How to Build an Audience for Your House Concert Series. Cheat.

1. Book great artists every time. Do your homework. Watch their YouTube videos, get testimonials from other hosts, see them live if possible. Great artists are what make people fall in love with house concerts and make them look forward to the next one.

Cheat: Get recommendations from hosts who seem to have similar tastes to yours… there are now more than 300 hosts at CIYH, and many send us their schedules. http://concertsinyourhome.com/host_search.hml

2. Book artists who have a fanbase in your area. Even a modest following could turn up a handful of guests that make the difference between “mostly empty” and “mostly full.” Even small localities can have some prime talent, but you should especially lookout for regional and national acts that tour your area regularly. Many times they love the town, but not the gig they usually book there.

Cheat: Try locals as an opening act (3-5 songs) if they convince you they’ll bring in at least 5 people.

3. Keep track: Create your own email list form and make sure everyone sees it during each event. Hosts and artists will tell you that building an email list is one of the key factors in building an audience.

Cheat: Check with the artist’s email list at the end of the night and see if any of their signups forgot to sign up on your sheet as well. Help them out. 8^)
Cheat #2: Encourage your guests to sign up by giving something away. A free CD, your old toaster, etc…

4. Don’t be shy, be silly! Where a shirt or hat or pin (in public) that encourages you to talk about your series when people ask questions. If you aren’t a “natural” at promoting, admit it, and compensate by being crafty.

Cheat: Some ready-to-go choices…

5. Go Clubbing: No, not that kind of club. Become more social by joining a book club, wine tasting club, maybe even a folk music club, etc… The more you grow your circle of friends, the easier it is to promote your events.

Cheat: Create a new group at Meetup.com. It’s only $12 per month, and you could use it for a broader interest as well. For example, “Acoustic Music Meetup,” “Bluegrass Lovers Meetup,” or even “House Concert Meetup.” Your could turn some of these people into your entertainment board to consult with on your talent choices… etc. Think they might attend if they can help pick the talent? (Yes, you must keep veto power.)

6. Add On: A house concert and wine tasting… A house concert and picking party… A house concert and creative workshop…
While some hosts would suggest that alcohol is a bad idea, many hosts manage it just fine. It takes a little extra care, food, and attention, but if your friends tend to be the responsible type, it can add that extra “panache” to make your event more memorable, social, and fun. Also, many artists are capable of doing an instrument or writing workshop if you have musically or creatively inclined friends.

Cheat: Have every couple/guest bring an appetizer OR a bottle of wine. Only open the doors (and the wine) 30-40 minutes before the show to keep people alert. They can refill and snack more during the break.

7. Make the most of each event: Get the best acts you can get, make people as comfortable as you can, and make sure you (yourself) are having a contagious good time. With some preparation and forethought, you don’t have to be stressed during the event - your guests will notice if you are.

Cheat: Delegate. You are bound to have a few core friends willing to pitch in and accept some limited responsibility; collecting donations, helping the artist with merch sales, minding the guestlist or mailing list, keeping an eye on bathrooms, etc.

8. Rinse and Repeat. These tips were developed without the use of animal testing.

We encourage hosts to keep their events private in order to keep “Nosy-Parkers” and authorities out of their business, uh, hobby. That said, there are a few hosts who are more public about what they do, and some of them also post flyers, connect with local radio and charities to create more awareness about their house concert series. Public promotion of your activities will require you to be more aware of your local ordinances.

Please share your tips and successes with us by commenting below.

More tips for hosts:

Be Clear About What You Do

What House Concerts Are About