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On A Water Break Weekly: Carolina Crown Field Crew, AI Show Art, and Dynamic Performers
129 Plays5 days ago
We’re back and LIVE again on YouTube with hosts Trish O’Shea (@trishdish1002), Jackie Brown (@spintronixguard), Jose Montes III (@marchingbymontes), and Joey Montes — joined this week by winter guard judge and educator Ashley D’Amore and our favorite sideline perspective, Sharon Boyd (@therealbandmom).
SEGMENT 1: THE SIDELINES & BONUS EPISODE PREVIEWSWe kick things off with a quick welcome and look ahead at what’s coming up:
- An international episode featuring the Color Guard Alliance of the Philippines
- A candid chat with Brandy Keeton (University of Alabama & Alta Marea)
- A WGI engagement recap with the couple from Tampa Independent
- A summer preview with siblings Piper & Avery Click heading to Blue Devils
- Alicia’s deep dive into body size and space in the marching arts
SEGMENT 2: MARCHING ARTS NEWS
- Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps sparks controversy with a $1700 “Field Set Crew” post targeting 18–22-year-olds. The backlash was immediate — and now they’re “reevaluating.” Sharon (The Band Mom) gives her honest thoughts.
- Jackie reports on Avon Band Director Jay Webb’s appearance in Travis Scott’s Coachella show
- Spartans announce their 2025 show “Mistica” but face heat for using AI-generated art before quietly swapping it out
- Michigan’s Reeths-Puffer HS Band is the focus of a new documentary
- WGI launches BEAM: a real-time performance feedback platform
- Ultimate Drill Book rolls out the “Listening Zones” feature to help students better understand ensemble timing
- Peak Group Travel shares their weekly travel tip
SEGMENT 3: 60-SECOND TECH BLOCK / WATER WE DOING / GUSH AND GOAshley D’Amore delivers a 60-Second Tech Block on Dynamic Efforts & Qualities — and the crew reacts in real time. In this week’s “Water We Doing?” segment:
- Sharon asks why indoor winds still don’t get as much attention
- Ashley begs groups to practice getting on and off the floor to avoid last-second chaos
- Trish wants drum corps to stop waiting until mid-season to announce their show themes
- Jose shares frustrations as a drill writer being asked for August-ready material in April
We wrap with “Gush and Go”:
- Jackie’s middle school mini guard is ready for their big debut
- Ashley shares her summer spinning with her 2-year-old to Chapel Roan
- Sharon celebrates her son graduating with a music ed degree and aging out with the Blue Devils
- Jose has a few open choreography spots and is finally relaxing after WGI
Want to be a guest on the pod? Fill out the form at the link in our bio or email us at onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow us @onawaterbreak, leave a review, and share the show.
We’ll see you at the next rehearsal — On A Water Break.
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Transcript
Introduction and Engagement
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey everyone and welcome back On A Water Break, the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal on a water break. I'm Trisha O'Shea.
00:00:12
Speaker
This week's episode, we are live and we have some great guests and lots of news to discuss. We'll also find out what may Jackie say. Because what are they going to be doing the rest of the time? They're not pushing props 16 hours a day.
00:00:27
Speaker
And why Joey said... i'm i am only 32, but I still don't understand technology. so All this and more on this week's episode of On a Water Break.
00:00:41
Speaker
Adolph the Met and go. Welcome to On a Water Break. The podcast where we talk everything marching arts.
00:00:53
Speaker
Everyone, bring it in. It's time for a water break. a water break Hey everyone, it's Trish. We have a great episode this week. So before we see, before we start, let's see who's on the sidelines this week. But before we do that, go and subscribe on your favorite listening app, write us a review, share this with a friend.
00:01:12
Speaker
If you got a question or a good topic to talk about, email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com or find us on social media and DM us if you want to be on the show.
00:01:24
Speaker
We even have a form now to fill out if you want to be a guest. Check it out at our link in bio. So who's on the sidelines this week? I know Jack. Oh, I will do that.
00:01:36
Speaker
Okay. um So we have... and um Well, let's do this. Let's do this before we even introduce them. Let's take the time to preview some amazing episodes of bonus content that we have going on.
00:01:51
Speaker
Our own Grand Thies will be interviewing a marching arts person from the Philippines. Jackie and Stephanie did a fantastic interview with University of Alabama, Alta Marea Guard Director Brandi Keaton.
00:02:03
Speaker
An exclusive interview with a couple from Tampa Independent who got engaged during WGI... guard world-class retreat. Siblings Piper and Avery Click joined us for a preview of their upcoming Summer with the Blue Devils and Alicia's special episode on Sighs in the Marching Arts.
Meet the Guests: Ashley and Sharon
00:02:19
Speaker
Now, we've left them on the sidelines for long enough, but joining us for this live is Winter Guard Marching Band Color Guard judge, National Anthem singer extraordinaire, Ashley Delgado de Amore.
00:02:32
Speaker
hi everybody. Hi, Ashley. Welcome to the show. Happy to be here. Happy to be here. Awesome. And we have Sharon Boyd, AKA the real band mom.
00:02:47
Speaker
Welcome Sharon. Thanks for having me. I'm so excited to have you both here. Okay. As you may or may not know, we have a feature called the 32 count life story. We'll give each of you eight off the Met.
00:03:00
Speaker
Tell everything you can from the beginning to this moment right here. Are you guys ready? Ashley, are you ready? Okay, great. okay great We're going to give you eight off the net and go. Ready?
00:03:14
Speaker
Okay, so I was born in central New Jersey. I'm a Jersey girl through and through. I grew up in the arts, theater, um marching band as well, color guard. And I taught at South Brunswick High School for a really, really long time after marching there. And then I got married. I have a two-year-old and she's wonderful and she has a future in the marching arts. And I work as a science specialist in central New Jersey.
00:03:37
Speaker
And now here I am on the podcast with all of you because I got into judging after I stopped teaching.
00:03:45
Speaker
Awesome. Tried to hit it all. Okay. And welcome everybody, Joey, to the podcast. Hi, Joey. Uh-oh. whoa but All right. Well, i like Jeremy said before, we're going to forget about them for a minute, okay?
00:04:02
Speaker
Because it is Sharon's turn to do her 32-count life story. Sharon, are you ready? Eight off the mat. Oh, I'm so scared. Yes. Okay. No! oh Just go for it.
00:04:13
Speaker
All right. I'm the band mom. I accidentally grew a social media channel about band stuff. So here I am running with it. And I've got four kids. They were all in junior high band. Three marched high school, one's marching college, music head major.
00:04:29
Speaker
We've done drum chorus. We've had kids in Guardians, Blue Stars, Blue Devils. I've got a kid age nine of P.E.D. this year. um never played an instrument, but I always loved marching bands. So I've There are a ton of volunteer work.
00:04:41
Speaker
um I sing approach if that counts. That's my only musical thing that I do. But yeah, my day job is communications. And I'm a Texan that now lives in Arkansas. Yes.
