For a listing of local house concerts by trop-rock artists, please check out our club calendar, and if you are a member, watch your email. The artists, dates, times and venues are too fluid to list on this page.
If you would like to have a house concert, the club can help support your efforts..
If you would like to have a house concert but don’t know where to begin, contact any member of the club’s Board of Directors via our “Contact Us” page, and they’ll get you started.
We also have a House Concert Guide to get you started:
A Guide for Hosting a House Concert – PHoPS version
If you would like your event added to our club calendar, you have to tell us specifically to do it. Remember, this will be your party, not the club’s.
You can contact our club’s communications director via our Contact Us page for more information and to send us your information.
Here’s some more house concert wisdom from one of our phriends and Trop-Rockers” …
House Concerts
By: John Reno
June 30, 2010
WHAT IS A HOUSE CONCERT? It is a seated concert that provides an opportunity to hear live music in a friendly, intimate, home setting. It is a gathering of guests, family, friends (and their friends) in which to share a casual, fun experience; a place to meet the artists, become acquainted with their music and hear some of the stories behind the songs. A house concert isn’t a party, although there is normally a potluck before or between sets. Simply put, it’s playing for a small, intimate audience who are “Ticketed, Seated and Listening”!
WHY AT A HOUSE? Hosts open their home to friends and neighbors because they like to share great music with them. Hosting house concerts affords them the opportunity to introduce musicians/songwriters that their guests may be unfamiliar with or reacquaint them with those they’ve heard at other house concerts. Additionally, it gives the songwriters a lot of pleasure to share their music and hopefully further their names in the music world and keep them doing what they do and love.
It should be noted that many hosts choose their backyard as the venue, which can provide a wonderful ambience. However, there should always be a plan for weather contingency.
WHAT DO THE HOSTS GET OUT OF THIS? They receive no economic benefit from the house concerts. The benefit they do receive is the joy the music and gatherings bring to their home. 100% of the suggested donation goes to the performers.
DOES IT COST THE HOSTS ANYTHING? Typically, the cost to the hosts is minimal. They may want to rent chairs (although guests are usually encouraged to bring their folding/camping style chairs), provide ice, water and some food, paper and plastic goods; not to mention their time. But the benefits of having a group of people who appreciate the same music they do far outweighs the money and other costs.
WHAT DOES IT COST THE GUESTS? There is a recommended cash donation of $15-$20 per person, depending on the distance the songwriter must travel. (Note: PHoPS members will usually announce a “Suggested Donation” for the artist, if appropriate, rather than a “Recommended Donation”.)
HOW MANY PEOPLE COME? As many as the home can comfortably accommodate without becoming a fire hazard. Depending upon where the songwriter is traveling from, 30-35 people is usually the minimum it takes for it to be financially feasible.
HOW DO HOSTS PROMOTE THE HOUSE CONCERT? Many hosts have found websites like evite.com to be extremely effective in sending invitations and tracking the number of expected guests. (Note: PHoPS members have the club’s email group lists and other electronic media available for their use.)
WHAT ABOUT THE NEIGHBORS? Hosts usually invite their neighbors and encourage them to attend. As a courtesy to them, they plan their gatherings on weekends only, either Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons or evenings or Sunday afternoon. No performance runs later than 10:30 p.m.
HOW CAN YOU BECOME OR FIND A HOUSE CONCERT VENUE? First, find someone with a home that could accommodate 35+ people. Then contact the entertainer you are interested in hearing … oh, like maybe, John Reno … and then determine a date for that performance. As you begin to promote the show to folks, ask them to be considerate and make a reservation only if they plan to attend. (Note: PHoPS members, check with your club’s board of directors.)