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Jun 9, 2023

How To Set Up a Successful House Concert Tour

This is an excerpt from the best-seller How To Make It in the New Music Business - Third Edition by Ari Herstand .

House concerts are not a new thing. There is a long tradition in the folk world that dates back to the ’60s. However, they seem to have had a massive resurgence over the past decade of singer-songwriters trading in club touring for house shows. Personally, I’ve played about 30 house concerts and these shows have been some of my favorite (and most profitable) shows of my career. Nothing beats the connection of a room full of supporters sitting merely feet from you, soaking up every note, every word, and every beat. A living room concert is one of the most memorable concert experiences a fan (and artist) will ever have. 

And house concerts aren’t just for tiny singer-songwriters. Artists like Vance Joy, David Bazan (of Pedro the Lion), Jeremy Messersmith, Julia Nunes, Califone, Mirah, Laura Gibson, Tim Kasher of Cursive, S. Carey, Richard Buckner, Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and John Vanderslice have set up house concert tours over the past few years.  

With house shows you don’t have to deal with bad sound guys, drunk a**holes, empty clubs, or the headache of promotion. Shannon Curtis has a great book on how to book a house concert tour, called No Booker, No Bouncer, No Bartender: How I Made $25K on a 2-Month House Concert Tour (And How You Can Too) , which I highly recommend if you’re thinking of getting into the house concert game. You can also check out ConcertsInYourHome, which is a community of house concert hosts around the world. If you are accepted as an artist into the network, you can set up full tours to cities you’ve never visited in great homes of acoustic fans. Or, Side Door, a newer startup that similarly connects hosts and touring artists. More on Side Door in a moment. 

And when Covid shut down the entire live music industry, many DIYers got creative, putting on drive-in, driveway and backyard concerts. We at Ari’s Take put on a drive-in concert in the summer of 2020. This was one of the first concerts to take place since lockdown in Los Angeles County. The artist Annabel Lee headlined the event and celebrated the release of her song “Los Angeles.” We promoted it on Instagram and required fans to text her (SMS service) for more info (which auto- returned a link to buy tickets). We sold tickets (price per car—people packed their household into their cars) through Splash and hosted the concert at a friend of a friend of a friend’s big open lot (because the owner of the parking lot we had originally booked got Covid five days before the show!). Fortunately, we didn’t release the location, via text, until the day before the show. 

We handed out an instruction sheet to every car (via a grabber stick), which had instructions on how to tune in (via the car radio), how to buy merch, social, stream and download links (via QR code, of course). We had a dedicated merch person managing the Venmo account, running around to cars with their merch items.

The show went off without a hitch. Live music had been officially shut down for four months at this point, and this concert was desperately needed by Annabel, her band, her fans and everyone else involved.

After having his summer 2020 tour canceled, Toronto-based singer-songwriter John Muirhead reached out to his local community offering driveway concerts and booked 10 driveway concerts in the Toronto area. And then in early 2021, once he had started to build up his TikTok presence, he compiled some footage from the previous summer into a little advertisement-style video. It spread on TikTok extremely quickly (racking up nearly 30,000 views) and returned more requests for driveway concerts in Ontario than he could handle (hashtags worked wonders). John filled up his entire calendar with these throughout 2021. He charged hosts a guaranteed minimum around $200–300 CAD, and averaged around $7 CAD per head in merch sales. Win!

The Nova Scotia–based company Side Door, co-founded by singer-songwriter Dan Mangan and music industry professional Laura Simpson, connects artists with hosts and helps them facilitate private concerts—both in person and online. All payments are taken digitally, and the money is kept in escrow until the show happens. The host and artist negotiate a payment split on the platform. They have name-your-price ticketing, global transactions, and geotargeting. Artists can even facilitate tours by automatically selecting the locations they are looking to tour to, and the registered hosts in those areas get notifications and can decide whether to host the artist.

Side Door currently has 3,000 venues and hosts registered in North America (mostly in Canada), and more popping up in Europe and around the world. They’ve facilitated shows with Vance Joy, Broken Social Scene, Feist, Barenaked Ladies, Tom Odell, Said the Whale and thousands of others.

The quirk-rock band More Fatter set out on a 43-date backyard concert tour in the summer of 2021. Half the shows were ticketed ($30 through Eventbrite), and the other half were $30 suggested donation. Some shows had 50+ people packed into the backyard. And other shows where they didn’t have much of a base and the host didn’t promote it super well had 5–10. They sold T- shirts for $40 and burned CDs of new demos for $20. They completely sold out of all their merch after multiple reorders. They toured in a 2005 Toyota Sienna and crashed on couches to keep expenses down. In two months, they made $25,000. That’s the thing with house concerts. It’s such a magical experience that you can get away with selling your merch much higher than you would at a club. It’s much more personal. People aren’t simply buying your merch for the item, they’re buying it as a souvenir from the night. And to have a special connection with you when they make the transaction.

THE BOOKING

The beauty of house concerts is that you only need one superpassionate fan per city to set up a house concert. Put out feelers to your email list and on social sites. Set a guarantee plus a percentage of tickets, or you can play for tips. 

You’ll have to designate Fridays and Saturdays (or Sunday afternoons) for house concerts, since most hosts have 9-to-5 jobs and won’t want to organize it for a weekday. But some may. 

Plan your house concerts about two to three months in advance. Give your hosts plenty of time to invite guests and get excited. 

You’ll want to tour with an amp or PA (and all mics/stands/cords) to plug in your guitar, keyboard and vocal mic. The host will most likely know nothing about sound and have zero sound equipment. You should be able to set up anywhere and play. Don’t forget your extension cords and power strips. 

The email I send out to potential hosts usually looks something like this: (Feel free to copy whatever you want)

Ari Herstand Living Room Concert! 

What the . . .? 

I’d like to set up shows in people’s living rooms/backyards/dorm lounges/etc. and have a very intimate experience—something that isn’t necessarily possible in many clubs I play. I’m going to play many new, unreleased songs for these performances—many songs that translate very well to the living room, but maybe not so well to the club. 

Interested? 

If you’d like to host a living room concert, all you need to do is reply and fill in the information below and I’ll get back to you with possible dates for your area. I need you to bring at least 20 people to the concert—hey you have home turf advantage! 

What I charge. 

The concert costs $450 + 80% of admission after $450 is met. This means, if you charge $25 a head (what I recommend) and 30 people show up, that equals a total of $750. I end up with $690 (you end up with $60) at the end of the night. If 12 people show up, that equals a total of $300. I end up with $450 at the end of the night (you have to cover the remaining $150). If you’re confident you can bring 18 people at $25 a head, everyone who lives in the house basically gets a free concert because I don’t charge the hosts and hostesses. Just so you know, this is much lower than my normal “private concert” rate, but because I want people who really dig my music—dare I call them fans—to be able to afford this and not have to pay an exorbitant amount out of pocket, I’ve reduced my rate for these house concerts. I used to take 100% after $450, but I’ve added the 20% to the host idea to give you an incentive to provide simple snacks/drinks for your guests and so you don’t lose money. 

What to provide. 

All you need to provide is a big enough space to hold everyone. Also, make sure my performance space (corner) is well lit with upright bright lamps or something and then the rest of the room can be dim with candles or other lamps. People are most comfortable sitting on chairs, couches, benches, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc., so it would be great if you had enough seating for everyone. Maybe encourage people to bring a pillow, blanket, or lawn chair to sit on if you don’t have enough chairs. Make sure you have a key person who will collect money from everyone at some point. 

