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The One About Blue Stars Alumni
146 Plays5 months ago
Join our hosting panel as they talk about the BlueStars 60th Alumni Performance with Jeremy Denzer. Get an Inside and behind the scenes look at the marching arts, plus Lex Holland gives us a Gush and Go and a Water We Doing. Our hosts bring you their stories, plus news, guests, and so much more!
Special Guests
Jeremy Denzer - @jeremydenzer
Featuring
Lex Holland - @blonde.carmel.twist
Meet our Hosts
Jackie Brown - @spintronixguard
Stephen McCarrick - @stephenmccarick
Cindy Barry - @leandermomma
Nicole Younger - @o2bnpjs & @thecookoutcg
Trevor Bailey - @t_pain151
Trish O’Shea - @trishdish1002
Beth Beccone - @bether7189
Chris Rutt - @wildhornbrass1
Cynthia Bernard - @cynthiabern
Ashlee Amos - @famousamossss_
Theo Harrison - @harrisontheo07
Stephanie Click - @stephanieclick
Whitney Stone - @dancerwhit
Justin Surface - @J_dex07
Ashley Tran - @itsashleytran
Jack Goudreau - @goudreau_
Bill Woodward - @remoking100
Emily Nee - @tch.makes.art
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall - @ricardorrobinson
Austin Hall - @Austin_hall10
Jose Montes - @joeymontes57
Bobbey Biddle - @bobbeyboy107
Music provided by leydamusic.com Follow him @josh.leyda
Avatars provided by @tch.makes.art
Featuring
Lexi Duda - Host for On A Water Break In Rhinestones - The Stories of the Twirlers @lexi_duda
Thank you also to @guardcloset
#marchingband #colorguard #dci #podcast #onawaterbreak #wgi #drumline #dci2024 #bluestars
Recommended
Transcript
Podcast Introduction & Weekly Highlights
00:00:01
Speaker
Hey, everyone. We are back for another week of exciting rehearsals. This week, we're talking about the Blue Stars alumni, and we have so much other news. We also find out what made Trish say, They're not in step. They're not in uniform. They're not, what is this? Whatever, blah, blah, blah. And why Woody said, Drumming in the rain. Drumming in. And then we picked up with the rest of the speech. All this and more. So get out on the field and we will see you back on the sidelines for this week's episode of On A Water Break. Eight off the Met and go. Welcome to On A Water Break. The podcast where we talk everything marching arts.
00:00:51
Speaker
Everyone bring it in. It's time for a water break.
Reflecting on DCI Performance Emotions
00:00:57
Speaker
Episode of season two of Auto Water Break, the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal on a water break. I'm Jackie Brown. We are in for an exciting rehearsal this week. I am just back from my Blue Stars alumni performance and It was amazing. You're going to get to hear all about it because seriously, I have not performed in so long and especially I haven't been involved in anything DCI personally in so long. So that's exciting. ah But before we get to all that, let's see who's on the sidelines this week. Hi, Trish. Hi, everyone. How's everybody doing today? We're doing fine, Trish.
00:01:39
Speaker
yeah
00:01:42
Speaker
but feeling that after DCI performance, like, kind of like depression a little bit, but... I know, I hear you. but like It's almost like coming off from tour even though it's just a weekend.
Introducing Austin and Jeremy
00:01:56
Speaker
Oh, but it felt like tour, oh my gosh. Oh, it sure did. It's amazing how that moment of time killed you, right? Yes, Jackie, you called? How are you? Fantastic, you little blue star, you.
00:02:16
Speaker
And Austin. Hello, hello Jackie, how are you? I'm great. I am so glad you're here. We haven't been on together, like, I don't know if we've been on together ever. I listen to you all the time. I don't think we have. No, I think about it. There's so many hosts. It's just been, there's so many. It's hard to keep up. Well, and it's true. and We talk to each other so much off of the podcast. It's just like, I know everybody, we talk all the time, but have we been lives together?
Jeremy's Busy Transition Between Seasons
00:02:42
Speaker
I think this is our first time. So congratulations, Austin. We're on together finally. Yeah, finally.
00:02:48
Speaker
Well, and back again as a co-host, fresh off of our Bluestar alumni performance as well, it's Jeremy Denzer! Hi! Hello, everyone! It's great to be back. I feel like I was just here a few weeks ago, and um it's it's been a crazy month. ah you Coming off of Pride Guard season, five parades in four weeks and then immediately into the Twister's Alumni. Oh my, how do you do that? Oh my gosh. Without even taking a break, so. I say how you do that. There was a point in time, I probably could have been able to do that, but not anymore.
00:03:28
Speaker
but So how was the Pride Guards for you? It was, I mean, it's I love it. it's yeah ah We're going to talk and in in the news segment about parades, but yeah I love these parades and it's it's just joyful and it's fun. ah you The hard part is, you I was responsible for helping organize both the Pride Guard as well as the Blue Stars alumni
Organizing the Blue Stars Alumni Guard: Challenges & Triumphs
00:03:53
Speaker
guard. So was nothing not only just performing, but also getting to do a lot of admin work on the back end too and writing choreography and all the fun stuff. but
00:04:04
Speaker
But yeah, so it's been crazy. I'm ready for a little break. I, for one, appreciate your help in organizing the Blue Star Guard because like your videos were great and you did such a good job instructing on all of the choreography. I learned it like weeks in advance of coming. So it was awesome.
Why Did Guardians Drum Corps End Their Tour Early?
00:04:23
Speaker
All right. So we're going to jump right into the news today um because we have got some news stories that are going crazy.
00:04:46
Speaker
All right, Austin. Yes, I would love to. Starting off with a little bit of sad news. It's kind of old, but also sad. um the guard We're talking about the Guardians and how they're going to end tour early. so they and So the board of directors got together with the core director and everything, and they decided to shift to an abbreviated tour schedule. They're going to be going up through the Mesquite, Texas show, which follows right after San Antonio. um Honestly, it really sucks to see that happen. but it's better for them to do that and then the tour early than it is to go on, try to push on and then not make it all the way to finals and then dealing with fallout from all of that. They're keeping kids safe. They're doing what's right financially so that they can last longer, which that's just, it's the smartest thing to do and more cores need to look at them as an example.
00:05:44
Speaker
I totally agree with that. I think it's's it's interesting that they make the decision and people are like, oh, they're leaving mid-tour and it's horrible for the kids. It's not horrible for the kids. it's yeah it's the yeah Imagine if the kids went on tour and had an awful experience. Right. it see It's smart. Well, that's that's the person who has never really been in the operation operation room before, who says, oh, it's horrible for the kids. Well, it's horrible when they don't have food. Exactly. On the road. And that's horrible. Whoa. Nice sound effect. And if you do that, we've seen we've seen a ton of chords that take that route and go on tour and give the members a bad experience, and then they disappear forever.
