HOSt a HOUSe show

A house show is a private concert for you and your friends and it is my favorite kind of concert. There’s a magic link between the vulnerability of a good song and the vulnerability of having people over to your house – and when those two things happen at once it can become a very special, re-humanizing experience. It may even be the ideal way to experience a song. If you would like to host a house show sometime this year or if you are just interested in the potential of hosting a show, you can fill out the form below and ask any additional questions you may have. We’ll get back in touch with you shortly and hopefully soon we’ll all be in the same room, enjoying songs and stories. If you want to book a show that isn’t in your home, you can totally still use this form.

FAQs

  • A house show is a one of a kind private concert for you and your friends, usually in a private home. You pick your guest list, send out invites, and I’ll be there to provide songs and stories and hopefully it will be a rehumanizing and memorable evening for everyone. The focus is on listening during the performance, and that time is usually preceded and followed by food and drink and conversation.

  • Joel will bring all the necessary gear for his performance. He just needs an electrical outlet and about 15 square feet of space. You would be responsible for your guests’ seating, and any food and beverages (or ask your guests to bring something, potluck or BYOB style). If the performance is outside you can ask your guests to bring lawn chairs or blankets.

  • The format can always change but in the past it has worked to plan for a 2 and a half hour event. 30 minutes of socializing to start so people can settle in, then about 70 minutes of music, then more togertherness. The exact timing could change of course, but here’s a typical flow:

    4:00pm - Joel arrives for setup/soundcheck

    6:30pm - event starts, socializing

    7:00pm - introduction by the host, music starts

    8:10pm - music ends, more togetherness

  • Joel has played house shows for anywhere from 10 to 100 people, so whatever the capacity of your space is will do just fine! More people does mean more opportunity to share the cost of the show, so that is something to keep in mind. But really no group is too small!

  • The cost of a private house show depends a bit on location, but most fall between $1,800–$3,000. Once we learn the particulars of your event, we’ll reach back out with an estimate. Hosts can cover the cost in a number of ways:

    • Cover the cost themselves - inviting guests to enjoy the evening with no ticket price/suggested donation

    • Co-host with friends

    • Invite guests to contribute - often through a suggested donation of about $20 per person. (When communicated clearly on the invite and mentioned again at the show, this can cover a good portion of the cost.)

    If budget is a constraint, or if hosts have other ideas for covering the cost, we are always happy to talk!