00:00:00
00:00:01
The One with News, Some Social Media and a Drag Queen!
151 Plays1 month ago
Join the hosts of the On A Water Break podcast as they catch up on the news and what’s been happening in social media of the marching arts.
Joining Jackie and Nicole are social media producer, Sam Mohler and spinning Drag Queen Chewy aka Jesus Vazquez
Be sure to follow the On A Water Break podcast on all social media platforms and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more exclusive content. Don't forget to leave a review and share this episode with your fellow drum corps, marching band, and marching arts enthusiasts!
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
Peyton Billhart - @peytonbrillhart
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
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Drum Corps International, DCI, Marching Music, Marching Arts, Drum Corps, Marching Band, Marching Percussion, Marching Guard, Marching Arts Podcast, Drum Corps Podcast, Marching Music Podcast, Marching Arts Community, Drum Corps Community, Marching Band Community
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Transcript
00:00:01
Speaker
Hey everyone, we are back for another week of exciting rehearsals. This week it is time to catch up on all of the news we've been missing with some newsmakers. We will also find out what made Sam say. And it is going to feature 300 drones which are going to fly above the sky and make ah basically drill shapes.
00:00:20
Speaker
And why Nicole said, at least three times, because I'm just like, oh, the hair doesn't move. And meet them does catch tape. 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 Waterbreak. Eight off the Met and go. Welcome to to On A Waterbreak, the podcast where we talk everything marching arts.
00:00:55
Speaker
another episode of season two of On a Water Break, the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal on a water break. I'm Jackie Brown. We thought we would take this episode and catch up on some of the great news stories that we've been missing for the past few weeks. So let's jump right to see who's on the sidelines this week. Nicole!
00:01:19
Speaker
ah Hello. Are you the new Trish? Because I feel like you have been in every episode recently. I have more time on my hands since like I have weeks. And when I say weeks, I mean maybe yeah two weeks um until you know marching band shows start for me, I think. Two or three weeks, something like that. The calm before the storm. Oh, yes. Well, at least this one should not go past your bedtime since it's our daytime crew.
00:01:47
Speaker
Okay, and I know that it is also, you know, we got to get you to a nap. I do. I need a nap. This pregnant lady thing is just not. Yeah, it's not conducive for staying awake all day. I don't know.
00:02:03
Speaker
ah I have no idea. Well, let's jump over to our guest clinicians. Our first guest clinician, of course, is no stranger to this podcast. It's social media extraordinaire. And might I say, this his social media has been absolutely blowing up lately. Sam Moeller, how's it going? Great. ah Thank you so much for having me back. It's good to see you.
00:02:27
Speaker
So can you give our listeners a quick little 16 count to remind them who you are and what you've been up to? Because seriously, I feel like i I seriously feel like you are the first thing on my social media timeline every time I love it. Did my time start or is it not going to click? It's not going to click. I'm just saying i'm just saying like ok what have you been up to?
00:02:50
Speaker
Yes, so um long story is or I'm going to try and keep it short, but um everything I do, I started at the University of Missouri where I started as a photographer and I kept doing more and more things. And now I'm the director of all the media presence at Marching Mizzou since Mizzou.
00:03:10
Speaker
Thank you. Since I worked for WGI, Levute Performance Ensemble, The Blue Knights, and then most recently in the 2024 season, I was the photographer for Santa Clara Vanguard in their comeback year. And I also um I guess somewhat infamously ran their TikTok presence. So that is what I have been up to.
00:03:34
Speaker
I love that you say infamously. Seriously though, guys, if you have not seen the Santa Clara social media and all the photos and everything that Sam's been doing, that is some hot shots. I tell you what.
00:03:49
Speaker
It's very, very good. I'm like, ooh, I wish that you were around when I was marching so I could have those action shots. just
00:03:58
Speaker
but yeah um I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off, but also ah Sam, I used to teach Sam at the Colts. Oh my gosh, go away. That's correct. That's when I went away from teaching guard and went towards teaching the Horn Line members movement.
00:04:18
Speaker
Yeah, that is right. I won summer that I marched on the field. yeah I love that you guys that that like it's such a small world and like you into Mizzou and I'm in a Mizzou alum and like all this stuff. It's just it's it's so great. It's so great that that we have all these connections. So we have left our next guest clinician on the sideline long enough.
00:04:42
Speaker
I would like to introduce you all to Jesus Vasquez. Hopefully I'm saying that correctly. aye But you may know him a little bit more ah from TikTok as Chewie, who is a phenomenal color guard drag queen. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Seriously. How are you?
00:05:07
Speaker
Thank you. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm pretty tired right now. I'm in San Francisco on a work trip, but yeah, I'm getting through it nicely. I'm with my boyfriend, so he's such a two artist. I'm his assistant right now, yeah. I will tell you, watching your, I can never watch it once. I always watch all your videos. Thank you. Yeah, it took me a while to figure it out, but YouTube University, you know, to teach you everything you need to know.
00:05:35
Speaker
Okay, well, let's get a little bit more of your background by doing ah one of our traditions here on the podcast, the 32 count life story. So basically what we'll do is we're going to run a metronome. And you just have 32 counts to tell us everything that's happened in your life from birth until now.
00:05:58
Speaker
But you can focus on the marching arts related ones. So where do you come from? How you got involved with Color Guard, how you learned all that good stuff. Sound good? Okay, perfect. Okay, we'll leave you the metronome.
00:06:11
Speaker
Okay, perfect. So I'm from San Diego. I started in Helpup High School. I started my junior year, and then I just continued afterwards with Vox Ardeum from 2015 to 17. And then I did Blue Star still in 17. That was my workout year. So I saved all my money. I just wanted to do it. I knew I had to do it at least one time. And yeah, now I think I got stuck with a Michael Shapiro like twirls so you can see those kind of on the videos that I do. um I but started doing drag on my birthday this year and then I yeah I don't know why I thought to combine them but yeah. Well there's so many awesome
00:06:59
Speaker
There's so many awesome like drag queens and that like come from our activity or like there's so much crossover that happens and there's just like, three now yes, yes, of course Latrice and Raya Latre. Raya Latre.
