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The One Inside the Drum Corps of 2024 image

The One Inside the Drum Corps of 2024

S2 E38 · On A Water Break
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204 Plays3 months ago

Join the hosts of the On A Water Break podcast as they dive deep into the 2024 Drum Corps International (DCI) season with their stories FROM tour! Ricardo hosts with Nicole, Joey, Peyton, & Cynthia!

Whether you're a long-time drum corps fan or new to the marching arts, this episode of the On A Water Break podcast has something for everyone. Hear from experts in the field as they share their unique perspectives and experiences from being on tour with different drum corps during the 2024 DCI season.

Be sure to follow the On A Water Break podcast on all social media platforms @onawaterbreak, and subscribe to their 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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Contact Us:

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Website: www.onawaterbreak.com

Keywords:

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

Introduction and Sneak Peek

00:00:00
Speaker
Hi everyone, we are back for another week of exciting rehearsals. This week we have behind the scenes of DCI Tour. We'll also find out what made Joey say. People were like, oh, you're so prepared. I'm like, no, I'm just not trying to get, you know, whatever it is that the drum corps has. like And why Peyton said,
00:00:18
Speaker
And everyone's coming up to me, they're like, you hyped this up and you lied to me. How dare you as a drum major lie to me? All this and more, so get out on the field and we will see you back on the sideline for this week's episode of On A Water Break. Eight off the Met and go.

Special Episode with DCI Tour Insights

00:00:37
Speaker
Welcome to On A Water Break. The podcast where we talk everything marching arts.
00:00:47
Speaker
Everyone, bring it in. It's time for a water break. Welcome to 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 Ricardo Robinson Chanel and I'm hosting the show, y'all.
00:01:09
Speaker
Well, this show is extra special because everyone on today's episode was on tour this summer with some DCI cores. We are diving into what it's like to really be on tour. And I mean really be on

Tour Stories and Experiences

00:01:22
Speaker
tour. The good, the bad, the ugly, the funny, and all things in between. So let's see who's on the sidelines this week. Nicole, I know where you were. I know where you were last summer.
00:01:40
Speaker
I would hope so because I was sleeping on your air mattress. So listeners, here it goes. Full disclosure, Nicole and I, we shared an air mattress this summer because we are that close.
00:01:54
Speaker
and it was good You're a great bedmate. You don't move at night. I mean, yeah. You also don't snore. Sometimes.
00:02:06
Speaker
okay um and um fully aware i but There was one night where you and your friend, Al, were snoring like in symphony with each other. And I almost recorded it, but I said I would be a terrible friend if I did that to you. Thank you so much for that. Actually, yeah. Oh, thank you.
00:02:28
Speaker
yeah I was not waiting. find it somewhere. Oh yeah, yeah. Joey is sitting on the sidelines. Joey, who were you on tour with? I was on tour with Genesis this year. I did some, ah I did some vish this summer. Yeah, you did. It was so exciting at that show in Wyoming where I was standing there getting ready to walk out onto the field and you just ran up and you're like, Ricky, and I was like, oh, hey.
00:02:55
Speaker
but I guess we're familiar. I honestly, I was waiting i'll by the gate. I was like, I'm going to do it. No, I'm not going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm not going to do it. And I was like, Oh, you know what? Like if I'm going to put myself out there and start doing podcasting, which that was like to get me out of my comfort zone and get me comfortable again, talking to people since COVID. I was like,
00:03:13
Speaker
And then this team was like just go over there you yell at kids all day like what's the difference just go over and yell and I'm taking picture get out of there and I was like And I think our interaction was maybe 45 seconds at the most It literally was 45 seconds. It was good to see you though. I was like, Oh my God, it's someone I know, even though we've actually never really met in real life until that moment. So, but it was so cool just being in this random place in the world and running into someone that you do this thing with. Like that's kind of the beauty of this whole band world that we're in.
00:03:47
Speaker
Yeah, i I continue to talk about to my students about like, hey, this is a smart world. You know, every day is an audition. You never know who knows who, you know, like be on your best behavior. Always, you know, go for the part. You never know when you'll get the solo. You never know when you get, you know, called to the big leagues. And so, yeah, I agree with you. it's It's so cool how small this big world is. This marching band world.
00:04:09
Speaker
Yeah, it gets smaller every day because more and more of us get to see each other in different ways and different venues.

Challenges and Adaptations

00:04:15
Speaker
So it's super awesome. Like my friend, Cynthia. Cynthia, who were you teaching this summer? I was with the Troopers this summer. Hey, Gel B. Gel B.
00:04:35
Speaker
So Cynthia, I think you were on in times when I was off. like we I think we were always switching places because every time I would look for you, you weren't on tour. You were like at home or doing something else. Exactly. Well, for we're probably going to talk about later, but this staff team was built very later on. So the regular season when staff teams are built. So it was a mashup of anyone who was available. So yeah, I joined later on from July 21st all the way through the end.
00:05:04
Speaker
and but it was the greatest it's when when you start cleaning and you do the last like the last big push to get things right right but yeah that's what i say it's the fun part yeah cleaning is the fun part yep oh my goodness we have our newest co-host paten who is in the middle of band camp paten i don't know how you do it My goodness, you literally ran into the recording coming straight out of band camp. Tell everyone who you were with this summer and what you were doing. Second season as a drum major with Spirit of Atlanta. And it was very eventful, to say the least. In the best way possible. Let me make that clear. Of course it was. I got to see you from from the sideline all the time because we were always going on next to each other. So it was kind of interesting.
00:05:59
Speaker
As an alumni, I was always looking like, oh, get a spirit, yeah. I really, really, really enjoyed that show. Thank you. are Yeah, I really enjoyed it. There were a lot of those groups. We're going to talk about this later, but like it was such an odd concept, too. On first glance, you watch the show for the first time, and you're like, who are these kids on four-foot stilts?
00:06:23
Speaker
and Well, it did. It did. It did something, you know, like, I really, really liked it. And we just held together well. But yeah, good job. We changed and rewrote so many aspects of the show. it One of the jokes one of the brass staff made was you guys learned like two and a half shows. So but the end product was something I was of course really proud of. So And they worked incredibly hard. The work ethic on the kids this summer was unlike anything I've seen before. Yes, we love that. We love a good birthday. Work ethic. Right?

