Royal Mail Bristol The Choir

'Gareth Malone wants to help Britain's workers find their voice.'

Good morning, everyone. I'm here to start a choir.

If you are interested, make yourself known to me.

'In search of hidden talent, he wants to create choirs

'in four of Britain's busiest workplaces.'

BEEPING

Are you a singer?

-What do you do?

-Dig holes for a living.

# Pat puts all his post bags in his van! #

Yes, he does!

'And for the workers, company pride will be at stake when they compete

'to find Gareth's best workplace choir.'

-Is everybody ready? Fighting spirit?

-ALL: Yes.

When I was learning to sing, it was through competing with other people that I got better.

I want that for these choirs, to feel the pressure and get better.

Before the performance, I'll pray to God.

"God help us this time."

-Want to win it.

-And we're going to go hell for leather to win it.

Months of work and slog come down to that one moment when you're on stage. That's why I love it.

'Gareth is on his way to Bristol to set up the second of his four workplace choirs in the Royal Mail.

Singing is a way to make people feel better about going to work.

You can display the pride that people have in their workplace.

You can draw people together from different parts of the business.

I think a choir in the Royal Mail is absolutely right.

'Royal Mail employs over 150,000 staff nationwide,

'and delivers over 50 million pieces of mail a day.'

We represent something special.

Believe it or not, we are proud to be postmen.

I do feel proud to work for Royal Mail.

Cut me in half, you'll see Royal Mail running through my veins.

'But as a government-run business that's lost thousands of jobs

'and which now faces privatisation,

'in parts of the organisation, staff morale is low.'

At the moment, in the economic climate, we're losing jobs,

they're making the rounds bigger and we are under a lot of pressure.

Times move on, and that's the way the business is being run.

There are a lot of changes going on in the company.

It's getting a lot harder, so a morale boost wouldn't go amiss.

'Gareth wants the Bristol choir to represent every part of the business.

'Nearly 3,000 staff work across the Bristol region.

'To find the 30 strongest singers, Gareth will be holding a series of open auditions.'

Good morning, everyone. I'm here to start a choir.

If you are at all interested, I'm coming round. Make yourself known to me.

Thank you.

'He starts his search in the region's biggest mail centre.'

It's absolutely huge! It's like Wembley Stadium.

-You look very busy.

-Well, sort of.

-Have you heard about my plan to start a choir here?

-Yeah.

-Are you interested?

-No.

-No?

-Can't sing!

-No singing voice at all?

Hi, there. I'm Gareth. I'm here to start a choir in your workplace.

-I'm auditioning later on.

-You've put your name forward? What's your name?

-Pete Flook.

-Nice to meet you, Pete. And can you sing?

-No.

'Next stop, the local delivery offices.'

Morning.

-Are you interested in being in a choir?

-No, thank you. I can't sing to save my life.

-Hello. Are you interested in being in a choir?

-I'm not, no.

The point of the choir is to represent the business, to bring everyone together.

A lot of people don't want that, though.

They'd like to come to work, go home and leave work behind them.

-Is it a busy job?

-No. It's a shit job.

-You're not into your job?

-No. Don't like it.

-How long have you been doing it?

-Five years.

-Has it changed much in five years.

-Yeah. It's got worse.

-Has it? Why?

Longer hours, worse hours, harder to do.

-I guess I'm not going to get you into the choir.

-Not a chance.

-I hope you have a good day.

-Cheers.

I'm sure that guy doesn't speak for everyone.

But I suspect he speaks for a few.

I think I might have my work cut out

finding people that actually want to stand up and be part of this.

'Following the disappointing response on the shop floor,

'Gareth hopes to have better luck with the management.'

Knock, knock.

It's a very serious meeting, but do you think the choir can be good for the Royal Mail?

Well, obviously you do(!) I'm so glad I came(!)

There's a lot of talented-looking people here. Anyone interested in singing?

-I'm going to audition.

-I'm Gareth, hello.

-Hi, Gareth. I'm Tim.

-What singing have you done before?

-None.

-None.

-Well, I do karaoke.

-OK, that's good. That's some.

If I sang something, could you sing it back to me?

-Probably, yeah. Go on, then.

-# La la #

-# La la #

-OK, that's a good start.

I'll audition you properly at the audition. Anyone else?

-I'm auditioning.

-You've put your name forward. They're all coming out the woodwork now!

'It's good that two people from round the executive table are getting involved.

'This is very different up here.'

Lots of numbers to deal with, how many pieces of mail, graphs and statistics.

It's very different from the practical business of sorting mail.

I want to make sure that both sides are represented.

To get the right kind of talent, we'll need both.

'Despite the initial lukewarm response, word gets around and staff turn up for auditions.'

-Hello. Welcome, everyone. I'm Gareth. Are you ready?

-Yes.

Follow me. Let's go.

Come on in. Well, here I am, in the Royal Mail.

I am looking for a choir - a choir that is "first class"!

-GROANING

-I'm looking for you to "deliver" for me.

-I'm looking for the "whole package".

