The setting up of the group. There had always been singers’ wives who made teas and sold raffle tickets. They were regular and reliable and many thanks to them. Around 2012 Ged Faricy and Steve Flynn suggested a more formal group with a remit to sell merchandise at concerts. This got off to a great start, but meeting to review and coordinate selling lapsed. We reconvened in March 2013 and have met most months since.
The Merchandise. This has gradually expanded. In addition to CDs we now sell telephone notelets, shopping bags, drip mats, choir history books, general greetings cards.
The Promotion Group. The group was renamed in December 2013. As the promotion group, we were interested in raising the profile of the choir, especially within the local community, and helping to sell concert tickets.
Relationship to general committee. In June 2014 the promotion group was told to ‘get on with it’ and marketing officially came within the remit of the group. Steve Flynn ensures the committee are aware of what we are doing.
Choir Mission. There is a mission statement in the constitution. This has been expanded by the group as follows:
- Benefits to singers. With the help of our professionals (musical director and pianist) we are trained to sing in harmony and prepared for performance. Rehearsal and concerts promote firm friendships.
- Benefits to audiences. A good to excellent varied musical experience; traditional male voice repertoire, show and popular songs. Great guests (e.g. Aled Jones, Julian Lloyd-Webber, Sir Willard White) and invitations to post-concert parties and tours (e.g. Italy, Barcelona, Poland, Cornwall, Ghent).
- Benefits to community. Pride in the local choir. Fund-raising for charities (Forget-me-not, MacMillan) and projects (Holmfirth homestart, Holmfirth HS PTA).
Role of the Promotion group.
- Create a brand. What we are, what we do, what we stand for. Good quality singing and performance, coached in a friendly learning atmosphere, which people in the local community and the wider populace appreciate and are proud of. See a brand/logo at the top of the article.
- Use the brand to raise the choir profile and sell concert tickets, utilising the media (the press, radio), social websites, email, informal concert parties, written materials (posters and flyers), video/audio presentations and the choir stall.
Successes
- Community concert at Holmfirth High School.
- The choir stall at concerts and Holmfirth craft market, with better than expected financial return on merchandise.
- Community St Buryan flyer distribution.
- Good cover in the local press, carrying on from good practice prior to the group.
- Good if limited email subscription list.
- Good if limited ‘friends’ list.
- Great new ideas for merchandise.
- So far we all get along.
Projects in preparation
- The stall and ‘Afterglow’ at the St Buryan concert, in collaboration with the recruitment group.
- The stall at the Sir Willard White concert.
- Penistone train event.
- Holmfirth craft market stall, in collaboration with the recruitment group.
- Email subscription list and newsletter, in partnership with the University Business School.
- Development of a video in partnership with Kirklees College and Kirklees TV.
- Market research in partnership with the University Business School.
- Expansion of the ‘Choir Friends’ programme.
- Explore the possibility of a volunteers programme.
