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Remembering Bruno Zuccala, Guard Glam & Burnout in the Band Room
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From honoring a legend to surviving burnout in the band room — this week’s On A Water Break is a heart-forward deep dive into the realities of teaching, grieving, and slaying the glam game.
🎙 Hosted by Nicole Younger, with guests Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, Whitney Stone, Trish O’Shea, and doctoral candidate Ryan Bronner, this episode brings equal parts sparkle and soul.
💔 We begin with a tribute to Bruno Zuccala, a beloved figure in the color guard world whose recent passing has left a deep impact on our community. Panelists reflect on his legacy, share personal memories, and talk about the importance of showing up for each other in grief — especially in a performance culture that often pushes feelings aside.
💄 Then, we shift into guard glam, burnout, and all the realness of band camp season:
- 60-Second Tech Block with Whitney’s top-tier makeup tips for sweat-proof performances
- 32 Count Life Story with Ryan Bronner (Patriots, college teaching, LGBTQ+ mental health research)
- Water We Doing?! rants on toxic teaching culture, DCI staff drama, and performing in unsafe heat
- Gush & Go: From TikTok shopping fails to massive teaching wins, wardrobe swaps, and doctoral milestones
💬 QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:
“We’ve got to grieve out loud. We’re allowed to take up space.”— Ryan Bronner“Band kids are out here melting, and directors are pretending everything’s normal.”
— Ricardo Robinson-Shinall“Bruno was the sparkle. He was the performance.”
— Nicole Younger
🔗 LINKS & CONTACT
📺 Watch on YouTube → @OnAWaterBreakPodcast
📬 Email us → onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com
📱 Follow us → Instagram, TikTok, Threads
💻 Guest sign-up → onawaterbreak.com
🎧 Guest: Dr. Ryan Bronner
🔗 Facebook: Ryan Aeney | LinkedIn: Ryan Bronner
🧃 Sponsored By:
- Peak Group Travel | @peak.group.travel
- Guard Closet | @guardcloset
🏷️ SEO Keywords:
Bruno Zuccala tribute, Color Guard burnout, Guard makeup tips, LGBTQ+ mental health marching arts, Ryan Bronner, On A Water Break podcast, Band director burnout, TikTok fails, Band camp heat, DCI staff issues, Marching arts podcast, Guard Closet, Peak Group Travel, 60 Second Tech Block, Gush and Go
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Transcript
Introduction to 'On a Water Break' Podcast & Upcoming Episodes
00:00:00
Speaker
Hi everyone and welcome to and welcome back to on a water break. This is the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal on a water break.
00:00:10
Speaker
This week's rehearsal of on a water break we're going to be remembering Bruno Zucla. And we'll find out what made Trish say. I'm so glad that that's there, like, forever on YouTube that, like, we could share with our kids, like.
00:00:24
Speaker
And why Whitney said, you've got have eyebrows so you don't look like I do right now. All this and more on this week's episode of On a Water Break.
00:00:36
Speaker
Adolph The Met and go. Welcome to On a Water Break. The podcast where talk everything marching arts.
00:00:48
Speaker
Everyone, bring it in. It's time for a water break. Hey, everyone. i'm Nicole. I hope some of you are enjoying back to school, band camps, and the other half that March drum corps. i hope you're getting acclimated back into real life.
00:01:03
Speaker
We've got some exciting episodes coming up this fall, and we do want to give you a sneak peek into that. But first, we want to just talk about who's on the sideline. Before we talk about who's on the sidelines this week, we just want to ask you to go and subscribe on your favorite listening app. Go ahead and write us a review and you can share it with a friend. If you have a question or a good topic that you want to talk about, go ahead and email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com or you can find us on social media. You can DM us if you want to be on the podcast.
Band Camp Experiences: Trish, Whitney, and Ricardo Share Stories
00:01:33
Speaker
There's a form that you can fill out. Just click on the link in the bio and we'll be talking to you soon. Now we can get to the people on the sidelines. Trish, how are you?
00:01:43
Speaker
hi everyone. I'm good. Yeah. Are you in band camp mode right now? Yeah. just finished one week. Start another week tomorrow, 12 to nine. Oh, from my you just started.
00:01:56
Speaker
Yeah. We differ to Jersey. my God. i feel like we're about to like compete this weekend. For really? No. Oh. No, I'm kidding.
00:02:07
Speaker
I'm kidding. It feels like it. It feels like it. I was like, whoa, what are you doing? Why? Losing my mind. Well, great. So now that we know where everyone really is in the world, Whitney, you're on what? Like week what of your camp? Or is it over?
00:02:24
Speaker
Oh, we're about to be on week three of school. Oh, We've already done a week and a half of school. How is it on the other side? Let Trish know.
00:02:36
Speaker
You know what? It's nice. this over here Yeah, it's good. It's good. Amazing. Amazing. And Ricardo...
00:02:48
Speaker
just saw you like two weeks ago. i know. It was so, so, so, so not that long ago. But you know what I have not done? And for the first time in 30 years, I, for the last two weeks that school has been in session, have not gone to a band camp or to a rehearsal.
00:03:08
Speaker
It's good to see what normies look like. But i have been coming home every day at the end of the day. And... Do you think you're special or something? i am very special right now. 30 years earned it.
00:03:20
Speaker
Okay. Yeah, I don't do band camps anymore. I haven't for a couple of years now, and I love it. It's just too hot. It's so hot. I walked outside from the office door to my car, and I'm so bougie and spoiled anyway that I turned my car on from the app while I'm walking downstairs because I cannot do it outside. And I was like, oh, should I ride by rehearsal and just see what the kids are doing out there? And i was like no, girl, it's too hot. I got to go home and put on my muumuu. I can't do it.
00:03:52
Speaker
You're smart. yeah like He is also bougie. yeah Understandably so. Oh,
Guest Spotlight: Ryan Broner
00:04:00
Speaker
goodness. So our guest this week, I want to say, tie-in to all of us, but not all of us at the same time, which is very funny.
