This edition V3.2 22/3/2018

The following list of current guidelines sets out the present situation regarding rehearsal nights and monthly
social/concert nights. These guidelines are kept under constant review and will be reassessed as required.
THESE GUIDELINES ARE SET DOWN FROM CLUB MEETINGS AND MEMBERS INPUT, IN THE HOPE OF ACHIEVING
PROFESSIONAL CONTROL OF REHEARSAL NIGHTS, MONTHLY SOCIAL/CONCERTS AND TO ASSIST WITH MANAGEMENT
OF THESE PROCEEDINGS.
ALL/ANY CONCERNS REGARDING THESE GUIDELINES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR
CONSIDERATION.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Constitution – Homestead has its own constitution. Ask for a copy and make yourself familiar with this document.
  • Code of Conduct – a copy of Homestead’s ‘Code of Conduct’ is at the back of this booklet.
  • Club Meetings – Meetings are held on the first Tuesday after the monthly social/concert, commencing at 7pm. This is every member’s voice/forum, so you are encouraged to attend to stay informed of changes, events and general information. For an item to be included on the agenda, please contact the Secretary prior to the meeting night, as agenda items will be the only items discussed.
  • Magazine – A magazine is published quarterly. To include an article, please contact the Editor.
  • Website – Homestead has a website www.homesteadmusic.org .
    This website contains Management Committee contact numbers, email addresses and other general information pertaining to the Club. Please contact the Web master for any information such as a personal profile, link, photograph etc to be included.
  • Facebook – Homestead has a Facebook page – ‘Homestead Country Music’.
    Members are encouraged to use this page to keep others informed of events, achievements and general information. This page should not be used for every day personal entries/venting or advertising items that are not directly related to music. If there is an issue with this page, please contact page Administration.
  • Club colours – Are black and gold.
  • Colds – If a member has any sort of cold and still wanting to perform, please bring a personal microphone or microphone cover.
  • Finish times – Rehearsal nights and monthly social/concert nights will end promptly at 11:30pm. These are rules of Stanmore Hall.
  • Regulations and Directions – All Homestead members must comply with community regulations and all reasonable directions including those relating to noise level.
  • Artistic content – Each performing member has general control of the artistic content of their performance and may choose the musicians comprising their backing band. The performing member acknowledges that their performance is to be family friendly and not include any material that may cause offence.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

  1. The Homestead Practice and Concert Roster. Due to time restraint and the large number of members, a roster system has been put in place both to manage the number of songs/instrumentals each member may perform at the social/concert, and to sequence practice sessions such that vocalists have equity in the early/late practice times
        • The roster is capped at 40 vocalists, including juniors. This group is the Active List.
        • Performers on the senior rehearsal roster will be placed in set groups, which rotate weekly to equalise early/late practice times. For convenience, these groups may contain members who back each other, travel together, or are a couple/family.
        • On practice nights, juniors nominate on the roster sheet in order of their arrival, and practice in that order before the senior groups.
        • If a member does not perform at a monthly social/concert for three months, they will be moved to a Standby List for both rehearsals and monthly social/concerts. A courtesy email or phone call will precede this action.
        • New junior members will be placed in the Junior group without a waiting period
        • Any potential/new senior members will be expected to first attend two successive concerts and all intervening practice sessions to become familiar with the way the roster system works. If a place is available they will then be placed in a group, otherwise they will be placed in the Standby List.
        • If a member has a genuine reason for their absence (i.e.: illness or work) and keeps Homestead informed, they will not lose their place on the rehearsal roster.
        • Members on the ‘Standby list’ will be eligible for one song at the concert, and will be placed last on the rehearsal roster. They may be moved to the ‘Active list’ when a vacancy occurs in the roster groups.

