Penalties

I have a bit of a history with penalties. In 98 we were penalized at prelims because our baritone soloist went on a bit of a stroll towards the stands. He'd been doing it all year, but prelims seemed like a good time to start giving penalties. lol

The most famous incident was in 2005 when we famously trooped the stands at finals and were assessed a penalty that dropped us from 2nd to 3rd place. I've since been told by many sources that it should have been a fine and not a penalty, but it doesn't matter. We know what placement we earned.

Then there's Saturday night: new team, new tradition of penalties. lol We were assessed a 4.2 point penalty. People were in shock (not us...we expected it). They asked "What the hell did you do to get that penalty?", to which my response was "Excessive awesome." I guess DCA people don't have much of a sense of humor, but whatever. I was amused.

In truth, we just didn't do our closer. We only put out 7.5 minutes of show, and DCA decided that this year they weren't going to be lenient at the first show with timing penalties. So be it.

This show was way too early in the year for us to be going out there and really doing anything, much less putting out all of our show. Honestly, we only have 6 or 8 pages left to learn. We could have easily done 9+ minutes of show...maybe even 10, but I wasn't going to do that to the corps. It wasn't ready, I knew it wasn't going to be ready, and I wasn't about to send a young corps out there destined to fail. That would not be fair.

Nothing against the lovely people of Wildwood, but Saturday was not a productive day of drum corps for my corps. Yeah, it's nice to get in front of people, but we needed more time. It's a new corps, young and inexperienced membership...we just needed another week or two to finish pulling things together. So many adjustments, so little time.

Regardless, it's the hand we were dealt. We went, we had our day, we had an okay performance, and we left with a 4.2 penalty. On the positive side, we finally got out there, we did most of the show, everyone had a little bit of an eye opener, and we knew exactly where we stood in our progression. A lot of the staff's points were validated by the judges, and we were pretty armed and ready to go going into Sunday's rehearsal.

It rained in the morning, but we were able to get in the parking garage and do some work on technique and that sort of thing. After lunch, the sun came out and we were on the field in full ensemble. We had a great afternoon, got POINTS better, and are in a really good position going into this weekend...a weekend of nothing but rehearsal.

The plan is to get a lot of the closer out there for the Manassas, VA show. We'll likely not be able to put the entire thing out there, but we'll do our best. We only have so much time. In hindsight, our winter schedule hurt us a bit...and we all know it, so changes for 09 will definitely happen there.

...and that's really the whole thing. We're learning. Everyone in the organization is learning right now. It's exciting, new, and most people seem willing to work extra hard and just have blind faith that this new corps, this new direction, new philosophies are all going to pay off and we're going to be better for the experience.

Saturday taught us that adversity is inevitable. Things are going to be forgotten on show days. We're going to have bad shows sometimes. Things aren't always going to be idea...but we push on. We continue to move the corps forward, because we have direction, we have a vision, and we're on a mission to prove ourselves.

What I'd like to see next is some confidence. I'd like to see some of our younger members get comfortable enough with the show that they start to develop that big, tough, drum corps confidence. It's exciting to watch that develop in people who are new to the activity. Drum corps is where people can come to be badasses. Whether you are one or not in your "normal" life, you are when you're here.

It was a bumpy start to the season, but I've received tons of positive feedback from friends, strangers, fans, and people completely unaffiliated with us at all. I guess there's something in the show that is coming across, even though we're not clean. This weekend we'll move on a little more, and hopefully we roll into Manassas next weekend with little rehearsal time and more than a few parades under our belt, and we throw down for the crowd and have a good show. No matter what, if we get better every time we're at rehearsal...it's going to be a great summer.

Are you kidding me?

Seriously...you have got to be kidding me.

The week before the first show, and our entire ensemble block gets rained out? Seriously?

Yep.

We worked hard all day in drill and sectionals, and now the first time we'll see the fruits of our labor will be in Wildwood on the day of the first show. Oh, that's just freakin' great.

