Sample Dialog A -
Membership Chair - As you know, we'll be starting our chorus membership drive soon. So in order to help get us all psyched up & ready, I wanted to start now by giving you some examples of what TO say and what NOT to say when you're approached by someone who's interested in the chorus.
After a Chorus Show or Performance
In the following role-play, you'll see what can happen when an interested show patron comes & asks you about the chorus after a performance when you're not prepared to answer her questions or tell her about Sweet Adelines. See if you can find anything in this role-play which our member should have done differently...
Script 1
Show Patron - Great show. You ladies sing so well!
Member - Thanks, I guess. We screwed up in a bunch of places, but I guess the audience didn't notice it.
Show Patron - No, it was great! ...gee, it must be pretty difficult to memorize all that music and then try to dance at the same time.
Member - It is! No matter how many hours we practice every week, I still have a hard time remembering my notes and words and stuff. It gets pretty nerve-wracking right before a show like this.
Show Patron - Well you still look like you're having fun most of the time. You guys must really be professionals. I don't think I could ever sing in a group like yours.
Member - Yeah, it takes a lot of our members years before they really fit into our group. Singing a cappella is really tough. …But if you want to, you can always come to a rehearsal. I mean, you could probably learn how to sing with us. …I think we're having a guest night soon, but I'm not sure.
Show Patron - No, that's okay. I really don't think I could. I'll just keep on coming to your shows. I love this kind of music.
Member - Yeah, that's okay. We'll probably be having another show soon, but I don't know when. I'm always the last person to find out about this stuff. Just check the paper and I'm sure we'll put an ad in before the next show.
Membership Chair - Okay. So did anyone find anything in that script that maybe our chorus member could have said differently that would have helped her make a better impression? ...I thought so.
She should have maintained a positive attitude about the chorus, regardless of her personal opinions of how the performance just went or how much work it is to be in the chorus. She also wasn't prepared to tell this person about when chorus rehearsals were, and didn't even take down her name and number so that someone on the membership committee could contact her later.
Let's try this role-play over again and see if our member gets it right this time...
Script 2
Show Patron - Great show. You ladies sing so well!
Member - Thanks! We have a lot of fun singing, and it's easy to perform when you have a great audience like we did tonight.
Show Patron - You know, you looked like you were having fun! I just don't know how you guys do it. I could NEVER memorize my music AND dance at the same time!
Member - Actually, you'd be surprised. Most of our members don't have any formal music or theatrical background. We use learning tapes and have section rehearsals to help us learn all our notes and words, and our director's really good at teaching us how to sing better. And as for choreography, it takes a little while, but eventually it comes naturally. …It sounds like a lot of work, but mostly it's just fun because you're singing with your friends!
Show Patron - Wow! You guys must really rehearse a lot.
Member - Actually, we rehearse just once a week. Sometimes before big performances like this we have a couple extra rehearsals, but that's it. Say, why don't you come to our rehearsal next Tuesday night? I have a brochure here that gives you all the directions and stuff.
Show Patron - Thanks! I'm kind of busy next week, but it might be fun to come some week.
Member - Okay, well, why don't you give me your name and number? That way I or someone else in the chorus can call you before rehearsals. Here's a pen & paper.
Show Patron - Sure. Thanks a lot!
Member - Thank you. Look over our brochure, and if you have any questions, my name and number are in the brochure.
Membership Chair - So was it better the second time? Just by changing the tone of her voice and being proactive about giving and getting information from this show patron, our member may have made the difference between a potential new member and another lost prospect.
Keep this in mind as you talk to people from day-to-day about the chorus - who knows, maybe you'll find the next member of our chorus.
