The outside air is frigid, red and pink colored candies line the aisles of grocery stores, "The Bachelor" is halfway over, and the sounds of hundreds of voices fill the air of both high school auditoriums and Samford's Wright Center. Yep, it's February. And with February comes two major choir and performance-oriented events: show choir season, and Samford University's annual Step Sing performances. Both events attract thousands of spectators and entertain audiences of all kinds. To an outsider, both events are almost identical. However, as both a "show choir kid" and a current Step Sing participant, I've made a handy compare/contrast list of how show choir and Step Sing both coincide, as well as differ.

Similarities

1. Show choir and Step Sing are both singing and dancing performances that encompass a general theme, and relay a story on stage in front of a live audience.

2. Show choir and Step Sing both take place in the second semester of school.

3. Both events attract large audiences, sometimes into the upper thousands.

4. Both involve the purchasing of elaborate costumes and set pieces.

5. Both are competitions where only the best and most creative groups come out on top.

6. Winners from both groups get automatic bragging rights about their win for the rest of the year.

7. Both have t-shirts available for purchase at the performances.

8. Both can only be attended by outsiders with a ticket.

9. Both are judged by a panel of mysterious judges.

10. Both show choir and Step Sing have girl only groups, guy only groups, as well as mixed groups.

Differences

1. Step Sing performances take place completely on a flat stage that has a duct tape grid on it.

2. Show choir performances take place on risers.

3. Step Sing dancing is based on complex formations.

4. Show choir dancing is based on stationary, complex dance moves.

5. Step Sing is almost always upbeat and has everyone onstage at all times.

6. Show choir has ballad numbers, and frequently switch out people onstage for various numbers.

Example: a solo, girl's numbers, guy's numbers, etc.

7. Step Sing has one uniform costume that is worn throughout the entire show.

8. Show choir has multiple outfit changes.

9. Step Sing shows are only about 6 minutes total.

10. Show choir shows are usually about 20 minutes total.

While these two very popular performances have their differences, they also come with their similarities as well. However, the biggest similarity that both events hold is one that makes the biggest impact: they bring smiles and enjoyment to people of all kinds. No matter if you're sitting in a high school auditorium, or the top of the balcony at the Wright Center, you leave smiling after being entertained by hundreds of dedicated, hard-working young adults. Events like these are the spice of life: they bring people together as one to sit down, forget their problems, and watch two of the best types of performances anyone can watch.