00:04:09
Speaker
But also, it's nice to see your face, too. Please welcome Ryan Broner. Hi. Good to see everyone. Hello. Our studio audience that we have here.
00:04:21
Speaker
um Ryan, I guess you could say an initiation, if you will, with all of our new guests when they come on. They have to do a 32-count life story. So from birth to today is what you have to fit in in 32 counts.
00:04:36
Speaker
Yeah? Sure. Okay. Got it. Don't leave out any details, though. No. All right. So what's happened is Trish is going to give you eight off the mat, and then you're in. Ready?
00:04:49
Speaker
I'm going give it a whirl.
00:04:53
Speaker
Okay, grew up in rural upstate New York, ah found color guard when I was a freshman in high school in 1997. Did it all the way a performer, instructor, brigadiers, patriots, cavaliers, all the way up until now because I decided it was time to get a doctorate degree. So here I am.
00:05:13
Speaker
Did I have more time? Did I go too fast? No, it's all good. Okay, good. That was like the best abridged version of a 32 count live story I think that I've ever heard on the podcast.
New Episodes and Advertisements
00:05:26
Speaker
No kidding. He's like, I'm done now. yeah Finished. I finished the phrase early. exciting Well, I'm glad that I was a count in your 32 count live story.
00:05:37
Speaker
So there you go. Me too, all of you. Well, we'll get right back to talking some more. I just want to let everyone know about some of our content that we have going on right now.
00:05:50
Speaker
and So don't know if you all saw it, but we just had the episode release with all new panel. Did you all see that at all? I did. That was fun. They did such a good job. They really did.
00:06:06
Speaker
And I'm so happy to see, you know, and of course, I love all of your faces all the time when I see them. But like, it's kind of but it's exciting to have an all new panel get on and do an episode. So very excited for them. And I know everyone will be excited to listen to that episode and also see them on future episodes that we have.
00:06:26
Speaker
Alicia and I did episode with the directors of Meridian Winter Guard out of Kentucky um and then talked a little bit more about the new, I guess you could say, format that is happening with some regionals this year with WGI. So that's going to be ah ah informative for people to watch.
00:06:45
Speaker
And then Jackie actually has the DCI correspondence, the performer correspondence, like a catch-up. with them after, you know, there's over your back home, you know, what's next kind of thing. And so that's going to be exciting to watch as well.
00:07:00
Speaker
but We've got some good stuff coming up, so we'll be back.
00:07:13
Speaker
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Guard Closet was founded as a consignment shop in 2000. Since then, it has grown to become your one-stop shop for the marching arts. Do you need consignment uniforms and flags for your color guard, marching band, or drum line?
00:07:28
Speaker
We have thousands of sets of consignments in stock and ready to ship. Do you need show design and custom choreography? Our designers have years of experience in the marching arts. Do you need to sell your items and clear out your storage areas?
00:07:43
Speaker
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00:07:55
Speaker
We can set up a microsite for easy student ordering of a wide variety items. Do you need custom costumes or flags? We can help get you great designs from our team through top vendors like Show Day Designs.
00:08:06
Speaker
Have you listened to our podcast, On a Water Break?
Tributes to Bruno Zucla
00:08:09
Speaker
Weekly episodes and bonus content keep you entertained and informed with what's going on in the marching arts. For over 25 years, Guard Closet has been here to help. Check us out at GuardCloset.com or follow us on social media.
00:08:34
Speaker
And we are back. The marching arts community is currently mourning the loss since learning about the death of Bruno Zucla. Bruno touched the lives of a lot of different performers, staff members, administrators, adjudicators around the marching arts.
00:08:49
Speaker
um Today, we have read in the DCI page, it actually talked about Bruto Zucla and all of the mentorship that he had basically given to a bunch of different performers and staff members.
00:09:05
Speaker
around the way, basically just talking about him so much on the website. They also have the hall of fame speech that he did as well as the 1995 DCI broadcast that, uh, he did explaining the Cavaliers and their color guard and what needs to be done to have a good color guard on PBS.
00:09:26
Speaker
So with our panel today, know that a lot of you have all, um, had some kind of personal, you know, recollection to Bruno.
00:09:37
Speaker
I mean, whoever wants to go first can tell you, but like, let us know what you knew about him and how he touched your life. I'll jump in. So I love that you mentioned that 95 video, because I know there are a lot of people in this world that they're our generation, people born in the 1900s that got their first inkling of what DCI was from watching that PBS broadcast.
00:10:02
Speaker
and recorded every year v h s every DCI broadcast. And literally every day when I would get home from school, I would pop on videos of shows and I would go outside of my yard and I would try to figure out people's shows and choreography from the shows from what I saw there.
00:10:20
Speaker
And I remember in 95 when that segment with Bruno came on and I was like, oh my God, who is this man? And he is talking about this stuff. That's awesome.
00:10:32
Speaker
And I now want to be a Cavalier. And so I went outside and I practiced my rifle technique to make sure that I got, I had my catches solid, like Bruno talked about. And then I also learned the Sabre choreography that's happening in the background.
00:10:48
Speaker
So I learned it every day. And so when I did eventually go and audition for Cavaliers, i I told Bruno that that I watched that video like every day for years. And then I told him I knew that Sabre choreography.
00:11:02
Speaker
And he was like, oh yeah, well then show it to me. And so I did. And that's how I made the Sabre line. It's because I did that choreography. Don't forget.
00:11:14
Speaker
Back in the day. But you know, like I know Ryan's going talk about this too, but it's just, it's to, to be taught by Bruno is like this wonderful, like portion of my life that I am so happy that I got to do because he truly was like the person that really taught me how to be a teacher.