Weather and Safety Protocols

00:07:00
Speaker
Yes, we do. Well, since it's just family tonight, we are going to dive right in. I will start my tour journey and you guys chime in whenever because, you know, this is family talk.
00:07:14
Speaker
so You know, I spent my summer as the color guard caption hit for the Academy and which was wonderful experience for me having not taught drum corps in a very long time. Yeah. Yeah. And part of the reason why I accepted the job was because I was like, you mean I get to do drum corps out West where it's going to be like awesome and and, you know, no humidity and California and all those things. And it was.
00:07:45
Speaker
Fantastic. I have to tell everybody, being on the West Coast, like I live in Florida, just so everyone knows. if you know I live in Florida. It's very flat here. Yes, I have the beach, but it's the beach. It gets boring. I'm a mountain person. If I could look at mountains all day, I would be happy. And I got to look at mountains every day on tour. It was beautiful. It was so pretty.
00:08:10
Speaker
So pretty. Every place we went to, I feel like every stadium that we rehearsed in, there was like a mountain in the background. And I went by myself. Sometimes when I got bored watching the flags make the same mistakes in the back of the field, I would just be looking out at the mountain.
00:08:24
Speaker
and It was so picturesque though. Like there was nothing you could do. Like you had to like just stand there and like stare at it for a little bit. But yeah, there was always some kind of mountain like scape. I don't know how many pictures I took on my phone of just that. And I was like, when are we going to start moving? Because I'm going to have like a picture of every part. I did a thing this summer because I was away from a husband for a lot of the summer. So And he was a little bit jealous of the fact that I was you know in the mountains and going to all these cool places. So I would wake up every morning and I would just go outside and I would make a video view of the day from wherever we were. And it would just be a 360 degree video of me just showing the scenery around the stadium that we were rehearsing in that day.
00:09:11
Speaker
and Those are going to be some great memories for me to look back on, because you know once I get bored with being flat here in Florida, I think I'm going to get a bounce on my phone.
00:09:28
Speaker
Anybody else? who How was everyone else's tour experience? Cynthia, you came into a whole different country to do a tour. Right. How was that? It was fun. It was actually my first my first world class tour ever because I'm a DCA girl and are all age, whatever it is now, and taught open class, but it's so different. And I joined in Swamp Tour. So yeah, everyone was like, Oh, really? You don't want to wait like a couple of days. And to be real, I like Swamp Tour better than all the other like North Carolina and
00:10:05
Speaker
i I deal with, I know, I deal with humidity so much better than the actual sun. I'm allergic to the sun for people that want to have a laugh. So for me, like Louisiana and all of that, like I was sweating, but it was it was great. It was actually really, really fun.
00:10:23
Speaker
And yeah, and then we got into but Pennsylvania and I almost died after an hour and I was like, what is it? Like, it didn't make sense. But yeah, I guess I'm weird like that. It was so gross in Pennsylvania for no reason. It was. And I literally went from Pennsylvania and I spent the entire time Okay, I don't, I do not want to interject. I don't want to change. Oh, you have to now. Yeah. So with Jack State, Jacksonville State, we spent 36 days doing spring training there. And then immediately, like you're going through Georgia, you're going through Alabama. So it's like infinite swamp tour glitch. Your spring training is swamp tour. Yeah.
00:11:02
Speaker
and then we were in Texas and Texas was like fairly mild and then of course you're going back through like Arkansas and Alabama and then it's like swamp tour part three and meanwhile i yeah i'm so like i'm the one of the only people if not the only person from Spirit from Pennsylvania I think we had someone from Pittsburgh, but I'm like from out near Philadelphia. And so I spent the entire summer being like, Philly's going to be so great. It's going to be, the weather's going to be so nice and it's going to be so cool. Cause like right now it's 70 degrees. I'm doing band camp and like, I'm waking up. It's like 67 degrees. It's awesome. Okay. Okay.
00:11:46
Speaker
okay well
00:11:49
Speaker
we get We get to Pennsylvania, we're out right near Allentown, and it's disgusting. And everyone's coming up to me. They're like, you hyped this up, and you lied to me. How dare you as a drum major lie to me? I'm like, I'm sorry. You sabotaged them. I did. I really did. I jinxed it for myself. I don't know why it was so gross, because i I came back on in Allentown, and I came from Florida to Allentown, and I was like,
00:12:16
Speaker
I kind of actually want to go back to Florida now because it was so buggy too. We were at a housing site that like did not have a stadium and it was just super buggy out and I felt like I was sweating as much back in Alabama.
00:12:31
Speaker
so I think it's very interesting. I think when I was marching, I always hyped up Nebraska and Kansas, cause that's where I was going at the time. And I was like, I was like, guys, you're going to love it. yeah I love like dah, dah, dah, dah, dah. And, uh, anytime that I said, Hey, you're going to love this place. Of course it was like either a monsoon or today's the hottest day it's ever been in history or Hey, we've never had tornadoes in the summer in Kansas, but all of a sudden there's an F4 coming our way. We're going to have to go inside and take like.
00:13:01
Speaker
you If you ever say, hey, this is the beautiful place, I feel like the jump core gods are like, we'll see about that. I just wait. Did anyone else experience like crazy amounts of rain though? Like we had, I know Troop had a few like rained out shows, but we had probably three or four shows that were rained out.
00:13:22
Speaker
So i I will brag and say that every time that I had to leave tour for some reason, whether to come home and teach or teach, you know, at the music processing or whatever, and Nicole was stepping in for me as the captioning. They would always, I would check that the slack would start going off because they were taking lightning breaks and trying to figure out rain sites.
00:13:42
Speaker
I hate letting people. Yeah, and I was like, well, this never happens when I'm on the road. Like, I guess I'm going to be lucky. We're fine. I went back in Atlanta and we were having a rehearsal. We were having an afternoon block out and I have like a sense, like a Spidey sense, like from back when I was marching spirit. I said, oh, it's going to rain in like, um, five minutes.
