MTC Week #43 - Seating 101

Today's Music & the Spoken Word broadcast was great. I probably sound like a broken record sometimes-- but in all seriousness, each week is full of soul-inspiring music and lots of audience members to sing to. I'm just grateful for this experience. It was particularly fun to see a whole group of Japanese students who were in the audience today and I directed my singing and spiritual thoughts to them in hopes they'd come away from the experience uplifted. I have a special place in my heart for the Japanese people.

Today I got to sit next to Ryan Withers who is a good 1st year choir friend--a classy guy who always has a smile and something to say that will bring a smile to your face. We were a bit amazed we had that opportunity in the first place since he's a baritone and I'm a bass (so odds are quite against us). But I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you how the seating works in the choir. You may very well find this to be a boring topic so you're welcome to move on to whatever you wanted to browse next! Those of you who have their interest piqued, read on.

I often get asked by family and friends where my assigned seat is--so that they can try and spot me on TV. That's a hard question to answer because I am usually not in my assigned seat each week. In general, if you look at the choir seats, we're arranged S-A-T-B (from left to right). But, in more detail, here's how it works:

Our seating assignment is given by Dave and Deb Gheris. What they say, goes.

The seating czar!

A few times each year, we're given a seating chart and when we come to rehearsal on Thursdays, we sit in that assigned seat. Two side notes on that: First, while the shorter individuals are usually placed near the front, the rest of us who range from about 5' 9" to over 6' are somewhat randomly placed. Second, a few individuals don't have an assigned seat since there are more choir members then there are seats. Which, of course, sounds crazy. But it all works out due to 30-40 choir members not being in attendance any given week because of life's various demands.

Anyhow, we either sit in our assigned seat, or stand near the seats waiting to be seated. After rehearsal begins, Dave (for the brethren) assesses the situation, notices which seats are empty, and then starts moving people around to get those seats filled. The goal is to fill from the bottom up. More times than not, this ends up in many of the choir members getting a new spot to sit in. And sometimes, it means sitting by someone other than who you were sitting next to originally. 

On Sunday, this may all change AGAIN. If there are choir members who, for whatever reason, were at Thursday rehearsal but don't show up on Sunday, then there are more holes to fill and more rearranging. Flexibility is the name of the game.

I for one am glad about the opportunity to be rearranged week to week. My permanent seat is 2nd row from the top, at the end of the row. While this affords me more space and a clear line of sight to our conductor, it's more helpful to me to be in the middle somewhere, surrounded by basses. (It's especially helpful when I don't quite know every note of the song we're singing because I can glean off of what I'm hearing all around me!)

Plus, sometimes it's just nice to sit next to someone you know, or who's voice is of the same timbre, or who sings at a perfect volume for you, etc. etc. While all choir members are talented singers, personalities, friendships, and voices themselves are certainly not created equal :) 

So that is Seating 101. 

As an aside, I have to mention that the missionary who I've referenced before as the "standing ovationist" (see Week #39) was recognized today by Lloyd Newell since his mission was ending. Lloyd thanked this enthusiastic elder for his devotion to the choir and wanted him to know he'll always be considered part of the "choir family". I'm sure that meant a lot to him. It'll be strange not having him stand right up after the broadcast is over each Sunday to give his rousing applause. 

Until next time, God be with you!