AHB Schedule & Electronic Dance Card Info
(This will be updated for 2025)
Thursday August 15, 2024
For Early Arrivals-
No formal plan. Suggest that arrivals meet Lynn Hinemann in the lower lobby (LL) at 6:00 PM and create a group dinner event at The Reef Seafood and Steak, 2618 Carpenter Station Rd, Wilmington, DE 19810.
Friday August 16, 2024
For Early Arrivals-
12:30 PM Meet in the lower lobby (LL) to form Quartets/VLQs and carpools to distribute Big Show Promotion materials (including a QR code) to potential show patrons.
a. Travel to Concord Mall - 4737 Concord Pike (Route 202 N), Wilmington - to stroll the Mall stores and promote the Saturday night Big Show at the hotel. (On 7-29-24, Mall Mgr Tom Dahlke gave us permission to stroll and sing)
b. Travel to Harbor Chase – 2004 Shipley Rd, Wilmington - Note this is scheduled for a 3pm appearance
4:00 PM Ballroom. 4 Volunteers needed to help Jeff Porter get risers off the truck and into the Kent & Sussex sections of the Grand Ballroom for set up.
4:00 PM Checkers gather in Wilmington Room. They qualify to get their “Qualification” cards signed.
4:30 PM AHB Registration opens in Lower Lobby. Attendees register, ensure a current portrait picture and mobile phone numbers are in the Electronic Dance Card database. Attendees begin getting “ Riser Pass Qualification” cards signed off. Checkers, using our traditional “Checker hats” will be evaluating all individuals' preparedness and signing off cards. Until Friday at 6:00 PM there will be a group of checkers in the Wilmington Room to help expedite the process.
6:00-7 PM Dinner in the New Castle section of the Grand Ballroom. Buy AHB Youth Scholars Raffle tickets to replenish and build our scholarship fund. We prefer electronic means and credit cards, but we will accept cash)
6:45 Official Start. Welcome to the Brigade
General Meeting for all attendees in the New Castle section of the Ballroom. Overview by the President. Sing through the songs the Chorus may perform for the Big Show.
6:55 PM - Contest Administrator begins Quartet Draw process.
If you are not in the hotel by 6:55 PM you must call/text Doug Brown (908) 578-2457 or Tom Fazekas (858) 837-8213 or you will not be included in the contest draw.
7:15 – 8:00 PM OPEN TIME - Get Dance Cards filled and “Qualification” cards signed off. Our electronic Dance card with photos is used to help people locate people you don't already know.
8:00 PM Ballroom. Announce and the view Quartet Randomizer 5000 quartet selections for the contest. Quartets coordinate their practice times and locations – including those who may be in more than one quartet in the contest. In the spirit of AHB, it is requested that no quartet rehearse for more than 45 minutes on Friday night so that Open Singing can resume.
8:30 PM Competing Qtets provide names to the Contest Administrator.
8:30 PM OPEN TIME - Get Dance Cards filled and “Qualification” cards signed off.
NOTE ABOUT THE BIG SHOW -
- If you plan to audition a quartet (pick-up or registered) to perform on the Big Show, begin to consider what other singers are possibilities. Important: Read the ground rules & philosophy from the Music Committee found later in this document
- This year we will return to drawing a Wild Card quartet during the Show (from willing singers not otherwise performing in a quartet on the Show) to perform one predetermined AHB song.
Saturday August 17, 2024
7:30 – 9:00 AM Breakfast in the New Castle section of the Grand Ballroom.
9:00--9:30 AM Master Class in the Kent & Sussex sections of the Ballroom with Guest Judges – Smoke Ring.
9:15- 10:15 AM Head Start in Harmony Elementary Barbershop Chorus Rehearsal (John Wernega) in Brandywine Room
9:30-10 AM CANDIDATE Auditions in Wilmington Room
10:00 AM General Meeting in the Kent & Sussex sections of the Ballroom. Split into AHB Business Meeting, and Guest Chorus Rehearsal will be in the Wilmington Room.
10:15 AM Performance by Head Start in Harmony Elementary Barbershop Chorus (John Wernega)
11:25 AM Guest Chorus Performance in the Kent & Sussex sections of the Ballroom.