00:07:14
Speaker
um And like there's so many good ones that just, like they they bring out ah both sides and in such like an excellent manner. So your TikToks get shared, seriously, in are on a water break group chat every week. we just like We're just like, oh, hey, here, Chewie came out with another one. Chewie came out with another one.
00:07:33
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I know I said that I don't know where the idea came to combine them. But yeah, you're right. I remember seeing Latrice Roy all like doing color garden, Rose rag race for sure. And she's also a blue stars alumni. So I always like that drum core. I just wasn't sure what what your they still talk about her course. Yeah.
00:07:54
Speaker
Wow. Oh, we're always it's like six degrees of Kevin Bacon. Well, we are less than six degrees of latrice royale. I believe latrice royale actually visited this summer. Is that correct? Oh, really? No, I didn't know I think I think latrice stopped by for at least like a block.
00:08:11
Speaker
Well, she wasn't there at the alumni band. I'm just alumni core. I'm just saying. Well, she messaged me actually. She ah commented on one of the videos and she's like, oh, we need to work together. I have some ideas. Oh my gosh. How amazing would that be? Like a a full on blue stars alumni drag color guard show.
00:08:36
Speaker
It was kind of like full circle because I remember I watched an episode of Reprotragoras with my students. ah It was like close to final. So we always get together and watch something. And it happened to be the episode where she did color guard. Well, we had no idea she was going to do that. So it was pretty crazy that she actually messaged me. That's fun. That is so much fun. ah So everyone be on the lookout for that to come. All right.
00:09:05
Speaker
Oh, I just wanted to jump in and say it because like, um first of all, you always pick a very good place to spin. So like, wherever that, um you know, a parking lot thing is, but you always pick a really good place to spin and whoever is videoing you knows how far to like get close to you and get away from you. My boyfriend. Okay. Did your boyfriends been to?
00:09:31
Speaker
No, no, no, no, he didn't. okay um But we just help each other. you know I film for him when he tattoos. He films for me when I do drag and color. gri So it works out for us. And then that space is just in my college. I go to UCI. So I just went all the way to the top. um What I want to do, though, since we're going to be traveling so much, because he's so traveling to Torres, I want to go to landmarks in each city. Yes. And spin on the landmark and drag. Oh, my goodness.
00:10:00
Speaker
i'm I'm totally picturing this, like under the arch, in front of the bean, at the Statue of Liberty. Can your boyfriend also fly a drone? Oh, maybe that's the next investment. I'm just saying, anybody can learn. If I can learn, anybody can learn. So what is the how what's the process like for making your videos?
00:10:24
Speaker
It's a long process, like it takes me, it it shortens by five minutes every time I do it, like my makeup skills, because I've never done it before. I've always wanted to, ah since I started watching RuPaul's Drag Race, I was like a sophomore in high school, 28 now, so that's like, almost like 15 years later. um And then this last episode,
00:10:45
Speaker
there was morphine who appeared on the show and she really inspired me to just start it as well as my boyfriend because he was always telling me like oh you should do it you should do it like you can do these kind of dances too you know um so i just started doing makeup and it takes me like three to four hours to get in drag and then coming up with the choreography filming and i mean what you see on the video is like the last take takes maybe like 30 to 40
00:11:15
Speaker
So it's it's a whole day process to do the video. Do you like pick the music first or you pick the equipment first? like or is it So what my idea at first, it was to just do saber. I want to concentrate on saber just to kind of create um a stamp or a signature so people recognize.
00:11:36
Speaker
um that it's me. And also, it looks really cool. I feel like when you think of Color Guard, I mean, growing up in high school, I always, I didn't get bullied for it, but I i wasn't acclaimed for being in Color Guard. It was seen as like, oh, like nerd, kind of like band gigs, you know, outside of. We always screen those kind of comments.
00:11:58
Speaker
Same thing with drag. When I was in high school, it it was really taboo. like I felt uncomfortable even watching the show because of where I came from, my family. you know um So I think combining them and using music that is trending and looking sharp and nice in heels, I feel like and would won I would want to um allow people that don't even know guard or drag to look at it and be like, oh, that's cool. That's hip. That's new, you know. It's entertaining. Entertaining, exactly. It's very entertaining. I like it.
00:12:40
Speaker
So some of what you're doing kind of reminds me of how like Sam started his social media career as far as like having this plan and stuff. What are you thinking about all this, Sam?
00:12:52
Speaker
um It's always super interesting to hear um what other people are doing in TikTok because there's just, I feel like with what we do with Performing Arts and the Pageantry Arts, there's just so many opportunities to do something interesting and something new. This is this isn't something I i knew about. i I'm not super on TikTok. like I think I got pretty you know and into it with posting things for brands and stuff like that, but I don't scroll a ton.
00:13:20
Speaker
um So this is the first time hearing about this, and this is just super interesting. I'm curious like you know if if you have plans to do anything else with this. like Is this something you just you know you're doing for fun, or is this something you know you want to take further?
00:13:37
Speaker
I think it's both. like ah It's really fun. it doesn't feel Although it takes the whole day to get ready for it, it feels really fun. like I don't feel like it's a job or like I'm working too hard on it. um I get a bunch of bruises and my hair feels like all tied up and I have a headache at the end of it. But it's really fun to just do it and get the outcome you know of the video. It's looking really cool. um And sometimes I forget that it's me. I'm like, wow.
00:14:04
Speaker
I have hips. And apart from it being fun, I do have kind of like a personal plan. I'm starting a clothing brand as well. So I'm working with local artists who work with Canvas. um We create a story, they create the artwork, and I design a line inspired by their artwork. I would want to grow the brand organically, so I think eventually I'll wear my own clothes in drag.
00:14:33
Speaker
um That's more personal. And then, of course, I just want to, like I said, make Color Guard and drag, um for lack of better words, cool, mainstream, um more fun.
