Membership Policy
Important Information About BAOS
BAOS put on 4 shows a year, 2 for the seniors and 2 for the youth. Each company performs a main musical in the Redgrave Theatre between April and June and a smaller revue/cabaret style performance in October/November. There are lot’s of social events throughout the year and other performance opportunities in the community.
A ‘BAOS Year’
The start of the BAOS Year for Seniors is Late October/Early November. This is just after the Revue Show usually early or Mid October and the launch of the Main Musical which usually happens late October or Early November for an April Performance.
The start of the BAOS Year for Youth is December. This is just after the Revue Show which is usually in November and before the launch of the Main Musical in January for a May/June Performance .
The financial year runs from February 1st to January 31st.
Minimum and Maximum Numbers
In a BAOS Main show, a minimum of 25 cast members is needed to allow for enough cast involvement and potential audience interest. The minimum for a revue show is more flexible. There is a maximum number for a performance due to health and safety but it will be down to each production team to confirm how they want to approach this should there be a high level of interest from members to perform in a show. This number is around the 40 mark and includes health and safety numbers set by the theatre too.
Who Are BAOS Looking For?
BAOS Values:
BAOS are looking for Team Players.
We are, first and foremost, looking for strong ensemble performers with skills in dance, singing and confidence in character acting. We are also looking for those who can contribute to the wider running of the club and offer other skills on or off the stage that can be developed and nurtured. We are looking to give opportunities to those who seek a challenge in the musical theatre world and are willing to be active members of the group. .
We are looking for performers who will commit to shows once the casting process has completed and rehearsals are underway or if not in a show, look to promote and support the company in any way they can. Once casting has taken place for a show, we ask that members decide as soon as possible whether they want to continue taking part in the show or not.
We are looking for kind and hard working people who enjoy the challenge of performing at a high level and who will support everyone in the cast no matter what the casting choices are.
We are not looking for people who are only wanting to be a part of BAOS for a particular show or to have a particular part. Neither of these things can be guaranteed and should not be the basis of your decision to be part of the club. The club offers more than this and focuses around teamwork, support and development in performance as well as production.
What sets BAOS apart from other companies and what BAOS can facilitate as a unique opportunity is this:
Ensemble is Everything
On Stage We Are A Team
Off Stage We Are A Family
Expressing Interest in Auditioning
Those interested in becoming a member email membership@baosbristol.co.uk.
They will be asked by the Membership Secretary to fill in an application form by a predetermined deadline.
The application will not just ask about performance experience but will also offer the opportunity for applicants to discuss what they can offer to the company inline with the values of the club.
This process is the same for those interested in either the Youth or the Senior Company.
This process is also the same for Youth Members wanting to apply to be in the Senior Company.
Selection Process - BAOS Youth
Due to the turn over of BAOS Youth being dramatically higher to the Senior Company, different New Members rules will apply.
When the application for New Members is open, those who have expressed interest will be asked to fll in said application. The audition spaces will be on a first come first served basis and limited to 20 as this is the number of auditionees we can realistically have in one evening.
After the deadline has passed for applications, the first 20 will be invited to audition. Other applicants will be notified if any spaces open up as a result of anyone invited deciding not to audition. If there is a higher number of interested applicants, the submission process stated below for Seniors will apply.
Selection Process - Senior Company
Due to the demand on the Senior Company, the new members audition places are now invited only upon application. The number of successful new members each year will stay underneath a maximum of 10 but as close to 5 as possible. This is to avoid a situation where the number of cast members interested in a show exceeds the number we are allowed to have on stage resulting in their needing to audition to be in the show. This is something we really want to avoid.
Once the deadline for New Members applications has passed. The Chair, Senior Chair and Senior Vice Chair will view the applications anonymously (with the names hidden and replaced with numbers) and will each choose their top 20 applicants (in order) that they feel best fit the values of BAOS.
The top 20 voted applicants are then invited to audition. If there are over 20 applicants with the same amount of votes, a re vote will be arranged by the Members Secretary if needed.
