Site Publication Guidelines (events, newsletters, etc.)

There was so little moderation needed on this site that for almost ten years we managed without any publication rules. But with the steady and joyful multiplication of Chant pour tous, we eventually realized that the time had finally come for more structure.

If you’re in a hurry, feel free to focus on the rules written in red and skim the rest. But if you publish regularly on this site, we highly encourage you to read this article carefully — we’ve kept it as short as we could!

The following rules apply to everything published on the site: events, articles, comments, and newsletters. They do not apply to external communication platforms like the associated Facebook group (which has its own rules), and certainly not to what happens during Chant pour tous events themselves since we have neither the authority nor the desire to regulate that.

In short, only the promotion of events that respect the 4 pillars of Chant pour tous are allowed on this site: vocal and physical, improvised, free of charge, and open to all.

• No events using musical instruments — live or recorded

• No events that include pre-existing songs

• No events with restrictions concerning age, skill level or dress code

• No events that require payment — whether a fixed fee, mandatory membership, or even “pay what you want” which implies that some payment is expected

To clarify: we are not opposed to money being involved in Chant pour tous. For example, it’s perfectly fine if a facilitator is paid by a structure hosting a Chant pour tous. It’s also fine to ask for donations to help cover expenses like venue rental or other. What matters most to us is that participants who cannot afford to pay, or do not wish to pay, can feel comfortable coming and participating. The key, in our view, lies in how things are worded. For example, writing “Free event – donations welcome” is okay, whereas “Pay what you want” is less so because it still suggests that payment is expected. We know it’s a fine line. But if in doubt, here’s a simple guideline: “Does the wording make it truly comfortable for someone not to pay anything?”
 

These rules also apply to indirect promotion:

• No external links (= links leading to other sites than this one) which content is not directly related to Chant pour tous

That means: no links to paying workshops, retreats, festivals, etc., whether in event descriptions, articles, newsletters, or comments. Exceptions are made only for Chant pour tous content (e.g. a Facebook group or YouTube video about Chant pour tous).

• No direct or indirect promotion of any event that is not a Chant pour tous

For example: if your Chant pour tous happens during a larger event that includes other activities not aligned with the four pillars, it’s fine to briefly mention those other parts for context, but it is not okay to emphasize or promote them.
 

These restrictions make us a bit sad because we are not against paid workshops or instrumental music, quite the opposite! We’re always happy when Chant pour tous events lead people to discover vocal improv trainings, concerts, or related practices. We encourage facilitators to talk about their other projects during their Chant pour tous events and we encourage participants to explore everything that inspires them! To help bridge this gap, we wrote a key article titled:
“Venturing into Vocal/Spontaneous Improvisation Beyond Chant pour tous”

Still, we feel that these rules are necessary at this stage — out of fairness, clarity, and to help preserve the integrity of Chant pour tousas we see it.
 

And finally, to ensure clarity for all, we ask you to:

• Always include the location (city or town) in your event titles

Example: “Spring Chant pour tous in Massat”— not just“Spring Chant pour tous”

• Always include the name of the newsletter in the subject line

If you’re using the newsletter “Lyon and surroundings”, write something like:
[Lyon and surroundings] A Chant pour tous in Croix-Rousse this FridayRemember: many people are subscribed to more than one newsletter !

• Always sign your newsletters

Anyone who’s been granted access can use the newsletters, and different people may use the same one in different ways. So always sign with your first name (or a nickname, or whatever you prefer) to avoid confusion or territorial misunderstandings.

And, of course, always communicate politely while respecting all of our differences!

If you have any doubts, questions, or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below or write to us via the website team contact form.