In recent years, house concerts have become extremely popular and provide a great alternative to a typical party. This event offers your guests a chance to see a band in a very intimate setting and can provide you with free entertainment for your next gathering. This article will guide you through the steps necessary to promote your first house concert.
Instructions
1. Planning a house concert starts with choosing a date and time for your event. Typically, Saturday night events go over well because they don't require people to rush home from work and get ready. A good time to start the event is 7 p.m., which allows people to have dinner before arriving. The event should run until about 11 p.m.
2. Choosing a band is a very important task. Consider not only your personal taste, but the tastes of the people that you have invited. If you don't have a band in mind, check out some of your local clubs to listen to the local talent. You can also look through on Internet for websites that have pictures, music clips and sometimes even video clips. Once you decide on a band, make contact through its representative or directly with band members at a local show. Explain the event and see if the band is interested. House concerts are usually a good deal for bands and can provide a substantial income for a less stressful show. Offer the band 100 percent of the donations collected from the guests, as well as all of their merchandise sales proceeds. Since most of the people who come to house concerts are there for the music, merchandise sales are usually pretty good. Provide dinner to the band, prior to the show.
3. Promote your event to your friends, relatives, neighbors and co-workers. You can use a combination of email and phone calls to extend your invitation to these individuals. Be sure to explain to them that the event is a party with live music, and that the band is playing for donations and merchandise sales only. This will ensure that they bring cash with them. Since this event is being held in your home, consider your guest list carefully. You don't want a bunch of strangers in your home.
4. Determine the lay-out. When you have assessed the possible number of guests, you will want to determine the best layout for your show. Use an area in your home, or on a patio or backyard, that provides easy access and room for chairs and people. You will also have to consider the use of a sound system for the show. Some shows work well without a system, others benefit from it. Talk to the band and get its opinion. If you don't have a sound system, you can rent one from a local music store or ask the band to bring its system.
5. Ask the band to arrive about 1 to 1 1/2 hours early to set up and enjoy something to eat. This will allow you to test the sound system and arrange the chairs to best fit the event. When your guests arrive, remind them about the donation to the band, but don't be pushy. You can also point them to the band's merchandise and even introduce them to band members. This can greatly increase sales of CDs and t-shirts.
6. Play music. Around 8 p.m., have the band start performing . At this point you typically have nothing left to do but enjoy the music and play host.
