Time, Pot Luck Supper, Guidance, Misc.
Venue: The concerts are normally indoors (air-conditioned/heated) and on Saturday night (though this varies occasionally). Location will be confirmed/advised in the invitation.
Schedule for the event (and normal times below. If any variation, the invitation will give details)
Doors are opened to guests (5:30pm)
Pot luck dinner (6:00pm)
First set of music (6:30pm)
followed by a break for meet and greet the musicians, dessert, etc
then a second set of music, usually ending about 8:30pm or so.
Please arrive punctually (i.e., BEFORE 6:00 if participating in the pot luck, and always no later than start of music as late seating is disruptive.) In the occasional event that you simply cannot arrive on time, please wait for the song underway to finish before finding your seat. If you need to leave before the end of the concert, that is quite OK.
Pot luck: There will be an OPTIONAL pot luck supper prior to the concert. If you will participate, and we hope that you will, please will each bring your choice of covered main dish, salad, cheese, or dessert (or, if you are short of time, a fast food pickup) to share, plus any drink of preference for yourself. Desserts will be enjoyed during the break.
Water, tea and coffee will be provided, but please note this is otherwise a BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage) event. Alcoholic beverages in moderation please. BTW, if you don't see the tea, please look in the refrigerator as I often forget to get it out. Ice is in the freezer above.
If you prefer to eat before the concert, and forgo the pot luck, this is absolutely OK. However, if you do want to participate in the pot luck, please do bring a dish to share. It might be mentioned that our audience normally bring excellent home-made dishes, which makes for a great smorgasbord of tastes and flavours, and generally enhances the pleasure of the evening.
Seating: Chairs will be provided, but you may want to bring a cushion to soften the metal folding chair seat. If you wish to bring your own chair, please email in advance for an OK since there will not be sufficient space in sold out concerts.
Our audience is a friendly and welcoming lot, so please do introduce yourself to those seated next to you.
Admission: There will be a minimum suggested honorarium for the artist at the door. These contributions go 100% to the musician to defray their expenses and provide some compensation for their time and considerable talent. Please note that this is a suggested minimum and those who wish may, as many do, show your appreciation for these amazing musicians by making your contribution a larger amount. The suggested amount varies, so this information will be included in the invitation. Please do make your contribution as you enter as it is difficult for door staff to keep up with receivables.
Respect: Absolutely the best thing about house concerts is that you can really hear the music, every note and every word, as each are important. We are grateful for these fine musicians, who give us their time and great talents, and we need give them the respect that they, and fellow audience members deserve, by remaining quiet and seated during the performance of each song. Between songs, moving around and brief low volume comment or conversation with your neighbor is just fine, but please conclude before the beginning of the next song, and in no case interfere with the ability of those around you to hear the musician's commentary between songs. Unless specifically requested by the performer, please do not accompany by clapping, snapping, or singing along.
Younger audience members: Well behaved guests 16 years of age are always welcome. Younger folks are also welcome if accompanied by an attentive adult who will quickly escort them home if the youngster's attention wanes and they become a distraction to fellow guests. If any doubt please email the host prior to the concert.
Thank you for your consideration in regards both of the above on behalf of everyone in the venue.
New Music Jam: For the musicians among you, there will be an acoustic (no electrics please) jam in the pavillion immediately adjacent to the venue from 3pm each concert event day. No need to reserve or notify, so just email me to confirm the location (usually the same place each time). It is not necessary to attend the concert to participate in the jam, and there is no cost involved other than getting there. Enjoy!
Smoking is pemitted out of doors only. Please dispose of cigarette ends thoughtfully.
Invitations: This only for the intensely interested, but certified house concerts must observe restrictions laid down by the Performing Rights Organizations. One of these is that house concerts cannot be open to the public, but must be by invitation only. The PRO's position is that they are looking after the interests of copyright holders. But our musicians almost always
perform their own songs, and since 100% of the honorarium goes to the musicians, I am personally unclear as to the value added by the PRO's in such case. Why "restricting" the audience by prohibiting "open to the public" concerts is a good thing for any copyright holder anywhere is an even greater mystery to me. But rules are rules, and we must observe them. So, "By Invitation Only" to family and a wide circle of friends it is.
So please register on the "Home" page (lower right corner) to receive invitations to each concert. Please fill out all fields to keep us within the guidelines.
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