Essential Information
You can also download the floorplans of the Bournemouth International Centre as a PDF.
ALL EVENT PASSES AND WRISTBANDS
Wristbands are being issued for day tickets and show tickets this year. Details of which day or show they are for will be printed on them.
It is essential that you always wear your Convention All Event Pass or wristband while inside the convention centre. If you do not have an All Event Pass or wristband you will not be allowed into the venue. All Event Passes and wristbands must not be handed to other people to use; they are for the specific use of the individual, named delegate. If anyone is found misusing All Event Passes or wristbands in this way, they will be asked to leave the event and the club associated with the misuse will be fined. If you forget your All Event Pass or wristband or lose it during the event, there will be a charge of £10 for a replacement.
AUDITORIUM
Audience members will not be permitted to enter or exit the auditorium during individual performances. Please be sure to always follow the direction of event stewards.
BAG CHECKS
Bag checks may be carried out by convention centre security staff. Please allow extra time for this, and ensure you have your All Event Pass or wristband visible. If you intend to purchase or collect your All Event Pass or wristband after entry, please let security staff know and head straight to the reception desk.
BAR
The bar can be found on the ground floor. Opening times to be confirmed, last orders as follows:
- Friday, Last orders at 23:45 (centre closes at 00:15)
- Saturday, Last orders at 01:00 am, (centre closes at 01:45)
As children under the age of 5 are not allowed in the auditorium during contests, a Barbertots room is available in the Bayview suite 2 located on the first floor. Carers can see the stage via video link. A ‘Parent/Guardian with U5 Pass’ can be obtained from the reception desk to access this room.
BOARDS/PULL UPS/BANNERS
Please do not bring as there is insufficient space to accommodate these this year.
BRING YOUR BRAS
We will be collecting bras again this year to help raise funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, so bring your unloved over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders and donate them to a worthy cause! You’ll find the collection area in the main foyer.
CASH
Please be aware that Bournemouth International Centre is cashless. The exception is the fundraiser Tombola for the RNLI.
CATERING
Think! Retail can be found in the Windsor Foyer on the ground floor, selling hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and snacks. Opening times are as follows:
- Friday, 08:30-late
- Saturday, 08.15-late
- Sunday, 09.00-close of centre
- Friday, Lunch 12:00-15:00; Afternoon Tea 14:00-17:00; Evening meal 16:30-20:00
- Saturday, Lunch 12:00-15:00; Afternoon Tea 14:00-17:00; Evening meal 16:30-20:00
- Sunday, Lunch 12:00-14:00
RNLI is our charity this year, more information to follow. There will be a Tombola stall, please bring ONE item (no alcohol) to contribute to the stall. Please leave your item in the box near reception.
CLOCK CHANGES
There will be no extension on Saturday evening due to the clocks going back at 2am. All attendees must leave the venue by 01:45am.
CLOAKROOM
There is a cloakroom in the foyer. Items may be left at a charge of £2 per item.
COMPETITION ACCESSIBILITY
Any competitor who, due to a temporary or permanent condition, will not be able to use stairs or walk more than a short distance, must notify the chief courier before the day's competition starts, unless advised duing Registration. These competitors must be escorted by a helper, who may or may not be a singing member of the same chorus or quartet. Should you need a little more time to get to the stage, please inform the Couriers desk that you need an 'Early Call'.
CANCELLATIONS, REFUNDS, AND NAME CHANGES
- 50% refund for cancellations up to online registration closing date (6th September 2024).
- 25% refund for cancellations up to midnight on 24th October 2024.
- 0% refund for cancellations on or after the first day of the event (25th October 2024)
Refunds will not be approved or processed without the return of the original registration documents (All Event Pass or wristband). Any refund will be paid by bank transfer or credit/debit card refund if this was the original method used.
A personal travel policy may provide cover should you need to cancel your attendance at Convention. You will need to read the Terms and Conditions.
Name Changes will be charged at £10 per person. Changes are allowed up to 13th October 2024. No changes are possible after this date. If the pass has already been printed/received then the name change will be done at the event on presentation of the original pass and proof of request and payment.
DRESS RAILS
Dress rails are not provided. If you bring your own, please take it with you when your quartet or chorus enters the dressing room, and remove it from the dressing room immediately following your performance. You may wish to use the BIC cloakroom in the foyer charged at £2 per item.
