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On A Water Break: Water Break Weekly – Color Guard Meets Pageants, $6K Tuition & Crossmen’s Aussie Comeback
132 Plays8 days ago
This week On A Water Break, we’re spinning into pageant season, breaking down the cost of drum corps, and celebrating some throwback Aussie hat glory. Hosts Nicole, Woody, and Jeremy from Drum Corps Today are joined by color guard director and pageant competitor AK Hazel for an episode packed with marching arts news, real talk, and lots of love for performers pushing boundaries.
🎵 In this episode:
- AK’s 32 Count Life Story – Color Guard to Miss Pretzel City to Miss Pennsylvania
- Florida House Bill 1105 gives marching band students PE credit
- Crossmen return to the Aussie hat — the iconic look is back!
- $85,000+ in DCI scholarships awarded for 2025 season
- Crown x Seavine glove partnership announcement
- 1,000+ open spots still available to march this summer
🔧 60 Second Tech Block
AK shares her pre-pageant routine — a mix of drum corps playlists, pageant films, and mental prep
❓ Water We Doing?!
- Nicole: Why aren’t we mixing genres on the field (DCI x HBCU style)?
- AK: Uniforms should empower — not restrict — your performers
- Jeremy: Background checks & adult vetting in drum corps is still lacking
- Woody: We’re ignoring the collapse of arts funding — and it’s already here
💖 Gush & Go
- AK: Her guard’s undefeated season and a gold medal finish
- Woody: His students cried with pride — the ultimate teacher payoff
- Jeremy: Open Class Thursday night is the best-kept secret in DCI
💬 Special Guest
@akrhazel | @misspretzelcity
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🌟 Thanks for joining us at rehearsal — see you next time On A Water Break!
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Transcript
Introduction and Call to Action
00:00:00
Speaker
Hi everyone, and welcome back to On A Water Break, the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal on a water break. This week's episode, we have a quick one this week.
00:00:12
Speaker
We're just going to find out what made Jeremy say. There's still open spots. There's almost a thousand open spots right now across all four classes. NYAK said. They're in Lucas Oil. Go see them. You see such incredible moments of activity.
00:00:28
Speaker
all that and more on this week's episode of on a water break. um adolf the met and go
00:00:41
Speaker
podcast where we saw water break Welcome, everyone. ah My name's Nicole.
00:00:57
Speaker
We have a great episode this week and some of the hottest news around the marching arts and some wonderful guests on our sidelines. So before we see who's on the sidelines this week, I do want you to do a couple of things for me.
00:01:10
Speaker
One, go and subscribe on your favorite listening app. Two, write us a review. We don't know what we're bad at if you don't say anything. And share it with a friend, okay? If you have a question or a good topic to talk about, email us app on a water break podcast at at gmail.com.
00:01:28
Speaker
Or you can find us on social media and DM us if you want to be on the show. We even have a form you can fill out if you want to be a guest, so you should check it out. The link is in the bio. All right.
Guest Introductions and Backgrounds
00:01:38
Speaker
So who is on the sidelines this week?
00:01:41
Speaker
First, I'm going to point out the elephant in the room because he sprinted in so quickly. I was like, is that the flash? But no, it was Woody. Hey, how are you? Hey, everyone. I'm breathless.
00:01:53
Speaker
and But I'm here. I'm set. I'm ready to go. I'm ready for the tap. All right. you better You better get it. Don't hold over on the cutoff. ah And we do have some guests this week. I do want to welcome AK Hazel and um one of our own color guard people running for Miss Pennsylvania and Miss America. Oh, hey, my wife was a pageant.
00:02:24
Speaker
I've been to Miss America at least four times. oh Oh, yeah, weve we're going to talk. Yeah. I had no idea, Woody. You just taught us something.
00:02:35
Speaker
Wow. I am a man. What do they call it? The Renaissance man. That's me. That's me. I'm Renaissance man. Okay. Well, good.
00:02:46
Speaker
we also have joining us from corps today, Jeremy. jeremy everyone. It's great to be back. Great. It's good to see you. I know we're getting right into the drum corps season. You always have good tidbits and stories for us and things like that. So this episode leading into the summer, going to see a lot of Jeremy.
00:03:09
Speaker
So I do want to jump right into this with AK. We do this thing we call 32 count life story. and And I always tell people, you know, it may give you a little bit of key, but it's always fun for us to watch.
00:03:24
Speaker
But also, if you have it down, you have it down. It's called the 32-count life story. What's going to happen is that we're going to give you 32 counts, eight counts, and then you're in, and you give us your life story from birth two to today.
00:03:39
Speaker
It's okay if you leave some things out. Is that all right? You good? Okay. Sounds good. All right. So what we'll do is we'll start it. We'll give you eight um counts off the mat and then you're in. Okay.
00:03:52
Speaker
All right. All right. Here we go. Good morning, Brooklyn, New York. Moved to New Jersey, grew up in New Jersey, joined Color Guard my sophomore year of high school, did that all of high school and college.
00:04:03
Speaker
March 4th, I drum corps, became a Color Guard director in Westchester where I went to school. My Color Guard kids win a circuit championship four or five years later. i joined the Miss America opportunity and have been doing that for last four years and will now compete for Miss Pennsylvania next month. And I just had Tordelini and Cole Cork.
00:04:22
Speaker
very nice yeah She told us what she had for dinner, y'all.
00:04:28
Speaker
I had chicken patty with a sandwich, so it's all right. Getting ready for drum corps a little bit early. you know I don't know. She ended that set a little early. She got there a little early. Your steps were too big, AK.
00:04:43
Speaker
You got to take big steps sometimes, okay? yeah Big steps. Oh, that's awesome. So um just so you we know, um there's not a lot of a pipeline from color guard to
Drum Corps Updates and News
00:05:00
Speaker
pageantry. So tell us how you got into that.
00:05:04
Speaker
So my university, I went to Westchester University and they have a Miss Westchester University competition. And I competed in that for all years I was eligible, which was my freshman through my junior of college.
00:05:16
Speaker
And I did talent. I did colorado for talent every year because that's really the only thing I know how to do in that realm. And then after I graduated, i still wanted to be competing.
00:05:27
Speaker
And I had a couple years left of eligibility for Miss America. And that's why I jumped into there. And then in terms of going from color guard to pageantry, the current Miss California is actually a color guard person as well and is someone who marched to the State of the Vanguard. Wow. It's all relative.
00:05:46
Speaker
I love that. AK and I are also Facebook friends. As soon as I found out that you were going to be on here, I was like, I know this person. They are all over my Facebook sometimes, but I always see your color guard photos.
00:06:02
Speaker
Well, at least the color, the photos that you do, you have doing color guard are on stage. So now I can draw the correlation. I was just like, wow, does she get her pictures professionally done?
