About
Held annually on June 21, Make Music Day is part of the international Fête de la Musique, taking place in more than 1,000 cities across 120 countries. The daylong, musical free-for-all celebrates music in all its forms, encouraging people to band together and play in free public concerts. This year, over 100 U.S. cities are organizing Make Music Day celebrations, encompassing thousands of concerts nationwide. Make Music Day is presented by the NAMM Foundation, and coordinated by the Make Music Alliance.
In 2025 Cross Plains is excited to join the Make Music Alliance by becoming a host community! Here’s another way to explain Make Music!
What?
- Performed by Anyone, Enjoyed by Everyone.
- Celebrating the summer solstice.
- Buffet of musical merriment.
- DIY city-wide festival.
When?
Annually on June 21.
Where?
Over 2,000 cities in dozens of countries around the world.
Who?
Open to music makers of all ages, genres, & skill levels, and hosts of all types of sites.
Make Music Cross Plains is operated by
- Carol Barth, Co-Founder
- Jill Heczko, Co-Founder
Participate
Who can participate as a host venue?
Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to host musicians from their outdoor space, sidewalks, backyards, storefronts, small shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, cultural institutions; community gardens; even your own porch, stoop, driveway, or lawn. The only rule, ALL Make Music Day events must be free!
Please do not, however, create a Venue profile for a public park or plaza on your own initiative, as such spaces require special permits that must be secured directly by us. When you do see a public park or plaza Venue profile on the database, it was created by us and is available as stipulated. If you do not see your preferred park or plaza, please contact us at CPMakeMusicDay@gmail.com
Businesses are invited to host everyone from professional musicians to people who have never picked up an instrument to join in the global music celebration! Becoming a Cross Plains Make Music host creates an opportunity for a business to give back to their regular patrons as well as welcome new patrons while celebrating music.
Click here to register an event or venue
How Can You Perform?
We welcome musicians from all ages, genres, cultures, and ability to share your creativity with the community in Cross Plains. We invite musicians, rock bands, instrumentalists, singers, jazz combos, glee clubs, MCs, marching bands, church choirs, rappers, mariachis, and every other kind of musician, of any age group or skill level, are all welcome.
Creating your profile is short & sweet! Within minutes, you should have access to the Make Music Cross Plains match-making database. While creating your Performer profile remember to give us as much information as you can, by including a picture, bio, or music samples, you make it easier for interested host venues to learn all about your specific talents. This may encourage them to send you an invitation to play a concert from their venue or approve of your request to perform at their venue! After your profile has been set up, you can search for participating venues and send them requests to play. All additional needs and details can be worked out via direct message on the registration platform.
Click here to register as a performer
How can I volunteer?
Make Music Cross Plains seeks curious and passionate volunteers. Shoot us an email, identifying who you are, where you are, your background, and what you are passionate about! Using your location and unique assets and abilities, we will find the perfect role for you! No experience necessary! Please contact us at cpmakemusicday@gmail.com
Performed by Anyone! Enjoyed by Everyone!
Listings
2025 Listings: Saturday, June 21
Support
Become a Volunteer!
Make Music Day is free for the village of Cross Plains, so we rely heavily on volunteers to keep things running smoothly. That means we need your help on June 21st! If you’re available on this day and would like to help, please let us know. Here are just some of the things that you might be doing throughout the day:
-Tell passersby about Make Music Cross Plains and answer any questions audience and participators may have.
-Take photos of your stationed event.
-Help keep our performers happy.
-Help with setup and breakdown between artists.
-Help run sound.
If you would like to volunteer at Make Music Cross Plains, send us an email.
Become a sponsor!
We value our partnership with our sponsors and will strive to serve as good stewards of the generous gifts by delivering valuable benefits and a positive partnership experience. With financial or in-kind donations, you are helping to make music accessible to everyone in our community.
If you would like to be a sponsor of Make Music Cross Plains, send us an email.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Make Music Cross Plains?
Every June 21 between 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Where is Make Music Cross Plains?
Any site in the Village of Cross Plains that can be open to the public, including:
- Community centers & gardens: Organizations that run these sites may list them in our matchmaking system. If a site isn’t listed, ask them to consider signing up to host.
