What is a house
concert? A house concert is an intimate experience of having a musical
concert in someone’s house, apartment, barn, rec room, lawn, or back yard. The
solo singer or band is featured as the main focus and reason for the
entertainment and not treated as background entertainment while a party is
going on. A house concert is a musical concert that is the same as an arena concert;
the only difference is that it is being hosted in a house instead of an arena
or concert hall.
How are house
concerts conducted? The host of the concert sends out invitations. Invites
can be mailed letters, email, or by social media such as Twitter and Facebook.
Why have a house concert? People host
house concerts because they want to share great live music with family and
friends in an up close and friendly environment, and to help promote and give
exposure to talented musicians.
Experiences of a house concert (The experiences are not about a particular band):
A house concert is also a unique experience in the United States of 2010; one blogger at Wired magazine wrote:
I had never been to a house concert before, and
wasn’t sure what to expect. We RSVP’d to the proper email address, got the
address and printed out directions. Marian was nice enough to let us show up an
hour early to chat and feed her dinner. We visited for a while, and then other
people started showing up. We knew no one, but most people there were pretty friendly.
There were almost two-dozen people by the time the concert began. ... All of
[the songs] were better live than recorded. I have found that hearing music
live gives you a whole new appreciation for the recorded versions. She would
also add commentary and asides to many of the songs, which made them funnier
and applicable to that particular concert.... At the break, people paid their
money, bought her CDs, and generally gushed about the concert.... All in all, I
would definitely go to a house concert again. Marian says she enjoys them the
most, and I can see why. They bring people together for one night, often-complete
strangers, which can sometimes facilitate more lasting friendships. In
addition, you get to hear live music and support the independent arts. Helping
one person achieve success inspires others to take chances. Additionally, you
can directly support the artist, instead of a venue taking a cut. I wish more
musicians would do house concert tours.
—Jenny Williams, blogger for Wired
At house concerts, "you don't have worry about
whether you'll have a good seat since the show is literally in the living room
of the home ... at ... trailside Court, New City.” This comes with a duty to recall,
"That this is a house concert, so behave accordingly and don’t do anything
you wouldn’t do in your own house, OK?
People host house concerts because they "want to
share great music," or they may live an a town where "there are too
few venues where people can go to experience great music in a close and
friendly environment. One may also wish to host a home concert because it makes
one happy, or "to give exposure to some incredible musicians whose talents
[they] truly believe in and wish to help promote. A retired musician may be a
host as "one way of reconnecting with that part of themselves.
Once they go to a house concert, and discover its
charms, it is a great experience for children, whether for smaller "kids”,
or "18-year-olds". It is not for everyone:
Yet recently I played a house concert for a high
school graduation party. The 18-year-olds sat in silence for two hours, and at
the end bought my CD. This was just an average bunch of Vermont kids, hanging
out, grooving to some music. I just want to sing, and if these kids are any
indication, I have a sneaking suspicion that they just want to listen.
—Myra Flynn, singer
