EXCITING OPPORTUNITY AHEAD! MIXED BARBERSHOP ENSEMBLES, TAKE NOTE!

** ATTENTION ALL MIXED BARBERSHOP HARMONY ENSEMBLES! **

The MBHA “Mixed Harmony Showcase” Goes VIRTUAL!

Traditionally, the Mixed Barbershop Harmony Association presents a free “Showcase” of performances by mixed harmony ensembles during the Barbershop Harmony Society’s annual International Convention.  Cancellation of this year’s Los Angeles convention due to the coronavirus pandemic offers us a unique opportunity to present our inaugural Virtual Mixed Barbershop Harmony Showcase, featuring video performances by quartets and choruses from around the world!  Our Showcase will be presented virtually on Facebook and YouTube on Wednesday, August 19.

This project is an ideal opportunity for your group to be recognized and applauded around the world!  Instead of a hotel ballroom with attendance of 200-300, your ensemble will be introduced to and enjoyed by a worldwide audience, including family, friends and new “fans!”

It’s Your Chance to Shine!

 All mixed-gender ensembles from around the world, performing in the barbershop style, are welcome to submit a performance video for inclusion in the Showcase, regardless of affiliation with any barbershop organization.  Video recordings may be of “live” performances (like recent-past contest or show recordings) or “virtual” performances, recorded “apart” using software like the Acapella app. Performances will be stitched together into an engaging online showcase, “premiered” to run at a prescribed date and time, and recorded to remain on social media for delayed viewing any time.

Submission Details

 There is no fee to be included in the Showcase.  Each group wishing to participate must submit ONE VIDEO, containing one or more songs, NOT TO EXCEED 10 MINUTES TOTAL LENGTH (please!).  (Separate videos from the same group cannot be accommodated, sorry.)  While it is not necessary that recordings be professionally prepared, your submission should reflect the best quality of your ensemble. Videos will not be edited or enhanced by the producers; “what you send is what they’ll see!”

When you have selected the video you wish to submit, there are two things you need to do.

First, upload the video—WITH YOUR GROUP’S NAME (not your own name) IN THE FILENAME—by clicking on this link and following the instructions.  You’ll be asked to enter an email address for confirmation of your submission.  Here’s the link to upload your performance:

 https://www.dropbox.com/request/8Q0NOVVNVMuqSzrUyz2X

 Second, immediately following your video upload, send a brief “BIO” of your ensemble which will be used to “introduce” you to the audience.  Submit your bio by email with the subject line “MBHA SHOWCASE BIO (GROUP NAME)” to billcatps@aol.com.

 DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF VIDEOS AND BIOS IS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 at 5:00 pm EDT (US).  In order to ensure enough time to prepare a quality production for publication on August 19, no late submissions can be accepted.  Thank you for understanding.

 Health and Safety Considerations

 To ensure your health and safety, we strongly encourage you to submit “live” recordings prepared prior to the coronavirus outbreak in your jurisdiction (national, state, local). YOU are responsible to comply with all constraints on in-person gatherings mandated or encouraged by your jurisdiction; MBHA assumes no liability for any adverse health consequences resulting from “singing together.”  We are confident that sharing your past “live” performances will be well received by a whole set of new eyes and ears, and we want to ensure you’ll be safe and healthy to sing for years to come!  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Consider Joining Us!

 While it is not a requirement that you or your ensemble be MBHA members to participate in this initiative, we invite you to consider joining us by becoming a Mixed Barbershop Harmony Association member!  Our mission is simple, to “encourage and support mixed barbershop harmony singing.”  Simple…and worthy!  Annual membership dues are very affordable, and your membership—regardless of any other affiliation you might have—will go a long way to support initiatives like this in the future!  Please visit www.mixedbarbershop.org, learn about us, and click on the “Membership” tab to sign up.

We also encourage you to “like” our Facebook page by clicking https://www.facebook.com/MixedBarbershopHarmony/, and “join” our popular Facebook group by clicking https://www.facebook.com/groups/mixedbarbershopsingers/.  These two vehicles, in addition to YouTube, will be included among the delivery options for the online Showcase on August 19.

Questions?

 We hope we’ve covered everything here, but please send any questions you still might have to billcatps@aol.com  We’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.

Thank you for considering joining this fun project. We look forward to featuring YOU in our exciting “Mixed Harmony Showcase!”