts, and more
- Community-Driven — Local volunteers make it happen
Core Philosophy
Make Music Day is About What's Around You
This isn't a traditional music festival with big stages and expensive tickets. Make Music Day refocuses the idea by giving everyone an active role. There's no limit on who can play, what they play, or where they play it.
Keep It DIY and Ground-Up
Your job as a local organizer isn't to program every concert yourself. It's to awaken the musical activity around you and let artists and venues do the rest. You'll learn about spaces, bands, and entire scenes you didn't know existed.
Start Small
Your first year is a pilot. Find like-minded venues and artists who really get the idea. Document everything so Year Two is easier. Success with 10 great events is better than struggling with 50 mediocre ones.
You're Not Alone
Make Music Vermont is part of the Make Music Alliance network of 60+ locations across North America. Other organizers have been through what you're facing and will help.
Getting Started
Step 1: Connect with Make Music Vermont
- Contact the statewide coordinator
- Get your chapter registered on the Make Music Vermont website
- Access shared resources and best practices
Step 2: Form a Core Team
You'll need a small group of dedicated volunteers:
Role | Responsibilities |
Chapter Coordinator | Overall leadership, decision-making, liaison with Make Music VT |
Venue Coordinator | Recruit and communicate with venue hosts |
Musician Coordinator | Recruit performers, manage matchmaking |
Marketing/Outreach | Social media, press, community outreach |
Volunteer Coordinator | Recruit and manage day-of volunteers |
Tip: If you add volunteers, make sure they're getting something out of it — experience, connections, academic credit, or just genuine fun.
Step 3: Set Your Scope
Decide how ambitious your first year will be:
Small Start (Recommended for Year 1):
- 5-10 venues
- 10-20 performances
- 1-2 organizers
Medium:
- 15-30 venues
- 30-50 performances
- 3-5 organizers
Large:
- 50+ venues
- 100+ performances
- Full committee structure
Start small and grow! It's better to execute a smaller event well than to overcommit and underdeliver.
Recruiting Venues (Locations)
Types of Locations
Outdoor Public Spaces:
- Town greens and village commons
- Parks and plazas
- Sidewalks
- Farmers markets
- Parking lots
Businesses:
- General stores and coffee shops
- Restaurants and cafes
- Retail stores
- Breweries and wineries
- Banks and credit unions
Institutions:
- Libraries
- Museums
- Schools
- Churches
- Hospitals (lobbies)
Private Spaces:
- Front porches
- Backyards
- Driveways
Vermont-Specific Ideas:
- Covered bridges (unique acoustics!)
- Farm fields and orchards
- Ski lodge decks (summer access)
- Lake/pond beaches
- Scenic overlooks and trailheads
Venue Pitch Points
- Free to participate
- Brings foot traffic and positive attention
- Part of a worldwide celebration
- Great press and social media opportunity
- Community goodwill
Recruiting Musicians
Outreach Strategies
- Connect with scene leaders — not just musicians, but venue bookers, radio DJs, music teachers, journalists
- Branch out — if your connections are in folk music, reach out to jazz players, rock bands, classical musicians
- Find eager newcomers — visit open mics, check with music schools, contact music directors at churches
- Contact local music schools and teachers
- Partner with music stores
- Post in local musician Facebook groups
- Contact colleges and high schools
- Approach buskers and street musicians
- Invite church choirs and ensembles
Remember: Musicians often have multiple projects. Just because someone's band plays at 1pm doesn't mean they can't do a solo set at 5pm.
Musician Pitch Points
- Free performance opportunity
- Exposure to new audiences
- Part of a worldwide event
- No cost or commitment beyond showing up
- Great for students and emerging artists
Matchmaking
The heart of Make Music Day is connecting musicians with appropriate venues.
Considerations:
- Does the venue have power? Does the musician need it?
- Is the space indoor or outdoor?
- What's the expected audience size?
- Is amplification appropriate for the location?
- Genre fit with venue atmosphere
- Schedule conflicts
The Make Music Alliance platform can help automate matchmaking if you register your chapter.
Vermont Event Ideas
Participatory Events (Most Impactful)
- Ukulele circle — bring songbooks and strum together
- Drum circle — gather percussion instruments and let everyone join
- Instrument petting zoo — let kids try instruments for the first time
- Free lessons — harmonica, guitar, ukulele basics
- Instrument building workshop — make simple percussion from household items
- Sing-alongs — community music-making
- Open jams — bring your instrument and join in
Vermont-Specific Ideas
- Porch crawl — neighbors walk between porches with live music
- Covered bridge concert — natural acoustics, iconic Vermont setting
- Farm & field music — performances at working farms, orchards, or farmers markets
- General store jam — acoustic music outside a country store
- Lake/pond concert — music by the water at town beaches
- Library lawn performances — partner with local libraries for family-friendly shows
- Mountain music — performances at scenic overlooks or hiking trailheads
Working with Local Government
- Find out permit requirements — do you need permits for outdoor amplified music?
- Talk to both town offices AND local police — make sure everyone knows what's happening June 21st
- Check with parks departments — they may have specific requirements
- Noise ordinances — Most Vermont towns have quiet hours starting at 9 PM
Timeline
January – February
March – April
May
June 1–20
June 21 — Make Music Day!
July
Fundraising (If Needed)
Many Make Music chapters run on minimal budgets. But if you need funds:
- Reach out to local businesses who'll benefit from foot traffic
- Look for Vermont Arts Council grants
- Contact arts patrons and local foundations
- Consider fiscal sponsorship through a local nonprofit
- Partner with local chambers of commerce
Marketing & Promotion
Key Messages
- It's free! — Emphasize no cost to attend
- Everyone's welcome — All ages, all skill levels
- It's worldwide — Part of a global celebration
- It's local — Happening in your community
Channels
- Social media (Facebook, Instagram)
- Local newspapers, radio stations (Vermont Public, community radio)
- Community calendars (Front Porch Forum!)
- Flyers at general stores, libraries, coffee shops
- Partner organization newsletters
- Word of mouth
Day-Of Operations
Volunteer Roles
- Roving Ambassadors — Visit venues, take photos, troubleshoot
- Social Media Team — Post real-time updates
- HQ/Command Center — Answer phone calls, coordinate logistics
Emergency Contacts
Create a contact sheet with:
- All venue contacts
- All musician contacts
- Core team members
- Local police non-emergency line
- Weather hotline
Weather Contingency
Make Music Day happens rain or shine, but have a plan:
- Indoor backup venues for outdoor performances
- Clear communication plan for changes
- Social media updates for weather changes
After the Event
Immediate (Within 1 Week)
Short-Term (Within 1 Month)
Long-Term
Chapter Models
Small Town Model (10-30 events)
- All-volunteer team of 3-5 people
- No permits needed (private property focus)
- Minimal budget (<$500) for flyers and signage
- Focus on porch concerts and partnering with existing businesses
Medium Chapter Model (30-75 events)
- Core team of 4-6, with additional volunteers
- Some grant funding or sponsorship ($1,500-$5,000)
- Mix of public and private locations
- Dedicated matchmaking coordinator
Growing Chapter Model (75+ events)
- Formal organizational structure
- Part-time paid coordinator during busy season
- Multiple special projects and partnerships
- Multi-year planning and sustainability focus
Resources
- Make Music Vermont: vt.makemusicday.org
- Make Music Alliance: makemusicday.org
- Contact: Aaron Friedman — aaron@makemusicday.org
Adapted from the Make Music NY Organizer Handbook and Make Music Alliance resources for Make Music Vermont