00:14:05
Speaker
Like for Mean Girls, we're like, it's probably. It's like that totally thing. So, you know, watch the video listeners so you can see what what's happening. um So I was like, oh, it's going to rain in like 10 minutes. I was like, Color Guard, you should probably go move the props and like get your stuff inside. So I have no idea why the Color Guard decided to be like move at the pace of molasses.
00:14:29
Speaker
And they're moving slow and moving slow. And then all of a sudden, it didn't start with like a sprinkle to warn you. It literally the bottom just fell out for 20 minutes. Every flag got soaked. Every kid got soaked. I got soaked. The sound system got soaked. Everything was just dripping wet. We go into this hallway because it was the closest thing that we could do to get inside for for shelter. And the flags were so wet and the kids were so wet.
00:14:59
Speaker
that the floors were like flooded and the janitors came down the hallway and started screaming at us because we had gotten the floors messed up and they were getting they were starting school like in a few days. I did not know this. Yeah, like yeah it was bad. It was bad. Nothing like that happened when I was on, except for like you know there's going to be something rolling in and yes, you know you got to take that extra time for the props. but Yeah. As far as what you're going through, what you're just describ describing, like we we didn't have any kind of big mishap like that. At least I don't think so. I know troops have, I think in total three rained out shows, but I was not there for none of them. And you know any time but it really rained while rehearsals. It rained like before rehearsal and after rehearsals. And they had like any other drum corps, not so much of a good show one night and
00:15:57
Speaker
me and the other weapon tech, we were like, we're going to get on you and we're going to work with you and you're going to catch and it's going to work. and blow it out And then the day after we spent some time under a roof because it was raining, but we're under a roof. And then we had ensemble. And then as an old school ish, young old school person, I was like, but why aren't we spinning in the ring?
00:16:18
Speaker
And they were like, we don't spin in the rain. And I was like, no, no, but we do. And I was like, I get it for flags, although I'm a flag girly spinner. And I remember like spinning under thunder, not not thunderstorms, but DCA, you have two days, so you. It didn't matter. You got outside.
00:16:37
Speaker
Oh no, you got outside and you ran and you did an ensemble and like full rain and full wind, not saying that this is necessarily safe anymore. But I was with the sabers and I was like, you're going to twirl on their rain. It was light rain, but you're going to twirl on the rain. and um And they did. And it was, I kept on saying the entire summer, I was like, this was your best technician. You cannot hide anything under rain, you need perfect technique and you need to apply and that's what they did. So yeah so that was a saying that we kept on saying, I kept on screaming at the Sabres, make it rain. And then a couple of them after DCI finals, they came up to me and they were like, I made it rain. And I was like, yeah, they showed up. They showed up.
00:17:19
Speaker
That was a great moment. And then you get to this indoor facility in Indianapolis, and then you get in warmups and they bop their stuff. Now, all of a sudden they catch everything. They're so good in warmups. And we were like, Oh, I guess they do have technique. I guess we did do something, right? It's just wind and stuff. And yeah, so in Indianapolis is just great, especially members and staff in Color Guard, because you're like, everything just lands in their hands all of a sudden. And you're like, all right, cool. But it was windy. Allegedly. It's supposed to, let's say that. Yeah, no, yeah. But it worked out for us. I think it worked out for us. Yeah.
00:18:02
Speaker
I mean, I'm going to be like one of those back in my day people, but Cynthia, you're right. Like back, back in my day, we rehearsed in the rain. Like i I distinctly remember learning four corners. I learned parts one and two and full out rain every day and like 40 degree weather at NIU, Northern Illinois University. I think I'll just slide.
00:18:25
Speaker
Do what? Lightning protocol. It's like you can be like 10 miles away. And they're like, oh, you're in an S2, by the way, which means that you have to go inside. Yep. That's something the that our staff at Genesis and when I talked to other chefs, we'd be like, you did you get the rain today? And they're like, yeah. And we've been like, all I heard was bass drums. I didn't hear any thunder. I saw i saw you know somebody flashing their car lights. I didn't see lightning. you know know You know, at this age, I just don't know what I hear and see. Uh, and then we reminisce about like, kind of like you're talking about recorder. Like I remember learning third movement in the pouring rain. You know, I remember lightning hitting the cornfield right next to us. And, uh, we saying, well, they're going to hit the Contras first. Like it's not going to hit me. I'm mellow. The saber throws high enough. It's going to hit the saber and it's not the saber.
00:19:20
Speaker
It's fine. You know, it's going to hit the drum major with the sword and all the things, you know, it's, you know, it is what it is. You know, I think you talk about like the highest point on that podium. but yeah come fred it's coming for me It's not coming for me. I'm good. i' stand it's an empire Yeah.
00:19:36
Speaker
And then the heat protocols too. I mean, like it's all, it's all to keep the members safe. It's all to keep us safe. I understand that, you know, and I think it's great that we're, we're making shifts in the activity to keep our, you know, our students and our staff safe. But it's, it's funny when they go, you know, when the kids are like, Oh, it's hot out. And I go, yeah, well, my texts made me do, you know, five and five when it was this hot out, you know, text made me jazz run across the field. but Like, so I understand we're going to take care of you, but just know like.
00:20:05
Speaker
The staff did this, you know, and that's why we're asking you to do this. There's like a double inch of the sword, you know? That's a phrase. You got it easy nowadays, kid. And then I to just feel old. Back in my day when we did Real Drum Corps, we did it outside and no one cared. No one dropped. We were hungry. We just got the show on the field. Exactly. Exactly. Okay, it's time to work on that ballot again since we learned those sets a few days ago and we'll be right back as we dive deeper into DCI Tour 2024.
00:20:49
Speaker
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00:21:22
Speaker
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Best and Worst Moments

