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2026 WGI World Class Performers: Juxtaposition, Alta Marea & AMP (OAWB With Bonus)
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Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
This is an OAWB With (Bonus) episode featuring World Class winter guard performers from Juxtaposition, Alta Marea, and AMP — talking real WGI experience from the floor: culture, auditions, lessons learned, rehearsal expectations, and what the activity needs more (and less) of right now.
What this episode answers
- What do World Class performers want to see more of at WGI?
- What do they want to see less of in winter guard show trends/culture?
- What’s something you learn the hard way as a top-level performer?
- What advice helps most when preparing for World Class auditions?
- What traditions matter inside successful programs?
Performers + socials (personal + ensemble tags)
- Maria (Juxtaposition) Personal: TikTok Marsco16 | Twitter MariaScott1616 Ensemble: @juxtapositionwg
- Piper (Alta Marea) Personal: IG/TikTok Piper.K.Click | Spin IG Piper.spins Ensemble: @altamareawinterguard
- Julian (AMP) Personal: IG/TikTok Juliankahoolian Ensemble: @ampwinterguard
Host socials
Trish O’Shea — @trishdish1102
Alicia Sharp — @aliciaoninsta2
Nicole Younger — @o2binpjs
OAWB: @onawaterbreak
Find On A Water Break
Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/
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Email: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com
#OnAWaterBreak #MarchingArts #WinterGuard #WGI #ColorGuard
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction of Performers
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey everyone, and welcome back to On a Water Break With, 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 episode is a special one. We're joined by three world-class performers from three different world-class winter guards. Stay tuned to find out who they are and which winter guards they perform with and much more.
00:00:25
Speaker
Adolph the Met and go. Welcome to On Water Break.
00:00:36
Speaker
Everyone, bring it in. It's time for a water break. Hey, everyone. It's Trish. We're here to with our guests to hang out, chat, and break down what's happening in the marching arts with some of the best people in the activity. This episode is a special one. We're welcoming three world-class performers to the sidelines. Woo!
00:00:59
Speaker
and alicia is here hi alicia hey trish it's been forever i know too long everything going well in your world it is i've got all the guards up and running and into the judging side of the season now and my head is spinning off a little bit but why yeah yeah And also joining us is Nicole.
Catch Up with Alicia and Nicole
00:01:23
Speaker
Hey. Hi. Hi. How are are you? I'm good. I'm good. I am actually waiting for my season to start. The last show, which was last week or this past weekend, was canceled. It was in St. Louis.
00:01:37
Speaker
So while everybody is like, oh, first show, I'm like... Invite me. But it'll happen next weekend. Yes, definitely. Can't wait to hear all about it. Okay.
00:01:48
Speaker
We have kept them on the sidelines long enough. Everyone, please welcome to the program Julian. Hello. And Piper. Hi. And Maria.
00:01:59
Speaker
hi
00:02:05
Speaker
So, you as I don't know if you guys know this, but we have a feature called the 32-Count Life Story.
Maria's Marching Arts Journey
00:02:10
Speaker
We'll give you 32 counts off the Met to tell us everything from the beginning to this moment right here.
00:02:16
Speaker
ah Let's start with Maria. Maria, are you ready? Yeah. Okay, 32 counts and in. in You'll get eight off the Met you're in. Eight off the Met. Eight off the Met. And then you have 32 counts.
00:02:31
Speaker
Adolph The Met, and go. So I started marching in high school, pretty basic, and then I went off to Kent State for a couple of years where I found Artistry in Blue, a class Winter Guard no longer in existence, RIP.
00:02:45
Speaker
But I spent four years at Artistry. I aged out in 2018 and then went to Phoenix Independent Open class at the time where I aged out of there in 2019. So my first year in juxtaposition was 2020, and i have been there ever since.
00:03:01
Speaker
Yes. Pretty good. Even though I messed up the Met. Sorry. That's okay. Show them. ah the adam time we had oh actually We actually had an awesome episode with Stephanie and Becca a few months ago. i listened to that. it was great. Yeah. It was really great to hear. People need to check that out. It was really cool. Okay. Julian, you're up.
00:03:23
Speaker
Ate off the Met. And go.
Julian's Marching Experience
00:03:25
Speaker
Awesome.
00:03:29
Speaker
Okay, so I started marching arts in high school. i marched trumpet, but then my senior year, I joined alter ego winter guard. And then marched there from 2020 to 2022. I was captain for 2022. I marched the cadets 2021 rest of the piece. And then I filled the whole bushwhackers at the end of that season. I was captain of the cadets for 2022 and 2023 as well. I've been marching AM since 2023. So that's four seasons now. And then I also teach at Mawa High School in North Jersey and I teach the Hawthorne Caballeros.
