I’ll start off by saying, you probably will get rejected. At the time of this writing, their own website says that only 30% of first-time applicants get accepted. In fact, if you’re contemplating applying, you should probably read this first.
When I first started doing music, I came across Concerts in Your Home. It’s a network any musician can apply to join and have automatic access to house concert hosts in the USA if accepted. “IF” is the magic word here.
If you’ve spent any time researching house concerts and how to get them, you’d know that this could be a very valuable tool to have at your disposal as an independent musician. In order to join, musicians must pay a $45 fee and submit to a review process. I was new to the game (this was back in 2012), so I thought this would be a great way to get more gigs and I loved the idea of performing “concert-style” in private residences. So I submitted my application, the fee, and applied, no questions asked. I was so excited. I was convinced joining this network would get me to another level of earning money with music, meeting new people, touring, and gaining more exposure.
That’s not at all what happened. In fact, the end result of applying left me feeling defeated and, to be honest, worthless as a musician. I don’t know what their review process is like now, but back then the policy was to submit a musician’s application to two or three veteran house concert hosts in their network and let them say whatever about you, no matter how harsh.
Here’s what my “review” looked like…
Reviewer One:
Really like her voice. Seems a bit inexperienced and not yet comfortable performing. Songs not grabbing me, but she could develop over time.
Reviewer Two:
I don’t see any evidence of touring and not even a complete CD of work. How would she do an 80 minute original show? Anitra is a good singer and I think she could become an artist, but it really feels like she’s brand new at this. Lyrics, guitar playing, stage presence, all need attention.
I’m convinced the reviewers watched only one of my videos and looked at my website for only two seconds. Reviewer Two didn’t see that I had already released a full-length album and had another on the way. Had they looked at the “MUSIC” tab they would have seen that. While I did have some shows, it was true that I hadn’t established much touring experience quite yet. However, the sales pitch on their website led me to believe that joining the network helps musicians get tour dates. But the reviewers revealed a different story. Apparently, you have to already have touring experience and dates on your calendar to be considered. The classic Catch 22! They’ve since updated their information to include that artists who have paid headliner gigs at established listening rooms get booked by hosts in this network. In other words, if you’re not doing this already, you don’t get to do this. That’s almost like a record label telling you that you have to have your own fanbase and significant buzz established before they can sign you. What do you need the record label for at that point? In this case, why spend the extra $600/year with Concerts in Your Home, if you’re already established in this area?
What I thought was particularly hurtful was the line where Reviewer Two said “she could become an artist.” I was already an artist! As far as Reviewer One goes, I’m not sure how saying that a song does not “grab them” is constructive. Like, how does that help? Worst of all, the review fee was touted as an investment in order to get real feedback from actual hosts that can help you improve your materials. In my opinion, these reviews sucked and did more harm than good, and were not worth the “investment.”
*MEMBERS ONLY CONTENT* Excerpt: The straw that broke the camel’s back. I won’t say this publicly, but here’s something else about Concerts In Your Home that bugged the crap out of me. What I’m not sharing publicly about this topic is that I contacted the owner...(This content is for Crafty Community Members only. To unlock this content either log in below or become a member. Memberships start at just $5 a month.)
Needless to say, I have a few qualms with Concerts in Your Home.
Diversity
A few years later, I decided to reach back out to them. I personally reached out to the founder of Concerts in Your Home and asked point-blank, “are R&B/Soul artists represented in your network?” He replied and said there hasn’t been a lot of interest in this genre within their network. Ugh! The lack of diversity is very disconcerting. Several years ago, Concerts in Your Home displayed a list of artists that had been accepted on their website. The artists consisted mostly of Country, Americana, and Folk genres from my observation. If they are still operating in that same format today, artists in other genres are more than likely overlooked or possibly even excluded. If your music does not fit into those three genres, your 30% chance of being accepted will probably take a nosedive.
Investment
Being a part of Concerts in Your Home is a pretty hefty investment just to have access to hosts. Their fee is $600/year to join the network. You may be able to recapture your investment costs after doing a house concert or two, but you’ll have to get one or two of their hosts to book you first. Concerts in Your Home makes no actual guarantee that you’ll get shows. So what does $600 get you? An uncertain amount of house concert host connections with the hope of getting house concert gigs. You’ll still have to submit to an evaluation every time you reach out to a house concert host in the network and you may or may not land bookings.
