Which is why we all make a perfect opening act (just waltz out on stage in front of the band’s gear, do our thing, and disappear in time for James Brown’s set), a perfect addition to company parties (have us float out during an awards ceremony), and an easy choice for a sporting event (national anthem to open, plus a set during the seventh inning stretch/half-time).
Plus, most groups can perform in an intimate setting without any amplification. Singing an impromptu song at a wedding reception, on a plane, in a diner, on a live radio show is no problem. An a cappella group can stand just about anywhere and sound good. Have voice will travel.
It is for all these reasons that an a cappella group is one of the most sustainable ways to have a career as a performing musician in your own group. Sure, you can join a symphony orchestra, but that’s not yours. And most rock bands toil, able only to play clubs or wedding gigs (if they know 3 hours of cover tunes) for little money. Granted, the upside for a rock band is that they might get signed, but even those who do are often not released, or are and don’t find success. If you’re looking to have a career as a vocal musician, a cappella is a great choice.
Private parties, corporate events, fairs, festivals, theaters, clubs, opening act slots, sporting events, radio shows, high school choral rooms, college coffee houses, elementary school gymnasiums, expos, street fairs, competitions, tv shows, etc.: If you’re good, you may just find yourself with 200 paid gigs a year. You won’t make as much money as your investment banker friends, but the mere fact that you can now make a career as a contemporary a cappella performer is pretty incredible.
In hopes of making it possible for more people to make a career of a cappella, the CASA board has been quite busy this month:
Jonathan Minkoff and Diana Preisler are putting the final touches on the Summit (it’s gonna be a doozy!)
Julia Hoffman and Jon Pilot have been hard at work gathering votes for the CARAs.
Freddie Feldman’s continued to build casa.org (coming soon: online group directory!)
Robert Dietz is working on striking a deal so that CASA can start offering a wide variety of learning tracks to members.
Chris Tess has been sending out CDs aplenty through Tunes to Teens, and built an impressive library of downloadable MP3s
Joe Antionelli and Stefanie Chase are strengthening the ambassador program, with a new ambassador handbook in the works and increased communication.
Bill Hare’s launched CASA Radio, which is playing original programming and hard-to-find recordings 24/7.
And that’s just a small snapshot of their various doings and dealings. Keep your eye on casa.org in the coming months for many more programs.
Click on the wrench in the upper left-hand corner to see what else you can do.