Conrad-
virtually all the house concerts, including the ones that Susan and I present, solicit contributions----all of which go to the performer.


"Every time I have encountered a house concert it has been a secretive elitist setup where hosts demand money. "
I guess this would be true if it were elitist and secretive to try to offer folks a chance to hear some of the not-necessarily-well-known performers.
It's a format that I---and most performers--prefer to formal stages----or even street corners.