+Related: How to Book House Concerts
Gigging Uncertainty
Since there is no guarantee that you will get any house concert gigs, there’s a chance that you might get none. The website doesn’t share how many house concerts their artists do per year within the network. Therefore, there’s no way to really gauge what you can expect in terms of adding gigs to your calendar.
Questionable Feedback
If they are currently providing feedback similar to the feedback I received, you may not be happy with the depth of feedback you receive. In fact, their website doesn’t seem to share what kind of feedback guidelines reviewers will follow. Therefore, you have no idea what level or depth of feedback you’ll end up with. In addition, the reviewers were anonymous. While I didn’t need their full name, address, and phone numbers, it would have been nice if they would have revealed at least a first name, how many house concerts they’ve hosted, how long they’ve been with the program, what types of genres they typically book, and what general region they live in. This would have helped me put their feedback into better context. Also, it would have been nice if they’d opened the door for me to ask follow-up questions so that I could clarify some of their statements and use their feedback in more constructive ways.
Lack of Information Before Investing
Overall, the website provides very little in the way of helping you make an informed decision about whether or not you should invest the $45 for the evaluation, or the $600 yearly membership fee. It would be nice if they had an FAQs section to answer some questions ahead of time so no one is wasting anyone’s time here. Since they don’t at this point and if you’re still interested, I suggest reaching out to the staff there to get your specific questions answered to determine whether Concerts in Your Home is the right choice for you. I’d start with these questions…
- How many artists do you have on your roster who play music in my genre?
- Of those artists, how many house concerts are they booking per year?
- What percentage of artists in my genre are getting accepted?
- What genres do your house concert hosts typically present?
- How many of your house concert hosts preside in my touring region?
- How many other artists am I competing with?
- Do you have to reapply each year?
- Does the application fee go toward your membership fees if accepted?
- Is there a refund available if I’m unhappy with the service?
These are just some of the questions you might start with asking. But I find it interesting that there isn’t more information of this nature already available to read through. It makes me wonder what’s not being said.
Get the House Concert Resource List Now
Get a listing of House Concert Hosts and Series across the United States and Canada. Each listing provides a name of the series and a website address to learn more about them. Great for musicians looking to add house concerts to their gigging rotation.
Is Concerts in Your Home the right choice for independent musicians?
I can’t make a blanket statement for every artist. But for me, it definitely was NOT the right choice. I’m an R&B/Soul artist for one and it doesn’t look like there’s a significant effort on their part to be inclusive in this area. It’s very important to find out if this network even presents music from your genre, to begin with. Also, the requirements are very strict and the entry fee can be a barrier for artists who have to consider a budget. There are other options and resources available to book house concerts that are more affordable. You can start with my free House Concert Resource list here. You can also promote house concerts and connect with potential house concert hosts when you are collecting contact information for your mailing list at shows by using this postcard or something similar. Also, check out my article, How to Book House Concerts. Heck, I’d even recommend spending the $45 Evaluation Fee on something similar to these House Concert Postcards instead and handing them out at your live shows. You’d probably get house concert gigs that way without having to invest $600 each year. Just my two cents.
Have you had experience with Concerts In Your Home? Please share your experience in the comments section.
More Resources…
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Totally understand this hesitation. As a Pop Soul Artist who is also a Black female I was wary as well but I did get accepted and I was able to do quite a few concerts/ tour. I had to put my membership on pause when I had a baby but they said I could come back whenever I was ready.
The lack of diversity bothered me and still bothers me. In fact one of my reviewers said “ finally some diversity and soul in CIYH” And every house I performed at wasn’t diverse either although they were always lovely people.
I had a few friends rejected as well. So it’s hard to say what their criteria is but my experience was and has been good. But there are definitely so many more options to be successful in house concerts!
Malynda, thanks for sharing your experience. It’s really good to see that they’ve opened the gates a bit and maybe this means they’ll be more inclusive forward going. I’m really glad you had a good experience with them. And congrats on the babe! 🙂