00:22:01
Speaker
And we are back. We are talking about some of our highlights from the DCI tour this summer. So you know what we're gonna do? We're gonna have a little family round table and we're gonna talk about some of the things that happened as in best and worst moments. So I am going to ask my dear sister, Auntie Nicole, what was your scariest moment on tour?
00:22:27
Speaker
Oh, you know what? This is perfect that you asked me that. So our props, we have what was there like 12, 16, 16. Okay. Okay. Uh, there was one time when we had all of them off to the side, we were in Arizona. It's very gusty when the wind does blow.
00:22:50
Speaker
I was walking and I walked past one and I was like, oh, that's kind of moving a little faster. I turn around and all of the props are coming towards me. Like I'm, I can't ra outrun it. So I have to like jump on it and then just ride it until it like stuck. It was like you were like trying to lasso like a cow in the rodeo. Is that what that was?
00:23:16
Speaker
But it was just like all of a sudden, like I turn around and it's all those doors coming at me and I'm like, is this a euphemism or something? I don't know. When I got it, meet Nicole, and well, I mean, is it going to run me over? Like, is it going to kill me? like What does that mean? yeah But, uh, yeah, that was scary. And then the thing is, is that there were people like Josh saw the director saw it that all that happening from afar. So like came running in and was just like, are you okay? I saw all this happening. I was like, I yeah, it all stopped rolling. So yeah.
00:23:54
Speaker
Hands down scariest. That's like a band episode of Final Destination, I think. Oh, we used to play that. Oh my gosh. Oh, just a little side note really quickly too. So Joey, I used to teach at Genesis. Oh, a long time ago. Oh my gosh. But I used to teach there. And I'm just like, oh, you used to fit the vibe that's there. And it does. I think that's what that's happening. What do you mean by that?
00:24:24
Speaker
yeah
00:24:27
Speaker
People are just laid back there, I feel. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, like it was really cool. um This is my first year on staff with Genesis. This is actually my first time back doing drum course since COVID. And we can talk about more about what that is. Big shout out to Luke Zampelli. I met him a couple of years ago at a BOA. I have an Airbnb at BOA every year. So if anybody needs a place to sleep that's safe and doesn't have all the craziness, come hang out, come stay in the Airbnb. There's a bed for you. It's nice, calm, relaxed.
00:24:54
Speaker
There's some sodas, there's some there's some food. I'm glad that looks and probably a couple years ago and I was like, I want to get back in a drum Corps. Can you help me? And so he called me up, you know, this past November was like, Hey, there's a spot for you at Genesis. Jump in. It's a whole new vision team, whole new da da da da. And, um, you know, come, come be a part of it. So, you know,
00:25:15
Speaker
it It was cool to see how it all kind of mixes up. It was nice to meet Chris McGonigal. I say it wrong. I think that's the right way. That's right. and And talk to him about what he's done to grow Genesis and where that's at. And, you know, unfortunately, I don't know that I'm allowed to share it. You know what? this That's what this podcast is for. And we talked about that earlier, but ah qua be I won't be returning back to Genesis. there's ah the you know The staff's moving. We're doing all the things.
00:25:38
Speaker
and And it was it was cool to watch um a Texas group do things. And, know you know, i've've I'm originally from Texas, so it was it was nice and dear to my heart to work with a drum corps from my home state. And that, you know, we're talking about scariest moments.
00:25:53
Speaker
Like that was, that was my scariest moment was that I haven't taught drum Corps in four years and you know, the activity changes so fast. I didn't know that I'd fit in, you know, I was the oldest person on vish staff. And so, you know, be are you want the next person with, I think 27, maybe 28. And that's not a huge difference. But when it comes to like, I've been teaching since 2010, you know, my God aged out in 20, 18, 27, you know, and I'm like, okay, well, you know,
00:26:21
Speaker
No, Peyton, you're not allowed to talk right now. This is sad. I want to go out and Look at everybody talking to Peyton right now. like weism hall with but I was in the sleeper bus and for, I don't know, apparently I looked younger or maybe they were just very nice people and they were, but I was in the sleeper bus and at a certain point, like they were talking and they were like, what? You have a kid? What? You have a house? What? And I was like, how old are you? And they're like, Oh, I aged out last year. And I was like, Oh,
00:26:58
Speaker
ah i could be their mother like a really young mother but i could be their mother i was like i'm take cool I had a school admin take a picture of me from the cafeteria of me on the scaffolding and say, there are students on the scaffolding. And I was like, I haven't been to high school since 2011. What are you talking about? what What's going on here? you know You know, I understand. And, you know, I i know we're not, you know, I'm not the, I'm not the, I don't want to say I'm the oldest. You know what, you know, this is, this place is to be caddy and petty and all the things. I'm not the oldest in the room right now. You know, fighting you when you talk about being the oldest person in the room.
00:27:35
Speaker
but I'll do the picture. sure It's fine. We never met. You know, I got it. You got it. You know, um but that was, that was the scariest part to me is like, how am I going to fit in? Also, I'm Arch Troopers. I had at a, you know, I had a great time with the staff that I learned from at Troopers back in 2011, 2012. It's not the same thing when I was there. And it's great to see the home team kind of shine since the first time since the, you know,
00:27:58
Speaker
the 50s and 60s and um you know we talked about seeing that growth, um but you know i I marched when it was 14th, 15th, 18th place. I didn't know that I fit in with these blue stars, blue devil, cadet. There were Boston Crusaders on staff and I was like, I was scared that, you know, I know that I've been teaching for a while and I've, I've made, you know, made progress in the game, but I didn't know that it would stack up against all this new information. So um it was really cool to to see that team kind of grow together. And it's our first time together as a team. That sounds like we're going to move somewhere else as a team as well. So it all kind of worked out in the end, but yeah, that was my scariest part this summer. It's fantastic.
00:28:37
Speaker
Cynthia, what was your scariest moment on tour? Oh my God. Well, two, let me say two. One really quick. We were in a sleeper bus and I got, if you ever, well, they're not all the same, but anyway, I got the bunk that I really, really liked, but because I was the oldest, I got a bunk that I could sit in also. So there was no bunk above me, but there was no wall. I don't know how to say that, but there was no wall at my head or at my feet. Usually they are.
00:29:08
Speaker
So my head, if i were I was like front window, so if an accident would have happened with the bus, I would have like been the first one flown in like at first. And so the first night was something to to get us, like ah you know, just it's scary. It moves. I always felt like it was going on the ground. And then I would peek at the window and be like, oh, no, we're fine. And then like, it's just a feeling of anyway.
00:29:34
Speaker
But I think the scariest was for anyone that saw the trooper show, there was a final fight between the devil and the trooper and they changed it in North Carolina like ah to where like the props and we're talking about props, those props.
00:29:52
Speaker
were scary. Anyway, and anyway, they changed it to something that was very interesting and very fun to watch, but every time. So by the way, the devil was 15. The devil is 15. Evan is 15.
00:30:11
Speaker
