Anyone here ever thrown a backyard concert?

Yep. I did one in August of 2020. It was a big success too. Everyone's been begging me to do another one.

We didn't do it as a big family jam (though we do those most years between Christmas and New Years). We had 3 bands.

As for those family jams (that are usually outside in the country with a bonfire when weather allows), it's usually around a dozen musicians and maybe another dozen friends where we just all take turns playing different instruments until my family down the road starts to complain

A few keys to success for backyard concerts in a suburban neighborhood:
1. Never a bad idea to bring in port-a-johns unless you want folks going inside your house to potty.

2. Try to get buy-in from the local neighborhood association. That can go a long way towards avoiding noise complaints and issues with the city.

3. Wrap it up by 10:00pm if you have neighbors. You can keep partying at a lower volume past then, especially with a bonfire or something, but the drums need to stop at 10.

4. Kegs are cheap, MIP's are not. If you're going to serve beer to recoup costs, make sure you have someone who's job it is to monitor who comes in, card, and give wristbands. The obvious way to do this is to charge folks coming in a cover charge which includes access to the keg and make sure minors either aren't allowed or have a different color wristband.

5. There's always folks willing to cook. Some will volunteer, some will do a "bring your own meat" thing, some will cook and charge folks for plates, and some will try to charge you for the privilege of them coming by and charging others for plates. Let the ones willing to not charge you do their thing and have that handled.

6. A good sound guy is worth their weight in gold.

7. Don't forget about lighting, it can make a HUGE difference.

The one I did last year, we threw together in less than 48 hours. I used my PA, had a friend running sound who would DJ between bands, didn't have a keg (it was BYOB), didn't collect any cover charges, all the bands volunteered to play (since it was in the middle of Covid and they couldn't play anywhere and just wanted an excuse to have fun), and didn't have food. One dude got sick and spent almost the whole time throwing up in one of the two bathrooms at my house. And the cops showed up at 10:20 (he let us play one more song then we shut down, no one arrested or in trouble. He was a nice guy and was clearly digging the music).

Despite all that, it was a great time, an excellent experience, and I've been wanting to do it again, but life keeps getting in the way.

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I am assuming you played as well?

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I played in 2 of the three bands

I played trumpet on a couple songs with one band and played rhythm guitar and sang a couple songs for the headliner.

My neighbor behind me, the Dad of Michele Shocked and Max Johnston (uncle tupelo, wilco, gourds) has done one every year for the past 30 years. He also cooks a bunch of food and has a couple oIf kegs and does little door prize giveaways. I met my wife at that party several years ago. He plays with his band and then has a bunch of other friends of his play.

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Haven't seen parking mentioned.

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This can be a big issue. When we did the family jams, there was plenty of space to park in the field.

In my neighborhood, we had enough street parking, but if it had been any more people, it would have been a problem. If we decided to do it again in the future, we plan to get cooperation from the church a block away to park in their parking lot which had the chain across it the last time we had a concert. We've already talked to them and they said that it would be fine with some heads up as long as it didn't conflict with their regular service schedule.

Have a good friend that did what you are wanting to do and parking was what finally forced him to move it elsewhere. I'd also a suggest having a place or two for the driving impaired.... that could nip it all in the bud (or bottle).