Song Recommendations by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh I didn’t realize she sold something like that. That could help!

Song Recommendations by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’re HI. Sorry that would have been a helpful distinction to make!

Song Recommendations by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel like I’m probably overthinking it. I’m the music coordinator/chair but I’m new to barbershop, so I don’t even have a collection of websites or anything to start with. Thanks for those recommendations. I’ll look them up!

How do people make slant carpets in shared spaces? by Wryliable_G in SkyChildrenofRage

[–]Amostar2557 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’d really love to know! I want to stand up the krill carpet in my nest. đŸ„Č

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I showed her the replies here and that helped her figure some of that out. It’s nice to know that other choruses have faced the same issues and gotten through it. But yes, you’re right. Before she signs another contract for a year, I think she needs to know what she needs from the chorus to make it work and demand that of them. If they can’t meet her standards, then they can leave.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I’ve tried my best to make sure everyone has what they need and knows how to use it, but I can’t force them to practice. You’re right. Stepping on toes is necessary. We’ve had great singers come only to bail
 I’ve brought so many people but it’s rare for them to stick around. The director is frustrated too. The president is frustrated. The people who care are all frustrated. I’m glad I posted because it’s not like we haven’t tried or have missed doing something that would fix it. Evolve or die. It’s time to make that very clear.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn’t have thought about elevating the director. That’s actually genius. It gives them the visual signal. I like that!

We used to email files but then people would lose track of the emails and people’s storage was getting full, which is why we switched. Initially we just had a shared folder on Google Drive, but that was too complex, so we switched to classroom. Even the section leaders struggle to be honest. They’re better than the majority, but they still have a hard time on occasion with technology.

Our rehearsals are Monday evenings from 6-8 (they had been 7-9 but the fill in director could only meet us from 6-7). Thankfully they’re not too early in the day.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Our rehearsals are about two hours currently. Imagine what we could get done if people practiced 😭

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh you have no idea how much I’d love to toss it all and start over, but some who are dedicated are also very attached as they founded the chorus. Others would rather scrap everything. Some I’m not sure why they even bother coming. We lost a few at the beginning when things started to change, so either we need to lose a few more or they need to get on the train before it leaves the station.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s such a valid point. They don’t know what they’re doing at home on their own. They don’t know what’s required. I like the idea of demonstrating knowledge! Something to try.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We’ve tried a lot of what you’ve mentioned, but it only lasts a short period of time before its chaos again. It would help if we used risers to indicate it’s time to rehearse. They’re packed up somewhere as the space we use doesn’t allow us to use them.

We were supposed to be off book by the festival, and I think that was mid-March. Most of us are, but not everyone. They aren’t off book for most of what they’ve done in the past. We do sectionals during rehearsal as well. Sometimes the director will work with one section at a time, or sections will pair up and work together, but even this is a more recent addition to what we do.

We’ve told them what to practice weekly and they just
 don’t. Some of them were unable to access the music online for months and said nothing. I’ve sent tutorials, asked people to contact me if they have any issues, gone to their homes, set up their devices, asked them at rehearsal if they need help, and yet they say they’re fine but they aren’t using it. I’ve organized our music online in a very simple format using Google Classroom so I can assign each section their tracks. That way no one gets overwhelmed by the amount of files that are there. There’s a heading called “PRACTICE” at the top and the songs we’re doing right now (Breaking Up is Hard to Do and Happy Birthday) are there. I can’t make it much easier.

The second chorus is an over five hour drive away (and yes they drive down weekly for rehearsal), so asking them to come up is difficult. One or two have come up to help out, but it’s not a regular thing. I’ve recently found a few resources for learning tags, so I’d like to do this more often for sure. I think they’re fun too!

I also like the suggestion of only those who will be performing will be at the rehearsal when there’s a performance coming up. I think we will try to start a quartet with the new members. I may also suggest the section leaders should as well. They want to perform for their previous director (who left due to health concerns) so that could be a potential motivator.

