House was an American medical drama starring Hugh Laurie as Dr Gregory House.
House used to say “Everybody lies.” Not necessarily consciously, but everyone does it — including singers in choirs.
what House really means
House’s point is that everyone has a situation in which they would lie. It doesn’t mean we lie all the time, just that we all have our reasons.
People often lie without realising it. They want to please, avoid embarrassment, fit in, or look good.
why choir leaders get caught out
Choir leaders often complain that when a concert comes up, loads of singers are missing, even though enough signed up at the time. They often put this down to lack of commitment. That might be true sometimes, but choir is usually just one small part of a singer’s busy life.
More likely is that they meant it at the time.
the unintentional ‘lies’ singers tell
When singers are asked to sign up for a concert, some of them will lie — sort of. They genuinely believe they want to come and are sure they will come, but deep down, they’re signing up for the wrong reasons. They might feel that they ought to join in, or they don’t want to let their fellow singers down.
Others sign up with the best intentions. It’s rather like when a friend says “We must have a coffee some time.” They mean it in the moment, but circumstances change. They may not realise they have a diary clash, or a family member might become ill just before the concert.
a more realistic strategy for concert planning
It’s impossible to control how many singers turn up on the day, even in professional choirs. Rather than getting stressed about it, a better strategy might be to assume the minimum number of singers you need to make it work (and don’t tell the choir what this number is). If more singers turn up, that’s a bonus.
You might also keep alternative arrangements up your sleeve. What if no tenors turn up, or only one? Can you move people to the tune and drop a harmony part? Plan for these eventualities in advance. If you’re lucky, you won’t need to use them.
it’s not just concerts
The same applies to workshop attendance, concert bookings, guest conducting, and so on. People will definitely say they’re coming or that you’re booked — but, as House says, everybody lies.
Chris Rowbury
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