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The One Kicking off Women's History Month
1 Playsin 3 hours
Welcome back to On A Water Break! This week, Jackie is hosting and we’re kicking off Women’s History Month with a special episode featuring incredible voices from across the marching arts world.
Joining us are:
- Trish
- Alicia
- Whitney
We also have a truly inspiring guest this week: Denise Bonfiglio, a pioneering force in the marching arts with over 50 years of experience. From her early days with the 27th Lancers to her work with Santa Clara Vanguard, Denise has not only redefined performance but mentored countless artists.
Additionally, we’re joined by Kristi Hebert (aka @Supermomma on TikTok), who’s taking her group to Dayton for the first time. Kristi shares her fears, hopes, and questions about the big step, and our panel of experts helps guide her through the process.
This episode is packed with incredible stories and advice, and we’ll also take a deep dive into Kristi’s 32 Count Life Story, plus discuss current news in the marching arts.
Don’t forget to:
- Subscribe and hit notifications on your favorite podcast app
- Write us a review and share with a friend
- Send us your questions or topics via email at onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow us on social media @OnAWaterBreak for updates and more
- Interested in being on the show? Fill out the guest form linked in our bio on social media
Links:
- March Forth on March Fourth - DCI
- WGI Advisory Board Meetings
- Randall Standridge's Post on Mental Health
Follow Us:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook @OnAWaterBreak
Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you at the next rehearsal… on a water break!
This version summarizes the episode with all the important details while keeping it within a concise format!
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome back to On A Water Break, the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal on a water break. This week we are kicking off Women's History Month.
00:00:13
Speaker
We'll also find out what made Alicia... I'll tell you, I don't do across the floors outside with my kids, like ever. And why Whitney said There was trouble. I don't know exactly what happened, but I know that like there were lawsuits, potential suing and things.
00:00:30
Speaker
All this and more on this week's episode of on a Water Break.
Celebration of Women's History Month
00:00:36
Speaker
Ate off the mess and go. Welcome to On a Water Break.
00:00:46
Speaker
Everyone, bring it in. It's time for a water break.
00:00:55
Speaker
Hey everyone, it's Jackie and this is our first episode for Women's History Month. Nicole and Ricardo did a great job during Black History Month. That roundtable of Black female band directors was amazing.
00:01:09
Speaker
If you don't listen to all of the amazing episodes for Black History Month, make sure you definitely go back and listen to them right after this one. Before we see who's on the sidelines this week though, go subscribe.
00:01:21
Speaker
Hit the notifications on your favorite listening app, write us a review, share this with a friend, make sure everybody's listening to our water break. If you got a question or a good topic to talk about, make sure you email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com.
00:01:36
Speaker
Or you can find us on social media, DM us if you want to be on the show. We even have form now to fill out if you want to be a guest. So we love, love, love having people on
All-Female Panel Introduction
00:01:47
Speaker
the podcast. Make sure you check that out at our link in bio on our social media.
00:01:51
Speaker
All right, let's see who's on the sidelines this week. This is an all-female panel, starting with Trish. Hello, hello.
00:02:03
Speaker
there, how's it going? I'm doing well. How are you? I'm good. Nice to be here with everybody. I know. It's so nice to be here with all these beautiful faces.
00:02:14
Speaker
Yes. Alicia. Hello. I'm so happy to be doing an episode with you, Jackie. haven't seen you in so long. Awesome. It's been a while.
00:02:25
Speaker
And Whitney. Hi, guys. How's everybody doing? Good. was just saying, too. It's been long time since I've been on. Well, it's been a while since I've been on, too. And, like, I think it's been, like, twice as long since we've been on together. So this is going to be such a blast. Oh, my gosh. It feels like a little family reunion.
00:02:43
Speaker
more That's for sure.
Guest Spotlight: Denise Bonfiglio
00:02:46
Speaker
So I know you are all so excited for the incredible guest who is set to inspire us all in our next segment.
00:02:54
Speaker
If you didn't already know her name, is Denise Bonfiglio, she is a pioneering force in marching arts. With over 50 years of experience transforming drum corps and Wintergard, from her early days with the iconic 27th Lancers to her transformative work with groups like Santa Clara Vanguard, Denise has not only a redefined performance but also mentored countless artists along the way.
00:03:19
Speaker
Now, I know, Trish, you are excited and you have all your questions ready to go, and Alicia, you're Yeah, I love talking to Denise. She's such a sweetheart.
