Relax and have fun. Provide refreshments. For house concerts, you could offer guests the option of bringing eats or drinks, rather than making a donation.
Determine your comfort level, in terms of who and how many to invite. If you're hosting for an artist friend, you might want to use your own list, rather than the artist's.
Don't worry too much about set-up. Musicians will play unplugged (that's the point). Art can be displayed almost anywhere.
For house concerts, print up "tickets" ahead of time and issue them when people fork over their donation. For art parties, use e-mail. Nobody expects artists to spend money on postage.
Learn how to price fairly. Art Marketing 101 by Constance Smith (Artnetwork Press) offers guidance in this critical area. At house concerts, the phrase "suggested donation" keeps things legal.
Joan Sample's Black Button Studio samples: Her open house is a chance to buy locally.
