How You Can Help Your Choir

20 ways we can all make our rehearsals and concerts go more smoothly.

1. Volunteer to help with refreshments, either at rehearsals or at concerts. As well as raising funds it provides a more friendly atmosphere.
2. Distribute publicity. If the public don't know there is a concert they won't know to buy tickets. Just let Marion Emmerson know where you're taking it.
3. Offer to help the librarian, or indeed, become the librarian, even just for 1 year. Speak to Bill Moore about what's involved.
4. Make sure you bring a pencil, HB, every week to mark your copy as the conductor instructs. You may think you'll remember what was said but a pencil marking ensures that you will!
5. Arrive on time for the rehearsals. If there's a good reason for your late-arrival make sure you tell Kay.
6. Try not to chatter during rehearsals. To quote:  'it's vexatious to the spirit', especially to the conductor but also to your fellow choristers.You may miss something important that's being said and also prevent others from hearing
7. If you're given a sheet with 'stands & sits' make sure you put them in your copy before concert day. It makes for a more professional look if we all stand & sit together rather than perform a Mexican wave. Save that for wet days at Wimbledon!
8. If for any reason you're unable to sing in a concert please remember to tell Kay. The job of arranging the seating plan is difficult enough, it's almost impossible if you don't know who is supposed to be singing. Tel: 01302 361754
9. Before returning borrowed copies make sure you rub out your markings. They might not help the next person who uses it & it saves the Society being charged for returning 'dirty' copies.
10. Provide tea for the soloists on concert day. Sometimes they need overnight accommodation but not always. It's a great way to get to know them and to find out what's involved in being a professional musician. Speak to Sue if you think you can help
11. Spread the word to friends and family and try to sell tickets. Take two tickets and sell them at £1 discount. If someone shows interest you're more likely to sell tickets to them if you've got them to hand.
12. Bring something to each of our monthly stalls to sell, and try to spend £1 on an item yourself. As the Treasurer said,  if everyone did that last year's deficit would have been almost wiped out.
13. Join the Millennium Club. The club has raised valuable funds for the choir; over £9000 since it began. The cost is £4 per month or £48 per year, and you can pay by cheque, standing order or cash. The draw is held monthly and the prizes are £40, £20 and £10. The club is open to friends and family. See Margaret Hunt for further details.
14. Sign up for Gift Aid if you're a tax payer. It costs you nothing but adds pounds to our funds. Speak to Ruth and she'll give you the relevant form
15. Help put away staging after a concert.
16. Sell programmes at a concert. Ask Merrin about this.
17. Put your name down for the weekly raffle. 30 pence a week and you stand a chance of winning a prize. Speak to Dianne
18. Be the Sponsorship Secretary, just for one year will help. Its a long time since we had the post filled . Speak to Margaret Hunt 
19. Check out the website at regular intervals. We are also on facebook and twitter.
20. Above all - enjoy singing. It's a wonderful way to relax as well as to meet people and experience making music together.

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