-GROANING

-I've got one more.

-LAUGHTER

If you're not good enough, to be "frank", I'll just "stamp" on you.

-GROANING

-OK, that's enough.

So, I'm here to start a choir and I am looking for it to be first class.

I genuinely am, and it's going to compete in this contest against other British workplaces.

That means I want the best voices.

So, what is the song that you are going to be singing for your audition?

What possible song could I think of for the postal service?

-WOMAN: Postman Pat.

-A brilliant idea! Let's do that!

-PIANO STARTS

-And...

# Postman Pat, Postman Pat

# Postman Pat and his black-and-white cat

# Early in the morning Just as day is dawning #

SPEAKS Pat pick up his bags...

-Wow! You were in such a rush, I see you're under pressure for targets!

-LAUGHTER

'Over two days, Gareth hears over 120 voices.'

# Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black-and-white cat... #

'And a myriad of different singing styles.'

# Early in the morning Just as day is dawnin'

# I think I...yawning and again #

A-beep-a-boop-a-di! I like the little scat bit!

-# Early in the morning

-That's right.

-# Just as day was dawning

-Just as the day is dawning

# Pat puts all his post bags in his van #

Yes, he does!

'Amongst those auditioning is one of the regional directors, Tim Barber.'

I met you in the big corporatey bit,

-and now you're on the hook.

-Indeed.

-Here we go.

# Postman Pat, Postman Pat

# Postman Pat and his black-and-white cat... #

I've been in the business for 30 years. Started as a postman.

I've worked my way through a number of different jobs.

I've now got a job that's 24/7. It's a high-accountability job.

I have somewhere in the region of 4,500 people.

In terms of finance, I spend around £70 million a year.

I will always be very proud to be part of the Royal Mail.

We're a fantastic organisation

# ..Early in the morning... #

'I think the choir could benefit us.

'There is just this opportunity for us to understand each other better.'

When you're all striving towards the same thing

and you're all out of your comfort zone, it bonds you.

Thank you very much. You can sit down. Sam...

'Also auditioning is postman Sam Fry.'

-And...

-# Postman Pat, Postman Pat

# Postman Pat and his black-and-white cat

# Early in the morning

# Just as day is dawning

# Pat puts all his post bags in his van #

That's a really big voice, actually. Do you do a lot of speaking?

-Arguing with management.

-Arguing with management?

-Yeah.

-Just heated debates.

-Debates!

-I'm not sure if I want you the choir, then!

-LAUGHTER

Thank you. Well done. Very good.

I found it pretty tough, myself.

I think we all done really well. We gave 100%

Well, for people who can't sing.

-I'm used to posting letters, not singing.

-Yeah.

WOMAN: Really enjoyed it. Thought it was a bit of fun.

Royal Mail has not been in the limelight for quite a long time.

I think this will give everybody that works for Royal Mail a bit of a boost.

I was surprised

that such an ugly bunch of people could make such a nice noise.

-'Auditions over...'

-Perhaps.

'..Gareth must select just 30 of the very best voices

'to create a choir to compete in the contest.'

Definitely.

'From high female sopranos to low male basses.'

This is not going to sound like a really refined choir.

It's a factory environment out there, and they have a kind of rough earthy quality to them.

They're inexperienced choral singers,

and I've got to make them into something that sounds great.

There's an energy about them. There's a spirit and they're fun.

That will be an advantage in a contest. OK.

Done.

'Decisions made, Gareth's up early to break the good news of who's in.'

-Patrick, there you are! Hello. How are you?

-I'm very well.

-You taking it easy with a coffee?

-Absolutely.

-I think you did really well.

-Thank you.

-I would like you to be in the choir.

-Hey! Fantastic!

-You're in.

-Well, thank you very much.

-Very well done.

-To say I'm surprised is an understatement.

-Morning.

-Morning.

-I'd really like you to be in the choir.

-Seriously?

-Yeah.

-Seriously?

-Yeah.

-Is it today?

-It is today.

-Blimey. I need to get home to give tablets to me dog.

-Well, you'd best get on it! Get on your bike!

-Yeah.

Brilliant! Wow!

See ya later, boys.

'Postie Sam Fry will be one of the choir's new tenors.'

I joined Royal Mail back in June '96 or '97.

So I've been here some time.

I've seen a lot of changes, but I do really enjoy the job.

When you're outdoors,

you are your own boss, you do the round how you see fit to do it.

I do enjoy meeting people,

you know, the banter we have inside, we have good fun.

As soon as they said we're forming a choir,

I said, "I'm going to step up and play. I want to be part of this."

'Delivery rounds over,

'the 30 members of the newly formed choir gather for their first ever rehearsal.'

-Oh, you're a bass!

-I'm a bass, yeah.

-What are you?

-Alto. And me.

-Soprano!

-Oooh!

-Hello!

-EVERYONE: Hello.

It's the choir. Come on in. How are you doing?

-Hi, Mandy. Hello, Pat. How are you?

-Good to see you.

Did your dog get its tablets?

