Yo

Could you please take a minute to fill in this survey? It would make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. It's a sort of follow-up to my thread about attracting an audience a couple of months ago Link is here.

Thanks!
Matthew

Doing it now

Done.

done

Done from me too!

Thank you to those who have contributed so far - the results are already very interesting! Many more responses still needed though please!

Done

Done, would be very interested to know the results

Done

likewise, done

done

Done

done

Done!

Done to the best of my ability, but I found the questions rather tricky without having an imaginary concert in mind. How far would I travel to a concert in a church? Depends who is playing, what they are playing, what the parking is like, all that kind of stuff. Gave it my best shot, though. Churches are useful as they tend to have PRS licenses and interval catering facilities, but can be nightmares for disabled access (despite many elderly parishioners the access seems to be very much for people who have, and do not mind be subjected to, lots of assistants manhandling them). I do try to avoid churches just because of my own religious background, but if it's an established venue with an independent reputation and concert season I see it more as just a building. If the church website has a separate "What's on" section that covers non-religious events I'm far more likely to browse.

Done

Done.

I have no issues with using churches - they are frequently the only sizeable and accessible performance space in a community.

Also done

Completed

Done.

Thank you all very much! Looking forward to even more!

I have been to some wonderful concerts in fantastic chuches. If you don't know the church its best to wear plenty of layers and take a cushion in a cotton shopping bag.
I do know people who won't go to a concert in a church "on principle" though. Their loss.

Done.

Done too.

Just done.

I've filled in your questionnaire, but I keep thinking of other factors. There is a church in Reading in which I have both played concerts and listened to them. Some time after my first acquaintance with it, I discovered that the organ, electronic but good, has speakers at both the front and the back. On one occasion, I was in the audience when a choir I knew was performing with a visiting organist, who found the rear speakers activated and didn't dare try the unfamiliar controls to switch to the front. The consequence was a concert with poor balance between singers and organ except for the lucky people in a few rows near the middle. "Organist with knowledge of local peculiarities" is rarely a concert advertising item.

Done

Matthew, I would be interested to hear of your findings from this survey if you are able to share a summary at some point in the future. (I've submitted my contribution)

Thanks

Jon

Done.

Done

Am considering going to the Angela Hewitt concert in Harrogate at the Wesley Chapel at the end of September.

Done

Often go to (and perform in) concerts in churches, as they are probably the best concert venues available in our area. One has a particularly good acoustic and is huge - usually packed out for Christmas Concerts with various bands. They also hold the Exon Singers Festival http://exonsingers.org.uk/festival/ which is ?10 for evening (1hr or so) and ?4 for lunchtime (45 minutes).

No issue going to church for concerts, but being as it's a rural area they tend to be a bit of a community centre anyway and people tend to go for x'mas/remembrance etc even if they are not normally churchgoers. No real concept of "dodgy" areas - but would imagine lunchtimes are easier. Dodgy areas aren't really a consideration around here (but accessibility can be - there's a gorgeous church up on a Tor).

Wouldn't necessarily plan a concert in a church on a Sunday as people might be "afraid" that religious stuff might creep in.

Have done it. I see no problem with concerts in Churches particularly - just the distance and the publicity is often lacking for bringing people in from outside - I've never really seen an advert for a concert in a Church outside of the city/town I'm in at the time. The exception being some of the forum concerts.

Done. My local church hosts a series of about 6 chamber concerts every year - publicised well in advance. You can either go to just one (or more) or buy a season ticket to the lot (which is cheaper). They are also free for under 25s in FT education. However, I would say the average age of the audience is over 60. They are organised by a local musical society that covers three local towns, rather than by the church itself. The last one I went to was given by the Danish string quartet and I thought they were absolutely brilliant.

It's not a big church (holds perhaps 150) but is used in preference to the bigger parish church as the acoustics are excellent and there are no pillars to get in the way. Seats are uncomfortable so regulars bring cushions.

The concerts are on Saturday evenings between September and March at 7.30ish. Whenever I have been they have been full, as far as I can see. However, this is not a city centre or dodgy area so I don't know how well the model would translate to inner city Leeds.

Good luck!

Done.

Done. I've enjoyed superb concerts at my local church which have taken retiring collections when I've attended; the local classical music scene in Guernsey makes good use of the town church. I am not the slightest bit religious but was raised a catholic, so feel comfortable in the surroundings of a church but could understand why some people might not be so comfortable in a grand churchy-looking church. My only complaint is the pillars get in the way of seeing the performers if I don't get a good seat!
I am often the youngest person there by a good 15 years by the looks of things, and I'm not particularly young myself.

Done.
I second those suggestions. I also usually remember to take a travelling rug (sort of blanket) that can go over my knees, or round my shoulders if there's a draught, or be an extra layer to sit on. I've ruled out one local church completely because its pews were so excruciatingly uncomfortable (short front to back and with an angled wooden back rest that dug into me from behind. Ouch!).

These additions to this thread have made me remember a time back in the 60s, not long after the new cathedral opened in Coventry. They had a visit from the Halle Orchestra and I eagerly booked tickets to go even though being newly married I could not really afford them.

It was a total disaster. It was in winter, and it was freezing cold. The seats were hard. They were all on the flat floor, and the orchestra had limited staging so there was no chance of seeing any member actually playing. The acoustics were appalling. Needless to say I never went to a concert there again.