00:14:48
Speaker
Like a household thing. Yeah, yeah. Like, like we know about soccer not because we played it because it's on TV. we You wouldn't know about Color Guard unless you did it right or if you know someone that did it. I love that how people are trying to, and I mean, like I think we've been trying to do it for a really long time. I know that ah when we saw Color Guard on like Glee, we were like, oh, I was really excited about that. And I think, I don't remember who they used, but um or when we saw Color Guard on um during the Super Bowl with Lady Gaga, we were, you know, we were excited about that night. Yeah.
00:15:26
Speaker
but yeah But I love that, though. like I feel like it does need to be shared with the masses. And honestly, this is a good way to be noticed in the way that you're doing it. What is your handle on TikTok, by the way? Oh, it's Chewy Vazbo. I'm thinking of changing it. But yeah, that's just my Instagram that I've had for forever, because it's it's my boy name, Chewy, C-H-U-Y. And then my last name is Vasquez Bojorquez, so V-A,
00:15:55
Speaker
Z and then B-O. Chui Vasco. Okay. For now. I was going to say, we don't even have you on Instagram yet. It's just, it's literally just been nothing but TikTok. Oh, um my drag name on Instagram is La Chui, like L-A and then C-H-E-W-I.
00:16:16
Speaker
So um I was just reading this other thing too, like the Try Guys, everyone, they actually went through box to do their Try Guy thing. And I saw that I'm like, wow, when I'm not there. and yeah Right. They were so good though. I was so, I mean, I was so impressed with them, but I feel like this is the best way to do it. Like,
00:16:40
Speaker
you know, use social media to get that out to other people. And other ox has a good handle on that. I feel like Vox has a really good handle on the like, like, let's do good color guard and have good technique and good performances and good shows that are that do score well competitively, but also are entertaining and like can appeal to the masses and people who don't even get color guard and they don't watch color guard regularly, they can still get it. I feel like Vox does a really good job of like bridging that gap.
00:17:16
Speaker
Yeah, I think so too. And I think, I mean, that's where I get all my inspirations from. I mean, I started at Vox and then Blue Stars. It's just all these amazing people just kind of molded me, you know, to be able to do this now. And the whole thing with social media, yeah, I mean, when I was in high school, this would never be able to happen, you know. Yeah, and just Vox. So who are some of your instructors?
00:17:39
Speaker
um My instructor and for Vox, it was ben Benjamin Contreras and then Sarah Abdulo. And um I worked also for Coronado. They came out for like two or three years. It was like, um we were trying to do an extension of Corona independent because Michael did Corona. um So he wrote the drill for us. It was Greg Humphrey and a couple other people that marched Corona.
00:18:07
Speaker
Yeah, so that was my involvement. And of course, Michael Shapiro. Of course, of course. Love Michael Shapiro. Literally got to see him like once while I was up there with the Blue Stars. And like it was just kind of like, OK, hi. OK, bye. But yeah, he's such a such ah ah an innovator. And like but so many, so many things come out of those programs that just, like I said, bridge the gap and and make things entertaining.
00:18:34
Speaker
So speaking of integrating, we need to work on integrating those new sets with the music. So we'll be right back to get caught up on all the news stories from the marching arts world.
00:18:55
Speaker
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00:19:28
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:20:08
Speaker
All right, we are back. Grab your water bottles and gather around the sideline. We have got a lot of news stories to jump into and get you guys all caught up on. Nicole, let's start with yours.
00:20:33
Speaker
So this just in, but it wasn't just in. It was like last week. um But at the DNC, there was a drumline that performed. And um I think everybody wanted to know a little bit more about them and, you know, who they are and what it is that they do. but They are performers, basically. I mean, come on. um If you saw them at the DNC, they were fantastic. okay um The PAC has done a couple of different things. They first, I guess you could say, like got their start on
00:21:12
Speaker
Season 17 of America's Got Talent um and then they did Super Bowl 2023. oh Let's see. um They also are the official drumline for the Chicago Sky, which is a WNBA team.
00:21:28
Speaker
um They are so also the Chicago Bulls, yeah. They are also the Chicago Bulls drumline, Chicago Blackhawks. And they've done other things like perform for like promotional things for like McDonald's, Red Bull, Coca-Cola, and NASCAR.
00:21:45
Speaker
They've been around. So we've probably seen them somewhere. Yeah. Yeah. So you, I mean, I'm pretty sure you have because of all of those things. And then when you go to their website, it just shows them performing all over the place and on stage. So, um, it's a good time. I, I'm loving seeing, this is something else too. Like, you know, um, how Chewy was like, Oh yeah, I'm just trying to get that color guard, um you know, name out and let everyone know about it. And this is another way of getting, you know, drumline, any kind of marching arts out there and letting everyone know about it as well. So that was great. I'm i'm so happy they were able to for perform at the DNC. They were fun. Do you know, is this like a, is it like a paid gig? Like are these performers like professional paid to do all these gigs?
00:22:35
Speaker
I think they are. I think they are. I think there's only a couple of them. And it's almost like when they're on stage, it's almost like a stomp. Have you ever seen stomp? I love stomp. I just showed that to my toddler recently.
00:22:52
Speaker
So it's like a stomp thing, you know um so it's you know, very high energy and um It looks like they get big crowds everywhere they go um So I guess that was pretty much the whole thought process behind having them um at the DNC there's only one two three four five six seven when they just do the drumline, but when they're on stage and It looks like that doubles. But yeah. So that's the drumline that was there. Well, well how do we find out about them if people are interested in like auditioning for their programs or or just learning when they perform and stuff like that? um You can always go to their um go to their website. It's packdrumline.com. um They've got videos up. There's a contact us. So if there's ever a
00:23:49
Speaker
Like ah if there's ever an event you want them to come and do, or if you want to ask about auditioning to be in their group, um that's where you would do it. I wonder if they would come play my toddler's three-year-old birthday party. Your kid? So ape. He would lose it. He wouldn't even want to watch. He would want to perform with them, is the thing.
