Mt. Rushmore Chapter

Mt. Rushmore
Shrine of Democracy Barbershop Chorus
Rapid City, SD


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August 2006 edition

PRESIDENTIAL PONTIFICATIONS

Pete Anderson

Things are about to get busier. ARE YOU READY? I’ve been talking with Mike Sanborn about our Tuesday night (August 8th) gig at the Buffalo Chip. We need to be there shortly after 6 pm and ready to sing by 6:30 pm. Whether or not we actually sing at 6:30 is still being worked out, but that is the plan at this time.

I don’t think we’ll be doing much, if any, wandering through the campground on this occasion. For this performance ONLY, Mike wants no more than 20 members on stage. Any other night we elect to go out we can take as many as want to go. Gentlemen, WE NEED TO HAVE 20 ON STAGE AND HAVE BALANCE BETWEEN THE FOUR PARTS. Anyone that does not wish to stay for the concert that night certainly doesn’t have to. In case you don’t yet know, the bands that night are Gretchen Wilson and Lynard Skynyrd. Skynyrd’s show will end around midnight or shortly after.

For carpooling purposes, we should meet at Baken Park parking lot between QDOBA’S and the coffee kiosk around 4:30 pm and leave no later than 5:00 pm.

I asked Mike about passes for wives. It does not sound promising, but I do need to know how many are planning to go in order to have wristbands for all ahead of time.

A couple weeks after the Rally we will do the Harmony Happening. Some of you have been conspicuously absent from recent practices where we have been working on the two new songs for the HH. We have learning CD’s available for them.

Jim Price has been in touch with his friends in Bozeman, MT, and tells me they will have 15 - 20 of their members here. That means WE MUST HAVE AT LEAST 20 OF OUR MEMBERS ON STAGE AND PREFERABLY 30. IT WILL BE VERY EMBARRASSING TO HAVE A GUEST CHAPTER COME 500 MILES AND OUTNUMBER THE HOST CHAPTER, especially when we have the Barbershop Society CEO here as well. I am asking for your support in this endeavor. In addition, our guest director, Jim DeBusman, will be working with our chorus at our regular Thursday night practice before HH, so we need maximum attendance then, too.

Chuck Knowlton has gotten a block of rooms at the Super 8, in addition to the rooms at the Golden Spike. The afterglow will be at the Super 8 Saturday night. Our Friday night hospitality room will be the same one we had two years ago at the Golden Spike (second floor in the suite building).

Writer’s cramps setting in, must quit.


BOARD MINUTES

David L'Esperance, Secretary

The July Board of Directors meeting was held at the Coldwell Banker training room on July 5, 2006, with a quorum of the elected members present.

Larry Putnam reported we are still in sound financial condition.

John Elving presented a superb report on available sound systems and components. The Board asked John to complete his research and come to the next meeting with a complete systems recommendation and prices available. This acquisition will give us the capability of having an excellent portable system which can be used in any venue where electrical power is available!

Steve Ferley will gather information on ordering the dark blue polo shirts, as well as additional colors which are available as another uniform possibility. Harmony Happening is right around the corner, and some of the discussion centered on forming a committee to handle all future planning, mailings, etc.

The next Board meeting will be at the Coldwell Banker training room at 7 pm on August 1.

FROM THE EDITORS DESK

John Elving

One of the things that has impressed me about large thriving chapters, not necessarily top-notch competing choruses, is the willingness of all members to pitch in and make things happen. Let me explain.

Several of the district schools I have attended have talked about this. And I don’t necessarily mean in class teaching situations. Many times it has been in discussions with other chapter members during “free” time. (Is there such a thing?)

It seems to all boil down to the fact that everyone pitches in and does some function beside singing in the chorus. Men come and set up the chairs and risers. Someone makes sure that the guest books are in order while someone different sets up a display about the chapter for visitors to see. Still others make sure that new members are guided through the rigors of learning music and the ways of barbershop. The idea is that many hands make the work light.

Do we have that desire and love for our hobby for each of us to work to make every meeting and performance special and easier for everyone involved? I challenge us all to get more involved and ask, “What can I do to help?”