DRESSING ROOMS
There will be THREE areas:
- Women's: Solent Hall
- Men's: Solent Lounge, specified area
- Gender Neutral: Solent Lounge, specified area.
Just before your allocated time, please make your way to the relevant space as a complete group and report to the dressing room courier to be checked in.
- Please note that no photography is allowed anywhere in any of the dressing rooms, and this rule will be strictly enforced. If you wish to take photographs, you may use the corridor outside the dressing room, but please ensure that you do not block access through this area.
- Please bring your own mirror for use in the dressing room.
- Please take special note of the rules around sprays, scents and vapes below, which will be strictly enforced.
- Please do not leave valuables in the dressing room. Your (small!) handbags and leakproof water bottle will be looked after while you are on stage (also see Water, below).
ENQUIRIES
Any enquiries prior to Convention may be directed to events@labbs.org.uk. During the event, please go to reception during the advertised opening hours.
FANCY DRESS/THEME
The fancy dress theme for Saturday night, should you choose to take part, is ‘Pirates’.
FIRST AID
Fully qualified first aid personnel will be available during Bournemouth International Centre opening hours. If you need first aid during the event, please go to reception or speak to a member of the Event Team.
FIRST-TIMERS
If you’ve never been to Convention before, please do go along to the First-Timers Welcome Desk in the main foyer and say hello to LABBS Board and Liaison Officers, collect your Convention First Timer badge, and pose for a selfie! Our volunteers will also be happy to talk to you a little more about Convention, and LABBS generally and answer any questions you might have. The desk will be open as follows:
- Friday, 09:30-11:30; 12.30-14.30; 16:30-18:00
- Saturday, 10:00-12:00; 13:00-15:00
FLOORPLANS
The floorplans of the BIC for the ground and first floors are available to download as a PDF.
JUDGES' APPLAUSE
Please be aware that judges adopt the standard practice of not applauding contestants either between songs or after their performance. This is to allow them more time for writing meaningful notes for your evaluation, and to avoid the perception of bias or favouritism. The judges will still applaud all contestants onto the stage.
LANYARDS
Delegates attending for the first time will be given a LABBS-branded lanyard to hold their All Event Pass. All returning delegates are expected to bring their lanyards from previous events, including the plastic holder. If you have lost your lanyard, a new one can be purchased for £2. Priority will be given to first timers should there be a shortage.
MARKETPLACE & FOYER
Photographs of your performance, Gifts of Note, and Vocalzone will be in the Windsor/Foyer area, along with RNLI, and Cheshire Chord Company and Amersham A Cappella who will be raising funds for their trip to BHS International in Denver, in July 2025.
MOBILE PHONES
When in the auditorium please remember to switch off mobile phones, beeping alarms on watches, and anything else that makes a noise.
PARKING
Please see www.bic.co.uk/parking
PHOTOGRAPHY
Official photographs and copyright are included in your delegate fee. Photographs will be available to view in the Windsor Foyer area, Following Convention, your chorus/quartet will be sent an email with details of how to access digital images of your performance. You may use these images for publicity purposes on social media sites / websites / printed literature, unless otherwise instructed.
No photography, videography or audio recording of any kind is allowed in the auditorium, other than that officially authorised by LABBS in advance of the event. Please note, this restriction includes the use of mobile phones for photos, video, and audio recording. Please be aware that any images or videos captured on behalf of LABBS may be used for publicity purposes on LABBS social media sites, website, and in literature, unless otherwise instructed. LABBS may also authorise carefully selected third parties to use these images or videos.
PIN BADGES
Pin badges will be available from the reception desk. To ensure everyone gets one, please only take one pin badge per All Event Pass holder. If, for whatever reason, you end up with more than one, please return any extra ones to reception.
RECEPTION
The reception desk will be open as follows:
- Thursday: 19:15-20.30
- Friday: 08.20-19:50
- Saturday: 08.15-19:50
- Sunday: 09.00-10.45
RESET SPACE AND PRAYER ROOM
Convention is great fun but if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the volume of people and all the excitement, and need a quiet, calm space to relax in, or somewhere for reflection or prayer, two rooms have been set aside:
- The ReSet Room, which can be found at the rear of the Solent Hall dressing room 3, accessed by following the corridor following the wall to your left of the Solent Hall.