I'm all for rehearsing in the rain, but this wasn't rain...it was ridiculous. When it stopped raining briefly, there was still lightning...so we just ended up in the parking garage refining our visual technique and doing some standstill ensemble music. The guard was able to learn some new work and solidify the stuff that they have.

I didn't say it was a waste of time. We don't waste any time at Fusion. It does put us in a bit of a pickle as far as next weekend's first show is concerned. There are things we've never done as an ensemble before. There are things that really needed to be tightened down. All of that is going to have to happen the day of the first show. It sucks, but it is what it is, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it.

Everything is really coming together nicely...at least musically speaking. I have yet to see most of the guard work because we've had so much sectional time lately in order to allow them to catch up. It'll be a surprise for everyone on Saturday. Can't wait.

What will save the day is if the members show up ready to work from the second they get off the bus. We go on first, and therefore don't have much rehearsal time on Saturday. We need to rehearse smart and efficiently...and that CAN happen if the corps has the right mindset. If they come in flat and not really into it, we're dead in the water. Saturday will say a lot about us as a drum corps, that's for sure.

I'm looking forward to seeing my old team, the Bushwackers. They have a great show this year, and my fiance is marching in the mellophone line. Hopefully I'll have the chance and won't be stuck listening to tapes while they're on.

I hope to have some pictures soon...maybe a recording or two. We'll see. I hope everyone out there in blog-land is well.

Feel the Heat!

Wow...what a scorcher this last weekend was! It was the first ridiculously hot weekend of the summer, and we made it through...barely.

Saturday was a great day. The corps got to spend the day in Wildwood, NJ so we could perform in the annual Elks Convention parade. We marched for the Penns Grove lodge, and they really seemed to dig us. The weather was hot, but we were so close to the ocean that it kept the temperature down to a reasonable level. I got BURNT to a crisp because I'm a moron.

The parade was good and the crowd seemed appreciative of us, so that was nice. Afterwards the Elks fed us back at the hotel, and we warmed up and performed a standstill concert of our 2008 production of "MOMENTUM" for them...to much hooting and hollering. They want us back, so I guess we must have been pretty good. The members and the staff weren't overly impressed...but hey...sometimes you have to take into account what the drum corps novice's opinion is. After all, many of the folks we'll be playing to all summer haven't ever marched.

The corps got to spend some time on the boardwalk in the afternoon just relaxing and enjoying each other's company. I, and much of the rest of the staff present, went to Kelly's...a bar that is well known as a drum corps hang out at events such as this. It was a good time, I got to bond with some of the staff and members, and I have an even better feeling about the summer and my place in my new corps.

Sunday was brutal. We rehearse on black top, which has its benefits for sure...but keeping you cool on a REALLY hot day sure isn't one of them. We lost a bass drummer almost immediately, and several people throughout the day had to take some time to regain their composure and re-hydrate. I refused to push them too hard, but didn't want to call rehearsal early. We do have to learn how to practice and achieve great things in all weather, but to me it didn't make any sense to mercilessly beat them because it was the first hot day, they wouldn't retain anything, and we're two weeks out from our first show. I didn't want to chance losing anybody.

That being said, taking steps back is never an option...so we learned more drill for the closer, we had sectionals for about 2 hours, and we did a full ensemble rehearsal to put music and drill together in Ride. It was about half way through ensemble that we really started having issues with health, so eventually I told them to get a drink and come back to ensemble arcs so we could just put music together and get some reps. We went right up until quitting time, and while we weren't in the greatest shape afterwards, I think we learned something about ourselves and what kind of preparation we need to do during the week AND during the weekend to be able to perform and practice at a high level.

As I said to the corps, it's not going to get much cooler. It's a summer activity and we have to condition ourselves to be able to perform in it. Weather is never an excuse.

