How to Run a Successful House Show Venue. Roy Silverstein
Introduction
House shows (i.e. musical concerts put on at private residences) have become a common phenomenon across the United States (and likely much of the world) in these times of struggle in the economy and the music industry. I’m not talking about the random house party with a band playing, but the trend of a particular house putting on regular shows for a sustained period of time. This I shall call the “house show venue.”
There is often a close-knit relationship between small venues (usually doubling as bars) and the local music scene. Small venue owners rely on small bands to bring in patrons and small bands rely on small venues to have a place to play and build an audience. But the success of bands to bring in an audience is never certain. It relies on a healthy attitude toward live music among the town/city’s populace, a somewhat “luck-of-the-draw” pool of talent, and a booker that has his/her finger on the pulse of what’s en vogue. Small venues that book the most recognized up and coming talent in the area stand to benefit greatly and outpace their competitors. However, when times are tough, this means that outpacing is really just staying alive, and, for those who are outpaced, it means death. And fewer venues in a given town/city means fewer places for bands to play. Hence, the ever-growing need for the house show venue.
But house shows are not merely a side step in an economic downturn. House shows also offer an alternative arena to the usual bar venues. Bar venues can be great for certain types of music. Depending on the bar, though, some places are more bar than they are venue. That means there will likely be a large group of people at the show who are really just there to drink and socialize. To the great annoyance of those people that came out that night to actually HEAR SOME MUSIC, the band (especially mellower bands) can actually face sonic competition from their supposed audience! It’s rare that a bar owner would do anything about this in fear of upsetting some of his best customers (the ones who drink the most). Remember that if there is a door charge, the band usually gets a healthy percentage of it. But it is the alcohol sales that the bar owner is really after. It’s most often that the bar keeps 100% of the alcohol income.
So, house show venues not only provide increased numbers of places to play for bands, but they also offer an environment where the music can be better presented. On top of that, who can deny the novelty of going to see a show in someone’s living room! It’s nice for the audience and the band to be in such an intimate and comfortable space.
But house shows are not a perfect solution to the problems of the typical small venue. The main reason lies in their very definition. House shows are put on at houses, and houses are not given the same flexibility by the Law as a commercial venue is. This means that there are number of ways in which house show venues die early deaths. The most obvious way is death by disturbing the peace. Bands and crowds of people are loud, and the neighbors don’t always appreciate the entertainment you are so conveniently offering them. But over-ambitious house show hosts can also find themselves victim of other legal maladies. Did you know that most cities require an entertainment license if you are going to profit from the display of live music? And I need not mention the selling of alcohol without a license. This is a serious offense that can carry heavy consequences.
This book attempts to give you guidelines on how to run a successful and lasting house show venue, complete with the do’s and the don’ts, tips, hints, and tricks. I offer these up based on my experience of running such a venue out of a house I rented in San Diego, CA from 2004 to 2009. Dubbed The Habitat, this 3 bedroom Craftsman in the Golden Hill neighborhood served up bi-weekly events to an eager audience and provided much needed outlets for local and touring bands looking for a place to present their more nuanced soundscapes.
(Note: In my mind, there is a house show venue continuum ranging from the “punk house” to an elaborate custom made in-home concert hall. This article attempts to provide guidance for something fairly well in the middle of that continuum.)
So you want to put on house shows, aye?
The first thing to consider when starting a house show venue: what’s your motivation? Hosting house shows isn’t just all fun and games. You have to be a booker, a promoter, a stage manager, the live sound support (equipment and operation), bouncer, general house manager, and the set up/clean up crew. You’ll be the one dealing with the angry neighbor, and you’ll be the one talking to the police should they arrive.
If money is your answer, forget it… You won’t be making much money from house shows, and if you manage to, you’ll be summarily shut down once word gets around (remember the licenses!).
If fame is your answer, forget it too… You may enjoy some marginal recognition by those “in the know,” but it’s bands that get famous, not owners of venues.
Women (or men)? Heh… is it worth it?
Because it’s fun? Yes, it is fun, but it is also a lot of work (i.e. not fun).
The love of music? Ok, now we’re talking. In my opinion, there is no good reason to run a house show venue other than the sincere love of music. I know a lot of people have thrown parties with bands from time to time, but maintaining a consistent parade of shows at your house requires dedication and a passion for seeing live music up close and personal.
Assessing your space
Once you have convinced yourself that you really do want to put on house shows, the first thing you need to do is assess your space. Do you live in a house or an apartment? An apartment is going to be more challenging due to the increased coupling of noise between neighbors. Do you even have a decent spot in your house for a band to set up and an audience to stand/sit? If you can’t imagine at least 20 people fitting into a room with a band, I’d advise against even considering it beyond a “once in a while” sort of thing. Are the acoustics of your space decent? A minor point, but one worth pondering. What’s your flooring? If you have carpet, are you prepared for it to get seriously stained? Dirty shoes and drink spillage is inevitable!!! Do you rent, or do you own? Landlords my not take kindly to the knowledge of your plans. If you have roommates, are they okay with having a bunch of people and loud music in the house? It’s obviously best to have roommates who are down with the cause.
The ideal house show venue is a decent sized house in either a very rural (i.e. spaced out) locale or in an urban area that is used to noise from the neighbors. Living rooms are often the most suitable spot in the house, and the bigger the better, generally speaking. It’s best if none of the walls of the living room are exceedingly adjacent to the walls of your neighbor’s house. Wood (or any hard) flooring is much preferable to carpet, which is going to get trashed immediately. The typical drywall construction of most homes is perfectly suitable acoustically. Drywall with wood floors can actually be quite pleasing, in my experience, especially if the room has somewhat tall ceilings and is not too small. If you own the home, all the better, although consider how long you plan to live there and the type of reputation you’d like to have among your neighbors. If you rent, you’ll want to be extra careful to follow these guidelines in order to avoid eviction and a stain on your rental history. And, as mentioned, having or choosing roommates who also enjoy music and don’t mind the periodic parties is essential if you share your confines with others. If you have a live-in significant other, spouse, or family, well… you’ll know if you have their support or not.
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