oh Melaphone player, right? Yes. Yes. So for people who maybe don't know the story, he auditioned for a melaphone and he actually made it for a melaphone, had a spot. And I don't know what camp they were like, Hey, does anyone play guitar? And he's like, Yeah, me. And then he got the role of the devil. So he didn't, was not planning on being the theater kid with a guitar. He wanted to be in a telephone line. This is the summer of Theater Kid in Drum Corps and I will tell you it is like a raining hard. Someone needs to start trending that now. I will. Hashtag Theater Kid in Drum Corps. Yeah.
00:30:50
Speaker
Oh no, he was, but he was amazing. He was really, really good at, yes, what you saw, but all the behind, it's hard to be a soloist or a featured person. You you you don't, you belong, but you don't belong. You're, you're with, and he was amazing. But anyway, he was 15, so because of, he's so young.
00:31:06
Speaker
I don't know it felt like a mom and then I would look over and they would be like fighting and then they're like boys boys like they loved that seeing him and the the trooper that actually comes from Casper he's uh the kid that comes from Casper anyway they would jump like the props wouldn't be aligned so there would be like a two fit-foot gap and they would jump over the the gap and I was like no like
00:31:31
Speaker
I felt like it was mysterious. I couldn't watch it. And they were like, Cynthia, that's the point. And I was like, no, this is this is not the point. But no one, no one got hurt ever in that scene, I should say. Because those props, we had slips and slides once in a while. But yeah, so that was the scariest for me. You just went into full mom mode every time. You did. I can see you boys. Oh, that's so good.
00:32:00
Speaker
Peyton, tell us about your scariest moment this summer. Okay, this one's actually gonna kind of be serious. I really wish it was like fun and quirky. However, one of my favorite things about drum corps that I will preach to the choir for anyone who will listen is that I find it to be an incredibly formative experience, like teaching kids how to do drum corps. So spirit is a place that a lot of people will go for their first drum corps experience. And one of my favorite things is like navigating younger kids through that like 16, 17, 18 year olds. And sometimes you're just hit with things that you're not even prepared with. Like, you know how to help with Texas tour. You know how to like help their swamp tour when they're complaining that they have swamp like trench foot or whatever, not trench foot, but like you get my point. So post Atlanta, we got hit really bad with COVID. So like the day after the regional and it was
00:32:58
Speaker
at first it was like three people and then we found out it was more people and then we had a lunch break and then we found out it was 10 people and by the end end of the day it was like 30 and everyone was like really sick in different kinds of ways and then my seat partner was sick and then they kind of made the call the next day that it was like hey guys we're gonna stop testing everyone who feels bad or has a fever like asked me to go into the quarantine gym and here's how we're gonna do it on on the buses it was just very like it was it was scary because it's like you already are in this little microcosm in drum core itself and so when you your entire core is getting sick and you're watching kids that like you take on as like your little siblings dying on air mattresses not like dying on air mattresses but
00:33:48
Speaker
When you drop into where it feels like that for sure. Sitting out and you're pushing a podium across a grass field when you yourself feel horrific, but you know you that you like can't go and get tested because 160 people need you. That's, that that's scary. And that's like mentally just something I've never gone through with before. And I'm very lucky that our ops team handled it very smoothly.
00:34:18
Speaker
and I have a great relationship with them, but I i remember just crying and be like and thinking to myself that I was really scared that they were going to send us home because that so many people got sick. and It was just such a low mental moment for so many individuals within the core. and Of course, like it got better a week later, but that was within the last two weeks of Tor where it could have been a very plausible thing where if we were sick enough or if we did not consistently recover, they would have sent us home. And it was not something we needed with the scores either, because we had just started to like get consistent with design stuff and getting clean with drivel and making sure that the cover downs looked correct and then everyone got sick. So it was just a very like low moment for so many individuals, like myself included. And of course we recovered. It was totally fine by Indy, but I can remember being in West Virginia
00:35:17
Speaker
and just being like, I've never dealt with this before, especially as a leader. So that was that was scary, but it was something new. i can alone I can only imagine being on tour and having that happen. And then you're like,
00:35:35
Speaker
You don't know whether or not, Hey, I'm going home. Am I staying? And then when everyone starts to come around, I mean, like that just makes your whole drunk or experience that much more, you know, it's just like, Oh yeah, that year when everybody got COVID and then we got better and we finished our season. Like, honestly, that's yeah, that's the gig. I love that. That's going to be a good memory later. That's going to be a good one. That is not scary anymore since you made it through it, but you know, when you're on a tour,
00:36:04
Speaker
everything is elevated because you are literally around the same 160 people 24 seven for two and a half months. So, you know, COVID is still real people. It's it's still out there. So we have to protect ourselves because people are still getting sick and it will take out a drum core. And it does always seem like everybody's like drum core or winter guard, like sickness always happens like towards the end, like,
00:36:31
Speaker
I don't know what that is. Why Faith chooses to tempt us. We put in a full summer of hard work and then we get to the end and it's like, ha ha, here you go. Here's the virus for you. They see so many more people. They have many more free days. They can get out into the. Well, and then like at Genesis, we had to tell kids to stop so sharing jugs. You know, we're like, guys, I bet that your friends, I get that you forgot your water, but like there's a whole drum corps right now that's got like half of the members on the field, like stop. We had a kid, his name is Jimmy. I'm a, I'm a throw Jimmy under the bus right now. Jimmy, my guy, my dude, he did not wash his jug once on tour. So by the time, so I left middle of tour, got back the last couple of weeks and he was like, yeah, he, he, he, I saw his jug that day. He opened it up. He's like, look, and there were mold mold in it. And I was like, Jimmy, that's disgusting.
00:37:26
Speaker
This staff was starting to roast him in block. like Dude, wash your jug. He lost it at the last gas stop and was drinking water bottles um from gas stations. And we're like, that's probably better. But yeah like you know we talk about kids getting sick. like Sometimes, you know towards the end of season, they just are getting comfortable with each other. They're drinking out of their bus water bottles. you know Like, hey, have have a soda. you know like Here, have the share the soda with me. It's like, I get it. like We're having a good time. youre They're making friends, but like, we got to just be smarter. Wash your hands also. Like that's disgusting. Um, I can't, I feel like the dude wipes and the hand sanitizers all the time. And I guess again, talking about being the oldest guy on tour and all that thing, like I was there, people were like, Oh, you're always so prepared. I'm like, no, I'm just not trying to get, you know, whatever it is that the drum Corps has like thinking in the same. It's because your frontal lobe cortex is developed.
00:38:19
Speaker
Uh, you know, I think, I think people would, but my clients would beg to differ when we're on design call, but I'm gonna take that on