I hope it's cooler this weekend, needless to say. We have a one day rehearsal this weekend (just Saturday), and then the following weekend is the first show...back in Wildwood! It's crunch time, and the show isn't quite ready for prime time yet. We won't be performing the closer in Wildwood, so this coming Saturday we won't be touching that at all. The whole day will be devoted to solidifying Kinetic, Fractal, and Gift so that we can put our best foot forward on the 21st and perform a solid, albeit incomplete show. After the first show we'll have 3 rehearsals to put as much closer in there as possible for Manassas, VA. I don't know if we'll rock out the whole thing...but we'll do a lot of it.

To me, Clifton is the big deal. I want the entire show done and cooking by Clifton. I think that's reasonable if the members do what they have to do. By and large I'm really happy with the staff and the way they have prepared the members to this point. The members work hard, and I'm constantly impressed with their heart. Right now we, as a whole, need to improve on the Monday to Friday aspect of drum corps. We have Saturday and Sunday down pretty damn good. M-F needs some work.

And there it is...this Saturday is the LAST pre-season rehearsal. By the end of Saturday we'll know exactly who and what we're putting on the field on the 21st! I'm excited to see my first drum corps show ever under the lights, and I'm even more excited to watch the members throw down. Everything has turned out much better than I ever expected. I could have never anticipated this quick of a turn around. This was supposed to be a transition year...a building year. Now, here we are...a big class A corps (bigger than some open class corps) with a killer show and we're DOING it. They get it. I'm very impressed and excited.

Hope to see you readers out there (if there are any of you left! I have no idea if anyone actually reads this thing) at a show this summer. Hopefully it cools off a bit! 82 all summer sounds good to me!

Wildwood!

Finally...a "relaxing" weekend is almost here!

That statement is partially sarcastic...because we have drum corps all weekend. Fortunately for my own sanity, Saturday will be spent in Wildwood, NJ. We have a parade (the Elks Parade) down there on Saturday morning, which means nothing for me. Parades very much fall outside of my "world" as a P.C. We will have time before and after the parade to get in some sectionals and hopefully some standstill ensemble rehearsal...but nothing too major. Just enough to get everyone back into the swing of the show. Technically, I don't really need to be there for that, except the ensemble rehearsal...but I really wanted to go down and spend the day with the corps. I'm looking forward to being near the ocean, having a good time with my friends who are on staff, and hanging out with my new friends at Fusion.

Honestly, it should be a relaxing day...and I need it. I've been a terrible big ball of stress lately. I'm not really doing very well at all...but I'm working on it, and I'm getting better. I'm trying to enjoy things, but there just doesn't seem like there's enough hours in the day to get everything done.

Being P.C. at Fusion is pretty stressful. There's a lot of work to do during the week just so that on the weekends the staff can just worry about teaching, and the members can just worry about knowing their stuff. There's a lot of "stuff" I didn't exactly bargain for when I took the job, but I guess that's the case with any job...especially when you're managing things and working with as many people and various personalities as I am. It's okay...it's the gig.

I'm writing for 6 bands this year, which is cool. It's just hard to balance when shows aren't picked until April/May...and then every director wants their music all at the same time. Oh, and I work during the day, have an hour commute home in traffic, and teach bands 2 or 3 nights a week. It's a lot, and I want to give everything my all. I do. I always do. It just takes its toll, and I often feel like I can't do enough.

...but I chose that path for myself. I wanted to be the big arranger/program guy. I wanted to teach and help kids get a good experience in this activity. I knew I couldn't pay the bills doing it and that I'd have to work a regular job. I'm not complaining as much as I'm just blogging about what's going on in my life.

Had rehearsal with one of my bands last night. They have a lot of show music in their hands...have for a while now. The show is going to be cool if the students make the commitment to doing the work. It's about as "outside the box" as I've ever gone with design. It's very indoor-ish, Bluecoats-ish...but still cool. I just hope they figure it out sooner rather than later.

