choir resources www.bigbigsing.org

Resource:

Flashmob Guide for Venues“Flashmob choirs are a core part of Big Big Sing – they’re really fun for both the singers, the venue and the unsuspecting audience. We’ve ‘popped up’ in museums, galleries, train stations and cafes and always get an amazing reception.” Siobhan Clark, Producer, Big Big Sing

Big Big Sing aims to inspire thousands of people across the UK to get singing. We’re joining forces with Voluntary Arts Week to help spread song across the UK with Flashmob choirs!

Run by Voluntary Arts each May, Voluntary Arts Week is a celebration of cultural creativity across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Voluntary cultural groups of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to showcase what they do and invite newcomers to join in.

This year’s Voluntary Arts Week runs from 9 – 18 May and we want as many people as possible to get involved by organising a Flashmob choir to surprise their local community!

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What is a Flashmob choir?

A spontaneous performance of group singing in public. Flashmobs can take place anytime and anywhere - from shopping centres to train stations. The aim is to surprise and thrill the unsuspecting audience with your performance before dispersing back in to the crowd as if nothing happened.

Anyone can organise and take part in a Flashmob choir – no matter what your singing experience. If you can sing in the shower, you can sing in a Flashmob choir!

choir resources www.bigbigsing.org

Resource:Flashmob Guide for Venues

How can your venue get involved?

Make a space in your building or grounds available for a local choir to hold a Flashmob.

Coordinate your own Flashmob to animate your venue and surprise visitors – it’s a great way to get staff and volunteers together to do some creative team building.

Why take part in Voluntary Arts Week?

Hosting an activity during Voluntary Arts Week is:

A great way to link with groups from your local community, who may not be fully utilising your venue.

A fantastic way to engage both regular and new audiences with your venue in an exciting and memorable way.

An opportunity to generate some great coverage in both local and national press for your organisation / venue and the groups involved.

Big Big Commonwealth Songbook

Looking for some song inspiration for your Flashmob? Look no further than the Big Big Commonwealth Songbook! It’s packed full of songs from around the world, each with it’s own pack of downloadable materials including warm ups and tips.

Tips for planning your Flashmob

It’s important to think about the audience - how will members of the public see the Flashmob? Where will it create maximum impact? Will it affect the usual day-to-day running of the venue? How can the public enjoy the Flashmob without being inconvenienced by it?

Carry out a risk assessment, list any risks you think may be associated with staging a Flashmob and what steps you will take to minimize them.

Search Big Big Sing’s directory of choirs and invite a local choir to perform a Flashmob at your venue. You could also put a call out for choirs in your newsletter, website and social media.

Ensure that one of your staff or volunteers is there on the day to act as a point of contact, answer any questions that might arise and provide guidance for the group.

choir resources www.bigbigsing.org

Resource:Flashmob Guide for Venues

Big Big Sing is delivered by Glasgow UNESCO City of Music and is part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. Glasgow UNESCO City of Music is a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity No SC040222

How to advertise your Flashmob

You could list it on the Voluntary Arts Week website along with any other creative, participatory events/activities/workshops that you have planned to take place between 9-18 May.

Use your own networks to spread the word; via your newsletter, website and social media. If you want to maintain a level of surprise, simply hint that ‘something exciting is happening’.

Connect with us on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtags #BigBigSing #Voluntaryartsweek and #Flashmob to profile your event.

Send details of your event to your local newspaper, community magazine, radio station and invite them along.

Document your Flashmob

Contact your local Photography/FilmClub or put a call out for local amateur photographers and set them the challenge of capturing the event. Make sure you discuss copyright beforehand - this may simply mean agreeing to credit the photographer when using the images.

Provide ‘Photo Release Forms’ for the public to sign - this will give you permission to use any photographs taken for future publicity. Download the Voluntary Arts Using Photography Information Briefing for more advice.

You can invite local press to your event, but make sure you contact them afterwards - let them know how your event went by sending a basic press release to news desks at your local paper (details can be found on their websites). Say a bit about the Flashmob, provide them with some quotes from staff, the public and the groups who took part, and most importantly offer some good quality high-resolution photographs that give a great visual representation of how your Flashmob went.

Post your pics on the Big Big Sing and Voluntary Arts Facebook pages - we can’t wait to see your fab Flashmobs!

Big Big Sing and Voluntary Arts cannot be held responsible for any damage to property or people, so please keep you (and those around you) safe when organising your Voluntary Arts Week activity.