Barbershop Weekend
This weekend I will be attending the spring contest for the Cardinal District of SPEBSQSA - the society for the preservation and encouragement of barbershop quartet singing in America - also known as the Barbershop Harmony Society. Barbershoppers are an interesting group, and their events are always fun. It takes 4 people to sing a barbershop song, no exceptions. Singing together well requires hard work, collaboration, and a willingness to let your colleagues take the spotlight now and then. These are all good things. One of the first things you notice about barbershop singers is that they are really happy people. They are friendly, they enjoy meeting new friends, learning from each other, and generally having a good time. Sure, you get that atmosphere at a lot of conventions, but it's even more evident at barbershop gatherings. There's a real sense of community. Technically it's a competition, which means there are winners and losers, but you never see any tr