ashara & victor & all, I LOVE HOUSECONCERTS!!! i think they are the way of the future...a way for an audience to hear artists that are under the radar (which is most artists these days!) & a way for indie artists to play & tour & actually get paid...at the other end of the spectrum is the kind of thing that Steve Dulson does...his concerts are not in a house but of the same high quality with a great listening audience & the performers are very well paid based on audience attendence (Steve & the organization supply the pa & its done in a community center that doesn't charge much for the room). Steve's concert website is http://www.thelivingtradition.org/tltbodyconcerts.html
i haven't read your intial question or victor's reply cuz i'm on digest....but i think you are asking about hosting a house concert? they range in size according to the amount of people they can accomodate...the one i played (russ & julie's) has been going on for several years & is pretty well known around the country...last year one of the LA tv stations did a spot on their concert...& the night we played a guy from npr was their interviewing everyone & recording...don't know if or when anything will be broadcast... at any rate its a huge & growing thing...the best thing going for both musicians (who get listened to & paid decently) & the audience who gets an intimate show & to hang out with the musicians afterwards... here is a photo that shows you the performer space http://www.jrp-graphics.com/houseconcerts/concert45.html & you can also read lots of info there about their experiences in hosting & the guests that they have had (some of them quite well known...it was an honor to join that list as we were probably one of the least well known but that is what is so cool...the audience comes to hear new artists as well as the better known ones) here is their links to other press about houseconcerts http://www.jrp-graphics.com/houseconcerts/press.html russ & julie really have the whole process down (& a waiting list to play there which is years long!)...they can host between 80 & 100 plus folks...they used to rent, but eventually bought, folding chairs...they move all furniture out of their living room the day of the show (with help from friends & family) & the artist plays in space in the front of the room (& supplies their own pa or just does without)...there is a stairs & a balcony at the back which can accomodate the overflow if their aren't enough seats...i am not good with square footage but the key is being able to move furniture out & set up chairs... everyone can bring desserts, snacks, drinks, russ & julie also supply coffee, teas, soda, some desserts...there is an intermission break when everyone can mingle & eat & drink, etc. they were also kind enough to feed us all before the show! great soup & homemade bread... they said they don't make money, actually often loose money but they do it for the love of music & getting to host & know musicians...their kids have grown up with these events so its been wonderful for their kids too...they do these once a month & now sometimes are able to get local businesses to sponsor a show which helps defray the costs & the sponsors get two front row seats...after years of doing this they have a mailing list of 500 people...they send out emails, flyers, press releases, etc. they give all the door money to the musicians, they used to charge $10 but recently raised it to $15... we hosted a house concert once for around 30 people...rented the chairs & moved out some furniture...victor & holley hosted one that we played at the was really lovely too... i have looked into a couple of houseconcerts in the austin but they want to hear me play live first before they will book me, which is fair... i have probably answered more than you wanted to know! kate, feeling yucky cuz we have no water, waiting for the plumber to come fix our broken water pipes (of COURSE it breaks on the weekend!) ******************************************* Kate Bennett www.katebennett.com sponsored by Polysonics Discover the Indies at Taylor Guitars: http://www.taylorguitars.com/artists/awp/indies/bennett.html ******************************************** -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, March 02, 2002 8:06 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: House Concerts 101NJC) WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Victor, thank you VERY much!! This is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for taking the time to explain it to me. I went to the web, and found a LOT of info!! Silly me, I thought this was such a grass-roots thing, I wouldn't find it on the web. Instead, I found a plethora of information, and even a website from people that had hosted our own Kate Bennett this past month!! Kate: how big was their space in their house? That's the only thing I am a little nervous about- stuffing in enough people to make it worthwhile for the performer. Hugs, Ashara
