how to be an GREAT host
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from interested hosts each year. We hope these will help you know what to expect and how to create an amazing concert experience in your home or yard!
We encourage you to read thoroughly prior to filling out an application to be a host.
What kind of atmosphere is needed?
Adam's house concerts are very intimate events, most powerful when your guests are tuned in and comfortable. It is an opportunity for guests to request songs, ask questions, and hear some of the stories and history behind the music.
As a host, you play a huge role in creating this environment, making sure your guests feel welcomed and encouraged to immerse in a night of music together.
Backyard shows with the bandies have a bit more of a range, often dictated by the desires of the host. They can be seated, very intimate concerts or dancing celebrations. As a rule, Adam Ezra Group never goes into a concert with a plan…this goes double for Live Gatherings.
Do I need to have a lot of space?
For indoor house concerts we request enough room to have at least 35 people attend your show. You’d be surprised though by how many people you can comfortably fit into an area when creative about moving furniture and finding a nice, visible performance area for Adam. It would be great if you can provide seating for everyone, but hosts have been known to have their guests bring chairs and even sit on the floor, stairs, or stand on the sides when necessary. We will work with you on your limitations and suggest ways to make it work.
For Live Gatherings, we request space and parking for a minimum of 50 guests, but the band has played for hundreds…
How big is Adam’s setup?
Adam doesn’t take up too much room. ☺ It’s just him, his guitar, and a small speaker system. Plan for a 5’x5’ space, and don’t be afraid to bring the audience in close!
Well then, how big is the band's set up?
These days, when playing in backyards the band loves playing acoustic around one microphone, so usually a lot less space than you'd typically see them use on traditional stages. But if you're planning something big and there's room to spare, they can bring their whole set-up! ☺
A HUGE TIP TO BEING AN AWESOME HOST!
At house concerts, many first-time hosts feel like it's their role to attend to guests throughout the show, making sure everyone has full glasses, snacks, etc. It's also common for hosts to take seats in the back, making sure their guests get preferential treatment. It can be counter-intuitive, but the very best shows are ones in which hosts sit in the front and get to completely immerse in the show. There will be guests at your show who have never experienced a house concert, and they will instinctively take their cues from you. Even if they don't know Adam from Adam (ha!), they will know how special the night is through your actions, and when a room is dialed in together, that's when Ad can dig the deepest into the stories and songs he shares.
At Live Gatherings similar dynamics apply. If you're envisioning an engaged concert, you will be the biggest factor in setting the tone on how the audience engages. If you're stationed at a grill cooking all afternoon for folks, while kind and selfless, it's gonna feel less like a concert and more like a BBQ to your first timer guests…
Do I need to handle ticket sales? Is this a free show?
This is not a free show. Hosts DO NOT need to buy tickets to their own concert. We handle ticket sales through our website and give you a link to share. As a host, though, you are agreeing to actively help us fill the show by inviting friends, family, neighbors and your community, and our local Adam Ezra Group fans. This will allow your community to purchase their tickets in advance using a credit card. We will update you with your ticket sales and provide you with a list of names for everyone who has purchased tickets. Once we reach the agreed upon number of tickets sold, we will mark your show as “Sold Out” and stop selling tickets to your event. We'll also start a wait list in case you receive cancellations. You are welcome to collect cash or checks for tickets on the day of show if there is still room in your house. All ticket money you collect will be given to Adam after the show.
What if the ticket price is a little steep for some of the people I'd love to invite?
If some of your guests require financial assistance, we are happy to provide discounts and even free tickets, no questions asked. You are welcome to talk through any other questions you may have regarding pricing and ticket sales with our team.
Do I need to invite strangers into my home?
Maybe — but your people get first dibs. 🙂
We completely understand that it's your home, so you'll have the first opportunity to invite friends, family and neighbors and try to “sell out” your space with your own community.
If there are still spots available after that, we generally ask our hosts to open them up to local AEG fans.
Part of why we love doing these shows is that they give new and old fans a chance to experience the music in this incredibly intimate setting — and we want to make the most of these special nights whenever we can.
We'll talk through all of this with you before anything is confirmed. If opening your home to folks you don't know is a hard no, that's totally okay — but we may end up going with another interested host instead.
And if what you're really looking for is a completely private concert, we do those too!
What if the answer to that last question makes me really nervous, and I just want to host a private concert??
No prob. Just click here to get in touch with our team about private concerts and events. ☺
What if I'm worried about my immediate family, friends, and neighbors getting tickets before local fans?
Also no prob! We can give you a window to share your ticket link with your community before releasing tickets to the public.
How do I promote my event?