00:03:57
Speaker
ye Oh, you nailed it. All right. but All right. Piper's turn. Piper, you ready? I am. Piper, I know that I was on an episode with you already and you were. I know this is a little bit of like, okay. What is it? you know it's okay Just pretend.
00:04:16
Speaker
Right, right. This is a recap. This is Piper recap. Yeah. And I'm going to give you applause this time, Piper, because I didn't get to squeeze him in with your name before. Okay. Eight off the mat.
Piper's Path in Marching Arts
00:04:28
Speaker
And go. Okay, so I started marching arts in my freshman year of high school. I was a competitive dancer before that, and then I just started Color Guard my freshman year.
00:04:39
Speaker
The summer between my junior and senior year is when I started marching with the Blue Devils, and I've been doing that ever since. And then when I started college, I came to Alabama and joined the Fall Color Guard as well as their Winter Guard program. And I'm now a junior, so I'm in my third year of both of those. And then I'm about to go into my fifth year of Blue Devils.
00:05:03
Speaker
yes those were three really good 32 count life stories for what it's worth you guys nailed the 32 counts part that doesn't always happen i'm saying i'm saving my julian story for gush and go so i'm saving oh i'm scared now no you already know it we go way back yeah we do That's fantastic.
00:05:28
Speaker
Maria, did did you grow up like in the area that juxtaposition is in in kind of the Guards You March, or are you from? um I'm from Toledo, so I am from basically where Phoenix Independent is based out of. Okay. So I'm about two and a half hours north of juxtaposition.
00:05:44
Speaker
Okay. Same question for you, Julian. are you Do you live in that area or do you travel? Yeah. i Yeah, I live in North Jersey and rehearsals in like Delaware. So I also live about like two, two and a half hours away from rehearsal.
00:05:57
Speaker
Fair. Got it. And then Piper, we know that you ah travel, not not really travel anymore, I guess, but you traveled too to get to Altamaria, right? Didn't you grow up in Nashville? I was from Houston. Yeah. Houston. and oh Yeah, I'm about 10 hours from school. But when I'm here, I've I mean, rehearsals just on campus.
00:06:19
Speaker
Wow. Easy. That's awesome. Yeah. When you're there, everyone's family. You're already done.
Maria's Dedication and Overcoming Challenges
00:06:27
Speaker
Hey, um um Maria, I just wanted to break up one thing. So you've been with Juxta for five years now? ah Well, this is my seventh season, technically. 2020. then i did um their virtual season in And then And then this will be the start of my season with them.
00:06:47
Speaker
So I'm gonna ask you our big true question. How are your joints, man? um So ah to be honest, actually funny story, in 2024, I broke my hip um and I kind of thought that that might be um where I had to draw the line, um but I bounced back a lot better than I thought I was gonna and a lot faster than I thought I was gonna.
00:07:12
Speaker
And incredible so I'm still going and I, I'm going to keep going until I can't anymore, to be honest. Hey, until the wheels fall off, girl, I hear you. Pretty much. and honestly, like snaps to that too, because Zane just yeah you that kind of, that kind of like career in one guard for a long time without something going, you know, haywire. So yeah, no, Jaxa has been an incredible place to be and I'll continue till I'll continue Jaxa till my career ends.
00:07:42
Speaker
Perfect. Perfect. Oh my goodness. So, um, I know we've got a lot of more things that we want to talk about. Uh, before we head off to a commercial, i just wanted to ask if anybody other, the other host will not ask any other questions.
Discussion on Show Hopes and Weather
00:07:59
Speaker
Oh, I have a lot of questions I want to ask, but I have to stay for the commercial. Then they should go to commercial. Well, let's do that. Let's take a quick break and we'll be right back.
00:08:24
Speaker
And we are back. So question number one. What are you hoping to see more of this year at WGI? And what are you hoping to see less of? um I'm honestly hoping to see more of like upbeat and fun shows. Amp honestly is known for kind of that vibe. um But they're usually like the only ones and I love like a good crowd pleaser show like it gets me really into it um but that's usually not very popular within world class so love to see more of that I would hope to see less of bad weather especially after last year
00:09:03
Speaker
That was not fun at all with all the rain. And it's like snowed in years past. Like there's always something with the weather going on. So if we could have less of that this year, that would be incredible.
00:09:15
Speaker
No rain, please. No rain. I'm all about that. oh Julian. um I want to see
Guard Traditions and Fun Activities
00:09:23
Speaker
more. This is like a little bit different than like what I guess you're expecting. But i want to see more of like the little clothes pins that were like...
