This is indeed another sad day for SPEBSQSA, but I believe it is a result of the misdirection that has been going on over many years.
1. Emphasis on chorus rather than that Quartets.
2. Broadening the umbrella of style that awards complex arrangements that actually detracts, and in some cases, destroys the musicality of the song as well as making all but impossible for the average Joe Barbershopper to be able to sing WELL.
3. Failure to keep ‘lock and ring’ as the primary goal of our style. This feature is what brought most of is into the Society, and is still the strongest draw.

Sad indeed.

I suspect that our founders, and mainstream members over the first 35-40 years, a spinning in their graves.

The size of an organization is not it’s most important feature. Solid support of the ‘reason for being’ is what keeps it strong.

Jim Wahler
125835

Ditto with regard to the proposed Carolina District.

I hope all those that are considering going to Anaheim but have not yet pulled the trigger might use this as a catalyst to pull the trigger. Hard economic times, but the society can’t function without money and buying a convention registration is the best way to help out. Buy one even if you can’t use it. Problems can’t be solved when there’s no money to solve them.

On another note…I knew I’d see the comments throwing blame shortly after this announcement was made and a few here did not disappoint. The suggestion that “Joe Barbershoppers” have no outlet and there is too much focus on “professionalism” and good singing as opposed to having fun and experiencing the lock and ring of a chord is ridiculous. For every single chapter that offers a great musical experience, there are 25 that do not. So there’s no lack of opportunity for those who do not wish to participate at a high musical level. The few pockets of growth, enthusiasm, and genuine fun in this society are found within chapters that focus on musical excellence. To quote my father…nobody ever got BIG, and then got GOOD. Good is a result of work, and growth is a result of good.

I know of dozens of guys who consider themselves barbershoppers but are doing nothing becuase there isn’t a rewarding musical experience to be had nearby. Not to say there isn’t a chapter nearby.

I wish our Society leadership the best in their endeavors to solve this problem…but as I said, we can help them by getting to Anaheim. Buying a ticket and not using it is even a viable option if you are concerned about the longevity of our society.

Respectfully,
Fred Farrell

Oops… Liles!

I, too, am saddened by the announcement of staff cuts and home office “restructuring” in an attempt to balance our BHS budget in this very difficult economic environment.

However, I fail to see how eliminating key Marketing and Membership positions solves the longer-term problem which we have in our organization: Lack of continual new and sustaining membership growth, and very little recognition of our music genre by the mainstream music types in our country.

If someone with better information than I have can explain this to me, I’m all ears.

I am also very concerned that Rick Spencer will burn out trying to do too many jobs. As good as he is, taking on all the additional responsibilities enumerated in CEO Watson’s post above is bound to take a toll.

A frustrated 45 year member
Phil Carter

To James, Paul, and Jack,

Why don’t the three of you start chapters in your respective areas that practice the barbershop hobby in *exactly* the way you like? Doesn’t that solve your problem?

Allan

I agree with Fred in encouraging members to buy convention registrations even if they cannot afford to attend. I think this could help the headquarters through a tough time. As for you, “angry” Jack, keep your negative opinions for yourself!

Also to James Wahler and Paul Barrett!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its called International… and what is it? Its a Chorus and Quartet COMPETITION!!!!! Do you not understand that? You need to have a comparing and contrasting of Choruses and Quartets, otherwise, whats the point of having International,,, to sing tags in a hotel lobby? Where everyone has to sing at the same caliber or its “UNFAIR?” Its a good thing that there is NEW MUSIC being arranged to challenge us as Barbershop singers and lighting that little fire inside us to be a better singer and one step ahead of a Chorus or Quartet……that’s what makes what we do EXCITING!!!! If you can’t face that challenge and test your skills and knowledge, then I suggest you just keep to your polecats and avoid the Amazing International Experience that I have been blessed to be apart of.

Fred Farrel, and others have missed the points I tried to make. Read them again with more care to the speciffics expressed.

Joe Barbershopper, who is afraid to use his real name, and Eric Dalbey are simple opponents of the 1st Amendment and as with most liberals resort to name calling instead of cogent argument.