- Parks: Make Music Cross Plains makes many of these park sites available to request in our matchmaking system. If you are interested in a park that is not listed in our matchmaking system, e-mail us. When you perform at a park, you are acting as both musician and host. If needed, Make Music Cross Plains will secure the permits, but you will need to provide your own equipment.
- Private businesses: Restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, and others may host music. If your favorite spot isn’t listed, ask them to consider signing up to host.
- Private homes: Garages, back yards, front yards, porches, etc.
- Sidewalks: Once you have identified a sidewalk, notify any neighbors or nearby businesses. Then register the site in our system, and, if needed, we will secure the required permits. Maintain a path for pedestrians to use the sidewalk safely.
Who can host?
Hosting can be as simple as providing space on your porch or as complex as renting a stage and sound equipment. The host controls the location, length of performance, and what they are able to provide. Sites must:
- Be within the Village of Cross Plains
- Be free and accessible to the public
- Maintain a clearance on the sidewalk for pedestrian passage
Who can perform?
Make Music Cross Plains is open to musicians of all ages, skill levels, and styles. Students, amateurs, first-timers, part-time professionals, and established musicians are all welcome. There is no audition process, all you do is register, match with a venue, show up, and perform!
How do I register to participate?
- Create a profile with as much information as possible.
- Search for a musician or venue to match with.
- When you find a good fit, send a message with a booking request.
- Schedule as many shows as you like.
- Both host and musician must confirm your show before matchmaking ends.
- Stay in touch with your matches as the day approaches.
What if I missed registration?
Email us at cpmakemusicday@gmail.com and we will do our best to find you a site. The village is a stage on Make Music Day, so consider performing in your front yard, or at a local park.
How long will each performance last?
Musicians and hosts will agree to the length of each performance. Stick to your advertised times so the schedule on our website is accurate.
Are musicians paid? Should hosts pay musicians?
To be a part of Make Music Day, all performances must be free to the public. Participation at any level (musician, host, or spectator) is voluntary. However, we believe music has value. We encourage hosts to pay musicians or provide them with food/drink/gift cards, when possible. We ask hosts to help the musicians feel appreciated.
Make Music Cross Plains provides the framework. We secure needed permits, manage the matchmaking tool, and publicize the event. Musicians and venues can put out tip buckets, and we encourage spectators to tip.
How many performances can I schedule?
As many as you’d like. If you perform at multiple sites, allow time for travel & set-up.
Can dancers perform on Make Music Day?
Yes, but the performance should be to live music, not recorded music. Consider space constraints and flooring needs.
What if I sign up now, and have to back out later?
Once the host and musician confirm the show, we will publicize your event. If you need to cancel, it is your responsibility to find a replacement. Inform us about all program changes, then update the status to ‘cancelled’ in the matchmaking system.
What if I want to play with others, but don’t have a band?
- Organize a “Mass Appeal” event where several musicians perform a piece together. For instance, a platoon of accordions play the “Beer Barrel Polka”, or a quartet sings Broadway tunes. See our Mass Appeal page for ideas.
- Email us what you are looking for, and we can share a call on our social media pages.
Can I perform at the solstice sunrise?
Noise ordinances and common sense are not suspended for Make Music Cross Plains. Any event with higher decibel sound must occur between 9 AM – 10 PM. Exceptions include events planned by surrounding homeowners, or quiet shows that follow the sound ordnance.
How do park reservations work?
- We list many of the area parks in our matchmaking system. Others are hosted by community members. Simply send a request to any of these profiles.
- If you want to use a park that is not listed, contact us at cpmakemusicday@gmail.com and we can reserve if it for you.
- If you perform at a park listed by Make Music Cross Plains, you will self-host. You will need to provide your own equipment and no staff will help you on the day of.
- Some village parks are large and can accommodate simultaneous performances. If you request a large park, specify the exact location where you intend to perform in your message. If you use the shelter, we may have another group performing elsewhere if it does not conflict.
Will Make Music Cross Plains pay the reservation fee for park shelters?
We reserve several large park shelters. They will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in the matchmaking system. If you’d like to use a shelter that is not listed, contact us at cpmakemusicday@gmail.com. We ask that large shelters are hosted by organizers who will present several shows, rain or shine.
