I think I have missed only one house concert in our area in the last five years; and they average 5 or 6 a year. Not one disappointment with performance quality, either. The host/hostesses contact "devotees" by u8sing a phone list. Not a "closed elite"---any interested party can be added to the list. There is a charge which covers the artistes fee plus the costs involved for the sponsor---some cooking, cleaning, boarding and feeding of guest-artistes. One more thing---I wouldn't be inclined to attend one of Conrad's smoky hoedowns; I have an aversion to secondhand tar-and-nicotine---my partner has a real vicious allergy. "Smokers" are for the enjoyment of the smoking minority only, and in fact destroy the options of those who must stay clear of tobacco reek.