Help: House Concert Info Requested

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: lamarca
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 05:28 PM

The FSGW has just started a new twist on its house concerts. A couple of Life Members who have restored a marvelous 18th century Georgian estate house are hosting concerts in their grand entryway/stairwell, with a potluck dinner before the concert. Folks who didn't want to cook could show up just for the concert. The first one with Bill and Libby Hicks was a bit disorganized with respect to starting and ending the sets, but it was a wonderfully pleasant evening of fellowship, food and good music.

Another house concert organizer in the DC area holds her events by reservation only; she advertises the schedule and asks folks to call to reserve a spot. This not only controls the crowd, but also lets you know in advance how many people are actually interested.

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: KathWestra
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 05:13 PM

One word of caution for organizers: when setting up a house concert, be sure to ASK the performer whether he/she is allergic to cats/dogs. If there's an allergy problem, you need to find a cat/dog-free house. This has been an issue for some of our FSGW performers (and finding pet-free venues can be a problem in our furry-friend-loving group). Nothing worse than trying to sing when you're wheezing because of a cat-hair allergy. Similarly, you'll want to tell your potential audience in advance if there will be cats/dogs in a house concert venue.

House concerts, as Charlie said, are one of our most frequent Folklore Society events -- usually a couple a month. They remain my VERY favorite way to hear folk music: unamplified and shared in an informal, intimate setting.

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 08:49 AM

To answer the Q about limiting number of attendees:

Most (or possibly all) of the house concerts I've played are "invitation only" and/or "1st come, 1st served".

To me, the coolest part is the intimacy...you're about 3 feet from the entire audience!...one I play in N. California is in a big octoganal room (used to be a ballroom in the '30s, I'm told).

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: alison
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 02:36 AM

they only have room for 25 people..... first to pay gets the seats....

and yes it is a great site

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 02:27 AM

How does one limit the audience numbers? For instance, when Andy Irvine played in Juneau several years ago there were at least 200 attendees. And this is a small town- 30,000 plus or minus. How does one limit numbers without making enemies all over the place?

Alison, thank you for that link. Great site. Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: alison
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 02:14 AM

some friends of mine have started running house concerts over the last year... very successfully.. I'm going to see Andy Irvine in a few weeks at their place....

this should give you more info (reviews etc).. and I'm sure Valda will answer any questions if you email her...

Folk Australia

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 01:50 AM

That may be the way to go, Charlie Baum. We have many good musicians here but whether locals would be willing to pony up is another matter! Perhaps I'll talk to the Alaska Folk Festival board and see if they'd like to pursue the idea for the smaller size acts. We get many performers here who are on their way to tour farther north- but most of those are sponsored by the AFF and are booked in Centennial Hall or in a local church hall. In other words, the crowds are too large for even a large house. So maybe I'll have to rethink the local talent angle! Thanks for the quick response. Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 01:06 AM

A time that a house concert would probably work well in Juneau is when someone from outside comes passing through town. I realize that Juneau isn't on any through routes except, perhaps, the Alaska Ferry System, but if you let it be known that you offer hospitality and a chance to be heard to travelling folk musicians, you might attract journeying minstrels drawn by the beauty of the Alaska panhandle.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 12:37 AM

"Here" is Juneau, as in Alaska. It's a town ringing with music from folk, country AND western(as they say here) to bluegrass, jazz and opera, especially in the wintertime, when the nights are long. There are already a number of Open Mic places and many, many jams so I'm not sure that house concerts would 'fly', but I'd like to try it. Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: BK
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 12:16 AM

Ebbie - where is "here?" When we lived in the DC area we belonged to FSGW & WFMA & went to many many events, sing-alongs, etc; We have really missed the enormous energy & huge number of activities related to folk music one could enjoy there. If possible, I'd like to set up some house concerts here, (our "here" is now central Missouri), & maybe even invite some of the DC area performers here, though there are certainly also many fine musicians - sometimes w/different styles - here in the Midwest.

Cheers, BK

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 12:02 AM

The W in FSGW is Washington, DC. Further information about the society may be found at www.fsgw.org. Besides the FSGW, there are at least 3 or 4 other venues/sponsors that do folk music house concerts in the immediate area.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: reggie miles
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 08:59 PM

Charlie, is that Washington state or DC. If it's WA the state, tell me how to apply. I'd love to do some living rooms. I just played a coffee house show last night that felt just like a living room. Unfortunately the advertising went awry so attendance was low. Everyone seemed to have good time just the same. I think it was about as much fun as I can recall having. Except that part where I sawed a member of my audience in half. I guess I still need a little more practice on that part.

Saw ya, Reggie

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 07:06 PM

The latest issue of ACOUSTIC GUITAR has an interesting article about house concerts...check it out.

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: Ebbie
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 12:27 AM

That's a good start- thanks to both Charlie Baum and to you, Lonesome Dave. I've tried to look it up on the 'net but have found nothing but already set-up venues. There's a lot of home-grown music in this town but, so far, no house concerts. Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 08:14 PM

House concerts are a regular staple of the FSGW (Folklore Society of Greater Washington). Price depends on the performer, but is in the $10-15 range for non-members of the Society, amd the $6-12 range for members of the society (frequently $7/$10). The primary means of publicity is through the Society's newsletter; hence the discount for members. While there are exceptions, most concerts are evening events beginning at 7:30 or so for a weeknight, and 8:00 on a Friday or Saturday. The performer usually plays two sets of approximately 45-50 minutes, separated by a 20-30 minute intermission, during which punch and cookies are served (and tea or coffee or soda, and maybe brownies or cake). The food at intermission is usually provided gratis to the audience at an FSGW house concert, and the costs for purchasing the food are deducted from the gate.

Another format occasionally used has been that the guest performer leads a sing-around (we're a very singing/participation oriented group)--the guest performer gets to do every second or third number. We've very occasionally used this format for a few not-very-well-known performers who we felt couldn't carry a whole evening by themselves, but it's not our standard format. And for some other performers who are known as good song-leaders or song-collectors, at the home of music-loving night-owls on a weekend night, a full concert has been followed by a sing-around until the wee hours.

Basically, if you're the host, you can create the format, but we usually let the performer do what he or she would do in a hall, except for the more intimate surroundings of a living room. Needless to say, there's no sound reinforcement--no sound system. You get to hear the performer acoustically, unplugged.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Help: House Concert Info Requested
From: Lonesome Dave
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 04:07 PM

There are a couple of articles at the folk music section at www.about.com. Haven't actually promoted one yet but this will whet your appetite.

Subject: House Concert Info Requested
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 03:26 PM

Does someone out there have experience in setting up (or attending)house concerts? (Acoustic only) Space available for up to 50 guests. Need information on price, format, expectations. Please help! And I thank you... Ebbie