The concert will last about 2 hours. The first 45 minutes I’ll play an acoustic, mostly unplugged (chill) set. Then take a 15-minute intermission and the next hour will be a full looping show—plugged in. Make sure your neighbors are OK with this. Won’t get too loud, though. I’m looking to start at 7:30 for most places.

Notes for this experience: 

Please let your guests know that this is an intimate, private concert by a touring musician. 

This is not a party. Promote my music to all guests and get them excited about the music if they don’t already know my stuff. This is not a drinking party with your best bud providing the entertainment. While alcohol is absolutely okay (and encouraged if somehow a Guinness ends up in my hand), this is not a time to get wasted. 

Also, please inform your guests, maybe at the start (because I don’t want to look like the bad guy), that talking is very uncool during the performance. 

Anything else? 

I’ll most likely need a place to crash that night, so if you have a couch, that would be fantastic. If you provide dinner for me, as well, I’ll love you forever. 

Please fill in this info and I’ll get back to you with open dates: 

City, State: 

Are you in high school or college (please list where): 

If in high school list parent’s name:

and email: 

How many live with you (are they okay with this): 

Do you live in a house, dorm, apartment, etc. (elaborate): 

Expected number of attendees: 

Where will this be held (living room, backyard, dorm lounge, etc. please elaborate): 

Exact Address: 

Contact Phone Number: 

Hopefully I’ll see you soon!  ~Ari 

And once you confirm a date, make sure you send them a confirmation email. Here’s what I use :

Details: 

Saturday, March 17 

Contact: Mickey Mouse 

Phone Number: 612-555-5555 

1234 Beautiful Lane 

St. Paul, MN 55104 

7:30–9:30 (you can change this if need be) 

$25 a person (hosts excluded) 

$450 guarantee + 80% of cover after $450 

Make public (upon request) or keep private? 

Load in: 6:00 

Sound check: 6:30 

Provided equipment: lamps to light my performance area (corner), mood lighting for the rest of the room 

Sleeping accommodations? yes 

**CANCELLATION POLICY 

Because I am routing a tour around this show, once this is confirmed, we cannot cancel it. Please do not confirm this unless you are certain you can afford the concert and/or can get enough people to attend. If you have to cancel the show less than 3 weeks before the date, I will still need to receive 70% of payment. 

Please confirm these details and we’re set! 

Thanks!  ~Ari

Customize this for you

People have organized pot lucks, birthday, graduation and anniversary parties around these. You will have a lot of fun with house concerts, and even if you’re a full band, as long as you tour with a full PA system, you can set up backyard and basement concerts. 

You will build lifelong fans this way. Attendees get a very personal experience, get to hang out with you before and after the show, and typically buy tons of merch. 

Make sure you pass around the mailing list clipboard or iPad and get every single person’s email who comes. If 30 people show up, the next time through you can book a club and you can estimate that each of them will bring at least 1 more person and now you have a solid 60 for your club show. 

Shannon Curtis typically works solely on tips and merch sales for her living room concerts, and it has worked out very well for her. If you’re just starting out, you can go this route, as well. But make sure the host discusses the importance of the tip jar (she advises not to include a suggested donation because if you say the show is worth $10, no one will drop a twenty in). The tip jar (and merch) should be placed right near the front door so it absolutely cannot be missed. 

Companies like Sofar Sounds, Side Door and ConcertsInYourHome organize (or help artists and fans organize) house concerts. Sofar Sounds has set up intimate, living shows with oftentimes famous artists like Hozier and Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. 

House concerts are a beautiful, unforgettable experience for everyone involved. •

Ari Herstand is the CEO and founder of the music business education company Ari’s Take and its online school Ari’s Take Academy as well as the host of the Webby Award winning New Music Business podcast. He is the author of the book How To Make It in the New Music Business which is a No. 1 best seller in 3 categories on Amazon and is being taught in over 300 universities in the U.S. and has been translated into multiple languages. As a musician he has played over 1,000 shows all over the world and has released 4 albums. As a speaker he has spoken at SXSW, Music Biz, BBC One Introducing, NAMM, SF MusicTech, Berklee College of Music and UCLA. He fronts the 1970s original funk/soul immersive concert theatrical experience, Brassroots District.

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By the time 2019 came to its fitful end, Andrew Marlin knew he was tired of touring. He was grateful, of course, for the ascendancy of Mandolin Orange, the duo he’d cofounded in North Carolina with fiddler Emily Frantz exactly a decade earlier. With time, they had become new flagbearers of the contemporary folk world, sweetly singing soft songs about the hardest parts of our lives, both as people and as a people. Their rise—particularly crowds that grew first to fill small dives, then the Ryman, then amphitheaters the size of Red Rocks—humbled Emily and Andrew, who became parents to Ruby late in 2018. They’d made a life of this.

Still, every night, Andrew especially was paid to relive a lifetime of grievances and griefs onstage. After 2019’s Tides of a Teardrop, a tender accounting of his mother’s early death, the process became evermore arduous, even exhausting. What’s more, those tunes—and the band’s entire catalogue, really—conflicted with the name Mandolin Orange, an early-20s holdover that never quite comported with the music they made. Nightly soundchecks, at least, provided temporary relief, as the band worked through a batch of guarded but hopeful songs written just after Ruby’s birth. They offered a new way to think about an established act.

Those tunes are now Watchhouse, which would have been Mandolin Orange’s sixth album but is instead their first also under the name Watchhouse, a moniker inspired by Marlin’s place of childhood solace. The name, like the new record itself, represents their reinvention as a band at the regenerative edges of subtly experimental folk-rock. Challenging as they are charming, and an inspired search for personal and political goodness, these nine songs offer welcome lessons about what any of us might become when the night begins to break.

“We’re different people than when we started this band,” Marlin says, reflecting on all these shifts. “We’re setting new intentions, taking control of this thing again.”

For full bio and promotional material please click here .

MANAGEMENT Jimmy Rhine [email protected]

BOOKING / EU & UK Stuart Kennedy [email protected] Colin Keenan [email protected]

BOOKING / NORTH AMERICA Josh Brinkman [email protected]

PRESS James Rainis [email protected] Jerome Ware [email protected] Matt Hanks [email protected]

Watchhouse Tour Dates

17 Best House Songs of All Time: Essential House Tracks

Hey there, fellow music lovers and DJs! It’s your favorite DJ, TBone, coming at you with a brand new, handpicked list of the 17 best house songs of all time.

As the owner of Level Tunes, I’ve had the privilege of spinning the decks at countless events, and over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the sheer genius of the house music genre. With its funky basslines, soulful vocals, and infectious beats, house music has a special place in my heart and I know it does for many of you too.

I’ve been getting tons of requests to share my favorite house tracks, and I thought it was high time I put together a list that showcases the timeless classics that have kept dancefloors packed and audiences grooving.

Whether you’re a DJ looking for some inspiration, or just a music fan searching for the ultimate house playlist, this is the list for you. I hope these tracks bring you as much joy as they’ve brought me, and keep the party going all night long!

Here are the best house songs of all time that you can check out:

List Of Best House Songs of All Time

Best House songs of all time in a list format:

1. Frankie Knuckles – “Your Love”

Album: Ultimate Production Year: 1987 Label: Trax Records

The legendary Frankie Knuckles, often regarded as the ‘Godfather of House Music’, gifted us “Your Love.” This tune, which is both soulful and hauntingly beautiful, has an unmissable synth line and captivating vocals by Jamie Principle. It’s a track that screams nostalgia, from the days when warehouse parties were a sanctum for house lovers. Choosing this song is a no-brainer because it has laid the foundation for so many house tracks that followed. It’s as relevant today as it was back in ’87.