Public Relations & Publicity

Jim Gogolin
VP, PR & Pub

Two Prongs On One Initiative
Are you satisfied with the number of members in our chapter? Would you like to sing in a larger chorus? Will you help make our chorus a larger chorus? Would you be happier performing to a larger audience than our latest shows have generated? We can have a larger chorus and a larger audience if you will help just a little bit.

First prong
Some of the members with seniority in our chapter will remember when we held a 50 – 50 raffle and sent the proceeds to Heartspring. We are going to start the 50 – 50 again, this time with the proceeds to be used for purchasing copies of the Harmonizer which will be placed in waiting rooms and local libraries. BHS has a program where copies of the Harmonizer may be purchased for $.75 each, in lots of 20. So, for $15.00 we can have 20 new copies to distribute around our area, and some member(s) of the chapter will have pocketed an extra $15.00 from the 50 – 50 raffle. And nothing says we have to stop at only 20 copies.

Second prong
What do you do with your copy of Harmonizer when you have finished reading it? Does it get thrown in the trash or otherwise recycled, or do you archive it for future reference? Would you be willing to donate the old copies to waiting rooms or libraries?
Here is how you can help publicize our chapter and barbershop harmony:
a. Participate in the raffles that will be conducted.
b. Bring me your old Harmonizer copies, with or without the tag in the back. Some people collect music and tags. Before the Harmonizers are distributed, whether your old ones or new ones purchased from BHS, a self-stick label will be placed over your address label or in the appropriate place on the new ones and that label will have an invitation to visit the chapter along with basic chapter information.
c. Help distribute the Harmonizers to the libraries and waiting rooms, and such other places as may be appropriate. Barbershops come to mind.

With very little money, time or effort invested we can put our hobby in front of lots of potential members and customers. Will you help make our hobby still more fun?

ALBUQUERQUE OR BUST

It was a dark and stormy night. . . No that’s a different time and a different place.

The year is 2007, the month is October. The Rocky Mountain District is holding their fall convention in the city of Albuquerque, NM. Is the Shrine of Democracy Chorus in attendance? Are they competing in the chorus contest?

President Pete has stated publicly that we need to get back in the swing of things in the district. If we begin now to get ready for contest we could be in Albuquerque for that contest cycle. It has been several years since we as a chorus have attended a convention and competed. Will 2007 be the year we get back in the swing of things?

We all understand that Albuquerque is a “fer piece” to go, but it is doable. (Is that a real word?) But it also means that we all begin now to plan for the finances needed to go.

The board would like your input on this. Please let them know your honest feelings as to the feasibility of our attending and competing. If we are to go we will need a full chorus, not a VSC (Very Small Chorus). The sooner we know, the sooner we can plan.

GUESS WHO?

Started well at international in Indy. Ended up in 21st place! Became mic testers for semifinal competition. Must have really ignited the crowd and judges. Sparked interest in the online listeners and convention attendees. Sang square barbershop – that’s the key. Also key ingredient for Shrine of Democracy in 2007. Stay locked in to this space for more.

SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCES

Notes From Directors College And A Class Taught By Ev Nau

Any musical presentation can be entertaining. The entertainment value is not necessarily dependent upon the music that the chorus sings. The quality of the singing will naturally be a factor, but nearly any song order can work. We will be taking into consideration these points:

1. We will sing only material we can handle with quality. The songs will be representative of our best skills.

2. We will concentrate on learning good performance techniques and try to incorporate variety, pacing and visual planning in our act.

3. We will concentrate on performing in our own locale where we can sing before potential members, i.e. men who love to sing.

4. We will do the same performance each time which will last about 20 minutes.

5. We will rehearse this performance until it is as smooth as it can be.

6. We will not make excuses for what we cannot do, but will concentrate only on what we can do and can do well.

With that in mind, let’s look at the types of performances choruses or quartets can do. The three types are contest, annual show, and sing-out. Contest performances average six minutes and are for barbershoppers. The annual show is one show, with possible multiple performances, for friends, relatives, etc. With that being the case, shouldn’t all of our efforts go toward sing-outs where we sing for the “real” general public?

If we agree that we should be putting great effort into our sing-outs, then what are our performance objectives? Yes, the chorus needs to know the performance objective so that they know when they have succeeded! Let’s assume that these are the performance objectives:
These are objectives that every performer should be able to achieve each and every sing-out. Interestingly, these same objectives should work in every rehearsal, whether chorus or quartet.

