Terms & Conditions
1. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
(applicable to all events)
‘The Company’, or ‘We’, refers to Scratch Concerts Ltd (The Really Big Chorus and Concerts from Scratch are trading names of Scratch Concerts Ltd)
(a) Prices include VAT at the prevailing rate (currently 20%)
(b) Should circumstances so dictate, the Company reserves the right to amend features of any event including but not limited to the times, the venues, the tutors, the performers and the facilities.
(c) The Company reserves the right to refuse a booking without stating the reason.
(d) If the Company cancels or postpones an event, and notwithstanding any refunds which we may or may not make, the Company is not responsible for any ancillary costs which participants incur as a result of cancellation or postponement. If attendance at one of our events requires one or more night’s paid accommodation away from home, we strongly advise you to take out suitable travel insurance (always check the terms with the provider).
(e) We do not permit pets at our events. If third-party circumstances permit, we may make some concessions regarding assistance dogs, but it is essential that you ask us about this well in advance.
(f) Photography. The Company may, from time to time, arrange for a photographer to attend an event. Photographs are used for future marketing and publicity.
(g) Under-18s. As a general rule, the Company permits participation by under-18s only if they are under the direct supervision of a parent, or other responsible adult acting in loco parentis. Tighter regulations apply to concerts at the Royal Albert Hall; please read our Safeguarding Policy.
(h) Disabilities. The Company regrets that some events are not suitable for anyone with impaired vision or mobility. Please consult us well in advance to find out if provision can be made for your particular requirements. See also Clause 3(b) below.
(i) Vocal capability. Whilst we are happy to accept bookings from people with limited musical and choral experience, TRBC is, nevertheless, a choir. It is therefore a reasonable expectation that everyone who sings at our events, particularly events where a smaller choir is envisaged, should be able to sing the appropriate vocal line at the correct pitch. If it becomes evident that an individual cannot do this, to the detriment of (a) the enjoyment of other singers and (b) the event as a whole, then that individual may be asked in future to attend in a non-singing capacity, where this option is available. On occasions, it may be necessary to decline bookings from certain individuals altogether.
(j) In general, places for our events are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. However, as we operate as a choir, it may be necessary from time to time to prioritise one voice-part over another when allocating places to singers.
2. ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS: ROYAL ALBERT HALL CONCERTS
(seating policy, amendments and cancellation)
Seating policy
(a) Tickets for Messiah from Scratch® are sold by the Royal Albert Hall. Terms & Conditions regarding cancellation and amendment of bookings by customers are those set by the Royal Albert Hall.
(b) Singing tickets must be purchased via a link on our website (www.trbc.co.uk) which gives access to the Hall’s Messiah from Scratch® booking page.
(c) Audience tickets can be purchased directly from the Hall, either online via their website, by telephoning the Box Office or by visiting the Box Office in person.
(d) Singing tickets are sold in three categories, Boxes, Main Singing Area and Circle. Boxes and Circle are self-explanatory. The Main Singing Area comprises the sections of Stalls seats closest to the Stage, suitable seats in the Arena, seats on the Stage and seats in the Choir
(e) Any singer with a particular seating request (e.g. to accommodate a physical disability or vertigo) should telephone the Royal Albert Hall Box Office (020 7589 8212), which will assist with the booking.
(f) The Really Big Chorus and the Royal Albert Hall remain two entirely separate companies. There is no sharing of data between the RAH booking system and the TRBC membership database.
(g) Scratch Concerts Ltd (‘The Company’) does not store any Member financial details.
Cancellation or postponement of a concert
(h) If a Royal Albert Hall concert is cancelled, you will be offered a credit voucher or a refund by the Royal Albert Hall. For up-to-date information on the Hall’s refund policy, visit the FAQ pages on their website. Exceptionally, if tickets for a Royal Albert Hall concert have been purchased directly from Scratch Concerts Limited and that concert is cancelled, you will be offered a credit voucher or a refund by Scratch Concerts Limited.
3. ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS: OVERSEAS EVENTS
Travel partner
(a) To assist us to run our overseas events in an efficient and fully professional manner, we work in partnership with Specialised Travel Concert Touring Ltd, an experienced tour operator with a department which specifically caters for the needs of musicians. The company has an unrivalled reputation for looking after its musical clients abroad. They have been our travel partners for more than three decades, and are the liaison for our clients for all travel arrangements. When people book an overseas trip with Specialised Travel, the company will share contact data (name, email, postal address) with us (Scratch Concerts Ltd); they do not share financial information. Click here to visit the Specialised Travel website.
(b) As in Clause 1(h) above, we will make every effort to facilitate attendance for people with disabilities, although anyone with severe mobility problems is unlikely to be able to participate in the full programme. If you normally need help with transport and travel, with steps and uneven surfaces and with emergency evacuation procedures, please bring this to the attention of staff at Specialised Travel before booking. They may require you to be accompanied by a non-singing companion who can assist you at all times. Additional Terms & Conditions, set by Specialised Travel Concert Touring Ltd, apply to our overseas events.
Independent travel
(c) It may be possible for clients to make their own arrangements for travel and/or accommodation, providing there is sufficient space in the concert venue; see 3(d) below.
(d) In addition to the fully inclusive packages offered by Specialised Travel Concert Touring Ltd, STCT will usually offer two further packages: (i) excluding travel but including hotel accommodation and the music element; (ii) a very limited number of ‘music only’ packages covering just the rehearsals and concert. You can find a complete list of prices in the sales document, sent to everyone who enquires.
(e) The apparently high charge for the music element of the package reflects the substantial costs involved in organising a concert at a prestigious foreign venue when there are only small numbers of singing participants (typically 100–150). All singers contribute to the hire of rehearsal and concert venues (including churches), staging, choir seating, sound equipment and publicity; fees, flights and hotel expenses for conductors and soloists; and fees, expenses and music hire for the local orchestra.
As bookings for overseas events are made through Specialised Travel, clients should also read carefully the Terms & Conditions set out in the correspondence between them and Specialised Travel Concert Touring Ltd.