JR finished the drum book for Fusion a week or two ago. I've been done for a while. That means all the music for our 08 production of "Momentum" is completed. Sigh. It was fun...what a cool and creative process. I think that all of us, including Izzy, have gotten a lot out of the process. I've already informed the staff that I'm taking suggestions for next year's show beginning now. My plan is to start serious talking about it in August and have enough of it solidified that I can announce the show right after championships in Rochester. I want one season to hand right off to the next. I haven't received any suggestions yet...and I have some of my own. I know that quite a few of the staff members are excited about it though, and are giving it a lot of great thought.

The corps as a whole is doing pretty well. We had a weird day on Saturday. Didn't seem like the corps I've come to know showed up at first. We picked it up as the day went on, but playing catch up at rehearsals is difficult to do and still maintain your standards of quality. It poured on us at the beginning of ensemble so we took it into the parking garage and did standstill ensemble for the rest of the night. That was a KILLER rehearsal. Something in the rain soaked into the members and washed away all the BS...because we had one of our most productive rehearsals of the year. The drums seized the opportunity to really get the closer under their hands...something that needed to be done. They just needed reps really bad, and boy did they get them.

The brass is starting to find their inner ANIMAL. They're starting to play with a controlled ferocity that makes me happy! You can't learn to play loud without playing loud, and you can't approach drum corps with a scared, timid attitude. You have to go after it 100%, all the time. Drum corps is where everyone can feel free to embrace their inner badass. They're starting to figure it out, and it's wonderful to see the transformation.

The guard is still a bit of an enigma to me. I don't get to spend much time with them, and they're so busy trying to learn work and drill all at the same time...I don't really want to disturb them. What's been written so far is very effective and cool...right in their wheelhouse as far as ability level goes. We have some very, very talented spinners and dancers, and then we have some girls who are learning...but learning quickly. The great divide between the two groups gets closer and closer every weekend. It's really encouraging.

I'm personally pretty proud of the girl I drive up, Angelika. Last year she could barely get through her high school band show...now the girl is making herself do drum corps and is really showing a lot of improvement.

There are now 10 ex-Bushwackers on the staff of Fusion. I get a little bit of crap from both corps about it, but I don't care. There are people at Fusion who insinuate that I only hire Bushwackers because I'm trying to turn Fusion into the Bushwackers...or something to that effect. Then there are the Bushwackers who kind of bristle at the fact that so many 'wackers have come to Fusion. I understand both points. Of course, I'm not stealing Bushwackers...no one BELONGS to anyone. And I'm not trying to turn Fusion into Bush...it really is just that the most qualified people I know are/were Bushwackers. The people that I feel most comfortable working with...especially in my FIRST YEAR as the P.C., when I'm trying to establish my program and build a championship caliber drum corps that can sustain success over the long term...not just be a flash in the pan...are all Bushwackers! I marched there for 12 years and no where else. Who else am I going to know?

I haven't brought in any "duds" either, and I have tried to hire from outside my drum corps circle of acquaintances. The guy we hired originally to teach the pit was from central PA and never marched drum corps before. He ended up quitting because he got a job as a VP somewhere...pretty important. So what did I do? I brought in a Bushwacker to take his place! lol Hey...our pit deserves the best instruction I can find them...that's willing to come to a place that's completely un-established...that's willing to, frankly, work with a 2nd year Class A corps. The whole corps deserves world class instruction. It just so happens that I find what I'm looking for in several of the people I have worked with at Bush.

It's a good situation all around. I did the Bushwacker thing for a long time...I don't need to continue it somewhere else. We'll have our own style...our own approach to drum corps. We're going to play whatever we want and take programming to a new level in DCA. We're going to build something sustainable...something for the members of this corps to believe in. It takes a huge, coordinated team effort to build something like that from the ground up. So, I called people I trust and respect...and who trust and respect me.

So, yeah...if you're in Wildwood on Saturday, look for us. We'll be doing a standstill concert at whatever hotel we're at (Sandpiper Inn I think)...so check it out. Afterwards, I'll likely be at Kelly's or roaming the boardwalk just enjoying drum corps...and enjoying life. I need to do that more, and Saturday will be a good starting point for that.