FACILITATING EFFECTIVE SUPPER

This policy covers how to hold an effective supper for the choir that allows members to connect with each other.

Last updated: 22 February 2024

Creating time and space for connection and community in your choir is a cornerstone of the With One Voice experience.

Holding a supper after your choir rehearsals is a fantastic way to allow your choir members to mingle and connect with each other. Singing together is fantastic, but having time for chatting afterwards means that you can get to know each other on a deeper level.

This doesn’t need to be a full meal – it can be a cup of tea and some biscuits, or something small to share. The main priority is to create a centrepoint for people to connect and chat.

There are a few main ideas that we think are important to facilitating a great supper:

SIT DOWN TOGETHER

Sitting down around a table together makes people more relaxed and likely to stay longer than if they were standing. If you don’t have tables, try moving them into a big circle for a more communal feel.

HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE

Having shared plates of food to hand around is a great way to break the ice and allow conversations to begin. It can be something small, like a pack of biscuits, or you can partner with a local organisation (eg a bakery that might have leftover food from the day.)

GIVE IT TIME

People might feel anxious about social situations, and need time to settle in. If you’re packing up around people while they’re trying to chat, they’re going to feel like they’re in the way or will get up to try to help! Make sure you leave time for people to relax so that they feel welcome. We recommend at least 20 minutes, and ideally 30 minutes at the end of choir for supper.

SHARE THE LOAD

The best place to get your supper is from your members! We recommend setting up a roster of at least 4 groups, so everyone only has to bring food along once a month. This is another great way to facilitate connection, as members can bring along food that is meaningful to them and share a new side of themselves with the choir. See a template supper roster in the side bar for ideas on how this could work.