Having music in your home has always been, “a thing”

“In the 16th century musical ability was seen as an expression of good birth and good education. Lord Herbert of Cherbury regarded playing the lute as a more civilised pastime than drunken debauchery.”

(The history of musical etiquette, http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/history-of-musical-etiquette/, 4/2/2019) 

I agree with Lord Herbert, we should all play the lute (or the guitar) and have friends over to play. My family had music get-togethers when I was growing up and everybody played! Where better to hear music than at home?

“In 1749 Lord Chesterfield, who regarded himself as an expert on etiquette, instructed his son: ‘If you love music hear it; go to operas, concerts and pay fiddlers to play for you…”

(The history of musical etiquette, http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/history-of-musical-etiquette/, 4/2/2019) 

Folk music has a long tradition of people meeting to hear music at someone’s house or a Grange hall. Hootenannies were a thing as far back as 1940. Certainly people gathered at homes, backyards, and around pools for music all through the ’60’s into the ’70’s.

You could even say that a house concert could be considered… traditional.

Find Musicians You Know and Love

You can begin the search for great music by going out to hear local musicians, playing the restaurant or bar circuit, in your area. Ask your friends what players they follow or know. Look at the flyers up at your local Co-op. Ask around about music at the deli, your church, your local convenience store.

I live on the beautiful coast of Maine. There are great musicians in almost every town along the coast. In the summer there are people playing on the beaches, porches, and boats everywhere! I can drive throughout Maine and point out backyards and porches I have played, at some time…

Musicians are always looking for gigs. They want to have fun, as much as you do. Who doesn’t like to be invited to a party with like minded people for an afternoon. You will find many great musicians who want a chance to play for a reasonable price and a little food and drink… Ask them!

McGhee & Terry’s, “Walk On”

How much room is there for music?

Knowing what your musician’s need for a good performance, will be a good beginning to having a great experience.

First you have to consider how big a group of artists you can host. This is a matter of space and money. Let’s talk about space first…

You will already have an idea of how many people you can fit in your room, porch, or yard. I have seen situations where the yard held 100 people but the band was allotted a space, too narrow to hold a drum set or a guitar player with an amplifier behind them.

If you are hosting a band you need to also remember that some of their equipment may be heavy. Getting easy access to where they are playing will make everything go smoother. Always talk to a band about the space they need to set up their equipment.

Deluxe Folding chair… (Click for more info)

Also consider how loud the band is used to playing and make sure the space can handle that volume. Also, if the music needs to cover a field of merrymakers, make sure they understand they will need some amplification to cover that. Let me say now that a barn is an excellent place to have a band play for friends…

If you are hosting music in an intimate space, like a living room or a small patio and lawn, it may be wise to choose a smaller size group. A trio, duo, or even solo can be very entertaining and well suited to a home setting. That said, make sure you know the amount of space the player(s) need to be comfortable and ready to put on a good performance. Many musicians can function in a decent size corner with a chair or stool and a place to set their drink, capo, and picks…

Questions for before the party!

• Does the band do requests?
• Do they know a song you’d like them to play?
• Do the performers mind being photographed or videoed?
• Do any of the musicians or guests have allergies?

What do the musicians need?

Now that you have the appropriate place to setup your music, let’s look at some other things that can make a concert really nice.

A dark room can be cozy but some guy you can’t see playing his guitar over in the corner can be, potentially, a little disconcerting…  (no pun intended) Good lighting for the performer(s) will help people to enjoy the music and feel like something really special is happening. (Which it is!)

Handy furniture… (click for more info)

Musicians love to play. That doesn’t change the fact that they deserve to get paid for the expertise and experience they are bringing to you. Paying them a fair amount, is only right. Consider that a dentist makes at least $150 per person walking through the door, all day!

Many musicians have some small stage lighting they can bring if they know you need it and it’s not too big for the space.

If you space is big enough to warrant a sound system for the band then they will need power. Make sure that the power is right where the music is setting up and that any power wires or extension cords being used are not going to be walked on and tripped over. It’s no fun to be deep in musical bliss and have to try and figure out why the music stopped and who pulled the plug!

You pay $35 to $95, each, to sit next to people you don’t know and listen to a concert. You pay extra for a drink or a small bag of chips. Compare this to being at home eating great food with friends and hearing great music, from a few feet away. I think you may find that even $15, times 20 or 30 people, will put you in the ballpark for a small group musicians, playing an hour and a half.

