The house concerts I've been to, we passed a hat for the musician(s) and brought pot luck to eat. Beer was available, but you were limited to only one or two. Advertising was word of mouth, mostly.

Getting together in the kitchen, on the lawn, on the back porch or anywhere else was called "getting together in/on the __________." Beer, coffee, tea, whatever was available to eat, good talk, singing, playing with the kids, tellin' lies, etc. were the primary recreations. Advertising was limited to "Hey, come on over" or a knock on the door and maybe somebody would go out for a jug of beer.