Kevin Shay Johnson house concerts

House concerts

It's a concert in your living room! Gather your friends together for an intimate evening of soulful music and great stories in the relaxed setting of your home. House concerts are easy to organize, cost almost nothing to produce, and are a wonderful celebration of music and community.

"What a great night! Move over Leonard Cohen, here comes Slim! A very touching and full-hearted evening. I feel like this is the best of American art. Great stories, anecdotes, homage to the history of the music, current work, all woven together with the theme of love in all its forms."
—Susan Banyas, house concert attendee


How to host a house concert

1. Set the date. Call me at 503-654-7905. We'll find a good date for your house concert and talk through the logistics of hosting.

2. Plan the party. Will you provide refreshments or ask your guests to bring food/BYOB? Some folks like to have a dessert potluck with coffee and tea, others just put out a few snacks.

3. Invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers. A good size is 25 - 40 people, though more are okay if you have a really large house. (I need a guarantee of 20 people at $10 each.) Ask people to call or email you to make reservations so you know how many guests to expect.

4. Set the "stage" in a spot that can be seen from the rest of the room. It's an accoustic evening so I bring a minimal amount of equipment. All I'll need from you is a straight-back chair to sit on, and a place to set a glass of water.

5. Borrow a few extra chairs, if needed, and just move the furniture around a bit until you can squeeze everyone in. Borrow some plates and cups, too, if needed.

6. Don't worry about making your house perfect. One of the best things about house concerts is the opportunity to see an artist in an informal, personal home setting. Your friends will love it!

7. On the day of the show, have a change box (with change) ready and someone set up to take money at the door and sell CDs.

8. Relax! Enjoy the company of your friends and enjoy the show!

—video by Oscar David Ortiz