I love to do house concerts! If you would like to host one, I try to keep it very simple. Here are options that hosts have used in the past.

WHO WILL ATTEND?

• Select your own private invitees and create a special evening (following a supper perhaps).
• Make a limited public house concert with an invitation to your own mail list or circle of friends, giving them the particulars.
• Hold a public event. Some hosts are regular house concert presenters with a few even belonging to touring lists. If you are in this category, I would love to hear from you.
• Some hosts have a charitable event in mind and invite specific donors. Please see below.

HOW DO I PAY THE ARTIST?

• Private events. These are often a special occasion or a celebration and the hosts do not want to charge guests or ask for a donation but intend to cover the cost themselves behind the scenes. That’s simple. Call me and we will work out a reasonable fee!
• Freewill offering. Some hosts will suggest an amount but this leaves the option for all people to attend, no matter their means. That usually works well for me and this is the most popular method. The suggested gift often used is $20 but other amounts can work, too, depending on variables. Don’t hesitate to call me on this. Yes, there is a some risk for me if the attendance is low, but that’s OK. I like to play.
• Fundraising. I have done a quite a few of these and love the idea. For example, you may have a favourite charity that you want to publicize and fund. The publicity may say something like 50% of all proceeds go to “the charity”. No problem, I would love to support these efforts. Sometimes these events are more prestigious with excellent food and wine, for example. This kind of festive offering with high value can be a correspondingly pricier event and a smaller percentage or fixed amount can go to the artist.
• Fixed price at the door – that is up to the host.

Most hosts make a statement that all proceeds go to the artist but in larger groups, hosts often keep a little back to cover a reception, or perhaps a little wine at intermission and suchlike. This is fine with me. One could say: All profits go the artist.

There may be some special option you would like to consider. Don’t hesitate to write to me. raymond.sealey@gmail.com

LOGISTICS

If there is a smaller group, use armchairs, dining chairs, couches and whatever else is available. In these settings I usually sit down to play and do the concert purely acoustically. It is an intimate gathering.

If the event is larger, hosts often rent a few folding chairs to add to the home’s own sitting capacity. Sometimes, if the space is reasonably big, I use a modest high quality sound system just to give a little boost so that everyone can hear comfortably (never too loud).

The length of the concert can vary: one set of 50 minutes to one hour, or perhaps two sets of about 40 minutes giving the occasion for an intermission. It’s up to you. If you would like a theme to the music, let me know. I can offer some program suggestions.

Lodging: if I am a little further away from home, some hosts put me up for a night following the concert (very low-demand requirements!). Or I will find my own lodging. Do not, in any way, feel obliged.