00:09:30
Speaker
put on every single show that we went to, like we came back with like dozens of clothespins clinging onto us. Even like parents had them on like on them as well. like he was just finding hair ah p love self I was really, really cute. I have like a collection in like the depths of my closet right now, like all of them. um And then something I want to see less of Maybe like the bad Facebook mom posts, like they'll like just pick the negative ones.
00:09:57
Speaker
Yeah, I love oh i know but like that noise. um um Yeah, just like the bad negative Facebook mom posts. Like I think we just need more positivity and negativity and like that's that's really it. Yeah, I can understand you want to go behind your kids, you know, all the time. I mean, Piper, I know Stephanie, you know, your mom. yeah what They're covering your kids and be like, yes, but like, honestly, yes, for all the kids. So, totally get it, totally get it. And mar Maria, what do you think?
00:10:25
Speaker
um i excuse me I would love to see more. um I love a good dance feature. I would love to see a lot more dance features, to be honest. I love a good dance feature. um And i have to reiterate, Piper, i would love to see less bad weather, um especially considered we just had our rehearsal get canceled this last weekend because of weather. Our first premiere show, same thing, was canceled this last weekend. So I would love to see less of that, 100%.
00:10:52
Speaker
Yeah, Amp is also like scared because we just had like that winter storm this past weekend. and then there's supposed to be another winter storm this upcoming weekend, which is our premiere. So we're just like kind of playing it out and see how it goes.
00:11:05
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I think gonna take the next question for you all. um So every guard has like a tradition and i just wanna know within your guards, what's their tradition that you are looking forward to with um you know your specific guard? So yeah let's go and I'm gonna go with you, Julian. um Tradition, I think, well, I mean, the first thing that comes to mind is like our amp chant.
00:11:34
Speaker
Who are we? A&P. Who are we? A&P. Yeah. What are they going to Yeah. it's like it's it's It's like our pre-show hype. And we do it right before we go on to every single show.
00:11:46
Speaker
And I think it hits the most when we hit the floor at finals. um Because but I think when the audience hears us coming out, they just start roaring when they hear like even before we come out, they hear the chant, they start roaring. And I think that's that's like my favorite thing.
00:11:59
Speaker
Right. You can't even hear yourself, probably. At all. Yeah, no, was bad. We love a good chant. We love a good chant. um Let's see. a Maria, what is something that Juxta does that's a tradition that just gets you all like warm and fuzzy?
00:12:13
Speaker
Yeah, so honestly, we already had one of the traditions that's one of my favorite. um And that's when we do Old Uniform Day and then we play all of our old um previous year soundtracks. And it's always fun because anyone who is like a vet and the guard kind of runs out on the floor and does what they remember and runs around the floor and tries to recreate their show. And it's, it's been especially fun like the last couple of years because we have had such a high return rate that when we did like last year's run through in the year, even 2024 has run through almost half of the guard that was originally on the floor is out there when we do it. And it's like so fun. and it's like, we don't remember half of the choreography or anything like that and we're running into each other and we're falling all over the place and we're screaming and hollering and it's chaos but it's like kind of just a reminder of like why we love doing this and how much fun it is and how much fun we had as a group and like I said especially now that there's so many of us out there running through the show from last year it's just kind of like a reminder of of what fun we had and what what we can look forward to even when we're in like, we did it at Christmas camp. So like, even when we're in the depths of working really hard and struggling and blood, sweat and tears, we kind of can like look forward to what we have to create and what's to come. Right. And I can only imagine like, excuse me, like how much you're laughing. Like, yeah.
00:13:37
Speaker
darre Yeah. Because it's, I don't remember this, but I'm, you know, I Right. And the new the new kids to the guard are sitting on the sideline and they're like cheering and having fun. And they're like remembering, you know, what they saw at finals that made them want to be here with us now. And so it's just like a really fun kind of bonding moment that just kind of like hypes everybody up. I love when we do it.
00:13:58
Speaker
Gosh. Piper, tell me what Bama does. Or excuse me, not Bama. Ulta Marea. Yeah. I'm so sorry. No, it's okay. um Honestly, I do have to, I have to pause and like jump in here because like this, what I just did was almost like the equivalent to how I was pronouncing a tune wrong last year. Do you remember? Yeah.
