How to Host a House Concert

Here are links to our How-To Blog Posts!

·        How to post an event and create a cool WebFlyer and eCard (members only)

·        Tame your DessertAndSong preparation

·        The new coolest trend: “DNS Groups” (easy, memorable, no attendance issues)

·        Reply to artist inquiries

·        ”8 Ways to Always Fill the Room”

·        Prepare the rooms — for the artist and for the show

·        House concerts are private events

·        How artists promote your show on their website is important

·        Loving your CIYH profile (members only)

·        Keep your profile’s Booking Info vibrant and up to date (members only)

·        How to quickly review artist inquiries for booking

·        Artist guarantee – debunking the myths

·        When an artist wows you and your audience

·        When artists ask you to write a recommendation (members only)

·        Post-concert reachouts to guests

·        Tackle the suggested donation opportunity eyeball to eyeball

·        Announce your bathroom breaks before the show

·        Seat reservation cards

·        House concert attendance – get proactive and tame the angst (part 1)

·        House concert attendance – get proactive and tame the angst (part 2)

Here’s a fun way to come up to speed with our website and hosting in general, at your own pace.

Working through our Overview Resources will be time very well spent if you want to gain a basic feel for putting on a show in your home, how to book great artists, and how to use our amazing, smaller dessert and dinner concerts as a perfect way to get started and boost interest in your larger house concerts. 

If you are a ConcertsInYourHome member, please jot down any questions so that we can talk them over during your free coaching call in about a week.

Here are our Overview Resources (blue bullets are links):

·         Build instant success with DessertAndSong

·         For a more gushing take on dessert and dinner concerts

·         Free downloadable house concert guide

·         How to populate your CIYH host profile

·         Minimum hosting courtesies

·         Free booking assistance

·         House Concert Listings (search for CIYH shows nationwide)

·         Facebook! Join the 3600+ friends at our fan page

·        (members only) Find fellow CIYH hosts in your state—just log in, go to your Edit Profile page, and click on the blue [Host Neighborhood] icon.

If you are a member, please go through these resources within the next 2-3 days.  And be sure to populate your personal CIYH profile page.  When you finish, just shoot me a quick email (jeff@listeningroomnetwork.com).  Then I’ll schedule with you a 15-20 minute coaching call to answer your questions, swap ideas, learn the right hosting pace for you, and help you if I can to get ready to host your first (or next) house concert. 

Back to Get Started page

No worries. 

Please watch our 3-minute "You're Invited" video below, and download our free house concert guide that answers most questions that new hosts ask.  The video and guide will give you a solid sense for whether hosting is for you. 

If you discover from the video and guide that you like what you see, click here, and let’s get started!

Or, if you learn that hosting isn’t a good fit, we understand.  If you’ve already signed up at ConcertsInYourHome, please email us at jeff@listeningroomnetwork.com and we'll remove your membership right away.  You’ll receive our pretty cool monthly newsletter so that we don’t lose touch with you, unless you’d prefer otherwise.

Still unsure?  You might enjoy this.

Back to website’s Welcome page

Thank you for opening your home (for the first time or 50th time) to share incredible music with your friends, and for your efforts to help deserving performers make a living with their talent.

To help you jump off to a great start as a new member, we offer an easy 3-step plan.

1.      Overview.  Review a few short videos and blog posts that will help you get familiar with the site and hosting in general.

2.      Personal Coaching.  Schedule a free 15-20 minute coaching call (we’ll answer questions, swap ideas, and set up a pace that’s just right for you)

3.      More Hosting Tips.  Enjoy our numerous blog posts with proven tips that will set you up for success with your first (or next) concert.

So let’s get started with the first of these steps…..our Overview Resources.  Please click here.

Back to website’s Welcome page

[Guest post from ConcertsInYourHome and ListeningRoomNetwork founder, Fran Snyder]

There are some traditions for house concerts that make the hobby more safe, and we'd like to preserve those.