-Dog got the medication. I rushed home.

-I was terribly worried.

Don't be shy! Don't be shy. Good afternoon.

-ALL: Good afternoon.

-What have I let myself in for?

-LAUGHTER

-You are the Royal Mail choir for Bristol.

Congratulations.

You are now in a competitive situation.

You are going forward into the contest.

This means that you will be competing against other workplace choirs.

Remember that you are representing the Royal Mail.

How many of you are from the Mail Centre, that big processing plant?

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.

OK, great. How many of you are from the delivery offices,

out delivering the mail? Quite a lot of you.

How many of you are management?

BOOING AND HISSING

LAUGHTER

It's nice to see what an inclusive and welcoming bunch we are(!)

All right, so, we're going to move straight on.

I want to come up with a song that represents what you do and who you are.

I want it to be your choice.

So let's have suggestions of songs that spring to mind.

-Return To Sender.

-Oh!

# Return to sender! #

That's a good idea. Next idea?

-Who Let The Dogs Out?

-LAUGHTER

Who let the dogs out?

-ALL BARK

-Who let the dogs out?

-It's not usually done by choirs!

-LAUGHTER

-Any others?

-I Want To Ride My Bicycle.

-Say that again.

-I Want To Ride My Bicycle by Queen.

-I Want To Ride My Bicycle.

-Are you allowed to ride your bicycles?

-No!

-Are the bikes going?

-They're going.

-OK, next suggestion. Yeah?

-Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now.

-LAUGHTER

-Heaven Knows I'm...?

-Miserable Now.

-How does that go?

# I was looking for a job then I found a job

# Heaven knows I'm miserable now #

-Well, let's choose that one, then!

-LAUGHTER

-Any others before we move on?

-Changes?

-Sorry.

-Changes by Bowie.

-Changes. How does that go?

START TO SING, PIANO PLAYS

# Ch-ch changes... #

The best use of a choir is in communicating to an audience.

This comes down to what you want your choir to say about your company.

I think because it's not just post people that are in here,

something like that would be good because that covers the changes in the office, in admin, in sales,

in the delivery offices, everything, it's the company.

It's a whole process. It's not just the letter through the door.

Where it's collected, the process that it goes through.

-And all of that's changing as well?

-The whole of Royal Mail has been changing for a long time.

The question is what you think is going to represent your business best out of these songs. Beverly?

-Return To Sender.

-Why?

-Well, because it's catchier.

Changes, I think is controversial.

-Joanne, what do you think?

-Return To Sender.

I don't think many people would actually understand why we chose Changes.

-Do people agree with that?

-ALL SPEAK AT ONCE

Those of you who think it's Changes, put your hands up.

One, two. Those of you who think Return To Sender put your hands up.

-Well, that seems... Is this a democracy?

-Yes.

-Great, then.

Let's look at Return To Sender.

-PIANO BEGINS

-Eyes up. Smiling.

One, two, three and...

# I gave a letter to the postman

-# He put it in his sack

-Sit up. Three, and...

# Bright and early next morning he brought my letter back

-Basses.

-TUNELESSLY: # She wrote upon it #

-Woah!

-LAUGHTER

Let's try to agree on some notes here.

# She wrote upon it

# Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba #

-One, two...

-# She wrote upon it #

-It goes...

-# She wrote upon it #

-One, two.

-# She wrote upon it #

Stand up and do that same line.

-One, two, three and one...

-# She wrote upon it

-# Return to sender

-Oo-ooh

-# Address unknown

-Oo-ooh

-# There's no such number

-Oo-ooh

-# No such zone

-Oooh

-# We had a quarrel

-Oo-ooh

-# A lovers' spat

-Oo-ooh

Here we go

ALL: # I write I'm sorry but my letters keep coming back #

That's going to work! Well done. Round of applause. Very good.

Thank you very much. Well done.

I really like them. I think they're great. They're really good.

I thought they were going to go down the negative song route,

a complaining song, but they went for something really positive and I think there's hope.

There's a lot of people who are really proud of this institution.

I think this is useful in giving them a public face.

I am so pleased to be here. I am really, really over the moon.

'It's so nice to meet other people. I've met so many people today.

'Everybody's friendly and we're all having such a good time.'

I'm really happy.

I've been able to talk to people I've not talked to before.

'It's been great hearing people's stories about what's going on in work.

'Also hearing how people are so excited about being in the choir.'

Everyone's really buoyed-up.

If you'll sign in that box there.

Thank you.

'With the choir formed, Gareth organises additional rehearsals

'with a local choirmaster, to help speed up their progress.'

Good, now, can we just do the rhythm?

Imagine a doorbell. # Ding dong #

# Ding dong #

-# Return to sender #

-Got it.

'Soon, word of the choir is on everyone's lips.'

So what are you actually singing?

-We're singing an Elvis song, Return To Sender.

-And that goes...?

# Gave a letter to the postman

# He put it in his sack He put it in his sack

# Ooo-ooo-ooh. #

-There's a bit more than that, though, Pete.

-Yeah.

