House Concerts

or “How to take us home with you”

House Concerts
What if you could have your favorite artists come to your house instead? What if you could have your own private concert in your living room or on your deck? Why not? Folk music fans have been doing it for years, it’s called a “house concert.”  Hip Hop got its start at the same kind of event – if DJ Cool Herc had waited for clubs to book him instead of rocking house parties & block parties the entire art form would have taken a lot longer to get off the ground.   Like Herc, we’re trying to launch a new genre here, and we need your help to do it.

Socially conscious and innovative music doesn’t get much respect or play in the corporate media. Music that cannot be easily packaged, marketed and turned into a commodity is generally ignored by the corporate media that is much too busy trying to sell you vacuous garbage from no-talent Pro-Tools Divas like Brittney Spears. That means you’re just plain not going to see the Fire on VH1 or MTV any time soon and if we want to be able to keep making music and you want to keep hearing it we need to take our music to the community. And why not? That’s what we’re writing songs about in the first place – the power of ordinary people to self-organize and create viable alternatives. And if you’re interested in community organizing and working with your neighbors to help make the world a better place a house party with Beltaine’s Fire (and/or any of the hundreds of other socially conscious bands and musicians across north America) is a great way to break the ice. Invite your friends & neighbors, have a potluck beforehand, clear some space in the living room to dance, and rediscover just how cool it is to be part of a vibrant connected community.

How does it work?
You contact the artist and set a date…it can be, and often is, on a weeknight. The week ends are our prime working nights in clubs, festivals and concert halls. Let’s say that we are traveling through your area while touring around the country and have a open date on our calendar. Typically week nights are less likely to book up since not many venues book acts on nights early in the week, but sometimes there are just holes in calendars. It would be mutually beneficial to both the artist and you to arrange a show on less-bookable night, but – hey– ask! Most Musicians, especially folks doing socially conscious music, are nice, approachable people.

Now how do you afford to pay musicians to have them perform for you?
Easy! Invite your circle of friends, neighbors, associates at work! Think of about twenty or thirty friends — think of it as 10 – 15 couples if that’s easier — who either already like our music (you do play our music for all your friends, don’t you)? Or who might like to hear us and send out a flier.

It’s just like any party really, it takes a little planning to make it a success. Start a couple of months in advance and follow up with your guests. Some folks like to make it a potluck meal with a concert after. Or just share some beverages, put out some chips and pass the hat for donations, ask folks to chip in $10-$15 each and with 30 folks there’ll be more then enough money to cover our costs. Twenty-five people at nd average of $12 each is $300. We get to cover our costs and make some money for the band and you get a concert in your living room.

If this sounds like something you might want to do we’ll be more than happy to help you pull it off.  Send us an email through the contact form on this website and we’ll hit you back asap.

Think about it! Hope to see you soon!