Three ways to get the most of your High Holiday Cantor
Who doesn't want a great Chazzan? High Holidays means peak attendance in Shul and can be your first impression to newcomers. The stakes are high and the opportunity makes its worth investing in.
What can you do to get the most out of your Chazzan? To make the money spent well worth it? Here are some tools for Rabbi's or community leaders to use with a Chazzan at any pay level. When done well, you will have the most benefit from what your chazzan came to do and enjoy the experience along the way.
STEP 1
PREPARE AND COMMUNICATE BEFORE:
Being intentional is key, so dedicate some time to think about what you want. You know your community best so be ready to share that with the Chazzan. Do you skip some pages or read everything, do you want certain songs or do you have any not ok songs? When will there be speaking and what time do you want Davening to finish? These are some things to think about in advance and write notes to yourself if needed.
Once you are clear about what you want, schedule a planning meeting to review the Davening. This can be done via phone or video call.
PRO tip: If possible meet before in person and or host the chazzan for a shabbos or Slichos.
At the meeting, create a shared Google doc and either you or the chazzan can write down what the Davening plan is. If you have any community traditions make sure to share those at this meeting. Share the doc and print copies for both chazzan and rabbi. You can follow up the meeting by sending any relevant audio or video clips to prepare with.
PRO tip: Plan your impact! During peak time (i.e. opening of the ark before Torah reading or some other time), how can the chazzan help you maximize the moment? Maybe it's a feature piece or singing their favorite song. Either way, rather than putting the chazzan on the spot, make it count and be prepared.
The meeting is also a great time to review any other matters.
Do you want him to:
Lead songs at the meal?
Lead the seder niggunim at the end of Yom Tov?
Lead during Yizkor?
Blow the shofar?
Share a thought at a meal?
Sing at Tashlich?
Do home or hopsital visits?
His wife to help out with children’s programming?
These are things that are best achieved when discussed in advance, so that the expectation is clear for everyone.
Some things that are not included in the price are
Mivtzoim
Running children's programs
Doing errands (before traveling or locally)
Shlepping things
If these are important to you, that's ok, just make sure this is discussed BEFORE your agreement is made.
“Make sure you bring up the money topic especially because often times the chazzan isn't comfortable to ask about money”
Talk payment:
Be clear about how and when you'll pay the chazzan.
Is there a deposit?
Half after RH and half after YK?
Is it a check or a quick pay?
Will there be any need for receipts and reimbursement?
Are you giving him your credit card for flights?
Do you need any tax forms filled out?
Will he be getting a 1099 at the end of the year?
What name should you make the check out to?
Make sure you bring up the money topic especially because often times the chazzan isn't comfortable to ask about money.
“Talk logistics! That includes flights and ground transport as well as meals and sleeping arrangements”
Talk logistics:
Is someone picking them up at the airport? If yes, exchange phone numbers.
Should they take an uber? Will it be reimbursed?
What's the accommodation plan?
What is the meal plan?
STEP 2
HOST AND ENGAGE DURING THEIR STAY:
Now that you prepared them and discussed things in advance, it is time to get ready to have them on site.
You'll be hosting the chazzan (and his family) for Yom Tov. Being a gracious host can make a difference in whether a Chazzan will come back or choose to go elsewhere next year. If the chazzan is not a bochur, extra care should be taken to make his wife feel at home. This can be a deciding factor, because even if the davening goes well, there is a high chance they won't come back if the wife didn't enjoy her stay. It also can impact the Chazzan's motivation and performance if his wife is not feeling comfortable.
We know its a busy time and there's a fair amount of stress, so the key is to invest some time initially so they can be independent and you don't have to be involved as much afterwards. Then remember to check in from time to time.
Be gracious and invite them to be a part of. Maybe have a seat next to you in shul for them. Walk together to Shul, tell them about any kids programs or if they can get a babysitter. Make sure they are seated comfortably at the meals whether or not they are at your table. Get to know them, you may even come to like each other. These things go a long way and if they come back next year you'll save time as they'll know them already.
“You'll be hosting the Chazzan (and his family). Being a gracious host can make a difference in whether a Chazzan will come back or choose to go elsewhere next year”
Here are some tips to make it easy:
Upon arrival:
Be there to greet them or designate someone to greet them. (If you're designating someone make sure to be in communication via phone or text to show interest in their arrival and getting settled in).
Offer food, as they may have traveled, and are not in familiar territory, plus Kosher could be limited and transportation can be difficult. Look at food as a personal obligation like when your child comes home.
Give any keys, house/ building access codes and wifi password. These should be sent via text so they can be retrieved again.
Share the Mikva times
Share candle lighting and shul schedule times (can send a link to the website or give a printout).
Give a walk through of the kitchen and either make food and or extend an invitation for them to make themselves at home. Show them where to find things like paper goods, drinks or a high chair.
Show them around the house including their room and where more towels can be found
Give a tour of the "moisad" to orient them and bring them into your world.
Introduce them to key people like the housekeeper and a shul activist so they can go to them if they have questions or need things.
Make sure they know walking directions to Shul or meals so they can walk on their own schedule.
Then there is the Davening itself, and the theme here is to acknowledge and give feedback!
Begin by welcoming and introducing the Chazzan (and his family) by name to the community at the beginning of yom tov.
After each prayer (i.e. shachris and mussaf) acknowledge and thank the Chazzan publicly to the shul. This will not only show appreciation for his efforts, it will make him and his wife proud, and encourage him to want to please you in the future. As you walk home from Shul, use that time to check in and review what worked or didn't work, and what can be done differently the following day. Does the Rebbetzin have feedback from the ladies section? That can be very valuable information!
“Does the Rebbetzin have feedback from the ladies section? That can be very valuable information!”
STEP 3
WRAPPING IT UP
Everything goes based on how things end, so let’s end on a high note (no pun intended).
Do a nice break-the-fast, minimally making sure there's enough food, which may require holding back some food from the main spread if things get wiped out quickly. A Chazzan works hard on YK and there's a sense of excitement once the Yom Tov is over. A sit down breakfast/ farbengen with Rabbi, close community members and a l'chaim is a great way to capture the feelings that are present. It also enables the joy of a victorious YK to be celebrated and a shift in gears to the happy days of Sukkos.
Do a Davening debrief on Motzei Yom Tov. Open the shared Google document and make notes and changes based on what happened in shul so you're ready for next year. That doc is great even if you have a different chazzan next year, so make sure you have a copy of your own.
Make sure to discuss next steps, whether that means Yom Kippur, coming back for another yom tov or expressing interest for next year's high holidays. It's also a great time to compliment or share how you really felt about the chazzan. If you don't plan on bringing him back make sure he knows that too.
Keep your word about payment and make sure to do it promptly on motzei Yom Tov. No games. This will make a difference in getting a chazan back, as well as getting a good reputation for future chazzanim.
Lastly, send them off graciously and make sure they have food for the trip back. See them off with warm wishes and expressing appreciation for their work. This will not only give them a good feeling as they leave, it also builds your reputation.
PRO tip: send this YK primer video link to your community via email and post it on social so people can get more acquainted with the YK tunes.
This article was originally published online at collive.com, read more via this link
Shlomie Rabin is a professional Chazzan and talent agent connecting Chazzan jobs with Chazzan Candidates.