Rules of Hosting a House Concert
Here are the Do's and Don'ts of Hosting Live Music at Home
Oct 7, 2008
House Concerts are a growing trend and anyone can host one, but there are a few simple rules to follow to make sure everyone has a good time. Here are the rules of hosting a House Concert.
#1 The Setup
An average House Concert will have an audience of 20-50 people and a home needs to be ready to accommodate them. To fit that many people into a home, move regular house furniture to the sides of the living room and, hopefully, do the same in a connecting dining room, kitchen or parlor. Then, bring in more seating. Often, a host can borrow extra seating from a local church or just call on neighbors to loan folding chairs.
- Set the chairs up in rows, just like a regular concert, leaving room for the musician at the head of the “stage” in the living room or parlor.
- Be sure the audience will be able to see the musician, as this is an important part of House Concerts.
- When setting up an outdoor House Concert, a host can choose to either provide chairs for the audience or ask them to bring their own.
#2 The Donation Jar
Typically, House Concert hosts will put out a jar or several jars marked with a suggested donation amount in the range of $8-20. A host should let attendees know ahead of time they will be asking for a suggested donation amount and all the proceeds will be going directly to the artist. This is important: All donation monies should be handed to the artist. Remember, they performed for free and paid for gas to get there. Plus, this avoids any sticky tax situations.
#3 The Goodies
A House Concert is often a pot-luck experience. A host can invite guests to bring a snack to share and a beverage to sip and set up a space out-of-the-way for goodies.
#4 Announce the Artist
Before the artist begins performing, a host should do an introduction for them. Thank the audience, thank the artist and snag a few good lines from the artist’s biography to get the crowd primed for a good show. Also, tell the crowd that House Concerts thrive on a listening audience. Ask the audience to please keep their talk to a minimum while the artist is performing. They will have plenty of time to chat during the break between sets and after the show.
#5 Enjoy
Having a musician perform in a living room is a unique experience, soak it up.
Hungry for more House Concert Tips?
Check out the related article: How to Host a House Concert
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