00:06:13
Speaker
I never did that. I have to tell you, Nicole, it is definitely in the pageant world. There's, there's nothing happening like the color guard on stage.
00:06:24
Speaker
you know, everyone's singing music from the musical they were in in high school. And I can only imagine you probably turned the place out there when the flag went up in the air, huh? AK?
00:06:35
Speaker
Yeah, people love, honestly, you could do like pull head tosses for days. to People were like, this is incredible. yes This is the best thing we've ever seen. There's actually only ever been one person to compete with Color Guard at Miss America. And it was not this past Miss America, but the year before.
00:06:53
Speaker
So if I were to win Miss Pennsylvania and go to compete at Miss America, I'd be the second person ever to compete with Color Guard at the national level. I actually had a ah ah situation where my wife, her she ran a pageant and she had a contestant and she I actually wrote her a mallet solo to play in the Miss New Jersey contest.
00:07:18
Speaker
And she was a star. da Oh, my gosh, she has so many mallets in her hand. it was incredible. It was only four. Oh, I've never seen that before. So it's really cool to see the activity go into something that's so standard.
00:07:35
Speaker
And they just be amazed by the most simplest things that we do. I love that. They underestimate us and call. Oh, wow. I can't wait. Oh, you've got to keep us posted on that.
00:07:47
Speaker
Jeremy, so tell me what ah what's been going on with you past... Well, while it's not drum corps season, like what's what's been going on on your side of the world?
00:08:00
Speaker
I mean, recently there hasn't been a whole lot. we What's wild is that we're midway through May and we've only gotten a handful of show announcements so far. Looking through some stuff, I was taking a look. For some reason, like the Blue Devils are going post their show today. for some I had no idea why I had that thought.
00:08:16
Speaker
And I was looking through it. ah One year ago today is when but Blue Devils A posted their show announcement for last season. Now keep in mind, the C core announces first, then their B core, then their A core a few days after each other.
00:08:29
Speaker
So we we haven't even heard what the so their C-Cores show is going to be yet for this year. They've got so many cores. They're going to have like the tiny, right. They're going to have like the tiny ones. I don't know. Pee-wee core.
00:08:43
Speaker
Pee-wee core. And then, you know, the all ages core. ah But we will find out if maybe they'll drop. Well, they won't drop them all in one day. Somebody will get missed. So. But hopefully we get them all in. I know that Academy has gone ahead and we've already released ours.
00:09:00
Speaker
um missed that. London Fog. oh there we go. All right. Wow. I am biased as I did March there. What's that? Academy?
00:09:12
Speaker
Yeah, I'm RC Academy in 2019. That's where I am going on to. This is weird. I'm getting like some goosies now. So while I get little warmed up, ah we're going to go to a commercial and we'll be back.
00:09:38
Speaker
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Scholarships and Partnerships Discussion
00:09:46
Speaker
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00:09:53
Speaker
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00:10:07
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Speaker
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00:10:31
Speaker
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00:10:44
Speaker
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00:10:58
Speaker
And we are back. Okay. So now we are going in to the news.
00:11:20
Speaker
So this first news story I'm going to take, and I think that it's a good one. We're taking this story to Florida. Florida Margin Band students can now get a P.E. credit under a new bill.
00:11:34
Speaker
And it actually tells you what you need to know. This is all coming from the Tallahassee Democrat. So basically what's happening here is that um some key points to know about this is that florida house the Florida House Bill, excuse me, 1105, allows high school marching band participants to fulfill um physical education or performing arts credits.
00:11:57
Speaker
Just so you know, there this is what's been going on in Texas for a very long time under that whole UIL rule. um So at least, yeah. So they get the performing arts credit and they get the um PE credit.
00:12:11
Speaker
um Some places
Season Preparations and Performer Insights
00:12:12
Speaker
will do ah PE e and a humanities credit. or yeah humanities credit i think it's kind of the same thing um the bill also restricts students cell phone use in school with elementary middle school students prohibiting them from using them during the school day that's part of that bill also yeah love shoving different things together into one bill yeah yep And other provisions in the bill address charter schools, scholarships, vocational education, and curricular alignment ah with local workforce needs.
00:12:47
Speaker
So basically Florida is acknowledging that hauling a tuba is hard work. Playing and hauling a tuba at the same time is hard work. And i don't know, memorizing the music that you have to play through that tuba while you're hauling it around is hard work. So let's go ahead and give them some credit for it.
00:13:07
Speaker
um Exactly. And honest, I think this does help, too, because there are a lot of high school kids who are in marching bands right now who are highly competitive that, you know, still have to worry about, oh, I need to take this class because I need this many credits and this kind of thing while they're doing marching band.
00:13:29
Speaker
You know, competitively. So this has them, they can actually zero in on this as a credit or excuse me, as a grade credit. And I think that, hey, that's long time. It's really cool to see like at a state level that they're actually implementing this for all schools. I know you had mentioned with Texas. I'm from Illinois and we didn't have anything at a state level and in anything with the government, but fortunately schools were able to opt out at a certain point. You can switch out and do marching band as opposed to physical fitness classes, which was really cool that we were able to do.
00:14:00
Speaker
I'm glad that it is like that now. um I know that back in the 1900s when I was in high school, um we, it was, i mean, you were still in band, like in band class, but marching band, that was an extracurricular activity, even for Color Guard, extracurricular activity. Most definitely.
00:14:20
Speaker
Yeah. So this, hey, I really hope that other states jump on this bandwagon because it's going to help more than anything else. um Now with the other things that it has in there, I mean, yeah, the cell phones in schools for elementary and middle school students, take it or leave it.
00:14:36
Speaker
However, yes, I am jumping on more of the bandwagon of the marching band part. So I think that this is really good. You know, they call that pork, dear Nicole.
00:14:47
Speaker
It's plenty of pork in the bill. Yes, you never heard that. It's pork in the bill. Yeah. Sometimes you have to eat the pork, even if you're kosher.
00:14:59
Speaker
Even if you're kosher. Awesome. All right. Who's got the next one? Is it the Aussies? It is. That would be me. Well, I'll be. That would be me.
00:15:12
Speaker
Well, first off, yeah just to let everyone know that the the hat situation at Drum Corps has been a in transition. We went from like no hats to some people with hats. And now we got big, long, super high hats.
00:15:30
Speaker
but on And angled hats. And everyone's looking for something new. One of our great drum corps chose to go back to the oil.
00:15:41
Speaker
The Crossman is going back to the Aussie. You know how happy that's going to make some people? Oh, absolutely. That's not drum corps.
00:15:53
Speaker
He and she is going to be so happy. I mean, you know there was the Bridgman hat. There was the regular Sheikho. There was the Valley Fever hat.