00:04:53
Speaker
See? You were both nervous and you both nailed it. Perfect. And finally, everybody finally decided to show up for rehearsal tonight. i mean...
00:05:05
Speaker
Come on. I mean, nine o'clock means 845 people. You know how it goes. Y'all are late. What is going on? I mean, you'll do always five and five now. Like what's going on? What do we do?
00:05:18
Speaker
I've got that senioritis. That's what's going on right now. That'll do it. It's the end of the season. It's past, you know, the season. No, I was freaking out. You guys saw me in the text chat. I was, you know, I can't figure i'm I am only 32, but I still don't understand technology. So when it's like, hey, reboot this, get the Wi-Fi that, like I need tech support.
00:05:41
Speaker
How do I
Social Media Fame and Judging Journey
00:05:42
Speaker
get an assistant? Can I get an assistant? Is that in the on water break budget? Do it. That's a no. I was going from one rehearsal to the other.
00:05:55
Speaker
Jackie's not captain this week. So she figured, you know, I don't have to start the stretches. can get there whenever. i had to teach the middle school rehearsal this week. So I was going from middle school rehearsal to here, like...
00:06:09
Speaker
It's impossible to get out of there. I have to answer eight seven questions about why the poll is showing out of the end of the flag where it's supposed to be showing.
00:06:19
Speaker
oh All right. So, Joey, Jackie, meet Ashley and Sharon, a.k.a. the real band moms. So guys have any questions for them before we turn it over to the hosting duties to Joey?
00:06:36
Speaker
ah Well, can I start with, can we just start with the, the the band mom. ah So see all over the the Instagrams and the TikToks and the whatnot.
00:06:47
Speaker
I mean, I don't know if we've already covered it, but how did that get started? How did that how that get going? So, yeah, I didn't even have TikTok until maybe like right after COVID. I don't know. But um the first year of my son was in DCI, he was in...
00:07:04
Speaker
No, second year DCI. They had spoon props that they slid down. and Was that Blue Stars? Yeah. theres That was Blue Stars. Yeah. So anyway, posted it woke up the next day, had 1.5 million views on it.
00:07:20
Speaker
And i was like, oh, heck, I need to apologize to my kid that I posted him on the Internet and he went viral overnight. um Anyway, the next summer, I got laid off from work.
00:07:31
Speaker
I had no work. I was unemployed. I was looking for a job. And we were going into that DCI season. And I thought, you know what? Let's see if I can get some more 1.5 million views and did a few of them. And yeah next thing I knew, i had a pretty strong channel. And then I thankfully had a job again. So I've just kind of been kept keeping it going on the side. But yeah, it was a complete accident.
00:07:52
Speaker
And I'm just trying to not embarrass kids. Yeah. I think it's awesome. And I think i think the but perspective you have, I think, is really important. And so, um yeah, like i but I was really excited to jump on. And I was really freaking out, you know, being late to rehearsal today because I really wanted to, to like, get into into this with you. I just – I thought it was so cool.
00:08:14
Speaker
You're sweet. Yeah, I get weirded out every now. Go ahead, Jackie. I'm freaking out because I follow you on your socials too. And I'm also a blue star alum.
00:08:25
Speaker
So that was actually the first like reel that I saw of yours on Instagram was like about the blue stars. And i was just like, Oh, Hey. Yep. ye Yeah. It's weird. Now when I go in public, I go in public, I'm in public all the time. When I go to band contests every now and then some kids will just walk up to me they're like, Hey band mom. And I have to like,
00:08:44
Speaker
like turn it on. That's cool. I don't put my face on a lot of the videos and it's on purpose. You know, it's not about me. It's all the kids. And so when they do see me and know me, I'm like, Oh, that's weird, but it's so fun. I give them a sticker or something.
00:08:54
Speaker
So that's what it feels like though. I feel like my normal everyday life is just not in public at all. And then you go to a competition or some, you know, event or a camp or whatever. You're like, Oh, I'm in public now. All of a sudden go to show. Yeah. It almost feels like you're like on the red carpet. Sometimes
Controversy Over Volunteer Fees
00:09:10
Speaker
you're just like, okay, I've got to, I've got to make sure I'm on. Cause now,
00:09:13
Speaker
Everybody that's everybody is now here on a Saturday. It's like, I have to have my clothes right. I've got to make sure I say the right words. You know, that's, it's a, it's an interesting, it's interesting perspective. And then I have, I have one just as a, ah as like a judge ah to judge, like Ashley, um how'd you get started into judging? This is always something that's really interested ah interesting to me is like how people get started and, and where that kind of, how you get to become,
00:09:40
Speaker
And Ashley Damore, is that correct? D'Amore. D'Amore. D'Amore. It's very, you know, NJ Italian, Jersey girls.
00:09:52
Speaker
I love it. Yeah. um you know So I started judging, I guess it's about six years ago. So I actually trialed right before COVID was like my my first year, my trialing year. um Back in the WGI certified days, right? Back in those days. And I was just starting out. and So I didn't even get there at that time.
00:10:14
Speaker
marched... but i was i marched um at South Brunswick High School for my um high school career. And then I taught there. I was their choreographer for years and years and years and years. And I started to want to make that switch a little bit.
00:10:34
Speaker
um Also, i was in the process of trying to have my daughter who we now have. And it was just a natural progression into trying to get into something new because I still love this activity so much, but wanted to approach it in a different way.
00:10:48
Speaker
So I started reaching out to a few of the people that I knew that were judges and they kind of got me on that track. And then since then I have taken the classes. i've gone i'm I'm a musical theater kid. I'm a dance kid. So I'm a trained dancer. That's what I did for before I got into Color Guard.
00:11:06
Speaker
um So I had that technical part of it. So it was a natural progression to kind of go into that movement vein, which is my bread and butter. That's the caption I love more than anything else in the world. But then now, since then, I have learned the general effect caption. So you might see me on either one indoor, outdoor um outdoor I'm on color guard. I'm on um visual effects sometimes. so so So exploring that and expanding that. And this year, i actually got to travel for the first time. So I was out in California, down in Florida.
00:11:37
Speaker
So it it was just um a matter of reaching out to people that I knew. and then they helped me get in contact with the people that could help me start training and and getting my foot into there. And now hopefully I can do that for other people to help them get into it if they're interested. So That's exciting. I think that's the hard part of, you know, I think like a Wes Pendergrass or somebody put on Facebook how hard it is to get into this world now.
00:12:04
Speaker
You know, you kind of have to, it seems like now you've got to be social media driven or you've got to know somebody or there's got to be that that connection or that, you kind of what you're talking about where it's, you know, hey, there's this opportunity here. You should go do this. Hey, there's an opportunity there.
00:12:18
Speaker
Like I know of one in Atlanta, this coming up like this week, uh, in may, you know, there's chip crotch, Richard Saucedo, they're doing a Georgia marching band judge training. Like I've been sharing that link with as many people as I can, because I think there's, there's a lot of brilliant voices that can't teach everywhere.
