Archive for June 13, 2012

SWOT Analysis – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Posted: June 13, 2012 by Steve Eaton in SWOT Analysis
Tags:
9

A new week brings a new SWOT analysis.  This week, Southern Gospel Views from the Back Row takes a look at the strengths and weaknesses of Ernie Haase & Signature Sound.  Signature Sound has become one of the most popular groups touring the Southern Gospel circuit.

Ernie assembled a really strong quartet from the start and through various personnel shifts, the group continues to thrill audiences night after night.

STRENGTHS

  • Cathedral Legacy:  Another group born from the Cathedral legacy.  Ernie’s years spent with the Cathedrals gave Signature Sound immediate success with fans.
  • Innovation:  Ernie Haase & Signature Sound became innovators, as the Statesmen were in the 1950′s/1960′s, by adding an entire stage performance (choreography and all) behind their set list of songs.  Like it or not, it brought a whole new fan base to Southern Gospel quartet music.
  • Doug Anderson:  Since the group’s inception, Doug has been the strongest vocalist in the group.  Being the baritone, he really is the vocal glue that holds this group together.

WEAKNESSES

  • Choreography:  While being innovators is a strength, at times the choreography the group was using was over the top and corny.  I know they have scaled back on the choreography.  I don’t have problems with this type of stage persona, as longs as it adds to the overall concert experience and not distract from it.

OPPORTUNITIES

  • Signature Sound Unplugged:  MTV had a successful series in the 1990′s where artists would do a concert with just acoustic instruments.  How great would it be for Signature Sound to do an unplugged kind of performance where the vocals were the stars of the show.
  • Honoring The Statesmen:  Honoring the initial innovators by doing a recording of one of Southern Gospel’s greatest recordings; The Statesmen’s On Stage.  They could use the Ryman Auditorium and use the same set list and arrangements of the original recording.  How fun would that be?

THREATS

  • Losing Doug Anderson:  The group has soldiered on with the last several personnel changes, but losing Doug Anderson would be a huge blow to the group’s sound.

***NEXT SWOT ANALYSIS:  BRIAN FREE & ASSURANCE***