00:11:36
Speaker
Like I, I had other instructors and no tea, no shade to every, all the rest of the instructors that taught me that are like, listen to this podcast, no tea, no shade. But like Bruno had this way of,
00:11:47
Speaker
teaching you and getting you to want to push yourself, but never doing it in a mean-spirited way and always leading with love and always knowing when you are at a breaking point and what to do to get you over that breaking point.
00:12:02
Speaker
I just, like, he became my model. He was my role model for how I wanted to be as a teacher. And I hope, I hope, that he is looking down from now on and going to guide me through the rest of my time doing this because he was just such an inspiration.
00:12:18
Speaker
I mean, even from the moments of, Brian, you'll remember this, like when he would teach, would clean across the floors, he would do this thing with his fingers, his little gun hands, and he would do it and his arms would do this.
00:12:32
Speaker
Nothing like what the actual choreography was, his arms would just do this. And he knew it was completely ridiculous. And so he just kept doing it anyway. And he would over-exaggerate it because he knew we were all having a chuckle about it.
00:12:47
Speaker
And that was the thing about him. He wasn't one of those people that took himself so seriously that he was up offended by the fact that we were having a good chuckle behind it. He leaned into it. He let in and let us know that like he was also a part of the joke. so And there's not many people that can do that and do that well. So I just...
00:13:08
Speaker
I'm going to miss that man. like i I'm going to miss that man. it was It was a hard night, the night that that news broke through, because he had just posted a few hours earlier on Facebook, and I just liked the post from him.
00:13:21
Speaker
And so then that news popping through. it sent me back and it sent me back to a place and it started off with tears being sad, but then I also started thinking about like all of the things I learned and how great of a time that was in my life and how every time since then I've seen him, he's always, you know, come and give me a big hug and talk about, ask me how I was doing and, you know, all of that stuff. So like I said in my little Facebook tribute to him, like, you know, when you're, when you're one of his boys,
00:13:53
Speaker
You were one of his boys forever. He was always going to be there. So I'll stop ranting on what other...
00:14:02
Speaker
Well, that was beautiful, though. and mean, like you and Ryan both marched together at Cavaliers, which is where Bruno spent a good majority of his time. But Ryan, you also have stories that you can share with us about Bruno, too.
00:14:18
Speaker
Yeah. So it was one of those things where I remember when I started Color Garden, a mutual instructor that Trish and I had when I was like, I want to I got to go somewhere. I'm like, I want to go to the Cavaliers. She goes, good.
00:14:33
Speaker
stop having to dance with all the girls and go spin like a boy, like go to the Cavaliers, go do what you gotta like go, go spin the way you want to. So, mean, I had instant blessing. But like Ricardo, like Cavaliers is somebody that was somewhere I wanted to go for so long.
00:14:48
Speaker
You know, it was one of those things that I remember seeing them. it was specifically in 1994. I'm like, if I do this, I want to do that. And then I saw who he was in 95. And he was at rock star status for me because he got performers to look the way I wanted to look.
00:15:05
Speaker
And i remember getting to camp. I was nervous wreck because I'm like, this is what I really wanted. This is where I really wanted this. how I want things to turn out. And I was so nervous of him. and And then when they were telling us who got spots, I just remember him saying, i don't care if you graduate at the end of June, you need to be here. You belong here. You need to be in this color garden. and We'll do what we have to do.
00:15:29
Speaker
And at that point, it's like, if Bruno says anything to me, I'm doing it. Like from that point on, like I just instantly trusted him because he gave me, I was so nervous about being there. And I mean, I traveled halfway across the country on my own knowing nobody.
00:15:45
Speaker
And he just instantly took me in. And one of the biggest things that I always recognize is that he was our father when we didn't have our fathers on tour with us. ah He looked out for us if we needed stuff. I know specifically he would tell me stories when he was a cadets where if the color guard had to do something, I know he probably did this at Cavaliers, but they usually were good about getting us to like laundry days.
00:16:08
Speaker
but They had a laundry day one night and he just said, here's my credit card. We, I talked to the kids. We need this many toothbrush. We need, toothpaste, we need this, we need this, we need this. take care of it and get it for the kids. And he would just do that because if we weren't taking care of ourselves, there was no way we were gonna do the job we needed to.
00:16:28
Speaker
So he always, always, always made sure to take care of us. take care of us And, know, I was lucky to have four years with him as a performer. I was even luckier because two other organizations I've taught, ah Spartans and St. Brendan's, he came out and taught there. So I really liked...
00:16:48
Speaker
the fact that I got to see the other side because we don't really get to see the, I mean, when I was a performer, I never got to see behind the curtain. I didn't see what Bruno was like when he wasn't on the field or when he wasn't worried about rehearsals.
00:17:01
Speaker
And the one thing I will always recognize as a performer is that the man never had no energy. He matched us every single day. was on the field with us. He didn't go up in the press box.
00:17:13
Speaker
He didn't just stand on the sideline and bark orders. He was on the field with us. And he, in some days, if we weren't doing so hot, he was chasing us. So, I mean, he never let down on that energy, but then it was, it was incredible because then teaching with him, we would get done with a rehearsal and he would just be completely exhausted.
00:17:33
Speaker
Like he put so much of himself into every single thing did. And that's why every color guard he had a hand was great. And I, you know, I am high school English teacher. I'm an adjunct professor. I'm, you know, back in school, whatever, but I'm capable of doing all of those things because of, he gave me something to emulate, to be successful in all of that, that I wanted to do.
00:18:02
Speaker
He, you know, I went and read the textbooks and did all the work when I was in college. But it was the four years of Cavaliers while I was in college where I got to see what a good educator looked like, what it looked like when you're all-rap father, a friend, and a giver of knowledge. And he did that ah better than anybody that I ever know. And again, like Ricardo, respect to everybody else.
00:18:26
Speaker
You know, I love everybody who's ever taught me, but when it comes to putting those three things together, nobody ever did it better than him. And that's why every single person who's gone through a Bruno Zucco color guard is 100% loyal to him. and I hope I can be half the educator he is.