00:12:36
Speaker
um and, uh, like, how do you get them to to get connected? I think that's so cool. Yeah. And I think the important part is building that connection, right? So um everyone that I've met has been really open to helping each other build that. So hopefully now as a member of that community, i can also be that open component too, to help folks.
00:13:00
Speaker
Yeah. That's awesome. That's all a family. We want everybody to eat. We want everybody at the table. Right. um That's awesome. Well, we're going to cut to a quick commercial a break, and then we'll be right
00:13:19
Speaker
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00:13:31
Speaker
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00:13:44
Speaker
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00:13:59
Speaker
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00:14:10
Speaker
We can help get you great designs from our team through top vendors like Show Day Designs. Have you listened to our podcast on a water break? Weekly episodes and bonus content keep you entertained and informed with what's going on in the marching arts.
00:14:24
Speaker
For over 25 years, Guard Closet has been here to help. Check us out at guardcloset.com or follow us on social media.
00:14:43
Speaker
Okay, we're back.
News Segment and Critiques
00:14:45
Speaker
i'm Excited to have everybody here. um This is the part of the the show where we talk about the news. Does anybody have any news that be willing to share?
00:15:08
Speaker
I've got some news. Let's hear it. ah Yeah. Last week, Carolina Crayon came out with um ah position it looked like they had listed, what it was called a field crew, something like that.
00:15:23
Speaker
In the description, it called it a voluntary role. um And they wanted $1,700 to sign up to be on the field crew.
00:15:35
Speaker
So I initially like had a really gut reaction and... kind of talked it out with my husband. He played devil's advocate a little bit. I'm like, okay. why okay I could see why someone maybe want to do it, but I'm not writing a check for $1,700 for my kid to go be on a field crew and work and not march.
00:15:53
Speaker
So Yeah, that caused quite the stink. And here's the thing. and And I read between the lines because I've worked in communications for over a decade. OK, so I'm watching this and watching them reply with the follow up post where they paused ah this. And I think the word they used was reassess or reevaluate.
00:16:10
Speaker
They didn't say they weren't going to do it. Okay. So I'm just kind of watching this to see if they're waiting for things to die. And then I don't know. I don't know if they worked with comms people to do like crisis management after this or not. It might just be the way they worded it.
00:16:23
Speaker
Somebody volunteering, but I I'm watching it because I think unless, you know, some rules are made at DCI level, probably it'll happen again. So I don't know. Thoughts.
00:16:33
Speaker
but y'all think? But okay. Here's my thoughts. So do we think that there was a world in which, like, say, for example, my last year of drum corps was the first year I met my boyfriend.
00:16:46
Speaker
yeah He has no background in the marching arts whatsoever, never never even knew it existed before he met me. But he traveled a lot with me that summer. Don't we think that there's a world in which they envision somebody like that, doing that, that wanted to be a part of Carolina Crown, but had no marching arts experience whatsoever, maybe was a significant other of somebody in the Corps.
00:17:10
Speaker
i was like, hey, I would love to do it, but I can't. I can't march, I can't spin, I can't play an instrument. you know Don't we think that there's a world in which we envision that being offered to that type of person?
00:17:23
Speaker
and mean, don't have something like that for the people that want to volunteer? Because I have some college students that i keep up with in band and they're they've been looking for intern roles, right? To tour with some of these corps to just learn from the sidelines, maybe work the merch booths, maybe do whatever you know stuff needs to be done.
00:17:40
Speaker
And they get paid for it. So that's why I'm like, yeah where's that line drawn? Well, so this is where, this is where I think, I think, I think the word volunteer definitely is the, the, like where a lot of the struggle is coming from. I think if they had removed that and been very clear that you're, I feel like from what I saw and what we see Carolina Cram doing, they're looking for people to move props during the show as well.
00:18:06
Speaker
That takes it from that 150, 156 number. you know, so they're technically a student on that front. Volunteers, in my opinion, shouldn't have been on that press early release, so you know, and then that could have been towards, you know, your theater people, your, you know, I think this was just, I, wrong words.
00:18:23
Speaker
And then, you know, when this happens in in our, in our activity, when something like this happens, you know, people are are very quick to to talk about it, advocate. That's what i do appreciate about the activity.
00:18:33
Speaker
I think crown has, um, um, management to do on on this the situation. and I'm curious to see what they do. But I mean, prop prop movers are not out of the norm.
00:18:46
Speaker
I just think this is the first time that Crown said that this is exactly what they're doing, but didn't word it right. um And you're exactly right. If that word volunteer had not been in there, I don't think we'd be having this conversation. I think that was...
00:18:58
Speaker
the only reason. That was the big hubbub. The thing is, though, like, don't don't you go drum corps to get, like, the really good musical training and to get the really good visual training and to get the really good color guard training, the athletic training. So, like,
00:19:11
Speaker
What else are these people going to be doing? I assume they're going to be doing all the athletic training. But like, are they also musicians? Can they sit in on the brass blocks? Can they, you know, can they actually spin with the color guard, like just to get the training?
00:19:26
Speaker
Maybe they're not in the show. um Because what are they going to be doing the rest of the time? They're not pushing props 16 hours a day. yeah i think I think it would be I think this is so for me drum corps was not like I get to go out and i get to do this thing like I really saw it as an investment into the future in this and so I was making connections during drum corps like I would talk to people I'd talk to the drum major here I'd talk to the brass caption there you know the horn sergeant and I made connections during my marching time I think something like this is for that savvy like i I want to be a corps admin at some point I want to be a
00:20:03
Speaker
perhaps facility manager. Like, I think that's who this is for. That's not a volunteer. And that's also because they're trying to use it during the show. That's not ah like, again, volunteer, which shouldn't have been in that.
00:20:14
Speaker
I do know that at Carolina crown, there are a couple of people on the admin team that are strictly, um, strictly like, uh, when they go back home, they're theater people. Like one of them's into, event management stuff where like they have all the trusses get set up and that's their job.
00:20:33
Speaker
I could see them being interested in this, but they're already on the admin team you know like team. That could have been something to offer. I just don't know that she's aged out already, but I think that's who like would benefit from something like this as well.
00:20:46
Speaker
ah Sharon, you had something? yeah Yeah, and I think we need to keep in mind too, You could easily pay just a little bit more if you really wanted to be getting the experience and joining an open class core like Zephyrus in Oklahoma. It's brand new, it's small, the fees are low, they're expanding more every year. And I i don't know what the fees are, but I could probably drop an extra $500 or help a kid fundraise for that in March, you know, ah show.
00:21:15
Speaker
And so I think you just have to look at what you want to get out of it, because if it's just the experience, being on the sideline being on the sidelines for a top quarter might not be what you think it is where you would actually get to do that with UpClass.
00:21:28
Speaker
a But is Zephyr looking for people who have absolutely no experience whatsoever? I mean, those, some of those quarters, like I remember being at some of those low course and, you know, when, at least when I was marching, they like, Oh, you have a heartbeat.