11:30-12:15 CANDIDATE Auditions in Wilmington Room.
11:30 AM - 1:15 PM OPEN TIME. Lunch & transportation is on your own to coordinate with others.
1:00 PM “Qualification” cards must be submitted in order to appear in the quartet contest.
1:15-3:45 PM Winner Take All Single Round Contest. As final rankings are being finalized, sing through the Big Show Chorus songs. Announce the Top 3 Quartets. Each Medalist will perform an assigned non-Chorus song on the Big Show.
4:00 PM Wilmington Room. Audition slot sheets are posted outside on the wall. Music Team meeting.
4:15 Wilmington Room. Music Team posts Top 3 quartets’ assigned songs. The two remaining AHB songs available for quartet auditions are posted.
4:15-5:00 PM Wilmington Room. Music Team auditions groups looking to get one of the 6 remaining slots on the Saturday night show. (Two 2024 AHB song slots and up to four other slots)
Music Team Philosophy
- Anyone who has been found to be unprepared is NOT eligible to sing on the Saturday night show in any act. No exceptions.
- The Music team’s first responsibility is to the public that buys a ticket. We will only put acts on the Big Show deemed worthy of providing high entertainment value to a general public audience.
- Uptunes and novelty numbers are given a strong preference to ballads.
- To maximize the number of different people that can perform on the Saturday night show, the Music Team restricts anyone in a Top 3 quartet from forming a “pick-up” quartet to audition or participating in the Wild Card draw (see next item).
- This year we will return to drawing a Wild Card quartet during the Show (from willing singers not otherwise performing in a quartet on the Show) to perform one predetermined AHB song.
- Registered quartets (BHS, SAI, or HI) with all 4 parts participating in AHB can audition to be part of the show regardless of Top 3 status.
- VLQs, small choruses, or the Challenge Chorus can audition to be part of the show regardless of having any Top 3 members. (ie. Top 3 members would be welcome to sing)
5:30 PM Music Team posts Run of Show outside the Wilmington Room
5:30-6:30 PM Dinner in the New Castle section of the Grand Ballroom. Buy AHB Youth Scholars Raffle tickets.
6:30-6:45 PM Get dressed in Black and White. White shirts with solid color (no patterns) ties, black pants, belts, & shoes. Black or Black & White outfit with solid color scarf or pop of solid color. No Badges are worn.
6:45-7:15 PM Show Call Time. All-AHB Chorus sings through all 6 songs on risers in the Kent & Sussex sections of the Ballroom.
7:15 PM Doors open and free will offerings are collected. (We prefer electronic means and credit cards, but we will accept cash)
7:30-8:45 PM Saturday Night Show in Ballroom. The All-AHB Chorus opens the Show with 3 songs. There is a random mixing of Top 3 Quartets, 1 Wild Card quartet (drawn in real time on the show from willing singers), the Challenge Song Chorus, and up to 5 auditioned acts. Until called out of the audience to backstage (Lower Reception) area, all performers remain in the audience. Our Feature quartet - Smoke Ring- will do a 20-25 minute set. New AHB Members are announced and welcomed to the stage before the balance of the All-AHB Chorus takes the stage and closes the Show with 3 songs. Bronze, Silver & Gold quartet results are announced and photos taken between the 3rd & 2nd to last song.
10:00 PM Pizza Party in the Lower Reception area outside of Kent & Sussex. Ballot collection begins for “The Singer” award, Begin turning in completed Dance Cards for TRAMP Award.
Sunday August 18, 2024
8:00 – 9:15 AM Breakfast in the Kent & Sussex sections of the Ballroom of the Grand Ballroom. Buy AHB Youth Scholars Raffle tickets.
9:00 AM – Deadline for completed Dance Cards for TRAMP Award and drawing for two (2) 50% discounts. Ballots close for “The Singer” Award
9:15 AM “The Singer” Award is announced. Drawing for AHB Youth Scholars' Raffle (Free Registration) is done. No need to be present to win.
9:30 AM Safe Travels!
7:30 PM Post-AHB Survey goes live.