Created by Roxborough and Manayunk community residents, Porchfest will bring together neighbors and musicians of all kinds to build, deepen, and celebrate connections within our community and beyond. This event is for everyone and encourages a diversity of genres and people to share the joys of live music and fellowship.

 

Porchfest is much more an afternoon of coordinated yard performances than it is a conventional festival. There’s no real boss, no specific enclosed or protected area, and everything you see, or experience exists only because one of your neighbors decided to step up and make it happen. Each of our day-of performances are managed by our volunteer neighbors making each porch host and performer (and even and attendee) a de facto co-creator and real-time manager of the event. The organizing committee, such that it is, exists only to manage basic front-end logistics, coordinate performances, and promote the day.

 

Porchfest Prospective Host FAQ

 

The first annual RoxYunk Porchfest is scheduled for October 15, 2022. Are you excited to be part of this community driven, community building, DIY day of local music and fellowship, RoxYunk-style?

 

The porch hosts play an essential role in Porchfest. Porchfest is, in fact, not one event, but a collection of individually produced performances, and porch hosts are entirely responsible for the performances they’re hosting. This includes booking the artists that will play on the porch, registering the event with the Committee, notifying the neighbors on their block, and managing their show on the day of the event.

 

Anyone can host a performance. We are open to various types of performance locations, such as porches, stoops, sidewalks, backyards, etc., however, please keep in mind that this is intended to be a community engagement/community building event, so more accessible front porches and front yards will be ideal.

 

It is anticipated that porches will be scheduled in 3 separate 2-hour increments. The first set of porches will host from noon until 2 p.m., the second set of porches will host from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., the third and last set of porches will host from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. As a host, you will be responsible for booking the performances at your porch (the Committee may be able to assist with some matchmaking), and also for maintaining adherence to the schedule as much as possible, so as to avoid conflicts with other scheduled performances.

 

Once you register your porch show via the signup form on our homepage, we’ll add it to our online map and include it the physical maps for the day of the event. We’ll keep you up to date with news and information, offer some tips/suggestions for making your show a success.

 

Is hosting a RoxYunk stage right for you? Here are some additional things to consider:

 

Location

• This is our first event, so we may try to keep the boundaries a bit tighter this year and consider pushing the boundaries more broadly in the future. We anticipate that performances will be scheduled between Ridge Ave and Main St (but not on Ridge or Main), and Hermitage St and Shurs Lane.
• Street closures – The Porchfest Committee will not be making application for any street closures. If individuals or groups wish to make applications for street closures on their own, they are welcome to do so.

 

Neighbors

Have you checked off with all of your neighbors to ensure that they’re on board with you hosting at your location? This item is vitally important! Porchfest is at its heart about building relationships and communication among neighbors. The end goal is to have NO UNHAPPY NEIGHBORS. Aspirational, yes but we can dream. And this means talking to everyone on the block. Think of it as an excuse to say hello to friends you haven’t met yet.

 

Physical structure

• Do you have enough space on your proposed porch for the performances (including instruments and equipment)?
• Is there enough space for performers and for spectators?

 

Power

Do you have (or the ability to bring) sufficient power to the proposed porch?

 

Bathrooms

You may be asked to permit performers to use your facilities but you’re under no obligation to provide for the general public. You may be ok with it or not. You’re call.

 

Refreshments for performers

You may want to offer drinks (alcoholic or otherwise) to your performers. If it’s a hot day, water may be essential.

 

Trash and recycling

It’s probably a good idea for you to put out a trash can and recycle bin for your guests.

 

Posters and promotion

Each show will be listed on the Porchfest website and on the Porchfest map, but each host should work with their acts to promote their show. As we hope that you have seen around the neighborhood, fliers are a great way to let people know about a show.

 

Pre-production

Stay in contact with your performers and make sure they have their set times right. Bands are notoriously unreliable (speaking as a band) and there’s nothing worse than three bands showing up to play the same time slot.

 

Production tip

Day of, make sure you have duct tape, power strips, and patience.

 

It’s your show!

Don’t forget, Porchfest is the umbrella, but it’s your show! Decorate, orate, gyrate, feel free to incorporate anything into your show, as long as you square it with the neighbors.

 

Day of event

Porchfest will have folks on call on event day, but please, work things out with your neighbors beforehand as much as possible. We don’t want to end up playing arbitrator.