00:24:18
Speaker
Like go grab his little like plastic snare drum. His little Fisher Price drum and just, no, he wouldn't care. He'd be like, um, give me your sticks. I'm going to play whatever you got there. Uh, this next news story from Sam, hopefully everybody has seen this already. I feel like it has made the rounds. Why don't you tell us about this?
00:24:43
Speaker
Yeah, so the New York Times ah this past week, or how long ago was finals? 17 days ago, it feels like it was two days ago. So this article was called, a 12-minute show played only once, just might live forever. And it says, every summer, hundreds of college-age musicians spend countless hours and their own money pursuing a single goal, the Drum Corps World Championship.
00:25:09
Speaker
And this is kind of a um an article that was it it it talks about Drum Corps and what that encompasses as a whole, but it's it's mostly 90% a story on the Bluecoats. They go super in-depth on their show.
00:25:24
Speaker
um One quote that I really liked from this that I pulled was, the activity is a study in passion or perhaps delusion. It is not easy. It does not make money. It does not clearly translate to a career and it ends. Groups like the Bluecoats are made up exclusively of participants under the age of 22. And I think that Of all the people who have tried to sum up this activity, I think that this is really, from an outsider perspective, um I think this is this is one that's totally worth checking out. I have one other thing as a photographer that I have to mention, which is that the photos for this article were done by John Cherry, who was actually a Pulitzer Prize winner. um And that's a really cool thing to have, you know, New York Times Pulitzer Prize winning-esque
00:26:10
Speaker
coverage of the blue coats um and of this activity, I think that's a really big deal. And it's something that I think we should continue to support. So Chewie, have you gotten any feedback like that, like from outside of the Color Guard world about your videos? ah Yeah, some comments do like some people just kind of maybe randomly ah run into it. And they're like, I don't know what this is. I don't know what you're doing. But it's cool. i'm Like,
00:26:37
Speaker
Welcome to the Cologuard Drag Charlie XCX world. You don't know what it is? Okay, thank you. thank you Yeah, no, I like like making it more accessible. This is what I feel like this is what the ah what's what's Lord this is the um episode of being visible, you know, making the activity visible and making it, you know, um not just digestible for everyone in our activity, but for people outside of the activity as well. So yes, I, all of that love, love, love.
00:27:18
Speaker
Yeah, and I just feel like almost like a calling to do it, just because I stopped doing it right after COVID, like a 2020 during the pandemic. I was teaching at three high schools at that point and everything just stopped, right? um I was never a good student, so I was like, this is a good time for me to go back to school. So I just graduated from UCI, i actually, from um Irvine. And I, thank you.
00:27:47
Speaker
But the whole time that I wasn't doing it, every single day, i just it's in my head. I'm just making choreography to to music. And I think that was for a reason. i like I can't stop moving my hands. Yeah. so after Even after four years. So then to reach a point where I'm finally able to do it with the platform to reach more people, it feels pretty good. Awesome.
00:28:14
Speaker
Well, I am going to go ahead and jump to the next, ah I guess you could say, so news story. um I think some people have seen this. If you haven't, um I know that it's been on all of our or all of the different socials.
00:28:28
Speaker
but And it's about the Academy. So I don't know if you all know this, but um I spent some time with the Academy this summer. um And it was my let's go back to teaching moment. moment um I really, really enjoyed myself. ah Also to um the executive director, Mark Richardson, um he had been at Academy, I want to say, 25 years. And um this past summer was his last year.
00:28:56
Speaker
And so right now, Academy is looking for a new executive director. um If you think that this is something you may want to do, I say go ahead and turn your resume in. um So if this is something that you are interested in and you want to fill some big shoes, because these are big shoes, Mark did a lot. um And he was also there for a long time as well. um But your resume can be sent to Rich Frazier.
00:29:23
Speaker
um He's the Board of Directors President for the Academy. ah That email is, um excuse me, the email is r-f-r-a-i-z, as in zebra, e-r, at arizonaacademy.org.
00:29:40
Speaker
like And that's interesting to see because even in the smaller levels, like in high school, that so it's always like that. They're so secretive about openings too, where even when I have a friend who has an opportunity, they're like, well, I can't tell you which school yet. I'm like, why? Wow, trying to like date a little bit. I guess it maybe it makes sense, right? Like you don't want someone to come in and maybe take your job or something like that, your opportunity. But I think this is pretty fair to have it open and be like, we're accepting applicants. you know But it's it's interesting to see because you don't see it often. I know of a very exclusive opportunity that another band gets to participate in. Anybody who knows me knows how much I love the Macy's parade and
00:30:35
Speaker
ah Temple University from Philadelphia just announced that they have been chosen to march in next year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. So the Temple University Diamond Marching Band. Congratulations, guys. And they're going to be in the eye.
00:30:58
Speaker
2025. I have all my years mixed up. I'm blaming pregnancy brain. They're going to be there for 2025. So I will be back whenever, ah whenever you guys are there. So I will find you Temple University and take pictures with you. I still want to go and do like be a, I don't know, chaperone. Because we were talking about that last year. Yeah. I want to do it. I want to go.
00:31:29
Speaker
You should it's such an amazing experience to go and and like, you know, there's so many more opportunities now to get involved with the Macy's parade between not just the Macy's band and like your own school band going because like the your school band going is such a selective process.
00:31:44
Speaker
And then like the Macy's band is is becoming more and more selective every year. I swear they they fill up faster every single year. um But now they have the band directors marching band. So I'm kind of like, that was really cool to see last year. And I can't wait to see what they continue to do with that in the future. and Speaking of new marching bands being launched,
00:32:10
Speaker
Calvin University, which is in west Western Michigan, ah is going to be having their very first marching band. And I didn't even realize this when I was going through stories. But I feel like Spintronics has had a part in growing the marching band culture because we do clinics in Western Michigan. And we've been doing clinics in Western Michigan for the last, like,
00:32:37
Speaker
and like five or six years. It's been a while. We go up to um ah West Ottawa High School. And so the ah the band director is going to be Dr. Steve Suduth. I hope I'm saying that correctly, Suduth. He's been ah teaching marching bands for 25 years. And he's really, really excited about getting to start this new marching band um from the ground up.