00:06:30
Speaker
They're saying that that they're going to keep going. They're just not going to keep going to DCI,
Spartans Drum Corps in Macy's Parade Announcement
00:06:33
Speaker
but that next year. yeah It is the smart choice most definitely. And the best part about it is that if there's kids like at the Mesquite show, if there's kids who really want to keep marching and there's holes elsewhere, they can literally just go hop on another bus. Like I've seen it happen before. Like when I taught at troopers in 2021, we picked up Italian kids. I think we picked up two or three because we needed kids. And we said here. up on our bus right after their, I think it was the Denver show? Maybe it was right before then. I don't know. But we picked up kids, we've picked up kids from Italian before and they were phenomenal. And we're we were so glad to be able to give them an opportunity to keep going. And I'm i'm hoping that with with them announcing it weeks in advance that some of these kids have already found a home. Yeah. Right. That they'll continue the season and that they already know where they're going as soon as they're done. Yeah. It's like free agency for drum world. Right.
00:07:26
Speaker
which has brought a story today that is absolutely and near and dear to my heart. So why don't you do yours next Trish? Okay. So the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps are friends from the open class DCI. Um, they have been selected to March in the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. Um, according to their press release, they were selected from more than a hundred applicants to March in the 2025 parade. And they're saying that they're excited because it's an amazing way to celebrate the Spartan 70th anniversary. So they're super excited about that. They had a big like friends and family.
00:08:12
Speaker
type show that they were doing before they left out for tour, and that was the night they announced it. So they were where everybody was really excited. If you want to hop to their social media and check out the kids' reactions when they found out, it was really super cool. Those of you who know me, you know I love the Macy's parade. Spartans, I want to come find you. We will take some pictures and put them all over social media. I have a friend on the admin staff, and I've already volunteered. I said, you need me, you know where to find me. so And it sounds like they're opening up to alumni as well so yeah from what I read in the press release. So it should be a big big group. yeah Well, there's one guy who was the drum major. He was slated to be the drum major um for his age out year, which was 2020.
00:08:59
Speaker
And he's currently on their merch team. He's on tour with them right now with their with their merch team. So I could see him jumping in there and a lot of other kids that didn't get to have that season jumping in there
The Joy and Importance of Producing Parades
00:09:11
Speaker
as well. So what a great what a great experience for them as well. It's it's so awesome to see Drum Corps in the Macy's Parade on such a national stage. I think the last time we saw somebody was Scouts. If I'm not mistaken, Scouts alumni did it a long time ago. But, um, especially opening it up to like an open class drum for just to get a little bit more visibility for, for open class, they deserve a lot more visibility than what they get right now in the activity. And Spartans are really on the rise right now. I mean, they're, they've been, I mean, don't get me wrong. They've been around for like.
00:09:45
Speaker
almost 70 years, but yeah they're doing, they're doing fantastic. They've, they've rebounded from COVID very, very well. And the products they've been putting out the past couple of years is fantastic. And this is just another stepping stone to get more visibility for them. So, I mean, kudos, kudos to what Spartans is doing right now, honestly, all around from top to bottom. And bands are such a time-honored tradition in the Macy's parade. Like to see a drum corps come in, ah like you see all these marching bands and they're doing such a great job and then you see a drum corps come in and it's just, ah you know
00:10:16
Speaker
It's kind of like we get to actually show the difference to all of the sort of lay people who are not marching band nuts like us. And they go, that's a little different. That's not a normal marching band. And and then you can be like, oh yeah, it's a drum corps. Here's why it's different. Speaking of parades, Jeremy, you have brought a news story that about It's related. but
00:10:46
Speaker
And then just recently published a story saying that parades are not fun.
00:10:54
Speaker
I think that we free on this podcast would all kind of be able to say that grades are fun. Oh, definitely. i yeah I read the article, I understand their points where they are, it's hot, you have to wear a uniform. yeah But yeah I think that as people that, I mean, I do a lot of prates now as an adult for the joy and for the fun. And we have a blast. So I would disagree. that I would say prates are fun. Okay, it's Jeremy's turn to jump in since I'm the one that brought this up and I'm the one that went off about it initially. um So my entire job outside of guard closet is producing parades. I do a lot of them. I've done Fourth of July for many years, Thanksgiving, Pride, like Cherry Blossom, Miss America, like I've done a million parades.
00:11:49
Speaker
um I've been performed in that many to be honest with you, but I've produced a lot of them. So I've seen how groups do and do not do parades well. We were having a little bit of discussion and beforehand before we got on. And Austin was mentioning, well, yeah, it does suck to like, you know, be a performer and parade hot, blah, blah, blah. And immediately my response was, then you're doing it wrong. Because here's the thing, parades are your opportunity to expose yourself to a community. It's your opportunity to, um if you're going to the right parades, have like an ever-changing audience that's like, you know, cheering for you all along the way. f Every small town, big town, whatever, loves when a band goes by in a parade.
00:12:36
Speaker
This is the problem, and this is the problem I will say, and so to resolve it for Austin, I guess, is I actually think that the band directors are the ones that are doing it wrong, right? Like they're doing parades wrong. They come in and they think like, well, we could just play this show music from the fall and that'll be a great parade too. and No wrong. They think, oh, we can wear the same outfits. The color guard can wear their unicorn outfits from the fall show for the Christmas parade. No, not a good idea, right? it Make it fun. It's supposed to be community oriented. Play the most ridiculous song you can. Jump up and down in that parade. Have some sort of fun, dance, turn around, spin, jump, kick, whatever. The idea is to have fun at the parade. That is literally the idea of the parade is to have fun. Is to parade joy through from one place to another.
00:13:34
Speaker
if you don't want to parade joy, then I think you're somebody who is joyless. So i would I would just challenge anybody, especially band directors, especially performers and instructors that are like, uh, parade suck. I hate parades. I hate parades. Literally, they're your best recruiting tool. They're your best fundraising tool. They're your best, like, but Like literally you're walking by the future band members in your hometown parade if you are feeling terrible about it You're playing terrible and you look terrible. No one wants to join that No one wants to join that but I can't tell you how many parades I have seen even the tiniest little band with like no players no one in the color guard having the best time and the audience living for it like going off applauding jumping up and down for all of these but for them giving the the emotion that gives back i mean if jack was on here right now he'd be going off that i know the entire california circuit is parades like that's how they compete is parades that's not fierce like they get
00:14:40
Speaker
Into it. There's like points and there's I mean it is intense so I can now step off my soapbox I feel like I've ranted enough about parades for you all feel free to jump in but anybody else's the opinion if if if you don't think brains are fun go to YouTube and and put type in some sort of team ah on so that you fund phrase right
00:15:08
Speaker
It's just, it's just what you said. it's it's It's a very valid feeling. You have a very valid feeling. It's very valid. Jeremy, you threw me under the bus so bad. He didn't, he didn't have to do me like that. It's just, that it's just what you said. it's it's It's a very valid feeling. You have a very valid feeling. It's very valid. I mean, when I marched, all right, so when I marched drum corps and everything, like it was very, like I marched the troopers, right? And the way we did parades, they don't, I mean, I don't, I don't even know if they do parades now. They might do one or two, maybe, maybe, but the way we did parade, it was super regimented. It's super like traditional, like we're just going down martin and it wasn't like, and we, and like in 2016, I remember we were at Cedar bird and that, I mean, don't be wrong. That's, it that's kind of our history. That's what we do. Like we see Carolina crown going down and they're just like having fun, like taking pictures with kids and stuff like that. And I'm just like, that looks, that looks kind of fun.
