host a house concert
WHAT IS A HOUSE CONCERT?
A House Concert is a live concert in your home. You can transform your living room, back yard, front porch, barn, or pop-up space into an intimate music listening room for an afternoon or evening and enjoy Sorcha’s music, while sharing the experience with your community. Read on to learn more, then submit a request form below to team up with Sorcha on a one-of-a-kind creative collaboration.
why host a house concert?
Support independent musicians.
Create a community gathering space.
Share in the benefits of creative expression (it’s good for our health).
House concerts are a wonderful way to share a unique live music experience with your family, friends, and neighbors AND support independent touring musicians. Musicians love to play for an attentive audience in an intimate 'listening room' setting. Audiences love to hear new music and be part of a special community gathering.
how do i host?
Invite 20-25 (or more) family, friends, neighbors to attend a concert in your home.
Submit a Host Request Form / Confirm a concert date
Send an Invitation + Gather RSVPs
Set up some tables for food/drinks and Musician merch
Place a Donation basket near the entrance (or food!)
Want to make it a Potluck? Invite guests to bring a dish to share and enjoy a community meal before the concert. Or, keep it simple: invite folks to BYOB & snacks.
Download our House Concert Host Guide for step by step details and a checklist:
what if my space is small?
Sure! We just need to ensure it’s financially viable for the Musicians. If you can only fit 5-10 people in your space, we’ll shift to a Guaranteed Fee. Or, you might increase the suggested donation fee and include a meal. Or, you could team up with a friend with a larger space, co-create the vibe, and expand your community.
How Do musicians Get Paid?
By Suggested Donation (paid by attendees) or a Guaranteed Fee (paid by Host).
To collect Donations from Attendees:
Place a donation basket near the entrance or food; perhaps invite someone to welcome guests and encourage donations.
When you introduce the Musicians, encourage your guests to give what they can.
Musicians accept Cash or Venmo payments (QR code provided).
The Guaranteed Fee will be agreed upon at the time of booking.
house concert or house party?
We love them both. Here’s how to clarify which you want to host:
A HOUSE CONCERT is arranged like a concert with a clear start and end time, and often with social time beforehand. The Host pays Musicians a guaranteed flat fee or suggested donations collected from Attendees.
A HOUSE PARTY involves live background music while folks mingle, and the Host pays Musicians a guaranteed flat fee. This is booked as a Special Event for a Flat Fee.
sorcha, jo sorrell (cello), kate beever (percussion)
frances schooner, casco bay, portland, maine
sorcha | house concert, limerick, maine | music video by alex coppola - filmed in front of a live audience.
emilia dahlin (left) + sorcha | barn house concert, thomaston, maine
sorcha | garden concert, portland, maine
sorcha trio | with jeff christmas (left) + chris robley (right)
searsmont library concert series | searsmont, maine
can my house concert be…online?
Yes! We want to connect wherever you are. We love traveling to perform for you live but we also must consider the location, travel costs, and other logistics. So if hosting Sorcha isn’t geographically possible, or in person gathering isn’t your thing…
host a Virtual House Concert via Zoom
Virtual house concerts bring their own kind of magic and accessibility. Enjoy a special online shared music experience with friends and family, wherever you are in the world. You could all gather on Zoom OR fire up the projector & invite guests over for an In-Person Watch Party of our Virtual House Concert. Get creative: include a specialty cocktail/mock-tail recipe, suggest a theme, celebrate a milestone.
