Guidance

If you spend a lot of time managing event bookings via phone and email instead of organising other areas of your events, then using an online ticketing service might be just want you need.

Ticketing websites have never been more user-friendly and they can help your group save time, money, and sell more tickets. The initial setup can be slightly time-consuming but once you are up and running, the positives far outweigh the negatives…

This audit tool is part of our GDPR toolkit. It is intended to help you think about the questions you need to ask about the data your group holds, asks for and uses, to help you meet your data protection responsibilities.

How to use the audit tool

GDPR is a meaty topic with lots of information, not all of which will be relevant to you. This tool is designed to help you filter the information to what is relevant for your group.

Data protection is becoming an increasingly prominent issue. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018 tightened up the data laws and led to the Data Protection Act 2018, getting a fair bit of media attention in the process.

The new rules can appear complex, hard to apply and perhaps a bit restrictive. For leisure-time music groups though, it’s mostly about common sense and simple reasonable measures to make sure you are using the data you hold in a fair, reasonable and secure way. 

Music for All has been closely monitoring developments regarding Coronavirus COVID-19 and its potential impact on Learn to Play Day weekend. After much consideration, they have decided to postpone Learn To Play Day 2020.

Music for All hopes to run events at a later date, so please check back on this page for updates.

Learn To Play Day is a free national event organised by the Music for All charity to inspire new and lapsed musicians to take up playing an instrument, and takes place every year in March.

There is a well documented drop off in young people’s involvement in music making aged 18 when they leave the formal education system. Collaborations with Music Education Hubs could be one way to prevent some of this drop off.

Care homes are not often seen as places for performing music, and you’d be forgiven if you hadn’t considered doing so before.

However, according to a 2015 Treasurers survey, a number of Making Music member groups already have a relationship with their local care home.

Why perform in a care home?

It can be hugely beneficial for everyone involved: the care home, its residents and your group:

Lots of our member groups perform in care homes across the country, taking their music to people who might not otherwise have a chance to attend a live performance. In many care homes there are people with dementia, and some homes specialise in care for people with this illness.

When it comes to choosing the best bank account for your not-for-profit organisation the prospect may seem a little daunting. Questions – 'which bank should we use?' 'what does each account offer?' 'what is the best Account for our group?' – can all make the process seem overwhelming. But don’t fret! This guidance outlines some of the different bank accounts that are available and aims to help you decide on the most suitable options for your group.

When you are starting a music group thinking about the formal structure is not necessarily top of the list. But as groups grow and become more stable it is a good idea to start thinking about how your group is structured.

When you are starting a music group thinking about the formal structure is not necessarily top of the list. With finding venues, members and music you have plenty on your plate without creating more paperwork and admin - and to be honest an informal, flexible approach can be useful when you are getting things off the ground. But as groups grow and become more stable it is a good idea to start thinking about a formal structure for your group.