WOMAN: # Return to sender

# Address unknown

BOTH: # No such number

# No such zone. #

It's always hard getting the first note to start it off.

Hopefully, we will have improved by the time we have another practice.

-Do you like being out and about?

-I do like being out and about...

'Before his next rehearsal, Gareth gets to grips with a postie's work out on the rounds.'

Am I doing this right? There we are. It's probably 100 years old.

Wow! There's loads in here.

I'm sorry. I'm not very good at this.

I'm sure you'd be more efficient.

-Morning, Sam.

-Morning, Gareth.

-How are you?

-Very well, thank you.

-How long have you worked for Royal Mail?

-Um... About 15 years.

-15 years? Wow.

-15 years.

-It seems to suit you, this job.

-Yeah. I love this job.

I care about the people I deliver to, speaking from the heart.

I really care about these people I deliver to.

-Who are you taking me to see?

-Lady H.

-Is she actually royalty?

-No, but she's got names. I'm Viscount Sam.

-Hello, Lady H.

-Good morning, Sam.

-And how are you?

-Not too bad.

What have you got for me? Something nice, I hope.

No, I've brought you lots of advertising and lots of rubbish.

Oh, look at that!

-What does Sam do for you?

-What does he do for me? Odd jobs. Keeps an eye on me every day.

-More than a postman?

-Oh, more than a postman. He's a friend.

Come on in. You're welcome.

He is so friendly.

I don't see many people.

So when you don't see anyone,

if only just to pass the time of the day, say, "Hello"

or "How are you? Are you OK?"

means a heck of a lot.

After all's said and done, he's my contact with the outside world, for one thing.

-Come on, Viscount Sam.

-I'm sure she'll have a name for you as well, Gareth.

-I look forward to hearing what that is.

-Give her time.

# Gave a letter to the postman

# He put it in his sack

# Put it in his sack... #

-'A few weeks later...'

-Energy here.

-'..at the next rehearsal...'

-There should be no harmony there.

'..Gareth is working hard to give the choir a more unified sound.'

There's no harmony. "A lovers' spat" is in unison.

Just sing me "a lovers' spat", three and one...

# A lovers' spat #

Oh, hello! "A lovers' spat".

# A lovers' spat # It's up high for basses.

-Two, three and one...

-# A lovers' spat #

It needs a bit of energy. # A lovers' spat #

A spat! If you've ever had one, they're not great.

One, two, three and...

# A lovers' spat #

I can still hear somebody...

-Just tenors. Was it you?

-Yeah.

It may just be too high. That's at the top of your range.

-If I just stop there?

-Just that phrase. One, two, three and...

# A lovers' spat #

-It was you.

-LAUGHTER

And that's never gonna happen again!

There's no shame in being wrong. That's an important point.

This is a rehearsal room. This is a space to make mistakes and not worry about it.

So "no such zone", ready? And a one, two...

-# No such zone #

-And...

# We had a quarrel

-# A lovers' spat

-Good.

# I write I'm sorry but my letter keeps coming back #

Ooh, I like that, basses.

Well done. We're going to take a break. Thanks very much.

'We've got a hell of a lot to learn, to be honest.'

We really want to be good. And we're finding it hard to be good.

Yeah, he's working us really hard, but we definitely need it.

That's what we're here for. He knows what he's on about.

What I find frightening, he can pick out... There's 30 of us singing.

He's gone, "One of the sopranos is not quite in tune.

-"One of the tenors is slightly out."

-There's no hiding.

-No.

I'm actually really, really pleasantly surprised.

I thought it might be terrible and it wasn't.

It really felt like they started to get it and I was able to push them.

They didn't crumble. I think they're quite resilient.

There's an innate energy that I think will stand them in good stead.

OK, everyone. Let's get cracking.

'Tea break over, Gareth has a surprise for the choir.'

OK, so, it's time for an announcement.

You are going to go and perform this...

LAUGHTER

You are going to perform this in five minutes at the Mall shopping centre...

-LAUGHTER

-..in Cribbs Causeway.

Nothing brings you together as a choir like a performance.

And in some ways, it's better just to get on with it.

It's going to be cracking.

'The choir have less than an hour before they must give their first ever performance

'in one of Bristol's biggest shopping centres.'

I think the deep end is the best place to be thrown.

Because you learn there.

They're going to suddenly come together. They'll have to.

They'll have to bond together because they'll be so terrified.

I'm very, very nervous. I've got sweaty hands. I feel sick.

Just like going to the dentist. Don't really want to go.

-Have a mint.

-Ta.

-I've never performed in front of people unless I've had ten pints of beer.

-But you'll be all right.

We're going to attack it!

I think it's really exciting.

We're going to be fine.

-Will you stand by my side?

-I'll stand beside you. No problem.

OK, deep breaths, everyone.

Look! I've even got a post box for you.

Can you all shuffle forward a bit?

Roll up! Roll up!

You only ever see these guys when they're delivering your mail.

Now, they're going to sing for you. Return To Sender.

