A house show is a show in someone’s home. That can mean a living room, a garage, or a backyard with a PA set up for the night. In Davis, house shows give local bands and solo musicians a place to play outside the bars and venues, and they’re often all ages with a low cover. They also depend on everyone who comes treating the space with care. If a host has a bad night, there may not be a next one.
Here’s what good house show etiquette looks like, whether it’s your first one or your fiftieth.
House Show Etiquette Starts Before You Arrive
Many hosts keep the address private and share it by message closer to the date. When you get it, keep it to yourself. Don’t post it publicly or pass it along to people the host hasn’t invited. If a listing on our calendar says to ask for the location, reach out to the host or the band directly.
Parking matters more than it seems. Park on the street without blocking driveways, and keep your voice down walking in if it’s late. The neighbors are a big part of whether a house can keep hosting shows.
Show up close to the listed time. Sets at house shows are often shorter than at a venue, and the night may wrap up early out of respect for the neighborhood. Arrive late and you may miss the act you came for.
Paying the Door
Most house shows ask for a donation or charge a small cover, and that money usually goes to the musicians. Pay it, even if nobody is watching the door. If you liked what you heard, buying a shirt, a CD, or a record is the most direct way to support a band.
During the Show
Listen during the sets. The room is small, and talking carries. If you want to catch up with friends, step outside between acts. When you can, stay for the whole lineup, so every act plays to a full room and not just the last one.
Ask before taking photos or video, and don’t film full songs without the band’s permission. Don’t bring alcohol unless the host says it’s BYOB, and keep in mind that many house shows are all ages.
Respecting the House
It’s someone’s home. Stay in the areas the host has opened for the show, ask where the bathroom is instead of looking for it, and leave closed doors closed. There may be pets in the house, so ask before letting one out or feeding it anything. Clean up after yourself, and if chairs or cups need picking up at the end, offer to help.
Leaving
Leave quietly. Keep conversations down on the sidewalk and while getting into cars. Thank the host and the bands on your way out.
Finding House Shows in Davis
We list house shows on the Davis Music Guide calendar when hosts or bands submit them. Each submission is reviewed before it’s posted, and hosts can ask us to keep the address off the listing and point people to them for details instead. If you’re hosting a show, you can submit it here.
