The first time I heard about house concerts, I was in a panic. I’d just learned that my favorite singer, Antje Duvekot, was coming to Seattle, and I had a conflict on the night of her show. I checked her website calendar and read that she was also playing a “private show” in Seattle that same week, so I reached out to the person hosting it. Turns out, the night before she was scheduled to sing on a big stage, she’d perform in the living room of a private home. Only 50 seats were available. And I scored two of them!
The night of the show, I drove into a lovely neighborhood, climbed stone steps leading to a stately Craftsman-style home, and sat in the first row, some three-feet from Antje as she sang my favorite songs. The show opened with a newcomer on the Seattle folk scene, a young singer-songwriter named Alice Howe. When Antje asked Alice to join her to sing harmony on “Vertigo,” the room was electrified as every soul there knew instinctively how privileged we were to witness, and take part in, such an intimate experience.
And now, you can, too.
House concerts are a growing trend in the music industry. Touring artists often bookend high-profile shows with boutique clubs or in-home performances. It’s a way for them to connect with fans more directly, and to make a bit of extra cash while on the road.
The host that night in Seattle was Bill Lippe. After 30 years as a research scientist, he found his true passion as a house concert promoter. Bill and his wife have been hosting house concerts for a decade. Following the show, I talked with Bill about house concerts. I’m so fortunate to be able to say that he, and Alice, both agreed to be guests on my show, Live Your Passion TV. We broke the interviews up into a four-part series. In the last segment, Alice Howe sings two of her original songs. I was so taken with Alice, and Bill, and the whole idea of house concerts that my husband, Rob, and I have decided to host one of our own. Headlining will be Alice Howe!
If you’d like to host a house concert, here’s a great resource: http://www.concertsinyourhome.com
You may also contact Bill Lippe for advice: house.concerts@comcast.net
To book Alice Howe, visit: www.alicehowe.com
For more information on Antje Duvekot, visit: www.antjeduvekot.com
Please let me know what you think of the shows! Feel free to forward and share the episodes. You can always reach me on Twitter at @whatsyouravocad
Thank you!
House Concerts Part 1: Bill Lippe
House Concerts Part 2: Bill Lippe & Alice Howe
House Concerts Part 3: Alice Howe
House Concerts Part 4: Alice Howe Performs!
Stacie Zinn Roberts is a nationally recognized, award-winning writer and marketing expert with more than 25 years of experience. She has won more than 40 national awards for her work including the United Nations Environmental Program for retail environmental marketing, as well as from organizations such at the Public Relations Society of America and the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association. She’s written for industry publications such as Golf Course Management, Sports Turf, Golfdom and PR Daily. She spent eight years as the president and director of marketing for Environmental Turf, where she developed the branding for SeaDwarf Seashore Paspalum, the grass that eventually became the greens grass for the Rio Olympic Golf Course. Stacie served for six years on the Board of Directors of the Florida Turfgrass Association as Chair of the Research & Scholarship Committee where she worked closely with the scientists from the University of Florida’s turfgrass breeding program. Stacie founded What’s Your Avocado? Marketing & Public Relations in 2012.
Really interesting Stacie. If there is a will, there is a way, and I know that you will always find the way!!! When is the House Concert at your home?
Andrea, thank you for your comment! So glad you liked the story! We have scheduled our house concert for Sunday, October 26th. There will only be 35 seats available.