By Dada Vedaprajinananda Performances of live acoustic music in living rooms, commonly called “house concerts,” are becoming quite popular all across the USA and this trend can also be helpful to anyone who would like to expand or energize a local Ananda Marga unit. The article that follows presents the basic guidelines for hosting a house concert. However, before I give the nuts-and-bolts information about how to do it there are two things to consider. 1. This kind of event is not difficult to organize. If you've ever hosted a party for friends, organized a garage sale or thrown together a neighborhood potluck, you have all the necessary skills required to do a house concert. 2. We have already used this type of event to popularize RAWA and Ananda Marga. When I was in Tokyo in the early 1980s our monthly jagrti concerts were so popular that eventually people had to reserve in advance to be sure of being able to attend. Going even further back in history, Baba started RU and RAWA in a margii’s house in 1958! So here is how to do it: The Artists The first thing you need to do is to find a musician or group of musicians who can perform acoustically without much amplification (though some amplification is OK). It is best to choose artists who perform in the spirit of RAWA’s ideal of “art for service and blessedness.” Singer-songwriters and poets are perfect for this kind of event. You can ask margii artists to perform or keep your eyes and ears open for local musicians and artists who you think would fit into a RAWA house concert. It is also possible to combine music with presentations of visual art and poetry readings too. Find a Place for the Concert The main idea is to keep it simple. It is best NOT to rent a hall. If your jagrti has a space that can seat 20-30 people then you already have a perfect place for the concert. If you have a big living room in your house, then that is also good, and in fact, most house concerts take place in living rooms. A living room of 12 x 15 feet is quite OK. By hosting it in your own home or jagrti you are able to create the homey environment that is good for socializing with the people who attend the event. Spreading the Word The beauty of a house concert is that you can invite anyone. They don’t have to be directly interested in yoga or meditation. Margiis can invite friends and relatives. If you have a mailing list, then send a message to your list with a brief description of the event. You can also make some postcards containing the relevant concert information: A description of the music or event. Date and time. How much the suggested donation will be (if any). Whether you're planning a potluck, jam session, etc. Include your phone number for reservations and directions. Carry a few of these in your car and bag or purse and hand them out. You can also mail them out as invitations. A month before the event you should start your word-of-mouth campaign by telling everyone that the program will take place. Start making the post cards or flyers. Two weeks before the event you should mail the cards and/or send out an email bulletin. During the last week leading up to the concert get on the telephone and call your friends and contacts and see who will be coming. Setting Up and Hosting the Show Set up your living room or jagrti room so that there is a “stage” area where the artists will perform. Put a table with a reading light or place a floor lamp near the performance area. A utility light with a clamp mounted on a photo tripod can also be used to illuminate the stage area. Seating: Check and see how many chairs you have. If you do not have enough then borrow from friends or you might be able to get a loan or cheap rental from a nearby school or church. People can also sit on the floor. Presenting the Show: If you have only one or two artists you can divide the concert into two 40 minute sets divided by an intermission where refreshments are served and people can socialize. Alternatively, you can present the artists first and finish with vegetarian or pot-luck vegetarian dinner. Before the show starts it is good to gather the people together and explain something about the concept of RAWA and then present the artist or artists. Refreshments and Donations If you are ambitious you can serve a vegetarian meal after the concert. Otherwise, it is quite OK to have snacks. You can place a cup on the refreshment table asking for donations for the snacks or just include them free as part of the whole event. Most house concerts held around the country usually have an entrance fee of around $10-$20. The money is typically given to the artist or artists. It is also possible to ask for a “suggested donation” or just a donation. If you sell tickets in advance you can give a small discount to those who buy in advance as an incentive. If you want to hold a free event you can also do that, but see that your unit donates something to the artists. Mailing List: A key to the success of the concerts is to think in terms of the long run. Put out a mailing list so people can leave their email address and telephone number. As you give more concerts your list will grow. As your list grows you will be more successful in getting people to attend your events. Summing Up: House concerts (which were often called Full Moon Festivals in the past) offer a great way to meet people and informally bring them in contact with spirituality and Ananda Marga. Try it out. If you like hosting cultural events then continue it on a regular basis and you will experience great results.
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