Membership of Bridlington Classic Pop Singers
We have three categories of membership:
1) Non-Performing Member
ALL new members join us in this category. If you come along to one of our rehearsals, held every Tuesday and Thursday at Emmanuel Church, Cardigan Road, Bridlington, then, when you attend your third rehearsal you will be auditioned to see if your voice is suitable for singing. If you fail you may or may not be allowed to attend further rehearsals. This is a decision of the Production Team. If you pass the audition then you can join us as a Non-Performing Member. As a non-performing membership the fee is just £5 month.
A Non-Performing member can come along to rehearsals, enjoy learning and singing new songs as part of a large singing group, and enjoy the social aspect. We also have monthly "Social Evenings". A Non-Performing member cannot take part in any of our concerts.
After about two to three months of regular attendance, a Non-Performing member will be auditioned again to see if they are concert ready. The audition process is to sing one of the songs from our current repertoire in front of our Musical Director, and Production Team. We will assess if your singing ability is now suitable to join us in concerts, and whether or not you are managing to learn the words, harmonies and dance moves. After the audition the Producer will inform you of the decision by the audition team. If you fail the audition you will have to remain as a Non-Performing Member and audition again at a later date. We work hard to learn new songs in rehearsals, and singers who cannot pass an audition may slow down the learning of new songs by the group.
Any person who has recently joined BCPS, and is also a member of another singing group, choir or musical theatre may not be allowed to audition to become a Performing Member unless they make a decision to prioritise their commitment to us.                                                                                          Existing members are naturally free to be part of other performance groups but we may have to restrict their activities within BCPS or cease their membership if their activities lead to opportunist recruitment of existing BCPS members, or if they miss rehearsals and concerts because of other performance groups they commit to. The reason is that such members could become under-rehearsed, with the risk of our concert performances being less professional. Membership recruitment for other groups is disruptive and unfair on the other loyal, dedicated members.
2) Performing Member
Existing members who have performed in concerts with us, and new members that pass an audition will be moved into this category. You will enjoy the excitement of performances in front of all types of audiences, and the satisfaction that every performance we do is for either charity fundraising, or good cause.
We expect performing members to kit themselves out in their own individual choice of 50's/60's/70's or 80's "Gear" (stage costume reflecting the era of classic pop songs)
Performing members must attend at least 50% of rehearsals, and attend the "Dress" rehearsal before each major change of concert programme, usually preceding a show. A member must seek permission from the Producer, Musical Director, and Choreographer if for genuine reasons they cannot attend a dress rehearsal but still wish to be in the show.
We realise that due to family problems, ill health, holidays, and personal reasons members will not be able to attend every concert. We simply ask that you book your holiday dates into a diary kept by our Secretary, and inform a member of the Production Team if you can't attend a concert. Performing Members are aware that we are increasingly popular in our region as a singing group. The people involved with the Charities and Good Causes we stage concerts for usually work hard to promote an event. Our audiences are real people who are purchasing tickets, or otherwise supporting these combined efforts, and most importantly looking forward to the enjoyment provided by our lively, uplifting and unique concert/shows.
3) Supporting Member.
This class of membership is given for those who cannot take part in our rehearsals, yet wish to support our activities. The membership is gained by applying via our Secretary, and agreeing to donate the Supporting Member Subscription of £30 year. We give you a membership card and you gain the satisfaction of knowing that your support helps towards the cost of sound equipment, rehearsal venues and music. We regret we cannot allow free entry to concerts because all our concerts are for charity fundraising or other genuine good causes. 
Solo lead Singers
Performing members who have the ability and desire to sing a solo-led song will be encouraged to audition at the first available date after they have been in full membership for two months. Audition dates for solo singers are twice yearly - 1st February, and 1st August. Additionally around 1st October we audition for Christmas songs. It is important to note that we have no solo songs as such. ALL our songs involve the full group on stage singing. Some songs are full group numbers, and others are the group led by a solo singer, or duet. Experienced solo lead singers can request a maximum of one solo led number, and one duet led number per concert season. They can suggest a song that they would like to lead, and the Musical Director and Producer will decide if that song is suitable.
Solo lead singers with songs in our current concert repertoire are expected to give a more dedicated commitment to attend concerts because of the investment in rehearsal time in their song, although hoilday times, illnesss, and over-riding personal reasons for missing a concert can be worked around by substituting other songs.
Lapsed Membership.
ALL classes of membership will see their membership lapse at the end of the month following a month in which subscriptions haven't been paid. Those wishing to take a long break from singing can protect their membership by paying for it in advance. (£60 per annum, £15 per three months)
A lapsed member will no longer be a member. They can rejoin by attending rehearsals at the entry level, and joining as Non-Performing Members. They will be subject to the same audition process and criteria as any new Non-Performing member before they can be allowed to join us in concerts.