The easiest and best way to promote your event is to reach out to your friends, family, and community and let them know how excited you are to be hosting a concert. Give them some information on Adam and Adam Ezra Group, what they've been up to, and why this concert is important to you. Share the music with them! We will provide you with materials - graphics, links, etc. Send emails, make calls, share on your social media pages. We suggest that you create your own Facebook Event and invite your community to provide information, communicate with your guests, and get a feel for who is coming. We will be posting your show on our website and our social media pages, and in addition, there will be email blasts going out to all our subscribers letting them know about our tour dates. When promoting anything though, your most powerful tool is good, ole' fashioned, personalized 1-on-1 communication. ☺
What do I need to provide for people who are attending?
You don't need to provide alcohol or food for your guests, but we have found that successful concerts often involve some form of food and beverage. Many of our hosts have potlucks and ask everyone to bring something to share. Some hosts prefer to provide home cooked meals and appetizers, while others have gone out and picked up a bunch of pizzas! You may only wish to offer simple snacks and drinks or make your concert BYOB. It's your night, and we want you to create an experience for your guests that feels right for you!
What are my responsibilities for the concert itself?
Besides being a host, filling the seats (or yard), and providing the basic area for the concert, we find that hosts play a tremendously important role in creating a positive listening environment. When your guests see you valuing the lyrics and wanting to give your energy to the performance, they will almost always follow suit. We recommend scheduling time before the show for you and your guests to catch up and socialize, especially if you're a person who really cares about everyone having a great time. When it's time for the concert to begin, we challenge you to take a break from being a host, find a spot up front, and experience the show as an audience member with everyone else!
Are children permitted?
Totally up to you. Let our team know in advance if you’d like your event to be family oriented or 21+. We are striving for environments in which EVERYONE is comfortable. We do have children attend our events often. Keep in mind though that during indoor house concerts especially, Adam will be performing adult music and speaking to adults throughout the night as he plays. It's probably good to set expectations for parents to make sure young children don't become a distraction to folks who want to listen.
How can I help Adam or AEG stay rested and healthy on this crazy tour?
Often times hosts will offer Adam and sometimes the whole band space in their home to spend the night, but for the sake of getting them through their insane, whirlwind tour schedule, we like giving them personal space, usually in nearby hotels. We have a travel fund set up, and while it's by no means necessary, we always appreciate it when hosts contribute. Many hosts like sitting down to a meal with Adam or AEG before guests arrive…always nice if time allows. Regardless, Adam especially would love the chance to meet and hang with you a bit before the guests begin to show up.
How can I help Adam or AEG get to my home?
Again, many hosts contribute to the travel fund we set up to help manage the expenses of the tour, but it's not a prerequisite to being a host. If you've been to an Adam Ezra Group concert, think of it like an ‘I Love You Box’ that covers flights, gasoline, and the many other expenses that come up while on tour. We do not choose hosts based on the size of their homes or their ability to contribute to the travel fund, but it is the travel fund that helps make this tour possible each year!
If you believe in what we're doing and want to support our efforts, you don't even need to be a host to contribute to the travel fund. Just click here!
What’s a typical schedule for the day of a concert?
It all depends on travel and logistics, however a show during the week usually starts around 7pm and weekend shows often start around 8pm. We love afternoon shows when touring allows, and sometimes on weekends Adam will play at two different homes that are close to one another, so you may even get chosen for an early matinee! Show lengths can vary as Adam never uses a set list, but most concerts involve about two hours of music (in one or two sets, depending on our host's preference). The guests usually are invited to arrive approximately 30-60 minutes prior to start time, depending on when hosts choose to open their doors. Adam or AEG often try to arrive at your home about one to two hours prior to doors opening in order get set up and hang for a while before guests arrive. Depending on where he’s (or they're) traveling from, we will work with you on arrival times, dinner plans, etc.
Can we feed Adam and the bandies healthy food to keep them strong and happy on the road?
My goodness, yes!
Are there any restrictions on who can host a show?
We love going to new homes every year, but sometimes it works out that we'll return to a past host. The idea is to open this up to as many new people as possible. We love big house shows, and it is not unusual for a Get Folked concert or Live Gathering to have well over 100 people in attendance, but small concerts are fun for us too! We shoot for a minimum of 35 people for inside house concerts though, and many hosts are surprised to learn just how many people can fit comfortably in a small space. We shoot for at least 50 attendees for Live Gatherings, but there are sometimes exceptions to that. If you are feeling anxious about hosting at your home, get creative! We have had creative hosts find all kinds of alternate ways to host their "house" concerts at local restaurants, VFW's, barns, gyms, churches, you name it…we had an awesome house concert in a hair salon once, and even one in a dentist's office!
