Real Voices Membership Policy

1. Purpose of the Policy

• This Membership Policy outlines the expectations, responsibilities, and rights of all Real Voices members. It aims to ensure a welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable environment.

• In signing up as a member of Real Voices you are agreeing to abide by this policy.

2. Eligibility for Membership

• Membership is open to individuals aged 18+

• Real Voices does not discriminate based on race, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or background.

• Real Voices is a non-auditioned choir.

• However, on the very rare occasion that a member is consistently singing out of tune to the extent that it significantly affects the overall sound of the choir, the Musical Director will ask to arrange a quick one-to-one session with the member: it may just be that the member is singing the wrong voice part. If the Musical Director feels it’s necessary, they may then recommend taking some singing lessons before continuing with the choir. This recommendation will always be delivered with sensitivity and support. 

3. Attendance & Commitment

• Members are encouraged to attend rehearsals as regularly as possible to get the most out of their choir membership.

• Members can attend rehearsals on a different evening and at a different location twice per term if they can’t make their regular rehearsal. We can offer more venue flexibility if needed based on individual circumstances (ie. shift workers). Please contact Becky if you’d like to discuss this.

• We appreciate it if members let us know when they need to miss rehearsals, particularly if they’ll be absent for a number of weeks.

• Excessive absences may affect participation in performances (in this scenario, participation in a performance would be at the discretion of the Musical Director).

• Members are encouraged to listen to the learning files provided if they miss rehearsals in order to keep up with the progress of the choir.

4. Behaviour & Conduct

Members are expected to:

• Treat all other singers and team members with respect and kindness.

• Promote a supportive, inclusive, and encouraging environment.

• Avoid disruptive behaviour during rehearsals and performances.

• Commit to minimal use of mobile phones during rehearsals. Scrolling and messaging distracts other members around you and can have a negative impact on their ability to enjoy and immerse themselves in the rehearsal.

• Print or bring their music to rehearsals on an iPad/tablet.

5. Performances

• Participation in performances is always encouraged but not mandatory.

• Members must attend a decent number of rehearsals to be included in performances. This is at the discretion of the Musical Directors.

• Any performance dress code will be communicated clearly in advance of a performance and members will be required to follow this in order to take part.

• Members are required to sign up for performances within the timeframe given otherwise they may not be able to perform.

• Some performance opportunities (when we are invited to take part in events organised by others) have limits on the number of singers. In the scenario that more members sign up than space available, a random selection will be made whilst keeping a balance between voice parts.

6. Photography & Recording 

• By joining Real Voices, members agree that they may appear in rehearsal and performance photos or footage that may be posted online or used for promotional purposes.

• Members will be given the opportunity during regular weekly rehearsals to step aside before a photo or video is taken if they prefer not to be included.

• Members should assume that filming and/or photography will take place at band rehearsals and performances and that due to the nature of these events, opting out may not always be possible.

7. Music & Materials

• Sheet music, either physical or digital, and learning tracks or resources may not be distributed outside the choir.

8. Payment of Membership Fees

• Real Voices requires a financial commitment of one term.

• By joining Real Voices you are agreeing to pay the applicable membership fee in full regardless of attendance.

• Members have the option of either paying the term fee upfront via the Real Voices website or splitting it over monthly instalments via direct debit (Go Cardless).

• The direct debit is not a “pay as you go” option. In signing up for the direct debit payment plan, members agree not to cancel this before the term fee has been paid in full.

9. Cancelling membership

• Membership can be easily cancelled at the end of term by emailing becky@realvoices.co.uk

• Real Voices will always save a member’s place for the following term unless we hear from them via email that they are not continuing.

• With that in mind, members are asked to let Becky know via email before the start of a new term with as much notice as possible if they are not continuing.

• If a member pays via direct debit, this will roll over to the following term unless they email Becky in advance of the new term to cancel.

• Real Voices has the right to cancel a membership if the member is not following this membership policy. Where appropriate, a warning would always be given in the first instance.

10. Refunds

• Real Voices is unable to offer refunds unless in exceptional circumstances (please email Becky if you think these apply).

11. Provision of Service

• Real Voices will always do whatever we can to avoid any disruption to our scheduled rehearsals.

• In the event a Musical Director is too unwell to run a session we will firstly try to find a suitable replacement MD to run the rehearsal as normal. If that’s not possible, members are invited and encouraged to attend one of our other locations either on the same or a different evening. If the term schedule allows we will try to arrange a make-up session.

• In the event a rehearsal is cancelled for reasons beyond our control (ie. venue closure, extreme weather) Real Voices will try to arrange a make-up session or invite members to attend an alternative rehearsal as above.

12. Health & Safety

• Members must follow all venue-specific safety instructions.

• Members are encouraged to share any accessibility or health needs so reasonable adjustments can be made.

• Members are asked to consider others and not attend rehearsals or performances when they are unwell/contagious.

13. Real Voices WhatsApp Community

• Participation in choir WhatsApp groups is completely optional. 

• These groups are informal spaces created to support communication within the choir community and are not officially monitored.

• Members who choose to join are expected to communicate respectfully and with kindness at all times. 

• We ask members to be mindful that these groups are a Real Voices space and not to use them for promoting competing organisations.

14. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed regularly and Real Voices Ltd reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions without notice. Members will always be notified of any updates or changes.