house concerts

In 2018 I embarked upon a solo tour that included many house concerts. It was the beginning of a great adventure!
I love it - I think it's a great way to meet new friends, visit old friends, and to share my music with you in an intimate and comfortable setting.

If you would like to host a show at your place or a space in your city, town, or neighbourhood, please be in touch at nerissacampbell@gmail.com - I would love to come by!

All House Concerts are entry by donation to encourage as many people to come as want to!

Here’s how it works, in a bit of a nutshell…

1. You have a living room, loft space, community space, art gallery, yoga studio, recording studio, coffee shop or other space where we can do a private show that can comfortably and safely host 20-40 people.
2. Ticket prices are a suggested donation of $20-$25. Everyone will be encouraged to donate in advance through my website. Money can also be collected by the host on the day of the show for the friends/guests of the host, if appropriate, with all proceeds to go to me, Nerissa Campbell of Crooked Mouth Music (unless I am touring with another person/small band, in which case we split the money evenly between us). Some people put out imaginative ‘tip jars’ and remind people to drop their cash there if they haven’t already contributed. It is a very relaxed situation! And, I can help you with how to approach everything if you’re uncomfortable in asking for money from people.
3. I’ll provide you with a list of everyone coming to the show from advance sales. You will only need to check people off the list as they arrive, and collect donations from your guests who have not purchased in advance. You can also request this be a private show if you don’t want to invite any strangers into your home, that is fine with me! I only ask that there be a minimum of 15 people attending.
4. Your home address will not be published on the web and will only be given to people who purchase tickets.
5. The shows will promoted on my websites, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and word-of-mouth, however I’ve found that majority of the attendees are friends of the host, so I really appreciate you helping to spread the word and making it a great night.
6. On that note, I’ll create a Facebook event for each show and make you a host of the event so you can easily invite your friends (Thank you!). Remember, please don’t post your address. The address only goes to people after they buy tickets.
8. You don’t need any sort of sound system. All you you need is a chair for Nerissa to sit on, a power outlet near the ‘stage’ and some kind of ambient lighting like a lamp on coffee table, floor lamp, or overhead lights with a dimmer to help create a cozy mood. I have some small portable lighting also if we need that. I do play with amplification in most situations, but it’s not very loud… I live in NY, and it won’t be any louder than I’d practice in my tiny apartment. That being said, perhaps you might want to let your neighbors know in advance, or invite them along!
9. You don’t need seating for everyone. If you have a bunch of chairs, great! But most shows are floor seating and we let guests know they should bring a cushion, pillow or folding chair to sit on during the show. Some people don’t mind standing, too.

That’s about it! It is just like hosting a party or gathering, and presenting an intimate concert at the same time. Some people like serving food, and drinks, others enjoy a potluck, and sometimes its a simple BYOB.. it’s up to you. I can promise you I’ll bring a beautiful show to your living room, with lots of stories and opportunities to interact with me as I perform (this depends a little on the audience. Sometimes I talk a lot, sometimes I don’t. I am pretty sensitive to a room and its dynamics), as well as before and after the show.

THANK YOU for considering this!! House Concerts are an amazing way for me to make a living. And they’re really a beautiful thing to do, people coming together to enjoy each others’ company and some music… I think we should all be having house concerts all of the time!!

Ready to host? Here’s what’s next...
1. Click the button below, and submit the short form.
2. Sit tight and I’ll get back to as soon as possible and we can hopefully book a show!

What they’re saying..

“The house concert I hosted with Nerissa was such a gorgeous experience - both the hosting of it and the performance itself. Everyone who came absolutely loved it. I received lots of messages the next day saying what a fun, intimate musical experience it was. There's something very special about seeing live music in the warm environment of someone's home; it kind of bridges the gap between audience and performer. At the start of the night we drank wine and shared food like we would at any house party, but then we all kicked back on cushions and couches (drinking more wine) while Nerissa weaved her musical magic. We didn't just hear her beautiful songs, we were treated to stories and to the process of how her music is created. When I sent out invites I suggested punters pay what they could - maybe $20 or $30. Everyone said that amount was a bargain. We very casually passed a hat around at the start of the evening; nobody hesitated to contribute.

House concerts in Australia are becoming increasingly popular. I was at one last weekend and I've signed up to go to another one next month. I think folks are starting to appreciate what a great night out this type of show can be. It takes a certain kind of performer to hold court in this way. Nerissa is that kind of performer - dynamic, vulnerable, funny, honest. In case you can't tell - I'm a massive fan.” - JT