There are three essentials in any kind of “act” that we need to look at. It involves two very important things: dramatic tension and release. That tension and release successfully incorporates audience involvement, variety, and pacing. Audience involvement brings in things like rhythmic clapping, sing-alongs, call & response, direct action, and even imagineering. Variety uses visual acts, repertoire, costumes, and props. Pacing – the rate of speed an act unfolds – includes timing, song order having no white spots, and transporting the audience.

With all that in mind, we go into building the act. We need to think about how long the performance is, how much talent is available (quartets & VLQs included), how sophisticated it needs to be (or not), and how much the performers can handle. Let’s consider now a performance with seven songs.

The first song should be an up tune that is familiar to the audience, is short with a “hello” feeling, with a possible voice-over. If there is a theme to the show it should also introduce it.

The second song also is an up-tune, but in a different key. It should have a different topic, or continue to develop the theme. It is also a good spot for a “bit”.

We now move to the third song. This could be an easy-beat song, a swing tune, or a rhythmic waltz. Whatever, leave the rhythm alone!

Now it’s time for a ballad. My own opinion, KEEP IT BARBERSHOP, please! Ballad singing is the essence of our style. Let’s do it exceptionally well because there will be only one!

Time for a change of pace after the tear-jerker. This fifth song is a great place for a novelty song. That could be a solo, a religious/gospel song, a patriotic song, a dance, or a comedy song. There are three types of comedy: lyric, visual, and parody. One word of caution here — the biggest problem with comedy is TASTE. Remember, we present “G” rated material, only.

How about a medley as the sixth song? It should have an easy-beat, a key change, with one element being tempo driven. On this one, rhythm is important.

Finally, the seventh song should be a closing up-tune. It should be the best song in your repertoire. (The first song should be the second best.) This is a song that should have not only a key change, but lots of visual stuff, and a tag to die for! This should be the song that drives people to their feet.

But you say, “They want more! Now what?” My suggestion is that you take a unit bow. You could possibly do a reprise of your last song. Very rarely an encore is in order. Remember we want to leave them wanting more. And if the last song was the best in you repertoire, how are you going to top it?

Now the question comes up “What about Keep the Whole World Singing?” Take these three things into consideration: 1) It may not be the best closer, and, 2) Is the act educational of entertaining. If entertaining, 3) who is the audience – probably not barbershoppers or the performers. If you use it, think of placing it in a different spot.

Yes, there is a spokesman involved. His job is to give the singers a rest, provide variety, and to inform, possibly entertain, the audience. You can even use more than one.

When it comes to quartets, how many should there be? What are the qualifications? (Sing in tune.) With more than one quartet, who sings first? Remember, the needs of the chapter come first, not the quartet needs. What about their costumes and props? The quartet doesn’t sing in a different uniform than the chorus. They can do that for their own sing-outs. The question always comes up about inactive chapter quartets. Their performance status should be based on talent, not their active status.

With all this in mind, let’s show some professionalism! Bring in the same integrity you bring to your job. Be professional in your attire, entrances and exits, applause acceptance, if needed, make-up, and even the introduction of the act. (Write it out for the person introducing you.)

And, finally, remember the three P’s of Performance:

FAVORITE BARBERSHOP PASTIME

If the person sitting next to you at the symphony kindly suggests you stop humming the seventh of every chord played, you might be a barbershopper.

If you’ve ever gotten that weird look from the Dry Cleaner when you show up and ask if they can do sequins really well, you might be a barbershopper.

If you’ve tried to tune your wind chimes to a barbershop seventh, you might be a barbershopper.

If your most prominent bumper sticker is “I Can’t, I Have Rehearsal,” you might be a barbershopper.

If your wife no longer cares how you got makeup on your shirt, you might be a barbershopper.

If you plan on celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 15th because you know you will be busy February 12th- 14th delivering Singing Valentines, you might be a barbershopper.

If you mistake the hum of an air conditioner for the sound of a quartet somewhere in the hotel, you might be a barbershopper.

