SWD Standing Ovation Program
When the Society Board directed the Music and Performance Committee in the mid-1980’s to design a program to assist quartets and choruses in the evaluation of their public performances, it was asked “What would a perfect world represent?” It was felt that in such a world, all barbershop public performances would be, or nearly be, professional in their quality and their impact. What was also recognized was that perfection is a lofty goal, probably not within reach of many. On the other hand, the higher the goal, the greater the chance of achieving that special performance that thrills an audience and represents our Society in the best light. In other words, a performance that has a reasonable chance of earning a Standing Ovation.
Is this a perfect world? No, we have our performance problems and have traditionally not addressed them with any program for improvement. The Standing Ovation Program is designed to fill this void. It is a means to offer quartets and choruses the opportunity to be evaluated in their public performance presentation and to offer input to them in areas where improvement might be appropriate. It also is designed to provide a list of resources that can provide direct and positive assistance to performing ensembles. The ideal venue for a review would be a chapter show or performance. Attention will include but will not be limited to the following:
- Music selection, including representation of the barbershop style
- Quality of singing, musicality and presentation
- Sequence of songs for entertaining flow
- Non-singing comments (Master of Ceremonies, scripted act, etc.)
- Entrance and exit deportment
- Costuming and grooming
- Overall entertainment value including technical matters (lighting, sound, microphones, etc.)
- Comfort and convenience of the audience including all aspects of the venue (parking, handicap accessibility, venue seating, venue ambiance and temperature, etc.)
Within each district, a group of idividuals have been trained in the performance evaluation process. In the SWD, there many individuals and all are experienced barbershoppers and performers. You may recognize some of the SWD reviewers. They are:
Mark Holdeman
Robin Belcher
Richard Morrison
Bill Hogan
Dennis Davenport
Roy Knesnik
John Devine
Lindsay Chartier
Randy Rensi
Jodi Caeser
Mike Borts
Mark Clark
Sherwood Platt
Larry Clemons
Bob Calderon
Please understand, your participation is 100 percent voluntary. There are no reports to the Society or any of its committees. Let me repeat, there are NO reports to anyone, anywhere. The review and assessment is strictly between the quartets or chorus being evaluated and the person who does the evaluation.
