Quite often, something happens that means a singer can’t attend a singing event they’ve paid for.
I used to deal with each situation individually, which caused me a lot of stress and anguish. That’s where a clear cancellation policy comes in handy.
singing workshops
I recently ran a singing day with about 35 singers booked in. As the day approached, around six singers independently dropped out for various reasons: illness, family matters, diary clash, transport problems, and so on.
Each singer had a good reason for cancelling. I felt for every one of them, but I couldn’t afford to issue refunds — I had expenses to cover such as transport, venue hire, and refreshments.
Fortunately, I now have a cancellation policy clearly stated on my website. When singers book a singing event with me, they can read it in advance. If they later need to cancel, I simply refer them to he policy. That way, everything is clear and straightforward, and I don’t have to get drawn into the details or become emotionally involved.
choir attendance
When it comes to regular choir attendance, your refund policy will naturally be a little different.
If it’s a pay-as-you-go choir, then there is no issue — singers only pay when they attend.
However, choir members often pay in advance for a whole term or season. In those cases, I only offer a full refund in exceptional circumstances. If someone wants a partial refund because they’ll be away on holiday for several weeks, I explain that a termly payment essentially reserves their place in the choir. Whether or not they attend every session is up to them. After all, there are always singers on the waiting list eager to take their place!
You might also find this older post useful: When a choir rehearsal is cancelled, should singers get a refund?
my cancellation policy
I read lots of cancellation policies before I came up with mine. I refined it until it was as simple and clear as possible while suiting my needs. You can find it here: booking terms.
Feel free to use it as a starting point for creating your own policy.
Chris Rowbury
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