Singing

[karenmac60]

How many of you are comfortable singing in public? I've been told that as part of my administrative/management job I now have to spend 45 minutes a week singing to 20 odd mothers and their children and I'm not one bit happy about it!!! I don't even sing when I'm drunk!

[karenmac60]

Thanks Pooka, but some of the parents are teachers and nursery nurses - so they are great at that sort of thing. I also come from a family who love to sing, but it never rubbed off on me. Every family occasion turns into a singsong and I have never been able to do it.

[Maydup]

Reading these replies I've gone from sympathising with you to laughing it off and now feeling angry for you. 45 minutes is a hell of a long time to flippin sing. If this group of parent and children need entertaining could you read to them instead? It is a library after all.

If not read the words to the songs with a bit of rhythm in your speaking voice. Do some waving of your arms like a conductor and they can sing along if they like.

Good luck and don't this beat you nor let them bully you out of a job.

[wolf63]

What happened to the old 'silence in the library'? My singing would be ideal for the job - there would be so many complaints after the first week that there wouldn't be a second week.

Stand your ground - singing and libraries don't really go together.

[FredPuli43]

Help may be at hand! I've just seen this post. I've a good friend who does exactly this. She is a librarian who has groups of children and their mothers to sing to in the course of her daily work. I have just texted her with your concerns. She must have started somehow! As it's now 1.20 am, I don't expect an instant reply. but I should have something in the proper morning.

[karenmac60]

That's the thing Fred. I am not a librarian, and the actual librarians don't do these things! They don't work in branches at all in fact. I have a newly created post and they just keep pushing more and more onto us. I know we have to adapt, and I have no problem learning new things, but I can't change my personality - and singing to a group of yummy mummies who don't actually use the library except as a free babysitting service is as far from my personality as you could get!

[beso]

I love singing and have done it in public many times.

Almost anyone can sing and most can become proficient if they understand the principles and practice a bit. I have helped a few people find their singing voice.

Go an get some lessons.

[jomifl]

Call their bluff, tell them that you need to go on a singing course so that you will have an appropriate qualification, otherwise you could damage the musicality of the toddlers forever ;-)

[jomifl]

Karen, if it isn't in your job description they cannot make you do it so they will have to be conciliatory towards you if they want your co-operation.

[abstibus]

Disguise it by singing along to a CD of children's songs.

[tenrec]

Demand that you have training. That will cost them money so they might back down.

[rockyracoon]

Eff that, tell them you develop Tourettes when you sing, then while you're making coffee and you're on your own, make sure the boss can hear you then start singing and cursing.

[parkie]

If all these mothers are odd like you say perhaps they won't mind one way or the other about your voice.

[andy-hughes]

No problem singing nursery rhymes to children, and now grandchildren, but I would not presume to sing seriously in public, I simply don't have the skill.

My karaoke choice is always 'Ernie The Fastest Milkman In The West' which gives you some idea where my vocal talents lie!

[888]

If you r-e-a-l-l-y have to do it, how about an OTT exaggerated cockney version (like Barbara Windsor on The Good Old Days), laugh at yourself and hopefully they'll pull the plug before you've finished. Mind you, it might be a roaring success and you'll be nominated visiting artiste every time!.

[cupid04]

what's odd about the mothers?

[grasscarp]

Give out song sheets and get all the mums to sing along then it won't even notice you're not singing much.

[karenmac60]

I was really confused about the 'odd mothers' - I meant '20-odd' mothers :) They have in house training so I can't get out of it that way, and it's not really about my voice, it's about getting up and singing in front of anyone. My week's just going from bad to worse now anyway. I lost my 2 month old Galaxy Note last night so I'm more peeved about that at the moment, but I'm sure this will come back to the fore pretty soon ;)

[yogi-bear]

Hey Karen

I sing in the shower, in the car, in the garden, when i here a kickin' tune if out, when i'm DIY'ng....... and in my sleep apparently so i think you should embrace this fine opportunity to entertain 20 odd mothers and their kids, and maybe belt out some Iron Maiden tunes, which would literally make them "Run To The Hills".......... arghhhh only joking sweetheart....i bet you have the voice of an angel eh? ( yep....a hell's angel......oooops sorry again xxx )