00:16:04
Speaker
Even the Madison hat is not like the Crossman Aussie. s's That's awesome that they're doing that. hey I see that Jeremy's got a smile. He agrees. and
00:16:16
Speaker
I like it. The second I saw there, and I've always been a big fan. I've never been crazy about the helmets, but I've always loved the Aussies, like Vanguard, Cavaliers. They were so classic. And see when I saw them announce that, I was i was excited. like I'm fine with not having hats every once in a while, but it's it's nice to see them with some cores.
00:16:35
Speaker
There's a sophistication that comes with an Aussie for me. Like I'm not a Shaco person. And if you are going to put a Shaco on, I'd rather you rap it. You know what I mean? Again, that's my bias.
00:16:47
Speaker
um But with an Aussie, especially with, you know, a drum corps like Crossman, where you've always seen bones in an Aussie.
00:16:58
Speaker
Looking sharp too. That bag of bones can look sharp. Yeah. You know, so and I've always thought that Cavaliers look sharp with an Aussie, but like i am I am glad that people are taking it back to their roots.
00:17:10
Speaker
And honestly, too, I know people are always or most um drum corps are trying to design the next big thing or the next good look. But it's just like there's nothing wrong with going back to your roots with a little bit of like, you know, alterations here and there.
00:17:26
Speaker
It definite definitely feels like we're moving out of the just throw everything brand new and see what sticks to let's try to find a balance between this new stuff we're trying and the traditional stuff that we've had for decades at this point.
00:17:39
Speaker
love a good mashup, you know, and I think that'll work. i love a good naup you know and i think that'll work You know, at least we don't have to worry about the high school situation where they wear the Aussies and the clarinet player has the Aussie way back and looking like the Sally Star ah cowboy hat, you know.
00:17:58
Speaker
It's going to be nice and flat and straight and good looking. My high school kids got, we got brand new uniforms last year and they all like voted on what they wanted for or a hat. Like, we want Aussies. like,
00:18:10
Speaker
We're not doing that. Just because half of you are playing like the alto clarinet. so You're not going to be able to see anything. I'm not going able to see anything. Maybe not.
Marching Arts Issues and Safety Concerns
00:18:23
Speaker
AK, you have the next story. the As you know, this activity is very expensive. And going to school is also very expensive. v And every year we know DCI does their scholarship awards. And they have announced this year's winners.
00:18:38
Speaker
as part of the the tour this year more than $85,000 in scholarships will be presented to performers. And that's cominging from their current season tour fees. I know couple of them are also academic scholarships. So they'll go towards their their school tuition as well.
00:18:53
Speaker
Have they already? So they haven't. Oh, they do. They have announced their winners. They have a list of each of the winners from each scholarship. And I know usually they present all of them like at finals. Yeah.
00:19:08
Speaker
yeah I think there's actually like news that just broke this morning before we're recording this. So like pretty brand new news.
00:19:16
Speaker
That is cool. I'm i'm actually looking at the looking at that list too. Because you have a good number of different drum corps being represented by these um applicants too. So congratulations to all of them.
00:19:30
Speaker
To all of them. You know, I'm an older guy. I just don't recall all of this happening back in the eighty s 80s and 90s when I was flowing through this. It could have.
00:19:42
Speaker
Maybe I just wasn't paying attention because I was too busy in the parking lot. But I think this is a great thing for kids to have that opportunity to to take with them for the rest of their life.
00:19:52
Speaker
Absolutely. Wow, that's a lot. Yeah, I know. It's a lot of money and there's a lot of people that they're being able to award to this year, which is super cool. Just knowing that Jump Corps has hit around like the $6,000 mark for a couple of hours.
00:20:09
Speaker
and and And school is also in a fluctuation of how much tuition is. ah hey So as someone who couldn't afford originally to march my age out summer, is very important to me.
00:20:22
Speaker
Yeah. but Very important. Oh, man, I could never live with myself if I didn't march my age out. Jeez. Yeah, if I, yeah. And I know a you mentioned a couple of cores are at 6,000. World class on average this year is 5,800.
00:20:36
Speaker
fifty eight hundred dot Like, it's almost 6,000 on average for world class at this point. Oh, my goodness. Like, we have cores at, and six exceeding that level, but we're getting to the point where that's the average for world class, unfortunately.
00:20:51
Speaker
When they asked me for $500, I thought I was going to die. What was I going to get $500 for? Wow. Geez. Well, I will never complain about my 23. Well, I don't complain about the $2,300 I had to spend.
00:21:06
Speaker
Even when I was marching, it was almost half of
Personal Achievements and Podcast Conclusion
00:21:09
Speaker
that. And it was, that wasn't even that long ago. 2016, the tuition about averaging at like 3,500. And then... averaging at like thirty five hundred and then My age out year, i am around 4,200.
00:21:22
Speaker
But the question is, AK, did you have internet or did you go on the big yellow? The big yellow book. That's where I did have internet.
00:21:33
Speaker
So I guess those are the the give and take is like, oh, it's $4,000 if I can call my parents. Wow. our but Our producer, Austin, he paid 3,200.
00:21:47
Speaker
Yeah. You know what? Basically, this is a lot of money that's going to a lot of ah performers who are definitely going to need it. And um thanks, DCI. All right. Jeremy, what you got?
00:22:03
Speaker
So the newest topic that I have for this episode is actually really cool. We are seeing two cores upgrading from the SoundSport classification to the All-Age classification this summer.
00:22:14
Speaker
Minnesota Brass, who had to take a year off of their field performance and just did a year of SoundSport to try to get their footing back up again. And Northern Lights, a newer core that started a couple years ago at this point.
00:22:26
Speaker
They're moving up to All-Age, which is really cool to see. That is cool to see. I'm glad I'm... i'm I'm really happy to see how people are, um and I don't know another word for this, but more welcoming accepting to the all age coming into DCI. i was those I was nervous about that, but it seems like it's it's becoming a ah positive thing and i I can't wait to see more.
00:22:52
Speaker
And I'm going to make it a thing or you know put it into my last week to come and see some of those um groups perform if I can. Hey, Nicole.
00:23:04
Speaker
Yeah. That's drum corps. that Thanks for reminding me. Have to remind me. um So the last thing I have is a ah it's a partnership between a drum corps and um I guess you could say one of, um well, just Seavine. So Crown and Seavine have joined partnerships together um ah for the 2025 season um ah for their um gloves. So usually i know a lot of people know that Seavine will do gloves for their symbols. Yeah.
00:23:42
Speaker
um and um And not just crown symbols, any symbol line. And it's actually the the best gloves you can get. And I know that that's debatable. However, I'm kind of partial because I know Chelsea Levine.
00:23:56
Speaker
um And she's a she's a friend and I used to actually work with her at Colts. But... um ah Now that they have gotten to the point where they are doing a partnership with different people, I think Crown Brass is um one of the best, you know, that they could possibly do this with.