     

Color LED lights… (click for more info)

Obviously if you are having a big barn dance or lawn party with a ton of friends your possibilities get bigger, as well. Get the money together and give it to the musicians, before they start and you can all concentrate on the task at hand, Having Fun!

So, the musicians need:

• Enough space to set up and perform
• Good lighting
• Good, “foolproof” power to keep the show going on…
• Any necessary furniture:
  • chair,
  • small table,
  • a carpet,
  • a stool (or 3 stools?)
  • a stand or table to set a speaker on…
• Maybe some bottled water, coffee or tea

Finally, shower the musicians with love and money, before they start and leave them to their work…

‘If you love music hear it; go to operas, concerts and pay fiddlers to play for you…”

Lord Chesterfield,
1749

What do your guests need?

Collect money before guests get settled in! I’m not saying be rude or not nice but it’s easy to say that you need to get the money out of the way so you can have fun with your good friends.

If you collected money before the get-together, fine, even better. If collecting money feels hard make it a ritual. Have everyone, please, visit the “music basket” as they arrive. Have one of your trusted friends go around with basket.

As soon as you get the money out of the way, let people know where they can put their coats, set down any food they’ve brought, or find a seat. Help them to get comfortable with the surroundings. Let them know where the washroom is and maybe, steer them toward the food.

A handy video recorder… (click for more info)

Most people like to have an idea of what the agenda or order of events will be. Have a card, flyer, or maybe the family chalkboard or whiteboard with the schedule for the events. Make sure your extremely, uninhibited, uncle knows he has to behave and yes his kids have to behave too! Let everyone who attends know ahead of time what to expect and what is expected.

Check that everyone will be seated where they can see and hear the performers. Try to not have everyone crammed into a space that is uncomfortable. If you like, you can label seating before people arrive. That is one way to make sure everyone has a seat.

If you need a bar, set up a bar (an old door and two sawhorses!)
If you love coffee have some great coffee (with decaf for me…) Have some small tables around to set drinks on. If your friends are artists, have them bring art to decorate the room with.

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At the end of the concert, let people know if there is a time and place to mingle with the musicians.

When the predetermined time to end the festivities is reached, thank everyone for coming and wish them a safe trip home. I can be guilty of talking someone’s ear off, not realizing that the party is over… It’s nice to have a definitive ending to a great event.

What do you need?

Let’s review…

You’ve welcomed the band, made sure they have enough space to set up. They have power and know where to set their stuff. You’ve collected money and paid the musicians.

Your guests know where the washroom is, the food is, and where they can find a seat. They have an idea of when the music starts and when the get-together ends.

Now what about you? You have done the planning made and the effort to bring people together for a really worthwhile endeavor. Now, you need to make sure that you are going to have a really good time!

Make mine decaf… (Click for more info)

Once people are present and the musicians are all set, its ok to let go a little bit. Maybe you can have a friend be the announcer for the band or have someone watch over the food table. Someone else can collect dishes, take out some full trash bags, or collect returnable bottles.

These are great jobs for a resourceful teenager or a mature “tweenager”. Maybe they can keep the returnables or invite a friend to help them and stay to hear the music. Or…  have them babysit in a room off from the party, with good kid food, a movie, and quiet toys or craft projects for everyone.

It’s ok to have other people help each other and let you enjoy the party.

You can, make the concert, two shorter sets or one longer set, eat before the music, eat after, start the party at noon or 3:00 or 6:00.  Throw your trash in the can as you go and get done in time to get up early the next day (and do it all again!)

What I’m saying is that if you, the host, aren’t having a real good time, you need to adjust. The goal is to feel good about having a house concert and enjoy the music and the company of your friends. You have a great time and you may be the beginning of a house concert movement, in your circle of friends!

When is your next house concert?

Life is about experiences. A few hours of listening to great music, talking music with great musicians, and sharing food and fun with friends, is a valid life experience…

So, Why not your porch or your barn or your lawn?  Figure out which of your friends has the biggest and nicest room for a small concert? Putting on a house concert will make you the envy of all your friends. Having a series house concerts will make you the “go to” person for friends and musicians.

It’s good for us music lovers and good for us musicians. Let’s share our love of music…