Top takeaways from our first concert tours webinar

Ian Blenkinsop, City of Bristol Choir

Choir member and meticulous volunteer tour organiser

• Adult
• Auditioned choir
• Mixed Group
• Sacred repertoire performed with organ accompaniment

What he said…

• Preparation is key. An inspection trip plays a vital role in achieving exacting standards and timings of itineraries. It means you can be confident that the acoustics of venues will complement your group’s repertoire.
• Touring on a biannual basis, we’ve built a unique relationship with the Concert Tours team at Rayburn, where two-way dialogue and sharing of ideas is vital. I trust them implicitly to know our tours inside out and plan performances that will work impeccably for our group. This continuity of knowledge is vital when working in partnership with a concert tour organiser.
• Due to the extremely high standards we set, our tours are often referred to as ‘work with a bit of a holiday’ but I would challenge that observation as the reality is we perform, we bond, we work hard and play hard! That is what a concert tour should always be about!

See a snippet of what he had to say during the concert tours webinar…

Melanie Stapleton, Tapton Youth Brass Band

Tour Organiser, who inspires others when talking about her band’s monumental fundraising efforts…

• Youth Brass Band
• Community band
• Providing performance opportunities for all
• Traditional repertoire

What she said…

• She’s been arranging tours in partnership with Rayburn Tours for more than 20 years. She speaks openly about the immense responsibility of travelling with young people, but also how every year the rewards and memories continue to grow.
• She advises others to work with parents and students to make the experience play a much wider role in their development as a young person and performer. She sets in place a massive fundraising programme that helps subsidise each child’s place on tour. They feel like they’ve earned it!
• If your group gain a reputation as a regular touring ensemble, you often find you are over subscribed year after year. This certainly been the case for us, and consequently we have no issues with recruitment of members!

See a snippet of what she had to say during the concert tours webinar…