Music is fun.
Neighbors are fun.
So music & neighbors must be two times the fun!?!?
We threw our first ever neighborhood concert this weekend and we’re still reeling from it!
Cloverdayle is a summer night’s dream and the real reason Jake and I even thought about orchestrating a neighborhood event like this. Chad and Rachel are two of the most genuine, brave people you'll ever have the privilege of meeting and they do life the way they do music...seeking joy, truth, and wholeness, and bringing the same out in everyone they meet. We were honored to create space for them to do their thing…and that meant a neighborhood concert!
We are elated that our community in Littleton got to gather around together and enjoy their songs, the fresh air, and making connections with new faces. And even though we all set up blankets in goose poop territory, it somehow didn't matter.
Here was my to-do-list before the event:
Settle on a date/time with the band.
Decide on and reserve (pay for) a location!
Research your local parks & recreation department for available shelters or parks to hold the event. You can also reach out to local restaurants if them hosting the event could work out better for your scenario.
Consider if you need power for amplified sound. Jake even had the idea to use his truck as a generator, but ended up choosing to hold the concert at the shelter instead.
Decide on food/beverages options.
It is an option not to have food at all, but if you do opt for food, book food trucks or get sponsors.
We used Truckster to get connected with food trucks in the area.
Apply for necessary permits
Check your city requirements for if you’ll need an event permits, amplified sound permit, food truck permits, or others. It’s not hard and rarely expensive, but it does take time.
Brainstorm a back up weather plan.
Design and print flyers/invitations.
Do this locally if possible. Getting ours printed at a local print shop saved me time and so, so much effort. Plus, it looked so much better then if I had done it myself. Well worth the $50 to print it, have it done, and be proud of how it looks!
We signed a note
Post on Nextdoor or other neighborhood websites to get the word out beyond your flyer reach.
Hand out flyers.
Make this a family activity, enlist help from other families, and meet neighbors as you go!
Check out other flyering tips on our instagram post.
Make signs.
Extend a clear invitation that anyone can join the concert—that it’s free and open to the community.
Set up!
Smiles on and prioritize people. It can be easy to get bogged down in attendance, worry over details (not like I did that or anything), but focus on the neighbors and don’t forget to take pics!!!
It was my first time organizing a neighborhood concert and it definitely felt different then our usual block parties.
Here are my “live and learn” moments...
Flyering is worth the time! Yes, you give a formal invitation, but you also have greater chance for connection when you do see people face to face. While flyering, we met people who go to our church (a dream for someone like me who has such hope for the local church) and also connected with a mom who found me on social after seeing the invite! --we printed them with our names signed on the back and she saw me wearing a baby while delivering flyers and sent me a DM!! I just love when social media can be used as a tool to make real life connections! The flyering conversations are also a confidence booster for talking to people a second time at the actual event. "Hi!! You live on..." or a simple, "you made it!" makes those faces feel seen and valued. We forget we have that much influence over people, let alone our neighbors we've barely met. ♥️
Location matters quite a bit for neighborhood concerts. Block parties are more flexible and free range per say, while at a concert, everyone's attention is fixed at a certain point plus you need power for speakers! People are forgiving, and will put up with a lot for good music, but location does require more thought when live music is involved. 🌳
Plan for people to sit. Concert vibes are different than block party vibes. Less mingling, more sitting.
If looking for food trucks, go for recognizable local ones and prepare for a minimum. People loved having a local, we've seen it parked at that house, food truck show up. Having a recognizable truck is more important than cuisine preference. We had no idea how many people to expect, and most food trucks have minimums, so be prepared (and okay) to pay a bit if the food truck team doesn't meet it. (City grants can help cover that cost...but this was so last minute we missed the application window!) 🍔
Consider what the community is used to doing for similar events. When planning, it's worth asking what people have done before. As involved as our family thinks we are, there are still soooo many things happening we don't know about. I ran plans by a neighbor who shared how other community concerts usually went down and reminded me to check with the city on things I had overlooked! Another pair of more experienced eyes are necessary. And they are out there. People have always lived in an area longer and are always more connected. And generally, they are eager to share and make more connections. So ASK! 👏🏼
The more signs, the better. I didn't have enough. I assumed people would mostly be walking, so for people who drove or hadn't been there before, it wasn't clear where to park or where we even were! 🤦🏼♀️
Maybe my biggest takeaway?
People have missed events and community gatherings like this. They are a good thing.
We got so many smiles and “thank yous” and “how did you do this?”, that even though my "I would've done this differently" list was long, it was a win.
Music, friendship, a beautiful park, local food, neighbors. The reward outweighs the effort. 100%
Are you thinking about hosting something for your community? Leave a comment below or find me on instagram to brainstorm!