St. John's

St. John’s is available for hire. Its fine acoustic is suitable for nearly
all forms of music, and its versatility in terms of space enables it
to accommodate anything from instrumental recitals to orchestra
and choir without losing its special atmosphere of elegant
intimacy.

View our General Information for Concert Promoters 2010-2011

AUDIENCE CAPACITY

The audience capacity is 580 without gallery seating (less up to 6 house seats used). 500 seats are within the central block (6 of which have restricted view and are sold at lowest price) and around the sides there are 80 unreserved seats, most of which have restricted sight lines or no view. The gallery seats 180 (most seats have restricted sight lines or no view) bringing the total capacity to 760. The gallery is only opened once all other seats have been sold.

STAGE CAPACITY

With the curtains closed, the maple wood stage provides an
excellent setting for recitals or for concerts involving up to 45
players. With the curtains open and optimum use made of the
variable risers the stage accommodates about 60 players, or combined choral/orchestral forces of up to 85, on as many as six different levels. Promoters who have not hired St. John’s before and are planning combined forces of over 60 performers, are requested to make an appointment to view the stage area before signing the contract. A maximum of 100 performers are permitted inside St. John’s (licensing regulations). St. John’s has 34 music stands, 1 conductor’s stand, 90 orchestral chairs and a conductor’s podium.

HOUSE STAFF

St. John’s provides a House Manager and Caretaker throughout the evening. Ushers are also provided. Promoters should bring their own programme sellers and Stage Manager.

REHEARSALS

The hire fee includes one three hour rehearsal with one hour setting up time.

PRE-CONCERT TALKS

Pre-concert talks can be held in the hall from 1 hour or 30 minutes before the start of a concert.

RESIDENT INSTRUMENTS

A Steinway model ‘D’ Concert Grand Piano is available for hire and tuned by Steinways on the day of the concert - tuning is included in hire price, any additional/unison tunings will be extra. An upright rehearsal piano is available, without charge, for use in the dressing room area only. The Steinway piano can never be removed from the stage. The lid is not to be removed. Preparation, change of pitch or unconventional playing of the piano is not permitted, see contract section 2 xxiii. Please contact the administration office if you require a tuner ‘stand-by’ service during a concert or a pre-rehearsal tuning. The Sainsbury Concert Organ was built and installed by Klais of Bonn in the summer of 1993 and is available for hire. Tuning costs are extra. For a full specification of the organ please contact the administration office. The organ incorporates a TV monitor for the organist to view the conductor. The Continuo Organ owned by N P Mander Ltd is available for hire. The charge includes one tuning and is invoiced by N P Mander. This organ can be tuned to pitches A440, A415 and A430. Bookings for all the above instruments must be requested on the Concert Schedule. All resident instruments must be tuned before each concert.

BOX OFFICE

The Box Office is fully computerised and is open as follows: Advance Booking: The Box Office is open for advance bookings from 10am-5pm (until 6pm on concert days) Monday to Friday.
Weekday Concerts: After 6pm the Box Office is open for personal callers for that evening’s concert only. Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Concerts: The Box Office opens one hour prior to the performance for personal callers for that concert only.
Secure online booking is also possible through our website but please note that offers and subscriptions are not available online.

FACILITIES FOR DISABLED PATRONS

From the opening of the 2010/11 Season (mid September) St. John’s will be fully accessible to wheelchair users.

The main elements of the scheme involve the installation of a lift on the east side located in the sound room (below the organ) to serve the ground, crypt (Box Office and restaurant) and concert levels. The Box Office and main entrance foyer will relocate to the current artists’ area near to the lift, providing a shared point of entry and orientation for all; adapted toilets will be provided in the crypt along with several extra Ladies’ toilets. The artists’ dressing rooms will relocate to the current Box Office making the stage area more accessible as there will be a dedicated staircase for artists with a doorway near the stage leading onto a stage extension.

A platform lift situated by the stage will allow disabled performers to gain access to the stage level. This scheme will develop the access facilities for all, making St. John’s one of the most accessible historical buildings in the UK. Wheelchair users should contact the Box Office so that tickets can be allocated in suitable positions. There are two parking bays reserved in Smith Square for disabled badge holders.

St. John’s is equipped with an induction loop system to benefit hearing-aid users. Guide dogs are permitted in the hall. For Information on receiving the Diary in a Braille or CD format please contact the Administration Department.

CONTRACT

After a date has been confirmed in writing by the Promoter, two copies of the contract are sent. The contracts must be signed and returned together with the hall hire fee. Any balance is due one calendar month before the date of the performance. Please make cheques payable to ‘St. John’s, Smith Square’. Other charges will be deducted from the final account. All monies are to be paid to St. John’s in sterling and any bank charges due from foreign cheques or drafts are to be paid by the promoter. An additional 10% of the licence fee may be levied for late payment of the deposit or balance. Once the contract has been signed, the Promoter is financially liable for all charges relating to the concert, including the costs involved in a cancelled concert. It is the Promoter’s responsibility to take out insurance to cover charges due in the event of a cancellation.

APPLYING FOR A CONCERT DATE

To apply for a concert date, please contact the general manager in writing either by post or email paul@sjss.org.uk. For those artists who have not performed at St. John’s before, biographical details and reviews of previous concerts should be enclosed with your application. Once an application has been accepted by St. John’s, it will be reserved for two weeks, after which time the date must be confirmed or released.

If you would like to receive further information regarding the hire of St. John’s, you can get in touch with us by email (info@sjss.org.uk), telephone on +44 (0)20 7222 2168, or post at St. John’s, Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HA.

ST. JOHN’S, SMITH SQUARE CHARITABLE TRUST

Registered Office: St. John’s, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA. Registered in England. Company No. 3028678. Registered Charity No. 1045390.

Photo Credit: COG Design

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