00:18:43
Speaker
We'll see. But that would even be a remarkable level of a teacher even a tip of the level would be remarkable achievement. It's funny.
00:18:55
Speaker
just coincidentally funny the way that you speak about Bruno, because it's just like, Well, never met Bruno, but I was thinking to myself, like, that's the kind of teacher when I taught that I wanted to be.
00:19:08
Speaker
You know what I mean? Like, if I could not, you know, give you every tip and trick in the book, maybe your work ethic or something like that to give you a little push in that way would be remembered shoot so that you could do those other things. But I think that's great that you both had those memories of him.
00:19:28
Speaker
did you Were you taught by Bruno, Trish? No, I wasn't. And I only really kind of known him through the activity through in passing. I remember when he added me as a friend on Facebook, I was like, Bruno Zucola's adding, like, wants to be my friend? Like, that's very cool.
00:19:44
Speaker
And i was like, how does he even know me, you know? And just, I mean, i mean I've heard stories and read stories. I mean, I threw you guys with the Cavaliers, but a lot of people in this area and the activity in this area um were students of him at the cadets.
00:20:00
Speaker
And I mean, I've just heard so many stories about how amazing he was and caring he was. And, you know, it's just, it's, you know, we were hopeful to try to get somebody who learned from him at the cadets on, but it just didn't work out for tonight. But there were, you know, a lot of people who did reach out and say, you know i can't make it, but I really wish I could speak about, you know, how amazing he was and just, it's a big loss for the activity. It really is. Yeah. Yeah.
00:20:30
Speaker
were When I opened up my Facebook, there were so many heartfelt tributes to him over and over again. I just went down a rabbit hole and read a bunch of them. And, you know, it's a it's a degree of separation, like, or, you know, from me to Bruno Zucla. So, again, seeing him in passing, but hearing these stories just makes, I mean, to me, him more real, like I have met him.
00:20:58
Speaker
So I know their family is really touched by that. Whitney, can you tell us? I actually am kind of the same boat as you and Trish. I only know him like in passing, but I feel like he taught me because everybody that taught me like at pride and crown were taught by him.
00:21:19
Speaker
So I feel like I'm his long lost granddaughter kind of thing, you know, like, All of my color guard parents were taught by him, you know, and a lot of people I marched with were taught by him. So I just know him in that way. But i don't have like a like a direct connection and marching under him or anything. So i I just have heard a lot of stories. And like you, my Facebook has just been filled with Bruno tributes and pictures. Oh my gosh. I love all the pictures from the nineties.
00:21:48
Speaker
ah they did such a good job with finding pictures of him. Yeah. The different times. Like everybody, like Michael Gaines pictures, he had a bunch. And I think Andy Tove's post and there were, there were just so many pictures like from the nineties. And I'm like, you guys like uploaded all these, you know, like you had to scan these. Yeah.
00:22:10
Speaker
I looked them up on YouTube in preparation for this episode. And I found Ryan, I'm not sure if you were in it, but I found some technique videos that he made. yeah There's Ryan brought around a right on it yeah flat, but like, they were really, really cool. Like things that like, I'm so glad that that's there, like forever on YouTube that like we could share with our kids. Like look at this technique video.
00:22:38
Speaker
Yeah. And it was, it was really, really cool. it went through the parts of the, play you know, where your hand needs to be and just really, really cool. So and anybody wants to check out those YouTube videos, really cool.
00:22:51
Speaker
Yeah. If we can find some of those links, maybe we'll put them in the caption. Yeah. yeah That's cool. I, I, I love this time that we can do this. Let everyone share their stories and laugh a little, you And, you know, be glad that you were in the presence of someone who was so influential, you know, for sure.
00:23:14
Speaker
I'll tell a fun story before part this. And Ryan, you will remember this day and you're going to crack up when you remember this story. So we were somewhere in a cornfield somewhere in Illinois learning four corners and we were working corner number three and, um,
00:23:37
Speaker
We had learned there was like this section that there was a group of us that had spun saber and we were supposed to be rifles. But then at the last minute, they decided that we weren't going to be rifles, that we were going to be this like featured flag line group.
00:23:48
Speaker
And so Adam taught this flag choreography and then he just sort of like walked away. And so we were all trying to figure it out. as we did back then. We didn't ask questions, we were just doing it.
00:23:59
Speaker
So we're in rehearsal and it's like we're trying to get through this stuff and Adam's like, Ricardo, what are you doing? And I was like, I don't know, I'm just trying to make the flag go around. And Adam has like a whole temper tantrum. Sorry, Adam, I'm throwing you under under the bus.
00:24:13
Speaker
Adam has a whole temper tantrum and I just grab my flag. I walk off the field. I walk into the gym. I start throwing my stuff in my suitcase and Bruno just walks in the gym and he goes, Hey pumpkin, you okay? And I'm like, I believe it. He's like, no, no, no.
00:24:31
Speaker
Come with me. And he takes me, he puts me in the van, drives me down the street to Dairy Queen, buys me an ice cream cone. it's a you want to talk about it? And I just let it all out and I start crying. And he goes, you're not going home. You're too good to go home.
00:24:49
Speaker
It's fine. You'll be okay. You'll figure this flag work out. We'll get it tomorrow. And I, that's how I stayed. Wow. That's what was saying. He took me in, literally took me for rehearsal and bought me an ice cream cone.
00:25:02
Speaker
That's so cute. That is cute. That's it. But I mean, and that's like one of a billion stories that anybody that like marched in that era of him could tell you about him. It's just, it's those little things that like, when we talk about like someone being dad, like he really was dad.
00:25:19
Speaker
Wow. Oh, these are such good stories. Thank you all for sharing those with us. We are going to take a break and then we come back. We have the 60 Second Tech Walk.
