INSIDE: Show Variety • Why We’Ll Be Glad We’Re in Nashville • the BQPA • It’S About Chapters
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INSIDE: Show variety • Why we’ll be glad we’re in Nashville • The BQPA • It’s about chapters May/June 2007 May/June 2007 VOLUME LXVII NUMBER 3 PATTY LEVEILLE AS CONSTRUCTION WRAPS IN NASHVILLE, how will the move potentially affect the Society 10 or 20 years down the road? Executive Vice President Bill Biffle says the move is about creating opportunities and accessing resources avail- able in no other city. In short, Nashville is a strategic move toward a larger and stronger Barbershop Harmony Society. 14 Features Young barbershop fraternities Barbershopping it old school 22 We’re already hooking youth on barbershop at our 33 The BQPA says that what worked in decades past festivals—here’s where to put them for the long haul will work just as well in the 21st Century RUSS SQUIRES, JAMES ESTES Ed Watson Ya gotta know the territory One man’s opinion 31 Barbershoppers who loved Calgary will love Denver 35 We’re already good at celebrating high-level for all of the same reasons and more! groups. Let’s put more focus on other chapter types Mike Mathieu Tom Metzger Departments 2 12 STRAIGHT TALK HARMONY HOW-TO Temporary inconvenient, permanent improvement Put more variety into your shows 3 38 LETTERS STAY TUNED Don’t inflict poor singing on the masses A huge standing O from Ontario educators Unimpressed with contest rule change Free tickets lead to great Oahu youth relations 5 41 On the Cover: THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE MEMBER SERVICE DIRECTORY Taggurito El Grande Photo and composite by Lorin May Are we there yet? Where to find answers 6 44 TEMPO THE TAG What you need to know about August’s HQ move “Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair” Want to be a Society judge? A punchline for the legendary Lou Perry STRAIGHT TALK Ed Watson, Executive Director • [email protected] Temporary inconvenience, permanent improvement ello, music lovers! You’re about to read another Another idea is an “Annual Report” issue, with fine issue of the journal of Barbershop,The Harmo- facts, figures, reports, faces, important events, and nizer! We are striving with each and every issue to issues we tackled in the previous year. This one bring this magazine closer to being a professional issue will have many reference points in it, so year H reference manual for the art form. It now has, and after year you can compare and see how we’re do- increasingly will have, more articles, features, il- ing. It would contain a budget report as well, so lustrations, opinions, tips, tricks and tags that will you can see where your dues are going. As I said further your enjoyment and increase your bril- in the keynote address at Harmony University: “If liance, facilitate your conversation and make you a you promise to pay your dues on time, I promise hit wherever you go. No serious side effects, just a not to run a deficit.” So far, so good! grin and sometimes a lump in your throat or a tear As we change features, we’ll want to hear from in your eye. Please read it slowly and carefully, we you, and what you want to see and how you like don’t want any overdoses. what you are seeing. If we don’t hear from you, we’ll have to presume you’re okay with it. If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right. Strengthening chapters. Now, this month we What we do want is to double your pleasure, and have an article by Tom Metzger, champion bass double your fun. You’ve heard me say it before, with 2005 international quartet champion Real- and since I’m trying to double your pleasure, I’ll time, who writes about chapter planning. Chapter say it again: “Have some fun.” We used to say in planning? That’s right. You know, to become a the squadron “If you aren’t having fun, you champion in the Society you must be more than a aren’t doing it right.” Well guess what? If talented singer. You must work hard, plan well, and that’s true in the military, it should be dou- have a little luck. So, Tom will be sharing his in- bly true for your hobby. Why have a hobby sight with us on how to make your chapter better. if it’s not fun? And we want you in this I know that’s important, and I thank Tom for his hobby. There’s a place for you on the ris- efforts. Without good, strong chapters, we fail. ers, right next to me. Don’t want to The move to Nashville. I’m late turning in this We increas- sing, but you love to hear harmony column because each day we get closer to the and love to be with your friends? move, my life gets a bit more hectic and busier. ingly will There’s a place for you, too. C’mon We are trying to minimize the downtime as we have articles along. move the headquarters to Nashville on August the 24th, but some reduced level of service will be and features Harmonizer story inevitable. I am hoping to have phone service un- that will ideas in the works interrupted, and if that is the case, you will be able As I was saying before I got to to call 1-800-876-SING (7464) and reach the staff further your proselytizing, The Harmonizer will member you need, even if he or she is using a cell become, more and more, the refer- phone to take your call. The service you need may enjoyment ence for the life of a Barbershop- be delayed, but your request will be recorded and and in- per. Here are some of the ideas processed in the order received. Of course, we ask we’re considering: A column, for your patience during this temporary inconve- crease your written by readers, that will give nience for a permanent improvement. brilliance you the opportunity to voice your I hope to see you in Denver, and for sure I want opinion for all posterity. It might to see you in Nashville, where we’ll have a tag be called “Nobody asked me, but…” or “The way chamber just waiting for you … and me. I see it…” or “Now hear this…” but whatever it’s “How do you like the job I’m doing so far?” called, it will be a chance for Joe Barbershopper (that’s you) to get his point across. Now, I’m not promising that we’ll print everything we receive, we couldn’t even if we wanted to, which we don’t. I am saying that we’ll keep an ear open for oppos- ing viewpoints and give them a chance to be heard and read. [email protected] 2 The HARMONIZER • May/June 2007 LETTERS [email protected] Inflicting poor singing, plus rule changes Amen to having more fun or a little choreography. hanks to International President Noah Funderburg I’m talking about those groups that seldom or for reminding all of us that old fashioned fun is what never compete. Is this rocket science? We perform brought most of us into the Society and is the only poorly but we expect people from our communities thing that will keep us as members. When chapters to pay $15 or more per ticket and fill the auditorium. T forget how to have fun with barbershop music, their We send or allow subpar quartets to perform in public members will find other things to do on chapter and then wonder why Barbershoppers get a bad rap. meeting nights. Yes, we can have fun, and sing and The majority of Barbershoppers I’ve met through the entertain well. years want to sing/perform in a quartet or VLQ (and BURT SZABO they should after they’ve received the blessing of their Orlando, Fla. music committee), but be aware that we’re compet- ing with near professional entertainment. If we want Don’t inflict poor barbershop on the public to attract new singers and build membership, it has to Regarding “The Hot Seat” (March/April 2007 issue): start with a quality/polished performance. We can no What a wonderfully crafted article—Ned should be a longer get by with what used to get by. The audience regular correspondent. Regarding the “lack of respect” will let you know after the first songif they’re inter- for barbershop music: I have spent many an uncom- ested in hearing any more from you. fortable moment listening to quartets and choruses I’ve had the pleasure of performing with several “inflict” poorly sung barbershop top flight groups and also several subpar groups. It’s on captive audiences. Each time I no fun trying to attract guests just to watch them sit through those performances, I walk away saying, “I’m too busy, I just don’t have the feel barbershop music has been set time.” Baloney! People make time for the things they back 50 years. (I envision a bunch enjoy! Take a serious look at what’s being offered by of drunks standing around the your chorus or quartet(s). Let’s fix what’s broken first lamp post). I have no solution, but and then see what happens. we, as a Society, have a problem. RON HEINEMANN I think one of the key elements to Fayetteville, Ark. increasing our membership is to strive to constantly improve our Unimpressed with contest rule changes quality of performance (not just Tucked away at the end of the Society Briefs at the singing).