Me at a current offered out/at capability home live performance
I lately performed an at-capacity (AKA offered out) home present with a fellow musician. Some issues went fallacious, however largely it was a profitable and really enjoyable night for everybody concerned. So in case you’ve been fascinated by taking part in a home live performance, right here’s what I study from the expertise.
Discover a Host
Step one is to place your feelers on the market for somebody to host the live performance of their dwelling. Because of this, it’s greatest to play in a city or metropolis the place you’ve got associates. That manner, you’ll be able to ask them straight after which they’ll invite their associates.
Listed here are the small print to hash out with the host…
Ask them how many individuals can comfortably match of their house. This may let you know what number of RSVPs to supply.
Work out what the host will and won’t present, like drinks and/or meals.
Ensure there’s enough parking.
Work out the compensation settlement, if any. Listed here are a number of choices:
1. Pal host: if the host is your good friend, they could be cool internet hosting the present totally free simply to assist your music.
2. Upfront charge: that is when the host pays you a set charge upfront then can recoup that charge by promoting tickets or donations. Then any quantity above the recouped quantity could be break up between you and the host.
3. Share of tickets/donations: that is while you and the host conform to a proportion they’ll get of the tickets/donation cash. As a result of it is going to be a small viewers, the host’s minimize could also be small.
4. Paid in merch: you’ll be able to provide to offer your host a merch bundle as a thank-you and as an alternative of giving them a minimize of the tickets/donations
Do a Joint Present
As a result of I did a present with one other artist, particularly an area artist, we had been in a position to pull twice as many individuals as both of us would’ve been in a position to alone. Additionally, my followers bought to listen to his music and his followers bought to listen to mine.
And regardless that we had been each acoustic acts, it gave folks two completely different vibes to take pleasure in. He was extra soulful acoustic and I’m extra unhappy/bittersweet acoustic. It provides selection and makes the night time extra attention-grabbing.
Accumulate RSVPs
There are various causes to gather RSVPs for your own home present…
First and most evident, you’ll know what number of seats to have accessible.
Second, you don’t wish to publish the host’s dwelling handle everywhere in the web. So by accumulating RSVPs, you’ll be able to e mail the handle solely to RSVPers.
And third, the entire emails you accumulate from RSVPers goes onto your e mail checklist. I’d counsel sending a follow-up e mail after the live performance to let the RSVPers know they’re now in your e mail checklist and might be getting updates about your music (and make it clear how they’ll unsubscribe).
Take into account a “Prompt Donation”
I’ve at all times finished a “advised donation” as an alternative of promoting tickets. Why? I need folks to come back to the live performance even when they don’t have the cash of their price range, or if they simply need a free night time out. Then if I wow them, they’ll make a donation on the present.
And what often occurs is that some RSVPers donate rather more than the advised quantity whereas some folks don’t donate something. So in my expertise, it finally ends up averaging out.
When To Put up on Social Media
I counsel doing an announcement on social media about 4-6 weeks earlier than the present, then take a break from speaking about it. Then throughout the two weeks main as much as the home present, begin getting extra according to posting the date and metropolis of the present and the way folks can RSVP. Then do a last-call publish a number of days earlier than the present, ensuring you point out you’ll be sending the handle solely to RSVPers the day earlier than the present.
How To E mail Your Subscribers
About 4-6 weeks prematurely, e mail your subscribers who’re within the zip code of the live performance location. Then shoot them one other e mail every week earlier than the present. Often, your e mail subscribers are extra receptive to every communication, so that you don’t want as many bulletins. And also you don’t wish to ship too many emails that folks really feel like they’re getting spammed.
Put together for Your Efficiency
At my current home present, my guitars stored going out of tune. Although I tuned them, there have been factors the place they bought worse. Luckily, the viewers was wonderful and chill and all of us had amusing about it.
So right here’s what I advised: Run by means of your whole set in your bed room as if there’s a crowd there. Work out what you’ll say in between songs. Plan for any modifications in tunings. Make notes about what wants to alter, what songs needs to be moved to a different spot, and so on.
Selling Your Merch
At my home present, the opposite artist determined to drink sizzling cider from considered one of my merch mugs, and he plugged my merch desk a number of instances. However you is probably not so lucky.
I counsel plugging your merch desk towards the top of your set, perhaps earlier than you play your final 2-3 songs. Then earlier than your final track, inform everybody you’ll be hanging out by your merch desk and also you’d like to say hello. I did this and offered some T-shirts.
Discuss To Folks, Be a Regular Human
When the present is over, stick round and meet the individuals who simply sat by means of your set. Thank them for coming and say, “It’s good to see you.” Be a traditional human and socialize and have conversations. Assembly the individuals who take heed to your music is among the greatest components of being a performing musician.