00:25:31
Speaker
Hi everyone, it's time for your travel tip of the week with me. I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel. When you start reviewing the calendar for the dates for your next performance tour, avoiding major holidays is strongly recommended.
00:25:43
Speaker
Not only will you avoid longer lines at attractions, you could also save money by traveling during the off season. Don't forget to like and follow Peak Group Travel on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
00:25:55
Speaker
And be sure to email info at peakgrouptravel.com when you're ready to start planning your next performance tour. I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel and your travel tip of the week.
Advertisements and Tech Talk with Whitney
00:26:19
Speaker
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00:27:03
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00:27:37
Speaker
Okay, everyone, we're back and I am taking over the mic for a few minutes because it is time for 60 Second Tech Block. 60 Second Tech Block.
00:27:50
Speaker
60 Second Tech Block! Never gets old. No, it does not. If you have been living under a rock or this is your first time to listen to On a Water Break podcast, this is a segment where one of our guest hosts or guest clinician is put on the spot to deliver a nonstop 60 second tech session on a topic that needs some serious attention after the last run.
00:28:17
Speaker
Our special tech this week has come prepared with three topics that they think they can talk about for a full 60 seconds straight. No hesitation, no pauses, just pure technical gold.
00:28:30
Speaker
And this week, let's see, i think I'll throw it over to Whitney.
00:28:41
Speaker
This will be fun. So Whitney, you said that your best topics were color guard makeup, why dance technique is important, and why you should wear gloves.
00:28:54
Speaker
Okay. So everybody, what topic do you think that Whitney should do? So no tea, no shade. I know that anybody can take more tips on like why we should do ah dance technique and why we should wear gloves and valid. However,
00:29:09
Speaker
The show makeup is a must know for a lot of folks because it ain't, it ain't there yet. So especially starting the season off our Barchi band season.
00:29:21
Speaker
Yeah. However, Trish, you're still in band camp. Yes. Some of our children perform this week. time It's crazy.
00:29:33
Speaker
So, you know what? I think that since we are about to be in show mode and since RuPaul's Drag Race is going to be coming out for another season and another season of All Stars, and I also personally know that Whitney's very good at makeup because she is the makeup
Panel Discussion: Marching Arts Pet Peeves & Traditions to Reevaluate
00:29:49
Speaker
guru. So, make Whit, why don't you tell us all about our makeup? So Ryan, will you do me a favor?
00:29:57
Speaker
Yeah. On your phone, will you pull up a 60 second timer? Yeah. the i will pull up a 60 second timer. Okay, Whitney. So this is your moment.
00:30:08
Speaker
This is the time right now for all of America to hear how fantastic you are at makeup and you are going to school all of us in 60 seconds. Are you ready, the sister? I'm ready.
00:30:19
Speaker
right, Ryan, let us know when to go. Ready, set, go. Yeah. Okay. So first you want to make sure you start with a clean face. You get all that sweat off your face.
00:30:31
Speaker
Make sure you're using SPF during marching band season. BB creams and CC creams are the way to go. Make sure you have a great powder, right? Cause you're going sweat. Okay. Make sure you do contour so you don't look like a thumb running around the field.
00:30:43
Speaker
Right. Make sure you use blush. Kids don't like to use blush. Put blush on. You've got to have eyebrows so you don't look like I do right now. Make sure everything you do is waterproof. Waterproof mascara, right? Everything waterproof.
00:30:58
Speaker
Oh gosh, setting spray. You got to use setting spray. Stop using the makeup wipes, the ones that you throw on in the garbage. Those break you out. Stop using those. Get a makeup eraser. It's a pink cloth. Get that.
00:31:09
Speaker
Fake lashes. Use fake lashes. Black glue. You don't need to waste your eyeliner by putting on eyeliner and then fake lashes. Don't do bottom eyeliner and mascara. It's just going to run. um Have paper towel ready for after the show.
00:31:21
Speaker
Blot your sweat. Yes, ma'am.
00:31:26
Speaker
Yes, ma'am.
00:31:29
Speaker
I love the sounds. like That was epic. I can't wait to play this back and then slow it down so that I can write all these tips down. Exactly. yes but I'll just send you a sheet.
00:31:41
Speaker
I was ready. I appreciate say that. Very nicely done. Very nicely done. didn't get to the last one, which was matte lipstick is the best for hair that is down. So you don't, You know, ah when your hair, like if you got sticky lip gloss on and then your hair is down, oh, it's the worst.
00:31:58
Speaker
Whitney, you could have saved me like 20 years worth of trouble. I know. Should have hired me. I know. anyone else wants to have years of trouble saved for them.
00:32:09
Speaker
Whitney, do you do, do you, do you still do the like look books? I do. Yeah, I still do Yes. It's been, it's been a minute since I've really put a lot of effort into that, but I do still do that. Yes.
00:32:23
Speaker
I feel like those are one of the um saving graces of color guards when they just on the way that they look. Yeah. Oh yeah. Stuff mapped out so they can practice. Yeah.
00:32:35
Speaker
Yes, please. I am available for hire if anybody needs and hair. I do hair and makeup. She's going to do your face and your wig, girl.
00:32:45
Speaker
Oh, I'm not coming to do it. I'll just show you how to do it. I love that. Well, now that we have gotten all of that information that we needed to get, it's time for us to get into our next section called What Are We Doing?
00:33:02
Speaker
What are we doing?
00:33:08
Speaker
um what are we doing All right. So this is the part of the show where we let loose a bit. and Okay. So we want to talk about some things that, uh, in the marching arts that just don't make sense.
00:33:22
Speaker
So maybe it's a tradition that needs to go, or just maybe it's something that performers can't seem to break or just something that grinds your gears in the marching arts community. But this is the time and the space But it's safe to go ahead and let go about it.
00:33:37
Speaker
So I guess we can start off with Trish. What are you, what are we doing? Okay. What are, what are we doing about the DCI cores having this not announcing staff changes till after Labor Day thing?