00:14:21
Speaker
All right. So I'm apologizing on it's recording that I'm apologizing. So for You're okay. a Piper, please
Emotional Team Traditions
00:14:30
Speaker
go ahead. We do have a lot of like pre-show traditions kind of similar to what Julian was saying. um So those are also always really fun. But the main one that I thought of was um the night before when we were at Ovenkoss, we did it the night before final. We did it the night before um semis. We all have this string of yarn that we like pass around and talk about our favorite moments in the season and we make anklets out of it. And then you get beads for how many seasons you've been on. So like I still have mine on from Dayton last year.
00:15:03
Speaker
um And so it's all connected and we don't cut it until we're all done. And we are all sobbing by the end like it's a whole thing. But it's like the most, that like the most, my most favorite thing that we do like in the whole season.
00:15:18
Speaker
Oh, I love that. so yeah you You all are talking about your traditions. I'm like, you know, if I were doing my show again and, you know, there are some people there. i mean, i think, I mean, yeah, you're going to laugh about it because you're like, ha ha, look at us. We can remember our show. But also you're crying because it's just like, there's people that aren't here that i used to have a moment with. And then even that with the, with the bracelets, ah, it all gets so emotional. And,
00:15:43
Speaker
It's so much like it is about the performing. Don't get me wrong. We all know it's about the performing, but it is about those little memories that you can carry on with just you and that group. And y'all know how important those are.
00:15:58
Speaker
I love it. Okay, great. All right, are we ready for question number three? What is something you've had to learn the hard way as a world-class performer? Anybody want to jump in?
Julian's Life Lesson in Resilience
00:16:10
Speaker
Julian.
00:16:11
Speaker
I think for me, ah lesson that I had to learn the hard way was learning that to accept the things that I can't control. I think as a world-class member, we're always taught that you're in control of everything. And I think sometimes we have to realize that that's not always true. And that really hit hard um the 2024 season when i like a lot of people at AMP got sick and we couldn't perform finals.
00:16:33
Speaker
And that was just something that was completely out of our control. And like we worked hard all season to make it to finals. And you know that was just something that we couldn't control. And I think it definitely taught me to like not take things for granted. It really...
00:16:48
Speaker
appreciate the moments that we do get together agreed oh gosh yeah i can remember god that was so heartbreaking for aunt yeah it was hard but yeah we pushed through it was okay oh came back even stronger next year last year yeah ah piper you think you had to learn um i think this is something i've kind of learned just in general as a performer in general is that um warm-up doesn't always define how your performance goes even like when we were in open class and whatever like
00:17:22
Speaker
I would have like the worst warm up of my life and then it would be the best show ever. And I think it's very easy to come out of warm up and already like kind of be telling yourself how your show is about to go.
00:17:35
Speaker
it can be completely different. So I've had to kind of calm myself down after warm up sometimes being like, okay, might not have been doing the best on this one skill and warm up, but who knows what will happen on the floor. That's awesome.
00:17:48
Speaker
Maria? i would say um something I had to learn the hard way was just how to balance and prioritize um being a world-class performer and having a life and having a job, going to school, teaching, all of those things at once. um You know, before you get into the world class, sometimes it's kind of easy to forget about what's happening on the weekends during the week and then you check back in on the weekends, but that's not the case in the world class. You have got to be you know, doing stuff during the week to prepare for the weekend. And when you're doing all those other things, you have to prioritize what's really important and, you know, make time for some things that, you know, you don't always want to make time for.
00:18:30
Speaker
um And so it's just a ah matter of finding the time and the place that you can fit that kind of stuff in your life um and to make it all work. So I think that that was something that I had to learn really fast. That's awesome. Yeah.
00:18:43
Speaker
There's a lot of times like I have been going back and forth with this because like the last time I marched was 2011. Don't tell me how old you were then. Okay.
00:18:55
Speaker
I'll just but go ahead and put that next to it. But like before that was 2003. ah two thousand and three that was my last year world and then i went back in 2011 and like things had changed but like yes your friday saturday sundays were always like you knew where you were gonna be all the time and but then everything else that you did during the week you know, was a support to that. um And then sometimes, like, the more that this um activity grows and the more that World Cross class grows, too, like, do you all teach somewhere?
00:19:34
Speaker
Yeah. See, you're doing guard, like, probably... Six days a week. Yeah. Yeah. So like putting in all that time and, you know, hey, oh, I have to eat. I have to sleep. I have to work like at a job that has nothing to do with color guide. So like I commend you for keeping that and you're keeping that that regimented routine all like for five, six months.
00:19:59
Speaker
Yeah, it's tough, but I do. I so much like i admire you for that. And, you know, just keep doing it. I love it. Question number four. What would you tell someone who's coming to audition for your group next year? Piper. So auditions for Altamaria are kind of different than other world class groups because we're connected to the university.
