House Concerts / Art Shows Anyone??
| House Concerts / Arts Shows Anyone?? |
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HOUSE CONCERTS: A UNIQUE WAY TO REACH OUT TO ETHNIC PEOPLES IN TORONTO,
Canada |
by Grace Wiebe
One of the many ways that Christian musicians / artists / storytellers can have an impact in this generation, with believers or non-believers, is by being involved in doing house concerts / art shows / poetry readings / book reviews, etc. at the homes of Christian or non-Christian friends and contacts.
This type of small and homey atmosphere can provide the Christian artist with a much more intimate setting than they may otherwise be used to having with their patrons.
These smaller settings can allow the expressions of God's love through the artist and their art to move into a much more personal level, and may be a way to further engage their friends and visitors in deeper discussions / questions about spiritual truth or other deeper life issues than they may have opportunity to have in other situations with them. It can be an opportunity for the development of relationship-building which could lead to on-going dialogue. Relationship-building is vital to effective ministry because ministry / loving people flows out of relationship.
If you would like some ideas on what you might wish to include in such an event, we hope to include them on this page in the future. If some of you have already been involved in situations like this and would like to share some stories or helpful ideas, please feel free to do so. Much appreciated!
A few examples are listed here:
Evangelical Satsangs
- see articles about 'satsangs'
Helma Sawatsky House Concerts
Graham Ord House Concerts
Says Graham: When I am doing a big event in a town. I am also open to doing
house concerts in the same area. For me they are a great way to do extra 'grassroots'
gigs without all the hassles with promotion associated with doing the bigger
concerts.
The beauty of these House Concerts for the audience is that they get to be really close to the artist and to interact with them throughout the evening. This way they get to know an artist and to hear the story behind their songs.
Here's how a House Concert typically works.
A person with a large enough living room asks an artist (me in this case)
to play at their house. They then tell their friends and families who then
agree to pay $10 or $15 to come to the show. (The artist gets the entry fee
for playing.) The usual attendance is between 20 and 45 people, depending
on the room size. It is the host's responsibility to ensure that tickets are
sold. Everyone is encouraged to bring a dessert and the host supplies the
drinks. No PA is needed, as the aim is create an intimate atmosphere.
The evening consists of two one hour sets with a break in the middle when people enjoy coffee and dessert and get a chance to purchase CD's etc. Everyone who has been to a house concert, absolutely loves it!
To talk about the possibility of booking me for a house concert at your place, please feel free to call me on 604.324.4128 or email graham@grahamord.com. If I am already in your area it could well workout to do an additional gig at your house. Don't be shy now!
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HOUSE CONCERTS: A UNIQUE WAY TO REACH OUT TO
ETHNIC PEOPLES IN TORONTO, Canada
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(Editor's Note) - the following is excerpted from an
email from Chris H., an ethnomusicologist with years of experience in India.
Hopefully we will have a report on how this went to include in a future edition
before too long! : ) An idea which I imagine has potential in any culture!
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"…This December 17…we are having a house
concert and Indian dinner in our building here in down town Toronto, hosted
by our neighbor P. who has a large space for people to sit on the floor on
cushions and rugs. Over 60 people have already called in requesting advance
tickets. They are from diverse backgrounds, hence the need for unique and
specific prayer.
We have had this dinner and concert for three years now and each time there
is a deep sense of helplessness before God and need for wisdom. When there
are atheists, evangelicals, missionaries, Hindus, Muslims, Indian Christians,
Hippies, Artists, and Catholic Workers coming to a dinner and concert, you
wonder what the dynamics will be in conversation. There are quite a few who
are driving from 4 hours away to come to this and I sometimes wonder what
they are expecting! and it makes me and (my wife) a little nervous and also
desirous of your prayers. What an opportunity! Prayer is needed, firstly for
those conversations, and then for the actual concert where I will be singing
bhajans and (my wife) will be performing her songs, and a guest friend, C.F.,
may also play his sitar and sing.
