A Concert in Your Living Room

by | Sep 10, 2014 | General | 2 comments

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

http://youtu.be/PvG4tRgKAts

 House Concerts Part 2: Bill Lippe & Alice Howe

http://youtu.be/Wb7Fx0td7XE

House Concerts Part 3: Alice Howe

http://youtu.be/jgbOltqpYXw

House Concerts Part 4: Alice Howe Performs! 

 http://youtu.be/jgbOltqpYXw

2 Comments

  1. Andrea Carroll

    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?

  2. Stacie Zinn Roberts

    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.

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