Advice for Auditionees
00:20:21
Speaker
So as of right now, like you have to do the fall guard to do the winter guard. You have to be i think it's like at least a part time student at Alabama. um So that's just like already different in general. But right I think just kind of be confident and ready to learn.
00:20:37
Speaker
Our two seasons are very vastly different. So also just like being flexible and they overlap. So like we'll be at a football game one day and at Winter Guard rehearsal the next. um So just be open to being ready to do all these different things and be very busy. But.
00:20:57
Speaker
um Like it's it's a good time. so awesome. Julian. For AMP, we also have a very high vet retention rate. So I think it becomes easy to start comparing yourself. So I would tell somebody to just do not worry about what is going on around you. Like do not worry about the person next to you. Like just worry about yourself and what you can already bring to the table and just be ready to soak up as much information as possible and like try to apply it as fast as possible. Because they want to see you like try things. like We're very trick-heavy at AMP. So like they want to see that...
00:21:31
Speaker
Yeah, it can be scary, but like, are you gonna go for it? Like even if you drop, like, are you for it? Or are you just like- Be fearless. Yeah, to be fearless, exactly. Yeah, that's awesome. Maria. Yeah, I would tell someone coming to auditions, um Stephanie also loves to tell this to people at auditions actually, and it's that I was caught my first year auditioning at juxtaposition. And i just like to tell people that a lot of times it's because i am a seven year vet, I am a captain and it's like,
00:22:00
Speaker
Whatever happens today right now doesn't dictate the rest of your guard career. And just because you may not have gotten a contract at your first choice or at somewhere that you really thought that you were going to end up, that doesn't mean that you won't in the future. And that doesn't mean that you won't find your home somewhere else, actually. um So I just think it's really important for people to know that, um you know, your your life and your guard career doesn't revolve around one place and one contract.
00:22:31
Speaker
Like right then and there, there's there are always opportunities and um there are there's always a future opportunity to. That's that's awesome. That's good stuff.
00:22:42
Speaker
The vibes that have been going with the the conversations that we've had to just want to jump in here really quick because Trish, I do want to do that last question for you. But um with Piper and Julian and Maria, like, do you feel like you, i think you know where I'm coming with this, but it's just like, do you feel like you are the vibe of your guard? Okay. I feel like most of the people, mean i mean, I'm not saying that everyone's like a carbon copy of you, but I feel like most of the people in your guard, you all have like this very, the very same vibe.
00:23:23
Speaker
Like, like I said before with, um, ah with Piper and everyone else who is at um AIM, um you know, like that they are, they have that same vibe, you know, like how you are and the way you are and like, you know, what you exude and how happy you are with things. And you're just like, oh, the brace, you know, everyone loves it. So like you are that vibe. And I think I told Jacob this last year too. Jillian, are you a ah captain?
00:23:54
Speaker
am not. You're not, but i mean you I mean, it doesn't matter if you're a captain or not, but you still give off like amp, you know? yes Our vets act like vets, vets, yeah. Right, and then save a juxtaposition. Like, how can you not, Maria? You've been there for seven years. They should be like, look and be like Malika.
00:24:18
Speaker
Getting into that though, okay? So I'm leading up to something and yeah ah the last thing wanna do is get you in trouble. But we do want to get a little nitty gritty so we can have something to chomp on until we see you, and you know, on the floor. But um I want you to pick three to five words that you can use to not give away your show, but use it to describe your show. So you're thinking about it right now, like...
00:24:48
Speaker
You know, you don't have to give everything away. You can just give, you know, I don't even think about giving it away. It's just describing the show without describing the show. I mean, if you have permission, you can tell us what it is. I'm just throwing out there. But don't get on Tina Cole in trouble. Who goes
00:25:08
Speaker
ah who goes first? Well, you sp all you do now. Okay. i can't I can't reveal it yet. I can say it's coming very, very soon. um But link I can say the three words I want to describe it as. I'll say vibrant.
00:25:27
Speaker
I'll say energetic. And then this one might give it away. Scandalous. Well, I mean, that's like ant every year. That's ant every year.
00:25:42
Speaker
I meant like like vibrant like here like there's there's a color that's very vibrant like a specific color um and you park you gave us the words you gave us the words you won't get yourself in trouble that's all you guys
00:25:58
Speaker
Maria okay um yeah my three words are k-pop demon hunters stop Don't play. Oh my god.
00:26:09
Speaker
ah If it's not Golden, I'm gonna be disappointed. That's all I'm saying. I will say nothing more. Okay, and but here's the thing. If she was allowed to say that and she said it, you know, she said it.