1. Guests pay a suggested donation. Any mention of tickets, paid reservations, charges, etc... can lead people to think that this is a commercial activity in a residential area... which can cause problems in terms of zoning.

2. These are private events. Hosts spread the word through friends, neighbors, co-workers etc. Although the host doesn't necessarily know each guest personally, promoting a house concert like you would a public event (posters, ads, publicity, websites) can lead to trouble. First, you don't want a bunch of unconnected strangers walking through your home.  Second, public performances of copyrighted material are licensable by ASCAP/BMI - that means they can require you to pay a license fee.

3. All the money goes to the artist. If the host keeps some (even just to cover expenses) it can be challenged as a commercial activity. If you are doing a fundraiser for a charity, make sure the money does not pass through your hands. Have a delegate from the charity on hand to collect.

In the end, the most important thing is to keep your neighbors happy. Have a plan for parking. If you have the show outdoors, make sure your neighbors are OK with the sound level - or make sure they attend. Any neighbor complaint is likely to put the homeowner in a defensive position - having to defend their activity in order to keep it going.

Back to the full list of How-To Blog posts

[For our CIYH host members]

You've got three great ways to schedule artists with the help of ConcertsInYourHome.

1) work with artists who reach out to you based on their availability and what they see in your CIYH host profile

2) post your available dates in your profile's [Booking Info] section and attract solid artist inquiries that already sync with your dates

3) reach out to artists using the CIYH artist availability page--log in and look for the blue icon [Artists Seeking Shows].

Back to Overview Resources

[For our CIYH host members]

Post Your Event

Have you booked future events?  Congratulations.  Your CIYH website profile is the place to post them! 

Lots of benefits:

·        you can quickly create a professional looking WebFlyer

·        your event is automatically listed on our website’s concert calendar

·        both you and the artist can later review your experience related to that event

·        artists can gauge the type of performer you like and how often you host shows

·        you become eligible for monthly prizes. 

Here’s how to post an event:

1.      Log in and click on the [Add/Edit Shows & WebFlyers] link

2.      Click on the [Add New Show] link, complete the pop-up screen, and [Save Changes]

Create a WebFlyer

To create a WebFlyer for each of your events.  It’s really quick and easy.  It makes your  email invitation shorter and more professional looking.  All of this helps you enjoy a solid turnout. 

Here’s how to create a WebFlyer:

1.      Log in and click on the [Add/Edit Shows & WebFlyers] link

2.      Click on the [Web Flyer] link for the artist of choice

3.      Add or update the event and artist information, upload or change photos,  and [Save Changes]

Note:  the "About Our Series" section of the WebFlyer is automatically populated from the information in your [Invite Info] section.

Here's a sample WebFlyer:

http://concertsinyourhome.com/event-jrobertson220110530.html

Create an eCard

What a beautiful way to express appreciation in January for your previous year’s concerts and to announce your upcoming events.

Here’s how:

1.      Log in and look for the [Control Panel] at the top of the page

2.      Click on the eCard [Edit] link

3.      Make any desired changes, view the eCard, copy the URL, and send it to your friends and colleagues (they’ll love it!)

Here’s a sample eCard:

http://concertsinyourhome.com/events/eCard-aschaefer-2011.html 

Back to the full list of How-To Blog posts

[For new CIYH host members]

Your new profile page on our website is the heartbeat of your membership.  It’s where touring artists find you for possible bookings and it’s where you create useful tools to fill seats at your shows.

We care about your privacy.  The only personal information that appears on your profile is your first name and contact email.  Only you, our CIYH artists, and our site admins can view your profile information--the one exception is your [Invite Info] section which also appears automatically in your concert flyers that you’ll share with people you invite.

Alright, let’s have a little fun and build an attractive profile page that artists will find compelling.  This will take only 10-15 minutes.

