[Soprano-Cat]

A friend and I are part of a community choir. We would like to put a proposal forward to the committee to start up a youth choir, which will also potentially be a feeder to the main choir. We both have university degrees in the music field, plus I've got my teaching degree and have run school choirs.

This has been done in the past, but abandoned as MDs have moved on.

We've started making a list of things we're going to have to ask/ascertain. I'd like input into things I've undoubtedly forgotten. I'm trying to put them into roughly 2 sections - things we should be able to have ready to answer, things we'll need to ask.



* rehearsal schedule (only have 2 nights available in common, need to check with facilities manager, but the night we've picked hasn't had anything scheduled during 2012)
* performance schedule
* performance uniform
* choir name
* MD and accompanist
* purpose of the choir
* age groups targetted
* Possible community ties (to be confirmed with main choir MD to avoid clash of interest)



* Use of the choir hall - will we have to ask for $fees in order to cover liability
* will the choir fund any music acquisitions, or will we have to ask for $fees to cover this
* as we intend to be a feeder choir, will we come under the choral society banner, or will we be a seperate entity?

[Soprano-Cat]

bump

[Quill]

1) Target age ranges
2) Target standard (ie, proficient at reading music? To what level?)
3) Recruitment advertising (budget, target publications)
4) Audition process
5) Goals and examination process (performing? Competition? Exams?)
6) Repertoire (classical only? Musical theatre?)
7) Orchestral support
8) If specific age range, breakdown into fields. ie, girls, boy sopranos.
9) Minimum numbers needed to progress
10) Time lines
11) Points of difference from other choirs (ie, why would a child want to be part of your choir instead of another?)

Hope that helps, mate. It's all related to the actual choir itself, but likely you'll need the info.

This post has been edited by Quill: 07/01/2013, 10:04 AM

[Mozzie1]

Funding!

What will this cost OR how much revenue will it generate?
If it costs, where is the money coming from?
If its generating revenue, how much does it need to sustain itself?

I would probably include a budget in your proposal broken down by line - insurance, hall hire, anything else (uniforms? Sheet music? Staff?).

Good luck, it sounds awesome

[s'peachykeen]

If I was on the committee, I'd want to know two things: what are the costs/risks, and what are the benefits.

I'd start your pitch with the benefits, obviously Build a picture of why this is the most awesome, wonderful, in fact frankly necessary development for the choir.

Then,
Costs/risks, off the top of my head:
If it's a youth choir, what requirements will impact you re Working With Children checks, etc?
Are there existing policies re kids in the choir you could use or will you have to develop them (re say travel to concerts, what happens if a kid gets sick at rehearsal or a performance, adults being alone with kids (or not), etc)?
What will all of this do to the cost of the choir's insurance?
Have you thought about how you'll deal with parents? I imagine they're like most stage parents. Will you give them input into repertoire, or just deal with it if/when they tell you that song x is inappropriate for whatever reason?

Can you tell I'm a bureaucrat?

[toosenuf]

which state are you in? am asking on behalf of DD

[Soprano-Cat]

Hope that helps, mate. It's all related to the actual choir itself, but likely you'll need the info.

You're a blessing

What will this cost OR how much revenue will it generate?
If it costs, where is the money coming from?
If its generating revenue, how much does it need to sustain itself?

We'll be community based, and an adjunct to the main choir, so at least initially I don't see much revenue being raised, just profile. We'll probably participate in most of the main choir's events, but aside from that, mostly retirement villages, schools etc.

If I was on the committee, I'd want to know two things: what are the costs/risks, and what are the benefits.

I'd start your pitch with the benefits, obviously Build a picture of why this is the most awesome, wonderful, in fact frankly necessary development for the choir.

Then,
Costs/risks, off the top of my head:
If it's a youth choir, what requirements will impact you re Working With Children checks, etc?
Are there existing policies re kids in the choir you could use or will you have to develop them (re say travel to concerts, what happens if a kid gets sick at rehearsal or a performance, adults being alone with kids (or not), etc)?
What will all of this do to the cost of the choir's insurance?
Have you thought about how you'll deal with parents? I imagine they're like most stage parents. Will you give them input into repertoire, or just deal with it if/when they tell you that song x is inappropriate for whatever reason?

Can you tell I'm a bureaucrat?

Very helpful!!! TY!!

which state are you in? am asking on behalf of DD

North Queensland

[toosenuf]

North Queensland

we are in NSW

I hope it is a success

[Soprano-Cat]

Move up here! It's lovely!

Are you sure there's no local youth choirs near you? Or are they all hoity toity auditioned ones?

[toosenuf]

Move up here! It's lovely!

Are you sure there's no local youth choirs near you? Or are they all hoity toity auditioned ones?

lol, me & qld's weather are not on speaking terms.

ok, now to be diplomatic there are 2 that i am know off. 1 we jumped ship last year and found out recently that it has since closed, DD would return if it had a new owner. 2nd choir, not quite sure why DD left, she did have lots on her plate ATT, it was well organised at all.

am still trying to find another.

BTW, they were both auditioned choirs, not sure if they turned anyone away or not.