If everyone bought a Convention ticket ‘whether they used it or not’, might get us out of the problem for now but would not solve the long term problem. I was able to scrape up enough money to attend 2 International Conventions in my 47 years as a member because they were within a one day driving distance, and was sorry afterward because of the point I made about overly complex arrangements that hide, distort, or totally destroy the feeling of the song.

Caliber of music is not in question here. I sang in the Seniors International Contest in 1993 and have always worked hard for, and appreciated high caliber singing by Choruses as well as Quartets.

Well, well, I’m just wondering what a new member of the Society makes of all this!
People get all the bitchin’ and whining they need at work, or wherever…………do they really want to see it in their hobby? Is an open forum really such a good idea?
What happened to all the positveness that surrounded Barbershop?
Smile!

Ditto Fred Farrell on his comments about “big v. good”. I consider myself a barbershopper but can’t find a rewarding experience in my area, so I’m not singing. I know many others in the same position.

What we have is a clash of needs, based mostly on generational differences and societal changes. See my slides on this topic at http://www.chrisrimple.com, then visit http://www.21stn7th.com/ to learn how you can help your chapter grow.

I’m no judge, but I’m pretty sure that if overly complicated arrangements are done poorly, they aren’t rewarded.

The sour grapes I read on here from several people about the “new direction” of the society and the kinds of songs that are sung is quite hypocritical. When these 35 and 40 year members started in Barbershop they were singing tunes from the 1830s and before. It is no different now when chorus’ and quartets singe songs from the 60s and 70s. As long as they are arranged in Barbershop, who cares? Lets face it, the kind of music that will draw new people into the society will not be from the 1920s and 1930s. Why do you think the “young” chorus’ around this nation (aka Westminster and the like) have no trouble getting new, young members. It is because of the great arrangements to old songs and arrangement’s of more modern songs they sing. If the songs we sing do not at least partially change with the times, then it is my belief the society will continue to loose members.

Want to help out? Make a gift through Harmony Foundation. HF is building the financial foundation for the Society’s future, and providing a huge amount of support for important programs today.

I have joined the President’s Council and have encouraged many of my barbershop brothers and sisters to donate as well. Most of us can’t give much, but if we all do what we can… together we can make a monumental difference. There are tax-deductible giving options for all budgets.

Call Ev Nau, Sean Devine or Ryan Killeen at 1-866-706-8021.

I am saddened, but not shocked. You could see this comming. Part of it is due to the ongoing cost of the Society infastructure combined with shrinking revenues and there is no doubt that the economy has contributed.

However, it a foolish to expect significant positive change when we continue to do things in the same manner year after year as membership shrinks.

As a former member of the Society Marketing & PR Committee I was disapointed that we didn’t reach out and build a better support group out of those that were on the fringes of our Society endeavors. There are hundreds of thousands of non-members that love our style of music. I campaigned for an affiliate program 6 to 8 years ago. A program where “Friends of Harmony” would be treated as such and made to feel like part of our family. If we had this in place today we would heve greater non-member participation and attendance at events ranging from local Chapter shows to publication subscriptions, merchandise and CD purchases and convention and contests from Divisional to International.

My ideas, for the most part, fell on deaf ears and when a new Chairman of M&PR was appointed I was dropped off the committee. The recent program for wives hasn’t accomplished its potential partly because it calls for added financial support from the same family, that of a member.

We have a saleable product, unique four part a capella harmony, we just don’t seem to know how to sell it. The fault doesn’t just reside in Nashville, it is present in probably 75% of our local Chapters, including my own.

It’s not to late to implement the changes needed to save our Society. It will be difficult, but if contributors with POSITIVE ideas, not criticism, step up, we can do great things.

Warren Willard

I believe the following quotes sum up the essence of the issues that we face in Dana Point, CA

John Elving wrote; If we want our Society to grow, it is not the job of the people working at Society headquarters. Nor does it lay on the heads of the Society Board. The blame can be laid squarly at the feet of the membership itself.

Derek Sturke wrote; Here is an opportunity for us in the field to rethink our commitment to maintaining and growing our Society. While we depend a fair amount on Nashville, perhaps it is time to recommit to our own chapters.
Can we go out there and find gigs for the chorus or our friend’s quartets? Can we go out and sell ads and tickets for our shows? Or sell singing Valentines? Or just help with riser or uniform duties?

