House concert

The definition of house concert is not definite but is generally taken as a concert that's presented in someone's home, or a nearby private space, for example a barn or back yard.

* Usually, but not always, the audience capacity is smaller than at a coffeehouse or club.
* The money collected usually (but not always) goes straight to the performers, with no "profit motive" on the presenter's part.
* Often, but not always, house concerts are conducted "by invitation" (for practical reasons), rather than as "public" concerts like a club or concert hall.
* Often - again with exceptions - there is little or no "sound system" - performers play and sing acoustically, unless someone needs a little amp for their keyboard.
* Refreshments, if any, are usually either a "pot luck" brought by the listeners, or provided by the hosts using a bit of the gate receipts.
* Sometimes - but definitely not always - the performers get a meal and/or lodging with the presenters as part of their compensation.

Some house concerts are "one-shots" but most are presented as a series, usually every two to eight weeks over a "season", of anywhere from six to twelve months. Some concert rooms hold 200 people, some hold 20 or fewer. Some house concert series sell out every time, while others are lightly attended. Some are held inside, some outside.

External links

* [http://concertsinyourhome.com/artist_search.html House Concert Artists and Videos] - provided by YouTube
* [http://www.houseconcerts.org/ House Concerts]
* [http://concertsinyourhome.com Concerts in Your Home] - comprehensive resource for house concerts
* [http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/6002/backyard.html Backyard Concerts with the Stars] - October 21, 2006 MP3 Newswire article details the advantages of the house concert experience
* [http://houseconcerthost.com House Concert Host.com] - Tips for house concert hosts
* [http://www.houseconcertsyork.co.uk House Concerts York] - very active UK site