Are you starting up a community choir? Here’s a checklist to help you select a rehearsal venue that you and your singers love.

Running a community choir can be, as vocal coach Rachel Lynes puts it, “exquisite, euphoric joy”.

But it can also be a lot of hard work. First, there’s the pressure of ensuring choir members leave each rehearsal session buzzing.

Then there’s the marketing, repertoire and admin to sort out behind the scenes.

And, of course, there’s the venue. A great venue will enhance the overall choir experience. A poor one will create logistical problems for you and put singers off.

Rachel, who has helped establish 40 musical theatre choirs through her work with The Sing Space, says: “The venue is crucial. It’s part of the whole personality of a choir. If you walk into a beautiful church, you’ll get a different feeling than walking into a community hall.”

So, how can you make sure you find the right space for your community choir?

Here’s a checklist to help you select the ideal rehearsal venue.

Acoustics and space

A venue with good acoustics is a must as is finding a space that can accommodate your choir comfortably long into the future.

The Sing Space selects venues that can cater for up to 100 people. Even if you don’t envision your choir growing that large, it’s worth choosing a venue where you have some capacity to grow over time.

“It’s also useful to think ahead to end-of-term performances,” Rachel says. “The good thing about having quite a big rehearsal space is that it means you’ve got a performance venue as well.”

Access to amenities

Rachel also prioritises proximity to a good pub and parking when searching for a venue.

“There’s more to a choir than just singing – it’s a community. The 90 minutes in the room singing is great, but then most of the choir goes to the pub afterwards.”

If your choir meets at night, it’s helpful to think about how people will feel arriving and departing your venue on a dark winter’s evening. Many community choirs have a predominantly female membership (with The Sing Space, the female-to-male ratio is 95:5), so personal safety is a high priority.

Practicalities

Before committing to a venue, think through any practical issues that could pose a headache for you.

For example, sometimes hiring school halls can be problematic. You may find that the space is unavailable during GCSE and A-Level exams or when the school is hosting its own musical production.

Storage

Lugging a keyboard and PA to rehearsals each week can be a drag, so look for a venue with secure storage. That way, you can store your kit on the premises when you’re not using it.

Costs

The cost of hiring a rehearsal space can vary widely but it’s always worth trying to negotiate if you think there’s a deal to be done. “Pricing can be quite random,” Rachel says. “One tip is to always ask for the community rate, as many venues will offer a discount for community activities.”

Want to know more about running a community choir?

Listen to Rachel on the Singing Teachers Talk podcast, where she also discusses:

• The challenge of arranging repertoire when you only have a few male singers.
• What it takes to market a community choir.

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