A couple of weeks ago, I went to an a cappella performance, two men’s ensembles performing at First Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Built in 1871-1872, the church was designed in an early Gothic Revival style. The interior combines Victorian and Byzantine elements; it’s spacious, open, and acoustically VERY lively. A wonderful venue for music.

For their performances,  each of the two ensembles, one of 12 men, the other of 14,  stood in  a shallow semi-circle around two microphones that were used by ensemble members singing the melodic leads. Both groups sang music drawn from the Great American Songbook, circa the 1930s and 1940s, and popular songs from the 1950s and more recent decades. Lovely arrangements executed with great energy and precision. Their harmonies were absolutely beautiful, not a note out of place as far as I could tell.

But…

Almost without exception, the volume of ensemble vocal harmony voices overwhelmed the lead singers’  voices. [When the songs featured three or four members singing together at the front, the balance was OK, even great. But, when only one or two members stepped to the microphone, the ensemble behind them buried their voices under a harmonic wall. I couldn’t discern the words they were singing.  Their main messages and emotional impact were diminished or lost.]

“Maybe you need hearing aids,” offered someone, helpfully.

No, I don’t think that was the issue. There were too many harmonic messages delivered at the same volume asking for my attention. My brain couldn’t process them. I couldn’t distinguish the lead.

Nick Miller and Clarity train banks and bankers to attract and develop deeper relationships with small businesses. Many more Sales Thoughts like this and a host of other articles and resources at https://clarityadvantage.com/knowledge-center/ .