“A gathering’s blandness is a symptom of a disease….And what is the disease? That the gathering makes no effort to do what the best gatherings do: transport us to a temporary alternative world. (112)
The emphasis of this chapter is about creating effective rules – “pop up rules” that might only apply for the duration of a gathering – rather than relying on the permanent rules of etiquette, which can be stifling. As Parker says, “Rules-based gatherings, controlling as they might seem, are actually bringing new freedom and openness to our gatherings.” (118) The rules can be as simple as no phones or as complex as the rules she describes for the Dîner en Blanc. What’s important is to create rules that enhance connection and and build community.
To me, so much of a great choral experience depends on the space and the special rules of that space. It depends on the act of creating a safe space for all, of creating an artful space (often in the midst of a pressurized academic environment), of creating a collaborative space (in a world that values competition and pays only lip service to true collaboration). Pop up rules can help with creating these spaces.
In thinking about the idea of pop-up rules in the choral domain, I’ve made a list of four gatherings and have begun thinking of possible pop-up-rules, either ones that I already use, plan to try, or think would work.
Choral Rehearsals
- Sing an A at the downbeat of rehearsal
- Put your phones on a table before rehearsal (sing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” if you’re caught with your phone!)
- Only one conversation in rehearsal unless [X]
- Always pair a constructive comment with a positive comment
- Sing your questions
- Snap for solo auditions
- Raise a hand when you recognize a mistake you’ve made
- Have a goodbye song that ends every rehearsal
- Last rehearsal of the month is piano-free
Choral Retreats
- Use numbers in a hat to randomly assign things like:
- seating at meals
- getting to know you games
- team building
- sharing
- Use people’s names in every conversation you have with them.
- Phones are off site
- Come ugly (don’t worry about appearance/attire on retreat)
- Start and end the rehearsal with music
Choral Concerts
- Make sure choirs are excellent audience members
- No concert ends without the audience singing something
- A “choir anthem” sung, backstage, before the concert begins (never in performance)
- Announced videography so parents can keep their phones in their pockets
Choral Conferences
- Start every day with singing together
- Eliminate the reading of the bio (QR Code it!) and devote those 3-5 minutes to greeting neighbors
- Set aside during-the-day social time so people aren’t skipping sessions to socialize
- Use in-session games to encourage meeting strangers and encouraging community
The number of rules you can create around any of these choral gatherings is tremendous – I’ve just scratched the surface. What pop-up rules do you create in your regular choral gatherings? How have they evolved over your career? What kind of rules do you need to add to better attain your gathering’s purpose?