00:26:25
Speaker
Oh my god. The pre-show must be to Golden this year. I'm saying nothing more. okay
00:26:34
Speaker
Wait, speaking of the pre-show, can we talk about, I'm so sorry. When I watched Juxtaposition's show last year, didn't watch the pre-show until like months after. Like I didn't see it and then when I saw the pre-show, was like, oh my God. Like I was like, that was incredible. Yeah. We always do pretty fun pre-shows. Oh, Juxtaposition is bringing back the pre-show. Yeah. preshow I love the pre-show.
00:26:57
Speaker
Oh my goodness. Okay. Piper. Piper. Okay, I also can't reveal, but it is also coming very soon. yeah um I'm just going to say y'all aren't ready. oh yeah Okay.
00:27:12
Speaker
bo Can I ask a follow-up question? Sure. is it different from what we've typically seen from Alta Maria? Yes. like Like personality change? Yes. Yes.
00:27:25
Speaker
Interesting. I'm so excited. Yeah. I feel if you ask any more questions, we're going tear I'm not going to ask another question. For what it's worth, I love Alta Maria style. i that But to see you guys come out and do something very different is going to be very interesting. i mean There are some things that are like classic Alta Maria, but it's a very different vibe. That's exciting.
00:27:49
Speaker
Yeah, sweet. Sweet. Okay, so let's take a break. Let's leave it right there and we'll be back in a minute.
00:28:10
Speaker
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00:29:24
Speaker
Okay, everybody, we are back and it's time for everybody's favorite, What Are We Doing? What are we doing?
00:29:39
Speaker
What are we doing? Okay, this is where we rant about something in the marching arts that just doesn't make sense. Or in this case, maybe something from the world of...
00:29:52
Speaker
One of our guests, who knows? um And I am going to go first, because I have a what are we doing? What? Who messed it up?
00:30:05
Speaker
What was the group that messed it up in WGI for all the combined schools? I want to know, because my group now is not allowed to be a combined school now. Now we can compete in Independent A.
00:30:18
Speaker
And it it's fine. We're doing fine. We we did fine on Saturday. um We came in second to Pegasus Independent. Watch them. They're going to be threatened and independent this year. Watch them. um But our score...
00:30:34
Speaker
would have been third out of a lot in Scholastica. So, you know, who are you? Speak up. Who are you that was breaking the rules that we cannot be combined schools anymore if we have two separate marching bands? Who are you? I want to know.
00:30:54
Speaker
oh goodness. Rant's over. We'll figure it out. we We know enough people. OK. That's good. ah Nicole, what are we doing? Oh, goodness.
00:31:06
Speaker
ah ah Wow. But um maybe what are we doing not like put that time for yourself in and right now? What are we doing not giving ourself that time? You do a warm down stretch. Well, maybe you need a warm down from being around people sometimes. I know that some people's batteries are charged with a lot of people around. Some people's batteries are charged with not having a lot of people around, you know?
00:31:33
Speaker
Don't backlog that self-care stuff. If you just do it now, you can stay... i don't want to say coasting, but you could at least stay... You know, in a way that is going to make you not stressed the whole season, you know. So during those, you know, you have seven days in a week, six days of teaching color guard, maybe one of those fifth days, you know, you don't use the whole day, but maybe a half day.
00:31:57
Speaker
to do something for yourself or maybe you just you know plug in an hour every day to do something for yourself but start doing that now so it's not something that is like i said before backlogged to the end of the season because what's going to happen you know if you're a performer you're going to get into a rehearsal and you might blow up you know everyone's been in those rehearsals where like something happens and then so you know and a little explosion will happen over here with two people and a little explosion will happen over here with two people and all a sudden Boom.
00:32:26
Speaker
You know, everyone has blown their gaskets. Take a little time for yourself. It's going to get hard before it gets better. i mean, if it's a hard show, it's going to do that. Regardless, if it's a good show, it's going to do that.
00:32:40
Speaker
So just make sure you're taking the time. Yeah. Make sure you're taking the time for yourself. awesome that's funny piper what are we doing my what are we doing is i feel like we should reevaluate the like warm-up time length situation and maybe i only say that because i'm used to like drum corps where we can't have time to do like a full dance class and a full technique block and whatever and warm up um also like wgi percussion like they have like an hour or something for their like a lot at times um and we get like basically 10 minutes like it just doesn't add up and I feel like we should kind of rethink that a little bit even like if we were just allowed to spin like on our own before we go in into warm up
00:33:26
Speaker
Even something like that, yes. Like a color guard lot. Yeah, it just doesn't seem very fair to me, but that's that's mine. That's a good one. That's a really good one. Julian, what are we doing? Okay, mine might be a little controversial, but um what are we doing about main Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network Championships happening the week after Dayton every year?