# Return to sender

# Return to sender

# I gave a letter to the postman

# He put it in his sack

-# He put it in his sack, ooh

-Bright and early next morning

# He brought my letter back

# She wrote upon it

# Return to sender

# Address unknown

# No such number

# No such zone

# We had a quarrel

# A lovers' spat

# I write I'm sorry but my letter keeps coming back

# This time I'm gonna take it myself

# Put it right in her hand

# And if it comes back the very next day

# And then I'll understand

# Written on it Return to sender

-# Return to sender

-Address unknown

# Address unknown

# No such number

# No such zone

# Return, return

# Return, return

# Return. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The Royal Mail!

Well done, everyone.

Couple of high fives?

High tens! Well done!

'I think I underestimated this lot. They've worked really hard.'

There's a lot of spirit there that I hadn't anticipated them putting so directly into their music.

That just had real gusto. And, yeah. I think they're good.

I was nervous to begin with.

But once we did it,

and I could hear so much of what we were doing,

it just felt really brilliant. I was really chuffed.

For our first performance, I thought we did very well.

There were people here that I knew.

I asked them how it sounded, because you can't hear yourself,

and they said it almost sounded angelic.

It was really lovely. And a very appropriate song, I thought.

Wonderful.

I thought it was fantastic. Honestly.

He's just telling me that there's only been three or four rehearsals, it was really good, yes.

Gather round. I'm not going to make you do anything else.

-LAUGHTER

-No more singing for today.

-How did you think it went?

-ALL MAKE POSITIVE NOISES

It was really good. I think that it was really entertaining, had lots of energy.

What was great was that I saw a lot of you come to life in the performance.

What we can do is take that energy and refine it now.

Work on making sure that every chord comes together,

like a lot of the chords came together - get the detail right.

Think how good you're going to be if we continue this level of work.

Round of applause, I think. Well done, everyone.

You'd better go or no-one's going to get their post in the morning.

# I gave a letter to the postman

# He put it in his sack

# Bright and early next morning

# He brought my letter back

# Return to sender

# Address unknown #

'With the choir now over a month into rehearsals,

'Gareth catches up with one of his basses...'

These machines sort between 25,000 and 30,000 items an hour.

'..regional manager, Tim.'

What made you audition for the choir?

-Nobody else was prepared to do it from the senior management team.

-Yeah.

I can hold a bit of a note and I thought I'd enjoy it, actually.

-Are you?

-I'm loving it.

What did you think you were going to get out of it?

Because I've got seven mail centres,

sometimes it's very difficult to get in there with people, as you'd like.

I will walk through here and somebody will call across

-and say, "Tim, choir!"

-That's nice.

-Yeah.

I'm convinced I would not have had that closer integration with people had I not been doing this.

It's interesting. I've been around the business talking to people.

The one thing that everyone's said is how much it's changed over the last ten, 15 years.

-That must have been a difficult process for some people to accept.

-Yeah.

Obviously, in human beings there's an in-built resistance to change.

Presumably, if it doesn't change and doesn't develop,

-that impacts on you very seriously.

-Yeah. On the whole business and everybody within it.

The mail market is shrinking.

Over the last four, five, six years, the competition has mushroomed.

If we don't respond to that, we can't survive.

It's really interesting.

-You've got such a different perspective on this business from the postie out on the walk.

-Yeah.

Sometimes, posties can find it difficult to relate to us

and be wary of talking to us.

Actually, all we do is a different job. We're still human beings.

It's not a case of me being better. I choose to do a different job.

'I think Tim's got quite a hard job.

'I feel it might, at times, be rather a lonely position to be in.'

People do have a problem talking to the management.

'Whereas, in the choir, I think people are responding to Tim differently.

'That is the purpose of the choir, bringing people together'

to work positively together.

'In just a few months, the choir will compete against other workplace choirs in a nationwide contest.

'To prepare them, Gareth needs to set another challenge.'

KEYBOARD PLAYS CHORDS

'He's working on a new musical arrangement.'

I picked a song that's really bright in a major key, it's really optimistic, fast and upbeat.

And it's got... Ha! It's got real energy about it!

I thought of lots and lots of songs,

but this song is about all the positive people here.

It's the right song for them, a song they can all get behind.

It's good. It's a really good song.

CHEERING

LAUGHTER AND WHOOPING

Hello.

-Chicken legs!

-What? What?

-CLUCKING

I've seen more meat on a butcher's prep saw!

Would I make it as a postie? I'm not sure.

-Ready for another rehearsal?

-ALL: Yeah.

So, I think it's time for you to have a new song.

-Don't you?

-ALL: Yes.

The song that I've chosen for you is a Beatles song and it's called

We Can Work It Out.

-Good choice? Is that good?

-ALL: Yeah.

I'm glad you said that. It's a really good song.

I'm going to give you the music. Here we go.

Shall we just sing the tune at the beginning? One, two, three and...

# Try to see it my way

# Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on?

# While you see it your way

# Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone

# We can work it out

# We can work it out. #

Yeah, this T business at the end.