00:24:13
Speaker
um They've come up with a new design. It has durability and the ability to customize from hand to hand um so that they can have the perfect fit. So you don't have them, you know what I mean? Like sometimes you'll see people with the stretched out gloves and it just looks like something's peeling up from the bottom here.
00:24:32
Speaker
and So ah it'll it'll add to whatever that look is going to be for Crown this summer. um and Yeah, knowing Crown...
00:24:43
Speaker
they're definitely going to take that. Whatever concept they have for their show this year, they're definitely going to take that, put it right into the gloves and every member of the horn line and every member of the core going to have those. Well, maybe not the drum line, but everyone else is going to have those gloves.
00:24:56
Speaker
No kidding. It looks so cool. i mean, i don't, I'm not seeing a guard. I'm not seeing a glove at all, like in the poster, in the article that I'm reading. um All I know is that there is a collaboration effort that's happening. And, um It says, oh, it just says stay tuned for more on this and how they're collaborating through scholarships and more. So there are some more scholarships that are going out.
00:25:22
Speaker
I love to hear when all these companies and people are giving scholarships to these kids to March. I think they hear us. So that is great.
00:25:33
Speaker
Awesome. Ah, So many things to look forward to this summer. and we've got There's just so much going on with drum corps just about starting up. We've got our first corps moving in, i want to say tomorrow or maybe in a couple of days, Bluecoats are starting their percussion spring training.
00:25:48
Speaker
And then we're seeing next week and the week after, we're seeing so many corps moving in. We'll probably have every world class in a week or so moved in, working on their show, getting it ready for those, what, end of June, end of june early July performances.
00:26:04
Speaker
We need breaking news. Oh yeah. if you if they wanting the market If you're wanting to march this summer, there's still open spots. There's almost a thousand open spots right now across all four classes.
00:26:17
Speaker
If you want to march this summer, there is a spot for you. I promise there's a spot for you. There's a core that wants you to march this summer. Just do it. You know you want to. Do you have a list of those cores by any chance?
00:26:30
Speaker
Give me two seconds. I can pull one up real quick. See, that's why we need to break the breaking news and we need the sound. it there there is it is it it dict All of this is pinned to the top of my Instagram page, Drum Corps Today, if you want to take a look.
00:26:43
Speaker
But real quick, we've got spots with the Academy, the Blue Knights, the Cavaliers, the Crossmen, Genesis, Music City, Seattle Cascades, Spirit of Atlanta, 7th Regiment, the Battalion, Colt Cadets, Columbians,
00:26:57
Speaker
Gold, Golden Empire, Heat Wave, Memphis Blues, Raiders, River City Rhythm, Spartans, Vessel, Zephyrus, Columbus Saints, Cincinnati Tradition, Fusion Corps, Governories, Hawthorne Caballeros, Hurricanes, Minnesota Brass, Rogue Hollow Regiment, Steel City Ambassadors, Sunrisers, White Sabres, Arsenal, Boise Gems, Eclipse, and Phoenix all have open spots. I know that was a lot. I'm sorry it took so long.
00:27:25
Speaker
There's a lot of spots open right now. love to I'm sorry. Memphis Blues Band? ah I didn't know they were back. Not only are they back, they're working on getting into did it ah It looks like SoundSport. It looks like they're currently in the process. I know I mentioned it for a second before.
00:27:44
Speaker
DCI, a lot of stuff is wonky in the activity. Something that's really nice is DCI is a process. If you want to move up in a class, there's three-step process you follow. First, you just give them the information, say, this is our numbers. This is the money we bring in. This is what we're physically able to do.
00:28:03
Speaker
And that first season, they start trying to get in the class. The second season, they're treated as essentially in that new class, except they're they're technically still in the other class, but they perform in the new class and everything. And then year three, if year two went well, they're 100% in that new class.
00:28:22
Speaker
that's that's That's awesome. Through the years, we've seen some bad stuff. Sorry. Hey. yeah No, yeah, 100%.
00:28:30
Speaker
All right. Now that we have that, we are actually going to go to the commercial. So we'll be back. Okay. Hi,
00:28:45
Speaker
hi everyone. It's time for your travel tip of the week with me. I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel. Performance tours are a great way to showcase your ensemble in new cities and for new audiences.
00:28:57
Speaker
But be sure to also include local attractions and sightseeing tours or cruises to give your group a full cultural experience while they're on the road. Don't forget to like and follow Peak Group Travel on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
00:29:12
Speaker
And be sure to email info at peakgrouptravel.com when you're ready to start planning your next performance tour. This is your travel tip of the week with me, Beth, from Peak Group Travel.
00:29:36
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.
00:29:54
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.
00:30:07
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.
00:30:20
Speaker
That's the Peak Group Travel difference. And if you choose to partner with Peak on your next tour, and you mention that you heard about us on the On a Water Break podcast, you'll earn a $100 trip credit. Discover why groups everywhere trust Peak Group Travel.
00:30:33
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.
00:30:51
Speaker
Okay, everyone, we are back. This is probably one of the best new segments that we've had lately, just because we never know what's going to come out of someone's mouth. But we're doing the 60-second tech block.
00:31:05
Speaker
Do you have music for that?
00:31:15
Speaker
I just always feel like I'm getting yelled at. So, okay, everyone, it's time for the 60 second tech block in this segment. This is where our host, our guest clinicians is going to be put on the spot and they're going to deliver a nonstop 60 second tech section on a topic that needs some serious attention after that last run.
00:31:36
Speaker
So our special tech this week is AK, and we have prepared three topics that we think that they can talk about for a full 60 seconds straight, no hesitation, no pauses, just pure technical gold.
00:31:49
Speaker
So this week it's AK for us. You said your best topics to talk about were one, properly walking in heels because we know a k pageant person,
00:32:01
Speaker
ah Two, spinning on stage, because as we just found out today, your talent is usually spinning on stage. And then three, your pre-pageant routine. We want to know what gets you in the zone and what gets you going. So everyone that we have on the call right now, what topic do we want to hear AK talk about? So give me some, give me some, give me some, give some,
00:32:30
Speaker
So I'm personally leaning towards pre-pageant routine because like one of the biggest things in drum corps, getting ready for the show, you're on the bus listening to something or like doing, you've got, everyone's got some kind of a pre-show ritual that they do to get ready for that performance.
00:32:45
Speaker
And I got hear what what this version of it is. Woody, what do you think? i kind of like that. I thought about that, but as I mentioned in the green room, I've never had a pair of high heels on.
00:33:00
Speaker
I would like to know how you walk in those things. oh what I watch a woman walk across the floor in the shake of death. but Step, step, step. I'm like, God, it's got to hurt.
00:33:13
Speaker
Can you tell me more? Only if you put some on and walk in them and then send us the video. No. Tell me more.
00:33:25
Speaker
I really want to hear all of it. I mean, I was leaning more towards the spinning on stage, but now that Jeremy was talking about that pre-routine, because like I had a whole thing down when I was marching.