Achievements and Reflections

00:38:26
Speaker
the podcast. Thank you. I'm smart today. That is awesome. All right, guys, we've talked about our scariest moments. Now let's talk about some of our best moments. I will start first on this one. I will tell you it was so cool.
00:38:43
Speaker
to be in different parts of the country where I have friends that have moved away and I don't necessarily get to see them. And they would show up to the shows to see me and the kids. And it was just, it warmed my heart. I had a friend in Denver. I had a former student and friend in Salt Lake. And then I had another really good friend and former assistant in Rochester. It was lovely to just like have an evening or have them come to rehearsal and watch the core rehearse. That was great. and Nicole. Wow. I am really on the spot here, but you know what though, it was only on tour for three weeks. So I remember everything. um I think one of the best things, I don't know about just coming back to teaching.
00:39:34
Speaker
this summer was, you know, actually seeing like those bits and bursts of like, the lights, the light bulbs going on. That was what I really loved about teaching. And it's just like, you know, don't get upset because you know what, I'm not upset. I know you're gonna get it. So let's, you know, keep going through it and things like that. And then it's just like, okay, I'm gonna walk away. And then they start getting it. And then they just start getting better and better. Like, I feel like there was a moment or a time when I was there that they actually like, they did level up, you know, while I was there. oh and that was my
00:40:13
Speaker
my yeah So I was very happy to have done something. Like I wanted to see that growth while I was there and I did. And I was even like, Hey, do you need me any longer? I want to come back. And I was just like, that's fine. Nicole, you'll see him again. But it that was my, my fun part is to see them climb that mountain. Yeah. Joey.
00:40:38
Speaker
Mine's kind of on the same track as Nicole. I did the last bit of spring training, the first couple of shows, and then I got off tour, did band camp. I'm actually on week 13 in a row of band, um seven days in a row. So do the math on that and and cry a little bit for me.
00:40:56
Speaker
Um, cause I'm crying too. Uh, but I did, I had did some band camps did actually today. I did three different band camps. I went to three different bands today. That's huffer is so real. I like to get you at some point. I'm going to not do that, but here we are. And I told about seven, like, I call them like red, like, like code reds, you know, like there's seven kids in the horn line.
00:41:24
Speaker
They can't put their horn up in time, their feet aren't in time, their posture's bad, there's whatever. I was like, hey, Daken, I'm just gonna start throwing everybody under the bus. Daken, you need to get a comment that you're leaning too far forward. You know, Jimmy, Jimmy, shout out Jimmy. Jimmy, you need to get a comment that your feet are too fast here. You know, so and so, you need to get a comment within these next three weeks that this is happening and that's how you'll know that you're now progressing to the things that, you know, you need to work on. And so I got back and the first thing they do, you know, they're in block, they leave the rep to be like,
00:41:54
Speaker
Guess what? Two days after you left, I got this comment. Now look at me, you know? and so I was like, sweet. There's a rep going, go get, get in the rap, you know? And then like like your water break, we'll talk. But that was, that was a very lovely moment. um So like, same as Nicole, it was just seeing that, seeing the light bulb, seeing the.
00:42:11
Speaker
Seeing the progression, seeing them enjoy getting better was so fun. And then um shout out Josh Gall and the Gall brothers at UDB. At DCI finals, I got to watch and prelims, semis, and finals from the UDB box. And man, are those the students to watch the show. you know Up in the press boxes with the pulled pork and you know the the free sodas and the and the lanyards and vibes. That was so cool to be up there. and And enjoy, they invited the entire Genesis Viz team and we sat and watched, watched all the the performances on Saturday together and our last little hurrah together. And it was, you know, that capped a beautiful summer for me. Yeah, it was, it was great. Shout out Josh Call. Love it. Love it. Cynthia, what about you?
00:42:58
Speaker
I hear you guys and my heart is racing out of joy, I guess. So I'll go fast, but I will do one as a trooper and one very particular to me. I can call myself a trooper now because I got one of those rings that I've never got in my entire life. I was like, I cried. Well, that was when a moment Mary was like, hey, staff and handing out the things and I'm like, oh um, but anyway,
00:43:21
Speaker
Well, first of all, the Troopers had three standing ovations, ah v three in the indie nights, prelims, semis, and finals. And that was amazing. Amazing to live, amazing to see, amazing to the kids. but Actually, maybe the prelims was one of the most memorable moment I will have because i was when the show was done, first of all, we didn't expect to have standing ovations at prelims.
00:43:49
Speaker
the kids neither. And that show was too, I can say it, I loved him, the director, he said it in the big mic, that show was long. So we had to be like, and done troops, hell, go. Like we had to run out. We had no time, they had no time. So to have sending ovations throughout the show,
00:44:08
Speaker
for them was great because they didn't have a lot of time at the end to enjoy. But anyways, but I was walking behind Tim and behind Tarik, who was the drum major. And they was they were stopped by everyone after that performance at Prelims. They they We had a hard time getting out of the stadium because Tim and Tarek got stopped every two seconds. That show is electric, Cleveland's finals also, but I don't know. um And also seeing the line at the booth, the merch people working out, ah Troop's booth had a lineup every show. It was completely crazy. I mean, people loved it. It was a very like,
00:44:52
Speaker
crowd pleasing show and they do good merch. The troopers do good merch, by the way. So anyway, so yeah, so I guess those two things were very trooper related. And as for me, like, maybe one day I'll do like a book of myself and, but I hear you guys and being like, Oh, I have to do so much marching band.
00:45:11
Speaker
Oh my god, I have to do so much color guard. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, sure. I don't. I don't, because I don't have that opportunity. It's not because I don't want to. It's not because I don't want to hustle. It's because I can't. I don't have it. And you guys have it. And that comes with embossing syndrome that I think that everyone has, but that I've had for my entire life.
00:45:32
Speaker
because I don't come from where I'm not a Boston Crusader girlie. I haven't been taught by the greatest of the greatest, yes, but not the greatest that people know they are the greatest, right? So I've had like a huge imposter syndrome two years ago. Jeremy will talk about it. Maybe we'll talk about it one day, but went through like, I thought I was done with Colliard. I resigned from Lisa Clips, who I'm back, and this year was very, very important to me and to be part of a team of staff that do that for a living. A lot of those staff are Texas people, which that's what they do for a living. And not only I fit in, but I decided to let go of my imposter syndrome when I decided to go back into color guard. And that changes the way you do things, the way you approach things, the way you talk to people, the way you care, but you let go so easily. I said things or I, I, I,
00:46:31
Speaker
stepped forward for things and not like troopers were amazing food was amazing everything was amazing but i would say things they would like you can't say that i was like why would i say that like design like i'm a tech and i was like why would i will say that well you don't say that well what but what will they do bring me back home like i'm one of the best like it was very validating to be part ah of this team and to know I was valued, to touch kids that I never talked to. i did No one knew me. Like I knew Chris McCarthy that I love with all my life, but we marched together. We didn't teach together. I didn't, the cahoons, like, hey, I didn't teach with the cahoons. They taught me. Like it's not, it was, so yeah. So as a person, they think I think I just go back to this activity being like, one, I'm not, I am good.
00:47:20
Speaker
By the way, I'm good. yeah yeah i can yeah ah We will figure out a way that even though I'm Canadian, you guys will see more of my face. This needs to be somehow, someway.
00:47:36
Speaker
of my living, of my my living income. You know what I mean? I give a lot for free because I love it so much. I don't think it will ever be my full income. like I won't move to Texas. I have a kid. I love my country and I love my my everything that goes with it. But yeah, let's hustle. Okay. very Be careful what you wish for. On the podcast, I'd be like, I have so many videos to do today. 13 weeks.
00:48:09
Speaker
Peyton, tell us about your best moment from touring this summer. So as I previously talked about, we had a hard kind of like home stretch where it was a lot of up in the air. We didn't know what was going to happen, but you have to like remain resilient in this activity, which is one of my favorite aspects of it.
00:48:27
Speaker
And we hadn't had very consistent performances. So we had five unscored shows this past season. One of them was a standstill. We had a few of them get rained out, which like is just, it sucks for the entire morale of the court. And so we finally get to Indianapolis the day before we had our indie show, our first indie show for prelims. We had been like enlightening protocol.
00:48:54
Speaker
for like half the day. And so we do this performance. And then it was just this incredible standing ovation, which does I think any site where you're in Lucas Royal Stadium, and you stand up and you turn around, and everyone is just on their feet. And you can see them getting on their feet as like, the final movement is about to end and they get up before it even ends. I think as a performer and as as as a drum major, you feel such a sense of pride in that moment. And so I start sobbing. And so there's all these pictures of me like ugly crying my makeup off. And I'm doing this. it's it ah It was really a cute moment. But in that moment, like you're just so proud of your core. And you just feel so such fulfillment out of that.
00:49:52
Speaker
You've done something. You've done something, exactly. You have done something. And a lot of people can say that they haven't done it, but you meet so many people along the way and it's just like, yeah, you did this this summer and you did this this summer. And honestly, like,
00:50:08
Speaker
Oh, it's so I, I really, really thought that drum corps was just so good this year. So, so, so good. Everyone was good. Yeah, everybody was good. There were shows that I was so impressed, like I was impressed with what Spirit was doing, like those backdrops.
00:50:30
Speaker
We're great. what I mean, honestly, if there is some backstory, you can tell me about that. It is logistic. I can totally talk about it. However, getting those on the prop truck, shout out the Spirit of Atlanta 2024 prop crew. They are the craziest, most hardworking individuals. I'll literally screen record this and send it to John. Hardest workers I know. We had 35, it was for starters,
00:50:58
Speaker
anyone who says one core one score is so true because everyone was doing something with those props because if no one if one person wasn't doing their job correctly it would have been the craziest time penalty everyone had a little creature they had to bring out everyone had a tarp everyone was everyone was doing something to contribute to that mess of the field that was the backdrop of my show, which it turned out lovely every time. It was beautiful. It was beautiful. It was so cool. Honestly, to see it, I saw it on TV first, because I was here for pre-lens. And looking at it on TV, it looks like
00:51:42
Speaker
someone drew on yeah like the but TV, yeah you know? And I was like, it's not, and I even like messed with my TV a little bit too. And I was like, that's on the, f that's on the field. Ooh, I almost made us bleep. Oh no. So the show itself was the baby of one of our designer people where he had, I think it was like album and cover art where he found it and then he like deep dived into the entire, the artist is named Lily Wood.
00:52:12
Speaker
And it was album cover for the album art for this EDM artist. And I think Matt Filosa was listening to this EDM artist and saw this and was like, hmm. That's a show about that. That's a show. I'm so glad that that's the story behind it because it's just like, yay, good. I don't feel alienated. I can get behind that. It was just so cute. I loved it. Thank you.
00:52:42
Speaker
All right, friends. Well, it is time for us to head to another commercial break. We will be right back with on a water break.