2. Robin S – “Show Me Love”

Album: Show Me Love Year: 1990 Label: Champion Records

When you think of house anthems, “Show Me Love” instantly springs to mind. Robin S’s powerful vocals, combined with that iconic keyboard riff, create a timeless track that never fails to ignite the dancefloor. It’s a song about desire, passion, and the search for a genuine connection. This track has seen countless remixes, but the original remains an undisputed champion.

3. Inner City – “Good Life”

Album: Paradise Year: 1988 Label: 10 Records

Crafted by the genius of Kevin Saunderson and Paris Grey, “Good Life” is a house masterpiece. With its uplifting lyrics and mesmerizing beats, it transports you directly to a space of euphoria. This song represents everything house stands for: celebration, unity, and a good time.

4. Marshall Jefferson – “Move Your Body”

Album: Move Your Body: The Evolution of Chicago House Year: 1986 Label: Trax Records

Often labeled the “House Music Anthem,” Jefferson’s “Move Your Body” with its rhythmic piano chords and enthralling beats is a call to the dance floor. Every time it plays, you’re compelled to move, and that’s the essence of a great house track.

5. CeCe Peniston – “Finally”

Album: Finally Year: 1991 Label: A&M Records

“Finally” is a jubilant anthem, celebrating the thrill of finding love. Peniston’s vocals are a tour de force, backed by a beat that guarantees a rush of nostalgia. The song remains a staple in clubs worldwide, a testament to its timeless appeal.

6. Daft Punk – “Around The World”

Album: Homework Year: 1997 Label: Virgin Records

French duo Daft Punk redefined house music with their innovative approach. “Around The World” is repetitive in its lyrics but incredibly hypnotic, with a groovy bassline and playful melody.

7. Crystal Waters – “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)”

Album: Surprise Year: 1991 Label: Mercury Records

Waters’ “Gypsy Woman” is a perfect blend of deep house with soulful vocals. Its iconic “la da dee, la da da” remains unforgettable. This song not only makes you dance but makes you feel, diving deep into the narrative of a woman’s life.

8. Moloko – “Sing It Back”

Album: I Am Not a Doctor Year: 1998 Label: The Echo Label

Moloko’s “Sing It Back” is a delightful blend of electronica and house. Roisin Murphy’s sultry vocals combined with a catchy tune make it a must-have in every house playlist.

9. Stardust – “Music Sounds Better with You”

Album: Music Sounds Better with You (Single) Year: 1998 Label: Roule

An evergreen classic, Stardust created a track that embodies the spirit of French house. The recurring guitar riff and infectious vocals make it a timeless hit.

10. Larry Heard – “Can You Feel It”

Album: Trax Records: The 20th Anniversary Collection Year: 1986 Label: Trax Records

Larry Heard, under his moniker Mr. Fingers, created a track so powerful and raw, it sends shivers down your spine. “Can You Feel It” is minimalistic, yet deeply emotional.

11. Alison Limerick – “Where Love Lives”

Album: And Still I Rise Year: 1990 Label: Arista

Limerick’s soulful voice in “Where Love Lives” captures the essence of pure 90s house. The song, rich in its melody, is an anthem of love and hope.

12. Black Box – “Ride on Time”

Album: Dreamland Year: 1989 Label: Groove Groove Melody

This Italian group made waves with “Ride on Time,” a dance-heavy track with infectious energy. It’s an ode to the 90s dance music era.

13. Kerri Chandler – “Bar A Thym”

Album: Bar A Thym (Single) Year: 2005 Label: Nite Grooves

Kerri Chandler’s deep house marvel, “Bar A Thym,” is a testimony to house music’s power to be both upbeat and soulful. The track’s infectious rhythm makes it a DJ favorite.

14. Ten City – “That’s the Way Love Is”

Album: Foundation Year: 1989 Label: Atlantic

Ten City brought the essence of Chicago house with this gem. It’s a melodic journey that narrates the highs and lows of love.

15. Basement Jaxx – “Red Alert”

Album: Remedy Year: 1999 Label: XL Recordings

“Red Alert” is an explosion of funky beats and quirky vocals. Basement Jaxx’s unique blend of house and electronica creates an unforgettable dance experience.

16. Armand Van Helden – “You Don’t Know Me”

Album: 2 Future 4 U Year: 1998 Label: FFRR

Van Helden’s classic is a testament to house’s ability to capture raw emotion. With sampled vocals from Duane Harden, it’s a track that resonates with many, even today.

17. Masters At Work ft. India – “To Be In Love”

Album: MAW Records: The Compilation Vol. 1 Year: 1997 Label: MAW Records

Masters At Work and India’s collaboration resulted in a soulful house track that tugs at the heartstrings. Its rich vocals and harmonious beats epitomize the deep emotions house music can evoke.

Don’t forget to check:

17 Underrated Rap Songs 17 Underrated Christmas Songs 17 Underrated Love Songs

Fun Facts: Top House Tracks of All Time

“your love” by frankie knuckles.

• Sample Inspiration: “Your Love” was inspired by a mashup of two tracks: First Choice’s “Let No Man Put Asunder” and “You Saved My Day” by Cheryl Lynn. Frankie Knuckles played this mashup at his DJ sets and decided to recreate the magic in the studio.
• Godfather’s Legacy: The title of ‘Godfather of House Music’ was given to Frankie Knuckles by his fans due to his pioneering work in the genre. “Your Love” is one of the defining tracks that earned him this title.

“Show Me Love” by Robin S

• Chart-Topper: This song was a massive success in the US and UK, reaching number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the UK Singles Chart.
• Enduring Classic: “Show Me Love” has been covered and remixed by various artists, including Sam Feldt, whose 2015 version became a hit once again.

“Move Your Body” by Marshall Jefferson

• House Anthem: Jefferson actually wrote “Move Your Body” with the intention of it being an anthem for the house music genre. He succeeded, as it remains one of the most iconic tracks in house music history.
• Piano Power: The distinctive piano line in “Move Your Body” is credited with popularizing the use of piano in house music.

“Finally” by CeCe Peniston

• Debut Success: “Finally” was CeCe Peniston’s debut single, and it became an instant success. It peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA.
• Early Beginnings: Peniston wrote the lyrics to “Finally” during a college poetry class. The lyrics were inspired by her experience of finally finding the perfect man.

“Around The World” by Daft Punk

• Visual Feast: The music video for “Around The World,” directed by Michel Gondry, features various groups of characters (including skeletons, robots, and mummies) dancing on a multi-level platform. It’s been praised for its choreography and creativity.
• Repetitive Genius: The lyrics of “Around The World” consist solely of the phrase “around the world” repeated 144 times. Despite its repetitiveness, the song became a hit due to its catchy melody and production.

“Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)” by Crystal Waters

• Social Commentary: Crystal Waters wrote “Gypsy Woman” after observing a well-dressed woman sifting through a garbage can. The song’s lyrics highlight the plight of homeless people who often go unnoticed.
• Last-Minute Addition: The catchy “la da dee, la da da” refrain was added to the song at the last minute. It became the song’s signature and helped propel it to international success.

“Ride on Time” by Black Box

• Sampling Controversy: “Ride on Time” heavily samples Loleatta Holloway’s 1980 disco hit “Love Sensation.” However, Black Box initially failed to credit Holloway, leading to a lawsuit and subsequent settlement.
• Chart Domination: Despite the controversy, “Ride on Time” became the UK’s best-selling single of 1989 and topped the UK Singles Chart for six consecutive weeks.

“Bar A Thym” by Kerri Chandler

• In the Family: Kerri Chandler comes from a lineage of jazz musicians. His influences are evident in “Bar A Thym,” where he combines jazz elements with house music.
• The Art of Sampling: “Bar A Thym” samples the percussion from Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Brazilian Rhyme.” Chandler masterfully incorporates this into the track, creating a unique and infectious rhythm.

