WHAT ARE HOUSE CONCERTS?
House Concerts build friendships between musicians, organizer, and listeners. A house Concert provides an intimate performance environment! For the band, it's a chance to rock 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. Recently, House Concerts have entered the mainstream. There has been a New York Times article, CBS Morning Show feature, and more!
So what does it take to have a house concert:
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20+ people
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A place for them to sit comfortably and enjoy the performanceHouse concerts are as different as the people who host them. 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 the Band, and how you got to know Them and their 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. The band loves to hang out after the concert, answer questions, and sign CDs.
HOW TO PUT A HOUSE CONCERT
House Concerts are simple to organize, cheap to produce, and virtually fail-safe. You are pretty much guaranteed a packed house, a intimate and relaxed atmosphere and, for the band, a decent wage. No magic wand is needed to hold a successful house concert. The main thing to do is to gather your friends; Don’t try and create a show for the general public. When you invite friends to a party, 30 or more will come, right? Same thing happens with a house concert. Yes, strangers are welcome but they are the target of your invitation. If they do join you all the better!
How do you find a band or performer for a house concert? Ask your local favorites band or performer. Eleven Thirteen is available for a concert through our website or contact our manager at 301-832-7225.
If you mention you saw this write up you will recieve a discount of 15% on your booking.
What does it cost?:
Let's get the money out of the way. The amount of money the performer needs varies depending on the day of the week, as well as the geographical location. But generally between $100-200 is a standard rate. That breaks down to a little as $3-4 per person, for 15-30 people. Convincing 15 friends to come (with a partner or guest) is not a big deal.
Performer's Guarantee (Deposit)
The House Concert Sponsor should offer a guarantee. Eleven Thirteen asks for a 50% guarantee up front to book the concert. 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 $10 or $20. This has the added benefit of getting more people involved early, with a vested interest.
Total Sales
Most hosts will give performers the full door. If there is money made above the performer's minimum concert fee, some hosts give that money to their favorite charity, or keep it to cover some of their expenses (if any).
Remember 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:
People will come to a house concert for the following reasons. In order:
1. They are happy to accept an invitation from a friend.
2. It sounds like a good party and a chance to see the gang.
3. It is an odd and intriguing thing to do.
4. It is for a good cause (if it is for a cause).
5. They want to hear the particular performer.
Don’t forget 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. You may want to advertise (whether via a poster at the office, a note in a newsletter, or an announcement in the press), which could result in extra sales. But the friends you invite yourself must fill most of the seats.
Other Promotional Tips:
Loan out CDs. This can be very effective.
Most performers have friends and fans most everywhere. Just spread the word! Performers can (and should) provide promo material, including graphics, poster art, and a write-up that the sponsor can send out or draw on. To add to the party atmosphere (and the attractiveness of the event), invite people to bring a plate of finger food and/or a bottle of wine.
Eleven Thirteen performing at a House Concert for the Celebration of Life
Tickets or RSVP Lists?
You may want to have printed tickets instead of a reservation list or just RSVPs. I highly recommend the advance ticket route (or pre-paid reservations). For several reasons:
1. People who have already bought tickets don't change their minds at the last minute.
2. Unfortunately a concert with RSVP'ed (but not ticketed) full house can evaporate because a storm blew in.
3. The best advertisement is someone who has already bought a ticket.
4. You can use evite.com and paypal.com - both are excellent tools
Ticket Price
You know best what price is suitable for your friends. But don't skimp - be comfortable charging $4-5, or "whatever you can afford."
It is recommended that you have an "early bird" price, expiring a week or two before the show. For example, $3 for the early bird, then $5 after that. The purpose is 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.
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.
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