Martha's Trouble House Show Host Information
The following are a few suggestions to make your house show be as successful as possible.
HOST PACKAGE
Once we've worked with you to book a house show, we strongly encourage you to purchase a 'host package' which gets you 20 tickets at a discounted price (which you can give to friends as your 'guest list' or sell at face value to provide a small hospitality budget for the show).
TICKETS
All tickets are sold in advance from Martha's Troubles online store for $20/each (other than discount tickets included with the purchase of a 'host package'). Your name & address will never be public, ticket buyers will only receive the house show address after purchasing their ticket(s). No tickets will be sold at the door.
Martha's Trouble will arrive 2 hours before showtime. Expect ticket holders to begin arriving 30 minutes before showtime.
BEFORE THE SHOW
It’s a good idea to talk to your neighbors and warn them about the extra cars that will be parked on the street on the night of the event. The show will be acoustic and with light amplification so its unlikely that the sound level will disturb them. This will also give you an opportunity to invite them to the concert.
Don’t forget to promote the show. Leading up to the house show, you’ll want to make sure you’re spreading the word to your friends. Facebook is a great way to spread the word. Sending out personal text messages and emails also tends to be even more effective. Word of mouth paired with some kind of written invite or even an Evite will do the trick.
FOR THE GUESTS
Consider rearranging the furniture to maximize the space. Though it isn’t required, we recommend sourcing some extra chairs for the night, whether from friends or rental. It’s also totally fine to have people sit on the floor, which can sometimes make room for an extra 10-15 people. This is entirely up to you.
Refreshments for guests are also always welcomed. Some people choose to do full appetizers, wine and cheese or just small desserts.
If you have pets, consider keeping them in an area of the house where they won’t disturb the guests or the show.
Make sure that you have enough paper supplies for the bathrooms as well as trash bags for the kitchen.
FOR THE ARTIST
If you have rugs, interesting lamps, candles or fixtures that would help provide ambiance for the designated performance space, feel free to set those up before the show. Martha's Trouble may adjust the setup or not use them, but any efforts to make the space feel more “vibey” are generally appreciated.
Make sure there is a designated “green room” somewhere in the house. Whether it’s a guest room or bonus room. Martha's Trouble would like a private space to prepare before the show and spend a few minutes after. If possible, MT would appreciate access to coffee and bottled water.
Be sure to set aside an area on a table for Martha's Trouble to have their merchandise items for sale during the evening. You’ll also want to recruit a volunteer to help assist with merchandise sales. Jen from Martha's Trouble will set everything up and briefly train the volunteer a few minutes before the doors officially open.
AFTER THE SHOW
Once the show is over, Martha's Trouble will mingle with the crowd before packing up. This time will need to be kept to a maximum of 45 minutes in order to be respectful of Martha's Troubles time as well as your own. This will allow your house to be clear by approximately 60 minutes after the end of the show.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us.