Free StuffChris Rimple

President, Voices Incorporated

Class Information

u Name: Free Stuffu Length: 1 session of 90 minutesu Size: Unlimitedu Participants: Any, but targeted to chapter leadersu Prerequisites: Noneu Materials: PowerPoint slidesu Description: There are many free and low-cost resources

available to aid with operations, performance, marketing, and other chorus needs. We'll review tools, services, and other solutions that your chorus can begin utilizing immediately to make your lives easier.

Objectives

u Provide participants with information and tools to become more effective chapter leaders

u Provide participants with free and inexpensive resources to aid in chapter operations

u Provide incentives for greater cooperation and collaboration between chapters

u Provide incentives for greater cooperation and collaboration with entities outside the barbershop world

Participant Expectations

uBasic knowledge of the barbershop world and terminology

uBasic knowledge of chapter operations

Instructor – Chris Rimple

u Barbershopper since 2003u Former chapter VP Music and VP Marketing, District VP

Marketing, BHS Marketing instructoru President of Voices Incorporated chapter, HCNW instructor,

Harmony U instructoru Disciple of Chuck Greene and J.R. “Digger” MacDougall –

focus on generational/societal impacts to barbershopu 51, married, no kids, work in high tech – in our “target

market” for recruitingu First barbershop experience at 18, but didn’t join for 20

years – plant the seed, it will growu Email – chrisrimple@yahoo.com

Agenda

u Logisticsu Class Demographicsu Alliancesu Tools & Servicesu Other Resourcesu Example Chapteru Summaryu Q & A

Logistics

uClass is 90 minutes with no breaksu If needed, step out and rejoin quietly

uAsk questions at any timeu Please raise hand and be acknowledged

u There is also 10 minutes at end for general Q&A

uSilence the noisemakersu Phones, pagers, etc. can be on but in silent mode

Logistics

uTalk about itu Post to social media using #HCNW2017

uVideo recordingu Class is being recorded for later viewing online

uAll materials availableu Slides, recordings, and all materials can be accessed

online

Class Demographics

uHow many in BHS? SAI? HI?

uHow many years in barbershop?u 1-10? 11-20? 21-30? 31-40? 41-50? 51+?

uHow many chapter administrative leaders?

uHow many chapter music team members?

uHow many at HCNW for the first time?

Alliances

What Is An Alliance?

In the context of Free Stuff, an alliance is…

Any relationship between a chapter and an individual or group, that benefits both, at little or no cost to either

What Are Easiest Alliances To Form?

u In your local communityu Feel a kinship to other local groups

uStruggling with the same issuesu Choral groups, arts organizations, other non-profits

uLooking for solutions

Alliance BenefitsGroup Discussion – 10 Minutes

What Benefits Can We Offer?

It’s often easy to see what a barbershop chapter can get from an alliance, but what benefits can we offer?

Benefits We Can Offer

uPerformances

uVolunteers

uLeadership training

uMusic training

uExperience toward education/employment

Alliance PartnersGroup Discussion – 10 Minutes

Who Are Alliance Partners?

A neighboring chapter is an obvious choice, but who are other possible alliance partners?

Choral & Arts

uOther barbershop chapters – BHS/SAI/HI

uOther choruses – a cappella or otherwise

uOther musical groups – musical theater, symphony, etc.

uOther arts groups – theater, dance, etc.

uSchool choral programs – middle, high, college/university

Civic & Charities

uSenior centers / living facilities, community centers, hospitals, etc.

uLocal non-profits

uSchool groups

uBoy/girl scouts, other youth-oriented organizations

uFraternal organizations

Educational & Business

uMiddle/high schools

uColleges and universities

uBusinesses and business groups

uBusinesses that provide arts funding

Alliance BenefitsGroup Discussion – 10 Minutes

What Are The Benefits Of Alliances?

Thinking about the alliance partners…Choral & Arts

Civic & Charities

Education & Business

What specific benefits could we receive and what benefits could we provide in exchange?

