A Cappella Alumni Shows

In the fall of 2010, The A Cappella Blog invited every collegiate a cappella group we could find to participate in a survey. Our objective was to develop a better understanding of current trends in a cappella—what groups are or are not doing and to what degree.

Over 300 groups from across the US and abroad responded to the survey. Throughout our 2010 publication season, we will review results from this survey and talk about what our findings mean. We welcome and encourage groups to look over the information to learn, to benchmark and to satisfy their own curiosity.

This edition’s question: How many times in the last four years has your group had an alumni/reunion/anniversary show?

Of the groups surveyed, 42 percent reported they had not had any form of alumni show in the past four years. Thirty percent reported having done so once, while handfuls of groups had had multiple shows of this type, ranging from twice in four years, to more than once per semester.

Alumni shows can be a great way of celebrating a group’s history and paying homage to members past by bringing them together for a special concert. They generally feel good, and provide valuable opportunities for today’s group members to learn from the experiences of members past, and perhaps even network for purposes beyond the realm of a cappella (got an alumnus whose a CEO? Wonder if he might like to hire someone graduating this spring from his old a cappella group?)

Of course, alumni shows are also challenging. They can often imply working out travel and lodging with folks who are returning to the college or university. From a musical perspective, alumni will often prove rusty on their a cappella skills, or even if they’re not, will have to readjust to performing with the other performers who come to the show. On top of all of this, there’s the risk of an alumni show actually hurting attendance and entertainment value for the show. Sure, the group’s most loyal fans will be interested in a multi-generational showcase. But the active fan base at the school? They’ll probably be far less interested in seeing a collection of forty-somethings take the stage than in just enjoying the usual musical stylings of the young group they know and love.

And so, alumni shows can be a real trade off, and it’s not all that hard to see why so many groups don’t have them, and why another large grouping would only do one such show in a four year span. Nonetheless, such events can be fun and offer a unique snapshot of a group. Besides that, as I’m wont to advise groups, it’s a good idea to look out for your alumni, because you will inevitably join their ranks down the road.