Preparing The Event
1. Choose the evening's format.
You are free to choose any type or combination of types of concert: classical music (sacred or secular), folk, jazz, pop, opera, musicals, dance, poetry reading, comedy, talent contests etc - the choice is huge. You may prefer to link your concert to a supper or similar – it’s your choice! Choose whatever is felt to be the most attractive to your local audience.
2. Many of our organisers like to perform oratorios. There are two types:
Prepared performance - by a regular choir or combination of choirs and choral societies. The singers do not pay to sing but can be encouraged to obtain personal sponsorship. (For a prepared performance, audience ticket prices are generally higher than for a ‘come and sing’ performance).
‘Come and Sing’ - where anyone can come and sing on the day (with or without prior rehearsals), generally paying for the privilege and booking in advance. Some may know the music well, others not, but this does not matter - this is very much a participation event. The seating capacity of the venue must be accurately known and the number of singers and audience (separately) defined. This will probably depend on the layout of the venue.
You can compile a list of local choral societies and choirs from:
Lists of musical organisations (try the public library)
Personal contacts
Local Council of Churches
The Internet
Make sure you have the music you need from your local school/college, library, theatre or church
3. Mail out the details
Contact local choral societies to advertise the event and encourage them to include it in the year's diary for 2007 (you could do this via an early press release to local media). Booking Forms for individual registration and with the day's schedule, music ordering / reserving facility and request for personal sponsorship form should be included (ask the VfH office for a template).
