Adult Community Music Organizations:
Recruitment and Maintaining/Increasing Membership

Two very important factors in establishing and maintaining a community music group are 1) recruiting and 2) maintaining and increasing membership. Following are some successful methods used by established community music groups.

Monroe Community Band

RECRUITMENT:

Generate interest through...

  • Church mailings
  • General mailings
  • Assignment of a publicity director
  • Guest nights
  • Personal invitations from members
  • Auditions
  • Local music teachers
  • Membership drives
  • Word of mouth by present members
  • Recruit from local high school
  • Newspaper
  • "Friends of the Band" mailing list
  • Audiences
  • Reputation/referrals

MAINTAINING AND INCREASING MEMBERSHIP:

Maintain/increase interest through...

  • Fun music
  • Reputation/referrals
  • Advertising in local newspaper and on local radio station
  • Word of mouth and by people who attend the concerts
  • Members promoting it
  • Quality of performance
  • Track record of success
  • Choice of music
  • Regular performances with much variety
  • Member and audience enthusiasm
  • Challenging variety of music
  • Serious music series during the winter
  • Annual band camp
  • Special events
  • Performance schedule
  • Challenging music
  • Playing a wide variety of music
  • Phone calls
  • Personal contact
  • Development of friendships within group
  • Quality performances (Good literature played well)
  • High musical goals
  • Exchange concerts
  • Trips, both large and small
  • Feeling of ownership within group
  • Social time during or after rehearsals and concerts
  • A director with a lot of charisma