00:33:56
Speaker
All the people getting fired are posting on their social media. We see it. If we're friends with these people, we see it. We know what's up. We know what's going on. I don't get this whole like, like we're firing people and they're telling us that they were fired, but you can't say it until after Labor Day.
00:34:17
Speaker
it like let's go Like what's going on over here? We see all these people getting fired. They're posting. They are though. Here's my thing about it though. Like maybe, I mean, it's the end of their season. So maybe they're on vacation until the day after Labor Day.
00:34:37
Speaker
After DCI. They're trying so hard to like emulate like the NFL. Yeah. Like the NFL, like the day after the Superbowl is when, you know, all the coaches get fired. And the day after DCI is on, all the staff gets fired. And then they're not allowed to announce it. So they're not allowed to announce it till after Labor Day.
00:34:57
Speaker
I mean, it's every single person that's getting fired. Well, this is the end of my time with so-and-so. It's like, we see it. Just tell us. Just tell us.
00:35:08
Speaker
yeah ah so I want to know now. um then ah Yeah. Yeah. Exactly.
00:35:19
Speaker
Ricardo, what are we doing?
00:35:29
Speaker
up. What are we doing? And I know that this is nothing that anyone on this earth could do, but what are we doing and about this damn heat? Yeah.
00:35:39
Speaker
Okay, so I don't know about you, but it's been super beautiful in Pennsylvania and the Philly area. It sure has. I don't understand. And maybe it's because I'm not actively outside as much anymore because I've had the whole transition thing and I'm in an office building now and all that good stuff.
00:35:57
Speaker
But y'all, I can't with outside. Outside is trying to sabotage me. Outside is actively trying to murder me on a daily basis. But not trying to be outside?
00:36:09
Speaker
I am not doing outside.
00:36:13
Speaker
I'm not doing outside until like November, Florida. Oh, no, that's when we go inside up there. Right, right. And you know what? I might come up there to go outside because it has been so damn hot that just cannot function.
00:36:27
Speaker
I can't. I'm so glad I'm not teaching marching band this year. So I'm sending out shout outs to love and everybody that is out there in that heat, enduring, clapping their arms, clapping for the kids, for the kids that's out there running around, tired and thirsty. Bless y'all's hearts.
00:36:44
Speaker
I just, I can't. I feel like every, especially in Florida, I'm just going to speak for Florida because it's hot. I feel like every school needs a dome at this point.
00:36:56
Speaker
Cause I, I, I'm, nope, I won't know parts of it. So I will tell you that the last episode that I did with Alicia, we were talking about this and how it like, if it's inclement weather or if it's like too hot outside her school, now granted the school that she works with is not very big, but not super small either, but they have a tarp that resembles the ah yard lines.
00:37:20
Speaker
Yeah. that they can go out to gym and like get some work done in the gym. It's just like, okay, well we don't have to die the heat, but we also don't have to get wet when it rains either. So there's one of those things to beat the heat, but.
00:37:34
Speaker
I love that. That's a good one. That is a good one. But yeah, no, I'm not outside. So I'm sorry. Yeah. But also, I'm one of those people who love fall.
00:37:46
Speaker
Get me outside in the fall, man. That's my outside time. See, I wish I lived in a place where we had an actual fall. Like we have summer and then we have summer adjacent. And then we have like a week of winter.
00:37:58
Speaker
And then it's summer adjacent again. And then it's summer. Got it. Same. Same. There are no leaves changing here. Part two. There's none of that stuff. Summer rain. Summer with no rain. Summer with mosquitoes.
00:38:12
Speaker
Yes. That's it. Okay. Ryan.
00:38:20
Speaker
This is such a tough one. What are we doing? You know what? I'm going to say this. What are we doing not if you're teaching high school guards and not understanding what your kids are going through outside of practice?
00:38:40
Speaker
it's really interesting being in the position I'm in right now because I used to teach a guard program at the school that I teach English at, but now I'm out. So what ends up happening, they all know I'm a guard instructor. So a lot of those kids will come and talk to me and,
00:38:55
Speaker
You know, it's not just my kids. It's a lot of other places. It's a lot of everywhere. When you're teaching high school kids, please understand that when they have something happen to them, it is the worst thing that's ever happened in their life because it's the only thing that's probably happening in their life and they don't know any different yet.
00:39:12
Speaker
I hear a lot sometimes when I'm kind of on the sidelines or I'm kind of on the outside, I'll hear instructors start complaining about their kids having an attitude problem or their kids having some kind of, they're just changing their personality.
00:39:25
Speaker
Sit and talk to them. They're not showing up because they're mad at you. They're showing up because they're mad at the world. They're teenagers. So it's just one of those things where I just look at people and say, what are you doing when you don't take that moment to just sit with your student and figure out what is going on?
00:39:42
Speaker
So that's my biggest thing. So I'm throwing that out there. I might be the controversial. I might sound like a little bit of Judge Judy. No. No. You've got to stop. to hear I personally agree with you.
00:39:54
Speaker
I think once your students kind of see you as human, they can, you'll get a different kind of performer out of them. If they understand where you're coming from, you understand where they're coming from, and they've confided something in you as far as a story is concerned.
00:40:08
Speaker
And it doesn't have to be super deep. Just give them some time. I will say one of my teacher mentors told me this years ago. was doing one of my, you know, complaint sessions, as we tend to do, and I was talking about, like, the kids and, like, oh, my God, why are they making this such a big deal?
00:40:26
Speaker
And she said to me words that stuck with me to this day. She said, it's a big deal because they have no point of reference for anything else yet. And she said, it's not a big deal to you because you've dealt with this or any type of situation a hundred times before. This is the first time that they're learning to deal with it.
00:40:45
Speaker
So they have to figure out how to process that. And that changed my way of thinking when it came to approaching kids about stuff. Listen, sometimes kids try to get away with stuff. I ain't saying that they don't do that.
