- Dec 16, 2024
- 5 min read
This blog describes my family’s experience as a Sunaad Host, and explains how YOU can also host a Sunaad concert at your home!
"संगीतं परमानन्दं संगीतं परमं दयालुम्।"
Music is the ultimate bliss; music is the supreme compassionate one.
In April 2024, I first attended a Sunaad concert at someone’s home. I didn’t know the hosts nor had I heard of Sunaad! I had come to know about Sunaad from my daughter’s vocal music teacher and had RSVPed after joining Sunaad’s mailing list. I didn’t know what to expect from a home concert of Hindustani Classical Music, we had never attended a concert in such a personal setting. So, curious and hesitant, I reached the venue. As we entered the living room, I didn’t find any familiar faces, nor could I tell who was the host! Because, everyone who greeted us as we entered that house, was so warm and pleased to see us, we immediately felt welcome. I searched for a place to sit towards the back, and with bated breath, waited for the concert to begin. The flyer pasted on a few places on the walls in the living room displayed the schedule, the performers, the raag they would be presenting and the timing details. It also included information about the Lecture-Demonstration session. It all looked like a great repertoire!
Finally the concert began, right on the scheduled time. The sound of Santoor, Sitar, Tabla, Harmonium and the vocal notes filled the air with joy. It felt like peace, like the one you experience in a sacred place! I was mesmerized with the quality of music that was presented in a home concert. I looked around, and found that others resonated with this feeling. Every person in the room was intently listening and wholeheartedly enjoying the instrumental music and the ragas that found their way to our hearts through vocal singers. I was so happy that I attended this concert instead of just leisurely spending a Sunday afternoon!
After the student performances and just before the beginning of the lec-dem session, one of the Sunaad’s organizers talked about Sunaad. They shared how Sunaad has been a platform for budding musicians, both for presenting before a supportive audience as well as an in-person learning opportunity through a veteran music guru. But one piece of information made me jump! They told us that we can also host a concert at our home, all we had to do was to write to them
I knew this was my opportunity to bring these divine vibrations in the form of such beautiful music to my home! I knew this would be a blessing from Ma Saraswati herself, if I can offer and host a Sunaad concert at my place. I immediately talked to that organizer, introduced myself and said I was interested and that I would write them an email.
I didn’t know it would all be that simple! Next day, to formally express my interest in being a Sunaad host, I wrote an email to the Sunaad team. I told them how I attended this concert and absolutely loved it. I expressed that it would be our family’s great honor and fortune to host Sunaad. I also gave some information about my house - location and seating capacity. But to be very honest, these details didn’t really matter a lot. All that Sunaad’s team saw was our genuine interest for the art and for hosting a concert at our home.
The Sunaad team welcomes everyone, whether you're a Hindustani music enthusiast or a family of singers and musicians. If you're eager to host a concert at your home, continue reading as I guide you through the entire process. Indeed, we successfully hosted Sunaad’s October 2024 concert at our home in San Jose.
Step 1: Express Interest
Write to the Sunaad team introducing yourself and expressing your interest in being a Sunaad host.
Step 2: Meet & greet with the Sunaad team
The Sunaad team will respond to your email and set up an in-person or virtual meet and greet to discuss arrangements and logistics. This includes the date of upcoming concerts, your availability for hosting the concert, seating arrangements at your home for the concert, plug points for sound, general concert flow (entry/exit/restrooms), parking on the day of the event. The concert day’s agenda and timings are usually discussed with the host and decided with the host family and guests' comfort in mind.
Step 3: Arrangements before the Concert
Once the Sunaad team finalizes the details and logistics for the concert, here are your responsibilities as a host:
Seating: Make sure to arrange comfortable seating for X number of attendees. This includes chair and floor seating for the guest and performers. If needed, ask the Sunaad team for ideas/help with procuring seating items.
Stage setup: Set up the area of your home identified by the Sunaad team for the stage, with comfortable flat seating for the performers. There should be enough distance between the audience and all the instruments/wiring/seating area for the performers.
Decor: Please arrange simple and elegant decor for the stage. Please note to not go overboard with decorations. It’s the music the attendees would be focusing on, and anything that takes their attention away from the music mars the essence of this concert.
HDMI input set-up: For the lec-dem session, arrange to have a HDMI input set-up, preferably near the stage and facing the audience.
Token of appreciation: As the host, please also arrange for little tokens of appreciation for all the performers, and the guru to showcase respect for their presence, hard work and music. Also, to be included is a bouquet of flowers for the lec-dem guru and their accompanists.
Chai & Snacks : Chai and some snacks to be served after the concert ends (after the lec-dem session). These can be selected as per the host’s preference. For chai, Sunaad offers to provide an electric brewer that can be used to make chai for around 30-50 cups with little effort and time.
Step 4: The day of the Concert
Audio setup: The Sunaad team arrives 2 hours in advance to set up the mikes and the music equipment. If the concert is at 10 am, the Sunaad team arrives at the venue at 8 am. One hour is usually needed to set up all the audio-video, and the student performers arrive 30 min before the concert start for sound checks/tuning.
Welcome: The host family begins the concert by welcoming the audience and performers with a speech. A sample of welcome speech can be provided by the Sunaad team on request. The host family also lay house rules like request to stay through the concert, no breaks in the program, and the bathroom/water location.
Relax and let the concert begin! Now, sit back and enjoy the music flowing through your home. These were the moments you waited for!
Water/Chai & Snacks : Serve chai and snacks after the concert ends (after the lec-dem session).
Pack up: Once the concert ends, the Sunaad team will pack up all the audio equipment, as well as provide help packing and putting away all the seating.
Our experience as a Sunaad host was wonderful, one without any hassles. The Sunaad team is very responsive and supportive at every step. We also received help in arranging for enough seating for the concert. The team was available through a Whatsapp chat group, esp. created for each concert to align on details and for any questions the host family might have.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write to us. Together, let’s contribute to Sunaad’s mission to promote Indian classical music and to give student performers a platform to share their music with a supportive and enthusiastic audience!
Shaifali Gupta
