I have done some house concerts at my house over the past several years, and been pretty successful with them, because it's an intimate environment, with very low overhead. It's a good way to help promote good traditional music, which might not be popular enough to be viable in a commercial venue. And it gives the artists a break, and lets them keep more of the money that is made...
And it seems to me that the number of house concerts is increasing. And sometimes with bigger acts, too. For instance, I just noticed that the band At The Racket is doing a house concert in Craughwell (Co. Galway) next month, in between shows at an opera house, and a couple of Fleadhs! (Man, I would give my eye teeth to make it to that one... But alas, no money to travel... damn economy!)
So is this the wave of the future because of economic pressure? Or has it always been this way, and I'm just noticing it more? Does anybody *not* like house concerts?
Good point, dave... I don't know that I have a good handle on the history of such things. I'm sure there were musical get-togethers in people's houses a lot in the past, but whether they were a "commercial" venture, I don't really know... Meaning, were they collecting money for the musicians?
Its a great idea.. I've seen it work very well.
I think it also lets the musician breathe artistically. Freedom to play what they want. The musician is in control to an extent and a more cozy atmosphere..
I'd love to see more and would rather pay $20 at a house concert than +$20 at a venue.
I've been to a few, and they're well worth it. Just an odd thought, though. how does one get the maximum occupancy figure for his house? Just in case anything went wrong, you wouldn't want to be sued after exceeding the limit. Fire exits another consideration, or zoning restrictions if the local municipality caught wind of it?
How commercial a venture are House concerts ?
May be we will return to an era with out professional musicians . Will the net and the modern trend to bonkers legality ruin every musician?
I've been to a couple recently and I think they're a great idea. Always the last to know, I only recently became aware of house concerts. However, when I checked it out on Google I find that in the US, at least, it's huge, with a pretty well organised circuit. I guess my only concern about that is that it starts to become too "syndicated". I think it's great when these concerts feature either relatively local artists or artists who are going to be in an area anyway and can then expand their visit to smaller places, etc.
Generally, the admission "fee" is called a "donation" and that get's you around quite a few legal questions, depending on local variations, of course.
I've had a house concert raise about $1200 for musicians which is better than a commercial venue would do for something that size for sure, and generally makes it worth the time and effort for the artist to travel here.
It can be even more attractive for the musician if a workshop can be run on the same day / weekend as the house concert (this happens regularly here in the Bristol area).
It's a financial incentive for the musician, who can build up a good rapport with a sizeable body of people.
Great idea! I'm currently reading a book about the dance hall era of Irish American Boston in the 1920s-1950s. It boomed in the 20s, then in the 30s no one could afford to go out anymore, so they'd have these huge parties in their apartments, 50, 60 folks crammed into one floor of a Roxbury triple-decker.
In the book, Joe Derrane gives these hilarious stories about parties where he'd be standing on the fire escape playing the box through the window because the kitchen was packed with dancers. He also had one where he took his socks and shoes off, stuck his feet in the sink and played sitting on the window sill.
What was my point? I have no idea. More coffee for me.
Whether or not the House Concerts are a "wave of the future" or more accurately, the "reality of the present", they clearly are the way many touring artists are being seen increasingly here in the U.S. Even in heavy Irish enclave regions like the Northeast Corridor from Maine down DC, they are invaluable in establishing a tour over here nowadays as the infrastructure that served as a support system in the part have dwindled. Record companies no longer have feeder funding nor are their as many hospitable pubs to offer guarantees or reasonable fees that can offset the cost of touring.
It's no surprise that all of the house concert organizers have a fair sense of what the artists are worth and what they can provide along with a first class knowledge of their music so they give a good effort in support of them.
For instance, in the Fairfield, Connecticut area, the Shamrock Irish Traditional Music Society regularly, hosts many of the top Irish trad artists on tour mostly in some very fine house concert settings to be found in their area as well as churches,libraries or small theatres where none of the intimacy associated with the music or performance are lost. And one such host in the middle of Maine named Phil McIntyre has proven so adept at hosting these types of concerts that he is currently rebuilding a homemade theater area in his backyard to code so that he can really take the "house concert" upmarket.
Usually performers and audience appreciate the atmosphere of the host concerts and with the current economy, it would be hard to believe that they won't play a more critical role over here.
We set out with concerts 'in the house' - with capacity of 55 (moved furniture around )then progressed to the 'barn' Had Andy irvine here last August an audience of 85 super enthusiastic, hand picked, invited guests..anyone on this list living in County
Galway interested in tickets for At The Racket on Friday April
24th, contact me soon as we know this will sell out too.
Here's a typical local house concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-tz99-KGFE
As Reverend says, move some furniture, BYOB, donate $20, donate some more for cds. The concert(s) above also feature a following session.
House Concerts - wave of the future?
House Concerts - wave of the future?
I have done some house concerts at my house over the past several years, and been pretty successful with them, because it's an intimate environment, with very low overhead. It's a good way to help promote good traditional music, which might not be popular enough to be viable in a commercial venue. And it gives the artists a break, and lets them keep more of the money that is made...
And it seems to me that the number of house concerts is increasing. And sometimes with bigger acts, too. For instance, I just noticed that the band At The Racket is doing a house concert in Craughwell (Co. Galway) next month, in between shows at an opera house, and a couple of Fleadhs! (Man, I would give my eye teeth to make it to that one... But alas, no money to travel... damn economy!)