00:16:04
Speaker
And then we're just kind of what we're just kind of marching down playing America's Beautiful. However, i did like i I did really enjoy the community performance we did afterwards. The town of Cedarburg ate us up. And it was fantastic. But just the actual act of the parade itself was like, it was okay. like I mean, I've never like completely disliked, oh my God, I hate parades. This is the worst thing I've ever done in my life. I've never been like that about a parade. by It's not something I necessarily look forward to all the time. It's like, okay, we're going to do this parade. Awesome. Let's just keep it moving. You know what I mean? That's my, that's my personal experience with them. I probably need to like experience them more as like a performer where I'm able to like have a little bit more fun, but don't get me wrong. If I'm not a sucker for sitting on the sideline eating a funnel cake and an overpriced freshly squeezed lemonade, I'm on.
00:17:03
Speaker
I love, I love sitting on the sides and just enjoying myself. because Because Austin, because austin the troopers were probably trying to stay away from these all-time drum corps trolls on Facebook who, oh oh my gosh, did you see a couple of weeks ago the Boston Crusaders marching in a parade, playing sweet Caroline, which if anybody knows, because I'm a baseball fan,
00:17:33
Speaker
that Sweet Caroline is a Red Sox thing. They played a Fenway part. That was what they were trying to do. And they were not where were marching down. The color guard was doing random work. and weren in ah All of a sudden, all the old-time drum corps trolls, they're They're not in step. They're not in uniform. They're not, what is this, whatever, blah, blah, blah. And what we're trying to portray is that parades are fun, and that that is kind of a day for the kids to let down a little bit. you know The troopers are probably like, they were just going to have to listen to all these people on Facebook.
00:18:09
Speaker
We're not the staff. We're not playing our show. We're not, you know, it's
Tribute to Peggy Twiggs: A Color Guard Legacy
00:18:13
Speaker
crazy. Like just, can we have a day off a tour where we kids are just, you know, like Jeremy, like, you know, Jeremy Williams said, you know, performing for the community or doing something fun for the community. I mean, whatever. For me, I think the only time I would say the parades are not fun. is like I'm thinking back to when I was in drum corps and they're like, it's the Fourth of July, you're going to march in seven parades today. Right. That's when it's not fun. Don't get the bag aspect of it. Don't get that.
00:18:46
Speaker
Most definitely, the Seven Parade series is what puts a bad map on a lot of people's minds. Oh God, it's the Fourth of July. So, Austin, I feel your pain, but I have to agree with Jeremy too. you know Those parades, when you have fun, you know you love it you know as a matter of fact, ah Every 4th of July, some people who were in the drum court with me, we watched a 4th of July weekend where it rained all day, all day. And in the cadence, we stopped playing and we're like, drumming in the rain, drumming in. And then we picked up
00:19:32
Speaker
with the rest of the speaking. And now here, 40 years later, you know, it just pops up. You know, someone talks about that day because we had so much fun because we weren't that traditional drum court that you were talking about. You can make it more fun for the next generation when you go teach. Exactly. And that's, that's my plan. That's always my plan. Make it like I did. We did a parade. I was on staff at the Italian last year. We did pray with them. It was a good time. They look like they were having fun. and I'm running up and down the ranks, just giving handing out water. It's a whole thing. and everyone It was in Provo, so they're going to have a really good Fourth of July parade out there. They they know how to do Fourth of July, and they were fun. and The kids had a great time, and then they did laundry after, and it was great. so My experience as a staff member has been better in parades than it was as a performer.
00:20:26
Speaker
so Yeah, because if you want to stop and get something to eat, you can. I'll catch you guys later. I'll be back. Well, I have our final news article for today, and I'm so sorry. It's a sad one. But at the same time, I feel like we should kind of look at it as a celebration of life because Peggy Twiggs has passed away at 72 years old. um I feel like it was very symbolic that it happened on the day of our Blue Star's 60th anniversary alumni tour.
00:21:00
Speaker
It was just devastating to hear this news um on the day, but you know it it gave us an opportunity to sort of dedicate our performance to her. and She was such an influence on Color Guard and pushing us to where we are today. She was one of the first people to ever spin a flag, to teach flag spinning versus simply just carrying a flag and doing angles with it back in you know the 1960s.
00:21:32
Speaker
and You know, we did a whole episode, we did multiple episodes actually where we discussed her back in, uh, I think it was April of 2023, um, that we published specifically episode 21 is the interview where it's literally called the one about Peggy twigs and, uh, We interviewed some of her friends. We interviewed one of her best childhood friends in fields and talked to her. Um, we are very, very sad for the passing of Peggy. She has been an absolute icon in our, uh, in our whole activity. I'm sorry, I'm getting really sad about this again. You know, just that she's gone, but I feel honored too that I was able to walk the earth at the same time as someone who has been such
00:22:24
Speaker
an Icon and such a an influence on that very activity that I'm so passionate about Yeah, I mean I just yeah, it's a lot for me to When I was in Royal Guardsman in the 80s She what we had the two years 1984 1986 which were actually our two most successful years We had Jerry Cordino as our show designer and he's from Boston. So he would bring that whole Boston crew, and along with Sadie, who we're going to talk to and in an upcoming episode. um And I have tons of stories. I'm not going to get into them today that I'm saving for that episode. But they would come in the whole little Boston contingent, which included, get this, George and Tweets, and Denise Van Figlio. And I can't tell you how fortunate I am to have
00:23:21
Speaker
you know, been in that presence. And many years later, I'll tell one short story and I'll say the really good stuff for the episode, but many years later when I marched into Syracuse for good years, we were, yeah, I was one of probably the oldest in the guard that year was my last year. And our instructor said, OK, we're going to do some Peggy spins. How many people know how to do Peggy spins? I was one of the people who raised my hand. And they said, oh, really? did you Did you do them in like one of your other guards? I said, yeah. And I learned them from Peggy.