Barbershop Dictionary

Here’s more of the “official” Barbershop Terminology Dictionary. Learning it will help you immensely (maybe)!
Cookie - a pitchpipe.
Crank - Sing loudly.
Crow - A self-confessed non-singer who performs mundane chores nobody else wants to do. See Invaluable.
Diction Dips - Singers who exaggerate the hard consonants.
Diphthong Dips - Singers who overemphasize the diphthongs.
Duck - Resonance.
Eagles - A politically correct term for “Crows”.
Ear Candy - An audible overtone or harmonic.
Eargasm - The climax of musical stimulation often resulting in goosebumps and raised hairs. See Chordgasm.
Energy Cube - A teaching device used by Mr. Larry Ajer, to focus sound and energy in response to an interpretive plan.
Everglow - A smaller, more private party that takes place after an afterglow.
Fifth Wheel - Singing along with/near a quartet, but not one of the foursome.
Float - Blending a part into a chord gracefully, usually tenor.
Gang Singing - A collection of singers that are not an organized unit.
Garbage Part - A negative term for the baritone part.
Glimmer - An after,after,afterglow.
Going for the bird - Producing overtones.
Green Gas - A vapor that forms when a situation gets too intense.
Groaner - A bad joke, story, or pun.
Gut-Buster - A robust uptune.
Hang Ten - Standing on the risers with ten toes over the edge.
Honker - a person who sings loudly and/or in a garish manner, often a bass singer. Thinks he is a “hero” by leading section or chorus. (See also Laser Lungs)
Hospitality Room - A party room at a convention for informal entertainment, socializing, and stale pretzels.
Hum Spot - The placement of one’s voice that makes the mask resonate.
Intonationally Challenged - A Rashleighism for a poor vocalist.
Kibber - An endearing term for a barbershopper that prefers to Keep It (old time) Barbershop!
Laser Lungs - a singer, usually a tenor, who sings high notes very loudly and out of balance.
Lead Dodging - The art of woodshedding the baritone part, also called Lead Avoidance.
Leaner - a person that does not have the courage or ability to sing on his/her own, or is not well rehearsed in the music.
Mike (Mic) Testers - A quartet or chorus which sings at the beginning of a contest to ensure the sound system performance.
Onion Skin - A minute adjustment in pitch.

HEALTH ALERT

For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting medical studies.

1.The Japanese people eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2.The Mexican people eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3.The Chinese people drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4.The Italian people drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5.The German people drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

THE SOLUTION to our membership decline!

by Russ Squires

Yes I am bold and forward in suggesting that I know the answers to all of our Society’s membership problems but maybe, just maybe, I am right. Heaven forbid….

(If it makes any difference to you reading on, I was one of the founding 5 of the Westminster Chorus)

Here is my great epiphany, let’s stop bickering and have fun. WHOA! Let’s make this whole hobby fun again. Is singing fun? If you are reading this I certainly hope you think so? Is competition fun? Personally, I love it, and most of my friends do as well. Are hanging out, singing tags, and woodshedding a song or ten fun? Well, that’s how I became addicted to this hobby almost 15 years ago.

It seems this most recent string of emails started with one man’s proclamation that he was quitting the Society because of the horrors our leadership has gotten us in to. He took shots at everyone under the sun including my chorus from Westminster, California. This lead to numerous other email threads including but not limited to, the typical KIBBER arguments and my favorite, the “merge the Societies” concept. The funny thing is all of these arguments have great points, sure our Society leadership has messed up in the past, sure our music needs to be preserved, a combined Society would make more financial sense, and, of course, all of the guys in the Westminster Chorus date the hottest chicks and are without a doubt going to go on to stardom. Clearly next years American Idol winner will come from our risers and OC Times, well they are about to sign a contract worth millions of dollars as some studio execs saw them recently and decided that they are the next coming of the Boy Band, think N’Sync and the Backstreet Boys who can all sing. (And yes, Justin Timberlake could sing but clearly Joey Fatone could not.) Hmmm…alright, well maybe all but the Westminster stuff has some truth to it.