So is this the wave of the future because of economic pressure? Or has it always been this way, and I'm just noticing it more? Does anybody *not* like house concerts?
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by Reverend
Or is it a return to the past ?
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
Good point, dave... I don't know that I have a good handle on the history of such things. I'm sure there were musical get-togethers in people's houses a lot in the past, but whether they were a "commercial" venture, I don't really know... Meaning, were they collecting money for the musicians?
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by Reverend
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
Its a great idea.. I've seen it work very well.
I think it also lets the musician breathe artistically. Freedom to play what they want. The musician is in control to an extent and a more cozy atmosphere..
I'd love to see more and would rather pay $20 at a house concert than +$20 at a venue.
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by madfluter
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
I've been to a few, and they're well worth it. Just an odd thought, though. how does one get the maximum occupancy figure for his house? Just in case anything went wrong, you wouldn't want to be sued after exceeding the limit. Fire exits another consideration, or zoning restrictions if the local municipality caught wind of it?
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by gravelwalks
Re: House Concerts - rave of the future?
.
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by nicholas
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
How commercial a venture are House concerts ?
May be we will return to an era with out professional musicians . Will the net and the modern trend to bonkers legality ruin every musician?
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
I've been to a couple recently and I think they're a great idea. Always the last to know, I only recently became aware of house concerts. However, when I checked it out on Google I find that in the US, at least, it's huge, with a pretty well organised circuit. I guess my only concern about that is that it starts to become too "syndicated". I think it's great when these concerts feature either relatively local artists or artists who are going to be in an area anyway and can then expand their visit to smaller places, etc.
Generally, the admission "fee" is called a "donation" and that get's you around quite a few legal questions, depending on local variations, of course.
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by kris
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
I've had a house concert raise about $1200 for musicians which is better than a commercial venue would do for something that size for sure, and generally makes it worth the time and effort for the artist to travel here.
# Posted on March 19th 2009 by Reverend
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
It can be even more attractive for the musician if a workshop can be run on the same day / weekend as the house concert (this happens regularly here in the Bristol area).
It's a financial incentive for the musician, who can build up a good rapport with a sizeable body of people.
# Posted on March 19th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
yeah, actually, when I say $1200, that includes a workshop and some lessons... I have another one coming up next month... Looking forward to it!
# Posted on March 19th 2009 by Reverend
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
You missed the chance of a plug there Rev
Try again ! give details
# Posted on March 19th 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
Sounds more profitable (& more fun) than charging people to use your search engine at any rate!!
# Posted on March 19th 2009 by the wounded hussar
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
Great idea! I'm currently reading a book about the dance hall era of Irish American Boston in the 1920s-1950s. It boomed in the 20s, then in the 30s no one could afford to go out anymore, so they'd have these huge parties in their apartments, 50, 60 folks crammed into one floor of a Roxbury triple-decker.
In the book, Joe Derrane gives these hilarious stories about parties where he'd be standing on the fire escape playing the box through the window because the kitchen was packed with dancers. He also had one where he took his socks and shoes off, stuck his feet in the sink and played sitting on the window sill.
What was my point? I have no idea. More coffee for me.
Carry on Rev, good luck sir!
# Posted on March 19th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
SWFL Fiddler - what's the book?
# Posted on March 19th 2009 by worthy
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
Whether or not the House Concerts are a "wave of the future" or more accurately, the "reality of the present", they clearly are the way many touring artists are being seen increasingly here in the U.S. Even in heavy Irish enclave regions like the Northeast Corridor from Maine down DC, they are invaluable in establishing a tour over here nowadays as the infrastructure that served as a support system in the part have dwindled. Record companies no longer have feeder funding nor are their as many hospitable pubs to offer guarantees or reasonable fees that can offset the cost of touring.
It's no surprise that all of the house concert organizers have a fair sense of what the artists are worth and what they can provide along with a first class knowledge of their music so they give a good effort in support of them.
For instance, in the Fairfield, Connecticut area, the Shamrock Irish Traditional Music Society regularly, hosts many of the top Irish trad artists on tour mostly in some very fine house concert settings to be found in their area as well as churches,libraries or small theatres where none of the intimacy associated with the music or performance are lost. And one such host in the middle of Maine named Phil McIntyre has proven so adept at hosting these types of concerts that he is currently rebuilding a homemade theater area in his backyard to code so that he can really take the "house concert" upmarket.
Usually performers and audience appreciate the atmosphere of the host concerts and with the current economy, it would be hard to believe that they won't play a more critical role over here.
# Posted on March 19th 2009 by clareman
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
Whoops! Sorry amyamanda, here it is:
http://www.upne.com/1-55553-610-7.html
Great stuff. Loads of first hand interviews, wonderful old pictures, just amazing.
# Posted on March 19th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
We set out with concerts 'in the house' - with capacity of 55 (moved furniture around )then progressed to the 'barn' Had Andy irvine here last August an audience of 85 super enthusiastic, hand picked, invited guests..anyone on this list living in County
Galway interested in tickets for At The Racket on Friday April
24th, contact me soon as we know this will sell out too.
# Posted on March 20th 2009 by cuirthouse
Re: House Concerts - wave of the future?
Here's a typical local house concert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-tz99-KGFE
As Reverend says, move some furniture, BYOB, donate $20, donate some more for cds. The concert(s) above also feature a following session.
# Posted on March 24th 2009 by oldstrings