PLANNING FOR YOUR CHOIR IN UNCERTAIN TIMES — A FRAMEWORK

STEP ONE — RECENTER YOURSELF PREPARING FOR RELAUNCH

• If you’re in panic mode, try to take a step back. Aim to make the shift from reacting to responding. The work of preparing for the
• Review your framework policies — your mission, core values, vision, and positioning statements. relaunch of regular rehearsals and
• Review your strategic plan. concerts is essential, and the time
• Review your goals and plans for the season. to do that work is now!
• Think through the kind of experience you want your stakeholders to have.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
STEP TWO — TAKE INVENTORY
• Ensure the members of your
Make a list of your choir’s assets, including such things as human resources (paid or unpaid), artistic team are engaged and
recordings (audio or video), photos, special skills within your choir’s ranks, prospective funding, committed.
cash on hand, section leads, communication tools, and promotional items.
• Complete policy revisions
STEP THREE — ESTABLISH PRIORITIES pertaining to chorister and
audience safety (ex. physical
• Think short term — 6-7 week blocks of time are often effective.
distancing, hand hygiene, atten-
• Avoid getting too specific at this stage. Priorities might include such things as chorister
dance at rehearsal when sick,
engagement/retention, audience retention/development, fundraising, creating an artistic
PPE, facility cleaning, etc.).
product, chorister skill development, building/strengthening community, or listening skills.
• If you create a long-list of priorities, it is imperative that you narrow it down so as to not • Develop a plan that details the
exceed resource availability (as established in your inventory). steps that will be taken should
• If you’re struggling, consult other members of your team and/or some of your choristers. a choir member/an individual
in the immediate circle of a
STEP FOUR — SET YOUR EXPECTATIONS choir member be diagnosed
• Keep in mind that, while valuable, many current activities are a temporary measure. with COVID-19.
• You may find that you’re not feeling gratified by the experience with your choir the way you usu- • Make relevant updates to
ally do, but that doesn’t mean your singers aren’t enjoying and thankful for what you’re doing. volunteer training procedures.
• Not everyone will take part. There are many reasons for that, and it doesn’t mean they won’t • Publicize the safety measures
return at some point. you’re adopting for choristers,
• Recognize that choir in the context of COVID-19 is a learning experience for everyone. audiences, and volunteers.
• The bottom line is partially about essential things like preserving what you’ve built, continuing to
• Develop a number of prospec-
nurture relationships, and giving people hope through music and their choir community.
tive relaunch plans in the
STEP FIVE — CREATE A PLAN context of a variety of permis-
sible scenarios (ex. groups of
• Set goals and indicators of success.
50 are allowed but no singing,
• Develop your strategy — take your inventory into account and put it to use (ex. can you
groups of 25 and singing are
leverage prospective funding for tech support and/or software upgrades?).
allowed, etc.).
• Establish a timeline.
• Think outside the box, but remember you don’t need to reinvent the wheel for everything • Prepare chorister recruiting
you do — look to your colleagues for input and ideas! materials.
• Develop concert programming
STEP SIX — GO! ideas.
• Implement your plan. • Set aside or make a plan for
• Utilize your team and lean on your support network as much as you need to. the funds required for your first
• Strive to create the same calibre experience you would in rehearsal/performance, even post-COVID-19 concert.
though the experience itself will be very different. • Consider changes to fees/fee
• Evaluate the extent to which you’ve achieved your goals, making special note of things that structures in the context of
worked particularly well. extremely challenging
economic circumstances.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS • Prepare yourself emotionally

• Put a support group in place, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. that not everyone will be back
• Be continually mindful of your own mental health. and that some singers might feel
• Join a few groups on Facebook and use social media for ideas and inspiration. scared about returning to choir.
• Remember that you won’t be able to try every idea you’ll think of! Prepared 20.05.20