00:23:57
Speaker
And everybody was like, oh! So that's one of my many stories about Peggy Twiggs. Anybody who follows me on Facebook saw that I made my profile picture her. I literally, the year she was adopted into the W.J. Hall of Fame. I ran across the airport. I documented the whole thing if you want to read it. um And I went up to her. She was in a wheelchair. She was with Sadie and all those guys. And I said, Peggy, I don't know if you remember me. I'm Trish. I was in World Guardsman. And she said, yes, she did. And probably from being friends with me on Facebook too. Probably Jordan memory as well.
00:24:34
Speaker
um And I said, I'm so proud of you. I'm so happy to see you. I need to take a picture. And the minute I found out that it happened, I swirled through all my pictures to find that picture. And that was a moment I knew I wasn't going to be able to make the ceremony because I was actually out there with the guard that year at West Milford and we had rehearsal. But um just I could go on and
Guard Closet: Supporting Marching Arts Programs
00:24:54
Speaker
on. And I'm trying to save it all for the episode. But when Jackie just started you know sharing the new story, I too got a little emotional. I have my Peggy Twits t-shirt all ready for the episode. I found it the other day, so I'm good to go. But just know that we definitely lost an icon. But she's in a better place now. She's up in many ways. It's true. You know, what ah what I do realize, you know, seems that I am a percussionist, not a color guard person, but have been deeply involved in the color guard world. I do realize she's like the Scott Johnson of color guard. You know, she's like the Ralph Hardiman of color guard.
00:25:40
Speaker
And for her to have reached that far that I clearly know who you're talking about, what she's done. That speaks volumes about when a person from another caption can reach across and the other segments of the activity know exactly who that person is. That speaks volumes about it. But I do have a question. But first off, I have a couple of things. Trish, we're guardsmen, huh? I can't tell you how much I loved that color guard. Thank you. Oh my goodness.
00:26:20
Speaker
When when when people say that or like when like the the din dada show goes which was my age out here when that goes up on our corner and people comment on it like the fact that it's still reaching so many I mean I get all the feels when people say that like the people are like oh my god I remember the show oh my god the arena was so loud and oh my god and like it's it just it just hits me right here because we never really thought that knew at that time we never really thought that We'll just do something. You should be proud. You should be proud, lady. Thank you. Because it actually inspired a lot of my indoor drumline thinking, the way you guys approach the whole activity. Thank you. Now, my question is this. Peggy Tweeds, was she involved in Urte production? Yes. Yes. Yep. Yes. Be still in my heart.
00:27:21
Speaker
Yeah, she was involved in all those spot a quasar, airtail, all those costumes. And Ryan O'Rocky, all the great Boston color guards. I did not notice everyone keep awesome. See, you know, that that is my secret sauce for when I started the drumline thing, that I was such a color guard junkie. And I'm like, I don't want to move like a drumline. I want to move like a color guard. I want to be a saber. I want the bass drummers to be the flags. And everyone laughed at me. Now I love the drumline. I love it. I love it. Thank you for clearing that up. on afternoon
00:27:59
Speaker
Well, Peggy Twiggs is going to forever be remembered as a Titan in our activity. ah So we are planning a much larger tribute show to her that will be out very soon. um We're putting a lot more into it though. We are going to be including some previous footage like our interview that we did with Ann Fields. And like I said, we're going to have some repeat guests on. so Keep an eye ear out for that. And let's get back out on the floor so we can clean up some. So let's do some peggy spins for today. We'll be all vertical.
00:28:48
Speaker
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00:29:22
Speaker
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Blue Stars Alumni Drum Corps: A Memorable Performance
00:29:46
Speaker
us out at guardcloset.com and follow us on social media.
00:30:02
Speaker
All right, back on the sideline. And definitely we have got to talk about this because this has been one of the most amazing experiences of my Color Guard career. i And I am so excited that Jeremy Denzer and I got to share this together. And like so many of the people, we did the Blue Stars Alumni Drum Corps this past weekend. And It was so great. We just basically like showed up and we were there. We rehearsed on Friday for like half the day. And then all day Saturday, we got to have the banquet. And then on Sunday we rehearsed again and we actually rehearsed with the current blue stars. And it was just such an amazing experience, you know, getting to meet the current performers and see how many of our traditions have been passed on from the years that we marched.
00:30:56
Speaker
So seeing how like all the different performers from the different generations were acting in rehearsal and then like getting out on the field and turning it on together, it was just such an amazing experience. And Jeremy and I got to share the field. Yeah, I think one of the cool things the Blue Stars did with this is it was it was a i mean it was and was a commitment, but it was also it was just three days. gave us a full drum corps experience. Like we got to eat on the food truck. We got to like, but it was it was like, it was it was like, we were really there for drum corps. We wasn't like, we just showed up and that like we ate with the corps. We practiced with the corps. We we were were part of the current corps. For me, the the coolest part of the whole weekend, and this is kind of a really interesting story, is that so my mom was a founding member of the Blue Stars. So she was in the, she was in year one of Blue Stars. And she marched
00:31:46
Speaker
She marched from 64 to 71. And then I marched in the Blue Stars in year 30. So just one one summer, but it was, but so she was in year one. I was in year 30 and we got to take the field together for the 60th. And that was, yeah yeah. I saw that picture you posted. That was incredible. That's such a great memory. i was yeah For me, I've been in this activity for 40 plus years and yeah it was one of the highlights is really getting to be on the field and kind of complete that circle of between my me and my mom. yeah so It was a really she was just a really special weekend yeah all around you. And I think it was cool too that we had, met we had especially in the color guard, I know the horn line probably the same situation, but we had people from every decade of the Corps
00:32:33
Speaker
but We had 22 performers, but we had people from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, and we had people that aged out last summer. I think it made it so much easier, too, for those of us, like, you know, you were talking about like, you have so much on your plate, and you're how do you handle all these things, but like, being so far away, like physically and distance makes a huge difference, too. You know, we I had to come all the way up from Missouri. um And then like, for me, it's like I was juggling a toddler and having to, you know, and being pregnant and all of that at once. So like,
00:33:06
Speaker
Being from so far away, I feel like Penny's organization and then like Sally being on top of it with the costuming and like all that was just fantastic because basically I felt like I learned all my stuff I needed to from the videos and then I could just walk in and get done what I needed to do. So that was really great that they were able to like pull all those things together. And like I said, the videos were so helpful. I think yeah so some of the alumni that were and in the original stages of planting the core, they were looking for somebody to help with the guard. They knew that I was heavily involved in the guard activity. that i I teach, I judge, I organize a lot of things. So they reached out to me and just said, you know um would you be interested in running the color guard? And my first thought was, I have so much on my plate. I literally said, I can't commit to being captioned.
