Why change it?
Well, it’s National Quartet Convention time again…and for the 48th consecutive year, I won’t be there.
Do I wish I was? Well, yes…it would be nice to be able to attend gospel music’s premier event at least once while I’m still physically able to.
There are lots of reasons…one, there are many friends I have who are there that I’d like to meet. And since these particular friends I’m thinking of are gospel music fans, there is no better place to finally meet them. Two, it’s probably the best place there is to meet my favorite artists in one place…since the vast majority of them are all there for the entire week.
But the #1 reason is the music…my favorite kind of music, every night, for an entire week! In that sense, it’s like being the proverbial kid in the candy store!
Admittedly, I wish I could have been there during the mid-1960s…when it was still gospel quartet intensive, and most of my favorite singers and groups were there and at their peak. But sadly, I can’t turn back the clock.
I know enough about conventions from the years I’ve attended the one out here in Fresno…except that the NQC is the “big” one, and the model for them all…it’d be nice to see it.
But in recent years, I keep reading articles and comments about how the NQC is fading fast, and how it needs to be radically changed to become “relevant” again for today’s gospel fan. Come again?
As long as the event continues to be what is promised, and audiences enjoy it, it will never cease to be relevant to the dedicated gospel fan.
We hear suggestions(no doubt well-meaning)by many that the event needs to be booked differently, or that there is too much focus on this or that sort of thing as opposed to something else…even that the name should be changed to reflect the changes in gospel music.
These suggestions are invariably from people with personal agendas about what “southern” gospel music is(or should be), and however sincere, most of them add up to “much ado about nothing”.
First off, it was originally formed as a gathering place for all the top artists in the then-fledgling industry to get together, perform, sell their product, and network with promoters to secure bookings for the future. Because gospel quartets were the predominant vehicle for the music in those days, it only followed that it be called the National QUARTET convention.
Even today, gospel quartets are the most popular vehicle for the music, despite the growing preponderance of trios and mixed groups of whatever configuration. Those who are skeptical of that cite selected research data to justify their claims, but one look or listen at the various conventions still tends to support the contention that gospel fans still love quartets most.
It seems that it’s always a vocal minority that clamors for changes in what has been a largely successful endeavor for over 40 years. They’ll cite the popularity of the Bill Gaither Homecoming events and his related promotions(interestingly booked directly opposite the NQC of late)as evidence of the need for the NQC to change or eventually fade away in the coming years.
The jury remains out on all these claims…and frankly, on my own opinions as expressed here. But for now, I still say as long as a majority of gospel music fans still enjoy and are blessed by being at the NQC each year, stop complaining…and sit down and enjoy it along with the rest of us. It’s still the “place to be” each year for the gospel music fan.
Posted on Sep 12, 2006 - 09:19 PM | [0]
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