A house concert is exactly what it sounds like: a get-together of friends in your living room, on your deck, or garden, with live music, and often food, drinks, and conversation. Personally I prefer these evenings over public concerts because they are cozy, intimate, and allow me a chance to really get to know the audience while exposing my music to new ears - your group of friends, community, network of music lovers…etc!
Here are the most Frequently Asked Questions people have sent me…
1. I don't have a big house. Can I still host a concert?
Yes! The cozier the better. You don't need a gigantic living room or one of those houses on the Fresh Prince of Bel-air :) Most host are currently doing lawn concerts and outdoor events on their back deck or garden.
2. How many people are you expecting? I don't think I can get 50 people to come to my house.
The average house concert has 30-60ppl. The beauty of a house concert is that it is purposely more intimate and focuses on quality over quantity. A good rule of thumb is to invite twice as many people as you want to come b/c not everyone can or will say yes.
3. Does it cost money to host a house concert?
Yes and no. There is no outright cost to host a concert, but as a traveling artists I request that hosts ask their guests to come expecting to give a suggested donation. Many house concert hosts have a basket by the door with a sign. They often "interrupt" the performance near the end of the evening, and intentionally invite guests to contribute into the hat that is then passed around the room. A typical house concert has a suggested donation of $15-20 per person. I do have a minimum total amount I would like to leave with (we can chat about that).
4. Can I book your band or duo for my house concert.
If you're interested in hosting a house concert, chances are you've been to at least 1 or 2 shows. Which means you've probably seen me play with a drummer and/or a bassist. I typically play house concerts solo because i want the vibe to be different - more intimate, acoustic, and unaffected by the filter of major amplification and auxiliary sounds. House concerts are a stripped down way for me to connect with my audience - something i can't do as well on a 5-ft high stage with subwoofers on either end. For that reason, I usually do house concerts solo with my instruments, no drums, and a very minimal (or no) sound system.
5. How do I plan this thing?
The beauty in house concerts is that they are low stress. Once we agree on a date, we can talk about a start time. Then you can setup a Facebook invite, Evite, and/or shoot out emails to your network of friends to let them know about it. Have them bring a blanket or lawn chair if you’re hosting outdoors. Encourage them to bring a dish and it becomes a potluck (awesome)! Whatever happens, don't stress! It's just like hanging out with your friends! You can clean your house if you want though :)
6. 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 or limit the Evite to your network. Usually I'll stick a generic "Private House Concert" listing on my calendar page for your specific date. Oftentimes a fan of mine in your city will ask if they can attend the show. I will 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 :)
7. 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. the audience typically gets restless after 75-90 minutes. 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.
8. What are your personal expectations, Joy?
I enjoy the storytelling aspect of live music. I think the most enjoyable and memorable house concerts occur when a space becomes a ‘listening room’. As a performer who has played in nearly every type of setting, my least enjoyable experiences involve playing in a noisy room where there is no connection to the audience and the music takes a backseat role. I usually call this ''wallpaper'' music. There is nothing wrong with music that exists merely to set a mood for an event, but if that is what you're looking for, I will not be a good fit for your event.
