General Info
What is Day of Music Fullerton?
Day of Music Fullerton is: Performed by Anyone, Enjoyed by Everyone
A way for all to celebrate the summer solstice, enjoying the longest day of the year, while sampling a buffet of musical merriment. A DIY city-wide celebration when almost any way to make music can and will happen. DoMF is open to music makers of all ages, skill levels, and musical persuasions.
When and where will Day of Music Fullerton take place?
DoMF will take place on Sunday, June 21, 2020. The same date that a multitude of cities celebrate Fête de la Musique all throughout the world.
Performances can be scheduled from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM in spaces open for public participation throughout Fullerton. Sidewalks, parks, and more may become impromptu musical stages, dance floors, and social meeting points. Last year we saw oodles of amateur musicians and every ilk of professional musician to pop up all over Fullerton to perform for new audiences and neighbors alike, and we’re sure 2016 will only be better.
Why isn’t it always on a weekend?
We celebrate the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, with a day of music. As do over 700 cities around the world. The Summer Solstice occurs on June 21st. June 21st doesn’t always land on a weekend. Think of it like Halloween. Halloween doesn’t always land on a weekend.
Who can participate?
DomF is Performed by Anyone, Enjoyed by Everyone – all over Fullerton. Students, amateurs, part-time professionals, and established artists are all welcome. There is no audition process to be included in the musical merriment and DoMF is open to all ages, skill levels, and persuasions of music makers. All you you need to do is sign up, make your match with a venue, show up, and perform. Surprise Fullerton with your creativity! Even non-musicians are invited to participate by dancing, singing along with a crowd, or even helping to organize a flash mob.
Are dancers included in the Day of Music Fullerton fun?
Yes, with some caveats. We are committed to live musical performance, so ballet troupes will need to leave the recorded music at home and bring along the orchestra (or rock band, or solo cello). Also, there is a space consideration. With an orchestra and fifteen dancers, you’ll need a space large enough to accommodate everyone plus your audience.
Participants Info
Where may I perform?
Performances will take place in a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces. The goal is to generate a continuous soundscape of music as people walk around participating spaces. Unlike other Fullerton summer music events, DoMF does not have one central venue. We envision music corridors throughout all neighborhoods of Fullerton. If you have a rock band, and you want to set up outside your building and play for your neighbors, do it! If you want to perform Bach’s cello suites outside your friend’s convenience store, you can do that, too. Almost anything is possible.
Sidewalks: Many musicians will perform on the sidewalks of Fullerton. DoMF organizers will secure the necessary permits from the city, so that musicians don’t have to deal with the paperwork or pay fees.
Parks: DoMF has reserved some prime Fullerton park locations for June 21st concerts. Those locations are listed as “on hold” in our matchmaking system, and can be reserved as a venue on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting info@thedayofmusic.com. You may register for all other parks yourself, and as with other public spaces, we will work with you to secure the necessary permits. See more details on parks below.
Community Centers, Gardens and Plazas: Some public spaces are privately controlled by community groups, management companies, or individuals. These can be fantastic performance locations – quiet, yet accessible. People who control these spaces may make many of them available on our website. If a perfect site isn’t listed, check with the owners to see if they’re interested!
Private Spaces: Restaurants, businesses, community organizations and homeowners may wish to offer their locale as a venue. We welcome all comers. The only requirements are that the performance space is open to the public at no cost.
How long will each performance last?
You have complete artistic control. It’s your concert. If you want to take an extended 20-minute bass solo, you don’t have to ask our permission! In other cities we’ve seen performances as short as a single song and as long as 18 hours. Artists and venues must agree to the length of your performance during the matchmaking process. Then, when you perform you must stick to the set length you agreed to so that the city-wide published performance schedule stays on track.
May performers take full advantage of Day of Music Fullerton and perform all over town?
No. At this time scheduling more than one performance is not permissible.
What if a band signs up now, and has to back out later?
Once your event is confirmed by your chosen location, and by the DoMF organizers, we will block off your spot and secure your permits. We are counting on you to perform! If you do need to cancel, it is your responsibility to find another performer to take your spot. Please let the location – and us – know about all program changes ASAP, so that DoMF and the venue can help find a replacement.
What if I play an instrument, but don’t have my own band?
Join or organize a “Mass Appeal” event! The big idea is that scores of musicians who have never performed together before can band together to perform massive pieces. Think, a platoon of accordions playing the “Beer Barrel Polka”, barbershop quartets singing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”. You get the idea! Each performance works differently, depending on the genre, the instrument, and the location.
I am part of a large drumming circle, and we’d like to perform at the solstice sunrise.