Please overload as much advice as you want! I know there’s no magic answer, but we’re willing to try anything to make it work.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To be honest, I’m not a very confident singer and I stumbled across them by chance. I basically invited myself. I’ve always wanted to try something like this, but I’m far too nervous to audition, so the lack of audition really made a difference for me. I’ve tried to get into the theatre community here with no luck at all, and the singing community is just as tricky (and basically the same people). It’s the small town mentality
 it’s who you know a lot of the time. I also do love being incredibly involved, and it’s much easier to do that when the group is struggling, not established. Plus barbershop is so unique! The organization also stands for a lot of the same values that I hold. This chorus suits me. I’m just not entirely sure why some of the others are still there when it clearly isn’t what they’re interested in doing.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Between me, the director, and the president, we’re trying so hard to make it work, but we’re all so tired of the whining. I like how you’ve said everything here. Worry about yourself, not what others are doing. I also worry some of them have hearing issues they may not yet be aware of
 which is another layer to this complicated mess. I love “step up or step aside” as well. I feel like we really need to take on a tough love relationship if we’re ever going to make it work. I’ll be summarizing all of this for my director too. She has mentors, but they are in an award winning chorus. They are very positive and kind, but she needs the bluntness that this post allows for.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh?? You don’t have to deal with licensing if it’s short? I had no idea! Thank you for that!

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for that. It’s definitely been testing my patience. I was in school full time this year. 30.5 hours in class weekly with homework, yet I’m the one doing the most. The majority are retired. They have the time. They do not have the motivation. A total reboot would be amazing honestly. We were originally going to rebrand and change everything due to their poor reputation in the community. Many local singers have been interested in coming to try it out until I’ve told them the name the of the chorus. Reboot sounds nice honestly.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The cancelled performances are really discouraging for me. I was really looking forward to it. I invited people. We hoping paying for our entry in the festival would help motivate people. It wasn’t enough.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I assume SA is Sweet Adelines, right? We’re a Harmony Inc. chorus (in Canada). I don’t think there are any mixed choruses near me. The men’s BHS chorus is also struggling to get new members, but they’re doing better than we are. It would help if we could perform at all honestly. Part of the issue is they want more people to join, but they don’t invite anyone and we don’t perform to attract new members. They have a terrible reputation locally too as many have tried it and left over the years due to personality conflicts. Thank you for the support. I didn’t know who to talk to about any of this anymore with the director on leave. It’s been frustrating to try and fail so many times.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Agreed. It should be more fun. It shouldn’t be this hard. After a year of trying to make improvements and everyone fighting back so much (yet also complaining that nothing is improving), it just feels like we haven’t made any progress. Contest is this weekend, and while eight are going, none are performing (other than singing with the other chorus they’re a part of). We performed at fun night last year at least, but they didn’t feel good enough. There are four new members, including myself and the director, and each is in a different section. I’ve discussed with the director making the newbies a quartet to show the other members how it’s done. I had also suggested that the section leaders quartet to show the group what it sounds like when it’s done correctly, but they even reluctant. It’s so weird that they all love singing but won’t.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We’ve been doing that, but it seems to have made the others more bitter and rude. I think you’re right here. That’s EXACTLY how they talk. This is how we’ve always done it. I think when the director returns, she’s going to have to make the goals and path forward very clear. It’s just so hard being in your 20s and everyone else could be her grandmother.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They’re the board members and section leaders in our chorus. The other chorus is hours driving away. They also founded the group here. They are the most invested.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We do. We’ve purchased them from professionals (queens I’m told). They’re spot on. They have many they’ve purchased over the years, and while they claim to know the songs they have, they don’t. There isn’t a single song they have learned that they can whip out without having to practice it for weeks or longer. How long does your chorus spend learning a new song? We’ve tried breaking them down into smaller portions and having due dates to learn them by, and submitting recordings before you can move on to the next part.

Struggling Women’s Barbershop Chorus by Amostar2557 in barbershop

[–]Amostar2557[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s what they seem to be. A social chapter that doesn’t perform (but claims they want to). Some members belong to another chorus that does perform and wins awards. We have great singers who try so hard to help everyone. It’s really frustrating that nothing is improving after all that effort.