Steve Nester wrote; I am a horrible salesman of everything from membership to show ads to Singing Valentines but maybe it’s time I started getting over it.

Ken Clark wrote; Why do you think the “young” chorus’ around this nation (aka Westminster and the like) have no trouble getting new, young members. It is because of the great arrangements to old songs and arrangement’s of more modern songs they sing. If the songs we sing do not at least partially change with the times, then it is my belief the society will continue to loose members.

I believe that we can individually commit to increasing our membership, selling tickets and ads, improving our singing abilities, overcoming any concerns about being salesman, and sing great arrangments of old and contemporary songs that we can emerge as a stronger and viable society.

Bill Nikkel

Colin, I just flew round trip from San Diego to Nashville for $189. Airfares are actually pretty cheap right now. I think if money is a factor, it’s the totality of the expense (airfare, hotel, meals, registration, vacation time, etc) that is the issue, rather than just the airfare alone.

Given that the average national savings rate has gone up significantly since the financial meltdown, I suspect a lot of people are just deciding to avoid the expense altogether.

The only statistic I’ve ever heard about location significantly affecting attendance (other than the Miami debacle) has been in terms of going back to the same city “too soon”, like 3 or 4 years apart.

Other than that, it appears to be a crap shoot. I think Louisville was one of the better attended conventions of the recent past, but I have no idea why. No offense to Louisville.

You’d think Anaheim would be one of the best convention cities possible, especially for people who want to combine the annual family vacation with the barbershop convention. You’ve got Disneyland right there.

Plus, it’s in one of most populated districts in the Society. Easy driving distance for something like 2800 members, plus spouses, etc. That alone should put the registrations around 4500.

Where’s everybody else from outside FWD?

Actually, if you don’t bring your family, and don’t plan to extend your visit to LA or SD, Anaheim is kind of a crappy convention city, no offense. There is no urban feel, nothing is walkable except the hotels, to use a comparison with where I live it is like having International in Framingham. It’s kind of like having International at the mall.

Contrast and compare with a city on the opposite corner of US/Canada that was a great convention city – Montreal.

My thanks and best wishes go to those affected by these necessary steps. We thank you for all the actions, thoughts, ideas, hopes, etc that you have contributed and now we hope that your legacy on our staff will continue even with your leaving.

On the cause of this unfortunate choice: Well, it seems we may never get the full answer as this is a constantly moving target. The only way it can really grow is that the local chapter continues to meet or exceed the expectations of the local member. That’s a tremendous amount to ask on the leadership at the local level. It seems that it is harder to administrate and musically lead our chapters these days. We can harken back to an easier time but it is unlikely we will ever be able to truly go back to that model from a music (legality for ex) and funding (Costs of BBS for about everything from musical leader pay to legal music to advertising to convention costs…..you get the idea. Probably the only way to go back is to enstill a culture of volunteering at the chapter level that surpasses the days of old….Not sure we can do it but that would likely go a long way.

I see a lot of KIBbers here doing their usual complaining about the progression of the style, and blaming all evils on that.

If you’re one of them, ask yourself what your actual goals are, deep down. No, don’t respond here. This is for personal soul-searching only.

Are you really trying to return to the way Barbershop was ORIGINALLY? Or just to the way it was when YOU were young? In other words, are you really trying to preserve a style of music, or just hold on to your own youth?

I see lots of people wanting to go back to the six-category judging system (despite the fact that it only gave ARRangement a maximum 20-point bonus or penalty to the overall score, while today’s system gives MUSic [including defending the Barbershop style] nearly equal weight with SINging and PReSentation [I say “nearly” only because of the tie-breaking rule, which was invoked once in recent memory]). But that’s not the system that O.C. Cash and Rupert Hall had, that the Bartlesville Barflies won under. If you were really trying to return to our ROOTS, you’d be pushing for a return to THAT.

Or, let’s be honest here: Barbershop’s REAL roots predate O.C. Cash and SPPBSQSA (which in turn predated SPEBSQSA) by a long shot. Do you really want to return to the REAL roots that Dr. Henry (in the opening of his outstanding “Gold Medal Moments” address, which anyone and everyone who claims to be a Barbershopper should consider required viewing at least once [it’s on YouTube™, so if you have the Internet enough to be reading this, you have no excuse!], right up there with Dave Stevens. “What are We Trying to Preserve?”) quoted the founder of the NAACP recounting his grandfather describing, of black men in Barbershops tuning chords to GUITAR? REALLY!? I think not. Be honest with yourself, now.