Noise ordinances and common sense are not suspended for DoMF. Basically 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM are acceptable times for higher decibel sound, and acceptable locations are non-residential areas where people will not be disturbed in their homes. There can be some exceptions – in past years there have been a few cases of neighborhoods hosting venues with later performances, planned in cooperation with surrounding homeowners.
Okay – where might I make loud music?
Some of Fullerton’s larger parks might work out. To get an idea of some of the possibilities, take a look at Fullerton’s park system or, contact us at info@thedayofmusic.com to noodle around some ideas.
How do we sign up to perform in parks?
Good question – long answer…
Many city parks, park shelters and downtown performance spaces will be made available for DoMF performances. Check out a complete list Fullerton parks, with info on the amenities each park offers.
When you request a park space you are taking on responsibility in the sign up process as both artist and venue. To request a park space you may need to fill out both a venue and an artist request form, and then confirm your performance and venue. Please use the park names and street addresses as listed at the park website (linked above) to complete the venue form.
Won’t lots of people sign up for parks? If twenty different groups sign up for Woodcrest Park, how do we know who has first dibs?
Many of our city parks are large enough to accommodate multiple simultaneous performances, so be as specific as possible in your description as to the location in the park where you intend to perform, and what park amenities you wish to use. Even after you confirm your park venue and performance, you must wait for final confirmation from DoMF planners to make sure there are no conflicting or overlapping requests. Only then is your park venue truly confirmed.
Who will provide a stage / tuned grand piano / etc for my concert?
DoMF is not a typical music festival. It is a DIY opportunity for people to be creative about putting together their own musical events. Our organizers set up the framework for concerts — the rest is up to you! Artists and locations collaborate to produce the events, provide electricity, if needed, and provide any necessary equipment.
Will there be a main stage?
There will be no main stage. Fullerton itself is your stage. This is not an event focused around built stages, so performances generally take place at the same level as the audience. Your stage could be a front porch, a restaurant patio, a park bench, or any other outdoor space you can imagine. Do you have somewhere you’d love to play? Convince that location to register as a venue!
Will I be paid to perform?
DoMF is a citywide celebration of summer and part of an international movement. As part of this international celebration, DoMF agrees to offer all performances for free to the public. As is the case with other cities around the world, our contribution is setting up the framework for performances by securing the permits, coordinating the concerts, and publicizing the event city-wide with media stories, concert listings with our media partners, an interactive website, and a volunteer street-team.
Participation at any level, as a musician, host, or spectator is voluntary. This allows musicians of all skill levels the opportunity to come out and perform in public if they wish. While most performers volunteer their time and talents, both venues and musicians are welcome to seek outside sponsorship and support if they so choose.
Can I charge admission for a Day of Music Fullerton concert?
No. All DoMF concerts are to be free and open to the public.
Can I block off a street?
Our city permit DOES NOT cover block parties or parade routes that take place in city streets. You may apply for a block party type of permit on your own.
Can my concert be “invitation only”?
No. All DoMF performances are free and open to the public. However, there may be a couple of venues that are 21+ only.
Can I perform outside the city limits of Fullerton?
Not officially. Our permits and logistics only cover Fullerton. You may perform wherever you wish, but be aware of whatever regulations and permit issues apply outside Fullerton.
Can I have my event indoors?
Yes. While we encourage musicians to find an outdoor venue, many businesses such as restaurant/bars, retail shops, and coffee shops are all eager to host.
Matchmaking Software and Making Matches Info
How do I sign up to perform / host a concert?
Musicians and venues will use our registration and matchmaking tool, which is hosted on this site, in order to register and make concert arrangements with each other. Registration for DoMF will open in Late March\Early April.
If you encounter problems, please contact us at info@thedayofmusic.com and we’ll work through the problem together.
On the registration page I see that Day of Music Fullerton runs from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Wow, that is a long event!
It’s likely that the number of events per hour will increase as the day goes along. This just give you the option of playing/hosting your event whenever works best for you and your audience.
The matchmaking software asks for my facebook and website addresses. I don’t have facebook or a website. Does this mean I can’t register?
Facebook or a website is not required. We ask for the links to allow potential venues and performers to learn more about each other before committing to the match. After matchmaking is complete, our website will allow prospective audiences to sample your work and allow you to promote yourself. If you incorrectly enter information in these boxes, you won’t be allowed to continue. Information entered should be accurate, or the box should be left blank.
I’m a venue. Why is there a check box that says “Accepting requests from artists to perform here?” I wouldn’t be signing up if I weren’t accepting performers.
When your venue is full, you will un-check this box. We’ll see your venue, and performance schedule, and see that it is full.
Why am I restricted to three choices for the type of music I perform or that my venue will accept?
