By default, your site is created on a Choir Genius subdomain, like:
https://yourchoir.choirgenius.com
Many groups choose to move to a custom domain (e.g., www.yourchoir.com) for a more polished, public-facing presence.
This guide will help you:
- Understand what’s involved
- Decide if it’s the right move
- Prepare properly before contacting support
What Is a Custom Domain?
A custom domain is your choir’s unique web address. While Choir Genius continues to host your site, the domain is something you own and manage through a domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, easyDNS).
- Typical cost: $10–$15/year
- Renewed separately through your registrar
- Fully owned by you (you can change providers at any time)
Should You Move to a Custom Domain?
Moving to a custom domain is a great step—but it’s not always necessary.
Good reasons to move:
- You want a professional, branded public website
- You are actively promoting your choir online
- You want a consistent domain for marketing, tickets, and public visibility
You may want to wait if:
- Your site is still being set up
- You rely heavily on an existing domain email system and aren’t sure how it will be affected
- You’re not yet using your public site actively
Admin Readiness Checklist
Before requesting a move, confirm the following:
Domain & Ownership
- You have purchased a custom domain through a registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, easyDNS)
- The domain is not currently in use, OR you are prepared to replace the existing site
Email Decision (Important)
- You have decided how your domain email will work:
Option A — Use Choir Genius mailing lists
- Emails sent to your domain go into CG mailing lists
- Can optionally use Public Inbox for incoming messages
- Cannot use external email providers (like Gmail/Outlook) at the same time
Option B — Use an external email service (Google, Outlook, etc.)
- You keep your existing email setup
- CG mailing lists will not receive incoming mail
- You can still send messages from CG, but not receive replies there
Technical & Timing
- You are available to update your domain’s nameservers
- You can make this change at least 24 hours before the scheduled move
- You’re prepared for ~1 hour of downtime during the move
- You understand the old .choirgenius.com URL will stop working after the move
What Changes After the Move?
Once your site is moved:
- Your site will only be accessible at your new custom domain
- The old choirgenius.com URL will no longer work
- App users will need to:
- Log in again using the new domain
- (Usernames/passwords remain unchanged)
- Mailing list addresses will update to your new domain
Important: Email & Mailing Lists
Email behaviour depends on your earlier decision:
If using Choir Genius mailing lists:
- Mailing lists will use your new domain
- You can enable Public Inbox to receive incoming messages
- Best for simple contact workflows
If using external email (Google, Outlook, etc.):
- Your external email system will continue to handle all incoming mail
- CG mailing lists cannot receive incoming messages
- You will need to manage replies outside of CG
How the Move Works
Once you're ready, the process is straightforward:
Step 1 — Contact Support
Reach out via in-app chat or email with:
- Your current Choir Genius domain
- Your new custom domain
- Your email setup preference (CG mailing lists vs external email)
Step 2 — Schedule the Move
- Support will review your setup
- You’ll receive available move date options
Step 3 — Prepare Your Domain
- Support will provide nameserver settings
- You must update these with your domain registrar
- This must be done at least 24 hours before your move date
Step 4 — Site Move
- On the scheduled date:
- Support will email when the move begins
- The site will be unavailable for ~1 hour
- A follow-up email confirms completion
Behind the Scenes (Cloudflare)
We use a service called Cloudflare to connect your domain to your Choir Genius site.
- This allows secure and reliable domain routing
- Choir Genius manages this setup for you
- You still retain full ownership of your domain
- You can revert your nameservers at any time (this will disconnect your CG site)
Timing & Scheduling
- Moves are scheduled during support hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm Pacific
- Please contact support at least 3 days in advance
- Domain changes take ~24 hours to propagate before the move
- Site downtime during move: ~1 hour
Ready to Move?
When you’ve completed the checklist and are ready:
👉 Contact Choir Genius Support via:
- Email: support@groupanizer.com
We’ll guide you through the rest and ensure a smooth transition.