00:33:56
Speaker
And thankfully, we found ah ah another great alumni, Penny Reedy, who is an angel. she like She's super organized. She's super like on the ball. She did a sheet she handled that that piece of it. And i would I was able to handle helping with choreography and teaching and the things that I do best. But I was so thankful to have Penny jump on board and really, yeah, um she was a true person. she knew she she was like super organized and super like she had costumes and she got everybody to practice and they for the people that some of the older members that you know may have needed more time to to practice to rehearse they couldn't just show up and learn it she had rehearsals twice a week for like months in lacrosse with these people to teach them yeah ahead of time so that everybody came in
00:34:44
Speaker
ready to go. The younger kids were able to learn the choreography in the three days, but the people that needed more time didn't feel overwhelmed, and that was that made it a great experience for everyone. yeah I think it made it so much easier too for those of us. like you know You were talking about like you have so much on your plate and you're how do you handle all these things, but like being so far away like physically and distance makes a huge difference too. you know we I had to come all the way up from Missouri um and then like for me, it's like I was juggling a toddler and having to you know and being pregnant and all of that at once.
00:35:18
Speaker
so like Being from so far away, I feel like Penny's organization and then like Sally being on top of it with the costuming and like all of that was just fantastic because basically I felt like I learned all my stuff I needed to from the videos and then I could just walk in and get done what I needed to do. So that was really great that they were able to like pull all those things together. And like I said, the videos were so helpful. ah And Jackie, you're you' were a trooper. I mean, you're seven months pregnant and you're out there on the field. I was like, and with with but you're with your with your son with you, who is adorable. I love that block so much. Somebody captured a great picture of Jackie. I'll have a story with you guys. He has this little flag, and his flag is at the same angle as hers. and Oh, where is that picture? Oh my gosh. It's so good. I'm going to put that picture in the group chat right now.
00:36:18
Speaker
i think i think one of my favorite I think one of my favorite things was not only you know watching you guys out
The Rise of Alumni Corps in Drum Corps
00:36:25
Speaker
there doing your thing, I watched it on full marching, but the way the whole program was designed, like you had you know yeah your past, your present, and then when the current core got out there and then you were like you know then the announcer was like, and then We've only just begun. And then you play, we only just begun from the Carpenter show, which I love that show. So that was like, oh, that's so clever. That's so great. That was really great. For me, one of the one of the biggest moments was i yeah when I joined the staff, I was adamant because a lot of people know the Blue Stars, they were a world-class core in the sixties and seventies. And then in the eighties and nineties, they were a division three core, like 50 something kids. That's when I marched.
00:37:05
Speaker
And when I joined the staff and we started talking about musical selections and design, I was like, we have to do something that honors the small course. And so they pulled out the the closer from our Candid Show in 93. They did the actual drill, that they had 14 brass, which was the exact number of brass we had that year. They did the actually they pulled the drill charts out. They did the real drill that we did. was that was That was for me, that was the most emotional moment of the weekend because a lot of the alumni from that period have always kind of felt overlooked in the history of the Blue Stars and that it really made everybody feel welcome. Yeah. Yeah. And made everybody feel like they're a part of the history of the Corps. Yeah. I was going to mention that. I was going to mention that the organization itself did a very good job bringing that Corps back to life. bob I was with the Jersey Surf and we butt heads with the Blue Stars a lot. and
00:38:02
Speaker
I look now and I'm like, oh, well, that ship has passed. Man, you guys are doing a very good job bringing that back to life. Yeah. Like I said, when we first started talking, I was very insistent that they had to do something to show that part of the court's history.
00:38:22
Speaker
i don't I don't know. Jackie, Jeremy, if you guys see it, as I'm thinking, this seems to be a new thing that's going on in our drone core world. and And we're not even realizing that while you had the blue coats alumni, you just had the trooper. I did the troopers alumni thing and my wife just went back out to Wyoming two weeks ago for their little once a year meeting. And now the blue star thing, the crosser thing is just blowing up the internet.
00:38:55
Speaker
I think this may be something that, you know, as drunk or fans, we expect, you know, hey, who's next on the list? You know, when's the Blue Devil or Madison alumni going to come out? I think that the cores themselves are probably so are starting to realize too that as Dromcor becomes more expensive, it's really important to keep your alumni engaged and to keep them feeling like they're part of the organization. yeah yeah this yeah This experience for me really brought me, made me feel like I was really a part of the core again. yeah By my wife, who kind of got away from Dromcor, now that she got involved with this troopers thing, she's like a Dromcor bum. I'm like, oh my God, lady.
00:39:41
Speaker
Hey, she went at me. Who's your wife? Who's my wife? Yeah, what's her name? Leslie Woodward. OK, funny story. I'm the drill writer for the troopers legacy for it. You know what? I did not even see you the whole weekend. And I wasn't there. I wasn't there. OK. Yeah, just I just
Blue Stars Adopt a Member Program Experience
00:40:02
Speaker
I couldn't make it out that weekend. I was I was very sad that I couldn't make it. But I put all the charts together for the color guard. made that way the stun burst happened and everything, and I heard it went really good, so. Well, then you know the energy that they have. I do. I do. Was she there in the lupus oil last year? Yeah, uh-huh. I worked with the drum corps. How did I not see you? I was running all the rehearsals.
00:40:30
Speaker
If you think about it, if you think about how everything kind of went together. The drum line was in their planet, the pit was in their planet, the horn. And no one really saw each other until we got together for the sound sport week contest. Like, oh, it's everybody. You know, it just worked out. I was the one up in the press box barking at all you guys the entire time. And even if you think about staff-wise, we didn't really see each other until Southport. And even at that, we didn't have time to say, hey, I'm Bill Woodward. Nice to meet you, Austin. It was like, hey, can you help get this in there? Yeah, yeah. All right.
00:41:13
Speaker
That's kind of epic. But I think this is a new thing that we're seeing in DCI. I think it's it's like you said, um it's great to have the alumni involved. Hey now, hey now. Because they feel welcome. um And like Jackie was saying how with the performers, how may she was, how much they enjoyed having me the elderly people around. dave Who you calling elderly?
