Ive been promoting house concerts for quite a while now, but have found that many folks arent wure what exactly it entails. Heres some info from my website: What are house concerts? This is a very good question, thanks for asking. There are two basic formats that house concerts can take. Format 1: Host a house concert in conjunction with the artist This is where you would invite friends, neighbors, family and colleagues to an event that is focused on the house concert. Typically the artist/s will spend some time before the concert, mingling with your guests, and then continue on to a one-set (or, if appropriate, a two-set) concert. A set being about 40 minutes. During the break, and after the concert, the artist will, again, be available to the guests for socializing. Options for food & beverages at such an event is typically a potluck, where guests bring their own food and beverages, but, in some cases the hosts choose offer platters or a meal of some sort. A donation of $10.00 to $20.00 per person is normally suggested to the guests, which will then go to the artist. (R50.00 to R100.00 South African). Typically the goal is between 20 and 30 guests, again, depending on your living room size and space available for the guests to sit. A concert such as this is performed by one, sometimes two artists, and mostly live “unplugged”, thus, no amplification, just the live music as it is performed and created right there on the spot. In many cases, instead of a meal along with the concert (Dinner-and-a-show), you could consider Dessert-and-a-show, where the host simply offers some cake/muffins or other lite dessert, along with coffee/tea. In such cases there will be less focus on the meal, thus allowing the total event to avoid dragging out too long, and the artist will perform again one set (or two, if the situation requires it). Format 2: Live background music for your dinner party or high tea This is where you host a dinner party for friends, with much more focus on the dinner/meal, and the artist performs more in the background, presenting less of a show/concert, and providing more of a soothing backdrop for the event. In cases such as these, you would typically pay the artist a flat-fee, and the number of guests could vary from 6 to 30. This type of house concert allows for a slightly more formal event, if you should want that, although it is not limited to a formal event, it could even be as casual as a BBQ, but, it does lend itself to more formality, and it lends itself very strongly to a more intimate, smaller group (6 guests). General comments about house concerts In both cases, the typical “set” would be about 40 to 45 minutes, with a 15 to 20 minute break. Number of sets are decided upon during discussion between the host and the artist. In both cases amplification and setup is simple, to none. The focus is not on the “showyness”, but on the art and the live performance. The idea behind a house concert is precisely the intimacy and the connection/socialization with the artist, rather than lights, sub-woofers and massive stages. I typically perform house concerts either as solo pianist, or as part of Chromatique (a duo with Samantha Ferreira) which is Violin, Voice and Piano. Contact me at [email protected] or 082 806 0626 to setup a house concert for you and your friends.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 20:41:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015