00:21:42
Speaker
We've got a, we've got a baritone hole, you know? and you know, like I, I remember talking to some of my friends, uh, the, the years before they, they would pick up people on the road. Like I remember specifically in 2012 that we did the Indiana, uh, parade and, uh, and, uh,
00:22:02
Speaker
we saw this Ben, the Bain Davis, Ben Davis high school was there. And we're like, Hey, we have a mellow hole. Does anybody want to, and they were, they were there at, at, you know, move-ins with us like a week later.
00:22:13
Speaker
um So I don't know. I think there's a lot, but you know, we're talking about crown. Let's keep it going. Jackie, you got something? Yeah. So speaking of crown, ah i don't know if you guys have watched anything in the news about Coachella, but i Matt Harloff, Matt Harloff,
00:22:32
Speaker
went to Coachella and like he took a group of students from Crown and there was this huge, there was a whole bunch of students from an HBCU but and and like they performed at Coachella. it You might as well call it Crownchella.
00:22:48
Speaker
I mean,
00:22:52
Speaker
so it was really cool. He's also the Avon band director in case anybody doesn't know that connection there from Avon High School in Indiana, right? Yeah.
00:23:02
Speaker
Yeah, i think i think it's ah I think that's pretty cool. I mean, like, ah there's there's those memes that are going around that Harloff got off the the plane from Coachella to do Avon retreat with them. And you can see him. He's, like, walking out there, and it's like ah it's like a slow-motion movie. Like, he just got back from space, you know, and the and the astronauts are behind him. I thought that was pretty cool.
00:23:24
Speaker
Yeah, i'm I'm really excited. Nicole Younger and I are going to be – ah interviewing him here in the next couple of days. And we'll see that, that content up shortly. ah Sharon, what you got?
00:23:38
Speaker
Oh, I think you're on mute. Whoops. Okay. I was going to say, we keep forgetting to mention that HBCU band that was down there too, perform
AI in Show Design Controversy
00:23:45
Speaker
with all of them. You know, you got like a merge of all the cultures of the different band families down there. And it's a, as someone that went to my first HBCU contest, that was really cool. So I thought that was fun that they brought them together.
00:23:57
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. um It's cool when these worlds collide. And you know I like that you know a a prop ah pop icon like this has more Qibane people in it. And we kind of get that but that exposure. I think that's dope.
00:24:14
Speaker
Yeah. Let's keep pushing through there. By the way, did learn the hard way in HBCU world, band mom is a bad term, apparently. It's basically a secret.
00:24:26
Speaker
Anyway, I learned that. what are What are they? Do you know? band mom is a Karen. Oh. No. No, I know. i' And you're like, I have it on shirts and stickers. like That's funny.
00:24:42
Speaker
Well, I'll know not to say that. What do they call? Yeah, what do they call the band parents? I don't know. That was my first contest. I don't know. And they said, take that shirt off. That's not, I'm going to have to text Greg and ask him.
00:24:57
Speaker
Yeah, I'd like to know. I don't want i don't want to say the wrong thing. Trish, you got any news for us? I do. So, the Spartans Drum Review Report released their 2025 show announcement the other day.
00:25:10
Speaker
Their show is called Mystica. However, on the social media posts where they announced it, readers blew up the comments when they realized that the art was created using AI.
00:25:23
Speaker
so Who's not used Camden? I know. who i have a really good friend who's on the admin team who spent all last week doing damage control on this.
00:25:36
Speaker
The designer felt terrible. He felt terrible that the kids were the brunt of that. So they redid it and it looks really, really nice now. But, you know, what just so, um you know, so unfortunate that um you know, that that happens. And, you know, i mean, they released it. They were so excited about releasing the show title and everything. And then all the comments were, ah why do better Spartans. dish Why was this created in AI? But it's all good. Everything, they redid it.
00:26:12
Speaker
The comments were very positive over the redo. You know, good for you. Good for you changing it up and whatever. It was social media post. You know, it wasn't, props of faces rolling out on the field.
00:26:23
Speaker
Not that I've mentioned. No, no. It was social media posts. Yep. We're not calling anybody out on that one either.
00:26:33
Speaker
but you know, I mean, I use AI all the time with work and it doesn't prevent me from, you know, doing real work. and You know, as someone that's worked in comms, I use it to correct things, help me rework things. I'm prompting things.
00:26:48
Speaker
And AI is one of these, there's a gray line. It's not a hard like instant, you're stealing something. Because let's think about Randy Travis for a second. I don't know if y'all saw the Rolling Stone article they did a while back on him.
00:27:01
Speaker
They are purposely, he and his family are purposely using AI to help him continue to sing. and publish music by using his voice. And so it's not always bad. And I think you get a few bad actors online that just want to gripe about stuff. And it's, you're using Canva to make a social media post. It's really not that bad.
00:27:21
Speaker
Just want to jump in for a minute because we had a viewer comment on YouTube that from the Roundup podcast that says, don't forget about marching all age. I would never. i had the best experiences marching all age DCA back then.
00:27:40
Speaker
i was in I was in the Bushwhackers. I was in the Syracuse Brigadiers. The Brigadiers Winter Guards coming back out this year. All good stuff. I would never forget about All Age. It's one of my favorites.
00:27:53
Speaker
If you remember back when we started this podcast, I had the DCA ditch. All that good stuff. You'll hear more about it coming up. um I had a bunch of kids at cabs auditions last weekend. I got a lot of dish from that.
00:28:06
Speaker
So you'll be hearing way more about, don't worry about it. We got all age covered. Don't even worry. Awesome. Awesome. ah Ashley, do you got any news for us? Yes. So some more exciting news. And I think any news that is putting the marching arts even further in the spotlight is great news. So Wreaths Puffer High School out of Michigan actually um has is the subject of a new documentary that's being released.
00:28:35
Speaker
um And it's called In Our Eyes. And it's premiering in um In Michigan, it premiered actually on April 16th, but it's intended to kind of lift the curtain on what marching bands really do, especially in high school.
00:28:56
Speaker
Since it kind of falls within that, like, oh, we go to the football games and they do a great job. but But as all of us know, it's so much deeper than that. um And so the to have a high school group have that opportunity, especially especially a group that has been so successful in the marching arts have that opportunity, it kind of follows their journey through rehearsals all the way out through um Grand Nationals in Indiana.
New Features and Tips
00:29:25
Speaker
what so How can we watch that? I'm looking at it right now because I want to give the best information. i don't see a specific... There is definitely a YouTube link.
00:29:40
Speaker
available but I'm not seeing a specific place where it may stream because there's a YouTube trailer it says it will be available for streaming but not a specific streaming place yet when we when we get that info we'll either we'll tag that in this episode or we we'll put it in the show notes for sure yeah it's tough it's just super cool for them to be able to so i have that experience absolutely it is yeah Yeah, it's pretty cool.
