Submitted by Kathy Berg, Racine, Wisconsin

Idea posted March 14, 2003

1. Teach the choir to flex their knees and shake out their arms in between songs to avoid locked knees and fainting.
2. If it's an evening performance and you don't want the cherubs running through the school at the end of the concert gathering all their belongings, have them leave their coats with their parents in the performance area. Distribute all "treats" as they leave the risers, and then they are the property of Mom and Dad once again.
3. Know your music well enough that you don't need it. Don't bury yourself in your music. Give ALL ends of the choir your attention, not just the middle section. This takes practice! Teach them to watch you - you're preparing them for a great choral career!
4. Smile! Laugh! Show them you love them, and they'll love you back 200 times over!
5. Make sure you properly publicly thank and acknowledge the teachers, administrators, custodians, etc. The more help you get, the easier it will be on you.
6. Count how many more years 'til retirement and multiply it by how many concerts you give in a year. Cross this one off and smile! 56 to go!!