1. Log in:

• Go to http://concertsinyourhome.com and click on the [login] link at the top of the page.
• Enter the email  and password that you chose when you signed up.
• Click on the grey [Host Login] button, and you're in!

2. Edit: 

Click on EACH red edit icon and fill in the blanks.  Be sure to [Save Changes] before you leave each edit window.

Here’s a quick look at the edit sections:

• [Host Info] and [Accommodations] – left side of your profile, and it’s the first place artists look to see if your series is a good fit for them.  Please share as much detail as you can about your ability to offer lodging and/or meals.
• [Booking Info] – right side.  We’ve already provided some text for this section.  Be sure to add your specific expectations or behind-the-scenes info that an artist would find helpful to know, such as dates you’re looking to fill, your proximity to major highways, arrival time, parking issues, your guests’ idiosyncrasies, availability of a quiet space for the artist prior to the show, any unusual ways that you handle booking, etc.  Share anything that will help eliminate surprises for the artist and make your connection with them smooth.  You might also offer your availability for DessertAndSong or DinnerAndSong (one set) concerts , such as "Year round" or "Only on Tuesdays/Thursdays during non-winter months.”  Your comments will help our artists, who always look for fruitful ways to spend their travel days.
• [Invite Info] – lower middle area of page.  This text will automatically appear in your “WebFlyers” that you send to your invitees.  This section allows you to share with artists and invitees why you love offering house concerts and what might be special about your series.  Let your heart speak here if you’d like. 
• [Shows and WebFlyers] - have you already scheduled a future event?  Great!  Be sure to post it here and create a WebFlyer.
• Photos, links, extras – there are four other sections that round out your profile nicely.  If you have any difficulty uploading photos, please give a shout-out to Bryan, our technical guru.  His email is bryan@listeningroomnetwork.com

When you're done populating your new profile page, you can see how your profile looks to artists by clicking on the [Artist View] near the top. You’ll see your profile with a more polished formatting, free of red edit icons.

Update your profile’s [Host Info] after each show.  And make it a habit to check in with your profile between shows to be sure all your information is current and still feels compelling.

Back to Overview Resources

Perhaps you’re a brand new host and you want to find quick success despite your inexperience.  In the next few weeks or months, you want to book an outstanding artist and build some buzz that creates a sustained, well-attended house concert series for months or years to come. 

Or perhaps you’re an experienced host looking for a break from larger events or maybe you want to offer a few easy events in addition to regular house concerts.

Well, for both of you, we’ve got what you’re looking for.  It’s called “DessertAndSong”….the easiest version of the amazing DinnerAndSong concept.

How does DessertAndSong work?

Format.   Short and very sweet.  Start with 15 minutes of chat-and-graze from a potluck dessert table.  Follow with an extraordinary 40-minute concert.  Another 20 minutes to enjoy the artist (and whatever’s left over at the dessert table!) and then send everyone happily home.  8-25 guests.  Weekday evenings and weekend afternoons are ideal.  After lunch or dinner.  $10 donation.  

Total time = 75 minutes

Room prep and clean up.  Be ridiculously realistic.  Plan on prepping your concert room in less than three minutes.  Remember the genius of the small event.  The music lasts only 40 minutes.  So you don’t need to turn your living room into a mini concert hall.  Most folks can sit, stand, or hang from the rafters for one set of compelling music.  “Fend for yourself” is what I say to my dessert concert guests when I point to our modest-sized family room.  At my house, during our three minutes of room prep, we put out floor pillows and move the couch nine inches.  We use paper plates and real forks.  Afterwards we toss the plates and napkins, throw the forks in the dishwasher, retrieve the pillows, and move the couch back.  Done.  Finis.  As easy as that.

Invitations and RSVP’s.  This is not a regular house concert where you focus on filling 25-75 seats and book artists far enough in advance to get ahead of your friends’ busy weekend schedules.  Remember, DessertAndSong is a small event for a small group, and you can pull one together quickly.  All you need is a) a workable date from an outstanding artist*, and b) 10 solid RSVP’s within 72 hours.  Presto.  You’ve booked a terrific event that will require minimal effort to host.

