HOUSE CONCERT GUIDE
A practical guide to hosting Genna & Jesse in your home or space
Hi there! First of all — thank you. Whether you’re hosting your first house concert or your fiftieth, we’re honored to collaborate with you.
We’ve created this guide from hundreds of concerts in living rooms, gardens, cafés, and unconventional spaces across Europe and the U.S. Use what’s helpful, skip what isn’t, and trust your own style — every space and every gathering is different.
We hope these ideas bring a little clarity and confidence to your planning, while leaving plenty of room to make the evening truly yours.
WHY HOUSE CONCERTS ARE SO SPECIAL
Something special happens at a house concert. People settle in, truly listen, and become part of a shared experience. It’s one of the reasons we love these concerts so much: every room, every gathering, and every evening has its own character.
You don’t need a perfect space or an elaborate setup. A welcoming place, a group of people ready to listen, and live music are really the heart of it.
PREPARING THE SPACE
Almost any space can work beautifully. Living rooms, basements, community rooms, gardens, and even garages have all become wonderful concert spaces. The key is simply creating a place where guests can gather, see and hear comfortably, and focus on the music.
Some hosts set up rows of chairs; others mix couches, stools, pillows, or blankets on the floor. There’s no need for a formal setup — relaxed and comfortable works beautifully.
If you’d like to talk through your space ahead of time, we’re always happy to offer ideas. And once we arrive, we can adjust things together.
TIMING THE EVENT
Every house concert has its own natural rhythm. Here’s what we’ve seen work well at many shows:
Guests often arrive 30–60 minutes before the music, giving everyone time to connect, have a drink, and get comfortable.
The concert usually lasts 60–90 minutes, sometimes with a short break.
After the music, guests often linger to chat, unwind, or visit the merch table.
If you’d like, we’re happy to talk through the timing with you and help shape an evening that fits your space and gathering.
INVITING GUESTS & PLANNING THE EVENING
House concerts can be intimate gatherings of 20 people or fill a living room or garden with 50 or more. There’s no single right number. If gathering a group feels daunting, co-hosting with a friend can make it easier — and often more fun.
Invitations can be simple: a personal message, group text, email, private event page, or word of mouth. Helpful details to include are:
Date, time, and location
Whether guests should bring drinks, snacks, or something to share
A short introduction to Genna & Jesse, with a link to our website
A clear note that the concert is donation-based
For example:
“This is a donation-based concert. Please come prepared to contribute in a way that reflects the value of the evening and supports the artists.”
If you’re gathering RSVPs, we recommend inviting more people than your ideal audience size — plans inevitably change and not everyone who says yes will ultimately make it.
If you’d like help with your invitation, we’re happy to provide sample wording you can adapt.
ARTIST COMPENSATION
House concerts are traditionally donation-based, and this remains the most common arrangement for our concerts. Guests are invited to contribute directly to the artists, allowing the evening to remain personal and accessible while supporting our work as full-time musicians.
Some hosts prefer to offer a guaranteed fee instead, while others combine a guarantee with guest donations. We’re happy to agree together on the arrangement that makes the most sense for your gathering.
When a concert is donation-based, it’s important to let guests know in advance and to give them a brief reminder during the evening. We’ll bring a donation jar, and a simple invitation such as “Please contribute in a way that reflects the value of the evening and supports the artists” works beautifully.
On concert day, we’ll arrive at the time we’ve agreed on, bring in our gear, settle into the space, and get everything ready. There’s usually plenty of time to connect with you and find the natural flow of the room before guests arrive.
Once everyone has gathered, we’ll take it from there. Some concerts include a short break, others flow straight through. Every room and audience is a little different, and we’re happy to let the evening find its own rhythm.
After the music, we usually spend some time at the merch table, talking with guests and enjoying the gathering. For us, that time together is part of what makes house concerts so special.
CONCERT DAY
A FEW OTHER NOTES
Children - We love when children are part of a house concert, especially when they’re able to settle in and enjoy the music. Every gathering is different, and hosts sometimes get creative with a nearby room, childcare, or another arrangement if younger children need more freedom during the concert.
Lodging - In the house concert tradition, hosts often provide the artists with a place to stay after the show, particularly when they’re traveling on tour. If lodging is part of our arrangement, we’ll coordinate the details with you ahead of time.
Meals & Sharing Time - Some hosts enjoy sharing a meal with us before or after the concert. It’s never necessary to make anything elaborate — but when it works out, sitting down together can be a lovely part of the house concert experience.
IN CLOSING
Thank you again for considering a house concert with us. Whether it’s your first time hosting or something you’ve done many times before, we’re truly honored to be part of it.
If questions or ideas come up along the way, just reach out. We’re here to help make the process easy and the evening something special.
With appreciation,
Genna & Jesse