00:30:09
Speaker
um i've got I've got a new story if y'all are down for it. It's something really exciting to me. It's really hard for me to explain this to kids sometimes. So um Ultimate Drovebook has launched their listening zones feature, which is like, I mean, i mean yeah it is literally just showing kids like, hey, you can't listen. You're not in this space.
00:30:28
Speaker
Hey, you can listen. You're in this space. Hey, you're probably going to need to do this. Like there was there was a little app that was on my iPhone for a couple of years. It was probably like 10 years ago. that essentially did the math of how many 30 second notes you needed to play ahead if you were this far behind the hash. And it's like no one no one has that kind of control. So Ultimate Drill Book doing this, um just kind of going through some a list of their features, they call it the key aspects of the listening zone, is the visual guidance directors can mark specific performers or sections on the UDB app drill charts to indicate who students should be listening to. I think that's absolutely awesome.
00:31:05
Speaker
um There's some improved ensemble awareness. This feature helps students understand the flow of music and where to listen for cues, promoting better timing and coordination. Enhanced timing ah by focusing on specific performers, students can better understand the timing of the music and adjust their playing accordingly. And then ah there's they're they're talking about this versatile application. The listening zones can be used throughout the marching band season from everything from like basic work blocks to final runs.
00:31:34
Speaker
And if you go to their Facebook, there's there's like videos of them doing this. I think this is an absolute game changer. And those you those of us that subscribe to the pro version, um it's already integrated into that space.
00:31:46
Speaker
um I just think that's so cool. um i think I think this is – those of us that have been talking about the formula and been like feats with beats, beats with the hand, all that stuff, now it's just – it's literally spelled out for us.
00:31:59
Speaker
i I like giggled and I got super like giddy when I saw this. I love your enthusiasm for it. And I also love your description because honestly, when I saw the ads for it, I thought it was something completely different. Now, keep in mind, I'm a color guard person.
00:32:14
Speaker
So, you know, ah completely out of context. But yeah, that's that is really, really cool. Yeah. Like that them understanding that they can only listen to this part of the battery rather than, but but the bass drums are behind me. like, yeah, but the bass drums are not the snare line, which is pushing,
00:32:32
Speaker
um ah ah you know, not not pushing that. And, you know, i just think I just, I freaked out. I freaked out, you know, and I like just trying to figure it out i some AI in that program somewhere.
00:32:50
Speaker
I bet so. You know? it's I think it's – there's got to be something in there. and you can't It's not all bad. I kind of wanted to talk about that earlier. I was like, I don't i don't think it's all bad. It's definitely a tool.
00:33:01
Speaker
And if we do use it well, it makes our jobs easier. And this is something that, like, it would make all of our lives easier, in my opinion. um Just having to, like, teach kids about you're on the 20. The melody's on the other 20.
00:33:13
Speaker
yeah You can't listen to that. But – That's where we're at today. I'm going to wrap this up and I want to kind of throw to Jackie here.
00:33:25
Speaker
Jackie, is there, would you happen to maybe possibly kind of sort of most likely definitely have a travel tip for us? I do So it is time for your peak group travel tip of the week brought to you by our sponsors at peak group travel, helping you navigate your next adventure, whether it's across the country or just to your next competition.
00:33:47
Speaker
Hi everyone, it's time for your travel tip of the week with me. I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel. Are you traveling with delicate or oversized instruments? Be sure to check with your bus company or your airline for any extra fees that you may incur or any climate-specific needs you have for your instruments.
00:34:05
Speaker
A little extra legwork before you leave could help you avoid costly repairs when you arrive. Don't forget to like and follow Peak Group Travel on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
00:34:17
Speaker
And be sure to email info at peakgrouptravel.com when you're ready to start planning your next performance tour. I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel and your travel tip of the week.
00:34:41
Speaker
Ready to elevate your travel game? Welcome to Peak Group Travel, the ultimate adventure creators. Whether you're planning an unforgettable class trip, a once in a lifetime parade experience for your marching band, or a choir tour full of memorable performance venues, Peak Group Travel handles it all so you can focus on making memories.
00:34:59
Speaker
From breathtaking international destinations to amazing adventures right here at home, Peak Group Travel customizes every journey to your vision. We're not just planners, we're your partners for the trip you want for your students.
00:35:11
Speaker
Our online registration portal makes managing your pre-trip experience smooth and convenient. We even collect your payments if you'd like. Picture it. Effortless planning, unmatched experiences, and smiles that last long after the journey ends.
00:35:25
Speaker
That's the Peak Group travel difference. And if you choose to partner with Peak on your next tour, and you mentioned that you heard about us on the On a Water Break podcast, you'll earn $100 credit. Discover why groups everywhere trust Peak Group Travel.
00:35:38
Speaker
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and be sure to visit peakgrouptravel.com today. You pick the date, and we'll make it great.
00:35:57
Speaker
Okay, everyone, it's time for the 60-second tech block. This is a segment where one of our hosts or guest clinicians, we already know who it is, ah is put on the spot to deliver a nonstop 60-second tech session on a topic that needs some serious attention after the last run.
00:36:15
Speaker
Our special tech this week has come prepared with three topics that they think they can talk about for a full 60 seconds. No hesitation, no pauses, just pure technical gold.
00:36:26
Speaker
And this week, let's see. Ashley, you ready to do it? I'm ready. I'm ready. Okay. All right. do you have a couple of ones that we can choose from? Yes. So I have three topics that you guys can choose from. So the first topic that I think I could talk about for 60 seconds is how to support breath development in young performers.
00:36:50
Speaker
So the idea of breath through the body, all of that good stuff. The second is how to teach performers, newer performers, and or non-dancing new performers how to dance or how to move a little bit.
00:37:07
Speaker
And then the third is are dynamic efforts and qualities? The oh so What do you guys think? Which one do you want her to do?
00:37:22
Speaker
ah What do you guys want to hear about? want to know about the dancing because I need to know if I can learn. learn um I'm kind of into the dancing to the dynamic efforts is something that has got me really hyped too.
00:37:37
Speaker
Jackie, you got a, you got a preference. Oh no. Muted.
00:37:42
Speaker
Jackie muted. See, I'm not used to not hosting. That's the problem here. There it is. It's okay. I'm just always on off mute. No, think number one is the the last thing I learned as a guard instructor.
00:37:57
Speaker
So I know we're voting all across the board. What do our our followers over on YouTube say? Yeah. What do they got, Jeremy? We have a live correspondent, Jeremy. Jeremy, how are we feeling out there own with the people?
00:38:09
Speaker
I just checked and I see nothing from anybody on this. So think it's up to us. I'm going to swap and go to the dynamic thing. What is the dynamic thing? I don't know.
00:38:21
Speaker
Let's go. jumbling down. Let's do number three. That's a mouthful and critique is always terrifying. So let's do number three. Okay, everybody. So we picked it. Ashley, are you ready?
00:38:32
Speaker
I am ready. Sharon, do you have your phone.
