The 5th Wheel has the results from its most popular poll(s) yet. We asked your opinion about several different hot topics in barbershop and appreciate your participation. Check out how you voted below.
Three years ago the Society created a new logo. What is your opinion of the logo?
I like it. It's a great representation of our Society to the world. (13%) 19
It's fine. Nothing great, but not bad either. (59%) 81
I hate the logo. Wish we had another choice. (26%) 36
# of votes= 136
This does seem to be the consensus for most barbershoppers that we've talked with. We accept the Society needed to make some changes for the future, however we wish there could have been a better choice.
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Over the past decade our competitions have allowed for more creativity with the arrangements, expanding the barbershop umbrella. Is this good for the art form?
I enjoy the creative arranging, but some are just a little too much and need to be penalized or discouraged to perform in competition. (41%) 55
Yes it is! It broadens the choice of music and makes the contest more entertaining. It only helps the evolution of barbershop. (48%) 65
These charts are not appropriate for competitions. This is bad for the art form and will eventually destroy it. (9%) 13
# of votes= 133
You could almost lump answers one and two into the same opinion. Overall, barbershoppers like the creative arrangements and the different songs being sung on contest. We just want to make sure that if a leak forms in the dam wall that it will gain full attention and not go unnoticed.
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Why has our membership declined over the past twenty years? (Multiple answers allowed)
Too much emphasis on competition (16%) 21
Lack of exposure (47%) 60
The world of music/media/communication has changed and barbershop quartet singing, an old art form, is no longer popular. (44%) 57
We've lost that feeling of "fraternity" in our chapters. (29%) 37
# of votes= 127
There's no question that exposure of our music is crucial. The Society realizes this is an issue, however answer three is their real struggle. It's hard to expose the public or the music industry to barbershop singing when nobody wants to hear it. The only way the music industry would care about the art form is if they could make money from it. Having the headquarters in Nashville is a great start! Kudos BHS!
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In order for our Society to survive we must rely on our future members, young men. What can we do to help?
Ask the younger men what attracts them to barbershop singing, listen to what they say and implement their ideas. (84%) 106
This is a man's job. Stay on course and it will eventually turn itself around. It has worked before, it will work again. (15%) 19
# of votes= 125
This was certainly a one sided vote, huh? Now, The 5th Wheel wasn't trying to say, "Keep out the old guard and let the 21 year olds run the Society." If you believed that, then you're a doofus! (Russ) Could you imagine Westminster running the Society? Hardly any work would get done between Xbox breaks and 5pm keggers. The point being made by The 5th Wheel and the 106 others who voted was to say, "Hey, talk to these kids and see what it is about barbershop "today" that has turned them on to it." Discover those elements and use them to our advantage to market the Society.
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What direction is the Barbershop Harmony Society headed?
Right Direction (76%) 91
Wrong Direction (23%) 28
# of votes= 119
With all the issues and disagreements we face between our members, the overall agreement is that we are headed in the right direction for our future. Way to go guys! Now grab three other singers, one of them a youngin' and go off in a corner and bust a Burt Szabo tag! Oh yeah, please do it in privacy so that the public won't hear you.
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