HOUSING and FOOD
The S.O.U.L. Team includes five responsible young adults (4 singers and 1 tour manager). Most hosts will need to arrange accommodations (housing and food) for the S.O.U.L. Team for the duration of the visit. This can be done either by providing Host Family accommodations or by arranging hotel or other accommodations. The S.O.U.L. Team is on a very rigorous touring schedule working nearly every day for six months. They enjoy rest and relaxation whenever possible.
HOUSING:
Hosts should arrange private (one person per room), clean, comfortable and safe accommodations for all members of the S.O.U.L. Team with Host Families. Or if a Host prefers, they can make arrangements for the S.O.U.L. Team to stay in a hotel at the Hosts' expense (a minimum of three hotel rooms is needed). Host Families may offer to host more than one member of the S.O.U.L. Team as long as private (one person per room) accommodations are made available.
FOOD:
Hosts can provide food in any combination of: Host Families, school cafeterias, restaurant meals, cash per diems per person ($7/breakfast, $9/lunch, $9/dinner), etc. We like to clarify that "food" does not necessarily mean "meals". Though they may choose to, Host Families do not need to arrange formal "meal times" for their respective guest/s. Each individual Host Family can choose how formal or informal to be regarding how they feed their respective S.O.U.L. guest/s. Our team members are independent enough to prepare their own meals if food is simply made available to them at the Host Family home.
*Contact the S.O.U.L. office if making accommodation arrangements is the only reason you would not be able to host a S.O.U.L. program.
Below are some FAQs about housing and food. Please
contact us if we can clarify anything!
When will the S.O.U.L. Team arrive and depart?
S.O.U.L. will arrive the afternoon BEFORE your first scheduled program in time to have dinner with Host Families. We suggest a meeting time of 5PM. But this may need to be changed to accommodate S.O.U.L.'s travel time and/or Host schedules. S.O.U.L. will depart the morning AFTER the last scheduled program. For example, if S.O.U.L. provides only a 1-hour presentation on Wednesday at 1PM, Host Families should expect the team to arrive on Tuesday around 5PM. Hosts should prepare for the S.O.U.L. Team to depart on Thursday morning. It is possible that the final night of housing may not be needed depending on S.O.U.L.'s touring itinerary.
Where should Hosts/Host Families meet the S.O.U.L. Team?
It is most convenient to choose a meeting location that is familiar to all Host Families. Our Tour Manager uses a GPS system to navigate to the meeting location. From this meeting place, Host Families will generally offer to take their respective guest/s home in their vehicles.
Do Host Families need to provide transportation?
No, but it is extremely helpful if they can offer this assistance! Our team travels together in a large van (affectionately referred to as "The S.O.U.L. Train"). We prefer to meet Host Families at a central "meeting point" location on the day of arrival. Host Families will be asked to transport their respective S.O.U.L. guest/s between their home and the program location/s during the visit. In necessary circumstances, the S.O.U.L. Tour Manager (driver) and the S.O.U.L. Train could be availble for transport. However, our strong preference would be to have local Host Families offer this assistance.
Does each member of the S.O.U.L. Team need their own Host Family?
No. However, we do request that each of the five S.O.U.L. Team members has private (one person per room) accommodations. For example, if a Host Family has two available guest rooms, then they could offer to host two members of our team.
Where can I find biographical information about members of the S.O.U.L. Team?
On the
Home page of this website, you can read the singers' bios by clicking directly on their photos. Here you can also find out if singers have any pet or food allergies.
What happens when S.O.U.L. singers arrive at the Host Family home?
This can be up to each Host Family to arrange with their respective guest/s. Host Families are requested to provide safe and clean accommodations. After several years of Host Family experiences, we have learned some traits of a great S.O.U.L. Host Family experience:
Relaxing atmosphere
Comfortable bedroom
Interest in singers' culture
Patience and clarity in verbal communication
Access to the internet (if availble) so the S.O.U.L. guest/s can email friends/family
Invitation to go sightseeing (which may be declined if guest prefers to rest)
No pressure to perform ("Our neighbors are coming over at 8:30 tonight to hear you sing!")
Understanding that our singers have a rigorous schedule and may wish to just rest & relax
Understanding that our Team members may enjoy spending the evening out on their own
What can Host Families expect from their S.O.U.L. guest/s?
Host Families can expect mature, independent, responsible, and polite S.O.U.L. guest/s who will follow Host Family "rules". If any problem arises, S.O.U.L. management can be contacted 24/7 at: 517-388-1316!
Our organization fully expects each S.O.U.L. Team member to respect the generosity and hospitality of their Host Families. Our Singers are given a comprehensive introduction to "American" culture including what it means to be a gracious guest in a Host Family home. We also hope that Host Families will recognize that our S.O.U.L. Team members are young adults who may want to independently enjoy sight-seeing or local attractions. We expect our S.O.U.L. Team members to make arrangements with their Host Families in advance if the singer would like to independently visit local attractions, restaurants, etc.