      Working to the Roster System

      • The number of members allocated two performances (on social/concert night) will change week by week. A coloured section of the roster (the short list) indicates additional members who may end up performing two songs. Members on this ‘short list’ should have a second number on hand that is well known to the band or easy to perform.
      • The roster will be emailed out to all members and a hard copy will be available at each rehearsal night. Please reply to the email and/or mark up on the hard copy as soon as possible to nominate attendance/absence at the monthly social/concert.
      • Nominations will close the day before the second last practice in the cycle. The roster is subject to change right up to the social/concert night.
  2. Not performing at monthly social – If a member is not performing at the monthly social/concert, consider not rehearsing during that month. The band has a lot of performances to get through as it is.
  3. Be ready to perform – On rehearsal nights and monthly social/concert nights, each member is responsible for knowing their position on the roster and is requested to be ready near the steps to save and maximise rehearsal times.
  4. Juniors/Juveniles/Joeys – A Junior is such between the ages of 13-17 yrs. A Juvenile is such between the age of 10-12yrs. A Joey is classified as 9 and under.
  5. Duet
    • A duet is a song sung together without back up from other singers.
    • Backup vocals/harmonies (oooo’s etc) don’t turn the song into a duet or group song – these enhance the song of a solo artist.
    • Duo’s can utilise the songs allocated to both performers in different combinations (as long as the total number of songs allocated between them is not exceeded). For example
        Junior/Juvenile/Joey free nights – Juniors/Juveniles/Joeys do not rehearse on stage on the night of the meeting.
      •  Two performers with one rostered song each may perform:
      • 1. Two duets or
      • 2. One duet and one individual song by one of the performers.
      •  If the Performers have been allocated three or more songs between them, this can be split into:
      • 3. two duets or:
      • 4. one duet and one individual song by each performer.

6. Trio – Trios can use their rostered songs in a similar fashion as duos.(as long as the total number of songs allocated between them is not exceeded). For example:

      • • Two songs in trio or:
      • • One song in trio, plus one individual song each or:
      • • One song in trio, one duet and one song for the performer who didn’t sing the duet.

7. Group – Group acts of four or more should be encouraged as these add to the development of the performers and for the benefit of our audience as they provide further variety. Group acts should be discussed and preapproved by the Management Committee or at a general meeting. Group acts must not add to the proposed number of songs on the roster.

REHEARSAL NIGHTS

(Held every Tuesday night, commencing at 7pm)

  1. Nominations – To ensure efficient and smooth transitions on practice nights, vocalists need to nominate which song(s) they will be practicing. This may be done by writing on the hard copy at practice, or better still by replying to the weekly email. If you have in mind a specific version of a song, please note in the table on the roster sheet the title, the artist/version, and the key
  2. Chord/Lyric Charts – Capo – If your chart is chorded in capo form, make sure there is also a chart in the original key for the bass and keyboard players (who do not use capos).
  3. Band – Vocalists need to nominate their band members each month.
    To ensure the nominated band members know the song, email a chord/lyric chart and a You-Tube link to them.
    This may not be necessary if the song is well known by the band members.
  4. Songs/instrumentals – Each performer will only rehearse one (1) new song/instrumental per month. This song/instrumental is to be teamed up with a number the band has previously practised when/if allocated two songs/instrumentals. It is very difficult for the band to learn the number of songs that they do.
  5. Rehearsal Night Timer – A buzzer will sound at the beginning of allocated stage time (when a member walks onto the stage and is deemed ready) and then again when the timer has two minutes left. If the song/instrumental is going well and both performer and band are happy with it, don’t take up the allocated 10 minutes. (On club meeting nights, rehearsal time may be limited to 8 minutes)
  6. End of Rehearsal Roster – Members on the end of the rehearsal roster must understand that they might not always get their 10 minutes due to time constraints.
    The computer gives a continually updated estimate of what time each member will be practicing. This may change rapidly, so check periodically with the time keeper. (Remember, there is a mandated 11:30 pm for noise to cease in the Hall). Rotation of the roster groups is such that the last group becomes the first at the following practice
  7. Queue Jumping – Swapping – If a member is rostered on late on rehearsal night, it is alright on occasions to swap with someone in an earlier time slot. It is up to the member requiring the earlier spot to negotiate the swap and to inform the time keeper so that the rehearsal order can be altered. Swapping is only an exception and should not be a regular occurrence. A member cannot swap with someone who is away who has a better spot, and then swap back to their own spot when their own position on the roster improves.

