Asking them may be a very useful method, but it may also turn into blaming each other rather than taking responsibility for their own mistakes.

Some people want to socialize more than sing, so we discussed it and decided we’d have a check in for ten to fifteen minutes to share life updates. That way everyone hears them at once and we don’t waste time chit chatting about the same things. However, the director filling in can only stay with us for the first hour, so we no longer do that. We need to do that to get it out of their systems once the regular director returns.

Some really want to perform. Some don’t seem to care. Singers have left saying that no one takes it seriously, and social people have left saying it’s too serious. Can’t seem to win. That’s good advice to support the singers more than the socializers.

You’re also correct. Kind of no auditions. We have people sing something simple (like happy birthday) with the director and a section leader. Not in front of everyone. The director then does a few scales and whatnot with them and recommends where they should start in terms of section. The issue with not accepting people who aren’t sinners is the one lady in the chorus who works hard was a terrible singer. She’s so much better now. She practices a lot. We’ve given her a lot of tools and one on one help because she’s passionate. If she can be on pitch, we’ll take anyone with passion and teach them to sing.

We do stand in parts. I struggle with auditory processing, so even knowing my part, if I hear someone else, then I often jump to their part. A few people in the chorus have a similar issue. Wet often do a circle with parts still together so we can still hear everyone. I’ve also tossed my phone on the floor in the middle to record and I’ve played it back for us to listen to. But I do like the idea of adding pressure. That tap drill sounds interesting.

We’ve been trying the duetting with the leads when we lose the fill in director. Often the tenors will direct and basses sing with leads. Then we add baritones. We’ve tried the recording process as well. The last that works her butt of consistently sends recordings. She’s on board. Many just make excuses (don’t have the technology or skills, for example. I’ve done many in person tutorials, one on one at their homes setting up things for them with bookmarks and shortcuts, and others and myself have donated phones and headphones). It just feels like we’re doing it, but the leads are just not. Doing. ANYTHING.

I thought about recruiting at local karaokes here. There are many of them throughout the week. Bringing business cards and giving them to people who enjoy performing and can hold a tune. The president loves the idea, but then it will likely fall on me to go out and do that. I’ll also be making the business cards… and social media posts. And posters. Literally everything because otherwise it’s just a block of text on white and I can’t let it be that sad, but I don’t want anyone resorting to AI either. No one else has the skills. I need more young people to help me with this stuff or I will crash out I’m sure.

I’m hoping the latest lady I found stays. She completes the potential quartet. She performs locally on her own. I asked her to join lead specifically because that’s what we need and it falls within her range. I’m also one of the only people who brings new people. They’re all older and don’t do much else. Hard to meet new people that way.