00:33:07
Speaker
i He's also going to be assisted by Dr. Tiffany Engel, who is the Associate Professor Co-chair of the Visual and Performing Arts and the Director of Instrumental Studies at the University. And yeah, they're they're looking at and going from 60 to 80 members within the first three years of the program. So they're just planning on growing that up.
00:33:36
Speaker
Well, have you guys ever been a part of like a new band program like that? Well, when back in the day, um not the whole band program, but UD, because they for a very long time, they only had their dancers. I was there the first year that they did Color Guard. And ah yeah, it was interesting. ah It always is. you know You're not having to teach everyone how to do you know the basics, but they have to learn how to do everything the same way, which is you know not as hard, but at the same time, it's just like, let me help you unlearn ah some things. but um yeah i mean Honestly, i mean I feel like it would be one of the best
00:34:25
Speaker
ways to start a program, honestly, in college, because I don't know, everything's going to be new, new band room, new instruments, new equipment, new uniforms, and like, new car smell. Everything.
00:34:43
Speaker
everything I haven't started a new program, but I was um I was the first male member of the University of Missouri Winter Guard, um which was also their first year of existence. And it's been really fun to um that was in 2018. So as someone who's on staff now, it's just been really fun to kind of like from a member perspective help grow that program and then now be the one doing the marketing for that program. um That's been a super rewarding experience. so like I've never really started something as a director, but I've been a student of something new and then tried to switch over to the staff side of things and see you know what I can do to keep pushing that program forward. and that's been ah It's just been a really cool experience to see that grow.
00:35:29
Speaker
Yeah, I'm so proud of Mizzou, because I don't know how much they teach you about the history, but um I was actually there the last year that they had a winter guard in 2005. I didn't know that. So that was, yes, yeah. And so that was like a long time ago. and and And I remember seeing them when I was in high school competing and and being like, oh, I want to be on that guard. and um But really, that was the last year that they had a winter guard. They really did a lot to like,
00:35:57
Speaker
um sort of phase everything out. They had this idea of going a different direction and, you know, just watching the group now like grow has been, I've, it's near and dear to my heart because that's my, you know, again, alumni. We started with, um, Oh man, when I was in marching band at Mizzou 10 years ago in the fall guard, I think we had about 10 people and we're up to 40 now. So that's for over the course of 10 years, that's, you know, not bad.
00:36:28
Speaker
Yeah, that's awesome. That's awesome. I love seeing the growth of that. Well, Calvin University wants to invite all of their students, alumni, and then whole community to support this exciting new chapter because they are really planning on going and and just running with it. So it's I'm excited about that.
00:36:48
Speaker
i Yeah, I can't wait to see what they what they do with this program. ah Sam, do you want to give us your other, your your next story? Yeah, so something that um has been a pretty big deal in the, especially the composer community and in kind of like music academia world um is Finale. So if you're not familiar with Finale, it's a music notation software, essentially like writing out the notes to the music on you know, rather than a piece of paper on ah on a on a computer screen. um And that's something that's been around since 1988. So it's a pretty big deal that a few days ago, ah Finale announced, actually, I pulled something from the notes because this this is the part that people are pretty upset about, um which is that um beginning in August 2025, it will not be possible to authorize Finale on any new devices.
00:37:47
Speaker
um And that's something that's really interesting because a lot of people have used that over the years. I know when I was a band director, um that's what I used to arrange all of my music. um I'm sure there are a lot of people that still swear by Finale. um And so they're kind of saying that, you know, a year from now, if you buy a new computer or switch devices, even though you have paid for the software,
00:38:09
Speaker
um you will not be able to access it access access it anymore. And it just reminds me of the days when I was very little and you when i was very little and you know you bought Photoshop or you bought a software on a CD and you could, you know unless you lost it or broke it, it was yours, you owned it. And so it's just very interesting that this is something they can pull from under the rug. Like we're shutting it down and we're taking it with us.
00:38:37
Speaker
The thing, well, here's the thing, is that I had no idea what was actually happening, but in my feed, and I stay on social media too much, but on my feed, everyone kept saying, blah, blah, blah, something finale, or laughing at the people who had finale. And I'm like, what the hell? What the heck are they talking about? What's the name of the other program? There's also Sibelius and then there's MuseScore.
00:39:08
Speaker
And so many people are like, I started using Sibelius years ago. Everybody else should have. And I'm just like, oh well who are these people? Because right now it just sounds like, I don't know. It like sounds like a turf war or something. It's like, yes you know what I mean? Because I've always sworn my finale and it's always been like, I always bring that up. And I used to like get mocked or made fun of or whatever. I'm like, yeah, I use finale for my school assignments. And people are like, why would you do that?
00:39:35
Speaker
You know what? I think that Sibelius in Finale are is equivalent to pole hits, pole hits. but Except for now, one of them just doesn't exist anymore. That's the whole urban legend of it all. It's just like, well, if you were around, four did they say about why? Because it seems like it just literally came out of nowhere. It was like thin air, hello, okay, now Finale's gone. I've read the press release on their website and it wasn't super clear. I mean, it just said,
00:40:11
Speaker
You know, they didn't believe that Finale was the path forward for music notation and that at this point any updates weren't going to be substantial, which is really interesting because the other one we mentioned, Sibelius, and then there's another one, Dorico, have kind of been a little better about updating um versus Finale hasn't changed as much over the years from what I've gathered. I haven't used this stuff in a while. There is not really a clear explanation as to why it would just stop.
00:40:38
Speaker
right Well, they've been in business for like 35 years. So I don't know, maybe it's the owner who wants, I mean, I'm just speculating. But like, why would they not sell or have a merger or something? You know what I mean? Like, why would it just disappear?