It's got to be together. I can't have an extra one at the end.

-Three, and...

-# We can work it out

# We can work it out-t-t #

LAUGHTER

I've got somebody doing it massively late and very loud.

I've got some people doing it right and some people going...ttttt.

Guessing. Guessing is fatal. If you're not sure, don't do it.

We can work it o-ou-t. That's it. Great.

-Now try and sing it like that.

-LAUGHTER

Two, three and..

# We can work it out

# We can work it o-out #

Well done, guys. That's really good. Do you know what's exciting for me?

You have all just confidently looked through a piece of music

for the first time and nobody looks flustered.

-You're all just going, "Oh, yeah."

-LAUGHTER

I loved the song when it came out.

The Beatles were out when I was a young boy. I was born in 1954.

I don't look it, but I am that old.

I loved it first time round, when it came out.

-Are you old enough, Jo, to remember that?

-No.

-I'm not old enough to remember it.

-Just a lovely song.

-Good song choice?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

I'm hoping you picked it cos it's not too difficult to learn.

Not entirely that. No. That wasn't it, I'm afraid.

'With a good response to his song choice,

'the next day, Gareth is on the hunt for a soloist to open the piece.

'18 choir members put themselves forward.'

-Hello, Tim.

-It's like waiting for the dentist.

-Yes.

-It's worse than the dentist. I'm going to inflict real pain.

-Oh, dear.

Two, three and one...

# Try to see it my way

# Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on?

# While you see it your way

# Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone #

Good.

'As they sing, Gareth discovers the lyrics have struck a chord.'

My situation as a postman, sometimes I feel that the managers aren't really listening to what we say.

That first line, "Try to see it my way" is really quite relevant at the moment.

-Yeah.

-The recent changes have really taken hold of people, I think.

I think morale is quite low at the moment, which is a shame.

-Thank you very much, Pat.

-# While you see it your way

# Run the risk of knowing that our love would soon be gone. #

I think it is a really good song.

We've been fighting against each other for years about all these changes.

I've been with the Royal Mail for 12 years and I've seen many changes.

Not one of them has ever gone through without a fight.

-Thank you, Mandy.

-Thank you.

-That was great.

It's interesting how music can get everyone talking. It does bring people together.

You feel OK about talking with people that you sing with.

I think you feel closer to them, and it's a very positive force.

If I can get them to sing with that kind of positive ambition,

it'll be great.

# Try to see it my way Do I have to keep... #

'I'm very proud of working for Royal Mail.'

As long as they don't sell us on to somebody else.

I'm a royalist. I think a lot of the Queen and the royal family.

So I hope that we don't... Sorry.

-No, that's all right. You don't want to be separated from your boss.

-No!

Not really.

# Try to see it my way

# Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on?

# While you see it your way

# Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone... #

'I can actually see me'

with my boss, using that top line in a conversation.

-"Try to see it my way." He'd probably come in with the second line.

-Maybe!

Maybe we should get your boss in to do it as a duet.

I think we can work together

and we can sort all these issues out, I really do.

-Right, OK.

-Thanks very much, Sam.

Well done.

I'm leaning towards a man for this solo. I feel that's right for this company and for this song.

I've now got the problem of figuring out which of the men it's going to be.

So, I know you're all dying to find out how the solo auditions went.

We're going to cut to the chase and get on with it.

First thing to say is everyone who went for it did a fantastic job.

Hats off for that.

The person who's going to do the solo is...

LAUGHTER

..is Sam.

CHEERING

So, very, very many congratulations, Sam.

Did an absolute stand-up job.

-He's absolutely terrified!

-LAUGHTER

But listen, this is a team.

-We're all behind him, right?

-ALL: Yes.

So, it is going to be time for you to do your next performance fairly soon.

I want you to perform to

the rest of the workforce.

Oh, wow!

-In three weeks' time.

-NERVOUS LAUGHTER

-It sounds worse that way.

-LAUGHTER

Shall we have a go at it? Sam, would you like to come out to the front?

-CHEERING

-Come and stand here.

Up we get. Let's put it to the test.

OK, here we go. One, two, three and...

# Try to see it my way

# Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on?

# While you see it your way

# Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone

# We can work it out

# We can work it o-out. #

'This is one of the biggest things, apart from seeing the kids born'

and marrying my present wife, and a few other sporting events,

'this is right up there with them.'

# We can work it out

# We can work it o-out #

I'll give it a go. I don't know if he's got a reserve.

But if he helps me... My fear is letting people down. I hate letting people down.

# We can work it o-out #

There we go. Well done. Give Sam a round of applause.

CHEERING

This song is just... It hits the nail on the head.

I think that people, when they hear of us,

will be inspired by the choir.

And think, "These guys are sending a message out to every individual."

And I think people will sit up and notice

and, who knows, relationships, to some extent, could improve

-on the basis of us delivering this message.

-Well done, Sam.

Go back and join the tenors and let's have another crack at it.

I'm not surprised that he got it.

When he was talking, I could feel myself getting quite choked-up.