00:33:37
Speaker
So I would love to know what you do for your pre-routine for your ah pageant. So what do you think?
00:33:48
Speaker
Pre-pageant routine? Pre-pageant routine sounds good. There's a lot that goes into it. So I'm happy to talk about it. All right. Jeremy, you got 60 seconds on. You got 60 seconds on the timer.
00:33:59
Speaker
All right. You can counter off. You can counter off and when they are ready to go. And three, two, one. there's a lot of preparation that goes into competing in a pageant at all, starting with your preparation for interview, preparation for your talent, your fitness walk, and your evening gown.
00:34:17
Speaker
And that all includes from wardrobe picks to picking your talent song to just how you want to present yourself and your branding to the judges. However, for me personally, when it comes down to the actual pageant day, a lot of my actual day does consist of listening to drum corps music.
00:34:32
Speaker
or music that drunkards have sourced from. Currently, my go-to song is Lost the Triangle, which the Blue Codes played this past year. And also that probably Cincinnati did a couple of years ago in their show as well.
00:34:44
Speaker
I feel like it really gets me hyped. And also they both won a gold medal ah for a show that they did that in So as someone who's also trying to win, that's not what I'm trying to do. also watch a lot of pageantry movies. I think from Drop Dead Gorgeous to Miss Congeniality, really in those days, like leading up to it to really get me locked in. And also I spend a lot of my time before interview by myself, would go over who am I who do I want to share with the judges.
00:35:08
Speaker
And that's 60 seconds. You know what? I feel like we... just gave you a little bit, like not practice because you've been doing this before, but I'm sure that they're when they're when you're on stage, they ask you questions and you have to answer them within a certain amount of time.
00:35:26
Speaker
So AK knows this. They're ready. They're just ready. yes Well, I have to imagine, you know, I watched, like said, I've been involved with the pageant thing because of my wife.
00:35:39
Speaker
And I watched the nervousness of them But you know how we are about performing? We don't get nervous that way like a normal person. Were you nervous at all? are you just like, ask a question. I don't care.
00:35:53
Speaker
I mean, that's how I am. That's how we live our lives. We're a lot more confident about stuff like that. How did that work for you? I think at this point, I'm pretty used to them asking me a question or asking about a topic off the bat and answering anything from 30 seconds to a minute, depending on what it is.
00:36:12
Speaker
Currently in Miss America, how they do onstage questions, they call it hot topics. You're given a topic and whatever it is, you have to talk about for 30 seconds. It's even a question anymore. It's here's your topic. Talk about this.
00:36:23
Speaker
So something like that, like, this is great practice for me to be doing that. And it's something I'm used to. I'm preparing to hopefully win Miss Pennsylvania then go to compete on Miss America. i mean, I've seen plenty of girls crumble for that 30 seconds.
00:36:36
Speaker
oh No sweat on the brow. AK says this is something I've always done. Got it. All right. So we are going to go into our next segment. and now that we've gotten that all off our chest, let's see We're going into the next thing of what are we doing?
00:36:56
Speaker
what are we doing
00:37:05
Speaker
what are we doing my favour That is my favorite music. about I'll just tell you that much. yeah It's a fat groove, isn't it? It's very fat. It's healthy.
00:37:17
Speaker
It's a healthy groove. Healthy, yeah. I'm kidding. It's really fat. Yes! yeah but
00:37:28
Speaker
So that was a solid 60 second tech block. Thank you, AK. Hopefully someone out there just got the tech advice that they needed if they're in that color guard to pageantry or to, yeah, to pageantry pipeline.
00:37:43
Speaker
So, but now it's time to switch things up a little bit. It's time for us to talk about someone's favorite or everyone's favorite. What are we doing? So this is the part of the show where we let loose a little bit or maybe a lot.
00:37:57
Speaker
This is your chance to rant about something in the marching arts that doesn't make sense. Maybe it's a tradition that needs to go. Maybe it's a habit that performers can't seem to break, but maybe it's something that makes you think, why are we even doing this or why haven't we been doing this? So whatever it is, this is your moment.
00:38:15
Speaker
Call it out. See who's got something they need to get off their chest. Wow. And I mean, didn't make the list, but I guess I'm going to go first. I would say, what we doing?
00:38:27
Speaker
Talk about not prepared. But what are we doing? not And I talked about this a little bit in the last episode that I just... that I just did. But what are we doing? Not mixing different.
00:38:40
Speaker
I don't want to say styles or genres, but like maybe even mixing different medias of music on the field because we're doing it. You see people doing it all the time on stage. Like Travis Scott just had, you know, brass instruments on his stage. You see it with Beyonce. She had a whole marching band on her stage.
00:39:01
Speaker
Why not bring some of that stuff to the field? Not just people singing, but why don't we mix like the different, again, genres? So like putting HBCUs with drum corps style together.
00:39:16
Speaker
you know like Meld the two. I think there could be a huge difference in like emotion, music effect, You know, and and and even in, you know, the way that the color guard's going to, you know, react to that. How would they do choreography to it? How would they spin to it?
00:39:33
Speaker
I feel like it there's not one, there's not one way, you know, and I think a lot of people think that it's being gatekept and it's not. And also too, you know, looking to the next thing, maybe that is the next thing, but someone needs to do that. Like that needs to be something that's done. Why are we not mixing genres on the field?
00:39:54
Speaker
I mean, yeah, 100%. I know this is a little bit of a reach, but one of the rules that they passed this year that everyone's focusing, oh, it's going to let woodwinds, blah, blah, blah. Yes, but the big focus on that is the type of microphones they're allowed to use.
00:40:06
Speaker
That puts zero limitations of any kind. They're allowed to use any kind of microphone. any kind of amplification, any kind of software to make it sound the way they want it to.
00:40:16
Speaker
This is the opportunity to have a soloist performing in that style, get that sound properly, not just our generic field mics to pick up the brass, an actual dedicated mic to this performer.
00:40:30
Speaker
We could have it right in there with the show and be a perfect match. Oh, man. And I know you want say it, Woody. Say it. That's not drum corps! yeah You're really going to get those people, you're going to get them riled up. Oh, man.
00:40:47
Speaker
And I'm one of those people, I like to sit in the stands, and I always hear it. And I'm a person, enjoy people exploring. But, you know, drum corps people don't like to explore.
00:41:00
Speaker
They just want to come. I want to get my face ripped off. I want to do some one ungodly and then I want to leave and get my car or sit behind a you know trunk and talk about what I saw that's all I agree with you and I would actually do the same things you know what I mean like yes blow my face off two yes I want to see someone almost fall down with a tuba excuse me tuba contra you know and some good ridiculous drill but also hey show me something I haven't seen before that's me that i I love people who stretch the boundaries but you know
00:41:35
Speaker
I'm a different kind of guy. That's why I like it. Why can't we do both? Why can't part of the show get our faces blasted off and the other part of the show explore something drum corps has never done before?
