2 minute read
Barbershop’s Got Talent
How one chorus used open auditions to recruit new singers
Looking for an exciting way to recruit new singers to your chorus? Open auditions are a great way to get singers interested. Talk of Tulsa Show Chorus (Region #25) has successfully used open auditions to recruit and retain singers. According to Assistant Director Patty Friedemann, the chorus’ January 2019 open auditions resulted in 35 visiting singers, 12 of whom became Talk of Tulsa members!
Let’s take a look at how you might use open auditions for your chorus recruitment efforts.
Why are open auditions a great recruitment method? They attract quality singers who would enjoy Sweet Adelines. Randi Collins, who helped create Talk of Tulsa’s marketing plan, says open auditions attract “good singers who [have] a high musical IQ and who like the idea of competing.” Open auditions convey that your chorus has high standards and gives value to becoming a member. Who doesn’t want to feel like they’re a star?
Keys to Open Audition Success
1. Identify chorus goals. What kind of member do you want to attract? Open auditions will appeal to singers who already can sing and enjoy the spotlight.
2. Ask for a short commitment. Talk of Tulsa asks for a threemonth commitment once singers pass their auditions in order to show what a great experience barbershop can be. New singers can get overwhelmed. Let them ease into the chorus, and then they’ll be hooked!
3. Market, market, market! If you’re going to have an open audition, you need to make sure singers know about it! Talk of Tulsa uses Facebook and Craigslist and contacts local church choir directors. They also have chorus members pass out flyers and encourage any singers they know to come by.
4. Make personal connections. Call interested singers directly. Address any of their concerns. Friedemann notes, “It makes a connection with people, and they are more likely to show up on that audition date.” By answering their questions and eliminating their fears, you can overcome any objections that may prevent a singer from dropping by.
5. Build value. Show potential new members why Sweet Adelines is so great. The value of joining your chorus needs to outweigh the cost of the commitment (three-hour rehearsals, anyone?). Randi notes, “It is sometimes difficult to build value in just one rehearsal, so by getting them to commit for three months, it gave us more time to show the value of our chorus and Sweet Adelines.”