00:41:03
Speaker
The other interesting thing about that is they own um the The company that owns Finale Make Music also owns Smart Music. Smart Music is kind of the thing that I know, at least when I did Drum Corps, things may have changed since then. um That was where we did all of our assignments. like They were literally called, you know they were like, hey, turn in your Smart Music assignments. And I'm curious if this is, you know if this company is just in trouble, or what's going to happen to the other, you know, sort of like, affiliate ownership putting their resources into smart music, because that's the way it's going. Wow, that I did not know that that makes sense, though. Well, a lot of people are going to be learning something new. Well, goodbye finale. They don't have a choice the finale of when we'll see you. ah Well, the sabers have absolutely been begging
00:41:56
Speaker
for us to have a clinic with Chewy. So we're going to go do that and then we'll be back on the sidelines in just a minute.
00:42:15
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.
00:42:52
Speaker
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. OK, field staff, take it away. Let's reset.
00:43:29
Speaker
All right, we are back. Savers, make sure you get your water bottles. I saw what Chewie had you doing over there. That was crazy. You won't catch me rolling on the ground like that, man. It is time for what are we doing? What are we doing? What are we doing? Nicole, you look like you want to start us off today.
00:44:00
Speaker
do i that is if i wanted to convey But I did have to think about this for a minute and I think I came up with something it is At least by the way that we're putting this together we are recording on August 27th What are we doing still looking for flags?
00:44:23
Speaker
What are we doing still looking for like our closer flags and things like that right now? This could have been mine. so I'm just saying. Oh, really? I'm just saying like those things need to be in. You need to have thought about that yesterday. Just know that if you don't have those things already taken care of right now, you you may not have it for your first show. And if you're going all the way to the end of your show and the first show, good. OK?
00:44:53
Speaker
I guess that's where should people buy their new flags if they still need flags? Who should they call Nicole? Well, you know, you can always call the guard closet or you can email me Nicole at guard closet dot com.
00:45:12
Speaker
Yeah, seriously though, like every day, i I swear I get on there and people are like, ah, I need, I need new closer flags or whatever. and And they're like messaging me and they're like, can you split this set? Or can you make these custom flags in less than, you know, six weeks or something? And like, there's a six week, that's how long it takes.
00:45:32
Speaker
or What's your involvement with the guard closet, Nicole and Jackie? We both work for the guard closet, yeah. You what, sorry? We are both work for the guard closet. No way.
00:45:47
Speaker
yeah I mean, I've been using this since I was like, graduated high school, like started teaching. Well, thank you. It works, people. You know, it works if you work it.
00:46:01
Speaker
I can't believe I met you guys. It's a small world. I tell you what, I get that all the time. People are always like, like I email, like I do my customer service emails and I'll respond and people are like, wait, you're Jackie Brown? Are you the same Jackie Brown from like Spintron? Like, yes, yes, that's me. I'm Spintron, it's Jackie Brown also. It's a small world. Give all your autograph a picture. Just start emailing headshots.
00:46:32
Speaker
Oh gosh, but yeah, the seriously, like it takes, oh, get your stuff in, guys. Everything consignment at Guard Closet is in stock and ships immediately. If you want new flags, if you want made-to-order flags, it's gonna take four weeks to get them made. So that's what we're doing right now. the day yeah That's the thing. Yep. Sam, what are we doing?
00:47:00
Speaker
All right, this is one that, you know, as someone who it's my job to think about how a marching band or a marching arts group presents itself online. um Keep in mind that Jump Corps and marching band does not put commercials on the television. So like social media is our first and foremost, the way that we market ourselves.
00:47:21
Speaker
something that i but Something that bothers me, and I'm sure this bothers a lot of people, but they probably haven't thought about why, is that have you noticed that in the off-season, like during camps, we're very secretive about things. You can't hear the music, you can't even hear the horn line playing a chord, like you can't watch the drum line playing a warm-up. Those are things that from like August of one year to August of the next year, you don't get to hear on the internet.
00:47:51
Speaker
And that's something that, like, there's always a struggle because as a former educator, you know, you want your ensemble to look and sound great online. But one thing that is a big pet peeve of mine is the idea that, like, your ensemble being perfect, it should not be the enemy of people seeing that your ensemble exists because... Yep.
00:48:15
Speaker
yeah So oh like right now I'm doing the, you know, I'm kind of directing the media presence for Marching Mizzou at Marching Mizzou, if you're curious. And we have this like really cool to remove where do you do you remember like Jackie, i when you talked about Mizzou, it's called Flip Tigers.
00:48:33
Speaker
yes tigers right it's weird like 70s or something yeah and so the word mazoo and the word tigers they flip and you know one goes to the other and it's something that we already posted online and it wasn't perfect and that's in my opinion that's totally okay because like nobody is expecting your ensemble to be perfect right from the start. yeah And so in my opinion when drum corps are not when they're so scared to show the world what they're working on because they want it to be perfect, like you're just losing to an ensemble 10 points below you who is showing themselves online.
00:49:10
Speaker
yep and the social media game at least. So like a great example of that is, well, but this is also a very you know prestigious ensemble, but this summer the Blue Devils posted warm-ups and things almost every single day. Every time that I scrolled on social media, I could find a video of the Blue Devils Horn Line warming up or the guard warming up. And those are things that like we're just not necessarily seeing from other groups.
00:49:35
Speaker
and you know that at least someone there has a phone. so there's you know and it's That's like an intentional you know control over what is being seen by the outside world. But the thing is, if you don't post your group, someone else is going to. and so somebody's Everyone has a phone. like You can look up these videos online, so you may as well be the first one to do it.
00:49:59
Speaker
That's just that's just kind of my my whole say on the matter. Is that something that really bothers me? Because it's like if you have a media team, like you should let them want to show off the ensemble and show them what their improvement or what they're working on. Like it doesn't have to be perfect. So i post videos of your group. yeah Social media presence, you have to be present. You do. Otherwise, it's not a social media presence if you're not. They kind of go together.
