Inevitably there will be times when you are not available. But the show must go on.
What do you do?
It could be ill-health, a diary-clash, a family emergency or being on holiday. There will be times when you are not available to do your job.
The best solution is to prepare in advance.
Have a substitute to lead the rehearsal or workshop
Somebody you trust and who works in the same way as you. Better still, have a pool of such people to ensure that somebody will be free. If a concert is coming up and you know you can’t lead it, have your substitute attend the rehearsals leading up to it. Make sure you pay them!
Have a buddy who can sing your solo or play the piano
This can be somebody you, the singer, chooses, or it could be done by your choir leader. There are understudies in theatre. In the same way, if a concert is important enough, there will need to be backups for the important solos or accompanists if you use musicians.
Schedule publicity and other announcements in advance
If you know you’re going to be away when something needs publicising, then either give the content to someone to release it at certain times, or automate it.
For example, my blog needs to be published every Monday morning, If I know I’m going to be away, I will write several posts in advance and use my blog platform, Blogger, to schedule them. You can do the same on most social media platforms.
If there are emails to be sent out, you can write them as drafts then send them from your phone when you’re out of the office.
Outsource important admin
If it’s usually you who checks singers’ names at rehearsal, hands out the music, keeps the choir mailing list up to date, brings the tea and biscuits or unlocks the rehearsal venue, choose one or more trusted choir members to do the job when you’re absent.
You might find that this reduces your admin role overall and can keep the arrangement even when you’re there.
Other posts
You might find these older posts of interest.
How will your choir cope if you don’t turn up?
Singer or choir leader, you are not as indispensable as you think
What else can your singers do without you?
Chris Rowbury
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