And everyone was going, "Yeah."

You could feel yourself sort of getting, yeah, choked-up with it.

That was exactly the right choice. Fantastic choice, I think.

'I'm a manager. He's a postman. We're sitting side-by-side.

'We help each other and we're just getting along.'

What it proves, apart from the fact that he's a better singer than me, there's no difference between us.

# Life is very short... #

'In the run-up to their performance in front of their colleagues, the choir puts in the practice.'

# We can work it out

# We can work it o-out. #

That sounded loads better.

# Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone

# We can work it out #

BOTH: # We can work it out... #

It's given me an outside interest, but it's also given me a bit of pride back in myself.

Cos I want to do the best I possibly can.

Standing up, please. It needs to sound light and optimistic...

'And Gareth works them hard.'

Don't hammer the message over the head.

# I have always thought #

Can it be balanced? Too much soprano and not enough alto.

# Think of what I'm saying #

Already, it's much too loud. Everyone's singing the same part so it becomes much louder.

'When Gareth's been here pushing us like this,'

we always go away feeling really confident, so it's what we need.

If I'm going like this, what do I want?

Flowing, right. If I go like that?

I want you to jab the sound in my eye!

LAUGHTER

'The key thing for us at the moment is absolutely to do our best'

and to say we couldn't have done any better.

# Ooo-ooo-oooh. #

Well done. That was so much better and it's only three hours!

-LAUGHTER

-Well done! Have a seat.

That's it for rehearsal.

I think it's in very good shape. Thanks very much. You may go home.

Well done.

'In less than 24 hours, the choir will perform for their colleagues

'for the first time.

'Gareth is on his way to a meeting to help drum up support.'

Tim Barber has just taken over

and he's now doing a massive PowerPoint presentation

about the choir to 40 of the regional managers.

These are the people that run the Royal Mail across most of the south of England.

..But before I do that, I'd like to introduce Gareth.

Round of applause for Gareth.

Thank you very much. Hello. Good to see you. Hi, Tim.

As a choir, we work together brilliantly. We help each other.

We support each other. We put up with each other's mistakes.

Actually, when we get it all right, it sounds fantastic.

Why doesn't that translate to the workplace? What is it we're missing?

There's a belief and there's a passion in our people that we don't know about.

Because we don't ask them. Gareth HAS asked them.

I think Gareth was pretty stunned,

and I was certainly quite stunned, about the response that he got.

There's a real buy-in to our business and it's in people's blood.

I'm going to invite Peter to come up, who's a member of the choir.

He is actually one of my bass line colleagues.

It doesn't make a difference who you are, because we're all after the same object. We're all singers.

The choir's brought us all together and instead of being individuals,

we end up as a team.

We look forward to singing together. I know it sounds a bit wussy,

blokes singing, but it helps us all.

We're all thinking the same way choir wise, but also work wise.

I didn't know Tim, but I didn't realise how big he is until now!

LAUGHTER

I always say singing cannot change things.

It can't make you better if you're sick. It can't turn round the fortunes of a company.

But it's really amazing what it can do for morale.

I'm hoping that as many of you as possible will come to the performance tomorrow.

It's going to be a great opportunity for YOU, the management,

to support the workforce, visibly, be there cheering them on.

Because they're doing something that is absolutely FOR the company, not just for themselves.

Can I have a show of hands? How many people are thinking of coming?

-That's more like it.

-Everyone!

-I'm going to check!

-LAUGHTER

Thank you, everybody.

'It's so good having Tim in the choir.

'If this message came from the workforce on their own,'

it wouldn't be translated into the language that managers understand.

"What can we get from this? What are the goals?

"What are the clear lessons that we can take?"

That's the language that managers speak and Tim has just translated

everything that we've done in the choir and put it into something tangible for this business.

I hope that it has an impact.

'The day of the performance.

'As the audience begin to take their seats...'

-There's my sister!

-'..the choir get ready.'

I'm glad they're here.

I am nervous. I'd be a liar if I wasn't.

A lot people have made the effort to come from our office to see us.

I take it seriously. I don't want to let these guys down.

I never imagined I could be this nervous.

Waiting for my lift, I was pacing round the house.

I was ready too early and didn't know what to do with myself.

Starting to get the adrenaline going now. Getting a little bit nervous.

That's a buzz. It's not fear. I'm really looking forward to it.

I know we're good, we're well-practised, we've worked hard.

I know it's going to come together - so, confident at the same time.

'What the choir don't know is that Gareth has invited a special guest.

'Ralph Allwood, former head of music at Eton College,

'is one of three judges who'll decide which choir will win the final contest.'

Everybody wants to be excellent. Everybody loves excellence.

It's my job to make sure that I am judging at the highest level.

People don't want you to go in, say "well done" and pat them on the head.

They want to know how they can get better in the smallest detail.

'Ralph will be hidden amongst the audience of family and work colleagues.'

-Hello, everyone. Hi.

-EVERYONE: Hello!

-Everyone OK?

-Yes, thank you.

Right, come and gather round.

