I hate to say it but most of our business model is based off vibes!

Bunny of Dreamhouse Chicago

Bunny and I share a laugh over the unspoken, yet unwavering energy Dreamhouse Chicago provides show after show. Dreamhouse Chicago is production company of four industry savvy friends. Their trust in the talent of their community is abundant and helped them build a loyal following however the trust Chicago continues to give to them in return to run safe, diverse, open-minded shows …that was something that needed to be earned.

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Dreamhouse was born when five friends got a house in Logan Square, Chicago. The irony in the name came from the fact that the house was actually in pretty terrible shape…

I swear this house took 20 years off all of our lives

Bunny

Thus, the concept of ‘Dreamhouse’ came to be by making a dreamy situation from the grungiest and shabbiest of places. 

When the pandemic hit, Dreamhouse members got kicked out of their homemade DIY haven and made the sad decision to let their short-lived successes end there. But after posting a goodbye video on their instagram, they received an outpour of reaction from people who would pay and volunteer to keep Dreamhouse afloat. As expected, this momentum inspired the Dreamhouse members to keep pushing. Dreamhouse put together several successful live stream shows which lead to creative partnerships with Topo Chico, Golden Dagger, Empty Bottle, Cafe Moustache, and more. It ended up that the location that started Dreamhouse wasn’t ever really necessary at all.

One of Dreamhouse’s most charming qualities is the agency they take in making sure lineups center queer, femme, and emotive artists and patrons. They don’t care to make a lineup based on the crowd brought in. Every show is a chance for artists to share their story and the people who want that kind of experience know they can find it with Dreamhouse. They can trust there will be vibrant, flailing dance moves and a freedom to wear what they want and trust without having to be interrupted by someone who could ruin such fun and deserved freedom.

“We’ve had to have some really difficult conversations with people and change lineups night-of”

Bunny

Dreamhouse certainly highlights a lot of the harmful behaviors that take place within the DIY scene, and thankfully, they’re doing something about it. So when Dreamhouse says their business model is based on “vibes,” I think we can all get on board with that considering the vibes are rooted in what we can only hope is the future of DIY. 

Keep up with Dreamhouse on Instagram: @dreamhousechicago and be sure to check out their upcoming shows below:

9/24 @ Luna’s Spot

10/8 @ Cafe Moustache