Challenges and Innovations in Drum Corps

00:53:02
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.
00:53:39
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.
00:54:04
Speaker
um
00:54:17
Speaker
And we are back. And guys, it is time for our favorite segment of the evening. What are we doing? What are we doing? What are we doing?
00:54:36
Speaker
I am going to start this one off because I want to know why in 2024 drum corps still get stuck with awful housing sites. So We were on our way from California. I think it was going over to like the Utah, Wyoming, that whole area tour. And we stopped in Nevada and the town was a gorgeous little small town. There were mountains for me to look at, but we had to share a housing site with SCV. So picture it. 320 marching members and
00:55:22
Speaker
maybe 60 staff and volunteer people on top of that. There was one locker room, not one set of locker rooms. There was one locker room for all 400 of those people staying in the school. Somebody messed up.
00:55:42
Speaker
Yeah, and one gym. So we all know, everybody that has done drug court, you all know, like you're never clean over the summer. Like you're never gonna truly be clean. But you know, you try to get as close as you can. I went to shower in one of the designated times that it was for, you know, adult men to shower. And I walked into this locker room and the drain had been closed up.
00:56:08
Speaker
and there were six inches of gray water on the floor in the entire locker room. Not just like on the shower part, it was the whole locker room. It was the most disgusting thing I have ever been a part of in my life.
00:56:29
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I did find a small little hill in the, in the, the drum core suit that I was able to kind of balance myself on and like kind of rinse off and shower. But that was, it was, that was not the answer. What are we doing? What are we doing?
00:56:46
Speaker
I don't like that you just said that there's a hill in the shower. like yeah that sounds like What is the pile of? It was like a little like raised area of like concrete or something. Like, I don't know if it was like a ledge maybe that was like built into the floor or something. I don't know, but it was like high enough for me to stand on that I wasn't submerged in nasty drum core soup. Nope.
00:57:10
Speaker
It was, oh god. Oh my god. That's a food truck shower. I'm not, I'm not even getting close to it. It got so bad that our, our, both Gio and John, Gio from SEB and Josh from our drum corps decided to go out and buy hoses. And they just hooked up a water hose outside and was like, Hey guys, like this is what we have to do right now. Like, we may have to shower outside.
00:57:32
Speaker
True story, when I was marching but back in 99, we were all trying to get like a shower and there wasn't that many showers. I marched Patriots in 99. And they had a big sprinkler system. We were like, dude, we can just keep our underwear on and just go do, had a malley little coosh thing here. We did it really quick. It was very cold, but like we didn't have to wait in line.
00:57:59
Speaker
Gotta do what you gotta do. Yeah, we could get in trouble. But at the same time, I'm clean now. You know what I mean?
00:58:06
Speaker
so Nicole, do you have a what are we doing? I think I do, actually. So I guess, and and honestly, I actually take this from somebody. So this was inspired by Susie Harloff. But and yeah, what are we doing having these drum corps shows be this long?
00:58:28
Speaker
lower I think it should be chopped down some as well. Like there are some times when like it, you know, dips and sometimes like the show flow does not dip back up. And so that's really hard. So I feel like if it condenses down, you don't have to, you know, have that lull. And I don't, I don't know how to tell you what that is. I don't know how to tell you. I'm going to jump on Joey's bandwagon. I'm going to throw some people under the bus. It's the drummer. We do not need three minute long drum braids.
00:59:00
Speaker
and drumboard shows. I get it. i You want to show off your diddles and your flam taps and and all of that good stuff. Don't nobody care. It sounds like a box of rocks. It's a box of rocks is what it sounds like. I said it. There it is. Love you, drummers. Mean

Advice and Reflections

00:59:14
Speaker
it, but we don't need three drum breaks.
00:59:21
Speaker
Joey. Uh-oh. Your turn. I don't know that I have like anything super, I don't, I don't have anything super pat that I'm passionate about right now. I would say that about this time every year, I try to remind people that you shouldn't self-diagnose post-drum core depression, you know? And so like, what are we doing? Trying to just hang it out on our own, you know, call your friends, call your buddies, tell them you miss them. Say showers are lonely. Say the, you know, if I miss, I miss hearing your snores. I love you. I mean it. So I mean, like, I don't know that it's not happening.
00:59:55
Speaker
But like, if you have the chance, text a friend, text your, text your horn art, your horn sergeant, text your art buddy, you know, text, you know, whoever it is, let them know you miss them, you love them and it's going to be okay. You know, November comes around pretty quick and, you know, we'll all see each other in grand nats and fall marching bands and all the things. So my, I guess my, what are we doing is just text your buddy, tell him you love them. Reach out to the homies.
01:00:18
Speaker
reach out to the homies Well, you know what, there was not, I'm aging myself right now, but there weren't cell phones when I marched. Same. Cause we marched in the 1900s, Nicole. Back in my day when we marched. Went in line for three hours at a pay phone. And that is actual facts. That's so true. Cynthia.
01:00:46
Speaker
What are we doing? I don't have any. It's been such a great summer. The only, maybe it's a hint towards like, what are we doing jumping two feet, ledges between props? Like, ah but no, really, like I i really had an a great, great summer. And I think what are we doing complaining about this activity when we're in it type of thing where Uh, yeah, like it's, it's, I mean, and yet again, complaining is part of it and that's fun too. Like I'm all about venting. Embrace the suck. But embrace the suck. Cause it's all box five, right? But yeah. So yeah, that's gotta be on a t-shirt. Yeah. It's printing them up tomorrow. Peyton, what are we doing? and but I feel like you have to give me some context with this. This is my first, what are we doing? Well, we have not been good. Oh, sorry.
01:01:41
Speaker
I'm a terrible host. Reset, reset, reset. These are how it takes, correct? Oh yeah, this is live. We're going for it right now. Yeah, it's very tongue in cheek. Yeah. it's what we Just think about something that we're doing in Drum Corps that could be better. I'm going to say this, and I'm going to say this because I did a podcast in, I think it was around June, about about women in leadership. Why aren't we talking about, shut up.
01:02:09
Speaker
Sorry, one of my friends is calling me. Why aren't we recognizing more female drum majors and uplifting that? I saw more people but get dramatic about Carrie McCourt.
01:02:24
Speaker
being so dramatic on the front podium when she is one of the most talented and incredible individuals ever. Amen. Absolutely. Why can't we uplift that? Why does it have to be the dramatic Phantom Regiment drum major? like She could step on you, ah seriously. She did step on me. She did step on me.
01:02:53
Speaker
And she's just, I really look up to her as a leader. So, but even with SUV's like fully female drum major team, one of my best friends is on that team and people are like, oh my God, it's all girls. like Why can't you just give that a hell yeah? Is it really yeah hard? They are serving the dramatics. I'm sorry. And here's the other thing too. like I think it's Music City. They have two female drum majors, both women of color. All three of them are women of color. Yeah. See? And oh gosh, who else were we talking about? It was you.
01:03:32
Speaker
and Phantom, but the thing about it is, and SEV, but the thing about it is when they turn around, I don't know, I feel like the drum major is the door to the show that you're about to walk into, that salute is kind of like inviting you in, but this is my this is my thought process through it. But, you know, don't just turn around and do something and then turn right back around, like, you know, give me the face of what I'm about to see.
01:03:59
Speaker
Serve it up on a platter. But make sure you hit your ich die. Isn't that right? is that Is that the right word? That is the right word. Make sure you have an ich dis.