We heard similar complaints about the new logo. Not because of the logo itself, but just because it was new. I personally had serious problems with the logo for technical and design reasons (being in that field), and some of them were addressed (reducing the number of Pantone® spot-color plates required by the first .EPS version [with the gradients on the faces]), and frankly the circular version of the new logo (as seen on this very website) has grown on me (less so the rectangular version). Some of my technical concerns remain (the thin horizontal lines will flicker badly when used on standard TV or otherwise interlaced video, especially at small sizes, e.g. as a logo bug — but this is being alleviated by the coming of HDTV [which has non-interlaced resolutions, though it still has some interlaced ones as well] and prevalence of flat-panel TVs that don’t suffer as badly from interlace flicker as tube-type TVs do), and some design concerns as well (without a large, bold area of color like the old blue disk, the logo tends to visually fade away when seen from a distance or in small sizes — the circular version of the logo is less vulnerable to this effect than the rectangular version, but still more vulnerable than the old barberpole-and-lyre-on-disk logo).

But how many people who complained about the new logo brought up concerns similar to the above, in other words, actual REASONS to be concerned about the logo above and beyond the loss of nostalgia? At the time on the Harmonet, I do believe I was pretty much the only one. I also expressed concerns about the OLD logo, e.g. that the lyre was a musical instrument and thus not representative of our style. One man I corresponded with said that the lyre was a general symbol of music found on nearly all music textbooks in schools, but again he was going on his memories and not the way things are today. I did a website search on the covers of music textbooks used these days (and this was a few years ago, remember) and couldn’t find a single lyre. Even the idea that the lyre represented the shape of sheet music stands no longer works, since sheet music stands haven’t been shaped that way in decades (they’re now either a sort of metal web / spokes shape [to make them lightweight], or a solid, slightly rounded-corner [for safety] rectangle). I dare say that hardly anybody younger than 35 has encountered a lyre shape as a general symbol of music in their lives, except perhaps historically.

Times change. We old folks (I now know what ½ a century feels like) may not like it, but the world moves on. Barbershop existed before any of us were born, in a form that none of us remember personally and few of us have ever heard. It will continue to exist after we are gone, in a form that we will never hear. And in between, it will change. Them’s the breaks.

I collect comic books, and sometimes visit comic book forums. You see this same sort of thing there. Look up the “Hal Jordan vs. Kyle Rayner” One True Green Lantern debates, for instance. In this case, the KIBber-equivalents won (DC brought Hal back from the dead and relegated Kyle to alternate universe duties), and it turned out badly (as much as I hate to admit it, Hal Jordan is just plain BORING, and he always was). And, as with the KIBbers, Hal wasn’t even the first Green Lantern! That would be Alan Scott, of the Justice Society (not League — that came later) of America, from the 1940s. The Hal Jordan revamp was largely inspired by E. E. “Doc” Smith’s “Lensman” pulp Sci-Fi stories.

Star Trek fans can see parallels with the Captain Kirk vs. Picard debates of a couple decades ago, and so on, and so on, and so on.

Here’s the crux of the matter: when it is all said and done, a WAY lot more is SAID than done. Much of what is said is at best unnecessary; some of it is needlessly negative and destructive. I expect that what I express is very unlikely to change your mind at all. What I choose to do WILL and DOES in fact alter the reality of those it directly affects.
Those who are intent on forcing tomorrow’s events to be a replay of some historical event are doomed to frustration and even worse, they are not dealing with the reality of the current situation. Joel made some really good points. In my opinion the most important point he made was implicit. Human nature is what it is: Regardless of the current situation, some folks are going to be unhappy (and whine) about it. The reality is this: those who WORK, the “do-ers” make something happen; those who don’t work really should have no room to talk. Let’s individually and organizationally focus on: 1) singing (harmonize) to be very best of our ability; 2) strive to learn and improve everything that has anything to do with singing/performance/entertainment which includes… 3) live in harmony with everyone, especially those within our local arena of influence, be it our family, chapter, chorus, community. I personally find it much more rewarding to find someone who I really admire and attempt to emulate their professionalism.
In short, quit complaining and get back to work! DO something positive and constructive and quit focusing on the “mistakes” or shortcomings of others.