This arbitrary limit is to make finding the right match easier. Use the “Other” choice and the description box to override this limitation. Then, you can tell us about your music styling in the description box. If you represent a venue open to all types of music- just say so in your description.
I see there is a box asking me how I will promote my performance and I have no idea how to promote my performance. Do I need to promote my performance or venue to participate?
Everyone who signs up on our matchmaking website should describe what they will do for promotion. We are counting on musicians and locations to promote their own shows, in all the ways that they normally would — sending out email blasts, putting notices on websites, texting all of their friends, etc. Maybe for you, promotion means telling your best friend and your Aunt Mary about your performance. That’s fine. If you DO know a lot about music promotion, this is a great opportunity to volunteer.
What will Day of Music Fullerton do to help promote my concert?
We will list all concerts on the DoMF website (with descriptions and links to artist websites, where available), and we’ll pitch stories about noteworthy concerts to the press. DoMF neighborhood organizers also will promote the performances in their area with fliers, posters, etc.
I’ve signed up as an artist or a venue and I’m ready to make a match. Can you break down the approval process in the software for me?
You can see all of the details on any artist or performer who fits your search criteria from either the browse or account pages. Use the box with the drop down menus labeled “venue type”, “neighborhood” and “electricity” to narrow your choices. Use the small triangle to the left of the name of the artist or venue to see all of the details on that option. You can see all available venues and performers by selecting the browse feature, but the matchmaking actually happens on your account page.
I’ve looked at all of my options and chosen some possible venues or musicians. What happens now?
After you make a choice, that choice will receive an email to notify them. Then both sides need to confirm, modify or decline the opportunity. If you wish to modify, you should contact the other party to resolve the problem. When you agree on a match it will be recorded, and then Day of Music Fullerton will then examine and send final approval to both parties. Before approval by artist, venue and the webmaster, your desired match will appear on your “Account” page under “My Performances”; note that until all three parties have approved, the match is “pending confirmation”. After approval by artist, venue, and Day of Music Fullerton, the match will be recorded at “Performances”.
We completed our matchmaking last week, but our completed match still says “Pending Confirmation”. What gives?
Day of Music Fullerton must confirm each performance before it is final. In most cases Day of Music Fullerton will confirm your performance and venue match within two weeks. To allow for an ample assortment of musicians to fill out our matchmaking inventory, we will not begin confirming most matches before April 1st. If your venue and performer are certain you have a firm commitment, there is no need to worry, you are going steady and we will not force a break up.
Do I need to check in with my “Account” page to see if there are any pending matches?
No worries. When someone requests a match, you will be emailed a notification to login and check the match.
Let’s say I signed up two weeks ago as either a venue or a performer and no one has picked my venue/performance. When should I start to worry?
It may take time to make a match. Keep in mind that the registration will be open until May 15th, so new musicians and venues will be appearing over the entire time period. If you don’t see what you want today, come back at another time. Or, be creative in your matchmaking. Venues may contact musicians not already registered in the matchmaking software to ask them to sign up. Likewise, performers may contact venues where they’d like to perform and ask them to sign up as venues. Also consider that venues can be almost any public place in Fullerton where people can gather without impeding traffic. The playground down the street, the pet store’s parking lot, the plaza outside your office building could all be venues.
My performance was denied. Why?
Some reasons for a denial might be because the venue’s time slots all have been filled, or the venue cannot accommodate your type of music or number of performers. Don’t despair, try to find another match.
A venue or performer wants to modify my request for a match. What is required of me now?
The modify request in our matchmaking software is there to set up a performance schedule that works for both the venue and performer. If a request needs to be modified in some way other than time, you will need to contact the other party to work through details of the modification.
It’s May 15th and there is still no match. Should I be heartbroken?
Day of Music Fullerton wants to make sure everyone who wants to perform can perform. After May 15th, registration will close, but participants will have another week to match. We will contact musicians and venues that haven’t been able to create a match through the software and will propose some creative options for your inclusion in the Day of Music Fullerton merriment. We are in the happiness business and don’t want you to be disappointed or left out.
Other Participation Info
Who organizes this event?
Launched in 2015, Day of Music Fullerton, a volunteer-based organization, joins an informal confederation of over 1000 cities worldwide in creating opportunities for all stripes of music makers to take to the streets to celebrate the summer solstice. Volunteer organizers in Fullerton will work throughout the city to help recruit musicians and venues, work with venues\city on required permits, and promote the concerts.
How can I get involved as a volunteer?
There are lots of ways to volunteer. Contact us at volunteer@thedayofmusic.com and we’ll run the options by you.
Can I donate to Day of Music Fullerton?
We’re glad you asked! Contributions can be made online and are 100% tax-deductible. If you are interested in becoming a Day of Music Fullerton sponsor, please contact us at info@thedayofmusic.com.