THE VISION

Small groups of people gathering locally (next door or around the corner) in modest sized venues, such as a neighbour's living-room, for the simple and natural pleasure of listening to genuinely unplugged Live acoustic music. Healthy Concerts make this experience available to all....

'small is beautiful' • neighbourhood involvement • natural & friendly atmospheres • intimate home settings • 'unplugged’ (low noise) • non-smoking • alternatives to alcohol • artists and audience of all ages and from diverse cultural backgrounds...

BUT HOW DOES IT WORK?

The`How does it Work` question often comes up. In our experience there is no formula that can be applied to all situations - all house concerts. There are areas of responsibility that need to be covered and a number of roles to be filled, by one multi-tasking individual alone or several people working together - much better!

Greeting people as they arrive, taking coats, serving drinks and food... a host often (not always) wants to be centre stage in these matters. When it comes to the entertainment or performance the featured artists are all too aware that something is expected of them.

That still leaves loads to do! The planning, coordinating, publicising (on and off the web), event managing, MC ing.... holding it all together. Hosts or artists sometimes share these responsibilities and manage without anyone else`s help. In our view, what works best is the involvement of a mentor partner.

The mentor has experience of Healthy Concerts and may have participated as an artist or host, or even both. The mentor is in a position to appreciate and advise. A mentor often recognises talent and appreciates the conditions in which it can best flourish. A mentor can listen to a prospective host and taylor a proposed event to their particular needs and wishes - anything from styles of music to shoes off, to children admitted under certain conditions only, to alcohol policy, to the number of people who can comfortably fit into the living room...

A mentor can see it from the audience point of view too, and may be best able to articulate, in the publicity, the unique attraction of a particular home venue or artistic programme.

Will it be a free event? Are there any expenses to be covered? Who is paying for food or drink? Who is cleaning up afterwards? Is there any advertising cost? Are the musicians amateur and happy to perform for the love of it? Or do their efforts and reputations warrant some form of recompence? There has to be an agreement and it is sometimes a third party, a mentor, who can help artists and hosts come to it.

Then there are the practical tasks of posting an event on the web site, accepting bookings, collecting ticket money, arranging furniture... Don't let all this put you off - it`s just natural!

Touring artists sometimes come with road managers. Expereinced hosts are sometimes experienced venue managers. Healthy Concerts do not require this degree of specialism. However, someone has to take the initiative and broker the `deals`. Your best friend could be your mentor. Yes, we like to think Healthy Concerts come about by magic - the magic of hosts, artists and mentors communicating with each other and making their dreams come true.

When you think of an idea for a Healthy Concert, publish it - no need to wait...
How to post an event on this website - detailed instructions for members
www.healthyconcerts.com/articles/How_to_post_a_Healthy_Concert_on_the_Website

Could you be a Healthy Concerts mentor?
The Art of Hospitality Club 2007 - find out more...
www.healthyconcerts.com/articles/Letter_to_Friends_and_Artists