00:50:30
Speaker
A lot of times social media is about quantity and not quality. Absolutely. And you find that so much. Yes. TikTok will reward you for posting multiple times a day, even if it's not good.
00:50:43
Speaker
It really will. Like yeah the more effort you post in this, I think with this summer with Vanguard, the the videos that I would like pour pour my heart and soul into would go unnoticed. And then there's a cell phone clip I took of the drums when it was raining outside and they have trash bags on their drums. That was like a million views. it's no there's not There's not any rhyme or reason to it. You just have to post things. Like you just have to show what you're doing. Oh, that makes me think of like, okay, Chewy.
00:51:13
Speaker
going back to your TikToks and you were talking about how long they take to make. Do you save all the other, like all the other takes and like all the bloopers and stuff?
00:51:24
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, I posted some of the bloopers and um I did like one funny one that was five seconds and that one blew up. It's the same thing. Like the one that I like like, like it took me like an hour to choreograph. It took me like three hours to film, like really intricate work, like really handsy. It was what, like 2000 views. And then The 10 second one was already like, what? 20,000? It's just, it's true. it's It's just, you never know. And then I think ah you need to know who your audience is as well. Cause mostly it's going to be Gen C, it's going to be like younger kids, right? So they want to interact with you in a relatable way. I feel like when it's too perfect, of course they're in awe, but they can't comment like, yeah, I've been there. Oh, I've done that. I was saying, I drop it all the time too. You know, like.
00:52:12
Speaker
Yeah, I did the demure thing also. It's just you kind of have to keep up with the trends a little bit as well. I saw that one and I was just like, whoa, he he jumped on it. But it's embarrassing because I'm like, oh my god, is there anyone watching me right now? ah but you and And also, like, I don't look perfect. I was like, what I said is like, do you see the lady's front? No, you don't. But yes, you did. Like, you see my lady's front.
00:52:40
Speaker
nice Oh my gosh, I haven't seen that one yet. I have to go look for that one. That's the one I laughed the most at. It was like, do you see lace front? I'm like, oh, yeah. actually yeah But it's what Sam is saying. Like you can't wait until you're perfect. You just have to do it even if you're not. And and eventually you won't see my lace front. But for now you will. Well, Chewie, do you have a ah what are we doing point for today?
00:53:05
Speaker
Yeah, what are we doing not dressing up when we do color guard videos? I feel like I see way too many people just in their workout clothes. And I feel like we should wear more makeup. We should put on some heels, maybe a waiver too.
00:53:23
Speaker
feel of yeah Heels. Oh, honey. No.
00:53:33
Speaker
We all saw our bizarre bizarre when it came out when um onyx did it and they all wore heels you know I was I spent a majority of the time watching their feet because I was just like somebody's going to bite it pretty soon because they want to seem like they're just walking out, you know, I wear these every day. and i'm very demure first very mind for mine
00:54:04
Speaker
no But it was really interesting and entertaining. And I think when I started, I was worried. I'm like, maybe it's going to look weird or awkward because heels and drag, you know, and in Color Guard, it's like I don't see that. You don't see that often. So but I don't know, it's being well received. And I feel like more people should.
00:54:24
Speaker
Like if you're going to record yourself, if you're going to do choreography to a song, I know we we don't all have all the time or money, you know, but just have fun with it. You know, as long as you're having fun and you can don't, don't, don't think you can do something just because other people are not doing it. Just do what feels right for you. You know, if you want to. I love it. Yeah. I love it. that That's like great job everyone. Let's go.
00:54:54
Speaker
All right, let's do our gushing goes. Nicole, bring it back. Oh gushing goes. Okay. Now I'm positive Patty. Um, I honestly just want to gush and go about but you know, the season so far set up for me. um Even though it's busy, um I think a lot of you already know i'm I thrive when I'm busy. When I am, I don't want to say bored, but ah because I can still be bored with the three things to do. So, but I'm i'm happy to see it and I'm happy to like,
00:55:31
Speaker
you know, go to the different places. I think that I've actually, I picked up a new, I don't know with marching bands, a new circuit, a new state. So I'm excited to see how that, and how how that's going to pan out. Yeah. And you know, working on some other things that I can't really just put it out into the, uh, secrets. We just talked about this.
00:55:56
Speaker
I have to stand by my word. If I don't keep secrets, I'm just a gossip girl. the
00:56:05
Speaker
Sam, what do you want to gush and go on about? So I wrote down a few. I came prepared. I wrote down a few. Drum course that I think are so great right now. I wrote down a few drum course that I think are doing social media or just media in general very well. Cool. So one is I don't know if any of you saw the blue coat show reveal when they posted it. They had this like multi cam setup that essentially was.
00:56:30
Speaker
you know, right at the end of spring training, right before the show, they they had like multi cam clips of their show. So they had like drone shots, they had different camera angles, but it was this really awesome setup that they had done where they had like staged everything in uniform on props, clearly just as like a teaser for the show itself. And I think that was so, so cool to like, not be vague or discreet about it, but show like, this is what the show looks like and we're wearing it and like, this is all in one video. I think that's awesome.
00:57:00
Speaker
I love that. I said earlier the idea of like posting a ton of things. I think that Blue Stars, if you're not familiar with Blue Stars on social media, especially their TikTok, they do a really great job of appealing to um like a younger audience and to a modern social media voice. They're really funny.
00:57:22
Speaker
And that's that's something that like I've always taken into account is I think that they they have a huge follower base. High schoolers really look up to blue stars online because they're so funny and they're super relatable. I think that's really cool.
00:57:36
Speaker
I don't know how much time I have, but I have two more things. One is that if you've ever been to a drum corps show, look at the merch lines and you will see that the Phantom Regiment line is like wrapped around the entire stadium. And that's because Phantom Regiment is super awesome about like, if you see a trend online, you can go to the Phantom Regiment's merch website and like, you know, they're already going to have a t-shirt with that on it and the Phantom logo.