Thanks for reading.

Hi, I’m TBone, a DJ with over 20 years of experience spinning tunes in clubs, on cruises, and at weddings. With a massive collection of vinyl and CDs, I always know the perfect tracks for any occasion and love sharing my passion for music through my website, Level Tunes.

Other playlists:

• 17 Songs About a DJ: Must-Hear Tracks
• 11 Songs About Kurt Cobain: A Musical Tribute
• 11 Songs About Matter: Exploring Existence
• 11 Love Songs by Bad Bunny: Feel the Love

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How To Put On A House Concert And Host Them Successfully (A Guide For Musicians)

Having hosted and played many house concerts, I’ve become familiar with the good and the bad of both hosting and performing. In fact, two years ago I went on a house concert “tour” organized by Home Routes – an organization that sets up tours of house concerts for all sorts of artists.

On this tour, we saw the gamut. There were some shows that were rewarding, special, and financially lucrative experiences. There were also others where we kind of felt like we were just a replacement for a TV.

I’ve also recently become involved with an organization called Sofar Sounds – they set up secret house concerts in strange places and film them. It’s a great community, and I love the concept behind it.

But first, if it's your aim to do music professionally, you'll want to check out our free ebook while it's still available:

Free eBook: Discover how real independent musicians like you are making $4,077 - $22,573+ monthly via Youtube, let me know where to send the details:

Why House Concerts?

Artists love house concerts, because they have the opportunity to make “forever fans”. These are the kinds of loyal fans that will donate to your PledgeMusic campaign and buy your merch. House concerts are also really intimate and fun. On top of that, they generally pay pretty well.

Audience members love going to house concerts because they are intimate and private, you can bring your own booze, and it’s usually a fun community of friends putting it on.

Hosts love putting on house concerts because it’s a very fun and artistic way to host a house party, everybody is guaranteed to be in a good mood, and they get to have amazing artists right in their house. When done right, house concerts are amazing for everyone involved.

So here is my guide to putting on a great house concert. This is a valuable skill, because as a musician, at some point, you’ll probably find yourself helping out a friend in need and putting on a house concert for them . Or, maybe you just think they’re fun to organize! Here’s what you need to know to make your next concert a success.

Setting A Ticket Price Is Recommended

While in certain scenes (such as the punk scene or EDM scene), a donation-based approach is the norm, in most situations, a set ticket price is a good idea. Here’s why:

Musicians Get Paid Fairly

Even though it’s “just a house show “, there is still a lot of energy that goes into performing and then chatting with the audience afterwards. Musicians deserve to get paid for their work, and having a set ticket price means they know what they’re getting into and whether it's worthwhile.

At house concerts, musicians are supposed to get paid fairly. They may even expect it, especially if they've played a few house concerts before.

A House Concert Is More Of A Concert Than A Party

If you’re in to hosting a true house concert , you need to do what you can to make it a truly concert-like experience. Having a ticket price encourages people to pay attention to the music and appreciate the fact that it’s so intimate and personal. People always value what they pay for more than what they don't pay for.

Keep in mind that your goal is to create a “listening room” environment where people are there to listen and pay attention to the artist instead of causing a lot of raucous. House concert etiquette dictates that the audience is there to listen and appreciate the artist.

Tickets Can Be Used As RSVPs

House concerts with seven people are pretty awkward for everyone involved. You want to know how many people are coming and so does the artist. You should also offer tickets at the door, but selling tickets in advance makes it easier to know how many people are coming, and enables you to give the artist something of a guarantee.

You can take cash, eTransfers, or checks, whatever you want. Most house concert hosts will also have a bucket or a hat at the door to encourage anyone who hasn’t paid to pay up then and there.

Generally, ticket prices should be set between $10 and $20. More high-caliber artists may require the ticket price to be $20. That was the ticket price when I went on the Home Routes tour.

Set Up Concert Seating

In order to make sure everyone feels comfortable and to set the right tone for the concert, you need to set up some concert seating. Figure out where the artist is going to be setting up, and line up some seats in front of that area. This gives people direction and lets them know they are at a concert.

Of course, you probably won’t have enough seats for everyone – that’s totally fine! You really don’t need to have a seat for all in attendance. The point of the seating is to offer those who might need seats (older or disabled folks) a place to sit, and to set the expectations for the night.

House concerts are as casual as they are formal. Audience members often stand, sit on the floor, find some space on a couch, or just find a comfortable place from which to enjoy the concert, which is why you don't need seating for everyone.

You may also want to set up some additional extras, like a makeshift stage, a good fog machine for atmosphere , some nice lights or other. These could all add to the mood, depending on what you want to achieve.

Say A Few Words Before The Show

It’s always nice for the host to say a few things before the concert starts. This way you can really set the tone for the occasion. Talk about the artist, talk about how lucky the audience is to get to experience their music this way, and mention the tickets and the artist’s merch. This will go a long way and help you build and maintain a strong relationship with the artist.

Introductions also have a way of lending more credibility to the artist.

Set Up A Place To Sell The Artist's Merch

House concerts are a great place to sell merch as well as tickets. Audiences are usually very engaged and they get excited. Then they end up wanting to buy merch. Merch is one of the pillars of any artist’s tour finances. Giving them an easy way to sell it will make them very happy.

You can set up a table, or set aside some space on a counter top, whatever is most convenient. Artists will appreciate it if it's somewhere visible and easy to get to.

Encourage A Pot Luck

Everyone loves food, especially when it’s free. However, it’s going to be hard for you to cook food for everyone – that takes time and money. Instead, encourage your friends or audience members to bring an item to share!

Most people won’t mind cooking something small to share with a group. It doesn’t have to be mandatory, just encouraged. The added benefit is if you take this step, you’ll set the tone for all future house concerts, that there should be food!

Provide A Meal For The Artist

Of course, this isn’t totally necessary, but boy do we appreciate it. You’re probably already making food for the concert, so making something to share with the band or artist performing shouldn't be too much work, and is a very nice gesture.

Just ask if they would like to eat with you (most will say yes) and then consider if they have any food allergies. Artists are generally happy to eat whatever you cook, but it can't hurt to double check with them.

Again, this can help create a great experience for the artist, who you should be building a relationship with, especially if you think you might want them back for an encore performance.

Provide Water & Coffee/Tea

Providing some basics will make people feel at home and welcome. They’ll appreciate the gesture. Having drinks gives people something to do with their hands and makes everyone feel more comfortable.

How To Get Booked For A House Concert

First, post on Facebook (from your personal or professional account) that you’re looking to play house concerts. House concert hosts are always looking for new acts to book, and you will almost certainly get a few bookings this way. You'd be surprised by who is in your immediate and extended network of friends.

The next best thing you can do is talk to other artists, especially if you don't seem to be getting any bites on Facebook. Most everyone has played house concerts, and they’ll almost certainly be able to put you in touch with people who host them. Sometimes, artists will even have their house concerts posted on tour posters and websites, which can give you an idea about where to go to get bookings.

Another place to check is house concert directories. These make it easy to find potential venues in any state or province to flesh out your touring schedule.

Some house concert hosts have Facebook pages and websites – these are usually the most organized and professional hosts. To see if there are any of these in your city, search for [Your City House Concerts] on Google. Something will pop up! Again, these are the best opportunities to go after.

Once you find an opportunity that's right for you, just send a nice email telling the hosts who you are and when you want to play. If you’ve played house concerts before, let them know. Better yet, if you have live, acoustic video content, send them that.

