What?  House gigs are getting popular again?  I was talking to a musician who is 25 and I mentioned that in the 80’s my band had a steady house gig three nights a week.  He asked “Is that a gig in someone’s house?”  I laughed and explained that the term referred to a job where you didn’t have to tear down your equipment every night!

But in today’s terminology he actually IS correct because the term “house gig” now DOES mean exactly that.  As well as in houses, some DIY artists and bands are planning and performing their own shows in back yards, barns, college fields, etc.

A lot of these gigs are hosted by friends or fans.  Advantages?  Being closer to your audience, lower costs, building a fanbase, selling merch, and people come to listen, not just to socialize.  Many report that they make more money this way, charging a modest fee, or simply by taking donations, than they earn in a club.  Some are actually making a living doing well-planned functions and traveling across several states.

There are several websites which list platforms and networks for the public to connect with  performers.  Some more known artists are beginning to “get back to where they started”, meaning they are dumping the high priced arena venues and big booking agents for small settings similar to when they first began.  More power to them!