00:33:49
Speaker
i okay I mentally clock out in that arena like finals like once we get the wars and everything like I am so clocked out after that like I sleep for four days straight after that of course he did and then we have rehearsal the next weekend and then championships as well i'm like oh my goodness So as the Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network task force member, um I hear you.
00:34:12
Speaker
i hear you big time. They did try it one year, and I think it was like 2000. And coincidentally, Julian, I was teaching alter ego then, and Like we literally like drove back from Dayton like overnight and like got out of the bus at at Memorial in West New York and it was like, okay, bye, thanks for great season, said bye. Like it just, it felt really anticlimactic. And i think some of it now might have to do with
00:34:43
Speaker
trying to get those big arenas that they've been trying to get. um The arena that they had in 2022 was the one out in Allentown, not we kind of where everybody stays at DCI East. If you're for familiar with the downtown area, it's that big PPL center. And I know when they tried to go back to PPL, because it was gorgeous, when they tried to go back in 23, they were like, well, the Philadelphia Flyers,
00:35:10
Speaker
um farm hockey team plays and we can't guarantee that they're not going to make the playoffs. So they couldn't give it to us. So there's a lot of things. I know there's only, it's only Austin, maybe. Oh, okay. Well, CIA also, but, and the California circuit that, and after Dayton and I see both sides of it, but you know, what's things now is that like fusion doesn't come to main championships anymore. Cause they want to end at Yeah. So i I don't know if that's going change.
00:35:41
Speaker
You know, i could see if it becomes a trend, but i don't know I see both sides of it. I really do. Sweet. on Maria. Okay. What are we doing using AIR in our show announcement?
00:35:56
Speaker
You ate with that one. Okay. I can't get the You're telling me you don't have a kid in your guard that has an interest in art that can make that for you? You had to use AI? No.
00:36:08
Speaker
You can throw a penny and hit a graphic artist anywhere. Yeah. That was the first time. ah ah We were just talking about this last episode. Last episode that I think that was put out for on a water break, they were talking about how people are using ai you know, even more. And it's just like, why?
00:36:28
Speaker
Why? There creative people everywhere. You know, you have to tap into it. And not to mention, hmm, you could be using AI to do this, but guess what? Blink your eyes and somebody else is going to put that same thing in. And guess what? They're going to use it too. are Original? No.
00:36:42
Speaker
And I hate to say it, but maybe you all think the same thing. It's like, why are you? Don't be lazy. Don't be lazy. easy Don't be lazy. Reach out to our Emily. We have Emily right here all the water break. Reach out to Emily.
00:36:56
Speaker
She has made a call into our two characters. Nicole, this was almost my what are we doing? I was going to say, what are we doing resisting ai in the marching arts?
00:37:08
Speaker
Because i am currently kind of like mentoring some newer instructors, teaching them about the sheets and teaching them about the manual and the rule book and whatever. And I've used it so much lately just to say, hey, break down the wgi Scholastic A equipment sheet for me.
00:37:27
Speaker
into accessible language and it's broken it down and I've used that as like an educational tool so I think I think from a creative standpoint yes 100% I'm with you but also like we couldn't break it for other uses in the marching arts that could really serve us well because those sheets are damn hard to understand if you're 18 and brand new for sure great job everyone set your equipment down touch and go
00:37:57
Speaker
All right. Now that we have all got that off our chest, let's get into our gush it goes. This is your chance to shout out something awesome happening in your life, marching arts related or not.
00:38:08
Speaker
Maybe you're excited about a performance, a student success, a big life event, or just something cool you want to brag about. No negativity here. Just pure unfiltered hype.
00:38:20
Speaker
So, Piper, what do you want to Gusha go about? We have our first show this weekend. Yay! I'm just very excited about it. We're not doing our full show, but we're doing way more than we usually have done by the first
Piper's Excitement for World Class Season
00:38:32
Speaker
show. So very excited about that. This is our second season in world class. So I think we're all just kind of looking forward to like we've been here now, like we kind of know what we're doing a little bit more. And I'm very, very excited for kind of what the future has in store for us.
00:38:48
Speaker
that's awesome can't wait to see it julian what do you want to gush and go about i'm actually just really excited to be on blade this winter am typically just a rifle most of the time um i spun blade in like cadets 2022 2023 but outdoor blade is a lot different than indoor blade and i like ending um and i yeah just i feel myself genuinely growing this season in in terms of that so i'm i'm excited That's awesome.
