So you want to host a house concert?  Congratulations!  You’re about to treat yourself and your friends to the most intimate, uplifting and enjoyable way to enjoy live music and good company.  Here’s how to do it. Planning: Basically the host's main responsibility is to bring the audience and set up the space. You invite all your friends and neighbours, by phone, e-vite, or paper invitations.  Do this at least 2 weeks in advance, and request confirmations. Allow for the fact that probably one-third of those you invite will come. Money: Martin's fee is $500, which is usually raised by 25 guests donating minimum $20 each at the door.  Its called a donation so the host doesn't have to pay taxes on it. Any further money collected can be kept by the host or donated to a cause of their choice.  Some hosts prefer to pay Martin themselves and invite their guests to come for free. We can make it work for a smaller audience by raising the donation amount, but 20-30 guests works well for most hosts. Schedule: A popular schedule is 8-10pm, with two sets of about 40 mins each, and a 40 min break in between for socializing and refreshments. If you like, you can ask guests to bring a bottle or a dish to pass. Typically guests are invited to arrive an hour before the concert is scheduled to start, to allow more time for socializing. Seating: If you don't have enough seats, its quite easy to rent or borrow folding chairs for the evening, or to put down some blankets or cushions for folks to sit on the floor. Staging: Martin will take care of all the sound equipment (minimal) and the entertainment.  Just provide a stage space of at least 6’ by 4’ and an attentive, music-loving audience! Etiquette: You should make clear to your guests whatever standards you expect in your home - ie. shoes on or off, alcohol served or not.  There should be no smoking, and children should only be brought if they are true music lovers and will happily sit through the whole concert.  There is time before and after the concert for socializing, and everyone is expected to listen respectfully to the concert so all can enjoy it fully. To Book a house concert with Martin, please contact:   Bill Roberts, Celtic Raine Productions celticraine@shaw.ca +1(780)965-2662