PART II

INTERNATIONAL BIG SING GUIDELINES

A. PRE - SING PLANNING AND PROCEDURES

1. Bid for the ‘Sing’
   This is the chorus' opportunity to "sell" the AMCA on why the Big Sing should be held in their community. The bid needs to include, but not be limited to:
   
   • proposed date of the Sing
     
   • number of hotel rooms within a few blocks of the concert site and the number of hotel rooms within a five mile radius of the concert site
     
   • name and availability of the concert site
     
   • number of seats in the hall
     
   • stage adequacy for 1000 plus singers
     
   • quality of concert hall, sound system, etc.
     
   • activity possibilities for spouses/guests
     
   • restaurant facilities
     
   • workshop and afterglow facilities
     
   
   
2. Make Individual Appointments & Form Committees
   
   • General Chairman
     
   • Correspondence Secretary (Communications Committee) - Stage Manager
     
   • Advertising
     
   • Tickets
     
   • Promotion
     
   • Afterglow
     
   • Program
     
   • Registration
     
   • Accommodation
     
   • Logistics
     
   • Ladies/Guests’ Program
     
   • Repertoire
     
   • Budget and Finance
     
   • Workshops
     
   • Recital
     
   • Directors' Meeting
     
   
   NOTE: A suggested list of tasks for each of the above follows in Appendix I.
   
   
3. Obtain the AMCA banner and flags of the countries involved.
   
   
4. Invite special guests, e.g. the mayor, AMCA President, etc. and provide concert seating and a greeter to meet your guest(s).
   
   
5. Have the grand piano tuned the day of the Big Sing rehearsal.
   
   
6. Ensure adequate insurance coverage.
   
   
7. Ensure the concert site has access and facilities for the handicapped.
   
   
8. Have appropriate first aid staff on duty during all activities.
   
   
   
9. THE REHEARSAL
   
   • the rehearsal is important for conductors, sound and lighting technicians, as well as the singers, so attendance is important
     
   • start on time
     
   • provide podium and music stand for directors
     
   • provide amplification of accompaniment on stage, for benefit of singers
     
   • provide microphone for directors to instruct massed chorus
     
   • introduce AMCA executive members
     
   • practise entry to and exit from stage
     
   • allow time for remarks by AMCA President and/or Scholarship Chairman
     
   • take collection for scholarship fund
     
   
   
10. THE CONCERT INTERMISSION
    
    • the intermission should be no longer than 15 minutes
      
    
    
11. THE AFTERGLOW
    
    • should be affordable
      
    • should not be a profit- making venture
      
      Friday Evening:
      
    • should be casual, without structured singing, although a sing along could be considered since it will probably be spontaneous anyway if not planned
      
    • should end at midnight to encourage participants to retire early
      
    • primary focus should be social
      
    • should be a non- smoking event
      
      Saturday Evening:
      
    • Good amplification should be provided for the solo choruses as well as the "MC" to project the programmed material rather than have it overcome by crowd noise
      
    • choruses not soloing in the concert should have precedence as determined by the host chorus
      
    • risers and/or staging should be provide
      
    • solo time limits should be established and enforced
      
    • afterglow numbers should normally begin as soon as possible after the afterglow starts
      
    • should be a well- ventilated or non- smoking area provide for sufficient number of food serving and beverage outlets to eliminate long lines
      
    • sing- a- long afterglows could replace/supplement solo chorus performances
      

1. A copy of the program shall be sent to the AMCA Historian
   
   
2. If applicable, send to the Executive Secretary the ten percent (10%) of the profit from the sale of promotional items as outlined in the “Policy Statement” Item D.
   
   
3. Send to the Executive Secretary ten percent (10%) of the net profit of the Big Sing Concert within sixty (60) days of the conclusion of the Sing as outlined in the “Policy Statement” Item C.
   
   
4. A written financial report shall accompany the payments above and be sent to the Executive Secretary.
   
   Note:
   Items 2, 3 and 4 above have been repeated from the “Policy Statement” section of this Guidebook. It is also suggested that a summary of the Big Sing Experience be sent to the Chorister editor for publication.