Choral & Arts

u Benefits for themu Reduced effort – shared hosting, smaller repertoire

u Exposure to potential audienceu Publicity for supporting the community

u Benefits for usu Reduced effort – shared hosting, smaller repertoireu Potential incomeu Free rehearsal space?u Exposure to potential audienceu Exposure to potential singers

u Publicity for supporting the community

Civic & Charities

u Benefits for themu Free performances

u Fundraising opportunities

u Publicity for supporting the community

u Benefits for usu Free rehearsal space

u Exposure to potential audience

u Exposure to potential singers

u Publicity for supporting the community

Educational & Business

u Benefits for themu Experience

u Potential school credit

u Free performances

u Publicity for supporting the community

u Benefits for usu Expertise and free labor

u Potential income

u Free rehearsal space?

u Exposure to potential audience

u Exposure to potential singers

u Publicity for supporting the community

Alliance Examples

Common Alliances

u Barbershop chaptersu Share a show – reduce hosting, reduce repertoire, grow

audience, improve ticket sales, etc.

u School choral programsu Invite onto show – grow audience, potential singers

u Senior living facilities and hospitalsu Perform in exchange for free rehearsal spaceu Perform at no charge and bring a reporter – free publicity

u Sports teamsu Perform national anthem – free publicity, grow audience

Uncommon Alliances

u Non-barbershop chorusesu Invite onto show – grow audience, potential singers

u Musical theater, symphony, etc.u Be singers for a production that includes a chorus

u Local non-profits, school groups, etc.u Perform a fundraising show with 50% or more to the charity – free labor, free

publicity, grow audience, potential singers

u Schools/colleges/universitiesu Provide experience and possibly school credit to students – free expertise,

free labor, free publicity, potential singers

u Examples include choral directing, vocal coaching, script writing, stage management, costume design, makeup, logo/flyer/program design, event photography/videography, website design

Uncommon Alliances

u Fraternal organizationsu Perform in exchange for free rehearsal space – grow

audience, potential singers

u Owner of empty office/warehouse spaceu Provide “occupancy” in exchange for free rehearsal space

u Chamber of commerce, city council, etc.u Perform national anthem – free publicity, grow audience

u Businesses that provide arts fundingu Perform a free show for community in exchange for grant

money – free publicity, grow audience

Tools & Services

Common ToolsGroup Discussion – 10 Minutes

What Are Your Tools?

What tools is your chapter using for operations and other needs?

Communications – Board

uBoard Meetingsu Video Conference: Google Hangouts, Skype, Slack

uBoard Motionsu Slack, Google Docs, OneDrive

uMeeting Minutesu Google Docs, OneDrive

Communications – Board

uProject & Task Managementu Asana, Trello, Google Sheets, Choir Genius

uMulti-User Chatu Google Hangouts, Skype, Slack

uFile Sharingu Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box

Communications – Members

uSchedule & Calendaru Google Calendar, Choir Genius, HarmonySite

uProject & Task Managementu Asana, Trello, Google Sheets, Choir Genius

uMulti-User Chatu Google Hangouts, Skype, Slack

Communications – Members

uMailing Listu Google Groups, Yahoo Groups, Choir Genius,

HarmonySite

uEmailu Gmail, Hotmail/Outlook, Yahoo

uNewsletteru Google Docs

Communications – External

u Schedule & Calendaru Google Calendar, Choir Genius, HarmonySite

u File Storageu Google Drive, Dropbox, Choir Genius, HarmonySite

u Mailing Listu Google Groups, Yahoo Groups, Choir Genius, HarmonySite

u Surveyu SurveyMonkey

Communications – External

uWebsiteu WordPress, Google Sites, Choir Genius, HarmonySite

uBlogu WordPress

uEmail Groupsu Google Groups, Yahoo Groups

uSocial Mediau Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube

Finances

uBankingu Free at most banks with $500 minimum

uCredit Card Processingu PayPal, Square

uAccountingu Google Sheets, QuickBooks, Expensify

uDuesu BHS/SAI/HI, PayPal, Choir Genius

Music & Membership

uMusic Sharingu Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, Choir Genius,

