Groupmuse Concerts: “A Unique Way to Use Your Home”

This past month, on the night before Valentines day, I had the pleasure of hosting 40 people in my living room to enjoy a live trio performing two sets of jazz. Before the event, I knew about half of the guests, but by the end of the night we had all become friends. We were all brought  together by the most amazing community organization called Groupmuse. They help hosts--this particular night that was me--to offer their space for an evening of live music. It is open to the community, and for a small donation (which goes to the musicians), you are invited into someone’s home to enjoy some fantastic music with friends both new and old.

I had attended a handful of others Groumuse’s beginning late in 2023, and it struck me this is truly one of the most special ways one can use their home. Being that I sell homes, and see many on a weekly basis, I was invigorated by the notion a home could be used for such a thing. Allowing the common appreciation for (in Groupmuses’ case, string Jazz and Classical music) to bring strangers together. A home doesn’t have to be solely for us to retire to and go inwards to restore and shelter, but the opposite, a place where community can come to you, and you all share in a lively experience. This experience has gotten me looking at the homes I see through a slightly different lens. One that is tuned in to how the space can bring people together, not just focused on how the owner and their family will use the home. Homes are many things to their owners, but a conduit to connection with new people through unique experiences is something that is new and exciting to me. 

The Guide Trio, who includes the stand up bassist my friend and client Jake Leckie, set themselves up in the corner. With Jake was Kim the drummer, and Navad the bohemian looking guitarist. As we got started, I felt an element of excitement, coupled with nerves for how well the living room could accommodate the crowd. How would it sound? Would folks be comfortable? Would we get shut down for what felt in some way like we had built some sort of back room/basement speakeasy? Was enough of a crowd going to even show up? 

Then they did. How fun to greet old friends and utter strangers who would all be joining me on a small journey to the unknown. Where on a Tuesday night folks from all walks of life came to experience and partake in something so unordinary.

And then the music began. A rush of base and high pitched guitar plucking, and the hollow woody sound of the drums. Suddenly the entire thing made sense. The tunes they played to fill two sets included little breakout improvisational bits for each musician to fall into an almost uncontrollable free flow. But as tight groups do they find a way back in, and just like any live show the crowd clapped as the solo tangient subsided and the band folded them back into the familiar tune.

They played two sets, and in between there was socializing, just as the night had begun. And at the end the band broke down, and the guests were gone. Those I met, we may never see each other again. And the way the home was used, could have been a one time occurrence. But the curiosity of it all, will live on. While walking last night, a neighbor down the street inquired. “Hey, it sounded like you had a kind of party or band playing the other night. What was that?” And in truth, it’s exactly what I had hoped for. Because, during the show I began to feel guilty. Guilt for fact we had such beautiful sounds and folks gathered and without the windows opened, it would remain bottled up. I opened a few windows hoping that those around on the block could share. Share as we all had--strangers and friends. I’m very grateful to have shared my living room in a way that when buying the home, I never could have dreamed of.