We will be cooking the entire Indian meal, apart from one catered dish and
one dish prepared by our friend A.J... We are also looking for just the right
tabla player and that can be hard to find.
Thanks so much (for praying)…"
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OPEN DOORS and ENCOURAGEMENTS THROUGH
HOUSE CONCERTS
From: G.C.
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(Editor’s Note) – the following excerpts are from several recent
emails from one of our mission's church planters who has been working in this
country for many years. I personally believe that this is going to become
an increasingly effective way for musicians and artists to reach out into
the marketplace with God’s love, in relevant ways which are responded
to with heartfelt responses.
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“...Would you pray with us today and tomorrow for our house-concert tomorrow
night? It will be in a one of our city’s D. neighborhoods at one of their
D. associations. G. (church planter) will sing some well-known D. songs as
well as some of his own Scripture-based songs, and will explain some of the
stories behind the songs. N. (believer from this particular religious/cultural
group) will be sharing some of his poetry as well as some scripture again.
We will also offer prayer to those who would like to receive prayer. We expect
perhaps 30-50 people to attend. Pray for their hearts to be prepared beforehand
and touched by the Lord while they are there! And pray for us as a team as
we work together, carrying out our various parts to see this event happen.
Thank you for all your work in prayer!...”
Updates:
“...We are overwhelmed at the response over the last two days from so
many of you telling us you were (praying for us)! You obviously did well at
your end... Did we tell you we were expecting 30-50 people? There were at
least 100, which was quite a snug fit, but oh so welcome! There was a real
festive feel to the evening, lots of smiles and heads nodding in affirmation
that G. was singing some of their favorite folk songs, and real attentive
listening to G. as he shared the stories of his own songs. We were in N.’s
childhood neighborhood and he knew nearly everyone there. If you remember,
he set this engagement up for us, so it is especially nice for him that it
went so well. We weren’t sure how far our cookies and tea would go at
the break, but many around us jumped in to help and trays of plates and steaming
cups began to make the rounds, and somehow I think everyone was satisfied!
G. ended the evening with an old song that everyone knew and sang along to,
and then closed the time with a prayer, that seemed to touch many. Please
continue to pray for breakthrough amongst D.s, that they would be drawn to
the One who wants to fill their hearts with a reason to dance! Thanks so much
for your partnership with us...”
Another update since then:
“...We want to thank you once again for your extra prayers for us all
two weeks ago, as some of us participated in the concert event, some of us
gathered to pray for the evening, and one of us – bless his heart –
babysat for four kids on the team that were not his own!
Amongst the many notes of encouragement we received, one friend shared that
serving refreshments planned for 50 to a group of 100 seemed a little like
the loaves and fishes! Another shared that she had been compelled to pray
for 100 people, though she felt silly doing so!
And one friend wrote the following: “As I was talking to my Father, I
seemed to see a standing room only crowd having a good time – good in
the sense that my Father is good. When I read (your) report I sensed that
a number of the people who were there intended to return in some way because
they were thirsty. I am now praying about a harvest, so I’m asking my
Father to continue to provide water for growth.”
One of us had the same sense that night: “When the group broke into applause
at the offer of prayer I felt it as if creation was groaning...the verse that
came to me on the Tuesday morning (Gal. 3:5) was that God gives his Spirit
and works miracles among us because we believe what we hear.”
With this in mind, here are the things we’d like you to join us in believing
God for this month:
We’re asking ourselves what the next steps are and how to follow up these
big events. One thought is to pray for invitations into homes where the heads
of households gather their families to hear more, because we sense it’ll
be in smaller groups that we can dialogue further, pray for their felt needs,
and of course, do some more singing together! Having said that, a relative
of N.’s who was at the concert visited N. and U. in their home, expressing
an interest in doing more of these kinds of community events, so pray for
this as well.
A few weeks ago we spent some time studying Psalm 122 and
praying for our city. Would you join us in praying specifically for peace,
security and prosperity for the sake of our brothers and friends in this city?..."
Great Commission Worship & Arts Center