00:38:39
Speaker
60 seconds 10 bucks that is so funny I can't get over you have a yes you got on your watch okay ready okay you ready ready go Okay, so dynamic qualities or efforts are something that no doubt you've heard on an adjudicator recording at some time throughout. And and really what it is, it's it's what you consider when you're selecting vocabulary, when you're selecting choreography, and and what the intent is of those selections. And from a student lens, it's thinking about how they really bring out kind of the contrast in each of the movement qualities. 30 seconds.
00:39:22
Speaker
or the equipment qualities in in the ah through their body. So it could include the changes in time, acceleration, deceleration, ah deceleration rhythm and syncopation. It could be space when they're taking up a large space or in constricted space.
00:39:40
Speaker
It could be shape, whether they're individual body shapes, high and low, or making group shapes. And it's the way that folks move. Gravity, suspension, big, small...
00:39:51
Speaker
and then how that changes over time. Wow. We did it, yes. I was going to get invented during six, six, six months. And I still don't know what it does. We're just going to to go back and watch the episode, you know, of dive in just a little bit more. Put it on 0.5X. Yeah.
00:40:15
Speaker
Ashley, how'd you feel that went? Yeah. I mean, I tried to deliver as much as I could because it's pretty big. I actually, to be honest, at critique, I usually have a graphic that I put out on the table specific to dynamic qualities because I know downstairs it's a question that a lot of folks have when they come to the table because they hear us say it, but then they see how it's broken down and like what I mean when I'm making that commentary.
00:40:41
Speaker
So I think I got most of it, but I could talk about that for way more than 60 seconds.
00:40:48
Speaker
Can we do the dancing part for another episode, please? We'll do a dance, a whole dance episode. Yes. was just going to say, can we get that graphic like in a link that we could maybe share in our show notes later?
00:41:04
Speaker
Maybe. Yeah, I could put something together for you. That's awesome. That is so cool. Yeah. i I'm like, ah we could we could sit and talk about all three of those, but um we're going to move on. You guys ready for a What Are We Doing?
00:41:19
Speaker
What are we doing?
Marching Arts Traditions and Challenges
00:41:29
Speaker
What are we doing? All right, what are we doing? This is the part of the show where we let loose a little bit. Not like we haven't been letting loose um already. um This is your chance, though, to rant about anything.
00:41:41
Speaker
in the marching arts that doesn't make sense to you. Maybe it's a tradition needs to go. Maybe it's a habit that performers ah can't seem to break. Maybe it's something that makes you think, what? Why are we even doing this or why haven't we started doing this?
00:41:53
Speaker
Maybe it's the word volunteer in a press release, whatever it is, this is your moment to call it out. So who's got something to get off their chest? Yeah. why aren't we seeing indoor brass as much as we are indoor percussion and indoor color guard so d Like I'm new to this whole WGI stuff. and house I was going to say she's new here.
00:42:18
Speaker
Okay, I must be new or I must be in regions where there aren't a lot of it. And so it just surprises me that it's not as common as some of the other ones are. but it is It's new too. like It's a new ah new part of our activity. it it only what is it since like It's a decade maybe at the most.
00:42:35
Speaker
Yeah, don't even if it's been that long. It's really quite new. he Yeah, it's it's pretty young. i think i think I can't remember the first year, but I think we're within our first decade of this happening.
00:42:46
Speaker
um And so it's starting to grow. um More and more groups are coming. This is actually the first year in Dayton where they had to turn groups away from champs, um which really which is really exciting. Yes. They, they, we met our cap at Truist.
00:42:59
Speaker
And so it's, it's great for the organization. It's great for the idiom. um It's just, it's where percussion was about 20 years ago. So like, had this been 20 years ago, you would have been saying, why aren't we seeing percussion in the same amount that we're seeing guard? it's like, well, percussion just started.
00:43:16
Speaker
you know, that's kind of where we're at, but oh my gosh, is it flourishing? Groups from California came out to Dayton. There were some Texas groups that came out. I mean, it is, it is really, really growing. And as ah so I'm a wins guy.
00:43:27
Speaker
That's kind of my thing. I started a wins group out here in North Carolina. My brother actually just brought his out from Wichita, Kansas, got ICT wins. It's, it's growing. It's just, but they yeah I think Marching Vlogs is starting to share stuff, but it's not like there's not a Marching Vlogs for wins yet.
00:43:43
Speaker
I can't wait for that to happen. Arkansas' first WGI contest was actually a wins and percussion contest. There was no color guard there, and I actually got to go to it because it conveniently aligned with the trip. But yeah, so I got to see wins and percussion, and I just didn't realize it wasn't that common.
00:43:58
Speaker
Yeah, it's it's growing. And there in Arkansas, I can say that those those groups are starting to sprout. And they're coming out. They got cool stuff. Like there was like a cool electronic blue show that went. That was pretty neat. By the end of the season, it it really it really came together.
00:44:13
Speaker
um But no, i'm I'm with you. I want as many eyes on wins as possible. um Ashley, do you got a what are we doing for us? So I do. And it's something that I see all the time.
00:44:25
Speaker
um why Do some folks not practice getting on and off the floor and or field? Because, I show me is stressful enough.
00:44:40
Speaker
And i knew that I mean that with love. um just I just see so many performers get rattled by it than in a show.
00:44:52
Speaker
or they get rattled during the show and then forget they have to leave. Right. That there's that piece of like making sure that when you're taking those last few runs, and this is indoor and outdoor, not exclusive, that there's that chance to go over that because I really think it does impact performance sometimes. Like that setup, it seems silly, but that could be the reason that then a poor kiddo has a really rough run And I would see it sometimes and be like, take the minute, take the minute to just do it. Yeah. ah i Yeah.
00:45:28
Speaker
We did a, we did a, what are we doing earlier about setting the floor crooked at chance? like It's your, it's your final run in Dayton and your, your floor is. just you Yeah. And it's like, you know, and then we talk about like, how do you choose between these hundreds of points? Who's better or worse?
00:45:44
Speaker
And it's like, well, maybe that perspective, you know, change some things for us. Like it made the drill a little bit dirty because that orientation was different. Like if you're not working on that consistency, that's something we talked about. If that's inconsistent, what else might be inconsistent rehearsal?
00:45:59
Speaker
You know, it, it, that, that process of getting on an office is part of professionalism. And while that's not on any of our judging sheets, it's essentially like what we look for recovery and and all those things are, are learned skillsets.
00:46:12
Speaker
So is this. and And I'm sorry to interrupt, but I think, too, it is timed Like in in, you know, especially indoor, I think about it. It's a little bit more strict there sometimes than it is outdoor in other capacities because it's a little bit longer, but it's timed. So even though it's not like, it's not on my sheet, I'm not talking about how you get on or off, but my dad happens to be a timing of penalty judge. I was just that which is going to jump in and that. And it is part of his question. A lot that is handled by Ashley's dad.
00:46:50
Speaker
Send a quick text. so you know, you'll get those moments. And if I'm the chief that day and my dad's like, I got to talk to you. And I'm like, great. So, yeah. So that's my, that's my water we doing.
