For the traveling musician sleeping on a friend's couch can get old. Two brothers with experience touring with their band Twin are working on a solution.
The two 23-year-olds, former Portage residents, now living in South Bend, are establishing a
musicians cooperative for Kalamazoo. It will be their third location and is set to open Aug. 10.
The idea is to provide affordable housing and opportunities for personal growth for musicians.
So far its been "really successful," says Tyler Trierweiler. "We're actually making money."
Trierweiler and his twin brother, Vinny, developed the idea while they were touring the country last year as part of the indie-rock scene.
"Everywhere we went we heard the same story," Treirweiler says. "People don't have a place to stay. They can't record. There was no place self-focused musicians could find to have their needs met in terms of having their own space."
The Treirweiler gathered like minded people -- those passionate about art, music and personal growth -- and developed the first Musician's Cooperative in South Bend. When it took off they opened a second one in Birmingham, Ala.
It's a concept Tyler Treiweiler says he can see spreading across the country.
"This is an era where you can graduate from college at the top of your class and still not be able to find a job," Treiweiler says. "We're going to be ruling the world soon. We need places like the Cooperative so people can afford to have a place to live. This can be a place for young, creative, educated people."
Those who live in the cooperative are committed to helping one another maintain the Cooperative, participate in weekly art projects, meditation and a communal meal. Members are encouraged to tour and stay at other cooperatives for free whenever they can.
All housemates also are featured on a web reality series.
Trierweiler, a college graduate with a video production degree, says the web video series part of the deal is something he believes in. "It's a way to build fans and a following."
Plans are for the Kalamazoo Cooperative to offer a recording studio, practice spaces, meditation room, arts and crafts space, communal kitchen, commons area, free wi-fi, free utilities, and a video production and green screen room. It will be at 832 W. Walnut and house eight to 10 residents.
Although the Trierweilers still are working out the details on the Kalamazoo Cooperative, plans are moving forward for their fourth house.
Trierweiler says Grand Rapids is next.
Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Tyler Trierweiler, Musicians Cooperative
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.