00:39:14
Speaker
I'm going to gush you go, actually, about
Alicia's Admiration for Julian
00:39:18
Speaker
Julian. So I was thinking about this when he was doing his 32-count life story, and he was talking about how he started the marching arts at high school.
00:39:26
Speaker
Well, Julian was a senior in high school, and he had just joined Alter Ego. And I don't know if they do this in other places, But here in New Jersey, when you go two when you go to an away game, the home drum majors and color guard captains, whoever, come over to the away stands and, you know, introduce themselves and welcome you to their school and blah, blah, blah. Well, we went to play um Julian's High School in Union City, and we were on the away stands, which, by the way, his high school's football stadium is on is on the roof. Yeah, it's like the only one in the nation. Yeah. yeah that the football seat The football field is on the roof at school. What?
00:40:09
Speaker
Yeah, it wasn't football it was a football stadium like on the ground. And then when the city got too populated, they decided to build like a bigger high school. So they just brought the football field up. Yeah. it's very It's very cool. It's very interesting. Name of the school? I need to Google. Union City High School in Union City, New Jersey.
00:40:26
Speaker
I'm going looking this up. So Julian came over. He was drum major of the band. And he's talking to some Mike Culligard girls. And then they go back over. And they all come over. And they go, oh, my God.
00:40:39
Speaker
He's an alter ego. And I was like, and then we met that and we met that night. And then well when he was in Alter Ego, I helped out. I have a lot of really good friends on staff.
00:40:51
Speaker
I previously worked with Alter Ego back in the day. And then when it was brought back out by friends of mine, they asked me to be on the admin team. So I got to know Julian even better. And when Alicia was like, do you know anybody from Mampa? I was like, yes, Julian, let's get him. So yeah. That's my Gus and Go. Love you, Julian. so proud of you. Love you. Good memories. Thank you. Maria, what you want to Gus and Go about?
00:41:17
Speaker
Yeah, my Gus and Go is really basic and not marching arts related, but snow has canceled rehearsal this last weekend.
Maria's Joy in Simple Moments
00:41:26
Speaker
I was snowed in for the last three days by myself with my dog. alone, missing my friends, missing my guard. But my dog, I'm gushing and going about my dog because she loves the snow and has been in heaven the last couple of days. So I have suited up in my snowsuit and taken her out so she can just dive headfirst into the snow banks and just romp around and have the time of her life. So I do have pictures. Yes, I have pictures and videos, of course. Yeah, she's been having the time of her life the last couple of days. So my gush and go is about her being in heaven. you. She's a snowy. I love that. Awesome. Cool. Alicia, what do you want to about?
00:42:02
Speaker
awesome cool ah alicia what do you want to gu you go about Um, this episode last year, I gushed about getting to start trial judging, um, and working my way through becoming a movement and DA judge. And I can say that now I'm officially done trialing and for the rest of the season, I have all like real judging gigs and I'm super pumped. Yes. Yeah. pumped about it. They'll have some trialing to do and in, in DA, but.
00:42:33
Speaker
Love it. Yeah. Hey, it's called Gush and Go, not Gush and Stay. Let's go.
00:42:45
Speaker
all righty my friends thank you all for a great rehearsal this week thank you to everyone who's spending time with us today uh thank you nicole and alicia for joining us and of course thank you to maria from juxtaposition piper from alta maria and julian from amp world for joining us so we all need to we need to know where to find you guys on social media so maria where can we find you on social media You can find me at tick on TikTok at M-A-R-S-C-O-1-6. And then I'm also on Twitter at Maria Scott 1-6-16. Awesome. Piper. My Instagram and TikTok and all that is Piper.K.Click. I also have a spin account. It's Piper.Spins on Instagram.
00:43:31
Speaker
Love it. And Julian. You can find me on Instagram and TikTok at Julian Kahulian. awesome that's cool name got a question or a good topic to talk about email us at on a water break podcast gmail.com or find us on social media and dm us if you want to be on the show we even have a form now that you can fill out if you want to be a guest we love having people on the podcast So check that out at our link in our bio on our social media, or you could just take out your phone, make a video and send it to us. And maybe you'll see yourself on the podcast soon. One more thing.
00:44:09
Speaker
Don't forget we have a YouTube channel now. So go and subscribe so you can see us all there. Also, before you close out of your podcast, listen the app, go subscribe, write us a review and share this with a friend.
00:44:21
Speaker
Follow us on social media at on a water break, and we will see you at the next rehearsal. On a Water Break.
00:44:32
Speaker
The On a Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and Christine Rehm. The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit LidaMusic.com.
00:44:44
Speaker
And until next time, thanks for tuning in.