House Concerts Made Easy
Prior to the show –
- Agree on a date that works with the performers schedule and according to best date for the host to gather audience.
- The host needs to determine how many people their listening room can comfortably hold, and will guarantee in good faith a minimum attendance of 30 people.
Our fees are flexible and based upon the situation. Admission, or
"suggested donation" for a house concert can be set at $10, $12, $15,
or $20 depending on what the audience is willing and comfortable
supporting.
- Invitations: we can supply
our host with flyers, posters, press releases, and photos –
anything they need to get the word out. It is strongly
recommended that the host take reservations, not deterring people if
the room fills, but rather starting a waiting list.
- Sending
prospective audience to our website is singularly best way to inform
folks of what they’re in for, with our sound clips, photos, essays, and
biography.
- Performers often need accommodation depending on routing of the tour, and night the concert falls on.
- Is a sound system necessary
for the room? Usually, unless there is more than 50 people attending,
or the room or rooms are awkwardly shaped, a sound system is not
needed.
- Is there adequate lighting?
Maybe a lamp could be repositioned, or a clip on light could be placed
above and in front to shine on the singers.
- How’s the seating? High
backed chairs in back, low fold out chairs in front, couches usually
work well on the sides of the room.
During the show
- Have some flat surface
available (dining table, kitchen counter, card table) located where
people will be congregating during the intermission to set up for CD
sales and mailing list.
- Regarding refreshments – I
recommend providing the minimum basics: coffee, tea, and some simple
snack food. I also advise casually asking more familiar guests to bring
something to potluck like cookies, chips and salsa, brownies, carrot
sticks, etc… Depending on hosts discretion, guests may also bring their
own beer and wine.
- To gather donations, set out
a wide mouthed bowl or basket in a central location with a sign nearby
that reads, “Donation $10 for musicians, Thank You!”
- To begin the show I very
much like the host to welcome the audience, mention the donation bowl,
and make a simple introduction for the musicians. A small mention might
be made of our CD’s being highly recommended and for sale during the
intermission.
- We usually do two 45- 50-minute sets with a 20-minute intermission.
- To begin the second set,
thank everyone for coming, make a last mention of the donations bowl,
and introduce us for the second set.
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- End of performance – Thank everyone for coming!