HarmonySite

uMember Informationu Google Sheets, Choir Genius, HarmonySite

uMember Events / Attendanceu Google Calendar, Choir Genius, HarmonySite

Marketing

u Domain Nameu Google Domains, GoDaddy, Network Solutions, etc.

u Traffic Analysis / SEOu Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager

u Business Cardsu VistaPrint

u Merchandiseu CafePress, CDBaby

u Ticket Salesu Brown Paper Tickets, Eventbrite

Marketing

u Advertisingu Events – Meetup, Eventbrite, newspaper/website

calendarsu Social Media – Facebook (including local groups, arts fans,

etc.), YouTube, Instagramu Radio PSAs – oldies, folk, jazz, and similar stations

u Customer Analysis & KPIsu SurveyMonkey, questionnaire in show programu Video recording of audience entrance and during showu Google Sheets

Other Resources

Other ResourcesGroup Discussion – 10 Minutes

What Are Your Other Resources?

What other resources is your chapter using for operations and other needs?

Income

u Duesu Is your chapter charging enough?

u Performancesu Cabaret – low effort, potential high income

u Program Ads – medium effort, potential high income

u Singing Valentines – high effort, potential medium income

u Auctions and garage salesu Low/medium effort, low cost, potential medium/high

income, free publicity

Income

u Donationsu Members are a great resource – your chapter is a 501(c)3 non-profit

u Employer matching – can add 50-100%

u Grantsu BHS Harmony Foundation – 30% to your chapter, 80% funding for special

projects

u EVG Bud Leabo Fund

u Local arts funds, corporate arts grants – may require free performance

u Sponsorshipsu Usually for one event or a limited time period

u Business benefits from community recognition

u Chapter must articulate the breadth of the exposure

Marketing

u Membershipu Free singing program – low effort, potential high growth

u Logo apparel – wear it with pride

u Audienceu Free or donation only show – no revenue, but huge potential to

grow audienceu Reduced price – seniors, groups, businesses, etc.u Value add pricing – buy 2 get 1 free, family pack, etc.u Local news – always looking for human interest stories

u Advertisingu Seasonality – align with seasonal/special promotions

Music

u Directorsu Church choir directors – may be looking for additional income

u Coachesu QCED – free/low cost

u Learning Tracksu Chapter section leaders

u Performance Venuesu School theaters, community centers, senior centers

u Headlinersu Barbershop - QCED, other chapters, quartets that only charge for travel

u Non-singing groups – dance troupe, brass band, etc.

Example ChapterVoices Incorporated

VI Tools

u Choir Geniusu Member information, mailing lists, schedule/calendar, member attendance

u Music sharing, riser placements, qualification tracking

u Project and task management, invoicing/dues collection

u Google Driveu Public – event flyers, files shared with other chapters

u Members – member handbook, performance/contest logistic details, rehearsal recordings, photos, logos and marketing items

u Leadership – operations manual, accounting, marketing and other items

u Slacku Members – announcements, channels for every major activity/event

u Leadership – motions, channels for every major activity/event

VI Income

u Member Contributions (“Dues”)u $15/month ($180/year)

u Collected via Choir Genius invoicing (not BHS)

u Tax-deductible donation, eligible for employer match

u Donationsu Some members give beyond expected contributions

u Also receiving quarterly disbursements from Harmony Foundation

u Headliningu VI handles 50% of the stage time for a flat fee

u Allows host chapter to do a better job with less repertoire – focus on ticket sales, program ad sales, and maximizing profit

u Allows VI to spend time singing, not hosting

Summary

What Have We Learned?

uOther chapters have the same issues –share your good ideas and copy theirs

uAlliances are easy and valuable

uThere is a free (or low-cost) solution for almost everything your chapter needs

uHelp is available, so use it

Additional Resources

u Harmony College Northwestu http://www.harmonycollege.org

u EVG Regional Leadership Academyu http://evgadmin.org/members/Calendar.php

u BHS Healthy Chapter Initiativeu http://www.barbershop.org/education/healthy-chapter-

initiative

u BHS Education (Harmony U / HU Online)u http://www.barbershop.org/education

Questions?