Preparing Your Press Kit

Here are a few pieces of press that will make your life easier when booking house concerts:

• Good press pictures.
• Live videos of you playing acoustically, or recordings that show how you would play acoustically.
• A working website and social media presence.

This is about all you need. The main thing to focus on is great music. People will book you if they like your music.

How To Make The Most Of Every House Concert You Play

If you’re a musician, here are a few things you can do to maximize the effect of any house concert you play:

• Prepare a mailing list signup form, and don’t be afraid to pass it around. The single most important thing you can collect from people is their email address – make sure you’re collecting them at house concerts so you can stay in touch with engaged audience members. Even people that don't buy anything from you on the spot might drop by your website later to pick up a few merch items. You won't know unless you have the opportunity to email them.
• Have a good merch setup – make sure your merch is well organized and visible. It’s not uncommon to sell $200 of merch at a house concert.
• Get good at talking to a crowd. Playing house concerts is inherently different from playing a bar. Learn some jokes and be ready to interact with a crowd that has the ability to shout things at you!

Most importantly, house concerts are relaxed, fun gigs – have fun and make sure your audience has fun too!

Playing a house concert is one thing. Hosting is another entirely. Your eyes will open to the practical realities of organizing a great show if you find yourself on the hosting end. This experience will teach you a lot, and will ultimately make you a better artist too. If you succeed in your hosting duties, people will also begin to see you as a bit of a tastemaker and influencer, at least on a local level.

It’s hard to hate an artist that’s doing something good for other artists. If you’ve never hosted a house concert before, you could be missing out on something amazing.

P.S. Remember though, none of what you've learned will matter if you don't know how to get your music out there and earn from it. Want to learn how to do that? Then get our free ‘5 Steps To Profitable Youtube Music Career' ebook emailed directly to you!

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Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

House Tour Part 4: The Music Room (video)

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | October 5, 2017 69 Comments

Thanks for watching! xKevin

You may also like:

Juanita Trent says

October 5, 2017 at 10:13 am

Thank you for the tour. Mr Fox and yourself have a beautiful home. Look forward to more

Sharon says

October 5, 2017 at 10:45 am

Beautiful room…love your house & gardens…save many of your recipes & gardening tips…

Cary Bradley says

October 5, 2017 at 11:00 am

Hello Music Room! Kevin, what a lovely tour. Thanks so much. I’ve always wondered about the origins of your pianos and appreciate knowing the story of each one. Your past window gardens inspired me to pick up some paper white and grape hyacinth bulbs at my local Agway the other day and I’ve been hunting for a shallow dish to plant them in for forcing. Fun hunting, but no success yet. I was just going to ask you to remind me when to plant them, and rechecked your web page, and see that the time is now!!! Hooray. Better find those dishes fast. Thanks so much for all the fun info you share on your blog, especially the muscari and paper white help, and this terrific tour of the music room. Stay warm! 🙂

Louise Brouillette says

October 5, 2017 at 11:29 am

I love your house and garden tour videos, Kevin…keep them coming!

Patricia Cremens says

October 5, 2017 at 11:59 am

I love your garden window! You are living the dream!

Jerry Miller says

October 5, 2017 at 2:44 pm

Wow! What an incredible room. I love the colors, the window hangings, the pianos, furnishing and the window garden.

I need to get some African violets; I enjoyed growing them when I was younger.

Your home is wonderful. I’ll have to drop by one day and have you give me a tour!

Thanks for sharing your home through the video.

Lorraine Blanton says

October 5, 2017 at 7:52 pm

The music room wallpaper is incredible. I love it! Thank you for sharing your home and your adventures.

JanetRInn says

October 5, 2017 at 7:59 pm

these tours are wonderful — do you have any before pictures? I would love to see them also

badger gardener says

October 7, 2017 at 1:05 pm

I cannot pick a favorite among your rooms and spaces , but if I had to this may be at the top.

October 8, 2017 at 9:11 am

I love historic homes, and deeply appreciate your renovation stories, as well as seeing the beautiful results! Your blog is something I look forward to reading. I’m from the Heartland, so we can’t be neighbors, but I wish we could! Thank you for sharing your home!

Samantha says

October 8, 2017 at 9:17 am

I love your home, and had to imagine my harp in your music room! With the acoustics that go with a thirteen foot ceiling, I’ll bet your pianos music sound glorious!

Naris Montes says

October 8, 2017 at 9:39 am

I enjoy your blog very much! Food, house, gardens and more. Thank you so much for sharing.

Frederique Jennette says

October 8, 2017 at 10:04 am

Not only is it a beautiful and interesting old house, but you have furnished and remodeled it so beautifully! Thank you for sharing with us!.

October 8, 2017 at 10:09 am

Kevin— Your hair is looking really good! Thank you for the beautiful tour!

October 8, 2017 at 10:12 am

Wonderful! Your music room is gorgeous. How are the acoustics? Thank you so much for sharing.

sandra says

October 8, 2017 at 10:14 am

Thanks Kevin. I feel like an invited guest in your beautiful home. Thanks for sharing with us. xo

October 8, 2017 at 10:17 am

Another great tour enhanced by Lily! It’s wonderful to see a stately home that has truly beautiful workmanship. Details like the pocket doors and ceiling medallions are getting rarer by the day. Stone counters and open concept are so “in” today. I have lived in both and much prefer a home like yours. Thanks so much for sharing!

October 8, 2017 at 10:18 am

Hi Kevin. Watching you is as lovely a having a visit with a dear friend. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with all of us. It certainly is a treasure, as are you!

Margaret says

October 8, 2017 at 10:20 am

Hi Kevin, I have been following your blog for a while now and find it so inspiring! My husband and I are restoring a rambling 1920’s “New England Farm House” and its original formal garden. Your wonderful videos and advice are truly motivating. We too visit the local auction houses and estate sales; it is so nice to see someone else who treasures these antique relics! Our projects are on a much smaller scale than yours but can seem so overwhelming; it is so wonderful to see what you have achieved! Margaret

Mary V says

October 8, 2017 at 10:28 am

Another wonderful tour. Do your lucky guest ever get lost trying to find the powder room? I could happily live there I am not a fan of “open concept’ I like every room to have it’s own door. I cringe overtime I see a house with an open floor plan, luckily I live in a 1930’s colonial doors everywhere! Cannot wait for second floor tour.

October 8, 2017 at 10:32 am

Hello Clover Hill and hello Kevin, The music room is my favorite so far. I love the gas lamp and the wall paper. Can you play for us, Kevin? Thank you so much for your hospitality and love. With love, Sandy

Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says

October 8, 2017 at 10:46 am

Hi Kevin! I was struck by your remark about the wallpaper bird image. In fifth grade (mid 1960’s) I wrote a report on the Resplendent Quetzal, a distinctive long-tailed tropical bird. It made me wonder if the bird on the wallpaper could be scientifically correct. I surfed up some images of other long-tailed birds (as the Quetzal is mostly bright green) and found some similarities to your wallpaper image among Whydah birds. Not a perfect match, though. There are many different Whydah species and I certainly did not see them all amongst Google images, but I think it’s possible your wallpaper bird is a real bird. Thanks for always giving us something new to think about! Your tour was relaxing and enjoyable. Maybe I’ll just go and browse my husband’s gigantic bird book. ; >)

MARIA LOURDES HERNANDEZ says

October 8, 2017 at 10:55 am

Thank you for the music room tour! Lovely room. Love the plants as well. Would also love to hear you play the piano. Will wait for the next tour and looking forward to the kitchen…

Melissa Horton says

October 8, 2017 at 11:16 am

Could you, would you PLEASE play a tune on your piano for us? That would be so lovely…to hear the piano in the music room!