00:41:46
Speaker
Absolutely. That's general effect. I know you can't really explore what is general. like That is general effect. Yeah. Well, you know, being the drum corps today kind of guy, you should probably look for this backlash.
00:42:00
Speaker
That's not drum corps. It's marching band. They're not supposed to be woodwinds in drum corps. That is the defining difference. That has been the mantra since I started marching in 1977. So there you go.
00:42:18
Speaker
Watch for it. You'll watch the same.
00:42:21
Speaker
AK. Yeah. yeah aka ah What are we doing? What are we doing? Putting our kids specifically, because this is, I'm a color guard director, so this is what I think of.
00:42:34
Speaker
Putting them in uniforms that either don't fit all of them or that they aren't excited to wear. I, this year, my color guard kids did a show about our river monster, very much like Creature from the Black Lagoon-esque concept that they did.
00:42:52
Speaker
and we put them all in these uniforms that were reminiscent of like a very like 3D mermaid and had, had fins and they had dorsal fins and they were just so excited to wear it.
00:43:03
Speaker
So when I put them on the floor, I'm getting some of the best performance I've ever seen out of my kids because they're happy to be in what they're performing in. I feel like so often we see uniforms that are picked that either don't fit every body type for every kid you've got, which if your kid's not happy to put on their uniform, there's a problem.
00:43:22
Speaker
Yep. Yep. we it's ah We just did, well, we didn't just do this, but weeks ago we did a episode about like uniforms and bodies and how, you know, the kids feel in them. And like something I said in that was if my kids are going to feel confident and they really like what they're wearing, you're going to get the best performance out of them, no matter what.
00:43:49
Speaker
So, and then once you put them in something that they don't feel right in, you're just going to get half of that kid. You're not even going to get the full kid at all. So I feel like it's very important once you get them, once you get, you know, once you get the kids in their uniforms and they're trying it on, like, yes, alterations are always going to need to be done sometimes. Like I've ah very seldomly ever had kids try on their uniforms for the very first time.
00:44:18
Speaker
and it fit perfectly. But I always ask, do you feel comfortable? How do you feel? Do you feel confident? Because it's going to show. and granted, there's always going to be, oh, I'm not crazy about this show design or something. But if your kid is feeling uncomfortable or dreading putting on that uniform, that's part of the problem.
00:44:38
Speaker
We need to avoid that entire aspect of the activity. thank Jeremy, actually, we're kicking it next to you for what are we doing. I kind of like prefaced in the direction that I'm going to be going with that. What are we doing?
00:44:52
Speaker
Not properly vetting the adults that are going to be working with, granted, a lot of them are over 18, but for a lot of these groups, working directly with children. I feel like it's almost every week I'm saying, oh, this individual did something. Oh, this individual. And we're seeing it from big groups. We're seeing it from like world-class courts.
00:45:11
Speaker
We shouldn't like, we shouldn't be seeing it at all. But the people who are putting in literal millions of dollars every year for their show. that shouldn't be an issue. That shouldn't, that should be a top priority. I granted you want to make an entertaining performance for the audience, protecting the performers and protecting the kids is the top priority.
00:45:31
Speaker
Nothing else matters.
00:45:34
Speaker
I wonder sometimes like, cause it comes out, are they surprised when it becomes public or, or do they already know?
00:45:47
Speaker
and they're, The number of cores we see when this news finally breaks, them trying to defend the perpetrator as opposed to listen to the, like, they're trying to cover their ass. They're trying to do what legal garbage their PR team said, hey, post this so we don't get sued.
00:46:05
Speaker
But that's just because it's legal doesn't mean it's right. Yeah. yeah I know that so many of us are required to, in order to teach at the level that we do at all.
00:46:17
Speaker
I mentioned a college grad director. I have every five years here by Clarence's and the schools are coming for them. And even just to volunteer with certain groups in terms of school children, you have to be vetted in some capacity. Like I'm getting, have to get left like FBI fingerprinted to go work with children. So it is a little wild to me that's like, yeah, we're going to send you to teach and that's not required of you in any capacity outside of maybe, I know they do safe sport now. Do you have any other clearances outside of that?
00:46:51
Speaker
Especially if you're teaching, if you teach and high school groups or if you teach other groups, you probably should already have those. And like, I know that might sound excessive. Oh, the FBI checks, like for a lot of teachers, that's just a basic thing. I mean, I, I'm not a direct teacher, but I teach marching band. I tech with different groups. And at the very least I have to have my fingerprints set in with the state police, with the federal police, see if anything comes back of any kind.
00:47:16
Speaker
And we need to see more extensive background checks, I guess. Agreed. Agreed. It's, it's You know, it's hard to change the mindsets of a lot of people with that kind of stuff.
00:47:29
Speaker
and It's somewhat of an intuition. The only mindset is is that you have you have performers that you need to protect, period. You know?
00:47:40
Speaker
And I guess, yes, the mindset is, oh, well, you know, we need them. And so often it comes down to like, we want to protect our performers, but like, I've known this person for 20. They couldn't have possibly done that.
00:47:55
Speaker
Like, I know this person. We're friends. I could never see the problem. You know, that's how even the situations that made it so that we have to fingerprint, you know, people just didn't talk about it because it's your friend and here we are.
00:48:10
Speaker
So that's definitely a very good point, sir. Yeah. And that's it. Sorry to bring down the vibe. Hey, no, you are bringing. Exactly. You're bringing in the awareness.
00:48:22
Speaker
Woody, we're kicking it to you. What are we doing? So Jeremy, though he brought down a vibe. I'm getting Bring it down to the ground. What are we doing? So as we know, our United States of America is crumbling before our eyes.
00:48:37
Speaker
And they disbanded permanent education. I'm thinking, how is that not going to affect our marching activity?
00:48:48
Speaker
Most marching band things, I think it'll affect the whole music community. But I think the marching activities will be struck first and hardest just because of the type of money it takes to put marching band out, the new demands and all those things.
00:49:10
Speaker
I'm like, why are we not talking about this now instead of getting burnt next year? Oh, I knew it was going to happen. And it's already too late. You know, I'm thinking to myself, who's going to be the first to say, hey, let's all start talking about this and getting that going because something ugly can happen.
00:49:32
Speaker
And, you know, none of us can live without marching bands. it ties us to the next summer. ah hundred percent 100%. We've seen this new administration every, it's it's every day, oh we're gonna do something crazy new and then they pass it and then the next day it's something even crazier.
00:49:48
Speaker
So we don't even have time to talk about the insane thing that just happened because like they're proposing something like, imagine five years ago if someone said, we're gonna disband the Department of Education. Like that isn't even something that would have been in within the realm of possibility.