Who will provide a stage/piano/amplification system?
Make Music Cross Plains is a do-it-yourself event. Each venue will list the equipment and electrical access they have in their profile. Musicians should review this before sending a request and can ask if a location has specific equipment before scheduling.
Will there be a main stage?
No, the city is the stage on Make Music Day. Have a venue in mind? Ask that location to host!
What if it rains?
There is no rain date. This event happens in 2,000+ communities around the world on June 21, and so will ours. If it rains, shows at an exposed site may move inside or be cancelled. We ask that you open a door/window so the music can be heard outside. Venue hosts should list in their profile what will do in case of rain. Park shelters are great rain or shine locations.
Can I charge admission?
No. All Make Music Cross Plains performances are free and open to the public.
Can I block off a street?
To host a block party, you’ll need to contact us at cpmakemusicday@gmail.com to try to help you make those arrangements in advance.
Can my show be “invitation only”?
No. All Make Music Cross Plains performances are free and open to the public.
Can I perform outside the Village of Cross Plains?
Our logistics and performances are Cross Plains specific. There are other local chapters you can participate with. If you cannot find a chapter in your area, contact the Make Music Alliance.
Who organizes this event?
Make Music Cross Plains is a 501(c)3 organization launched in 2025. We are a chapter of the Make Music Alliance, and part of 2000+ cities worldwide who celebrate Make Music Day.
How can I volunteer?
Explore our volunteer page.
Can I donate to Make Music Cross Plains?
If your company is interested in sponsoring or if you would like to make a donation, please contact us at cpmakemusicday@gmail.com.
What is the matchmaking system?
The matchmaking system connects musicians & venues. After creating an account, you can search for a matching musician or venue and request a booking. A few tips:
- Create a profile with as much detail as possible.
- Don’t be shy! It helps to put yourself out there, so send as many requests as you’d like.
- Respond to requests quickly. If it’s not a good fit, let the other party know so they can move on.
- Stay in touch. You can send messages through the system or connect by phone or email.
What does the “Accepting Requests” toggle button mean on my profile?
You may want to toggle this off to stop accepting requests if:
- Your schedule is full.
- You’d prefer to have control over who requests shows and don’t want anyone to reach out.
- You have your lineup planned and don’t need any one to request a show.
Why am I restricted to three choices for the type of music I perform or that my venue will accept?
This limit makes it easier to find the right match. Use the “Other” choice and the description box to override this limitation. If you represent a venue pen to all types of music, use “open to anything.”
What will Make Music Cross Plains do to promote my concert?
We list concerts on our website and advertise on social media.
I’ve signed up as a musician 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 use the search option to filter to the available artist/venue who fits your criteria. Use the triangle to the left of the name to see all of their profile. You can see all available venues and performers by selecting the browse feature.
I’ve requested some bookings, what happens now?
After you send a booking request, that entity will receive an email. Both sides need to confirm, modify or decline the opportunity. If you wish to modify, you specify with the other party what you want to change. When you confirm a match it will be sent to Make Music Cross Plains to review. 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 the artist, venue, and Make Music Cross Plains, the status will say “confirmed”.
We completed our matchmaking last week, but our completed match still says “Pending Confirmation”. Why?
Make Music Cross Plains must approve each performance. In most cases we will confirm your performance within two weeks. If you are certain you have a firm commitment, there is no need to worry, we will not force a break-up. Be patient for our administrators to approve the match in the system.
Do I need to check in with my “Account” page to see if there are any pending matches?
When someone requests a match, you will be emailed a notification to log in and check the match.
I signed weeks ago and no one has picked me, should I worry?
It may take time to find a match. If you don’t see what you want today, check another time. Or, be creative in 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 Cross Plains where people can gather without impeding traffic. The playground down the street, the pet store parking lot, the plaza outside your office building could all be venues.
Why was my performance was denied?
You may be denied if the other party’s time slots have been filled, or they cannot accommodate your technical needs or the number of performers. Don’t despair; try to find another match.
What do I do when a match wants to modify my request?
The modification request in our matchmaking software is there to set up a schedule that works for both parties. If a request needs to be modified in some way other than time, contact the other party to work through the details.
