What Are House Concerts? | How to Put on the Perfect House Concert | What Past Hosts Say
WHAT ARE HOUSE CONCERTS?
House Concerts build strong friendships between musicians, presenters, and listeners, as they are the most intimate and compelling performance environment available! For the performer, it's a chance to do their thing in a friendly "listening environment", and to earn some money to keep on touring. For the audience, it's a chance to get close to the performer and the songs.
As of recently, House Concerts have entered the mainstream. There has been a New York Times article, CBS Morning Show feature, and more!
The basic ingredients for a house concert are:
House concerts are as different as the personality and inclinations of the host. You can provide snacks and beverages, or make it a potluck if you would like.
Getting People Out: The "public" doesn't usually come to house concerts. The attendance basically depends on the host.
The Performance: It's a full show, the same as in a club - it will just be a little more casual and intimate.
If you want to MC, you could start the concert by introducing Kat, and how you got to know her and her music.
You can remind everyone that there is coffee over here, the bathroom is over there, CDs are for sale by the door.
At the end of the concert, you could thank people for coming, and tell them again that CDs are available. Kat loves to hang out after the concert, answer questions, and sign CDs!
Want to Learn More? Check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=try-z4-4h04
HOW TO PUT ON THE PERFECT HOUSE CONCERT
By Bob Bossin
They are dirt simple to organize, cheap to produce, and virtually fail-safe.
You are pretty much guaranteed a packed house, a convivial atmosphere and, for the performer, a decent wage.
The key to success is this: A house concert is a gathering of friends; only secondarily is it a show for the general public.
When you invite friends to a party, 30 or more will come, right?
So it is with a house concert. Yes, strangers are welcome but they are the icing, not the cake.
How do you find performers? Ask your favorite performer!
The Money, Part 1:
Let's get the money out of the way straight off.
The amount of money the performer needs to make can change depending on the day of the week, as well as the geographical location.
But I figure that $500 or so is a pretty fair base rate for a solo musician on a quiet night.
That breaks down to only $10 or $15 per person, for 15-20 couples. Convincing 15 friends to come (with a partner or guest) is not a big deal.
The Money, Part 2: Performer's Guarantee
Should the sponsor offer a guarantee? I think it only fair, but then again, I'm Canadian. If, as the promoter, you are worried about covering a performer's guarantee, try dividing the cost among friends.
Ask each if, in the unlikely event of a loss, he or she would chip in up to $20 or $30.
This has the added benefit of getting more people involved early, with a vested interest to boot.
The Money, Part 3: Dividing the Spoils
Most hosts will give performers the full door.
If there is money made above the performer's minimum guarantee, some hosts give that money to their favorite charity,
or keep it to cover some of their expenses (if any).
But bear in mind: a house concert is something that is sponsored for love, not money. That is part of the charm, part of what makes it personal, part of the reason friends will come, even though they have never heard of the performer.
Numbers and Space:
20-25 people or higher - the actual size of the room will pretty much determine the potential audience. A good rule of thumb is three square feet per person.
Is your living room too small? Remember the sponsor and the host need not be the same person. It is a long-standing and sensible tradition to guilt-trip a wealthier friend with a big living room into offering it for the occasion. Do not feel badly about this, but rather, think of it as a favor to them! They'll talk about it for a long time!
Promotion:
In my experience, people will come to a house concert for the following reasons. In order:
Which is to say, it is essential to "promote" the event in the same personal way you would for any celebration hosted at your home. Whether you phone people or send written invitations, the personal contact is crucial. If, in addition, you want to advertise (whether via a poster at the office, a note in a newsletter, or an announcement in the press), that is grand, and the resulting extra sales are a bonus. But the friends you invite yourself must fill most of the seats.
Other Promo Tips:
Tickets, Part 1:
Should there be printed tickets? A reservation list? RSVPs? This is a judgment call for the host to make.
I highly recommend the advance ticket route (or pre-paid reservations). For several reasons:
You can use evite.com and paypal.com - both are excellent tools.