00:50:03
Speaker
And now it's already passed. And we're, don't know about you guys in Illinois, we're starting to see the effects. We're seeing some high school groups having to pull away from the competitive scene and only do exhibition this season because they don't have the funding anymore.
00:50:16
Speaker
See, that's, that's what I'm, that's what I'm saying. I'm like, how, how can it not affect our, our world? Like, yeah. Go ahead. I mean, there's different parts that are hurting other, I mean, different parts of the activity that are hurting in other ways, too.
00:50:34
Speaker
Like, there's companies who make marching band uniforms and color guard uniforms yeah to up their prices. because Yeah, definitely.
00:50:45
Speaker
yeah definitely know You know what, Nicole? Very good hit. I didn't even think about those tariffs. We always talk about metal, steel, strawberries, eggs, but We don't think about, wow, those marching band uniforms, the thread comes from somewhere and it could be an issue. You're right.
00:51:09
Speaker
Only thing I can say to that is that I really hope that it doesn't come to that. I really hope that it doesn't because there are so many one students and then just, you know, I mean, adults like us, you know, that have grown up with it.
00:51:28
Speaker
And I would hate for those kids to not have it. And everyone, we we know what it feels like to not have it. We were all here in 2020. And I know that everyone went through their own personal AT double hockey sticks during that time.
00:51:42
Speaker
no one wants to go back. So I would hope that that's not going to happen. Not to mention, if the tariffs happen, Crossman may not get their Aussies.
00:51:55
Speaker
We got to have the Aussies. Crossman got to have the Aussies. just saying, you know, due to the tariffs, the Crossman will not be wearing the Aussies. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
00:52:07
Speaker
Good night. I know that you mentioned that. I really never... The uniforms are, quote, made in America, but how much of that stuff is actually American? Honestly, personally, what I don't know. The majority of it, like it's they might be assembled here. Definitely made in America. It depends on, like, oh, this was made here.
00:52:28
Speaker
But most of the things that go into making any type of costume or uniform or anything else, anything of textile or fabric, we don't produce that here. There's almost, there's not any...
00:52:40
Speaker
fabric making companies i pay that's what i'm saying to make the amount of uniforms on the scale of what we do in an activity like ours.
00:52:51
Speaker
I mean, there's always been a joke of in America, we buy everything. Everything comes imported from China. But like when that's kind of the actual reality and we're putting almost 200% tariff on them, I don't know how we think that that's going to affect them when they're they're just chilling. China doesn't have an issue with these tariffs. We're the only ones that are having to pay for the effects.
00:53:12
Speaker
And the margin is at $6,000. Dunk for inexpensive now. And then the uniform costs $1,000 for all a child.
00:53:23
Speaker
No. Oh, that's gross. I can't. I can't. Maybe it'll push groups back to the, we'll have one main uniform, then we'll switch a piece of it every show to match the concept as opposed to getting a brand new uniform every single season, which that's kind of a waste of material. Not great for the environment. All the.
00:53:41
Speaker
and one Oh no, not the Green New Deal and Drone Corps. oh my goodness. I told you was going to bring the room down everyone. Sorry. Well, I will tell you right now, let's go ahead and flip it.
00:53:55
Speaker
Now that we have gotten all of that off, let's bring it back to the positive energy side of the room. Maybe we can have that jam again. to Well, we can have another one. Let's do Gush and Goes.
00:54:11
Speaker
great job everyone such your equipment down du and go So this is the part or this is the time that you have your chance to shout out something awesome, something happening in your life and marching arts related or not.
00:54:24
Speaker
but And maybe you just get excited about a performance, student success, a big life event, or just something you think is cool. And you want to be what I'd like to call braggadocious about it. No negativity here, Woody.
00:54:36
Speaker
Just unfiltered hype. So who's got something they want to go ahead and gush and go about? AK, since you are a guest today, I'm going to let you go first. What are you gushing and going about? Cool. This past indoor season, i had to balance both being Pugard director as well as doing, I've had two things. I was competing for my local title.
00:54:55
Speaker
I'm currently Miss Pretzel City, which is the best title, have to say. and Going into the season, I was a little worried, mostly about balancing those things again. But my color guard kids are incredible. First of all, I teach Westchester East High School.
00:55:10
Speaker
And they had the most successful color guard season that we've had since I've been there. We went into the season doing a show about, it would be essentially river monster. called At the Bottom of the River. It's about these river creatures that essentially pull girl into the river.
00:55:25
Speaker
And she turns into a monster at in the end show. Usually we do pretty decently for ourselves in our local circuit. They are in novice class, which has been pretty good place for them. They tend to do shows that are just outside of the realm of being in novice class, just because had the kids who had the skill.
00:55:42
Speaker
We've been trying to get out of the class. But usually we don't win or come in second place until about mid-March. By the third show of February, they had won first place, and then they did not come in anything outside of first place for the rest the season.
00:55:56
Speaker
It's a master for us for the program, just because this year we had our first kid who has been in the program since his freshman year and now he's a senior and will be graduating.
00:56:08
Speaker
We were very bad first year. It was my first year being a director. Did not know what I was doing. We were awful. And this year, there was so much growth. And it was it was really great. I have a video of our captain as they're announcing the last two placements.
00:56:24
Speaker
And she's literally like, she's like, please, please, please, please. And it's been really great to see them not only succeed, but to finally accomplish something that we've been trying to do. And not just be moved to the next class, but to have won a gold medal to do it.
00:56:38
Speaker
That's awesome. I would brag about that too if that were me.
00:56:43
Speaker
I'm supposed to go next, but I'm going to go last. So I think I'm going to kick it to Woody. Yeah, Woody. What are you bragging about? What's your gushing go? My gushing go is very similar to AK.
00:56:55
Speaker
As we've been talking about all year, started with a new program as the band director. And we wrapped up at the Wildwood weekend, the first weekend in May.
00:57:07
Speaker
And I've been, you know, how you always want your kids to have their best performance. And um teaching young kids, it's hard to teach them the emotional part that we all love. And I really, I don't really concentrate on technique and all that stuff.
00:57:22
Speaker
I concentrate on teaching the kid how this activity makes you a stronger person. and And if you get a chance to touch the ring one time, the emotional blast from it is unbelievable.
00:57:36
Speaker
My kids came off the floor crying. Yeah. oh To me, that is such a special moment. I didn't even get involved or jump in the middle. They were just amongst themselves because they couldn't believe they had accomplished what Mr. Woodward had asked them to accomplish.
00:57:53
Speaker
And they're just crying and hugging each other. I'm like, we're on our way. We're on our way. it Did that?
00:58:03
Speaker
The approach has been very stunning for them because they've never had a person in the shoes like myself. you know Hey, we're not talking about winning. We're just talking about excellence.
00:58:16
Speaker
And excellence has guardrails. But I really want to take off my shoes. No. No? Well, the other band director said I could. Well, that's nice, but we're not doing that.