00:40:57
Speaker
But you have to, you really do have to think that, like, they are experiencing life for the first time, many of them, as stuff is transpiring. So you got to meet them where they are.
00:41:11
Speaker
Well, these are good. What are we doing? I'm good at this. Whitney, what are we doing? I don't really think I have one. don't, I don't, I don't know. think I'm,
00:41:22
Speaker
think I'm good this week, oddly enough.
Life Updates: Teaching, Moving, and Personal Well-being
00:41:25
Speaker
I think I have nothing to say. So no nothing, what are we doing during your camps or anything like that? and We're in school now. I don't even remember band camp.
00:41:36
Speaker
Nice. yeah What are we doing forgetting about band camp that happened two weeks ago? Oh my God. Zoom in on with. She's like, I don't know. yeah Well, good. Good.
00:41:48
Speaker
I mean, honestly, too, I piggyback off you on that. I really don't have a what are we doing, but like, air unless I can use myself as an example, and like, after having like a busy summer, or you're, you know, having a busy summer,
00:42:03
Speaker
marching band camp going into fall season and then you have a break. I think it is imperative and I speak from experience of being literally the most relaxed that I've been months today, right now.
00:42:15
Speaker
So what are we doing? Not taking a break. Okay.
00:42:21
Speaker
I love this. And it's making sure that you are feeding this battery that fuels you because you may be the one fueling someone else. And like, what is it? You can't pour from an empty cup.
00:42:32
Speaker
Yes. and Right. So my cup is pretty full. Got a little bit more to go and then I'm going back home. So yes, treat yourselves good.
00:42:48
Speaker
Perfect. Great. All right. So we're going to go ahead and get on over to gush and goes. This is the braggadocious side of things. Like tell me what you're doing. You can brag about it. I got this. I got that.
00:43:01
Speaker
This doesn't have to be marching arts. I tell people this all the time, but it kind of just wraps around back into it because like milestones are big things. Like, you know, I finished band camp because that is a huge deal. Like good or bad. It's going to happen.
00:43:15
Speaker
You're going to finish band camp. How you finish camp. That's up to you. But, you know, everyone's doing something. So we're just gushing and going. So ah being our guest tonight, Ryan, I'm going to start with you. What are you gushing and going about?
00:43:27
Speaker
My gushing go will be my doctor at work. It's something that I'm doing a dissertation that I think is very near and dear to the color guard world. I'm working on my topic is the how to What do we have to look at with our transgender and non-binary communities to find better mental health outcomes for them?
00:43:50
Speaker
oh You know, being able to love the fact that Color Guard gave me such a diverse atmosphere, gave such a welcoming atmosphere for anybody. And right now I am, and this is a very stressful week because September 2nd, I have to have everything in and done or I don't move on to write chapters three and four, but everything looks like it's going to be fine for that. ah It's just going to be a long week. um But I will be my last two terms. My doctor i will hopefully be graduating in May. I will have my dissertation, the first real full draft done by November 25th.
00:44:26
Speaker
So I'm excited to be getting kind of done with that. then Once you do that, we can start calling you Dr. Broner. Except when you Google, just so you know, when you Google Dr. Broner, that is the name of a soap company. So you will not find me when you do Google Dr. Broner.
00:44:44
Speaker
You will be getting a soap company. So just be prepared for that. I'm going to look up that soap company logo and like transpose something on it for you.
00:44:58
Speaker
That would be so funny. Oh, that's great. Yes. Let's see. Whitney, what are we gushing and going about? You're on the other side of things now. You know what's funny? I really should have done my, what are we doing about how we're like not allowed to call kids by their chosen names in Texas anymore.
00:45:18
Speaker
and we're really not. Did you, have you guys heard about this? Oh, yeah, I've heard. Okay. Yeah, like, if a kid has decided that they want to go by Apple, and that's not what's on their birth certificate, or it's not like a ah used a standard nickname for their name, and we can't but can't call them by that now.
00:45:39
Speaker
It's against the law. Oh, Yeah. So can we call one of those senators from your state by his actual first name and not the name that he likes to go by? I'll go with wheelchair.
00:45:51
Speaker
Hot wheels. We like governor hot wheels. but That's usually what call them. Anyways. That could have been my, what are we doing? My gush and go. Well, we're starting our third week of school tomorrow. We have our first football game and performance. Um, I'm all moved in, in Houston now. And that's why nothing on my walls yet. i haven't hung up like anything. It's good.
00:46:16
Speaker
it it's just a little bit sweatier than Austin, you know, I went, okay. So when Whitney moved to Texas, I moved to Texas, but she moved to Austin and I moved to Houston and that's where I moved to first. And it was just, it's a, it's a warm bath.
00:46:33
Speaker
You just didn't run the water yourself. It's just a warm bath all the time. Yeah. Yeah. So it's good. I like it. I don't think that it's any, and don't really think was any hotter than, than Austin, but people are so convinced that it's like so much more humid. And I think it, I think it's nicer at night here. i always felt like Austin, like it got so humid at night and it doesn't do that here.
00:46:58
Speaker
So I like that about it. Okay. Yeah, no, it's great. And the biggest color guard I've ever had in my whole life, I have 64 children. Wow. that's an arm That's an army. Yes.
00:47:10
Speaker
And a lot of the time, I have a couple of texts, but mostly it's me and Duffy. Really? Yeah. Yeah. You need a care basket. Yeah.
00:47:21
Speaker
You need a care basket. Yeah. That's good though. I have three class periods back to back, which is crazy. Yeah. It's different, but I like it. Everybody's really nice. And yeah, that's all you can really ask for.
00:47:39
Speaker
That's all you can really ask for at the beginning. You know, you know, Nicole. Girl, that's why I'm like, you're still teaching. Hey.
00:47:50
Speaker
Yep.
