House Concerts
House Concerts
No bouncer. No bartender. Just an intimate evening of music and friends...
Open your doors to a fun and memorable evening with an Angela Sheik house concert. This is a great excuse to gather friends, co-workers, family, kids, and that guy from the gym to mingle in the warmth and intimacy of your own home. Short sets with intermissions recommended. Sound system provided.
Open your doors to a fun and memorable evening with an Angela Sheik house concert. This is a great excuse to gather friends, co-workers, family, kids, and that guy from the gym to mingle in the warmth and intimacy of your own home. Short sets with intermissions recommended. Sound system provided.
It’s easy & fun! Just follow these 4 steps:
1. Email angelasheik@gmail.com
with your requested dates. Describe what you have in mind for the evening.
2. Invite 15 or more of your friends, family, and community. This can be done with a Facebook event (click for example), on Evite.com, or via paper invite. The guest list is up to you! Artist is not responsible for bringing guests, it is the host's job to fill the room
3. Ask guests to bring a suggested donation. Usually this is $10 to $20 per guest, all proceeds to benefit the artist. If preferred, an equivalent flat fee can be worked out between the host and the artist.
4. Host away! You may wish to provide drinks and snacks or ask your guests to bring something to share for a potluck. It’s completely up to you. The point is to have a great time together. Sound system will be provided by the artist.
2. Invite 15 or more of your friends, family, and community. This can be done with a Facebook event (click for example), on Evite.com, or via paper invite. The guest list is up to you! Artist is not responsible for bringing guests, it is the host's job to fill the room
3. Ask guests to bring a suggested donation. Usually this is $10 to $20 per guest, all proceeds to benefit the artist. If preferred, an equivalent flat fee can be worked out between the host and the artist.
4. Host away! You may wish to provide drinks and snacks or ask your guests to bring something to share for a potluck. It’s completely up to you. The point is to have a great time together. Sound system will be provided by the artist.
HEAR WHAT THIS HOUSE CONCERT HOST HAD TO SAY:
"Angela is incredible. You won't believe how she builds her songs using a combination of instruments and petals to loop her original songs. Powerful and humble at the same time. Have NEVER seen anyone do what she does -- makes her PERFECT to watch at a house concert. Everyone was entranced."
-Cynthia D., house concert host
HOUSE CONCERT FAQ
HOUSE CONCERT FAQ
Credit where credit is due! This FAQ page is based off house concert faq verbiage
from Grassrootsy blogger and musician, Joy Ike.
Credit where credit is due! This FAQ page is based off house concert faq verbiage
from Grassrootsy blogger and musician, Joy Ike.
I DON’T HAVE A BIG HOUSE, CAN I STILL HOST A CONCERT?
Yes! From large lawns in Illinois to tiny lofts in NYC, every cozy living room is the right size for a house concert. Your place is the perfect space for a night of music and friends. Back yards can also work well on a warm summer night.
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 100+. The beauty of a house concert is that it is purposely more intimate and focuses on quality over quantity. Traditional venues focus on numbers, making public shows more about quantity than quality. House shows are about quality.
CAN I BOOK YOU AT MY NEIGHBORHOOD THEATER, COFFEEHOUSE, OR GALLERY INSTEAD?
Yes! Sometimes an after-hours coffee spot or a church basement is a win-win for everyone, but it does take some coordinating. Feel free to share your ideas!
DOES IT COST MONEY TO HOST A HOUSE CONCERT?
Not exactly. There is no outright cost to host a concert. But guests should be asked to come expecting to give a suggested donation. Many house concert hosts have a basket by the door and/or interrupt the performance in the middle, give a quick announcement asking people to support the artist, and then proceed to “pass the hat” during the performance as it continues. A house concert usually averages $10 per person. Some have been $8, some $15 or $20. If you prefer, we can discuss a flat fee so that your guests can have a free event, but in my experience most guests are happy to contribute.
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/Evite 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 okay to pass your address on to this interested person. If you’d rather keep it a closed event, that's no problem. It’s your house :)
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE ORDER OF EVENTS FOR THE EVENING?
A laid back night is key! It usually works well to give folks 1 hour to arrive, get comfortable, and chat before getting into music. Music can go for as little as 30 minutes or as long as a few hours. An intermission or two is recommended to allow people to stretch their legs, get more food, and talk. Ultimately I personally think having little or no agenda is what makes house shows so perfect.
WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS, ANGELA?
House concerts are my favorite! I think the most enjoyable, moving, memorable concerts occur when a living room becomes a listening room. As a performer who has played in all types of settings, my least enjoyable experiences involve playing in a noisy, distracted room where there is no connection to the audience and the music plays a backseat role. There is nothing wrong with it, it’s just generally not for me. I am most excited to share laughs, stories, and songs in a quiet, attentive room full of friends.
OK, THIS OFFICIALLY SOUNDS LIKE FUN. WHAT’S NEXT?
Yes! From large lawns in Illinois to tiny lofts in NYC, every cozy living room is the right size for a house concert. Your place is the perfect space for a night of music and friends. Back yards can also work well on a warm summer night.
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 100+. The beauty of a house concert is that it is purposely more intimate and focuses on quality over quantity. Traditional venues focus on numbers, making public shows more about quantity than quality. House shows are about quality.
CAN I BOOK YOU AT MY NEIGHBORHOOD THEATER, COFFEEHOUSE, OR GALLERY INSTEAD?
Yes! Sometimes an after-hours coffee spot or a church basement is a win-win for everyone, but it does take some coordinating. Feel free to share your ideas!
DOES IT COST MONEY TO HOST A HOUSE CONCERT?
Not exactly. There is no outright cost to host a concert. But guests should be asked to come expecting to give a suggested donation. Many house concert hosts have a basket by the door and/or interrupt the performance in the middle, give a quick announcement asking people to support the artist, and then proceed to “pass the hat” during the performance as it continues. A house concert usually averages $10 per person. Some have been $8, some $15 or $20. If you prefer, we can discuss a flat fee so that your guests can have a free event, but in my experience most guests are happy to contribute.
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/Evite 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 okay to pass your address on to this interested person. If you’d rather keep it a closed event, that's no problem. It’s your house :)
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE ORDER OF EVENTS FOR THE EVENING?
A laid back night is key! It usually works well to give folks 1 hour to arrive, get comfortable, and chat before getting into music. Music can go for as little as 30 minutes or as long as a few hours. An intermission or two is recommended to allow people to stretch their legs, get more food, and talk. Ultimately I personally think having little or no agenda is what makes house shows so perfect.
WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS, ANGELA?
House concerts are my favorite! I think the most enjoyable, moving, memorable concerts occur when a living room becomes a listening room. As a performer who has played in all types of settings, my least enjoyable experiences involve playing in a noisy, distracted room where there is no connection to the audience and the music plays a backseat role. There is nothing wrong with it, it’s just generally not for me. I am most excited to share laughs, stories, and songs in a quiet, attentive room full of friends.
OK, THIS OFFICIALLY SOUNDS LIKE FUN. WHAT’S NEXT?
Great! Send an email to angelasheik@gmail.com. Let’s do it!
Interested but still have questions?
Contact angelasheik@gmail.com.
