You don’t need a fancy lighting rig or a million-dollar tour bus to get your career off the ground. Just ask Ed Sheeran, who played hundreds of living rooms before topping stadium bills. Or Julien Baker, who went from DIY house tours to playing with Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus in boygenius. House shows are more than just cozy jam sessions—they’re test grounds, launchpads, and sometimes, life-changers.
So if you’re stepping into someone’s living room with a guitar and a dream, here are 10 tips to make that house show lead to bigger stages—and bigger opportunities.
1. Treat Every House Show Like It’s Madison Square Garden
Just because it’s a basement in Burlington doesn’t mean it’s not your big break. Your energy sets the tone. If you play like it matters, it will matter. That’s how artists turned early DIY tours into loyal fanbases—they gave everything, every time.
2. Make Friends, Not Just Fans
A house show isn’t just a performance—it’s a hang. Stick around after your set. Ask people their names. Crash on a couch if you have to. Word of mouth will get you farther than any algorithm can. Bon Iver’s early shows were less concerts, more community.
3. Build a Set That Works Unplugged
Big amps and pyrotechnics? Not here. Your set should thrive in intimate, raw spaces. Think stripped-down, emotionally charged, and tightly arranged. Be that artist who built their early buzz off living-room performances that left people in tears—with no mic.
4. Get the Host on Your Side
The host is your promoter, venue manager, and social glue all in one. Respect their space. Promote their event. Ask how you can help. If they’re impressed, you’ll get invited back—and introduced to other hosts.
5. Collect Emails Like They’re Vinyl
Yes, social media matters. But nothing beats direct contact. Pass around a notebook. Offer a download in exchange. That intimate crowd? They’re more likely to open an email from you than scroll past your tweet.
6. Film It (Smartly)
A packed house show with a vibey crowd? Gold for TikTok, Instagram, or your EPK. Shoot snippets—maybe a vertical acoustic song with people clapping along. Artists in the past have exploded in part because their living room sessions felt like something you wanted to be part of.
7. Create Merch That Fits the Mood
You’re not selling out an arena—yet. So skip the $60 hoodie and go for a handwritten lyric sheet, a burned CD, or a $10 T-shirt. Keep it personal. People love a souvenir from a night they’ll remember forever.
8. Say Yes to the Weird Ones
Garage in Detroit? Rooftop in Montreal? Kitchen gig in Saskatoon? If it sounds strange but feels right, do it. Those offbeat shows often come with the most devoted fans and future collaborators.
9. Ask for One Thing: One Name
At every show, ask someone: “Do you know another place I should play?” That’s how you build a tour. One room leads to another.
10. Remember: The Goal Isn’t Escape—It’s Connection
Don’t treat house shows like stepping stones you’re desperate to leave behind. They’re the roots of something bigger. A&R reps and bookers are watching for artists who can turn 20 people into a movement. If you can light up a living room, you can fill a theatre.
Big gigs don’t just happen. They’re earned in borrowed spaces, with borrowed speakers, and borrowed time. But every sold-out venue starts with someone saying: “I saw them play in my buddy’s basement once, and they were incredible.” That story could be about you.
Now go make some noise—quietly.