00:41:44
Speaker
can so and their book, 2010 is, that's old school. I feel like that actually was probably the most important part of the whole weekend for me. I loved performing and I loved getting all the pictures back and the videos and and getting to like, you know, work with everybody. But I kind of feel like that touching base with the current performers is was the absolute like pinnacle of the whole weekend. You know, there was a group of of ah young Color Guard members who approached me at the banquet
00:42:16
Speaker
who were actually fans of Spintronics and fans of like all the social media stuff that I do. um They listened to the podcast. So hi, guys. i And they they had no idea actually that they were continuing a legacy that I had been a part of. And it kind of really brought things to be more real and more full circle for those performers. And like for me as well, like I'm still a part of this, even though I'm not physically here. you know, I put in the work to help make this organization go. And I feel like that's kind of what you're saying about, you know, the eighties and nineties course needing to feel integrated too, is that we were the ones who really put in the work when times were hard so that, you know, so that these kids could just fly, you know, they can show up and they can have excellent meals and they have a medical staff and they have all these things that are just
00:43:13
Speaker
yeah that We would've loved when we marched but but we didn't have and and it's just so good for them to sort of see where their careers could go from here. So um I also got to meet my adopted my adopted son, quote unquote, i that I took on through the Blue Stars Adopt a Member program this
Alumni Criticism vs. Evolution in Drum Corps
00:43:34
Speaker
year. This is my first year participating in it. And, you know, actually getting to meet this kid face to face where we've only corresponded over social media before or I've just sent him like care packages or what have you. um It's been a really good experience actually get to connect with him and be like, Hey,
00:43:52
Speaker
This is who I am. This is who you are. Seeing him progress in his skills and techniques has been awesome. And I think, again, that made things really, really real and connects Drum Corps back to real life versus just like, oh, it's that dream thing that I did like 20 years ago or 30 years ago or whatever. um No, it's it really happened. Oh, that's my wife. My wife talks about her adopted member all the time. She talks to me as if I know this young lady. I do the same thing to my husband. ah Well, today, Sally, thenda she tripped on an ear of corn. And I'm like, who is Sally?
00:44:36
Speaker
Well, my my adopted blue star is named Jack, which I think is hilarious. That's not the reason I picked him, but that I think it's hilarious that his name is Jack because that's actually what I was called. Because when I first started marching drum corps, there was a Jack and ah ah there were two Jackies. So I was Jack and his actual name is Jack. So I just thought that's so funny. And I tell my husband all the time, I'm like, Oh yeah, Jack did such and such. shit Oh, you should have seen how good Jack's solo toss was today. all this He's just like, who's Jack again? Your other kid. Okay. Got it. Oh, that's hilarious. but I bet if they worked on learning how to produce this with all the drum course, you would probably get more miles out of that than they, hey, send a donation.
00:45:24
Speaker
Well, I think, too, like when you and that we yeah mean we got to see firsthand like how this food truck operation manages and what they all these things they do, and I was like, now next time they call and be like, will you give us a donation to help fund the food truck? We're like, sure, I will. I see what they do for these kids, and it's so it's so much more than I could have ever imagined 30 years ago when I watched you. It's a truck. It was simply amazing to see the operation of the Corps from the inside. So do you guys have plans to continue the Blue Stars alumni group? There's also actually the Blue Stars has ah the alumni corps at the October 1st parade, which is every September, not October. It's the last weekend in September. Yep.
00:46:11
Speaker
they ah so So that's something that keeps the organization kind of going too is just getting those alumni there, getting them connected. That's one of those things where I say every year I'm like, I'm going to make it to the Oktoberfest parade this year. And then something happens. Like I get pregnant or something. I don't know. And then I just can't go. So it's just a whole situation. ah But we need to get ready for our parade. So let's get out on the track and make some laps and we'll see you guys after the commercial.
00:46:53
Speaker
Hey everyone, it's Jeremy, and here are your announcements coming from the box. Don't miss all of our bonus content, including On a Water Break in Rhinestones with your host, Lexi Duda, exploring the world of the Twirlers. Don't miss parades and drum majors at Step Off with your host, Jack Goudreau, and Get Lost in Translation with your host, Cynthia Bernard, exploring all the words that confuse all of us in the marching arts all across the world. and go behind the lens with marching arts photographers all across the country with your host, Chris Marr. Plenty more bonus content from On A Water Break, so listen anywhere you get your podcasts. If you want to be on On A Water Break as a guest or you know somebody that would make a great guest for On A Water Break, email us at onawaterbreakpodcastatgmail.com or find us on social media.
00:47:51
Speaker
Okay field staff, take it away. Let's reset. um
00:48:09
Speaker
Okay, now it's time for... why What are we doing? doing?
00:48:24
Speaker
What are we doing? Okay, so my what are we doing this week is what are we doing not getting out and watching live drum core. um There's a show right down the road from me on Saturday. um It's mostly an all age show. It's the Hotho Caballeros Grand Prix, but Jersey Surf is there and i maybe one, I'm not sure, um couple of alumnis. But yeah, I posted that I had an extra ticket and people are like, no, I'm gonna say I'm gonna watch the other shows on Flow Marching.
00:49:01
Speaker
Like, what are we doing not getting out and watching live drum corps? Come on. a Side note, I did find somebody to take the ticket, but. Oh, man, I was about to ask you for it. Oh, you were? I live in Florida. i can't I mean, I would love to show up. Yeah. Next time. That'd be fun. Yeah, but come on. Come out and watch live drum corps. Come on. All age needs love. That's for sure. for sure. But I'll be there. I'll be having a good time. I might even do a couple of gushy going, what are we doing while I'm there? We don't know. Who knows? Woody, what are we doing? I said, well, Captain Jack, I'm going to jump on the back of Trisha here. And I was reading articles about
00:49:54
Speaker
People complaining about the designs of the shows and things like that. And they're not and that's why they're not going to the shows, because I don't want to see, it's not drum corps. you know I've been hearing this pretty much all my life. you know It's right up there with the parades and walking by the American Legion, play something. you know it's it's It's evolution. you know um Things changed, things changed, yes. Who would ever imagine in 1980 something that there would be an electric guitar on the field? But there is. Oh well, you know what? Let's see what they do with it. It may be entertaining, if it's not entertaining, guess what? You will not see that electric guitar the next year because it didn't work. That's what I'm, that that's how I'm feeling.
00:50:50
Speaker
Oh, I got a good one. What are we doing comparing caption scores across shows? Why are we doing that? Yes. Like, there's a if there's a show in Ohio, and there's a show in Utah, you don't need to over analyze the scores. It literally, you can't compare this two different panels. People have different opinions. The only time you can actually I mean, this is a hot take. It's not a hot take, but it's going to be a hot take. The only time you can really start to analyze scores like that is San Antonio. It's the first time you could do it all season. I agree. You can't do it. You can't do it. Which is coming up. There's people out there posting, oh, here are the current rankings of brass. Here are the current rankings in color guard. Here are the current rankings in visual. And I'm just like, guys.
