A house concert is exactly what it sounds like: a gathering of friends in your living room, deck, or garden, with live music, and often food, drinks, and conversation. Personally, we love sharing our music in this cozy, intimate setting, and it allows us the chance to really get to know the audience while sharing our music with new listeners!
You may be wondering, "How can I host one of these house concerts?" Well, wonder no more! It's easy, fun and a great way to support independent musicians. Check out the handy tips below on how to host us for a concert in your home!
I don't have a big house. Can I still host a concert?
You definitely do not need to have a big house to be a host. Any space in which you feel comfortable hosting a group of friends would be good for a house concert.
How many people are you expecting? I don't think I can get 50 people to come to my house.
The beauty of a house concert is that it is purposely more intimate and focuses on quality over quantity. Think of it more like a dinner party or potluck with live music.
Does it cost money to host a house concert?
No, there is no cost to host a concert! But as traveling artists we appreciate it when hosts ask their guests to give a suggested donation. Many house concert hosts have a basket by the door. During a break, the host can give a 2-minute spiel asking people to support the artist, and then proceed to "pass the hat" during the performance as it continues. Donations really go a long way in helping artists pay for gas and cover expenses while on the road. Most importantly, giving is simply a way of helping an artist keep their music career sustainable.
How do I plan this thing?
The beauty in house concerts is that they are low stress. Simply reach out to us and ask us to come to your city. It's quite possible that we've always wanted to go there, but have never had the chance - until now! Once we mutually agree on a date, we can talk about a start time and a few logistics. Then you can setup a Facebook invite and/or shoot out emails to your network of friends to let them know about it. Encourage them to bring a dish and it becomes a potluck (awesome)!
But I really don't want strangers in my house.
This is usually a homeowner's primary concern. They're interested in hosting something but don't want it to be listed as a public event. No problem. Simply keep the Facebook invite private. Usually we'll post it as a "Private House Concert" listing on our calendar page. Sometimes a fan of ours will ask if they can attend the show. We will always ask you first if it is ok to pass your address on to this interested person. If you'd rather keep it a closed event, then no problem. It's your house.
What exactly is the order of events for the evening?
The order is pretty laid back. It's usually great to give folks 1 hour to arrive, get comfortable, and chat it up before getting into music. Music can go for as little as 1 hour or as long as 2. Sometimes, depending on how long the music is planned to go, there is a break in the middle to allow people to stretch their legs, get more food, and talk. Spontaneity is part of what makes house concerts a fun and unique music-listening experience!
Ok, this officially sounds like fun! What's next?
Send us an email via the contact form below, and we'll send you all the necessary information!
* We can send you a detailed House Concert Host Guide upon request!