Dangerous Dan McGrew

Good Things Are Afoot As the OK Chorale Prepares for Valentine's Day

For the members of the OKChorale Men’s Barbershop Chorus Monday night is rehearsal night.  And OMG what a rehearsal!  I’m getting to where I say that a lot about going to Monday night rehearsals.   It just seems to be filled with fun and excitement.  We have many new members and it is always a pleasure as you watch them catch the barber shopper’s bug.   But that’s not really the reason that it has become such a pleasure.  It’s because of the new life that seems to radiate from the chorus.  There is an unmistakable robust energy that is springing into being after a very very long dormancy. 

Monday night, I was running late to rehearsal.  It was the first time I had missed the start of rehearsal since David Roman, our director, took the helm over a year ago now.  This was one time being late to the party was a good thing!  When I hit the doors the sound was incredible!  Then I turned the corner into the rehearsal room and the sight combined with the sound was awe inspiring.   A melodious sound filled the air and all the guys were clad in their best Valentine’s Day finery.  There were cameras everywhere with video technicians scurrying around the room filming the chorus members from all angles while they sang.  The room crackled with electricity!  I cannot wait for everyone to see the new video clips that we are producing for Valentine’s Day!  They will be so cool.  I hope to post one here as soon as they are available.

The OK Chorale takes Valentine’s Day very seriously.   Besides being a great fund raiser for our philanthropic organization, the men of the OK Chorale simply love St. Valentine’s Day.   Singing to the beautiful ladies around the city is one of the greatest joys for many of the men in our organization.  Each year, men who don’t normally even sing in a quartet band together into groups of four to croon love songs in four part acapella harmony to the fair ladies of our city.

This year the OK Chorale is gearing up for a huge Valentine’s sing-out.  Heading our Valentine’s Day team is our newest and youngest Vice President.  Caleb Henderson is the Vice President of Operations and under our new board structure he is responsible for the Valentine’s Day Team Coordinators.  His team consists of Jevon Wright-overseeing marketing and public relations for the event, Ken Elder-our guru of the web will be handling internet sales, Charles Knight will be routing quartets all around our vast city form his secure location at command central and Bob Curtis will be compiling all needed data to coordinate the entire day.

Orders are pouring in from men all over the metroplex requesting Singing Valentines for their Sweethearts.  The Valentine presentation consists of two love songs sung by one of the OK Chorale’s barbershop quartet, a long stem red rose and beautiful hand-crafted card.  The cover of this spectacular card is of a single rose.  The rose was drawn by local artist, Arni Anderson especially for the OK Chorale.  Guy’s!  No where will you find a gift so unique.  You can order now by going to SingToMyGirl.com and filling out the online order form.  You should order early so that you can be assured a slot.  There are a limited number of spaces available.   Singing Valentine’s start as low as $50!

Order Now!!!

SingToMyGirl.com

Tech Committee New to the OK Chorale

If there is a buzz word in the OK Chorale for the start of 2014 it should be “NEW”.  It’s a NEW year, it’s NEW music, it’s a NEW team concept handling Valentine’s Day, it’s a NEW board of directors, that NEW board of directors has a NEW structure and within that NEW structure there are NEW leadership titles and NEW committees.  One of those you committees is titled “The Tech Committee".  There has already been some confusion as to what that means.   Let me point out, it is a committee dedicated to “Technology” not “Technical” issues within the Chorus. 

Since it will be the first year ever for this type of committee within the OK Chorale, we are not looking to do anything earth shattering.  I want to get a group of guys that have some level of knowledge on the subject of technology together to just have some fun and try out some new ideas.  If we can use any of those ideas to help members grow or market the chorus great!

For the first year, my primary goal for this committee is to find the knowledge depth of our group, what each of us bring to the table and how we can work together for the greater good.  Idealistic I know but a worthy goal none the less.

Currently the NEW Tech Committee is comprised of Chuck West, Jevon Wright, Caleb Henderson, Ken Elder and me, Jim Lee.   If you would like to be a member of your group give me a shoot.  Qualifications are: you must have a mobile device that considers itself smart and that connects to the internet.  Note!  We didn’t ask that you be smart.  

The first meeting will be Thursday, January 23, 2014 and from 6:45pm to no later than 8:00pm.  We will meet at Starbucks in the Nichols Hill Plaza.  Coffee for the opening session is on me.  I’m calling our first meeting “Appy Hour”.  Bring an app you’d like to share with the group.  I don’t care about if we could apply it to the chorus or not.  Just an app you think is cool.  Look forward to seeing you there.

NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTES IN A PROGRAM TO OFFER HELP TO MEMBERS WITH THEIR DUES

Last night, Tuesday January 7, 2014, was the first meeting of the new board of directors of the OK Chorale and I dare say a lot was accomplished.  At the Patron’s Christmas Show this year, a plan that had been nearly two years in the works was rolled out.   The OK Chorale’s new season tickets program came into being.  Research showed that although we offered several ticket prices the vast majority of our sales were our senior $10 ticket.  With that as our base the new season tickets went on sale for $22.  This price includes both the OK Chorales Annual Show and its Patrons Christmas Show for 2014.  So, you might be asking yourself, if the average price is $10 why are the tickets priced at $11 each then?   The answer is simple.  We wanted to give our members who sell tickets to our shows an advantage.   The board of directors wants to use that $2 overage to give back to OK Chorale members.  For every season show ticket you, as an active member (due current with BHS denotes active), sell you will receive a $2 credit towards your annual BHS dues.  For all of you guys that look at numbers instead of the big picture here they are.   Story Problem for you math geeks!  We will offer a max of 600 tickets per performance.  Each show will have 2 performances.   You with me so far?  That is a total of 1200 seats per show.  If all four show are sold out and each filled seat pays $2 to the Member’s Benefits Fund-then how much will be in the Fund to disburse at the end of the year.  It’s a trick question!  Will it be: (a) $1200 (b) $2400 (c) $4800.   The answer is $2400!  Wanna go for extra credit, all of you over achievers?  How many Season Show Tickets will you need to sell to pay your annual dues in their entirety for next year? (That is provided you are over 25 years of age and under wherever lifetime begins) The Answer is: 95 Season Tickets would cover all of your annual dues for next year.  If the OK Chorale sells out all four shows, the Member’s Benefits Fund could pay the full membership of up to 12 guys.  Tickets are on sale now and the new sales format will be explained within the next week.

Order your SINGING VALENTINE NOW!!!