RYFO | A Growing Network

Written By: Jeremy Seick

ast June we covered the emerging ministry entitled The RYFO Network. Since then, the team at RYFO has been working hard to build the network of artists, fans, labels, booking agents, churches, prayer warriors, mechanics, venues and their owners-Okay, anyone who can help a band while on the road. I will say it again, this ministry is revolutionary and could potentially forever change the way that bands look at touring. Founder Nick Greenwood has been a loyal friend to Hopecore.com over the past year and we take great pleasure in being able to continually spread the word on this project. We caught up with Greenwood to have him tell us about the past year in his life as well as where RYFO is at today. Please visit www.ryfo.org to find out how you can benefit the artists who have given us so much of their time and hearts.

We last talked with you in our first issue a year ago. Fill us in on what RYFO has been up to since then?

Nick Greenwood: I just got back home to CA from Nashville, following a short visit to “Not-So-GMA-Week” as my good friend Come&Live!-Chad dubbed it.  I am all over the place.  We developed a strong Advisory Board and brainstormed a new site idea we are shooting to launch January 2011.  So many more bands have joined. I think we are at somewhere around 430+ touring artists who have joined our family.  It’s just crazy.  We are loving every minute of it.

For those that didn’t read the piece, give them a rundown of what RYFO is all about and why you started it, and why it is so important?

NG: In 2003, I woke up one day with a new heart for people like myself; aspiring musicians.  I was made aware of the spiritual struggles touring musicians face while they live life on the road away from their ordinary systems of support and accountability (churches, families, etc.).  I began to ask questions of anyone that would talk with me.  Eventually, I was able to get on the road for two month-long tours, and began to see first hand the physical needs touring musicians have as well.  Many people talk about how artists “need accountability”.  I would agree, though we didn’t make the mistake of stopping there.  We decided to take a stab at meeting the physical needs of artists, so that we might help them in their spiritual journeys as well. It’s holistic.  We launched a website (January 2009), found a few sucker staff members and developed a board of directors.  The rest is blood, sweat and a few tears.

I like to say now that Ryfo is the glue that connects personal and corporate ministries together in a way that makes sense for touring musicians.  So many people around the world have something to offer touring artists, they just don’t know how to offer their unique talents and services.  We want to give them the platform to do so.  If you are a dentist, we need you.  If you are a prayer warrior, we need you.  If you are a book publisher, we need you.  If you are a restaurant owner, we need you.  If you are a mechanic, we need you.  It’s the Church being the Church, FINALLY for our nations greatest cultural influencers.  Serving the Voices.

Is RYFO a non profit? How does RYFO stay afloat?

NG: Bottom line, we work our butt’s off!  Most everyone involved in Ryfo is a volunteer.  Yes, we are a DBA of my local church (Cornerstone Community Church of San Clemente, CA for at which I serve as a part-time pastor), and therefore a non-profit.  As far as staying afloat; it’s by God’s grace.  It has been His vision to see this thing develop, not ours.  We trust in that.  And so far we have been entirely donor supported/dependent.  Sometimes I think it is to our demise that we don’t have a product or service that keeps us funded, and on other days I am thankful that we do not fringe on anything business related.  We offer a free service to touring artists and we ask for nothing in return.

What is Servingthevoices.org?

NG: Oh that!  That is a secondary site we set up to generate noise and funds for an amazing web-software vision God has given us.  We are in the middle of a Phase 1 campaign to begin building the most awesome web platform tool bands have ever seen.  Though this one is different than the other web-music-moguls,  it is not promotions based, but care based.  We want to give artists the power to receive complete care and support from their fans, and give fans the ability to track their favorite/adopted artists’ locations, needs, and prayers…among many other things.  We’re SO grateful to everyone that is considering helping us raise the support needed to build RYFO.ORG 2.0!

How do you avoid super fans or other potential hazards when it comes to approving people to be host homes or help out the bands?

NG: We don’t typically approach anyone, unless we know that they’ve already hosted bands in their homes.  Usually, applicants come to us.  All of our host home applicants go through a lengthy application process.  First, they submit their information and desire to host bands through an application form on ryfo.org that includes a list of home amenities, pastoral references, neighbor’s phone numbers, etc.  Then they email us pictures of the inside and outside of their home; pictures of the beds bands will sleep in, bathrooms they will use, etc.  Then, our Host Home Coordinator follows up with them on the phone, asking situational questions to give us an idea of how a home might respond to the various scenarios they might engage with.  And finally, IF the home is a likely candidate for approval, one of our board members gets on the phone with them and explains the home’s role more in depth.  We usually get a really good idea of the environment bands will be in.

What do you see taking place in the life of RYFO over the next year?

NG: Dude, by God’s grace we hope to have our new web platform (RYFO.ORG 2.0) launched by January.  It’s our number one goal right now.  We will be at Cornerstone Festival, Purple Door and maybe a few others too.  We are continuing to develop our Host Home Network, and we are getting ready to provide bands with a super cool tool that I can’t yet discuss.  Top secret.  We will role it out in late May/early June, so look out!