- The Prayer Room, which can be found at the rear of the Solent Hall dressing room 1, accessed by following the corridor following the wall to your left of the Solent Hall.
RISERS
There are no risers in the warm-up rooms. On stage there are 12 x 4 step risers (with side and back rails).
RESULTS
As we are minimising the use of paper where we can, we no longer produce printed copies of results. Please see the results page for electronic scoresheets which will be made available shortly after each contest or contest round.
SHOW AND COMPETITION PERFORMANCES
Please respect performers by taking your seat before individual performances start and keeping noise to an absolute minimum in the auditorium (aside from enthusiastic applause, of course!).
SINGERS LISTS FOR CHORUS CONTEST
Chorus Singers Lists must be handed in to the Registration desk before 08:30am on Saturday. They can also be handed in at any time the desk is open on Friday which may be more convenient. Anyone who will not be present on stage should be clearly crossed out. You may add names (with membership numbers) to the list, but these will need to be checked and they must be registered with LABBS as members of your chorus. Each person on the list must also be a current and fully paid-up LABBS member and have a full weekend registration pass to be allowed on stage.
SONGS – CHANGES TO PERFORMANCE ORDER
If, after submitting your songsheet, you change the order in which you will be performing your songs, you must inform the Administrative Judges no later than 08:30am on the morning of your contest. Should you for any reason wish to switch to singing a song that was not declared on your songsheet, you should also bring proof of copyright with you.
SOUND CHECK
If you volunteered to take part in the sound check on Thursday evening, it is due to finish by 21:30. However, if any issues arise, it will continue until issues are resolved. Please be flexible and patient while sound engineers ensure there will be no issues which will affect your contest performance, and please remain in the auditorium until released by the engineers and the E&J team. Please only attend if you signed up before the deadline of 30th September, and your place has been confirmed. If you are not on the list, you will NOT be admitted.
SPRAYS, SCENTS, AND VAPES
All attendees are reminded that aerosol sprays including hair spray and deodorant, strong scents such as perfume and aftershave, vapes, and other items likely to cause irritation and/or allergic reaction, must not be used anywhere at or in the vicinity of the convention centre, including outside the entrance to the centre. There have been instances in recent years where members have been unable to perform due to products being used by others. This rule will be strictly enforced, and you may be asked to leave the centre whether competing or not. Attendees are also asked to be mindful of strong and/or liberally applied perfumes, aftershaves, and other similar scents which are applied before attending the convention centre. They can also cause irritation and/or allergic reaction in others, for a considerable time after their application.
STAGE VIEWING
Quartet Stage/viewing time:
Sadly, this year we do not have the time available for the Quartets to hold any stage time or have stage viewing.
The reason is the BIC auditorium is hired as an empty space and requires our technicians to install all lighting, sound and other equipment. They commence this build at 06:0 and if all goes to plan, are hoping to finish by 23:30 or midnight. During this time H&S regulations preclude anyone outside of the tech team being in the auditorium.
The exception to this is the allocated time for 'sound check' with a chorus and 1 quartet. This takes place between 20:00-21:30 on Thursday, which may be something you may wish to consider volunteering for (deadline for applications is 30th September).
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Full Terms and Conditions can be found on the T&Cs page.
TROPHIES
Please return cleaned and polished trophies to reception, in their original box or case. Quartet trophies must be returned on Thursday evening. Chorus trophies can be returned on Friday, but Thursday evening is preferred. Please ensure you get the name of the person you have handed the trophy to, in case of any queries at a later stage.
UNDER 18s
It is essential that the Registration Manager (registrations@labbs.org.uk) is notified of the names of any chorus member or convention attendee who is under 18 years of age and the name of whoever is directly responsible for them. This should have been done on your convention registration form, if registering at the event please supply this information at the desk. The person responsible must have an appropriate pass to enable them to be present.
UPDATES AND INFORMATION
The most up to date information and timings will be on this website - please use the menu buttons above. Updates will also be posted on Facebook and Instagram; search @singLABBS for our pages.
WATER
Competitors and performers will need to bring their own FILLED leak-proof water bottle for use in the warm-up room and elsewhere. Your water bottles will be collected as you leave for the stage and returned to you following your performance.
THERE ARE NO FIXED WATERPOINTS IN THE BIC TO REFILL. Retail outlets will be selling bottled water.