October 8, 2017 at 11:21 am

I always look forward to seeing your videos. Your home is beautiful. An awful lot of love has been put in the restoring of your home—-you can tell.

Barbara says

October 8, 2017 at 11:31 am

What a grand music room…all the details are magnificent..how lucky is that old house..so great of you two to restore and preserve..thanks for sharing..hugs

Kevin Lee Jacobs says

October 8, 2017 at 11:38 am

Hi Beverly – You are right – the wallpaper bird could be an artist’s fanciful rendering of the Resplendent Quetzal. (I searched Google images — what a beautiful bird.)

Hi Melissa Horton – I play the piano in two of my cooking videos. Check out 1) Cottage Cheese Pancakes, and 2) French Pastry Dough. Enjoy!

C Miller says

I have a cupboard that is so similar that I got from my grandmother, I always thought it was a handkerchief cupboard(no one told me that,I just assumed). My great uncle was a pianist, could very well be a music cabinet. Thanks for enlightening me!

Kathy C. says

October 8, 2017 at 11:39 am

Hi, Kevin– I’m one of the folks who asked for a floor plan. I think your tour lead-in was a great way to give us some sense of the relationship of one room to another. Mission accomplished!

Your videos are increasingly more professional, and you seem to have become progressively more relaxed in doing them. I daresay you’ve advanced all the way to the point of enjoying the experience! Good, because I certainly do! Keep up the good work. Kathy C. Grosse Ile, Michigan

Jeannie LeJeune says

October 8, 2017 at 11:49 am

What a beautiful room! I really enjoy your videos and my cooking has been enhanced by your wonderful easy recipes! Could you play a sample for us on the piano? I can just hear Mozart in that elegant room!

phyllis says

October 8, 2017 at 12:03 pm

Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us. The music room is also my favorite room. Even though you played the piano in previous videos, I wish you would play again. I am so grateful to have found your blog!

Cornelia Vick says

October 8, 2017 at 12:37 pm

Have loved watching the house tours each week. You have done a great job in restoration and design. Am sure you enjoy……..Thanks for sharing with us.

Joanne in Zone 6b says

October 8, 2017 at 12:40 pm

Thank you for the lovely tour of your beautiful music room; loved hearing about your multiple pianos and the fact that you do not have an “open-concept” home. I imagine you also lack an “en suite” bathroom…poor you! In making fun, I must also admit that I’m addicted to HGTV…and that I do have an en suite bathroom…and that I claim you as my guru for all things home, garden, food, and gracious living. Thank you for the inspiration and direction you offer so generously and humorously.

Marcia says

October 8, 2017 at 12:45 pm

I’ve been a fan of your garden window for some time. I finally got a 2 x 3 garden window installed in one of the bathrooms which gets east and south (sort of) sun. The window cranks open. I have the hardware but not the glass yet. It would help if I would remember to go in that bathroom and water those plants.

Keep it all coming. So fun….

Karen Thomas says

October 8, 2017 at 1:30 pm

I would love to hear you play an entire classical piece in this room. Are the acoustics good? I’ll bet your plants love it when you play for them! I’m glad you pointed out the kerosene lamp, as it struck my eye in the initial overview of the room. I also like that you include Lily when she’s around. She’s part of the family and it’s always a joy to see her.

October-woman says

October 8, 2017 at 5:52 pm

ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR. If you ever have a full recital in there – especially with duo-pianists, could you arrange it so we can “attend” it?

Rosemary O'Garra says

October 8, 2017 at 6:42 pm

Hi Kevin, You have a beautiful house. All the hard work is producing a home you can truly be proud of. Thinking about the wallpaper in the music room, I’m pretty sure the bird depicted is the New Guinea blue Bird of paradise. They have lovely long red tail feathers. Google it and have a look. There are 39 species and all in New Guinea.

October 8, 2017 at 6:54 pm

I’m living in a 1929 Tahoe cabin also with no closets… Thinking of my Granny’s old Steinway, which would not fit here. Love your beautiful music room! What a proud creation. Thanks, elana

Dolores says

October 8, 2017 at 7:17 pm

Love your music room with two babygrands

Frank Bailey says

October 9, 2017 at 9:29 am

As a descendant of Nathan Wild I could not be more pleased with all your preservation efforts. Its always a delight to see your videos of the house, the garden, and your cooking videos.

October 9, 2017 at 9:37 am

What a lovely music room you have! With those tall ceilings, the music from the pianos must be heavenly. And your houseplants are thriving in that window. Thank you for sharing a part of your world.

Shelley Choate says

October 9, 2017 at 10:41 am

This room is magical! I’m delighted you have added home tour videos to your repetoir. I’ve always loved your garden videos! I am in love with your home! And, by the way, your violet article has been my go-to for help with my african violets for a long time time now! Thank you for continuing to share your beautiful life with us! Give Lily a hug

Venessa Allegretto says

October 9, 2017 at 10:55 am

Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us.I have really enjoyed the tours. I’ve also tried many of your recipes. They are fabulous.Thank you again.Vene

October 9, 2017 at 11:41 am

It is all so lovely! You are correct, old-house living is not for everyone!

Thanks for sharing!

Deborah Levchak says

October 9, 2017 at 1:46 pm

Thank you for sharing your lovely home

October 9, 2017 at 4:04 pm

I thoroughly enjoy your house tours, Kevin! Thank you for showing us all you have done in your restoration endeavors. Beautifully done!

Dot Sparling says

October 9, 2017 at 6:02 pm

I love old homes and I am thoroughly enjoying seeing the wonderful renovations you have done in every room! Each room reflects all the considerable thought and love that went into every detail!

October 9, 2017 at 7:46 pm

Dear Kevin … How kind of you to share your beautiful home with us! I too am a lover of old houses and also own one, though not quite as old as yours. They do have their challenges, but nothing compares to their quality, especially their woodwork. Please keep making your awesome videos, and maybe some of your gardening skills. Dee

October 9, 2017 at 8:06 pm

Kevin, Thank you! I really enjoy your house tour videos. The music room’s window garden is inspirational. Keep up the great work.

Jean DeSavage says

October 9, 2017 at 9:56 pm

Oh, Kevin, if you are going to play another tune for taping, can you please make it fur elise? That is my all time favorite piano tune. It just makes my heart and spirit soar.

Your music room is my favorite so far. I love, love, love music. I think part of the problem our children have these days, is that they don’t get any music education anymore.

Though I know most people aren’t really into “powder” rooms, is the one between the dining and music rooms done true to the period for the house? You’ve done such a wonderful job with everything so far, I would bet you’ve done that just as beautifully. Keep the great work!

Julie Rybarczyk says

October 10, 2017 at 1:57 am

The wallpaper in your music room caught my eye, how beautiful. And I also love the window garden and big wood doors leading to the music room. Your home is beautiful, warm and cozy. I loved the tour. Hello to Lily the Beagle = )

Patti Lapp says

October 10, 2017 at 2:36 pm

Wow! Thank you for the tour of your beautiful music room. My two favorite parts; the opening tour to get to the music room, and that gorgeous wallpaper. I am always surprised that so many people are enamored of ‘open concept’ living. I love walls and a door (or 2) and the privacy offered by separating rooms. Your videos are wonderful, can’t wait for the next one. Oh, and I must mention how adorable Lily is!

Marilyn says

October 10, 2017 at 7:38 pm

Thank you for opening up your home and allowing your followers to see how magnificent it is. I am so enjoying them. Looking forward to the next one.