What makes Westminster tick? Here is our deep, dark secret, we have FUN! Four years ago I got together with four friends and said, “I wonder if we could create a chorus of guys our own age to sing with?” Why? Because it is fun to sing with your peers. Now we have grown from 14 singers in our first contest to around 65 we will bring to Indy this summer. How? Again, by maintaining the idea that singing with guys our own age is fun. Lot’s of people ask, do you have an age limit? That’s missing the point completely. We have had older guys show up and sing with us and in the end, they realized that this is about more than just competing. Yes, we are really good and we love to compete. The fact is that the stars aligned for us out here. We have an incredible big brother chorus to provide training and support for us in the Masters and having a guy like Sean Devine move out from back east, with the musical talent and charisma to bring a lot of young guys to the table early on, made a huge difference. In the end though, we get together almost every Saturday with our friends, sing for 3 or 4 hours, go to Taco Bell and sing tags for a few more hours, and build friendships that will last a lifetime.

Here’s another thing, it’s true we have a lot of talent; the fact is the guys in the chorus know to bring their friends who can already sing. We also have a ton of quartets. Out of the 68 guys in the chapter over half are in quartets. Some are good like OC Times, Afternoon Delight and Men So Forte. Some aren’t so good like my quartet. Heck, in the end that is what most of the guys trumpeting quartetting forget. Chorus’s open up a lot of opportunity for guys who don’t feel comfortable singing on their own or just aren’t good enough to sing in highly competitive quartets right away. I use myself as an example because my first gold with the Masters in 1999 came the same year I finished dead last in the College Quartet Contest. (We were really, really bad.) But I realized I could learn a ton standing on the risers and did. Just this year I finally broke a 70 average in a quartet. Someday I might break a 76 but I have a long way to go. What has been most important though is the friendships I have made and the fun I have had.

How do you have fun? Well to some it is being competitive. Let’s face it, by nature everyone wants to be the best at something and young guys are so testosterone driven it’s all about trying to be the best. To Westminster, that is clearly a dominant goal. To others, it’s the fraternization first and the music second. To be perfectly honest, the whole “Fraternity” idea is what one of the greats, Lloyd Steinkamp, put in our head early on and that is still in everything we do. Heck, ask any Westminster member about our Scavenger Hunts, they are legendary. The example that comes to my mind though is a chapter like the Fullerton Chapter from the Far Western District. Not to be disrespectful but I have to say that I don’t ever remember walking away from one of their shows saying, “that was the best barbershop music I have ever heard.” On the other hand, they do sing really well and I have never walked away feeling anything but totally entertained by what they do. Their shows are a total blast to watch! They also generate huge crowds from the local community and everyone walks out feeling great about our style of music. That chapter is a great example of what Barbershop is about.

Oh yeah, and it is our style of music. The fact is the general public doesn’t have a clue the difference between a doo-wop number, modern harmonies, and barbershop music. I always loved it when I would get done with a Masters show and the audience members felt our 50s medley with the band on stage was the best Barbershop number of the night. On the other hand I completely agree that we need to preserve the Barbershop style. It is a total misnomer that the actual music has anything to do with the Westminster Chorus’s success in recruitment. In Louisville in 2004 we sang Shine and So Long Mother, about as square barbershop as you can get. This year we are singing South Rampart Street Parade and The Way You Look Tonight, a little more progressive, but right in there with solid Barbershop harmonic ideas as they were arranged by two of the Society’s current musical geniuses, Mark Hale and David Wright. Here’s another secret, we actually sing “the old songs” every week to start rehearsals. Yep, that’s right, we sing polecats and the young guys like it. We also sing some spirituals, and even recently have added a classical piece to the mix. Guess what that means? Young guys and old guys like to sing the same music as long as they are having fun doing it.

Alright, so what is my great epiphany that is the solution? Here goes. Every existing “old guy” chapter creates a recruitment plan targeting guys 10-15 years younger that they currently are. That means if your average age is 70 you target a 55-60 year old, not a 30 year old. If your average age is 60, target the guy that is 45-50, not a 20 year old. I guarantee that you will find far greater success recruiting and maintaining a member that is in your relative peer group, than one that can clearly not relate to where you are in life.