00:47:04
Speaker
Practice getting on and off. It just makes things so much better. Just add it. Just add it. Yeah. Cause it'll make your kiddos feel better. It'll make your performers feel better too. It's all about consistency and comfortability.
00:47:15
Speaker
Trish, you got a, what are we doing for us? Sure. What are we doing? These drum and chorus. What are we doing waiting so long to announce your show? Like... We're already hyped. We need to know.
00:47:28
Speaker
i ready have i I already have my Allentown tickets. Like, I'm already hyped. You don't need to suck me in. But, like, but just tell us what you're doing already. Get us even more hyped. You know what i mean? Like, we want to know. Like, I want to know what I'm going to see this summer. I don't know.
00:47:43
Speaker
I mean, you have, like, the cores, like the blue cones, will announce it literally seconds before they go on the field. And troopers, you know, it's like before they've got through with finals the year before, you know?
00:47:55
Speaker
you <unk>re Right. They're telling us the theme, but they're not really telling us the rep a lot. Or the opposite way. They're telling us the rep, but not telling us the theme a lot of times. So, you know, it's just, I want to hear. I want to know. I'm excited. I want to know what everybody's doing this summer.
00:48:09
Speaker
Yeah. I've always thought that this is really interesting because people say it's like, oh, we want to keep our competitive advantage. And I might just be naive and young and not really understand what that could, you know, you know, if somebody knows that my show is called Yankee Doodle Dandy, like, what are they going to do with that, you know?
00:48:28
Speaker
And most of our shows are just weird, like, puns anyway, so, like, I do shipwreck and it's about a UPS truck shipping, like breaking down, like, you know, who's going to take that for me? And maybe I'm just weird in that way, but like, I need the YouTube link to that.
00:48:42
Speaker
i and like, if that's a real thing. Well, that mystery, that mystery worked out real well this winter, didn't it? Because then keeping those hope shows a secret really worked out this winter, huh? Yeah.
00:48:55
Speaker
That's what I was going to say. I feel like it only benefits you to announce your show early, to be like, this is our show and I'm claiming it. And like anybody else who's wanting to do that same show, that's a copy. I agree. Don't do a Beetlejuice show if I'm doing a Beetlejuice show. Yeah.
00:49:09
Speaker
And to answer your question, Sharon, i I haven't done it yet. That's just like one as I throw on. I'm trying to do a minion show called a minion reasons. It's the music of Lady Gaga. But we're working on that. Big shout out to you, buddy. Yeah.
00:49:23
Speaker
um I do have one kind of beauty or what was it called Beauty and the Bees or something like that. And it was the music of Beauty and the Beast, but as told in this idea that everybody in the castle was a bee.
00:49:36
Speaker
As silly as it was it was, it was real cute. It was a lot of fun. And kids got to buzz around all the time. And so it was awesome. um Buzz me all you want. I'm going to do monkeys in space, but it hasn't happened. I keep waiting though.
00:49:53
Speaker
Send me your rep. We'll make it happen. I got a group. We'll make it, we'll make it work. If they won't do minions, they'll do monkeys. And that's, that's, that's on, that's on baby. um I, I don't know. i mean, I guess my, what are we doing right now is,
00:50:07
Speaker
what are we doing? Like, what do you do during this time as a, like, I'm a, I'm a full-time designer. Uh, and so like, I've kind of been a weird space right now where I, I have to write drill by Monday for a group that won't start learning it until August.
00:50:23
Speaker
Like, what are we doing doing that? What do you need it for right now? Uh, and, uh, I can answer that. What am i supposed to do with this time? Go ahead. Hit me with it. My color card needs it like right now.
00:50:36
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. No. Oh, like to choreograph and stuff. I see that. Yeah. Because like, well, if you think about it, like the the band gets their music and they get to start learning their music because it's all written out there ah before they have the the drill.
00:50:49
Speaker
But like the color guard, you know, depending on how you write, it's really hard to learn choreography or you have to make a lot of changes if you learn choreography before the drill happens. So it doesn't work.
00:51:00
Speaker
It doesn't work. I always, always, always. I will say that drill writers and color guard choreographers have the worst jobs because everybody else, like the arrangers have been working since December.
00:51:13
Speaker
The aesthetics have been working since February. The drill writers, given the music and the sound check and say, i well, we need this on Monday. And it's like, it's Thursday. What are you talking about? right now The color guard director then needs on Monday, gets the drill. And Monday afternoon, they have to teach choreography like That's just a pain in the butt.
00:51:31
Speaker
I have until Thursday. you know Hey, maybe you should use some AI and speed it up a little bit. We could just AI all of our drill. Great job, everyone. Set your equipment down. Touch and go.
00:51:46
Speaker
All right. That's our producer, Jeremy saying we're, we're getting too catty. We're moving on. Um, can do you, you guys want to do some gush goes, you guys got any, anything to gush and go about this?
Personal Stories and Experiences
00:51:56
Speaker
Of course. Um, uh, does, is everybody familiar with gush and go? I can go into this so we could just, I'm ready to go off.
00:52:02
Speaker
Honestly. Trish, you got something? Yeah. Um, so I'm on break this week from school and it's been amazing. um, But no rest for the weary for the marching arts because my high school kids are not on break. They were on break last week.
00:52:18
Speaker
So... We had our little Northern Valley and the end of season dinner Tuesday night. And then no rest for the weary. We had a little marching band open house today.
00:52:31
Speaker
I did not stick around for the ice cream because I wanted to get home and make sure this was all set up. But, you know, it's been ah it's been a really good break. And, you know, throw to throw would toss in a little marching arts and we're good.
00:52:46
Speaker
love it. yeah or never there's There's never not something happening. No. And that's just kind of the name of the game. ay Ashley, would you happen to have a discussion go?
00:52:59
Speaker
um So the offseason for me is honestly practicing. I don't usually judge in the summer. I take it off. I have two-and-a-half-year-olds. So it's Delta time now. Time with my husband, time with my daughter.
00:53:14
Speaker
that's um ah but but really, it's training time because she has a flag now that she bought at, well, that I bought for her at um our local championships.
00:53:26
Speaker
And we are putting together an ode to Chapel Roan and Serena Carpenter. That is cute. I'm going to keep us spinning. Yeah. ah that's zi That's her favorite one to spin to, but now there's the, oh, mommy, you spin and sing too. So it's a side-by-side thing. So I feel like it's going to take us most of the summer to really flesh all of this out. And in the meantime, I could practice my commentary on her and her qualities. But yeah, so my gush and go is that I get to kind of go into full-time
00:54:05
Speaker
mom, wife mode and do some adventures, but while still, you know, been keeping up with everything. so We've got to see video of that when it's finished.
00:54:16
Speaker
Well, we will have it for you, but it's going to be long because it's the whole song. It's Pink Pony Club, Espresso, and Please, Please, Please is usually what we have together.
00:54:27
Speaker
I love it. I love it. And I'm really going to want those judge tapes. I want to hear about the dynamic efforts and qualities. I just want to see where this is coming from from the judge's perspective.
