Thank you for your interest in hosting a house concert. We’re excited to share a few simple ideas to help you better understand what the house concert experience is all about. Our fans continue to tell us that house concerts are their favorite way to experience the music. There is a far deeper connection in these intimate settings—something not often found in most public venues. Having the chance to share what we love to do most in the world with a group of new friends is such a joy! We hope to inspire you to be a part of the magic and look forward to partnering with you to create a truly special event. We’re here to make the planning process easy, straight-forward, and fun for you, so we created this brief guide to cover everything you need to know about hosting your own unforgettable house concert.
Many people host the show in their living room, but any space you have access to that can seat a minimum of 20 adults works well. Cozy floor seating is usually fine, depending on your guest list. The most important thing to consider is that everyone is gathered close and is comfortable enough to relax and enjoy the concert.
Past concerts have taken place in small homes and apartments, backyards, community centers, club houses, garages, religious buildings, wineries, art studios, small business spaces, and more. Know a friend who has the perfect spot for a show? Ask them if they would be interested in co-hosting the concert with you.
It’s important that there are a minimum of 20-30 adults in attendance*. There are a couple of reasons for this. Twenty people seems to be the magic number where the event becomes a special experience for everyone involved. That amount of guests is also where the event starts becoming financially viable for us. 20-30 is in no way the attendance cap. If you’ve got the space and want to host more people, you can! The more the merrier!
We have played house concerts with different financial arrangements, so let's discuss what feels right to you as host. We can do an agreed upon ticket price or suggested donation. We can also do a “pay what you feel model”, where guests choose the amount they pay at the end of the show. All of these have worked well as long as there are 20+ guests in attendance.
*If you aren’t sure you’ll be able to get at least 20 adults to come on your own, feel free to “co-host” the event with a friend who also has a group of people to invite. We have plenty of advice on how to get the best turnout possible, so don't hesitate to reach out with questions.
This part can be a lot of fun! Once we confirm your concert date, we will send you an email with links to photos, videos, music, and a sample invitation that you can use to help create your personalized invites for your guests. Feel free to invite your guests by phone, text, email, on Facebook, or with hand-written invitations—whatever feels best for you. We have found that the best turnout comes from a diversity of approaches, often the more personal the invitation the better. (Whatever you do, don’t rely on posting to social media alone!). Ask your guests to RSVP. It’s a good way of ensuring that people follow through with their plan to come. We’ll also provide a suggested timeline of how and when to roll out your invitation and reminders for your guests.
Typically, about 50% of the people invited end up actually attending, so plan on inviting double the number of people you’d like to have at the concert (i.e. invite 40 people and 20 people will come). If any part of this sounds confusing or overwhelming, don’t worry—we’re here to help! We’re happy to help you make a flyer, draft an email, make a Facebook event, and/or assist with anything else that may come up. Just remember to have fun!
