Is Sweet Adelines as Costly as Other Hobbies?

By Cammi MacKinlay, Lions Gate Chorus, Region 26

Belonging to Sweet Adelines is an expensive venture. Have you heard people say that? I know I have — but is it really? When I look at what I get for the money I put into my hobby, I would say it’s a bargain at twice the price! The friendships, the laughter, the chance to stand on the risers and sing with some of my best friends, the goose-bumps from ringing chords, dressing up and performing for avid fans, giving back to the community I live in, the educational opportunities, the support network, the opportunity to become a leader at different levels in the organization — it’s hard to put a money value on those kinds of intangible benefits. However, from a purely financial viewpoint, when I add up monthly chorus dues, costumes, makeup, travel and registration to regional and/or international competition, IES and/or regional workshops, not to mention the money I spend on going out for pizza after rehearsal, it can set me back quite a bit over the course of a year.

Let’s take a closer look at my basic costs to be a Sweet Adeline. In talking with friends from other countries, I have found that the costs are similar in choruses around the world. I have included one regional weekend as a bare minimum. Obviously the costs increase if you add in International convention, or regional workshops or the International Education Symposium (IES), or retreats, but this will give us a ballpark figure to compare to other hobbies.

Basic membership in a chartered chorus in Sweet Adelines in U.S. dollars:

International dues - $80 per year
Regional assessment - $40 per year
Chapter dues - $300 per year ($25 per month)
Total - $420 per year, $35 per month, $9 per week
Additional costs:
Costume rental - $70 per year
Makeup - $30 (one-time fee)
Regional competition (registration, hotel, airfare) - $500
Total - $600 per year, $50 per month, $12.50 per week

So for approximately $21.50 U.S. per week, I get at least three hours of voice lessons, dance lessons, education in singing as well as team management, conflict management, leadership skills, performance skills, theatrical skills, and a chance to use my individual skills to enhance the experience of the group. PLUS all the intangible benefits listed above, and almost everywhere I go, I can find a chorus or a group of women who are willing to sing with me.

To me, there is no question that it’s worth every penny, but I must admit I have sometimes wondered how Sweet Adelines compares cost-wise to other hobbies that people are equally passionate about.
Rather than singing in a chorus, I could have chosen to take dance lessons. No matter what kind of dancing I choose (ballroom, jazz, Latin, salsa, etc.), the costs would be similar to other kinds of hobbies where people take classes in groups. Dancing is great exercise, very social, can be done all year round, doesn’t require special equipment, and I wouldn’t even need to bring a partner. Plus it’s a great way of meeting new people. Remembering that classes are generally one hour long, this is what group salsa classes would cost me in some of our sister Sweet Adeline countries around the world, as well as in Canada and the U.S.

Country	Cost Per Month (Dance Lessons)	Cost Per Week for 1 hour	U.S. Equivalent	3 Hour Conversion
Australia	$70 AUS	$17.50 AUS	$13.50	$40.50
Canada	$117 (9 classes)	$13	$11	$33
Germany	65 Euros	10 Euros	$13	$39
Japan	8,000 Yen	2,000 Yen	$17	$51
Netherlands	30 Euros	7.50 Euros	$10	$30
New Zealand	$60 NZ	$15 NZ	$10	$30
Sweden	800 Kronor	80 Kronor	$11.50	$34.50
U.K.	£32 (8 weeks)	£7 drop-in	$14	$42
U.S.	$100 (6 classes)	$17	$17	$51

If I really got into it and decided to compete, I might have to purchase special shoes and a costume or two, and I would probably be expected to take extra classes and several coaching sessions, which are not included in the above figures. Then there’s the travel to the competition venue and the entry fee, and the hotel etc. — sounds like Sweet Adelines, doesn’t it? However, if you remember that as a Sweet Adeline I get to go to competition and be outfitted for the equivalent of $21.50 per week, you’ll appreciate that dancing classes could cost me quite a bit more over the course of a year.

Or, I could have decided to take up a musical instrument, like the guitar or piano or violin or the cello. There’s the initial cost of the instrument, which can be very substantial if it is a grand piano and rather minor if it’s a harmonica. The cost of a private individual lesson would vary widely depending on where I live, the teacher’s credentials and the intensity with which I want to perfect my music-making. It is often a solitary activity, with hours and hours of practice needed to become good at it. However, the ability to make music for my own pleasure or that of my family and friends, and perhaps even the public, would be wonderful. The cost of a private voice lesson (PVI) (my voice being the instrument that I really prefer to make music with) is very similar to the cost of an individual instrument lesson, so I have charted those costs below:

Country	Cost for One Hour For a Music Lesson	U.S. Equivalent
Australia	AUS $38 - $54	$50 - $70
Canada	CAN $38 - $128	$45 - $150
Germany	40 Euros	$52
Japan	2000 Yen – 20,000 Yen	$17 - $165
Netherlands	34 – 150 Euros	$44 - $195
New Zealand	$30 NZD	$21
Sweden	300 – 600 Kronor	$43 - $86
U.K.	£20 - £40	$40 - $80
U.S.	$30 - $75	$30 - $75

Considering that Sweet Adelines get voice training from our directors and/or musical leaders once a week, or more frequently if you include a regularly-scheduled PVI, and usually there is no additional charge in addition to our monthly dues, we are fortunate indeed. And if I sign up for a PVI at IES or a regional weekend and get one of our “stars” who has donated her time to work with individuals, then I am luckier yet! If I were to pay for a voice lesson with a private teacher once a week, I would pay much more than in our organization.
What if I decided to take up golf instead of Sweet Adelines? The costs might be comparable to other physical activities, like skiing, snowboarding, tennis, scuba or sky-diving, etc. Sports can be a solitary or a group activity, and you can sign up for group or individual lessons in addition to the costs shown below:

Country	Cost of Green Fees For One Round of Golf (18 holes)	U.S. equivalent
Australia	$20 - $80 AUS	$15 - $62
Canada	$55 - $109 CAN	$47 - $93
Germany	22 – 60 Euros	$30 - $75
Japan	11,477 Yen	$95
Netherlands	54 Euros	$70
New Zealand	$42 - $137 NZD	$29 - $95
Sweden	488 Kronor	$70
U.K.	£24 - £85	$47 - $167
U.S.	$20 - $95	$20 - $95

This does not take into account the cost of belonging to a club and the annual fee, nor the clothing, the shoes, the golf clubs and bag, the golf balls, being coached, entering competitions, or any post-game socializing. There are lots of benefits to playing golf — it’s good exercise, it’s social, I wouldn’t have to be an expert to enjoy it and I would get to experience the joys of being outdoors in the fresh air. I could just show up at the golf course, and probably find someone to play with. However, it tends to be seasonal, meaning that I might have to go south in the winter to be able to continue playing. (Sounds tempting, but very expensive!)

There are many different hobbies out there that I could take up, but all in all, weighing the costs and the benefits, I am sticking with Sweet Adelines as my main hobby of choice. And when you think that the expense of it is the equivalent of a couple of cappuccinos a week, and that the benefits last a lot longer than the caffeine does, you realize that it’s worth every nickel — or Euro, or Kronor, or Yen, or Pound Sterling or $NZ or $AUS!

(With thanks to my contacts in Australia, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the U.K. for their help finding information for this article.)

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