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.
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
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