Measure for Measure: Professional groups at collegiate shows

In Measure for Measure, an A Cappella Blog contributor takes a look at both sides of a controversial issue in collegiate a cappella.

In the midst of a good collegiate a cappella show or competition, having a professional group perform can be just the thing to shake up the evening a little, and provide a different brand of entertainment.

True: As great as collegiate a cappella is, there is no greater complement to it than seeing professionals work their magic. The members of these groups, in many cases, have worked out the kinks from their collegiate days, and represent an elite few performers with the commitment and talent to take their game to a professional level. They represent something for college musicians to aspire to, and something to supplement the evening’s performance with a different, but related form of entertainment—infinitely more applicable than the stand up, improv or dance acts I’ve seen used to kill time at shows.

In addition to the entertainment value of bringing in a professional group, the act of doing so goes a long way toward supporting what the professionals are doing—lending them greater exposure, not to mention a pay check. It only makes sense for the a cappella community to support itself at every level possible.

False: Having a professional group perform at a collegiate a cappella show represents the antithesis of what a college show should be about. A big part of collegiate a cappella is that the performers are doing what they do for the love of the art. While there’s little doubt that professionals are doing the same—professional a cappella, with a few notable exceptions, is not the way to get rich—there is still a different element to it. These groups do not represent students who are learning, balancing, and growing together, but rather are tighter ensembles of adults, on their own, who have made the choice for a cappella to be a piece of their lives, permanently. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, but it does represent a different beast, and is not something you can equate to collegiate a cappella.

It is also not appropriate to highlight professional groups at the expense of their collegiate counterparts. At a college show, it is likely that a professional group will show them up—making the college performers look less impressive through their own refined craft. Anything that lessens the accomplishments of collegiate performers is a poor choice for a collegiate show.

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Related posts:

1. Measure for Measure: A cappella shows with special attractions
2. Measure for Measure: Should groups only perform new songs?
3. Measure for Measure: Collegiate A Cappella Compilations
4. Measure for Measure: All-female groups
5. Measure for Measure: The arrangements groups use for competition