How to Host a DIY House Show
If you’ve lived in a student neighborhood, you might’ve heard live music blaring in the distance as the sun begins to set. Whether it’s kicking the dust up in a dirty backyard or fifty people shuffled into a sweaty basement, house shows bring many people together from all different scenes to share in the love of live music.
Harry Miles is an experienced house show host. He moved into “The Aquarium” in 2019. The house was perfect for shows. A standard college party house, the ceilings were high, the basement was partially finished and the back wall had an embedded University of Minnesota “M” logo plastered on it. Miles and his roommates hosted seven Aquarium shows, six of which were open to the public and spread through socials and word of mouth.
The biggest advice Miles can give is just seeing it through. The most problematic Aquarium show was one that got out of his control. The turnout was three times the expected amount. The basement was a humid mess of breathless bodies. The crowd spilled into the neighbor’s yard, who happened to be the landlord, and the cops were called. As soon as people heard “Cops!” They peeled out, and it eliminated roughly half the crowd. Miles said this event made the show more enjoyable for everyone there, but he’d rather have just advertised the show more discreetly.
Have a plan and a backup plan. Planning will help if anything falls through or goes wrong. Drew Kinkade suggests having a First Aid kit too. Drew has hosted 10 shows with the company name, and recently just opened a new DIY venue in the Southeast Como neighborhood in Minneapolis called Chop Shop.
Have a team. It’s good to have a team to work through all the things that need to be done before and after. Setting up the stage, sound system, and lights wherever you are will go a lot quicker with more people. Cleaning up after the show isn’t something your audience is going to stick around for.
Clear the space. For a house show to be enjoyable, it needs space. Depending on your acts, the crowd may move around or sit down and get very intimate with an artist. Either way, it’s good to have multiple places for people to be. A rest area with seating where people can quietly conversate away from the action.
Name the space. A name will give people something to associate the house with. They’ll be more likely to return to future shows if you create a familiar brand. Some names that have worked in the past are Paperhouse, Midway Access, The Drop-In, Fat Earth, etc.
Book the artists. Having a sense of your artists’ styles will help you know what to expect from their crowds. Heavier music will get people moving aggressively, a folk artist might just make people stand around and tear up. Pay attention to their following, if they have a large local following, it’s likely more people will show up for them.
Know your audience. People who attend house shows can be any age and come from anywhere. Always plan for more people to show up than you anticipate, because they will.
Make a poster. Your poster is your advertisement, it shows people everything they need to know about the show. List the artists, any cover charge, head cap, your house name and anything else they should expect. Tag the artists accounts in the post too!
Advertise online. Starting a social media page for your house is a great way to promote your shows. Tap into your local scene’s online streams. Sometimes scenes will have Instagram or Twitter accounts that promote local shows.
Commit and take responsibility. Even if cops show up, if you’re in a student neighborhood, they’re likely there to make sure people are getting home safe and there are no angry neighbors. A visit from the cops is avoidable though and definitely preferred. Just commit to what you started and retain a positive outlook, if you can’t wrestle with the consequences, maybe it’s not for you.
Eli Awada is the owner of Chop Shop. He’s excited for the future of DIY shows including more acts than the traditional Midwest indie rock. Awada said house shows open up opportunities for artists to play with artists they might not otherwise at an established venue. House shows provide an environment for fluidity and experimentation.
Have fun. You’re participating in something that could change the lives of people forever. You could facilitate a connection between artist, label, radio people and fans. You’re doing a service to your community. Bask in the experience! People are there to have fun, so don’t forget to have fun yourself!