Guest post by Society Music Specialist Mike O’Neill, (also bass of Lunch Break, 2008 international semi-finalist):

Currently, we have 1,444 registered quartets in the Barbershop Harmony Society. That means, approximately 5,776 (it is probably less since several men are registered in more than one quartet) members of our Society sing in a registered quartet. Can you believe that fewer than 22% of our current membership is enjoying this incredibly important component of membership? I can’t either! As a matter of fact, I know it is more than that. We have hundreds of quartets in our organization who are not registered with the Society.

Many ask the question, “other than to compete, what do I get for being in a registered quartet?” Let’s help answer that. Read the rest of this entry »

We are beginning the process of deciding content for this year’s DVD(s) and we want your input.  Please keep in mind there are MANY variables that we must also take into consideration (mostly due to copyright and licensing), but tell us what you want and we’ll do our best to give you a product you’ll enjoy! Read the rest of this entry »

Picture that happening to you. Suddenly, a small group of experienced barbershoppers want to start a new chapter in a neighboring city. SINKING GUT FEELING #1. “What will we ever do?”  This is a totally factual story (as best as my memory and our records might provide). You might be surprised by the result. Read the rest of this entry »

From a field of 70 quartets a record breaking 28 Collegiate Quartets have qualified and will represent their schools, districts and/or affiliate organizations at the International Collegiate Quartet Contest this summer in Anaheim, CA!   Congratulations to all competitors!  This year showed the largest participation in the number of quartets since the inception of this contest back in 1992.  Read the rest of this entry »

Society President Bill Biffle has announced the appointment of a task force to create an overall strategy to achieve sustained growth of the organization.  Chaired by Immediate Past President Noah Funderburg, the task force consists of eight committed barbershoppers of varying ages, length of Society membership, and personal background. Read the rest of this entry »

Music Specialist James Estes sent this around to the staff this morning. Would you take a look at these kids’ faces? How can anyone watch this and believe that music is anything less than an essential investment in making better students and better people?

We have a number of chapters who are doing an AWESOME job helping fill what would otherwise be a gaping hole in the lives of children. For example, here’s what barbershoppers in British Columbia are doing: Read the rest of this entry »

I know, I know, Aptify progress seems to be an oxymoron, a two word phrase where the words mean opposite things. But seriously, folks, some very dedicated people have been working diligently to bring progress to our database. Remember, it took many years before the old AMS was useful, and Aptify is already churning out many, many more bits of useful data. Most of our data fields are dependent on the local chapter and or member’s input. Garbage in, garbage out, but that’s what we have to work with. So here’s a short progress report: Read the rest of this entry »

It is going to be a barn burner of a quartet contest as 52 quartets from around the world come together to compete for the coveted quartet gold medal. Plan ahead to cheer on your favorite quartets. Here is the order of appearance: Read the rest of this entry »

Society Music Specialist Mike O’Neill, has submitted a short compilation of great tips for selling more tickets to your annual show:

Is your annual chapter show a sellout every year?  Is there someone in your chapter that is a wizard at selling 50-100 tickets without breaking a sweat? What are the tricks of the barbershop ticket selling trade?  Discuss some of your success stories and help others around the world of barbershop have successful tickets sales to their annual shows.

Below are two examples of proven methods from the Nashville, TN chapter:

Read the rest of this entry »

As with most non-profits, our Society has always been challenged to do more with less. The challenge is especially urgent this year due to the disappointing level of international convention registrations for Anaheim. The resulting shortfall has put our annual budget over $330,000 in the red, requiring quick action. We have cut many expenses but cannot make up this deficit without taking personnel actions.  At the same time, we must continue to serve members and chapters while we work to reverse the 20-year membership decline that is at the root of our economic circumstances.

 We are realigning our staff both in response to these economic realities and to better position us for future opportunities.  This restructuring is designed to help us leverage one another’s expertise with the limited number of employees demanded by a sound economic model. This streamlining means reducing the number of departments, and therefore department heads. While I’m excited about the efficiencies and opportunities we’ve identified, I’m devastated on behalf of the dedicated employees who have just learned that their positions will be eliminated. Read the rest of this entry »

Recently I sent an email to all the men who joined the Society in the first quarter of 2008, asking for comments about their first year in barbershopping. The following is one of many replies. Read the rest of this entry »

So far registration numbers are ABOVE last year at this time but we can always use more help in getting the word out.  Please tell your chorus mates, local music teachers, friends in the Sweet Adelines and Harmony Incorporated organizations, or pretty much anyone that you meet that Harmony University is THE place to be July 26-August 2 this summer.  Let’s work together to make this year’s event the most fun and exciting HU yet!

 If you haven’t registered or decided on your final schedule yet here are few class titles you should consider.  Read the rest of this entry »

What gets measured gets rewarded.

Our Society has a great system to find and honor the groups that put the best product on stage every year — and there are a million good reasons to continue to honor these achievers. We’re also getting better at recognizing the best recruiters among us. (When Roger Lewis was Society president, he recognized the best recruiters on the international stage, something I’d like to see return.) But those are easy: add up the scores or run a report and there are your winners.

Then there’s the hard stuff to track that matters at least as much. Read the rest of this entry »