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Essentials in
Quartet Singing
Rules for quartet names, ranks and registration
Quartets come and go and so do their names. Recently, we have had more than our usual requests for quartet names that we cannot approve. The approval of any quartet name is the responsibility of the Society office and we need your help. When selecting a name for your quartet, consider these guidelines found in "An Information Manual for Barbershop Quartets."
Updated: 1/28/2008 11:34:44 AM
Rules, regulations, definition, purposes
If the Society is to be of service to its quartets, and have any degree of contact with them, it must know who and where they are. Therefore, a definite classification of "Society quartet" has been established, with specified qualifications and registration requirements as follows:
2.1 Definition
A Society quartet is defined as "any quartet which (1) by maintaining registration with the Society office, has demonstrated that its members have fully paid Society, district and chapter dues (includes Frank Thorne chapters), are members in good standing of an accredited chapter, and that it is not a professional quartet within the Society's definition; and (2) as a quartet, has neither suffered revocation, nor is under suspension of its Society standing."
2.2 Registration
Each organized quartet must be registered with the Society headquarters. Registration forms may be obtained from your chapter secretary (a copy is in the Chapter Secretary Manual) or by writing to:
Quartet Registry
Barbershop Harmony Society
110 – 7th Avenue N
Nashville, TN 37203-3704.
The annual registration fee is set by the Society Board and shall accompany the application for registration. As of this writing, the registration fee is $40. (See the sample registration form in Chapter 9.)
Registration is on an annual basis, and initiation of the process is the responsibility of the quartet. To encourage compliance, a first and second notice is sent from the Society office to the quartet as a reminder.
2.3 Quartet names
Approval of quartet names is the responsibility of the Society office. Names are approved under the following guidelines:
2.3.1 A name which is already registered cannot be used.
2.3.2 A name must be in good taste, containing no offensive innuendos.
2.3.3 A name cannot be registered which is phonetically similar to one that is already registered.
(Four Bows, Four Beaus, etc.) or otherwise so similar as to be confusing or misleading.
2.3.4 The use of 4, Four, Quartet or other designation or qualification before or after an already assigned name does not constitute a new quartet name.
- For example, a registered quartet is named The Herdsmen. Another quartet could not register as the Four Herdsmen, the Herdsmen Four or the Herdsman Quartet.
- Similarly, if a quartet is registered as the Four Tiptoes, a new quartet name could not be The Tiptoes, (dropping a portion), or The Tiptoes Four (changing the order), or The Four Tiptoes Quartet (adding to the name).
- Adding to, subtracting from or changing a geographical portion of the "essence" of the quartet name does not constitute a new quartet name. For example, if The Herdsmen was a registered name, another quartet could not be registered as the Chicago Herdsmen. If the original name had a geographic connotation, such as Sarasota Soundbuster, another quartet could not drop or change that portion of the name and register under Soundbuster, or Seattle Soundbuster, or Southern Soundbusters, etc.
- In instances where conflict seems negligible, the Society office may approve a request.
2.3.5 The protection given is for the use of the name.
A group of four men may not register as a quartet for the sole purpose of tying up a clever name. Also, acceptance of money or other consideration for release of a name for use by another quartet would be a breach of Section 7 of the Code of Ethics.
2.3.6 Reuse of names
A formerly registered name that has not been renewed, except for an international champion or international medalist name, is available to the next quartet requesting that name. One other exception is that the name of a district champion may never be used by another quartet in the same district. In the case of the latter, it is the responsibility of the district secretary to inform the Society office of the duplication. The quartet will then be notified by the Society office to seek a new name.
2.4 Privileges of the Society quartet
A Society quartet may do the following:
- make use of the Society name, initials or emblem;
- engage in Society competition;
- claim Society protection of its quartet name;
- receive Society materials and communications.
2.5 Professional quartets
While our membership is open to professionals and amateurs alike (and we do have professionals among our members), a professional quartet cannot register or compete as a Society quartet. The Society's definition of the professional quartet is as follows:
"A quartet shall be considered to be professional when the filling of quartet engagements becomes the principal vocation of the quartet's personnel. It shall be the duty of the Society Contest and Judging Committee to rule on complaints as to the eligibility of quartets, provided, however that any person aggrieved by such ruling may appeal to the Society Board, whose decision in the matter shall be final."
2.6 Rank of Society quartets
Rank is attained by quartet standing established in an official contest. District rank is established in a district contest, and international rank is established in an international contest.
Rank is held both by the quartet and by its members individually. Once attained, it is permanently retained by the individual members, subject to being raised. However, the quartet, to retain rank, must meet these qualifications (beginning with the highest ranking):
2.6.1 International champion
An international champion must keep at least three of the original members who sang when that rank was achieved. Replacing more than one person requires retirement of the name; however, the name will never be available for use by any other quartet.
A retired champion quartet may reform and regain its former name and rank providing it includes at least three members who were in the quartet when it achieved the rank of champion.
No more than two members of the same champion quartet may organize a new quartet to become a competitor and establish a ranking in district and/or international competition.
2.6.2 International medalist (2nd through 5th place)
To retain its ranking, a medalist quartet must include at least three members who were in the quartet when the rank was achieved. It is conceivable that, over a span of five international contests, a medalist quartet, having one new member each year and attaining international medalist ranking in each contest, would no longer have any of the original singers in it.
However, since international medallist names are protected and never assigned again, if the personnel of an international medallist quartet changes in such a fashion as to have fewer than three members who have achieved medallist ranking with that quartet in the same contest, the name must be retired since it is no longer a substantial representation of the quartet that achieved the ranking.
A retired medallist quartet may re-form and regain its name and rank, providing three members of the quartet, attaining that rank in the same contest, are in the quartet.
2.6.3 International finalist or international top ten (6th through 10th place)
To retain this ranking, a quartet must include at least three members who achieved the rank with that quartet.
If it has fewer than three such members, the quartet may keep the name, but will no longer carry the ranking. In subsequent contests, such quartet may re-establish a ranking for that foursome.
If the quartet disbands, its name is available for use by another quartet, but the new quartet must establish its own ranking.
2.6.4 International semi-finalist or international top twenty (11th through 20th place)
Same as 3 above
2.6.5 International quartet-finalist or international competitor (21st through last place)
Same as 3 above.
2.6.6 District champion
To keep the rank and name of district champion, a quartet achieving that rank must include at least two members who sang in the quartet when it won the district championship.
If the quartet disbands, the name cannot be used by any other quartet in that district. The name is available to a quartet in another district.
A quartet of not more than two members of the same district championship quartet can organize and compete under a different name for district competition (and, of course, international competition).
2.6.7 Ranking applies to
For all of the ranks listed above, only change in personnel is a consideration. Switching of parts within the quartet does not affect rank.
In case of conflict of rules governing different ranks, the rule applying to the higher rank takes precedence.
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