Personal Updates and Closing Remarks

01:04:12
Speaker
um That needs to be on a shirt too. Make sure you have an ich dis. Yes. Let us get all our all our merch out. Look at us. Here we go. Hashtag check out the on a water break.
01:04:28
Speaker
All right, we have talked about fun things. We have talked about sad things. We have talked about scary things. And we have talked about drum course suit. But now it is time for us to talk some gush and gos. I'm going to gush. I came right off tour literally the next day and started classes with my kids. So I had to wake up early, get to school, make sure my classroom was set up.
01:04:53
Speaker
And I've been in school for about a week now, back with my whole babies and I've just missed them so much. And my theater kids and I got a host of brand new freshmen that are just awesome. And I am super excited about the school year. So this is going to be fun. I wish I could be in your class. Like honestly, I would look forward to it. It's a hoot. I'm performing all the time. I tap dance every now and then. I'm terrible at tap dancing.
01:05:20
Speaker
Nicole, gush and go for it. Oh, gosh. That's a tough one. I am just like kind of you know in this area here and loving it. But I guess I'm gushing more about, oh, you know and I don't know if this is a gush. I am kind of excited about it because I've been on this lull, but at the same time,
01:05:43
Speaker
marching band season starting up and so that means that I have my like busiest time about to come up because I'm going to be judging every weekend for a consecutive six weeks. h so Nice. We'll be going. I'm excited about that. Love it. What what do you judge?
01:06:08
Speaker
ah much for Okay, so for outdoor, it's either color guard, ah ensemble visual, and visual analysis. I need to give you a call because I have an assignment for visual ensemble and I'm like, a so scared. You guys. You can call me, it's fine. Yeah, I will. Sally, what are you guessing about?
01:06:33
Speaker
kinda same thing as nicole i have got a big judging stand coming up starting in september i'm like i i said earlier i did thirteen weeks this summer about to take maybe three days off and then it's it's marching band again i'm presenting at wg icon i'm doing a presentation called it takes a village very excited about that yeah so we're gonna talk about.
01:06:56
Speaker
um you know I started an indoor indoor group and and an organization here in North Carolina, and I don't think I could have ever done that without the support of you know a group of schools and and mostly like a main director. Her name is Olivia Dove Spell. We're going to be doing the presentation together. I'm super excited to be in San Fran, take some classes, do a presentation, take watch some presentations.
01:07:16
Speaker
but Yeah. It's just, it's about to be a bunch of band. I hope to see people on the road. I hope to pete see, I see people in grand nats, you know, um it's good. It's ramping up to be a really cool fall. All of the shows that I've designed for and all the shows that I've, uh, I'm kind of getting bit again, been around this so far. I'm there just, everybody's just on top of it this year. The procedures are there, you know, the, the kids' mindsets are there. And so, uh, it's going to ramp up to be a great fall. And I'm just, I'm just ready to go um for it.
01:07:46
Speaker
Love it. Congratulations. Love it. That's awesome.
01:07:53
Speaker
Cynthia, what are you gushing about? So because I'm an older person on tour. I don't go on social media a lot and then I got home and then I got my, oh my God, I miss my people and stuff going on social media. And I saw all the mimis all the memes and all the little video montage making fun, of course, but in a very funny way. And being part of the troopers, there were several. So yeah, so a shout out to everyone that is creating that. i actually cried to tears when I saw there's a video of like Derek at the end of the show and or no presenting this year's program and next year's program and the other year program because the the troopers just I don't know announced their show ah for the next season for the next summer like not even 12 hours after finals or something like that like so I was like this is gonna be a trilogy and then it was a video like so yeah so for creative creativity through social media it's a big shot I loved it
01:08:53
Speaker
Thank you. Yes. We love Tarik. I love Tarik so much. Peyton, what are you gushing about right now? I'm going to sound like I'm two years old. I just moved into my first college house. Aww. Aww. Yay. I have a real kitchen, not a dorm kitchen. You have furniture, baby. I'm so proud of you. Yeah. A job's a dorm.
01:09:23
Speaker
That is cute. I don't have a Twin XL. I'm like moving up in the world. Yeah, you are. Oh, we should people should get you stuff for your new apartment. I'm gonna be like, you know, Carrie McCourt had her, um her classroom funded by All the people, and then people bought stuff for her kindergarten classroom, but I'm going to be like, buy me stuff. No. No. I am a hardworking woman. I can provide for myself. Yes. And we are here for it. Well, it's called gush and go, not gush and stay. Let's go. Guys, thanks for a great rehearsal this week. Thanks to our host, Nicole.
01:10:10
Speaker
Joey, Cynthia, and Peyton. One more thing, don't forget we have our YouTube channel now that has many of our interviews coming out as full video editions. So you can see you know all of our crazy shenanigans as we're recording this podcast. Go and subscribe so you don't miss those. And before you close out your podcast listening app, go subscribe, write us a review, and share this with a friend. Follow us on social media at On A Water Break, and we'll see you at the next rehearsal, On A Water Break. Go practice.
01:10:44
Speaker
Tell your friends you love them. The On A Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lyda. To learn more, visit LydaMusic.com. And until next time, thanks for tuning in.