10 steps to organise a carol concert

There’s no time like the present to get your charity carol concert ready, especially as the best venues and choirs get snapped up months in advance! Whether you are from Fine & Country or a member of the public, if you're looking for a hassle-free, fun event that can raise thousands of pounds for homelessness then this is the guide for you. 

The Fine & Country Foundation is here to provide you with a plethora of support, all for FREE. Our only criteria is that you choose to support a homeless project. For more information on our criteria, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Here are 10 steps for your perfect carol concert:

PREPARATION

STEP #1: Find your local cathedral, church, chapel or village hall. Think about capacity, parking, prestige and location.

STEP #2: Call the venue to arrange a face-to-face visit. If you need extra support, Charlotte Schofield, Foundation Coordinator, will be happy to come along.

STEP #3: During your meeting, highlight the ease of the event, the benefit to your local homeless community, free PR for the venue and choir and the moral reasons to support this charity event. Secure a date, preferably the 1st or 8th December 2019 from 5-6pm. Hurry, venues get booked up quickly.

STEP #4: Most churches, cathedrals and chapels will have a choir you can use. If not, contact The Foundation for help finding one.

STEP #5: If the venue has the capacity, you may like to include some refreshments such as mulled wine and mince pies. If you only have a small area for this, advertise it as a post-event VIP reception.

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PROMOTION

STEP #6: Get a sponsor or two to fund the venue, choir and refreshment costs, if any. Local businesses, like solicitors, are a good place to start. We can add their logos and a blurb in the programmes, on our website, in press releases and social media promotions. Sponsors can send invitations to their network to increase awareness.

STEP #7: Decide whether you want your donations to support a specific homeless charity or if you want to help The Foundation's grant pot.

STEP #8: Your marketing campaign, press releases and social media content will all be made for FREE as a thank you for supporting The Foundation and our mission to end homelessness. 

STEP #9: Most venues will not have a ticketing system. The ticket sales can go into your branch's bank account and you can make your donation to The Foundation after the event. If you are working individually/ not with an organisation, we can help you with an alternative ticketing platform. Contact us for more information. Make a spreadsheet with columns for Name, Email, Phone number, Accessibility assistance (wheelchair users), Ticket quantity and if they are VIP or not. Print a few copies for the event.

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ON THE DAY

STEP #10: Ask for a few volunteers to steward on the day. Bring some donation buckets and make a short speech at the end of the concert to thank everyone for their attendance and encourage some more donations.

Finally, don’t forget to have fun!

P.s. As a nice finishing touch, you may like to give a few free tickets to your chosen homeless charity and reserve them a space. 

Get in touch for support getting started today

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