Margo P says

October 10, 2017 at 10:29 pm

Kevin- great tour, Thanks! I have a question: Why can’t you use odorless/colorless lamp oil in the kerosene lamp? Or maybe it could be converted if it cannot for some reason.

DJ Todd says

October 12, 2017 at 2:02 pm

Your music room is so tastefully appointed; one can never have too many pianos! I suspect there are more folks around than you might imagine who aren’t fans of the open concept living idea. My 1940’s cape cod home has small designated rooms which all had a specific purpose at the time which we have been able to repurpose for today’s living. There’s something so sheltering about plaster walls, arches, and all the rest…………

Frieda Hickman says

October 12, 2017 at 9:42 pm

Kevin, Would love to hear you play during your next video in the music room. Very Beautiful! Thanks for sharing

October 13, 2017 at 5:48 pm

Love, Love the music room!!!! Clover Hill is beautiful!!!! I love your gardens and the walking tours you give too. Can’t wait until your next tour video!! Have a great weekend, Kevin. Thanks for the tour

October 15, 2017 at 11:07 am

Wow, foundation repair is challenging! Most of your budget goes here and the results are “invisible”. You must really love this house! Fabulous true to character renovations by the way. Congratulations!

October 15, 2017 at 2:57 pm

What a lovely room! Coincidentally, I decorated the music room of Merriman Park in shades of teal and red, too!

I also prefer rooms with doors. I would never want anyone to see my kitchen after having prepared a meal for several guests. That now ubiquitous ‘open concept’ thing is awful.

Carmen Cassivi says

October 15, 2017 at 4:11 pm

Kevin, your music room is magnificent, your whole house is extraordinary, but while watching your video of the music room it brought me back to visits I have made in France in several châteaux, Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte, etc. The windows and dressings are truly beautiful.

I could live in what you call “an old house”, I always tell everyone when speaking of floor plans that I would love just to open different doors and walk into different rooms, instead of one big open floor plan.

The wallpaper is stunning too.

Thank you for sharing all this beauty with us, always looking forward to your videos about your recipes and of course your house and garden.

October 15, 2017 at 4:31 pm

Hi Kevin, What a beautiful room! I love the colors of the wall covering and the red window coverings. And the window garden is impressive! Love your house tours! Thank you for sharing.

Janice Crawford says

October 15, 2017 at 4:46 pm

Thanks for sharing your beautiful home, Kevin. My brother has a collection of kerosene lamps and uses lamp oil, thus avoiding that kerosene smell. I’m not sure whether or not that decreases its value. Might be good to check out, though.

Mariska says

October 16, 2017 at 8:39 am

Hello Kevin, Thanks for the tour of the music room, it’s just lovely, full of so many special details that is often miss in an open floor plan. I too have and old house, 1910, and I appreciate that each room is separate and can have its own purpose and personality. Perhaps, one day, we might hear a concert from this beautiful music room. I vote for holiday tunes.

October 16, 2017 at 2:41 pm

Oh Kevin! How right you are about everyone not being a fit for old house living. In our fifty-three year marriage, Dear Hubby and I have lived in only one modern house. It was big and Frank Lloyd Wrightean, and in the desert. We lived there for ten years, and enjoyed its conveniences.

Otherwise we have always lived in old houses: an old farmhouse in Maryland, C1850, where our children grew up, and now in an 1820 ante-bellum historic home in GA., — in no way do these homes fit the new criterion of “open concept.” All the rooms in this house have fireplaces and at least two doors to a central hallway, and can be closed off for privacy or warmth. OK: I did put a big non-structural solid surface (not marble) island in the kitchen, which had no counter space to speak of. Problem solved. I love the big windows and a fireplace in the kitchen! I love high ceilings in old houses, porches, the history inherent in antiquity. Not everyone can live in an old house. The TV house shows show again and again a kind of disregard and lack of knowledge about the value of age and individuality. They all seem to want to live in the same house! It has few walls and granite counter tops! Ceilings with height for no reason!

Old houses require that closets be built in or improvised. Bathrooms are either rebuilt or appreciated for their antiquity. A row house in Baltimore where we lived while in school, had a huge tiled bathroom, with fittings that were works of art. Thinking of it, I can hear a House Hunter today saying, “Well, this bathroom is a gut!” Nooooo! Some of us enjoy and value old things that are serviceable and beautiful!

How wonderful that you kept (and have room for) all your pianos! Like something I would do and be ragged about it by friends and family. I have a library with ceiling to floor shelves… eight thousand books. More on the way.

Your plant window is enviable and beautiful. Thank you for all of your house tours. As always, your cooking videos and recipes are welcome and helpful. I look first to you for gardening information; your formal garden is an inspiration and a delight, as are YOU!

Susan Bankard says

October 23, 2017 at 8:22 pm

Loved the tour. My big question is how do you build a fire with vertical logs? It looks very interesting. I’ve only built fires horizontally,

November 14, 2017 at 10:25 pm

Enjoyed touring another room in your beautiful house! Thanks for sharing.

Cindi L says

February 26, 2018 at 1:52 am

Our house is 100 years old but we do have some closets. Our ceilings are only 10 ft. I like each room having its own identity. Guests just flow from one room to next to mingle. There’s usually something different going on in each room. And you can close off living room so tv and game of pool don’t clash. Or piano and tv. You have a nice house. Congrats and continue having fun with it.

Christa Fraser says

December 8, 2019 at 5:09 pm

You have a marvelous home! How do you manage to look after everything, inside and out? It’s substantial, I couldn’t do it. It must be a labor of love.

Thanks for sharing your lovely home. By the way, you have a lot more snow than I do, and I live in Canada!

All the best and wishing you a Merry Christmas.

Christa Fraser

December 9, 2019 at 1:26 am

Hello Kevin, Your beautiful home is a step back in time. Thank-you for the wonderful tours and fascinating information. Touring your music room reminded me of my uncle and his partner. They both played the piano and had two pianos in their living room as well. I look forward to more tours of in and around your home and all your wonderful recipes. Here is a little side note about me. I hate cooking and haven’t really cooked since my son was married, fifteen years ago. However, I love cooking shows, follow specific blogs, like to read recipes and do all these religiously. Congratulations to you and Mr. Fox on your beautiful home !!

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Have mercy! John Stamos dazzles at White River State Park (The Beach Boys were there, too)

John Stamos wasn’t just a featured player at Saturday night’s Beach Boys concert, he was the main character.

Sporting black pants and a black vest — no shirt — amber-tinted sunglasses and an unbelievably gorgeous head of hair, Stamos somehow made it easy to miss the bona fide rock n’ roll legend he first came onstage to introduce: 83-year-old Mike Love , the only founding member of the band appearing on this tour.

Over the two-and-a-half-hour performance at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park Saturday night, Stamos was everywhere: lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboard, drums, congas, practically doing jumping jacks with a couple of tambourines. He’s running across stage, he’s improvising with the drummer who’s pretending he’s choking, he’s standing on the stool of his drum kit, using his sticks to conduct a crowd singalong.

I’m not saying Stamos was doing Too Much; he was giving the crowd exactly what they wanted, based on their screams and applause.

The show overall was nostalgic, well-produced, the vocals strong, the music great. The harmonies sounded fantastic, with Mike’s son, Christian Love, guitarist Brian Eichenberger and longtime member Bruce Johnston carrying their weight in recreating that original Beach Boys sound. Eichenberger in particular nailed the higher-range doo-wop sound listeners know and love.

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I hesitate to use the word perfect, but…. We're only halfway through 2024, but I think The Beach Boys and John Stamos could end up being one of the best shows I see all year.  

