How to Host a House Concert

It hasn’t taken long, but there are already numerous ways to offer a great DinnerAndSong (DNS) event. And these variations are exciting.  So let’s drill down on them.

At the core of a mini house concert are three elements:

1.     dinner or dessert or breakfast with the artist (how cool is that?)

2.     the music (unplugged 40-45 minute concert, an extraordinary personal experience for the guests and artist alike)

3.     the meet-and-greet afterwards (15 minutes, warm connecting, artist sells signed CDs)

You can go with a dinner version or a dessert version or a breakfast version.  Which one is best for you?

dinner & song – our flagship event.  A casual 25-30 minute meal for your guests and the artist.  Sweet.  Easy to prepare or bring in.  Guests get to know the artist in a unique way.  Five-minute break followed by the concert and meet-and-greet. Then everyone goes home, and the artist and host call it a night if they choose.  6-10 guests.  $10 donation from guests. 

Total time = 90 minutes.

dessert & song – shorter, and even sweeter. 15-minutes of grazing from the dessert table, followed by the concert and the meet-and-greet.  6-20 guests.  Afternoon or after dinner.  $10 donation. 

Total time = 75 minutes.

breakfast & song – akin to the dinner version except you don’t have to wait until dinnertime!  Make your morning special, and perhaps kick off the weekend in style.  Keep the breakfast super simple with coffee, tea, and toast....or stretch out a bit and perhaps include orange juice, bagels, cream cheese, tomatoes, cheeses, veggies, fruit or coffee cake.  Yum.  6-20 guests.  Mornings at 10-ish.  $10 donation. 

Total time = 75-90 minutes.

And here’s yet another option you can apply to all three DNS versions.  Make the suggested donation $20 and throw in a free CD for each guest.  Consult with your artist in advance.

Next post:  How to tame your DinnerAndSong preparation