MONTHLY SOCIAL/CONCERT NIGHTS

(Held at 7:00 pm on the 3rd Friday of every Month)

  1. Stage Books – Each member is allocated a number in the stage books – this number changes monthly and coincides with the order a member appears on the programme . The books are kept in the cupboard in the Hall and are available on the last rehearsal night before the monthly social/concert, so where practicable, members are requested to put chord/lyric charts in the books on that night. These books are to save time and for each performance to be presented to the audience in the best way possible.
  2. Chord/lyric charts for stage books – Performing members will have (6) copies of their charts for the stage books regardless of whether they think this many copies are necessary. The club has a photocopier for club members’ use (for a small fee). This is set up on rehearsal nights.
    • After each monthly social/concert members are asked to retrieve their charts from the stage books ASAP
    Any unclaimed charts will be made available for other members use and/or disposed of
    • Members are asked to write their name on their chord/lyric charts to make ID simpler. All members are
    encouraged to comply.
  3. Dress code – Performing members are requested to wear neat and tidy attire whilst on stage. No short shorts,
    singlets, exposed underwear, or rubber thongs will be permitted. Exceptions will be allowed for acts that
    require special costumes.
  4. Respect for Performing Artists – Monthly social/concerts commence at 7pm. Try to be in the Hall and
    seated earlier where possible, so that the first performing artist is singing to a seated audience. Keep
    interruptive/loud chat down and try not to move through the hall during a performance to show respect for the
    artist on stage.
  5. Bar – Alcohol and cold drinks are on sale. Drunkenness, bad behaviour (rudeness, bad language, excessive
    noise/interruptions) may result in removal from site. Members and special guests must be sober to perform.
    No alcohol is permitted onstage.
  6. Reserved seating – For safety reasons and fairness, members and patrons cannot reserve chairs for friends
    arriving at a later time. Tipping/leaning the chairs against the tables creates a hazard.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Homestead Country Music Association Inc.
Definition: The ‘Code of Conduct’ is a ‘Regulatory System or Protocol of Appropriate Behaviour’ designed to
protect and support the members of Homestead and the organisational body in a manner conducive to good
citizenship and legislated, societal expectations relative to our ongoing Duty of Care and Respect for Individuals.

As a condition of my membership of Homestead, I agree to abide by and comply with its Code of Conduct as listed below.

  • A commitment to the objectives of Homestead Country Music Club Inc. (HCMCI) and its Guidelines as printed in the Members’ Handbook.
  • A commitment to Homestead’s high standards of appropriate, responsible behaviour and professional conduct
    involving interaction between members, audience and the general public.
  • A commitment to honesty, integrity, impartiality and respect for others in all interactions relating to
    Homestead (HCMCI) activities.
  • [Relative to the Homestead (HCMCI) ongoing focus on the development of young performers] a commitment
    to Juniors, Teenagers and Young Adults of the club to maintain a safe, inclusive and supportive environment
    including protection from intimidation and/or harassment of any form.
  • A commitment to not engage in any conduct that could bring the member into disrepute and/or negatively
    impact on Homestead (HCMCI).
  • A commitment to refrain from illegal, unethical and immoral behaviour including discrimination, abuse or
    bullying in relation to any interactions relating to Homestead (HCMCI) activities.
    I understand that failure to comply with the provisions set out in this Code of Conduct under the Homestead (HCMCI)
    Constitution could lead to membership and/or the privileges of membership, being suspended or terminated.
    Note: To determine if the Code has been breached, due consideration will be given to the circumstances of the
    stated breach and the views of the party/parties involved.
    Any disciplinary action shall be in accordance with the Homestead HCMCI constitution.
    This may be in the form of counselling, written admonishment and/or penalty as listed above.
    In the best interests of all members, compliance with the Code of Conduct is obligatory.