Meanwhile, let the Society leadership come up with a plan, to start young choruses all over the country. Let’s even do something crazy like create a competition for just these young choruses so they don’t have to compete against the local chapters. Let’s do something even more crazy by having that competition at Mid-Winter every year to make that convention more appealing to the masses. (By the way, it’s perfect timing for college and high school guys who are between semesters at the end of January every year.) What does this do? Well it gives young guys some place to sing with their friends and feel comfortable doing it. It also encourages the local chapter to help out with things like fundraising and operational stuff because they do not compete with this youth chorus in any way at all. They can establish a big brother-little brother relationship like the MOH and Westminster have done. (Oh and yes, I have a plan for creating these young choruses. Believe me, with the local chapter support, it’s not rocket science.)

What would this lead to? How about every existing chapter in the Society gains 10 new members in the next three years with an average age 10 years younger than they currently are. Then, how about 20 new young choruses starting around the country with an average age of 20 like Westminster and attracting 40 or 50 young people in each in that same time period. What would this do for our average age? Heck, what would this do for our total membership?

The solution I have proposed is simple. It really is. It also means we get back to the basics, have fun and sing. Wow, can it really be that easy to turn the Society around? Yes.

Best regards,
Russ Squires
Founding Member
The Westminster Chorus

AMERICAN HEALTH CARE

Two patients limp into two different American medical clinics with the same complaint. Both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement.
The first patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day and has a time booked for surgery the following week.
The second sees the family doctor after waiting a week for an appointment, then waits eighteen weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn’t reviewed for another month and finally has his surgery scheduled for 6 months from then.
Why the different treatment for the two patients?
The first is a Golden Retriever.....
The second is a Senior Citizen..

What O.C. Cash forgot to tell us

by Bill Gibbons

1. No matter how many rooms in the headquarters hotel, the guy who starts up his car at 5 am is always parked under your window.
2. Choruses who don’t work at what they’ve learned from post-contest A&R sessions will repeat those mistakes. Those who do work at it will find other ways to err.
3. There never has, nor will there ever be, a contested election for Treasurer.
4. The selection of a Chorus Director is obviously a personality contest. Were it otherwise, wouldn’t you be the Director?
5. The only advantage to being a Chorus Director is that you get someone else to carry your pitchpipe.
6. It’s always darkest before the curtain opens.
7. Be careful when asked to sing the same note throughout an entire tag-it’s probably the most difficult part to do well.
8. The most powerful hex-phrase in all of barbershopping: “I really have this down-listen to this.”
9. No matter what happens at contest time, there is always at least one member of the chorus who knew it would.
10. Although you can’t beat the acoustics, think twice before practicing your part to the tag “love me darling and the world is mine” in the men’s room.
11. There are too few really good leads around any more. If you had one in your quartet you’d be competing at International next July. You know it. I know it.
12. If you think you’re good enough to sing in a quartet, or if you think you’re not good enough to sing in a quartet, you’re right.
13. Quartets: They’re a heck of a lot easier to get into then they are to get out of.

URGENT CONVENTION HOUSING NEWS

from the RMD Weekly
Tony Pranaitis, Editor

The RMD has negotiated room blocks AND rehearsal space for the Fall Convention in Layton, Utah. With large volume bargaining power, our Association of Chapters is able to package the deal together so that (normally) VERY EXPENSIVE rehearsal space is reserved for use by Convention attendees (choruses) staying in the contracted hotel rooms.

For example, at the previous Fall Convention in Cheyenne, the Little America alone waived over $5,000 in ballroom rentals (for rehearsal space) as part of the negotiated package.

The RMD has negotiated similar space in Layton WITH THE CONVENTION HOTELS. The rehearsal space assignments were allocated to the competing choruses with the expectation that our choruses would LODGE IN THE CONVENTION HOTELS USING THE NEGOTIATED ROOM BLOCKS.

It has come to the attention of our Board that some in our Association of Chapters are searching online for reservation options, seeking “cheaper rates”. Please realize that the RMD is committed to making our events as affordable as possible for our members, and realize that if individual chapters had to negotiate and pay for their own rehearsal space then no one would probably come to a Convention because of the astronomical cost that would be. TOGETHER (remember, this is an ASSOCIATION OF CHAPTERS) we negotiated a large number of sleeping rooms (which attendees pay for) and a large number of ballrooms (which we don’t pay for) at a rate that we can all live with. If we do not meet the sleeping room minimum in order to get the ballrooms without additional charge, then the additional charges will be assessed to the choruses who did not obtain lodging within the RMD room blocks and therefore enable us to get the ballrooms at no additional charge. And chapter treasurers will CHOKE when they get the bill. It’ll be a LOT more than the measly individual savings.

