October 27, 1998
Singer takes music off the road and into homes
By Cathy Willoughby
Staff Writer
Several young children were sprawled in front of her, listening intently, munching chips and pretzels. The older folks sat in easy chairs, listening to the melodic sounds of Kimberli Ransom, a folk-pop rock singer.
They were enjoying an unusual performance in the home of Tiffin resident Donna Bradley. Ransom is the first performer in recent times to take her music into the most intimate of all concert venues: someone's home.
The Milton-Freewater, Ore. native has been on the road off and on for six months, traveling in an RV with her road manager and partner, Doug McLeod, on the ''Word of Mouth'' tour. As the title suggests, they achieve their bookings through a unique network, with friends of friends who hear of her and offer to welcome her and her music into their homes and invite their neighbors and friends.
''Touring this way is new, but people doing musical performances in other peoples' homes isn't. Mozart did it; that's the way it used to be,'' Ransom said.
According to Ransom, there seems to be a resurgence in the desire among singers and songwriters to choose more personal venues for their talents. To her knowledge, she is the only performer attempting the house tours, although other artists have indicated interest in the idea. To capitalize on this, Ransom and McLeod also are writing a book, a ''how to'' for those thinking of attempting such a tour, written for hosts and musicians.
''It's a neat way to travel,'' she said. ''We are finally starting to see some strange connections. Saturday we will be in Columbus; we received that booking by giving a concert in Boston and at the concert the hostess found out that there was someone there from Columbus.''
Ransom's ultimate goal is to build a fan base before signing with a major record label.
''I want to get my music out to as many people nationally so that I have a lot of good friends and fans around,'' she said. Establishing a large fan base would put her at an advantage when negotiating for a contract, she said.
The 29-year-old with ''flaming'' red hair has capitalized on that by naming her first two CDs ''Living with Her Hair on Fire'' and her most recent release, ''Copperhead.'' She writes her own lyrics and music, playing the guitar and keyboard during her performances.
''My main instrument is my voice and maybe it's good for me to have to do it all now. I have fronted bands before, but you can be a lot more expressive if it's all you rather than a whole group together.''
Ransom said that she has had offers from several record labels, but as a new artist, does not have much leverage in negotiating items within the contract.
''It would have to be a good-enough deal,'' she said of the contract. ''I would want tour support, creative control; I'm interested in Columbia, Atlantic and Geffen &emdash; those are some of the majors.''
She produces her own music and has considered continuing to do that.
''It's such a leap to go big,'' she said. ''So I'm learning what it's like to do it this way. That's another reason to do the house tour; I'll always own these two CDs, and I'll still be OK because I'll have the people and the music behind me.''
She estimated the cost of producing her own CDs to be between $5,000 and $10,000. To produce her last CD, she raised funds through her established fan base.
''I raised a lot of money that way; people are very generous. I have sold 1,500CDs in the last year and a half, all from my performances,'' she said.
She has opened for &emdash; and been befriended by &emdash; several bigger names in the musical world, including the Indigo Girls and Dan Fogelberg.
''They have given me good feedback,'' Ransom said. ''There are other people in the folk rock circuit that have been doing it a long time, letting people mentor you. It can be good in some ways, but I am not going to do that with everything.''
She has just secured the services of a business manager, which she said frees her up to concentrate on her music.
''I would rather do that than spend my time in the office,'' she said. Her parents and a brother also help her with the business end of her musical career.
A prolific writer, Ransom says that she has written over 400 songs, most of them in the past three or four years.
''It comes pretty naturally, although I don't write as many when I am on the road,'' she said. ''When I have been in one place for a few days and feel settled, it will come back to me.
''I have written two new songs based on people we met on tour. One of the hosts in Denver really affected me because he had experienced adoption and alcoholism,'' she said. ''There were various things about him that really moved and affected me.
''It is a really powerful song because it is so personal. His adopted son had been murdered, and he allowed me to see what their life was like. It amazes me that he is still willing to be open to the world after such a terrible thing has happened,'' Ransom said.
''When I am at home, I write about three (songs) a week; sometimes they get weeded out. Most get selected to play because of what I feel like playing to a particular audience. They are all recorded or written down someplace,'' she said.
Bradley, an enthusiastic fan of Ransom's music, first heard her at a friend's house concert in Columbus and wished to get involved.
''I was visiting my girlfriend and she said we were going to a concert in someone's back yard. At first I didn't want to go, but I was so glad that I did,'' she said.
The arrangements are easy to make. Bradley simply invited a few friends and Ransom provided the rest. She said most of her invitations were met with some degree of skepticism.
''''Most were going, 'A concert in your house?' so I had to explain what it was,'' she said. ''I think it's great, especially for people who really enjoy music and they want to support musicians but don't want to go to a bar. It is so personal and you are interacting with the performer. It's just a lot of fun.''
Information regarding Ransom's music and home tours can be obtained on her website at http://www.kimberli.or.com/music.