| |
- One house
- One grand piano (baby grand is fine) in excellent playing condition and tuning
- Me, to play the grand piano
- Twenty to thirty nice people who like music
- Some refreshments
How do we do it?
Begin with about a half hour of arrival and greeting time for the guests. Then the host/hostess invites everyone to have a seat and introduces me. I play for about an hour or so, and then we all have some time to meet and mingle afterwards.
For those of you who have been to one of my concerts, you’ll know that my style is friendly, relaxed and full of good cheer. These house concerts are actual concerts, where people sit quietly and listen, but they’re not somber, pompous, or intimidating in the least. They’re really fun!
What’s in it for you?
You get to have one of your favorite concert artists perform in your home, on your piano, for your friends. It’s a musical experience that very few people have ever had, and one they’ll remember happily for a long time. The pleasure of having a private, professional concert in your own home used to be a luxury reserved for royalty. But now you have a “friend in the business”, and you and your friends can enjoy this wonderful experience yourselves. Hearing music in an intimate setting makes it much more exciting than a recording could ever be. Live music is better, and live music “up close and personal” is the best of all. The first house concert I ever attended was given by Vladimir Horowitz, at his New York City home (that’s a story I’d love to tell you about at some other time). I can’t promise you the identical experience to THAT, but I can promise you a satisfying and memorable event. |
|
| |
What’s in it for me?
I get to play for your guests in a close and personal setting, which I enjoy immensely. I also get to introduce my music to new people, who will hopefully be inspired to visit the CD table which will be set up on a convenient table nearby, and to sign up to be on my mailing list. I also get to have some refreshments, and meet and mingle with twenty or thirty nice people. So, as we used to say in New York, “What’s not to like?”
What about money?
In order to make these house concerts possible, I waive my usual concert fee and ask only for a $500 honorarium for the concert. Some people ask for a donation from the guests, others simply cover the cost themselves. For thirty people, the per person price is less than they would pay to go to a concert hall, and far less than they would have to pay to sit onstage with the performer and chat with him afterwards. Obviously, this is a rare opportunity that you would be offering to your friends, and, as our experiences have suggested, they will be thrilled to be a part of it.
What’s the first step?
Just email Jill Knowles at Jill@rivermusic.com to get the ball rolling. Or call her at (207) 359-8432. She can go over the details and answer any questions you might have. And don’t be shy about the idea of hosting a concert. It’s really not intimidating at all. It’s really just a great theme for a party. I’ll look forward to playing for you!
|
| |
|