Put together these three super-easy elements—format, room prep, and RSVP’s—and you can have almost instant success with DessertAndSong regardless of your hosting experience. 

Think of it.  You give your friends a memorable night.  You help talented touring artists make a living on the road and you get to know them in a special way.  And, you build interest in your future events. 

It’s the perfect storm.

Want to do a casual meal instead of dessert?  Just make the event 90 minutes long, and offer a DinnerAndSong.  It’s still a thing of beauty.

* artists can reach out to you through our site, or you can search by genre, or even better, see which artists are already looking for opportunities in your area.

Back to Overview Resources

Our previous post offered a moment to pause and appreciate DinnerAndSong (DNS), one year after its inception.

As promised, here is an email thread between ListeningRoomNetwork founder Fran Snyder and one of our house concert hosts regarding DinnerAndSong.  Fran articulates the benefits in ways that are worth re-visiting as we head into our second year of DNS.

----

Host:  ….We just think one 35 minute set is too little - especially if we're asking people to contribute the same dollar amount as they would on the weekend.  Don't know how it is in other parts of the country, but here it's tough to get an audience of decent size if they haven't heard of the performer previously….

Fran:  Nice to hear from you. You are welcome to do as you wish, but here's the reasoning behind how we pitch the DinnerAndSong idea.

We do dinner-around-the-table-with-the-artist, and one set, for $10, for 8-10 guests, for the following reasons.

1.     Keep the event short (90 minutes total) so that anyone (host or guest) can make time to do it on a weeknight.

2.     A simple dinner (pizza and salad, etc), is cheap enough for the host to provide for 8-10 guests, and allows the guests to not have to bring anything to the concert. Considering that even a stop at Taco Bell is $5 for most people, this actually makes the cost of the concert closer to $5.

3.     The dinner-with-the-artist with a small group, is much more intimate than a standard house concert, which adds to the value, and can even be considered part of the entertainment in some circumstances. Musicians can have great stories, and for most people it is quite enjoyable to get a peek behind the scenes of their careers.

4.     8-10 guests makes it possible for everyone to sit together for the dinner, and means that the host most likely won't have to move any furniture for the concert - everyone can just gather round in the living room. It's only 35 minutes, and we've found with DessertAndSong, you can have the same vibe with more people, since many people are comfortable standing or leaning for a 35 minute show. After all, most people have been sitting down all day.

So to your point about the fact that it's tough to get an audience of decent size, that's another great premise behind DinnerAndSong.... it works with 8-10 people. Sure, the artist only makes $100-150 with merch, but gets an easy, enjoyable, productive night (on a tuesday, for example) with their food and lodging expenses covered. Believe me, when an opportunity like this fills a gap in their schedule, without taking them off course, most artists are thrilled with this arrangement. Otherwise, it's a crappy cafe, with distracted patrons, and playing for tips for 2 hours. Oh, and then you book a crappy hotel and spend all or more than what you made that day.

We actually encourage all new hosts to start with DinnerAndSong now. We've seen so many hosts struggle with their ambition to put on big shows, and turn into PT Barnum to promote their events as if they were public concerts. And they set up 35 chairs, then see most of them remain empty because people don't respond, show, or feel compelled to attend.

We'd rather see hosts turn away guests, "sorry, we already have our 10 guests" to build a buzz, to demonstrate that what they do is in demand, and that you should RSVP right away next time if you want to participate. Invite different people each time, and you can start building a core audience and a mailing list to eventually do larger events, on weekends, and not pull your hair out over attendance.

Hopefully some of this resonates with you, but not to worry if it doesn't.

----

Thanks, Fran.  Let’s raise our glasses to Year Two for DNS and thousands of successful concerts throughout the world, including your neighborhood!