Ahhh... the life of a freelance musician running their own ensemble. And even worse, two freelance musicians running their own ensemble!

So, forward planning had already tentatively started for us for 2026... a rough idea of guest lists and some sounding out of larger regional tours and that sort of thing. And we do have more things to fit in next year, as there is a regional tour that asked us back again... with a potential different regional tour sounding us out for dates... and two regional but much closer venues asking if we could play in their series... and our outreach projects throughout the year and one or possibly two community days/weekends... and of course, the MAIN four chamber concerts that are our flagship concerts. This has been a snowball for a three year old ensemble...

... and all of this needs to fit around our own work as freelance musicians, AND the other early music ensembles that are slowly starting to put out their scheduling.

So, we try to dodge between the larger early music groups... mostly because they will likely pull from the same pool of players... and also because we tend to ALSO work and play FOR them!

Anyway... most of this sits in low level simmer mode... until one of the groups starts contracting for the coming year... and then everyone kicks into high speed organisation and planning mode, as we all try to lock in dates that work with all the musicians and groups that minimise clashes!

So, today, there was a first ask... and that kicked things into speed mode for us. We have most of the major group dates for the coming year already... minus one that I'm still hunting around for... and most of us little groups share the intel that we have already.

And then after we co-ordinate ourselves, we have a batch of dates that we can offer to our visiting guest artists... and hopefully, something pops out for the four major flagship concerts! But until then we are a bit nervous...

... and then once that is done, we need to check with the venue and against other local music ensembles/organisiations... but that said, we are usually at least three months ahead of everyone else here... so, we tend to be in first with the bookings and calenders... and then people can see our dates and dodge (or not...) around them!

This happened a little earlier than I had planned... so, I need to also get a tentative budget for 2026 to approve... mostly taking into account any guests fees and accomodation and travels... so that we don't sink in a single year!

... and what I had planned to do next, which was the non-profit reporting requirements will have to be bumped back a few days whilst I focus on this incoming puzzle!

EEEEEP!!!! One day it will be easier... but as long as I continue playing and working for other groups (which I want to keep doing...), I do need to plan around any potential clashes!

Handy Crypto Tools

Infinex: The future of self-custodied crypto wallets. Simple but powerful to use, made for normies!
Ledger Nano S/X: Keep your crypto safe and offline with the leading hardware wallet provider. Not your keys, not your crypto!
Coinbase Wallet: Multi chain wallet with lots of opportunities to Learn and Earn!
Binance: My first choice of centralised exchange, featuring a wide variety of crypto and savings products.
WooX: The centralised version of WooFi. Stake WOO for fee-free trades and free withdrawals! This link also gives you back 25% of the commission.
GMX.io: Decentralised perpetual futures trading on Arbitrum!
Coinbase: If you need a regulated and safe environment to trade, this is the first exchange for most newcomers!
Crypto.com: Mixed feelings, but they have the BEST looking VISA debit card in existence! Seriously, it is beautiful!
CoinList: Access to early investor and crowdsale of vetted and reserached projects.
Cointracking: Automated or manual tracking of crypto for accounting and taxation reports.
KuCoin: I still use this exchange to take part in the Spotlight and Burning Drop launches.
MEXC: Accepts HIVE, and trades in most poopcoins! Join the casino!
ByBit: Leverage and spot trading, next Binance?
OkX: Again, another Binance contender?