What makes up a CACM Workshop?
Re-energize your chorus and leadership with proven techniques for both meeting night and decision times. If the desired results are a more vibrant organization and a more passionate membership, then the CACM workshops are likely of huge benefit to you. We’ll address the possibilities, as well as the resistance to change, to the preferred result of a compellingly attractive meeting nights. And with a cappella hitting a high note in our society (think Pentatonix), we’ll also review some ideas how to cast aside some preconceptions and stand out in the crowd.
The Supercharged CACM workshops begin with song and a small bit of organizational theory to get your mind set to think as a whole chapter rather than an individual, then move right into experiential methods and understandings. Each module will include song, q&a, responses to enjoyment, some with science and some are set up in modules, so they may be customized to your chapter and/or specific requests. See below for a sample agenda.
I was given a guest book…I open up and they have their full agenda. And this came from Chuck Greene’s [CACM] program. And it even says at the bottom, “Seek, develop, use and enhance the skills and talents of each member to such an extent that progress seems limitless.” ”
What defines a Workshop?
The workshop’s purpose is to train Barbershop Harmony Society chapter leaders to use strategies that will get their chapters and the Society thriving.”
Bring your leadership, your director, and any interested parties as there is something for all, and the basis reaches far beyond barbershop. Workshops can be scheduled for full or half days. They can easily be combined with “Supercharging your Chapter for TurboGrowth”, or “Wave Box Singing” elements, both provided by Paul Ellinger. Or you can include a CACM leadership module scheduled pre- or post-workshop.
During a CACM workshop, you will:
- Learn what strategic priorities are necessary for chapters to adapt and thrive in today’s environment
- Learn to infuse chapter meetings with creativity, education, efficiency, progress, energy and fun
- Discuss how to begin, and incorporate the many tools and activities into your chapter meetings without chaos
- Be part of the process of discovering, then widening the talents of members, “so that progress seems limitless”
- Experience motivation with “just enough direction” to get the ownership and leverage needed to progress
- Create value to make a visitor’s experience welcoming enough so they return
- Understand how simple it is to customize the roles and ideas to your chapter
A typical workshop will begin with a review of the Attractive Value Characteristics-what we look for today when joining a chapter-based organization. New generations have distinctive needs!
It will quickly move into experiencing activities you can add to your meeting night repertoire: developing roles (listeners, watchers, coaches, etc.) within your organization; activities to add to meeting nights that provide a variety of methods to improve singing (circle singing, line sectionals, quartet models for chorus) and discuss possibilities for pre-meeting activities.
Throughout the workshop, you will have opportunity to speak to your definition of “fun,” how it affects your chapter’s meeting night agendas, and how planning and activity flow can add to a meeting’s energy.
We’ll discuss (prior to the workshop) about song learning methods, and decide whether to include that module to your workshop (approx 45 minutes).
By providing enough variety and learning to leave members and visitors wanting more, seeing progress in satisfaction, engagement and singing abilities, and based on compellingly attractive methods, you CAN succeed in improving your organization’s attitudes, efficiencies, appeal, and it’s ability to change and adapt.
It won’t be the richest, or the largest, or the youngest barbershop chapters, or the best singing, or the smartest, most experience or most determined who survive and thrive-it will be those who adapt well to the changing context of their time.” ~Chuck Greene
Sample Workshop Agenda
I. Opening & Basis
A. Warmup—a metaphor for fun, imaginative, easy, preferable change
B. Introduction to the day’s process
C. Each-speak: What do you want for your chorus? (In addition to better singing and more members)
i. Music-wise
ii. Operationally
D. Generating results—near-term priorities for long-term achievements
E. Attractive Value Characteristics/Deal-Makers
II. First Demonstrations Module-Let’s get started!
A. Expectations-meeting flow sampling
B. First demo—Circle Singing—individual vocal/visual coaching
C. Second demo—Line Singing in sectionals
D. Third demo—Training Watchers, Listeners and Choristers simultaneously
E. Fourth demo—Rhythm Coaching
F. Fifth demo—Demo Quartet for sound
G. Sixth demo—5-20-1 Attractive Pacing
III. Lunch
IV. Second Demonstrations Module
A. Seventh demo—Song Learning Method (Optional) or discussion
B. Eighth demo—Stacked Quartet 4×2 or 4×3
C. Ninth demo—Mini-Groups
D. Tenth Demo—Emcee and Cast Coaches
E. Eleventh Demo—Risers In Sections
V. Closing Module
A. Chapter Meeting Script, Meeting Scripter and Participation Spreadsheet
B. Pre-meeting options
C. Review of online materials
D. Ensuring Success—The Six Essentials Review
E. Round-table Q & A
F. KTWWS
VI. Interspersed within Demos:
A. Championing/Leadership Team
B. Sustainability—Shifting to Priorities that Vitalize: Goals/Priorities/Methods; Top Strategic Priority
C. Music Director’s Job Description and Model
D. Definitions of FUN & how to honor the diversity
E. L- and R-Brain focus
F. The Science of Movement
G. Trust, learning and accountability
H. Who is your audience?
I. The (generational) change to a “designer” model
J. What are you “selling”?
K. Video recordings
L. Social Media Discussion
M. What do you want to look like to an outsider?
The workshop was as well planned as any I’ve seen, ever—barbershop or professionally. The concept and his reasoning were appealing. It was fast-paced, logical, innovative, and participatory. It was an eye-opener for everyone. I highly recommend the program. It’s a fresh approach to revitalizing our hobby. And it was a heck of a lot of FUN!” ~ Bart Van de Mark, Florida
What does your near future look like? What about the long view? Call, or contact me via email to discuss what’s next.