00:54:38
Speaker
You got it.
00:54:41
Speaker
How do I, how do I, how do I sign up for that on comp suite? who is I'll make sure you get it. I will get a transcript of it for you. I love it. ah Jackie, do you have a gush and go?
00:54:54
Speaker
Oh boy, do I? So I'm really excited about this project I've been working on just this last month. um my The high school band that I work with over in Ava is like, they're they're they're awesome. I've been working with them for like years and years and they're great, but now they are starting like this mini guard.
00:55:15
Speaker
And they've done it in the past. Like so an alumni would come back and teach the mini guard or something. But this year they asked me to come and actually like teach the mini guard myself. And I had no idea what I was getting into.
00:55:26
Speaker
So I was just like, yeah, I'll come teach some middle schoolers how to spin flags. And on the first day there were no flags. And I had two hours with 20 middle schoolers. I was like, oh, okay, cool. So anyway, I'm really excited because we have had four rehearsals now.
00:55:40
Speaker
And um we have put together a little... sort of, would call it a pep show, like a pep tune type of show. And they've worked really, really hard and I'm excited. We have one more rehearsal and then they get to perform it for all their parents and and everybody who comes to like the jazz show. So I'm very excited to see like how this has kind of all come together how I have learned to work with middle schoolers. Cause I, I've done this one time before once and it was like a huge ordeal because I've always taught high school, like not just high school, but like upper high school.
00:56:13
Speaker
So, It's a different experience, but they're working hard, like I said. Middle school's a beast. Middle school's a beast. I applaud you.
00:56:23
Speaker
I think this year i went to the middle school rehearsals twice, and I just – I don't have it in me. Like I am – I think I've spent a lot of time in the independent space where like I show up and be like, stand at standby, and they're like,
00:56:37
Speaker
Here's my belly button. You know, like, it's like, no, like, can you just stay? It's like, I don't know. And I like, at that point I just like, like stand it, you know, and that doesn't work for them. So like, it's like, if you stand at standby, I give you a candy bar. No. Cause now I have to bring candy every time.
00:56:50
Speaker
I applaud you for being able to work with them. but Good for you. um I don't have a budget to get kids gummies every time. Yeah. Unless it's melatonin maybe. Can we give them melatonin? Is that possible? Is that allowed? Just wind them down a little bit. They'd spin a little bit slower, but it'd be, you know, it's a ballad, you know?
00:57:09
Speaker
I'm crazy. I'm sorry. Let's gush and go. Sharon, do you have a gush and go for us? I've got a gush and My oldest is graduating with his music ed degree in a couple of weeks and going into his age out year with Blue Devils. And so, so excited for him. So he's probably going to be job searching while he's touring this summer. So, you know, that's, I'm crossing on my fingers.
00:57:38
Speaker
But then my baby that's marching, it's going to be his senior year. So this is a big year for our family. So yeah, lots of tears are coming, I'm sure. That's really exciting. em If he's a band director and so our assistant director, does that make me a band grandma? Please say no.
00:57:55
Speaker
This is very interesting because the, the, in the rehearsal I just came from was a, like a middle school, like instrument night, like vibe time. And the band director, the middle school band director's mom was there like trying to help out. And she asked the same question.
00:58:11
Speaker
She's like, am I a band grandma? Because I've been a band mom for a while. And I was like, i I almost feel like it's like a ah band like. kind of like spiritual guide maybe? Like, I don't know. Like at this point, you're like the shaman or a guru. Like, is that, ah you are we a allowed like a, you're kind of like a medicine person now, are you?
00:58:32
Speaker
I have senioritis is what I have. That's what I, yeah. So. All good. um I guess my question go, i I'm just really excited to spend time at home.
00:58:46
Speaker
I've been traveling and we just finished up with, ah WGI. So um my gushing goes is that I'm just chilling at home and um I've got a couple, like we I continue to say like I need to take more breaks and more blah, blah, blah.
00:59:00
Speaker
But there's, you know, the grind is real for us freelancers. um I've got a couple of choreo spots open now. I talked about some drill spots last ah episode and those got filled, which I appreciate.
00:59:10
Speaker
um I've got like three choreo spots open. If anybody's looking across the the nation, I ah do them via video or we can come out. I can fly out and do them. But other than that, I'm just chilling and and kind of getting ready for the summer for some drum corps stuff. And um yeah, those are that's my gush and go.
00:59:30
Speaker
Hey, it's called Gush and Go, not Gush and Stay. Let's go. I just love the music on this stuff. It's so fun. It's so good. It's so good. It just feels right.
00:59:42
Speaker
Well, everybody, thank you for a great rehearsal. um I can't believe we did this live. um i I feel like I messed up a bunch, but you know what? We're gonna we're going to make it happen. Thank you to Trish.
00:59:53
Speaker
Thank you to Jackie, Ashley. Appreciate you sharing. Where can we find you on your socials? ah TikTok at the band bomb and then the real band bomb on Instagram and YouTube and Facebook. So I love that.
01:00:10
Speaker
Well, ah y'all, if you've got a question or a good topic to talk about, email us at on a water break at gmail.com or find us on social media and DM us. If you want to be on a show, we even have a form to fill out.
01:00:23
Speaker
If you want to be a guest, we love having people. Well, he's gone now. Ashley, what about you? So I shockingly do not have TikTok, but I do have Instagram and my Instagram handle is at da more, you know, with three W's.
01:00:39
Speaker
I love that. How lucky have you had that? Right. I actually just changed that for the longest time. It was at Damore. um but then I was like, no, I need, we need a brand, a rebrand.
01:00:53
Speaker
So I changed it. So it's at Damore, you know, with three W's at the end and you can find me there. I love that. Well, uh, again, I appreciate y'all being on the podcast and sharing your, uh,
01:01:05
Speaker
your insights. Actually, that 60 second tech block is going to live in infamy. And I've got so many follow-up questions and we'll talk about that after all of this has gotten done. um If you've got a question or a good topic to talk about, ah email us at on a water break podcast at gmail.com or find us on social media and DM us.
01:01:24
Speaker
If you want to be on the show, we even have a form to fill out. If you want to be a guest, we love having people on the podcast. I mean, check it out. Look at, look at who we're hanging out with. Absolute marching band royalty. ah So check out check out that link in our social media or you could just take out your phone, make a video and send it to us and maybe you you'll see yourself on the podcast soon.
01:01:43
Speaker
One more thing. Don't forget we have a YouTube channel. If you're watching this live, just why aren't you subscribed already? Subscribe so you can see us all there. Also, before you close out of your podcast podcast listening app, go subscribe, write us a review and share this with a friend.
01:01:58
Speaker
Follow us on social media at On A Water Break when we'll see you at next rehearsal on A Water Break.
01:02:12
Speaker
On A Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and Christine Rehm. The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit LidaMusic.com.
01:02:23
Speaker
And until next time, thanks for tuning in