LYNN — Don White was coming off the best five months of his career, and the Lynn singer-songwriter/storyteller/comedian had a ton of concert bookings for 2020. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit, and, in just 48 hours, it was all gone.
But with music venues shuttered throughout America, White devised a creative way to make money.
“Musicians are talking about going back to work, but I don’t see it. I think it’s a really long time before I get in front of a live audience. When can I feel comfortable in a church basement or other venue, singing into a microphone that countless other performers have sung into, with people coughing and sneezing?”
“So I decided I gotta figure out how to earn money without having to wield a hammer,” said White, with his usual self-deprecating humor.
He came up with the concept of a Performers Forum, where experts in the entertainment world — performers, promoters, venue owners, booking agents, etc. — share information and advice and things they’ve learned about performing online. White presents it on Zoom every Monday at 2 p.m.
Earlier this week, guest/musician Brian Doser talked about how to present quality live virtual shows. Next Monday, Mayra Diaz, who runs a Library program in Texas, will talk about how performers can create and present a show that will lead to gigs for library websites. On May 18, Matt Smith will talk about how the legendary Club Passim in Cambridge is able to present a full schedule of internet shows.
Each forum is free, but there is a virtual tip jar for those who want to contribute.
“I talk about things I’ve learned in the last few weeks. I keep it moving. I reign in the speakers. They dispense information and don’t get too technical. I also threaten the audience: Do not use the question and answer period to try out your new material; I can mute you.”
White said the idea came to him once he realized he had something to offer.
“Facebook Live doesn’t feel right to me. The performer gets no feedback. Same with YouTube. I watch Colbert on late-night, and telling jokes on TV with no audience or laughs is weird and uncomfortable.
“I gravitated to Zoom. At the time (I started) nobody could do music on Zoom. Zoom was built for talk and meetings. It suppressed any sound except the human voice. If a ceiling fan kicked on, it suppressed it. But it also suppressed the sound of a guitar.”
Eventually Zoom caught on and made it easier for musicians. Now a guy or gal or duo can sing and play guitar.
White and his young computer wiz, whom he pays an hourly rate, worked tirelessly to work out Zoom’s kinks and peculiarities. “You could hear a squeaky chair or a bag of chips being opened. Maddening. We did three separate tests, 15 minutes each, to create a product that’s good. I’d invite about 75 friends and I’d sing one slow song, one fast, and read a poem. The first time, ugh … We turned on the sound and it was like we entered the 12th level of hell. Screeches. You could hear every dog barking and every fire engine going by.”
They identified the problem, and test No. 2 went better. But something was missing: audience interaction. The third test was a major success. “I just needed to hear some people applauding or laughing. Not all 75, but some.”
So, he invited fans and friends to “attend” a free Zoom concert, tip optional. Everyone at home was muted at first. White laid out the rules. Attendees could be unmuted if they were in a quiet space, an office or room where the windows were closed and doors shut, and dogs weren’t home to interrupt with a bark or growl. “If all those rules were followed, I invited guests to raise their hands if they wanted to join in. I performed and the tech kid unmuted people’s mics one by one. When they laughed, I heard it and everyone heard it. It was the sound of a real show. I was so engaged. They were so engaged. I invented that, which I call the Don White Rhythm Method,” he said, then laughed.
He’s done four shows now. Some have been fundraisers/partnerships for struggling venues and charitable organizations, who provide the audience, and proceeds are shared. “Not everyone is in my fan base, and as hard as it is to believe some have never heard of me, so I reach a new audience.”
A Don White Live show is on tap for Thursday, May 7. Tom Bianchi and Revere native Danielle Miraglia, who host the Burren Backroom/24 Hour Concerts, will join White. For details and an invite, go to White’s Facebook page or email him at [email protected].
“I thought, OK, now I can make some money on Zoom,” said White. “I started with private shows, virtual house concerts that last 30 minutes to an hour, and then I hang around after. It’s an excuse for friends to hang around on Zoom after the show, where I can interact with the host and his or her friends. It’s a winning recipe. I’m home, in my office or bedroom and I make some money.” White averages a couple shows a week.
“I’m the venue now,” said White, with a touch of amazement. “It’s a whole new frontier. I’d like to think I’m on the front end of what people are doing and will continue to do. “