John Stamos joins select dates on The Beach Boys tour

Stamos, best known for his performance as Uncle Jesse on ABC"s “Full House,” has occasionally played with the Beach Boys for nearly 40 years. So, of course, when Love paused about a dozen songs in to ask if anyone noticed “our friend,” the crowd went wild.

How couldn’t we notice him? Stamos was the only person working the stage with that level of energy. Love is an octogenarian who did well just to walk back and forth in the July heat under the stage lights, and everyone else largely stayed in their assigned spots. Also, the giant screen behind them flashed a late-'80s-era headshot of Stamos accompanied by Uncle Jesse's signature catchphrase, “Have mercy.”

Want more? Here are all the acts coming to Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park this summer (so far)

Of course, the show wasn’t all Stamos all the time. The performance was divided into two sets, with a roughly 30-minute intermission in between. (“Since our first song came on the radio in the fall of 1961, I’m personally a fan of the intermission,” Love joked.) For the second half of the first set, Stamos was at one of the drum kits further upstage, and it became a regular Beach Boys concert.

He didn’t even come back right away after the intermission! The rest of the ban played four songs before he reemerged, this time wearing a blue Hawaiian print shirt as he approached center stage to speak to the crowd.

“Discord is at an all-time high, and decency is at an all-time low, but thank God we have The Beach Boys’ music to get us through.”

“Music unites us, and it’s so personal yet so universal," he continued. "And, if anything, I would love for you to take a little piece of tonight home in your heart with you and just go to it when you need it most.”

For all the ham and cheese Stamos had offered up to this point, he gave us the most moving moment of the night, choking up as he explained that Saturday was the 23 rd anniversary of his father’s passing, and he wanted to take a moment to remind us to be thankful and live in the moment, because nothing is promised.  

He then took lead vocals for “Forever,” as a photo slideshow featuring Stamos with his dad, his son and the late Bob Saget, with whom Stamos starred in Full House, played on the screen behind him. It was not the best vocal performance onstage Saturday night, but it was perhaps the sweetest.

‘Good Vibrations’ is reason enough to see The Beach Boys live  

OK, the Stamos of it all aside, The Beach Boys put on a hell of a show Saturday night.

I was prepared for this. I am a disciple of Glenn Gass , the IU Bloomington professor known for developing and teaching courses on the history of rock music. He's been known to wax poetic about the impact of the Beach Boys' 1966 album, "Pet Sounds," and his chalkboard-scribble method of breaking down the vibes in "Good Vibrations" is, among students, as iconic as the tune itself.

"Good Vibrations" was certainly the song I was most looking forward to, and I was not disappointed. The arrangement was fantastic, the vocals were spot-on. I love the way that song builds to this sonic release that’s layered and kooky (shout-out to the electro-theremin ). I would buy a ticket to The Beach Boys just to see “Good Vibrations” live again.

A number of other songs Saturday like “Kokomo,” “God Only Knows" and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice" blew me away in large part because of the nostalgia factor,

The show was well-produced — not just the sound, but in ways that enhanced the fan experience. For popular songs and key singalong opportunities, lyrics played on the screen behind the band, maximizing the potential for crowd interaction. And in place of the usual band introduction and jam that can interrupt the flow of a show, the Beach Boys had the band walk off to an extended outro that basically ran like end credits featuring the names and faces of every performer.

Disney+ documentary: Mike Love calls Beach Boys reunion with Brian Wilson in documentary 'sweet' and 'special'

Speaking of the performers, there’s no talking about this show without mentioning Jon Bolton , the non-Stamos drummer. For a musician whose position on stage can leave them easily overlooked in a band like this, his stage presence was dynamite. He was without a doubt the night’s most animated performer, and he led a rousing cover of The Mamas & The Papas' “California Dreamin’” that was probably the most fun version of that song I’ve ever seen or heard live.

If you get the chance, you should go to a Beach Boys show — with or without Stamos.  

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Contact IndyStar pop culture reporter Holly Hays at [email protected]. Follow her on X/Twitter: @hollyvhays .

Bob Iger: Embattled keeper of the House of Mouse

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Imagine an alternate universe where Bob Iger got his magical storybook ending after departing from the Walt Disney Co. more than two years ago.

It was one of the best-orchestrated exits you could dream up. After 15 years building Disney into an entertainment behemoth with the purchases of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and Fox, he’d handed the reins to a hand-picked successor.

But the fairy tale soon fractured .

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Less than a year after Iger’s “retirement,” his heir, Bob Chapek, was ousted and the one true Bob was back on the throne, welcomed like a returning king.

“Iger: The Sequel” has been far less cheery than the original so far. The House of Mouse to which Iger returned was beset by problems, some stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and Chapek’s unforced errors, such as the feud with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over LGBTQ+ issues that made Disney into a culture war punching bag.

Other challenges were of Iger’s own making , including an all-in streaming strategy that sacrificed box office and TV revenue to grow Disney+ and Hulu. The quality of Disney’s movies suffered from demands on studios, especially Marvel, to crank out television shows for money-losing Disney+. Meanwhile, original animated properties, such as “Wish,” struggled to take off.

Iger, 73, acknowledged these problems while weathering one negative news story after another.

He cut 8,000 Disney jobs in pursuit of $7.5 billion in cost savings. Cord-cutting continued to erode TV profits. He fought off a proxy fight from billionaire Nelson Peltz, only for the hedge funder to return months later demanding multiple seats on Disney’s board. In a much-needed victory for Iger, Disney shareholders resoundingly rejected Peltz’s bid at the company’s investor meeting in April.

Oh, and don’t forget the writers’ and actors’ strikes. Or the Charter blackout. Or the fact that Iger had barely stepped back onto the Burbank lot before questions resurfaced about succession plans. (A typical headline ran in the Wall Street Journal: “ Bob Iger Isn’t Having Much Fun .”)

Year One of Iger’s second tenure was all about repairing the damage and forging Disney’s future. Today, though, there are signs that Disney is playing offense again.

Iger has walked back comments that suggested he was willing to sell TV businesses, including ABC. At the same time, he is charging ahead with a plan to launch a full-blown ESPN streaming service, while also participating in a sports streaming venture with Fox Corp. and Warner Bros. Discovery. He has allowed film studio deputies to pump the brakes and focus on quality. He has slashed streaming losses significantly.

In February, he announced a $1.5-billion deal with “Fortnite” maker Epic Games to create a digital universe featuring the company’s franchises. He brought Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” movie to Disney+. Disney’s stock soared, helping Iger vanquish Peltz. The DeSantis feud is, for all practical purposes , over, with the company solidifying a $17-billion expansion and investment plan for its Florida parks.

And promisingly, Disney has had a strong run at the box office this year, with a solid performance from “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” gangbusters sales from “Inside Out 2” and an upcoming likely summer hit in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

Apart from Disney, Iger and his wife, Willow Bay, dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, are said to be near a deal to invest $250 million in soccer team Angel City FC for a majority stake.

Difficulties remain at the Mouse House, however. Disney shares fell 10% after its most recent quarterly earnings report, in which the company forecast weakening demand at its all-important theme parks.

So is Iger — who just celebrated 50 years since starting his career with ABC — enjoying himself again? At a company town hall in November he said: “I can tell you that building is a lot more fun than fixing.”

More to Read

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Column: Disney needs fixing, but Peltz was the wrong repairman

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Ryan Faughnder is a senior editor with the Los Angeles Times’ Company Town team, which covers the business of entertainment. He also hosts the entertainment industry newsletter The Wide Shot. A San Diego native, he earned a master’s degree in journalism from USC and a bachelor’s in English from UC Santa Barbara. Before joining The Times in 2013, he wrote for the Los Angeles Business Journal and Bloomberg News.

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