00:58:28
Speaker
And it was very hard on Parents, kids, everyone. And just to now, I always step back at the end. I don't know if you do this, Nicole or Jeremy.
00:58:39
Speaker
When they're happy, you don't get involved in it. You just step back and you watch everyone. You just watch because that's your payment. People don't even know it. That's our payment.
00:58:51
Speaker
just watch you be happy. And then maybe 20 minutes in you go, we did it, we did it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Get off it because I told you it was going to happen if you followed me. but Exactly. We watched you do it. We knew what was happening.
00:59:04
Speaker
But like for them to come off the floor and be that emotional about it, just like, yes, I'll watch you. I will watch you be emotional and give yourself and the people around you praise for what y'all did on the floor, that magic that you can only feel.
00:59:20
Speaker
Oh, that's so good. that's And that, to me, I wish more, I guess it's a hard thing to teach people how to ah touch that magic. Because as you know, I tell the kids all the time, once you touch it, it's no longer about the drumming or the spinning. It's how do I get back to that magical moment where if you were to stop time, I could pick up the front of a car by myself because there's so much energy.
00:59:48
Speaker
And they got a chance to least open up the door and get hit with the rays. They don't know what's waiting for them. And you don't have to talk about that anymore. You know what I mean? It's a shame people don't talk about that.
01:00:01
Speaker
Well, i mean, you don't have to talk about it to your students anymore because you have students who have experienced it. So they can go on and on about it for you. what That's all I wanted to do is just plant the seed in the program and have the other kids Spread the word.
01:00:16
Speaker
Hey, just listen to them because once you do this, it's going to happen. It's going to happen. So I was very excited about that. That's my gush and go. but i mean, what's up it's that old phrase?
01:00:29
Speaker
Teachers plant the seeds for trees they'll never sit in the shade of, something like that. Oh, boy, we are bringing the room down. ah the mood bit like that's what this activity like That's the love and the passion and the activity.
01:00:45
Speaker
That's not sad. i am a a passion person more so than a technical person. Like when when you watch some of the, like you said, you're it a point to see some of the all-age groups.
01:00:58
Speaker
And there's that group of community that's going to say, well, they're not that good. Now, you see, you've missed the point. I'm sitting to watch it. How entertaining are they?
01:01:09
Speaker
How much fun are they having? Yeah, granted, they may not be good as later on in the evening. That's a different competition. But everyone has something to offer. And that's how I look at it.
01:01:21
Speaker
So I wish we could get that message out to more people. And now to think, i my my personal choice, if you get them to tap into that emotion that you're talking about,
01:01:34
Speaker
They'll want to then do the technique stuff. But so many people force the technique down their throat that the kid no longer enjoys the activity because they're just, oh, again, again. We have to do basics.
01:01:50
Speaker
It's different. Yes, you do. It's like, do we have to basics? Yes, you do. I promise it makes the rest of the better. You have to do the basics. It's going to suck little bit. It's going to suck a little bit, but the end's going to be great.
01:02:03
Speaker
Jeremy, what are you gushing and going about? That's what I'm talking about. Yes. Wow. that That is, Thursday night is the best for that group of drum corps. Oh, why do you want to be at the beginning of the show?
01:02:21
Speaker
Because that vibe is awesome. Go to all of prelims. If you can go to all of prelims, as someone who marched through some of the open class, Yes, you're watching drum corps at 9 in the morning, but those kids are performing at 9 in the morning.
01:02:36
Speaker
Go see them. They're in Lucas Oil. Go see them. You see such incredible moments of activity and the those first couple of hours. I would agree. When I used to teach the Jersey Surf, they were real big on going later because the kids didn't want to see drum corps all day.
01:02:53
Speaker
And I would be outraged. ah flying off the hook. I'm like, I want to be sitting in the stands in the home of the brave.
01:03:04
Speaker
OK. I want to be from the first tap only because that pack of of course, they're all about the same. And the fight on that Thursday night is incredible. Those are the best performances in that block.
01:03:20
Speaker
Then the second night, the top end is on fire. But that first day, Everyone is working. And I think our producer is telling us to do something, Nicole.
01:03:32
Speaker
What's telling us? No, no, you're good. You're good. well Shut up, Woody. You talk too darn much. Oh, no, Those are great. Those are great. And I got hooked.
01:03:45
Speaker
I mean, honestly, we could obviously go on for a very long time as we, as displayed, but I do want to tell everyone, just say to everyone, thank you so much for a great rehearsal this week. ah and what a great way to show off more amazing,
01:04:02
Speaker
you know, amazing things that are going on in the activity. I do want to give a special shout out to AK for joining us this week. I appreciate you for coming on. Thank you. me um So before we let you go though, where can we find you on socials?
01:04:18
Speaker
Yeah. So I'm mostly on Instagram. You can find me at AKRHazel on Instagram, as well as Miss k Pretzel City, if you would like to follow my journey to Miss Pennsylvania and keep up with everything that's going on there.
01:04:30
Speaker
I'm super excited to also be revealing more my talent stuff. I'll be spinning rifle and flag to my shop from Hamilton for talent. So definitely keep an eye on everything there. Awesome.
01:04:40
Speaker
Yay. I can't wait. You have got to keep us in the loop because honestly, like if, if Miss Pennsylvania is being streamed somewhere, I want to know. And then two, if you get on to Miss America and you do color guard, will be.
01:04:58
Speaker
Oh, that was true. I'm going be a fan of yours anyway, but I'm just saying. America's got talent. alan America's got so much talent.
01:05:09
Speaker
Awesome. And so I also want to thank Jeremy from drum core today, dude. It's been so long since we've done a show together. Yeah. ah So much more. So hopefully I'll get to see you on tour sometime or maybe, you know, again here in the same setup that we're always in Woody. I appreciate you getting the fire out and running into rehearsal tonight.
01:05:34
Speaker
No, I know. And don't put on any heels, okay? I fear for your ankles. I think you should. I want to know. I'll teach a class. think you should. think you should.
01:05:47
Speaker
Oh, goodness. oh Well, also too, just so you know, and this is for everyone listening, if you've got a question or a good topic to talk about, please email us at autowaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com or find us on your social media. You can DM us if you have a question about the show.
01:06:04
Speaker
We even have a form that you can fill out if you want to be a guest. We love having people on the podcast, so check it out. The link is in the bio on our social media. Also, before you close out of your favorite listening app, make sure you like this.
01:06:18
Speaker
um You know, leave us some kind of um review and share it with a friend. Also, too, just make sure you follow us on social media at On A Water Break. And we'll see you at the next rehearsal on A Water Break.
01:06:33
Speaker
That's Drunk Orr. Now go practice. The On a Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and Christine Ream. The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit LidaMusic.com.
01:06:49
Speaker
And until next time, thanks for tuning in.