Rather than focus on these very ugly and expensive consequences should any chapter defeat the efforts of our Association, in a selfish attempt to save a few bucks per night, PLEASE USE THE CONVENTION ROOM BLOCKS FOR YOUR LODGING AT THE FALL CONVENTION.

Realize that those “few bucks” are what PAYS FOR your rehearsal space (at a MUCH CHEAPER rate than your chapter could ever possibly rent it on your own).

The ONLY way our Association provides a chorus rehearsal space (without charge) is for that chorus to lodge in the contracted hotel room blocks.

What Is the Product We’re Selling?

From the Harmonet

I am blessed to live in a metropolitan area that hosts no fewer than 6 Barbershop chapters, spanning from championship level to barely surviving. This has provided an excellent opportunity to observe what is working, and what is not. NOTE: not what *should* be working, but what *is* working. I’d like to take three of these chapters to use as examples:

Chapter A is a world-reknowned championship-level chapter that has a strong, capable and forward-thinking leadership. The well over 100 members are expected to be active, not only in singing, but in other activities as well, and to work hard to be the best they can be. And they do it. The work is hard, but the payoff is fantastic.

Chapter B made a commitment a few years ago to improve their musical quality. They hired a top-notch director, and each man has made an effort to improve individually and collectively. As a result, they have grown to over 60 active members, and have won numerous awards from their Division, District and International.

Chapter C is the oldest chapter in the area, both in terms of the chapter’s age, and that of its members. They like to get together once a week to have a nice evening singing the familiar songs. To their credit, they are wonderful men, and fun to be around. But, their membership is flagging, and the leadership is being drained.

Chapter A is thriving. There is not enough room to admit all the men who would like to join.

Chapter B is very healthy, having grown significantly over the past few years.

Chapter C is, unfortunately, showing the signs of being a chapter in trouble.

Notice that no mention was made of the kinds of songs being sung by the chapters. Each has a mix of traditional Barbershop and newer music. Each has members that bemoan the loss of the “old way”, and others that are always pushing the boundaries. In short, each chapter is much like the Society as a whole.

You may draw your own conclusion about the relationship between the quality of our singing and the health of a chapter, but IMHO, the relationship is clear: Quality Singing attracts and retains members. Within the boundaries of our love of the Barbershop Style, it doesn’t matter as much *what* you sing, as *how* you sing it. This is true for both young and old:

If you sing it well, they will come.

Get Your Barbershop Fix From iTunes

Now you can legally purchase barbershop performances from iTunes. The first wave of iTunes content from the Barbershop Harmony Society became available in June 2006, and there are now nearly 500 tracks online.

How do I access this content and begin downloading barbershop music?

1. Download and install the free iTunes software. www.apple.com offers clients for Windows 2000 or XP, and Mac OS X v10.2.8 or v10.3.4 or later. You do not need an iPod™ portable device to listen on your computer– however, you cannot transfer from iTunes to other manufacturers’ portable devices.

2. Create an Apple Music Store ID. (AOL users can use an AOL ScreenName)

3. Our recommended iTunes search in the “Search Music Store” window in the upper right hand corner of the iTunes screen is “barbershop contest”. Based upon our catalog structure, this will bring up all of the BHS catalog then available, both quartet and chorus. Folks can then preview any of the available tracks. It is, of course, also possible to search by the individual artist (such as Uptown Sound.) When all of the years in which Uptown Sound competed are assimilated by iTunes, this search would result in all of their content across the years.

4. Buy .. listen … sing along while commuting!

5. Barbershop on iTunes is a collaboration between the Barbershop Harmony Society and Naked Voice Records. In the coming months, NVR hopes to digitize and add to the catalog all contest music dating back as far as the technology will allow. This body of music will join the digital catalog of NVR already available through a variety of the most popular legal music download services such as iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, and more. These services offer legal digital downloads and/or streaming delivery of CD quality audio on a piecemeal basis. Both Apple and Windows based computers are supported both with and without the popular portable players such as the iPod, iRiver, Zen, GoGear, Sony and many more.


© copyright 2006 Shrine of Democracy Barbershop Chorus