00:58:00
Speaker
And that's super awesome. And then last thing is something I'm really passionate about is uniform reveals. Like, if you're going to reveal a uniform. I love your uniform reveals. I think it's so cool when they are themed around the show.
00:58:16
Speaker
There were two this summer. So Jersey Surf had their like kind of like in the, if you know what, if you saw it, it was like in the picture frame with the dove flying out of it. And that was super awesome. And then Jersey Surf had their show was called Surfadelic. And so they did this whole thing that looks like it was like a magazine ad from the seventies. It had like, it pretended like the uniform was for sale. And I just think, you know, it's so fun to be creative with that stuff and kind of do you know, band isn't that serious. And it's fun to have, you know, take some creative freedom with that and kind of do uniform reveals that are centered around like the idea of your show or a prop or something like that. Or going on trends. We loved to to do that at Spintronics, like the last several years of our competitions. Like we did trends of like uniform reveals. It would be like a transition video or something. And yeah, yeah, it was so fun.
00:59:11
Speaker
Chewy, this is a shout out to you then, so you can actually go and get people all glammed up. So they can do their video. Yeah, if anyone needs help with anything, I'm not that great on makeup. I'm okay at dressing up, but we can work together. You're only going to get better the more you do it though. I will at least teach you how to walk in heels.
00:59:36
Speaker
yeah need So Sam, I heard you're going to be doing a roundtable with some social media people. Is is this happening now? That is kind of put me on the spot there. That is something that I would love to do when it happens. We can make it happen. Let's make it happen. Let's do it. We'll call some people. I can call my people and I can make that happen. I can get you some really interesting social media people. Let's do it. I love it.
01:00:11
Speaker
I love it. um I am going to gush and go about the weather we had for band camp because and it was a couple weeks ago now, but we had a very chill band camp. There was like one hot day and then the rest was not super duper hot. And this pregnant lady was so thankful.
01:00:31
Speaker
I also have to give a shout out to the band director, Sarah Sacco at Ava, because she booked the air conditioned gym, the incredibly air conditioned gym for my sectionals for the hottest part of the day the whole week with what we were there. So I didn't have to like, die on the field as a pregnant lady sweating in the sun. So I just got a gush about that oh until you're due ah six weeks.
01:01:00
Speaker
okay
01:01:04
Speaker
And my first one was early, so I wouldn't be surprised if I went into labor tomorrow. I'm just saying. that a look if We will keep our eye on you. Please do. Please do. I'm, yeah. And it's hot right now. i'm I'm glad to not have to be out in band camp this week and like last week, because it's been sweltering. Oh my gosh. Chewie, what do you want to gush and go on about?
01:01:31
Speaker
So I guess, I mean, I know I said that I'm not great at makeup or dressing up, but you know what? I am. I'm great at makeup. but I'm great at dressing up. I have an amazing style. gonna agree with I agree with you there. I was going to disagree with you earlier when you said you weren't very good at it. You're just not very fast at it. No, I'm not fast, but and but yeah yeah I mean, for I think I've done it total, maybe like eight times drag.
01:01:58
Speaker
ah like fully. So I think it's looking good for eight times. I think um I have a good start. I also want to give props to myself for getting over all of my just negative feelings and and emotions and ah thoughts about drag in general like growing up and color guard and just being able to spread the art form and also shout out to like all the kids that are commenting and reposting not being afraid of it you know because right now there's
01:02:34
Speaker
So much like near mongering around drag and queerness. And I feel like it it's it's my job. It's our duty to to normalize it and tell people like we're just doing art. it's nothing There's nothing else to it. you It's true. It's true. I appreciate your four hours of makeup.
01:02:57
Speaker
Thank The problem is we can just keep seeing it. I mean, we're putting, like, two really good things that I love, Michael Shapiro twirls and drag together. you Yeah, I'll try to keep filming as long as I can. And yeah, I'll try to, like I said, keep filming in different cities, different landmarks. Yeah, so you'll see more. So and when you come to Missouri, it's called Gush Go, not Gush in the Stay. Let's go.
01:03:28
Speaker
Thank you guys for a great rehearsal this week. Thank you for Nicole joining me as a host. And of course, thank you to our guest clinicians. Sam, do you want to throw your social media out there one more time?
01:03:41
Speaker
Oh, I'd love to. So I so i can be found at Smolder Media and it's at S-M-O-H-L-E-R Media. That's on Instagram or TikTok. And then the I do want to give a shout out to the brand that I'm currently working with, Marching Mizzou. You can find us at MarchingMizzou. That's M-I-Z-Z-O-U. We're doing our first halftime show this week. Are they going to be golden flip tires? That would be amazing. We'll see.
01:04:11
Speaker
We'll find out. We're working with Skye Elements, who are current. They're semi-finalists on America's Got Talent right now, and they're working with us on this. So it's, it's especially as a Mizzou alum, you're going to want to check it out. That's so cool. Okay. like Oh my gosh, yes. My husband's working this weekend, so maybe we need to, ah yep, maybe my toddler and I need to go on a little trip.
01:04:39
Speaker
ah Chewy, what about your social media? You want to throw that out there? Yeah, so my TikTok is Chewy, C-H-U-Y, and then VASBO. That's V-A-Z-B-O, Chewy VASBO. And then my Instagram is LaChewy, L-A-C-H-E-W-Y.
01:04:59
Speaker
Love it. Thank you guys so much for helping us out. One more thing. Don't forget we have our YouTube channel. So if you want to see all of the craziness that they get up to over here when we're doing interviews on the pod, go watch those full video versions over on YouTube but and make sure you subscribe to our channel as well.
01:05:20
Speaker
But before you close out your podcast listening app, go ahead and subscribe to that. Write us a review and share this with a friend. Follow us on all of our social media at on a water break. And we'll see you at the next rehearsal on a water break. Go practice.
01:05:43
Speaker
intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit ridamusic.com. And until next time, thanks for tuning in.