It feels that we've got something to prove today.

We've got to go out there and prove that this hasn't been a jolly,

it hasn't been about relaxing, it's been incredibly hard work.

You've taken on the mantle of singing for your entire company.

Very well done for taking that on.

-Is everybody ready? Fighting spirit?

-ALL: Yes.

Let's go and do it.

Ready?

-WHISPERS:

-All right?

-Yes.

-It's going to be fine. Just have fun.

We're going to have fun!

Hello. Thank you very much. Good evening.

Thank you very much for welcoming me into your company.

It's incredible to be in a space like this.

Who gets to come into these sorts of buildings? It's been fascinating to nose around the Royal Mail.

I have to say, after looking in mail bags and post boxes

and bothering people at machines,

I found a fantastic group of 30 people who I'm going to introduce you to now.

This is, ladies and gentlemen, the Bristol Royal Mail choir.

CHEERS AND WHISTLES

For me, it's really important

that you get behind this choir for the contest.

They need your support and to feel, going into this contest,

that they represent you.

It's going to be nerve-racking. Look at them. They're nervous already!

The song I've chosen for them is We Can Work It Out by the Beatles.

Here we are.

PIANO PLAYS CHORD

# Try to see it my way

# Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on?

# While you see it your way

# Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone

# We can work it out

# We can work it o-out

# Think of what you're saying

# You can get it wrong and still you think that it's all right

# Think of what I'm saying Oooh

# We can work it out and get it straight or say good night

# We can work it out

# We can work it o-out

# Life is very short

# And there's no ti-ime

# For fussing and fighting, my friend

# I have always thought

# That's it's a cri-ime

# So I will ask you once again

# Try to see it my way Oooh

# Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong

# Ooh While you see it your way

# There's a chance that we might fall apart before too long

# We can work it out

# We can work it o-out

# Oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh. #

CHEERING

I wasn't expecting it to be as good as that.

It was brilliant.

I got right into the swing of it. Leg was going. Fingers was going.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I think for all these people to come and support us,

I thought it was...well, amazing to see everyone.

Well, you can't describe it, really. It was brilliant.

Within the choir itself, we are such a brilliant bunch of friends.

I can't describe it. It's been fantastic.

One of them held my hand up there cos I was so nervous!

I've heard lots of great things, lots of positive feedback,

but I really was not prepared for what we witnessed tonight.

They were absolutely amazing.

Hello!

CHEERING

Well done, everyone.

-Really good. Are you happy?

-EVERYONE: Yes.

I'm happy, too. I think you did a great job. You became a choir.

I'm not going to tell you all the things that we might want to fix

or might want to work on, because somebody else is.

Oh, no!

In the audience was a man called Ralph Allwood.

He is one of the judges from the contest.

GROANING

The reason that Ralph is here is to give you some feedback about your performance.

-Oh, right...

-Right now!

-Oh, yes!

-I'm going to go and get him.

Yeah!

So, I am delighted to introduce you to Ralph Allwood.

He's an eminent conductor and choir trainer. This man knows about choirs.

I have no idea what he's going to say. He hasn't told me.

I'm in the same boat as you, so I'll have a listen.

Thank you, Gareth. Thank you very much.

That was all beautifully together. The feeling was together.

The rhythm was there.

Lovely solo at the beginning, Sam.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Now, I wouldn't be being a judge unless I told you one or two little ideas for future improvement.

First of all,

you made a lovely sound, but I think you could make a sound with more impact.

You were a little bit tentative about yourselves.

The second point is there was a certain nervousness in your eyes, of course!

You came onto the stage and you looked at us,

"Good lord! This is an audience and we are singing to them!"

And you stared at Gareth as if you were on a sinking ship and he was a life belt.

LAUGHTER

Now, Gareth and I will both say to you that was really good,

so you can stop staring at him and just look out and enjoy it!

OK? Thank you.

-Thank you. Thank you very much.

-It was very good.

You've heard it now.

I absolutely agree with everything Ralph said.

And nothing that Ralph said is too difficult for you to achieve.

You can achieve that with hard work.

You can go home and feel really happy with a job well done.

-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

We're on a crest of wave at the moment. Everyone is riding high.

Performing like we did this evening in front of all those people,

the message is going to spread, I know it will.

The women in our office can't keep their mouth shut, anyway!

The other thing is, they were hugely impressed and we didn't nail it.

-When we do nail it, we'll be unstoppable.

-Yeah.

There were musical things that didn't quite come off, but as a performance, it really worked.

I'd like to see more from them.

I feel like they've got the potential to go further,

but that's what the next stage is all about.

'Next week, Gareth is at Manchester Airport.'

This is your captain speaking. We are cleared for take-off.

'The search for singers gets off to a bumpy start.'

If I sung out there, it'd clear that airfield.

'As the heat is turned up...'

That was the most intense thing I've ever done!

'..the pressure mounts.'

-I'm sorry. I'm not usually like this.

-Toughie like you?

I'm a bit nervy now. Ooh! # Shooby-do-doo! #

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