You want to have a recital but need some ideas on where to hold it? Here is a quick list of ideas on venues you could check out where you could hold your recital. Wherever you decide, you will want to check out the facility beforehand to make sure you are aware of what they have to offer and what you need to prepare for.

 

1. A local church

 

Check to see if a local church would be willing to allow you to have a recital at their location.  Most churches will provide you their facility free of charge and there would be plenty of parking.  It is not uncommon for churches to already have a piano at their location and seating is generally not a problem in churches. A church could provide a formal or an informal type setting.  Check to see if the church has any dress standards in their building that they would prefer for you and your guests to have.

 

2.  A coffee shop

 

Check your coffee shops.  Sometimes they will allow to use their space for free, especially if the guests buy drinks.  You may or may not need to bring a portable piano.  Check out electric piano necessities for more info on that.  Coffee shops provides an atmosphere that would be really cool for your performers to experience.   Performing in front of their own guests and strangers visiting the shop can give them a new experience.

 

3.  A theater

 

If you have a large crowd, or a lot of participants, a theater is a great place for holding a recital.  It can be a much more formal environment, with a curtain call and the entering and exiting of the stage.   I would encourage formal attire and give away flowers to the performers. Of course, you could just have a great, jamming party in there and invite the whole town and rock out!  The lights could make a fun, party atmosphere!

 

4.  A nursing home or assisted living facility

 

A nursing home or assisted living facility is an excellent option for holding a recital.  Not only does it provide a venue, it provides a built-in audience who will more than love your performance!  Head on over here if you want to know my tips for performing in a nursing home.

 

5.  A local music store

 

Check out the facilities at the local music stores.  Often times they will have a recital room that you can rent for a reasonable price or possibly even use for free.  They appreciate the free advertising you are giving them by bringing customers into the store and thus will often let you use their facility for a good price.  This is a great option because they often have great accommodations for you and your performers as long as all the accompanied guests. I would encourage you to have your students dress up a little nicer if performing at the local music store.

 

6.  A community center

 

Check with your community centers to see how much it would cost to rent their facility for a recital.  Our local community center only charges $30/hour for renting their facility and would have plenty of space for a beautiful recital.  Just make sure you have a portable instrument you can bring with you in case they do not have a piano available there. This venue would likely be best suited for dressing up nicer.

 

7.  A reception center

 

This would be a beautiful place to hold a recital, albeit it will come with a price.  It is an option, though, for those of you wanting a posh place to show off you and your performer’s skills. I would imagine your students would be dressed formally for this venue.  Most reception centers are fancy, and you will want to match the atmosphere.

 

8.  Piano studios

 

Check with your local piano teachers studios if your own isn’t big enough to host a recital.  Often times they are willing to open up their studio to a recital. These venues provide flexibility if you would like them dressed nicer, or more casual.

 

9. A student’s home

 

It is possible that one of your student’s homes would be able to accommodate a recital.  Reach out to your student’s guardians to see if that is an option for you. These venues provide flexibility if you would like them dressed nicer, or more casual.

 

10.  A park

 

For a casual, fun atmosphere, try holding a recital at a park.  This will take some preparation.  You will need to make sure you have a portable instrument, a restroom facility close by, lighting, a speaker to project sound, and seating for those attending. Check out electric piano necessities for more info.  I have been to many concerts in the park and it can be a lot of fun.  You could just sprawl out blankets on the grass and serve popcorn and soft drinks.  Or, if there is a pavilion, you could set up underneath.  It will have some cool acoustics.  This would be a recital to remember! I would suggest this type of recital in a park to be informal dress.

 

Mix it up!

 

Try mixing up your venues to provide variety to your performances.  Providing varying places to perform will expose you and your students to different experiences, thereby creating a more well-rounded musician in the types and styles of performance.  It is likely that some of your students will love certain venues over others.  That could be the same with the guardians of those students.  Change things up every once in a while for them and provide them both opportunities they will love and opportunities that will stretch them.

 

Inform the students and the guests what to expect for the recital

 

When you decide your venue, you will want to make sure you are clear as to what will be expected for that performance.  I suggest a written invitation either via email or a physical copy.  Have extra copies for them to give to the guests they would like to invite to see their performance.

 

Dress

 

The performer should be aware of what the appropriate dress is for that recital.  Be specific.  If it is a white shirt, let them know if you expect it to be a white, button-up shirt, or just a polo, or simply a t-shirt.  Other things to consider would be: dress, nylons for the girls,  appropriate shoes, hair styles, etc. The guests should also be aware of what the appropriate dress is for the venue and for the recital.

 

Length of the Performance

 

The performers and their guests should be aware of the expected length of the performance.  Knowing what to expect and for how long will allow them to prepare accordingly. Personally, I like to keep my recitals as short as possible because I have some younger students with young families.  As much as possible, I like to keep the performances to an hour.  If I am able to, I prefer to split up my students so that I can keep the performances to half an hour.  The parents of my students appreciate not having to wrangle their young children during the recital for any longer than that. Of course, depending on your venue and the type of performance you are planning, adjust your length of the performance accordingly.

 

Location

 

This may be obvious, but an address with the location and the name of the location, is very important in sharing with your performers and their guests.  If possible, provide a simple map on the invitation.

 

Date and Time

 

Check and double check your invitation to make sure you have the right date and time down.  Be as specific as possible with the date and the time, just to make sure that there are no misunderstandings. Hand out your invitations at least one month in advance so that the performers and their guests will have plenty of time to plan around that time. With a little bit of thought, preparation, and creativity, your recital will be a success.  The performers as well as their guests will appreciate the chance to show off their skills and have a truly enjoyable experience!

 

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