What makes an ideal caroling group?
Now, there are different kinds of caroling groups. There are the ones who are really choirs, performing for an audience at a scheduled time. And slightly different are the surprise caroling groups like I was in throughout college – arriving at parties and passing the hat as we sang with as much professionalism as we could muster.
But I’m interested in the pickup caroling group whose primary purpose is to get the people around to sing along. In these cases, everything must invite the others in. Part is the singing – the tone you choose can welcome or alienate people. More is the communication – what Alice Parker called the thin strand she felt connecting herself to an audience in her SINGs, and then built from.
The energy of the group makes such a difference to making others feel welcome to join, and in this case I think polish is the opposite of helpful. A couple of lyric mistakes or musical errors, laughter, and genuine connection are some of the things required to make the music come to life in a way that makes people want to be part of it. Remember, as Dr. Brené Brown says, that many people have shame and worthiness scars around artistic work like singing. If people see that there is room for error, they are more likely to feel welcome themselves.
I gave five different performances on the five Fridays in November – in this busy season, it’s worth asking what each performance wants and how you can change your approach to serve the needs of the situation.