Sam Robbins

I'm glad you asked! At a base level, house concerts are concerts in private homes, or backyards, or poolsides, or anywhere really, with a more intimate audience, usually with 15+ guests. The audiences are generally invited by the host, although the concerts can be public or semi-public as well. Think of them as music parties, with a professional musician right there in your house. Usually, it's around an hour and 15 to an hour and a half of music, either as one set or two with a break in the middle. This is flexible however! There is usually a suggested donation of $10-$25, and all money goes to the musician. Most towns have pretty strict rules once it becomes a "business", so it's best to keep it simple like this. There is sometimes a pot-luck before the show, and usually some small hors d'oeuvres. Alcohol optional! 

On a deeper level, house concerts are truly my favorite events to play. I've found that they allow for a deeper connection between the artist and audience, because there are less distractions - no loud bars, no chatty club audiences. The people are there to listen and connect with each other and the music. It allows for a more flexible performance - storytelling, getting to know each other on a deeper level, sing alongs, spontaneous jams, everything you can imagine. It's a GREAT time!