We’ve briefly mentioned in other articles that you will need to consider how you would like to lead, manage, or organise your group, but what exactly are the options available to you?
We’ve made a list of the different positions that you might need to think about when creating a management team or organisational structure for your a cappella group. Have a read and mix and match what works best for you!
Creatives
Musical Director: leads the musical direction of the group, chooses arrangements, leads rehearsals, makes decisions on the style and musical identity of the group. (Often overlaps in duties with Group Manager/President in smaller groups)
Arranger: you can have any number of arrangers as part of your group and they can be a member of the group or an external party. They can be the arranger of an individual piece, or a regular contributor to your group. They can be an amateur or professional. They could be completely hands-off after writing the arrangement, or they could be involved in helping the Musical Director interpret the music.
Creative Director: leads the creative direction of the group and so has some overlap with other positions. This person will make decisions on the overall image of the group and how they are presented to the public; this can include but is not limited to musical direction, choreography, marketing materials, outfits.
Movement
Performance Director: leads how the group looks during a performance and how they convey the music through their bodies. This can include any choreography, movement, facial expressions, walk-ons/offs and more.
Movement Director: leads the movement of a group that doesn’t carry out dance moves or full choreography. They will usually manage walk-ons/offs, blocking, formation and other forms of movement that may be used during a performance.
Choreographer: leads the group in choreographed movement, usually in the form of dance routines or more complicated moves.
Leadership
Group Manager: this person will lead the group in terms of administration. They will usually make decisions on behalf of the group, lead meetings, and be the go-to person for any discussion about the group’s future.
President: this position is very common in university a cappella groups, as it is often a position required by university unions for the formation of a society or society group.
Group Representative: this position can be useful in university a cappella where the group is part of a larger society (e.g. University A Cappella Society). This person will represent the group’s interests at any larger society meetings and communicate society decisions to the group.
Administration
Business Manager: handles the group’s activities and can often cover any paperwork and administration required. They will often be the point of contact for paid gigs and other opportunities, and work closely with other members of management to streamline administration and management activities.
Secretary: manages the administration for the group, including minutes of meetings, any paperwork or records that need to be maintained, and any internal communications. Point of communication between management and the group members.
Finance
Treasurer: looks after the group’s finances, keeps track of any membership fees, income from selling CDs or merchandise, and payments for performances etc. They will ensure the financial stability of the group and will advise group management on any funding issues that might need to be addressed.
Fundraising Officer: can overlap with, or work closely with the Treasurer. Responsible for sourcing income for the group, whether that’s via encouraging donations, looking for paid performance opportunities or coming up with ideas for fundraising events.
Marketing
Marketing Manager / Publicity Manager: handles all public representations of the group, including; posters, websites, event materials, promo videos, media enquiries etc. They are also responsible for finding opportunities to promote the group to a wider audience.
External Relations: this person is responsible for handling any external communications for the group, including gig bookings and media requests. They are your public point of contact if anyone wants to get in touch with your group for any reason.
Brand Manager: manages the group’s image. This has lots of overlap with the Creative Director and the Marketing Manager. This person oversees how the group is perceived by the public.
Social
Social Secretary: organises all social opportunities for the group to bond outside of rehearsals and performances. Most common in university a cappella groups but not limited to this, and can be key to keeping the group positive and happy.
Diversity and Inclusion Officer: works closely with both Management and Social roles to ensure that group members feel safe and welcome within the group and that the group is open and inclusive to those who might want to join.
Wellbeing Manager: looks after the group members on a personal level via strong communication and systems of work that allow members to bring up any issues they might have within the group.
Event-Specific
Tour Manager: this person may manage a specific tour, or all tours for your group. They are responsible for booking venues, lighting and sound equipment, co-ordinating any staff you may need, booking travel and accommodation, and anything else that may be necessary for your tour.
Bookings Manager: handles any performance opportunities for the group, including tours, gigs, appearances. This person is the point of contact for the public to hire your group to perform.
Fringe Committee: common in university a cappella groups and often made up of a team of people rather than a single person. They co-ordinate the group’s activities at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which is a mainstay of the a cappella calendar. This can include booking venues, registering with the Fringe, booking social activities and other shows, and handling travel and accommodation. They may also be responsible for creating the group’s show for the Fringe, although this is often handled by a separate creative team.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of roles that you might need to consider for your a cappella group, so remember, you can create a role yourself to suit your group’s needs. But we hope we’ve given you a good place to start!
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