NOVATONES ENJOY AN INFORMAL NIGHT OUT
 
NOVATONES puts aside a rehearsal night whenever there are 5 Thursdays in a month, to do what can only be described as a pub crawl, down the main street of a Newcastle shopping precinct, Hamilton. We take a bucket, and harangue the patrons for their loose change, which goes towards the chorus’ expenses, but a proportion goes to Newcastle Ronald McDonald House – we have donated over $10,000 in the past 7 years or so.
 
After the latest venture, one of our very new members submitted his thoughts to us, and I thought it might be worth repeating for all the other choruses. I am sure the sentiments he shows are the same as you would find in your own chorus.
 
“I enjoyed my first 'Pub Crawl' with the NOVATONES Barbershop Harmony Chorus last night. We started at the Wickham Park Hotel Islington, where we gathered, warmed up and then then sang some old numbers for the patrons there, before walking as a group down the main street of Hamilton. We were well received and the crowds were generous in both donations and applause. Most popular songs that we did were “It was only a Paper Moon”, “Barbara Ann”, and “Happy Birthday” to a few who were out celebrating a birthday.
 
Tiring but fun to be out and get the 'feel' of singing in front of people who are not that critical and who just love some live entertainment. The vibe was good and had the group singing as we walked along the footpath, between pubs! The photos were taken at The Exchange Hotel, where they had a convenient staircase on which we could gather to sing.”

We raised over $600 for our efforts, and we managed to score the odd free beer! May it long continue.
 
Rod Woodhouse