House Concert FAQ - Book me at liamkylemusic@gmail.com

What exactly is a house concert?
A house concert is a get-together of friends in your living room (or backyard, deck, etc.) with live music, and often food, drinks, and conversation. Personally I prefer these evenings over public concerts because they are cozy, intimate, and allow me a chance to really get to know the audience while exposing my music to new ears - your group of friends!

I don't have a big house. Can I still host a concert?
Absolutely! As a solo artist I don't require much space to perform so as far as I'm concerned, the cozier the better! You don't need a huge living room or a gigantic house to host a great concert.

How many people are you expecting? I don't think I can get 50 people to come to my house.
I've done house shows with as few as 15 people, and as many as 60. The beauty of a house concert is that it is purposely more intimate and focuses on quality over quantity.  Traditional venues rely solely on numbers, making public shows more about quantity than quality. That gets old...especially when you're on the road a lot.

Can I book you at my neighborhood theater, coffeehouse, or gallery instead?
Of course! I've played every kind of show from house concerts to casinos, and high-end restaurants to tiny coffee shops. I'm open to all kinds of ideas for both public and private shows.

Does it cost money to host a house concert?
No, there is no cost to host a concert, but as traveling artists we appreciate it when hosts ask their guests to give a suggested donation. Many house concert hosts have a basket by the door. They often interrupt the performance in the middle, give a 2-minute spiel asking people to support the artist, and then proceed to "pass the hat" during the performance as it continues. Donations really go a long way in helping the artist pay for gas and cover expenses while on the road. Its also just a much appreciated way of helping an artist keep their music career sustainable. In other words it is very helpful :) A house concert usually averages at $10 per person. Some have been $15 or even $20.  But no one should be turned away if they are not able to give.

How do I plan this thing?
The beauty in house concerts is that they are low stress.  Once we agree on a date, we can talk about a start time. Then you can setup a Facebook invite and/or shoot out emails to your network of friends to let them know about it. Encourage them to bring a dish and it becomes a potluck (awesome)!  Whatever happens, don't stress! Its just like hanging out with your friends!

But I really don't want strangers in my house.
This is usually a homeowner's primary concern. They're interested in hosting something but don't want it to be listed as a public event. No problem.  Simply keep the Facebook invite private. Usually I'll stick a generic "Private House Concert" listing on my calendar page. Oftentimes a fan will ask if they can attend the show. I will ask you first if it is OK to pass your address on to this interested person. If you'd rather keep it a closed event, then no problem. It's your house :)

What exactly is the order of events for the evening?
The order is pretty laid back. It's usually great to give folks 1 hour to arrive, get comfortable, and chat it up before getting into music. Music can go for as little as 1 hour or as long as 2 with a little break in the middle to allow people to stretch their legs, get more food, and talk. I usually allow the night to unfold naturally, and start music when the time feels right.

What are your personal expectations?
I enjoy the storytelling aspect of live music. I think the most enjoyable, moving house concerts occur when a house becomes a listening room. As a performer who has played in nearly every different type of setting, my least enjoyable experiences involve playing in a noisy room where there is no connection to the audience and the music plays a backseat role. There is nothing wrong with music that exists merely to set a mood for an event, but I prefer that not to be the case in the context of house concerts.

This officially sounds like fun! What's next?
Great! Send an email to liamkylemusic@gmail.com and let's make it happen!
(you can also shoot me more questions)

**Special Note: This FAQ is the brainchild of Philadelphia songwriter Joy Ike. Our feelings towards house concerts are nearly identical, and I hugely admire what she is doing in the songwriter community.