Invite to Audition
Applications will then be notified if they are invited to audition or not. If invited, auditionees will be told what they need to prepare and what suitable clothing you will need to wear to the audition.
If you are on the reserve list, this means if any invited auditionees are unable to attend you will be contacted to fill the spot. This will be in place until the auditions start, after this point no reserve applicants will be invited to fill any spots left by last minute drop outs.
With this in mind, do not apply unless you have every intention of auditioning because you could be preventing someone else from having a chance at becoming a member of the club. We understand that there are unforeseen circumstances that cannot be helped, but where possible please ensure you only apply with full intention to audition, otherwise please allow us the opportunity to give the slot to another.
If a Youth Member over the age of 18 is interested in becoming a member of the Senior Company, they must express interest and fill in an application form as if they are a new member.
However, if done, they are automatically given an audition place in addition to the capped number of 20 for the evening. This is to honour their commitment to the club and adhere to the nurturing ethos of BAOS as a whole without limiting the opportunities of new members who would like to be part of the club.
Youth Members will only become a Senior Member if successful at audition.
The Audition
Those auditioning will be asked to prepare a song of their choice to perform at the audition and come prepared to learn a short dance routine during the evening to perform to the panel.
We will aim to let you know the outcome of the audition the following day.
If Successful
If successful, The Membership Secretary will notify you and you will be invited to attend the launch of the main show. You will then be asked to pay your subs to confirm your place in the club.
The waiting list system will come to an end after the 2023 new members auditions. This system was to allow for a waiting list of people if spaces became available (cast numbers dropped below the minimum). If not, they are guaranteed a spot at the next new auditions without the need to re apply. This will end Sept 2023.
If Unsuccessful
If unsuccessful, feedback will be available but only upon request. If you would like feedback, please respond to the email you receive notifying you with the outcome of the audition and we will reply in good time. Please feel free to follow the audition process again and submit your interest in auditioning for the club for the following year if you wish. There are also lots of other incredible clubs in Bristol who may have more capacity for new members that we recommend to those unsuccessful at this time: BLOC, BMCC, BMT and SMP.
Yearly Subscription Fee (Subs)
To secure your place in BAOS, you will need to pay your yearly subscription fee, the amount of which will be confirmed in the email confirming your place in the club.
Patrons - £25
BAOS Youth and Seniors Acting Members Fee - £110
BAOS Youth and Seniors Non-Acting Members Fee - £60
Acting Members
If you are an acting member, that means you are participating in 1 or both shows throughout the BAOS Year.
If you decide to not do a show at all in the year, the subs you pay are non refundable and non transferable.
Non Acting Members
If you are a non acting member, this means you would like to remain a member of BAOS but would like to skip the shows in the BAOS year of October/November to June. If you change your mind, you can top up your Non-Acting Members fee to an Acting Members halfway through the year if you skip a show but would like to take part in the Revue Show.
There is no rule around ‘if you do not participate in 4 shows in a row you will lose your membership and have to re audition’. This was proposed during the 2022 AGM and voted against. As long as you pay your membership, you are a member of BAOS.
Patrons (Name of which is looking to change)
Patrons of BAOS are people who want to be part of the club and be involved in all other areas of the society outside of performing. BAOS offers incredible opportunities to be a part of our shows off the stage and again, as long as you pay your membership you will have access to all that BAOS can offer from socials to early access to tickets and more. Being a Patron is being part of the club, you are a member, just not a performing one. If you are a patron and interested in becoming an acting member, follow the process stated above.
For more information on the Perks of being a Patron, go to www.baosbristol.co.uk/patron-membership
Cancelling Your Membership
If you would no longer like to be a member of BAOS, you simply need to notify the membership secretary and not pay your subs. Take note that if you decide to do this and to not continue paying subs, you will have to apply and re audition following the steps above at a future date. As long as you pay your subs, you are a member of BAOS.