00:51:49
Speaker
it's it's It's not that deep. It's really not that deep. These groups are getting better every single day. But when you were emails when you were really in it, did you feel the same way? Yes, I really did. Oh, you did? Absolutely. absolutely okay i we like i cared like When I was in it, I cared about the competition that we were going up against that night. I cared about going out there and being the best performer that I could be so we could get our personal best score. I'm gonna tell you right here right now if I'm in um in if a winter guard season if I'm in a main show in West Orange and there's another show in Pennsylvania you best be I'm refreshing those oh I'm gonna look at them to see where they're at but it's but I'm not gonna go in and overanalyze it like a lot of the arm like a lot of the armchair judges do these days okay
00:52:43
Speaker
Oh, you know, I think Trish, that may be a ah generational gap. You know, we had numbers driven activity back when. We still are. Which now is more of a performance driven versus numbers excellence driven. I feel that way. But I'm not talking about back in the old, old day where it was like, Oh, they, Oh, seven heads. They had seven drops. And then we had, I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about it still is numbers driven. And when you're in it, when you're in it, I, when I'm in it, all right, I'm going to speak for myself when I'm in it, I'm playing that game, but maybe some other people aren't, I don't know.
00:53:30
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I tell like, as a staff member now, I tell my i tell my students all the time, I'm like, hey, this group got an XYZ at this show. Congrats, the show was in Texas, you're in Florida. Or, hey, that show was in Ohio, we're in Colorado today, you know? Like, you can't really, it's hard to compare the two because it's different people who have different opinions about different groups. And when It only really matters when we go up head to head. Like here's a perfect example. I'm going to, I'm going to talk about, I'm going to talk about my group or one of my groups, rise and wins at the circuit champion at the circuit championships. We were eight points down on our direct competition. We were sitting at a solid fourth place. We got up to Ohio a week later. We ended up in second place at prelims.
00:54:24
Speaker
and and had everyone else and had the two groups that were below us by a point. Everybody did phenomenal job. And you guys know, you guys know like in the judging community, we're really trying hard to make things more consistent and make the training more consistent and make people understand like what they're looking at better. But there's still going to be individual opinions that affect what we're doing and what we're really trying not to let that happen. But like,
00:54:58
Speaker
It still does. We're still human. you know Judges are humans. Judges were out there once performing. Judges were out there teaching at some point. you know So we understand the struggles. So we're going to try and do our best to make it as you know as straightforward as possible. But you really can't compare scores across different judging panels. I judge a lot in the winter. I try and travel all over the country. and i And I think that for me, that's so important because I get to see groups from all different regions. So like I know where my a mid-box for is it for me. like And i can I feel like I can actually compare a group from Texas to a group from Florida, because I've seen them both. yeah you you know if you don't If you don't get out and see that variety,
00:55:43
Speaker
you know, your your box four may be different than my box four. Exactly, yeah. Or, you know, you have a show where everything is bad and then one group that comes on, that's really a box three, almost four, now appears to be a box four going into into box five because everything before it was... Mm-hmm. Yeah. Sorry, I know we shouldn't be saying that word, but they were box two, you know?
00:56:12
Speaker
And that, yeah. there are books That actually ties back into Trisha's point. If you're not watching live drum corps, then you can't get an accurate read. You can't get a completely accurate read on the show. all right but We'll tie it all together. it's hard it's hard to It's hard to compare. It's hard to compare scores if you're not watching live drum corps, you know? Because Trisha's wise. Trisha's very wise. She's watching Royal Guardsmen.
00:56:40
Speaker
Jeremy. What are we doing?
00:56:45
Speaker
What are we doing being over critical of early season performances of drum corps? Trust the process. These people that teach these drum corps now are professionals. And they have a plan and they have a process. Why are we, especially the armchair critics, why are we so critical of early season performances? They know what they're doing. By the end of the season, they're going to be magical. Yeah. Just watching the blue stars. It like, you know, we were with, we were there for three days. You know, they showed up on what was it Saturday morning and we kind of like watched the guard and they're in their flag block and it was like, Ooh, that's a little dirty. Why, why does it look like that? I thought this was going to be blue stars and this was going to be spot on that same phrase that they were working on on Saturday morning when they performed it Sunday night. I was like, Oh honey, this phrase is spot on.
00:57:39
Speaker
okay, that's what they were doing. That's the process. And, you know, I think people forget that sometimes, that it takes time and effort to get everything to that point. You know, especially if it's somebody who just watches finals every year, they just download flow, like a month before finals, and then they just watch finals. And then, you know, if they show up for an early season show at the next season, they're like, I thought time goes better than this. No. They have to get there somehow. Time takes effort. I mean, and you also kind of got to remember, they're just kids out there. They're just kids out there. They're not going to be perfect. You, you expect greatness from them because that's what they signed up to do. But like we're saying, there's a process. It takes time to get great. They rehearse a month before they, before their first show. So.
00:58:38
Speaker
Put that out there. Well, we have a very special water we doing this week from our very own Lex. So let's hear what they have to say.
Positive Developments in Color Guard and Marching Arts
00:58:50
Speaker
What's up, guys? It's Lex, and I think it's about time that we get into a conversation about, you guessed it, the rise of criticism in the drum corps world from alumni. Buckle up for this little chat because we are gonna explore why the alumni of the marching arts are getting their shake-off feathers all ruffled up in a tiff.
00:59:17
Speaker
Picture this, you just walked off the field from a show, you have no clue what state you're in, but you're out of breath, you're sweaty, and you're definitely hungry. You change out of your costume, you go to the food truck, and you grab some snacks. You get all settled up in your seat, ready for a long drive to God knows where, because you've already forgotten what day it is. and you decide to open up your phone. You click on social media and you see that there's a video of your drum corps show that you just performed like an hour ago. What do you do next? You click on the comments and what do you see?
01:00:00
Speaker
None other than the alumni of the drum corps world chiming in with everything from back in my day we marched uphill both ways to these kids don't know anything about good old fashioned drum corps. What is the deal? Why the sudden surge in alumni criticism and really just unhappiness with the advancement of the activity? First off, let's just be real. We can't ignore the fact that the activity is changing faster than a closer tempo drill.
01:00:35
Speaker
Shows today are an incredible blend of artistry, creativity, athleticism, and yes, talking about a comment I saw just about 30 minutes ago, acrobatics. And while most of us are loving the evolution of this incredible activity, some alumni are still shaking their heads and wondering what in the world is going on. I'm convinced that alumni see all of these advancements and changes, and they think, well, we had to sweat it out in polyester, and you get to actually dress in costumes. Where's the justice? While I wish I could say I don't understand where their criticism is coming from as an alumni and educator in the activity, I think I have a pretty good idea.
01:01:28
Speaker
Drum roll please. Beneath all of the criticism still lies a deep love for an activity that gave them pride in something. Alumni want to see the drum corps activity thrive. And their passion, even if sometimes hyperbolic, I think we can take the feedback as a testament to how much they do care. They want to ensure the essence of what made their season special remains alive. We just have to remind them that that is still possible even as Drum Corps evolves. So...
