Please contact us with any question or clarification: longbeach@makemusicday.org

When is Make Music Long Beach?

Every June 21 between 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Where is Make Music Long Beach?

Any site in the City of Long Beach 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 & plazas (TBD 3/3/26): When you perform at a park, you are acting as both musician and host. Make Music Long Beach 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 we will secure the required City 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:

1. Be within the City of Long Beach
2. Be free and accessible to the public
3. Maintain a clearance on the sidewalk for pedestrian passage

Who can perform?

Make Music Long Beach 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?

1. Create a profile with as much information as possible.
2. Search for a musician or venue to match with.
3. When you find a good fit, send a message with a booking request.
4. Schedule as many shows as you like.
5. Both host and musician must confirm your show before matchmaking ends.
6. Stay in touch with your matches as the day approaches.

What if I already have a plan and I don’t need to find a match?

List your event in our matchmaking system. It will appear on our website, and we will secure any necessary permits.

What if I missed registration?

Email us at longbeach@makemusic.org and we will do our best to find you a site. The city 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 Long Beach provides the framework. We secure permits, manage the matchmaking tool, and publicize the event. 

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 must 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 and secure permits. 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?

1. 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.
2. 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 Long Beach. Any event with higher decibel sound must occur between 8 AM – 9 PM. Exceptions include events planned by surrounding homeowners, or quiet shows that follow the sound ordnance.

Where might I make loud music?

Larger parks are ideal. Contact us to explore ideas.

Who will provide a stage/piano/amplification system?

Make Music Long Beach 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. If you need to loan an instrument or an amplification system, contact us and we will see how we can help.

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 1,000+ communities around the world on June 21, and so will ours. If it rains, shows at an exposed site may move inside. 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 Long Beach performances are free and open to the public.

Can my show be “invitation only”?

No. All Make Music Long Beach performances are free and open to the public.

Can I perform outside the City of Long Beach?

Our permits, insurance, logistics and funding are Long Beach 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 Long Beach is coordinated by David Sauer. He is a 15 year resident of Long Beach, musician, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Arts Council of Long Beach. We are a chapter of the Make Music Alliance, and part of 1000+ cities worldwide who celebrate Make Music Day. 

How can I volunteer?

Contact us at longbeach@makemusicday.org

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:

1. Your schedule is full.
2. You’d prefer to have control over who requests shows and don’t want anyone to reach out.
3. You have your lineup planned and don’t need anyone to request a show.

What will Make Music Long Beach do to promote my concert?

We list concerts on our website, pitch stories to the press, create posters and a social media toolkit, advertise in local papers, radio stations, and 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 Long Beach 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 Long Beach, the status will say “confirmed”.

We completed our matchmaking last week, but our completed match still says “Pending Confirmation”. Why?  

Make Music Long Beach 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 Long Beach 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.

It’s May 30th and there is still no match. Should I be heartbroken?

Make Music Long Beach wants to make sure everyone who wants to perform, can. After registration closes, participants will have time to match. We will contact musicians and venues that haven’t been matched and will propose creative options for your inclusion in Make Music Long Beach.