00:47:54
Speaker
I've been saving my gush and go because I wanted to gush and go about the fact that Ryan Bronner is here. And I'm so excited that he's here. And somebody recently said to me, just told him this earlier. Somebody recently said to me, oh, that's right. That's right. You know, Ryan Bronner, he taught you how to spin rifle.
00:48:11
Speaker
And at first I was like, wow, that's really sad because that was my last year spinning. But kind of it's true. And I learned so much that last year, 2005 Briggs, that, you know, I was one of the main six weapons the whole show. And I did learn a lot. And to learn in your last year where you're kind of swan-songy out, to, like, actually learn and be a part of a really amazing group. And so thank you.
00:48:42
Speaker
Aw, yay.
00:48:48
Speaker
Awesome, awesome, awesome. Berto, what you gushing and going on about? I am gushing and going because in my job title, I get to do fun things all the time, mostly hanging out with elementary teachers and their students, which is like my, the thing I love the most in this world right now.
00:49:05
Speaker
But I got to start the first day of school as like ah a pretend assistant principal for the day. And I opened a brand new school. Like it had new school smell.
00:49:18
Speaker
um It was fantastic. And also, it's an elementary school that will be a K-8 school. And I am just now starting to hang out with like elementary people. And elementary kids are the freaking cutest things in the world.
00:49:33
Speaker
but he i was pulling children away from their parents um on day one, and I was having to make parents get out of the window. so that kids could come to school. And I opened probably thousand um Jell-O pudding packets, Go-Gurts, and mustard and ketchup packets that day.
00:49:54
Speaker
So it was a good time. you It was the cutest thing ever. I have three elementary school visits on my schedule this week, and I cannot wait. I'm drawing an otter in a first grade art class, and I got to go back and paint my otter this morning. That's what I'm rushing
00:50:13
Speaker
yeah I love that. I love it. I love it. I really don't have big gush and goes except for, you know, Hey, i got away from, you know, I got out and I wasn't working. Like,
00:50:23
Speaker
doing color guard or anything like that when I left and huge deal.
Humorous Shopping Anecdotes & Closing Remarks
00:50:29
Speaker
I'm one of those people too, that I'm gushing and going about this. And I know a lot of people are going to be like, that's not interesting.
00:50:35
Speaker
And just to all of you say that I don't care, but I'm huge on like when the seasons change or when you, so when you go from like summer to fall whatever,
00:50:46
Speaker
vice versa, you know, just going through all of your clothes and seeing like, Hey, I did wear this or, Oh, I haven't, I didn't think I had this anymore, but basically, you know, separating those clothes and putting them somewhere ah until the next season comes along or donating them. I love doing that because then you find out how much more room you have. And I know that's bad because everybody's thinking, Oh, you're just going to buy more stuff.
00:51:12
Speaker
And it's just like, maybe, but maybe not. So I'm crossing my fingers that I don't start shopping like hardcore or anything like that, but I'm excited for the room and everything like that. I felt like I came home from tour with a lot more stuff.
00:51:27
Speaker
We don't know how anybody does that. Just leave for real and tell everybody how you were on TikTok shop constantly summer long. You know. All summer long. Every week when I got back, Nicole was like, look what I got on TikTok shop. Look what I got on TikTok shop.
00:51:41
Speaker
But Nicole's like a sweetheart too because Nicole was like, oh, I saw this and I thought of you and so I bought you this on TikTok shop. Yeah. But do you feel the other part that? It's just like, yeah, I was on TikTok shop too.
00:51:55
Speaker
We're all on it. We're all doing it. I love this TikTok shop. TikTok, TikTok, TikTok, TikTok shop. I'm so mad at myself sometimes when I shop on N2. It's just like, oh, where'd you get that? You can't just say online. It's just like, well, it's a really good deal. got it on TikTok shop.
00:52:10
Speaker
yeah I ordered something from TikTok shop and it came and I don't remember what it is. Like, I think they're, I think they're cleaning cloths, but I can't be sure.
00:52:21
Speaker
And I don't know how to find my like order history in TikTok. I don't know where it's at. So I just have this like stack of like, I think they're washcloths. I don't, I don't know. I don't know what they are.
00:52:33
Speaker
I think I can help you out with that. Cool. Thanks. Okay. Hey, it's called gush and go, not gush and stay. Let's go.
00:52:44
Speaker
Oh, I want to thank everyone for a great rehearsal this week. And just thank you for coming and spending time with us today. Trish, thank you so much for putting this episode together. Ricardo, Whitney, Ryan, it's so good to see you again after so many years ago that we marched Patriots for you to come in and share your story of Bruno Zucola today. Where can the people find you on social media?
00:53:09
Speaker
Okay. So I'm not very social media, but I have Facebook. You can find me. I go by first name, middle name. So Ryan Aeney, you can find me there. And I'm also on LinkedIn under Ryan Bronner. I will be developing that a little bit more as I'm finishing my degree. So those are places you can find me.
00:53:31
Speaker
Great. Go i ahead and talk. Awesome. So if you have a question or a good topic that you want to talk about, email us at on a water break podcast at gmail.com, or you can find us on social media. If you want to be a guest on the show, we have a form in our bio. You just click on it and just let us know.
00:53:52
Speaker
you know, Hey, I want to be a guest. So that's your info. Also, if you take out your phone and make a video and you want to send it to us, you never know. You could find yourself on the podcast. So make sure you check that out.
00:54:05
Speaker
One more thing, please don don't forget to subscribe. We do have a YouTube channel now, so you can go and watch this or you can listen to it and you can see all the shenanigans in time. So um Make sure you go and do that. And also before you close out of your podcast listening app, go subscribe, write a review on us and share it with a friend.
00:54:23
Speaker
Follow us and on any of your social media apps at on a water break. And we'll see you at the next rehearsal on a water break.
00:54:33
Speaker
The On a Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and Christine Ream. The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit LidaMusic.com.
00:54:44
Speaker
And until next time, thanks for tuning
00:54:51
Speaker
she