01:02:10
Speaker
Here's to our alumni out there. We do hear you. We do see you. Your voices are crucial. And honestly, we don't know what we would do without you. To our current members, keep pushing boundaries, keep creating, keep innovating, and keep making this art. And make it your own way. And lastly, to the alumni once again, remember that these members are standing where you once stood. They're dreaming just as big as you once did, and they are marching as hard as you once were. If there was anything that I think that you should criticize and put that energy towards, it's towards the rising dues of Drum Corps, not the advancement of it. See you later.
01:03:02
Speaker
great job everyone set your equipment down du and go
01:03:08
Speaker
All right, enough complaining. Let's turn this positive. What do you want to gush and go about, Trish? um Well, my independent team is having a spin clinic next Saturday up here in North Jersey in Emerson. um Check out at NV Winterguard for details. And ah if you have any kids up in the area in the North Jersey area or even New York, like you know come on by and check it out.
01:03:41
Speaker
That's my retirement dream, I think, is I just want to go around the country and go to everyone's spin clinics. I'm just going to figure it all out and travel around to everybody's spin clinics all summer and just spin with everyone. The world guards up in the area of Fusion and AMP do great ones, but it's so challenging for us because I have to bring in guests to have to do my Fusion and AMP, they have the kids do it because they're world world-class performers and they teach like I know for example amps spin clinics they teach the amp flag feature and the kids are all jazzed because they just learned amp flag feature so you know it's it's it's really super hard and challenging so anybody in the North Jersey area if you're listening New Jersey Pennsylvania Connecticut come on by next Saturday July 20th details at Envy Winter Garden
01:04:39
Speaker
whaty What do you want to gush and go on about? Well, I want to gush and go about ah preparing myself for this upcoming ah marching band season. It's probably one of the busiest, busiest seasons I've had since, woo, man. last 10 years. Uh, I'm judging every weekend plus I'm teaching and I'm writing. So, um, I'm, I guess you could say I'm, I gave myself ready because clinic, clinic start. And I guess two weeks, you know, judging clinics and from course coming to the area and I'm just getting myself ready for that. Uh, I'm very excited about this fall. Awesome. What do you think I should go for fall season?
01:05:24
Speaker
It's starting off here in about 10 days or so. Jumping on a plane out to Hawaii to make that happen. To go teach a band camp out there, I'm so excited. I'm so excited. They do things a lot differently out there, and I'm very excited to kind of like come back and tell y'all how they do things out there. I'll get to check out a school, Leila Whova High School, and then I'll probably pop into Mililani High School. just to kind of check them out and see what they're up to as well. But then making like right after that week, going straight to Charlotte, doing another band camp, and then just writing and writing and writing and teaching and teaching and teaching and that it's all nonstop till probably about Grand Nationals. So gonna be busy, but very, very worth it. So very excited to get fall season going. I've had a break. I'm ready to not have a break anymore.
01:06:17
Speaker
so I'm so not there yet. I admire you. I'm so not there yet mentally. I've done a lot of like the behind the scenes stuff and stuff like that from my band, but obviously, cause you know, it has to be done, but I'm not there yet. Oh my God, it's almost band camp. I'm not there yet, but I will be. My brain is going up and camp is in a month. I'm going to be eight months pregnant at that point. I put a month for you. Cool. ah Yeah, we don't we have like dead weeks at the end of July and we start band camps so yeah the first week in August Yeah, but then we don't start school until the end of August so
01:07:02
Speaker
It's a whole thing. it It only just happened a few years ago. Like right, right after COVID, they changed our whole school calendar around. So I don't even want to talk about it, but you got to be really quick. Our area here on on the East coast, more on that schedule, our band camps, the first three weeks, August or so, or the last three weeks. And then the season starts at a second week of September. What's up guys, it's Lex back with your gush and go chat. And let's talk about all the incredible things that I have been seeing in the color guard activity just this past year. I can't, I can't. There have been so many clinics and master classes and workshops
01:07:48
Speaker
that have been popping up everywhere lately. And I love it because these are offering so many opportunities for performers and educators to learn from like the best of the best in this activity. And whether it's perfecting technique, learning new tricks, or understanding how to teach nuances of performance, all of these resources and opportunities are elevating the member skills, the educational skills, and just elevating the activity in general. And let's not forget, it's elevating the confidence of all of our performers across the board.
01:08:33
Speaker
I can't wait to see what's being offered in the fall. Okay guys, gushing goes over, get back out there. Jerry, what do you want to discuss? Let the discussion go about the people that organized the Blue Stars of Long Night Corps. All the people that worked behind the scenes to make this week that weekend so special. Yeah, Robbie Hofstetler, Fred Feeney, Penny Reedy, just to name a few people that were highly involved in the organization of the of the weekend. yeah All the people that taught were on the staff and taught
01:09:06
Speaker
and all the members. yeah it was it was i would I could just cu and go forever about how ah special weekend it was for the Corps and for the alumni. I need to gush and go about the photographers and the social media crews at BCI. I, you know, we we've we've been getting all of our pictures back slowly. um The ones that were done for the alumni for were by at MLOC photography. And Michaela was just, she did such a great job of making sure she covered all of the different sections. She really hit some of those moments that
01:09:40
Speaker
you know, moments where you're like, oh, this is such a great moment. And like, what is anybody gonna remember it? But then you go through the pictures and it's like, somebody got a picture of it. And I feel like she was just on it. And I always admire, you know, the photographers in the marching arts because it's such a skill to be able to capture those, especially action shots. um And then, you know, you're dealing with like stadium lighting or gym lighting or whatever. or natural lighting outdoors, and like they they do such a great job with that. So, Gush and Go, about all the photographers and social media teams that are out there doing their job, that's, y'all rock, y'all are amazing. If you guys want to follow at MLOK Photo, she does a fantastic job. I tagged her in like all of my recent posts because I used all of her pictures. Hey, it's called Gush and Go, not Gush and the Stay, let's go.
01:10:37
Speaker
Thank you all for a great rehearsal this week. Thank you to our hosts, Trish, Woody, Austin, and thank you so much to our guest clinician, Jeremy, my new bestie. ah Where can we find you on social media for our listeners? Facebook, Instagram, Jeremy Denzer, pretty easy. and So you can find me on both. I'm pretty active with posts about the marching arts and stuff, so it's it feel free to follow. But one more thing, don't forget, we have our YouTube channel now. It has many of our interviews coming out as full video editions. Go and subscribe so you don't miss those. And before you close out your podcast listening app, make sure you are subscribed. Write us a review. Write a review of this episode, if you will. Share this with a friend. And then follow us on all of our social media at On A Water Break. And we'll see you at the next rehearsal. Have a great breakfast.
01:11:34
Speaker
The Ona Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit lidamusic.com. And until next time, thanks for tuning in.