It is a sad day but there are lessons to be learned.
I don’t think the type of music can be blamed. Our chorus does it all. No one likes every song but they all like some. We have an active Polecat program going but our favorite song at present is one of Neil Sedaka’s. We keep our audience in mind. What do they want to hear? Our audience is not made up of judges and Barbershoppers. They are people who came to be entertained and most were coming of age in the 1950’s
Change in the judging system? That is not our problem. That is for the contest oriented people to argue about but the emphasis on competition has apparently not paid off. There are many of us who have ‘been there and done that’ and found the whole experience wanting. Lack of talent may enter in to it, but I have been quartetting for 6 years and 250 performances (many repeats). We went to quartet contest once, won the Novice Division, and found it a disappointing waste of time. I am perfectly content to let other quartets and choruses go to the International and try for the Gold. I would much rather sing for the local Rotary, the Ladies Church Guild, etc.
I think there are many of us who pay our dues each year and watch as it goes mostly for convention related activities. We have no choice; the BHS is the only act in town.
Such mundane things as a phone system that works, a market place where all the employees don’t go to lunch at the same time, a Premiere Subscription that arrives on time, music shipments that are timely (I have gone from 10 days to 3 months from the BHS vs. 3-4 days from the occasional outside supplier), a catalogue system that works better (I want a song from the fifties, or an up tune, etc. How do I get it?), a catalogue that supplies a 10-12 second snippet of the tune being considered, etc. In the Harmonizer more articles that are applicable to the individual singer and non-competing quartets. I am more interested in how to keep potato salad off my coattails than the acoustic set up of a large auditorium. These are some improvements that I would like as opposed to a bigger convention is some distant place.
This minor rant probably won’t make any difference. The BHS will be down sized, I’ll still pay my dues, competitions will continue to be heavily subsidized, and I will still by happy to get my Premiere Series only 3 months after it was due.
Barbershopping is still the best hobby in the world.

Bernard Martin

Reorganization can be a good thing–to grow means change–but not change for the sake of change or holding onto something simply because “it’s always been done that way.”
Perhaps this is the place and time to suggest what I’ve often said–let’s make PROBE the Society’s official PR arm and not hire marketing “experts”;
we are essentially a volunteer organization and it’s great to see many who are able contributing so much in time, talent, and other ways. It would also be more in keeping with the Society’s original vision–the “perservation and encouragment of barbershop quartet singing”–if medalist quartets and choruses would be willing to perform for their fellow barbershoppers w/o fees, just help w/ such expenses as transportation and laundry/cleaning,
where possible accepting housing and meals in the homes of the chapter members for whom they are performing. Would airlines be able and willing to allow quartets to be “singing flight attendants” in return for free or much-reduced air fare?

I would like to see more of Alexander’s (Edwards) ideas on PROBE being the Society’s official PR arm. How would that work exactly?

An organization like BHS has some unique issues with marketing and PR [I will not get into the definition(s) of marketing here]. We have basically 3 levels of organization: the Society (Board and Staff), Districts, and Chapters (plus affiliate organizations, their members, etc). Each of these levels has to do external AND internal marketing and PR.

I am a proud member of PROBE and a member of the BHS Marketing & PR Committee. There are certainly members of PROBE who are great at PR, but will/can those individuals volunteer to do the PR for the Society? Our voluntary committee just spent nine months on Singing For Life 2009. We had 6 members, including 2 staff and 2 District VP’s. Without consistency, organization, determination, and leadership, a project like that, even in its second year, does not get far.

Just a comment about “and not hire marketing ‘experts’”: Todd Wilson has done a wonderful, professional job for this organization as Director Of Marketing. Here is a man (with 7 gold medals, and counting) who learned to sing barbershop…in the womb! When we get back on our financial feet and are able to refill that important position, I hope we can find his equal. If you want some interesting reading, go to http://www.acappellafoundation.org/essay/wilson.html.