FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is this "house concert" thing you speak of?
It's a concert. In your house!. Simple as that. Imagine bringing your favorite singer/songwriter to your home for an intimate evening of live original music. Sounds cool, right?
I don't have a big house. Can I still host a concert?
Yes! Cozy is preferred when it comes to house concerts. My keyboard and small PA system can fit into some pretty tights spaces (trust me).
How many people are you expecting? I don't think I can get a lot of people to come.
I've done house shows for as few as 15 people, and for as many as 60. The beauty of a house concert is that it is purposely more intimate and focuses on quality over quantity. Traditional live music venues rely solely on numbers, making public shows more about quantity than quality. Honestly, I'd rather play for 20 listening guests than an audience of 150 people who could care less.
Can I book you at my neighborhood theater, coffeehouse, or gallery instead?
Sure! In fact, I often book house concerts in conjunction with another event in the city.
What does it cost to host a house concert?
ZERO. Your cost is about the same as if you were to host a regular party with your friends. Of course, I do have some overhead as an independent touring singer/songwriter, so a great way (and the most common way) to help with my touring costs is to have a suggested donation. $10 is the average, but you can set that to whatever you'd like. Whether you set the price to $8 or $20, the most important thing is to have your friends there. Making it a "suggested donation" is less intimidating for those who might be on a tight budget.
How do I plan this thing?
The beauty of a house concerts is that they are low stress and can be structured (or not structured) however you like. Once we agree on a date, we can talk about 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 we can make it a potluck, or you can be the real rock-star and cook for everyone! Whatever happens, don't stress. House concerts are supposed to be relaxed and fun!
But I really don't want strangers in my house.
This is usually a homeowners 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 "shows" page for the city I'll be in. If a fan asks me 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 night can be pretty laid back. It's a great idea 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. Sometimes there is a break in the middle to allow people to stretch their legs, get more food, etc. If you have some ideas I'd be glad to hear them. Let's plan an awesome house concert!
Ok, this sounds cool, how do I book you?
Great! Send an email to booking@kurtscobie.com. I am happy to answer any other questions and maybe come play a concert in your home, soon!
What is this "house concert" thing you speak of?
It's a concert. In your house!. Simple as that. Imagine bringing your favorite singer/songwriter to your home for an intimate evening of live original music. Sounds cool, right?
I don't have a big house. Can I still host a concert?
Yes! Cozy is preferred when it comes to house concerts. My keyboard and small PA system can fit into some pretty tights spaces (trust me).
How many people are you expecting? I don't think I can get a lot of people to come.
I've done house shows for as few as 15 people, and for as many as 60. The beauty of a house concert is that it is purposely more intimate and focuses on quality over quantity. Traditional live music venues rely solely on numbers, making public shows more about quantity than quality. Honestly, I'd rather play for 20 listening guests than an audience of 150 people who could care less.
Can I book you at my neighborhood theater, coffeehouse, or gallery instead?
Sure! In fact, I often book house concerts in conjunction with another event in the city.
What does it cost to host a house concert?
ZERO. Your cost is about the same as if you were to host a regular party with your friends. Of course, I do have some overhead as an independent touring singer/songwriter, so a great way (and the most common way) to help with my touring costs is to have a suggested donation. $10 is the average, but you can set that to whatever you'd like. Whether you set the price to $8 or $20, the most important thing is to have your friends there. Making it a "suggested donation" is less intimidating for those who might be on a tight budget.
How do I plan this thing?
The beauty of a house concerts is that they are low stress and can be structured (or not structured) however you like. Once we agree on a date, we can talk about 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 we can make it a potluck, or you can be the real rock-star and cook for everyone! Whatever happens, don't stress. House concerts are supposed to be relaxed and fun!
But I really don't want strangers in my house.
This is usually a homeowners 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 "shows" page for the city I'll be in. If a fan asks me 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 night can be pretty laid back. It's a great idea 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. Sometimes there is a break in the middle to allow people to stretch their legs, get more food, etc. If you have some ideas I'd be glad to hear them. Let's plan an awesome house concert!
Ok, this sounds cool, how do I book you?
Great! Send an email to booking@kurtscobie.com. I am happy to answer any other questions and maybe come play a concert in your home, soon!