House: "A structure serving as a dwelling for one or more persons, especially for a family." Concert: "A performance given by one or more singers or instrumentalists or both."
Definitions courtesy of American Heritage Dictionary...
When it comes to places to catch a live show, most folks are familiar with the usual venues: bars, cafes, theatres, concert halls, festival stages, and stadiums - both indoor and outdoor. But, what if you could sit with a small group of dedicated fans and hear one of your favorite artists perform in a really intimate setting - say some one's living room? That's the idea behind "House Concerts", a concept that has been catching on with both audiences and artists, especially in the area of Trop Rock. So, what are they, how do they work, what are the advantages and disadvantages, and how does one go about booking a house concert for themselves?
Unlike, say, miracle weight loss products and most people in singles chat rooms, a House Concert is exactly as advertised: A concert in (usually) a house. I say "usually" because it is often literally held in some one's living room, den, basement rec room, or backyard. But, a house concert can be held in any open space. All you need is a relatively quiet area (more on this later) with enough room to hold a small "audience" of anywhere from 20-100 people. Wilmington, NC's Hugo Duarte, one of the most ardent proponents of house concerts, tells of performing in a Yoga studio after hours and the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance (full disclosure: I'm one of the founders) is hosting a number of them in an apartment complex's clubhouse this Summer. The other key is that the space be FREE, to assure the minimum cost to the organizers and, in turn, that the maximum amount go to the artist.
The set up is simple: The performer(s) are given a designated "stage" area - usually just a corner and a couple of stools, if available - and the rest of the room is left for seating, which can be anything from carefully pre-arranged folding chairs to pillows on the floor. Sound and power requirements are minimal, since both the crowd and the space are usually (and purposely) limited. For a small enough setting, shows can be all-acoustic - with no amplification at all - or, if some sound reinforcement is desired, most performers travel with their own portable PA's, plenty of power to fill the room. The goal is that everyone can hear, but no one is blown away.
Cost: Unless they recently won the lottery and have no further need for something as frivolous as money, performers want - and deserve - to be paid for their time. But, unlike other venues, at a house concert there is no promoter or bar owner to pick up the tab. So, what the artist makes at a house concert is determined by two factors: how much you, as the host, feel you can charge, and how many people come out to see them. Prices for shows can range from "passing the hat" and hoping folks are generous, to $10-$20 per person - usually collected as people come in the door (although, you can sell "tickets" in advance if you expect a sell out...the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance utilizes Pay Pal for this). Entrance fees aside, there is usually no other cost to the attendees. If the show takes place around lunch or dinner time, food can be individually "byo" or in a pot luck style. As for adult beverages, being that we're talking about events involving Parrot Heads and Trop Rock fans, it would be difficult to do a house concert without them. But, unless the space you're using has it's own liquor license (such as a VFW hall) and you want to allow guests to purchase their own, providing or selling alcohol on your own is inadvisable, for legal and tax reasons way above my pay grade. Whether you, as the host or organizer, get any reimbursement for your time and efforts is a sticky situation and one that is, again, governed by those pesky business and tax laws. In any case, the general idea is that the performers get all the proceeds. Using the ATRA as an example again, our rule is that ALL money goes to the performers. Oh, to further cut down on expenses, it's customary for someone to put the performer up if they're coming from outside the area...A guest bedroom or pull out sofa and a couple of square meals is usually sufficient.
Pros and Cons: Let me go on record as saying I love live music - in any setting. I've been on the working end of the concert business and involved in the ownership/management of several bars that featured live music. So, I understand and respect the service those places perform. House Concerts aren't meant to REPLACE other venues by any means, just an additional way to see your favorite performers. So, you may ask, "Why would I pay $15 to see someone I can see for free at places like the Bull or Hog's Breath in Key West, or the Nav-a-Gator in Arcadia?" Go ahead, ask, you know you wanna. My answer? While it's true that many of the places that Trop rock acts play don't charge a cover, at how many of those can you sit with a completely attentive audience of real fans and actually HEAR the stories your favorite artist has to tell? Not only that, but ask questions - and get an answer?! That's one of the other great things about a house concert; besides being intimate, it's also interactive. And, think about it, even if you pay nothing to see an artist in a "live venue", you still have the added costs of drinks and/or food. As I mentioned above, except in special circumstances, you bring your own to a house concert - no $5 beers, $10 hamburgers, or bartender/waitress tips to budget for. Face it, a "free" concert can easily cost you upwards of $30-$40 (more if you've paid a festival fee or convention registration). So, paying $15-$20 for a house concert is often a bargain. Performers also seem to love the concept. And why not? One of the main "rules" of a good house concert is that the audience be respectful - of the artist performing, as well as everyone around them. That doesn't mean the event has to be church quiet or that you have to hang a "no fun" sign, just that everyone who comes should be prepared to LISTEN. So, you've got a cozy, (usually) smoke-free environment, where the artist doesn't have to fight to be heard over the sound of people talking, plates banging, and glasses rattling. And, best of all, they're playing to a fully receptive audience, one that is there just to see them perform. That means they can play their own material, as opposed to all the covers they would have to have for a barroom set list. And, they can take the time to tell the stories behind the songs. A win-win, any way you look at it.
Ready to host a house concert but not sure how to get started? It helps to have a receptive audience you know you can draw from...a Parrot Head Club or a group of Trop Rock fans in your area. To make a house concert work, you're going to need at least 20-30 people. Then, find a venue; some one's home or suitable substitute, like the ATRA's clubhouse. Next, reach out to one of your favorite Trop Rock artists. All have websites and/or Facebook pages. In addition, there are several top notch artist management companies - like Deb Grisham Entertainment in Nashville (debgrishamentertainment.com) and Gates Music Management in Tampa (gatesmusicmanagement.com) - that will be happy to help. Find a date that works, email all your friends, then sit back and enjoy a truly unique musical experience. For more tips and info, you can always contact us at the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance. Find us on Facebook at AtlantaTRA@groups.facebook.com or email us at atlantatra@yahoo.com. Good luck!
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