Tickets, Part 2: Price
You know best what price is suitable for your friends. But don't skimp - be comfortable charging $15, or "whatever you can afford."
I recommend you have an "early bird" price, expiring a week or two before the show. For example, $12 for the early bird, then $15 after that. The purpose being, of course, to encourage advance purchase.
Seating:
There are several ways to seat 40 people in a living room. Ask everyone to bring a folding chair or a cushion; borrow stacking chairs from a church or union hall.
In my experience, as old as we are, we can still sit on the floor for an hour in relative comfort. In fact it can feel kind of good, psychologically.
Going Public:
Yes, you can hold a house concert in a public hall and invite the general public. Many have done this successfully - although you should be aware that the expenses can mount quickly. However, though the event is now "public", you should still promote it in the personal way.
House Concert Fundraisers:
Fundraising by holding a house concert (or any public event) can work out well, but it demands careful planning. The same gathering of 40 people can raise less than $100, or over $1000. It is, in fact, not a lot harder to raise the larger amount, but the event must be planned with the fundraising goal firmly in mind.
WHAT PAST HOSTS SAY:
"How are we ever going to top this? Our guests are still calling in to thank us for hosting the event. Home Run."
"Thank you for gracing our humble home with your awe-inspiring voice! That is not an exaggeration; I think everyone who hears you sing (and play) is blown away."
"THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! WOW!!! I think that everyone at our house on Tuesday night was blown away by your performance! I have spoken to several of the people, and they just keep going on how great you were - I feel pretty confident in saying that you have a whole new group of Kat fans on your hands. But sincerely, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to come up to our house and sing for us. It was a real thrill, and we feel extremely fortunate to have had you at our home."
"You completely blew us away last night. The show was one of the best performances I've EVER been to. I really mean it. You're fantastic."
"I just wanted to say thanks again for playing at our party last night. You were AMAZING, and I really believe in you. You have such charisma and musical talent."
"Kat, absolutely fantastic, stupendous, extraordinary concert Sunday night. What a treat - thank you for a lovely way to end a nice weekend. I also appreciated your taking the time to meet, greet, and sign after your set."
"Once again, you wowed 'em with your performance! What a great show! We had a great time last night, and the crowd loved you. Thanks again for sharing your talents and putting on such an amazing show."
"I have heard nothing but positive comments today, and all our spirits have been elevated! You have an amazing talent. Thank you for sharing it with everyone."
"Thank you so much for coming and doing the show. You gave an absolutely *wonderful* performance and I am 100% pleased with how everything went! It was an honor to have you!"
"Thank you for gracing our home with your awesome music and presence. Your lyrics and songs are so amazing and reach into the listener's heart... Your voice is gorgeous - that range!! The 'package' is complete with your sincere, real, delightful, funny dialogue that engages the audience and brings us in, in such an intimate way."
"Everyone at the concert raved about you, your music, and your talent."
"I just wanted to tell you what a joy it was to hear you sing last night. I'm glad I was able to share your fabulous music with friends."
"You are an amazing musician, and I can honestly say I've never seen anyone have as much fun on stage as you. I'm truly very inspired by you and love your music and lyrics."
"That concert you put on made a wonderful memory. It was a very spiritual concert, and I like the way you interact with everyone. I also was touched by your music in a special way - it's not easy to put that into words, but I trust you know what I mean."
"Thanks for the invitation to the concert tonight. We had a great time! Please tell Kat she is awesome, and I really appreciate her coming to San Antonio."
"Thanks for a wonderful performance. It was great how you mingled with the crowd and included them in the show - that was truly fantastic. A wonderful performance, and I can't wait until the next time!"
"Thank you for the wonderful job you did at our open house. Your presence and performance were the highlight of our celebration. I know from talking to friends, especially the ones with teenage girls, that your CD has been played non-stop since the party."
"You were beyond wonderful last night, thank you. I love your voice - beautiful tone, loads of emotion and intelligence."