00:03:30
Speaker
And now that we have all of our regular hosts, we want to welcome our guest clinician for this week. So some of you may know her from TikTok as at Supermama. And she is taking her group to Dayton for the first time. Please welcome please welcome christy or
00:03:54
Speaker
Hi everyone. i'm super excited to be here. this is amazing. Can't wait to get started with you guys.
Guest Spotlight: Christy Hebert's Journey
00:04:02
Speaker
Okay. So I know i we follow each other on TikTok. just Yes, we do. or For all of our listeners out there.
00:04:10
Speaker
i So I know you've listened to some of the podcasts before. Are you ready for your 32 count live story? Yes. And I think I'm just going to go on the fly with this. I mean, I thought about it. I never verbalized it yet. So this will be a first, it will be a dry run.
00:04:25
Speaker
I'm ready. All right. All right. You'll get ate off the ne Let's go for it. am Christy Hebert. I'm from a very small town in South Louisiana. And I was in color guard when I was in high school. I actually loved it.
00:04:38
Speaker
I joined a winter guard when I got to college and a couple years in high school. One of the first few in South Louisiana. I started teaching at a very small K through 12 school. And I found a set of flags in the PE room while I was teaching PE.
00:04:54
Speaker
And I said, we have to have a color guard here. The school did not even have a band. That's how I got started coaching. It was 20 years after I put a flag down, I picked another one up.
00:05:05
Speaker
Yes. And it's even easier than riding a bike, right? Wait, what's that? It's even easier than riding a bike, right? Absolutely. Absolutely. ah So, Christy, before we get into the news, a little birdie told me that you are very nervous to take your kids to WGI for the first time. And you may not know this, but this panel just happens to be a huge wealth of knowledge on that topic.
00:05:32
Speaker
So we've all taken groups in various sizes, shapes, and forms. So we got you, girl. So give us saying your questions, your fears, your hopes. We will do our best to help you and all the other instructors out there who are listening, who might be taking their groups to a big show for the first time.
00:05:49
Speaker
Yeah, so I actually, I went the past two years, I went to Dayton as a spectator and I offered as many kids on my team that wanted to come with me and just watch for the experience.
00:06:01
Speaker
So I'm thankful I was able to do that with some members of my team. um However, stepping on the mat to compete is, a whole different ball game. And we're not new to competing, but we are definitely new to WGI. And it is very scary.
00:06:15
Speaker
as a director, feel a little bit like an imposter sometimes because I don't really know. The rules are a little bit different than our local circuit. And I'm learning as I go.
00:06:27
Speaker
um But my ultimate goal is just to make sure I'm giving them every advantage possible because i don't want any of my inefficiency or lack of knowledge to be any reason why they're not successful.
00:06:40
Speaker
So as an instructor, that's hard. And in in in my area, i mean, we're down in South Louisiana and there's not a whole lot of World class.
00:06:53
Speaker
I mean, i do have a lot of friends that I can reach out to, thankfully, but we're we're trying our best. We are trying our best. That is for sure. What school are you at, Christy? So the school is a homo-Christian. It's a pre-K through 12th grade school.
00:07:09
Speaker
And we've had guard for about 10 years there. Like I said, we started guard before we even had a band, which was really easy to Vince administration because um the vice principal daughter was interested. So she was like, sure, let's add another extracurricular activity. We didn't even have a football team.
00:07:28
Speaker
We were just spinning flags. So it's really great that they allowed that opportunity at school. We have been through elementary teams, ah cadet teams, varsity, JV. We've done it all because we are so small.
00:07:46
Speaker
Everybody wants to be involved at our school, which is a good thing. um And it's really good if you can get those kids in third, fourth and fifth grade interested in flags before they have time to try out for cheer or, you know, something else. It can pull them away from, from this. So I've been really lucky um in that respect that we do get, get our girls really early, which is great.
00:08:10
Speaker
What regionals are you taking them to season? So we went to golf court last weekend or two weeks. Yeah. Last weekend. za believe It believe or not.
00:08:22
Speaker
So yeah. Yeah. Not only lady did we get a two point penalty on time, for a massive prop that is obnoxious. That was all my idea. So I take the blame on that one.
00:08:39
Speaker
ah Not only did we get the two point penalty, um we damaged the floor of the gym with our prop because it was so huge. And we didn't make finals either. So all the, it was like a series of unfortunate events, but it was actually our first WGI regional experience.
00:08:59
Speaker
So, We're still standing. We're laughing. We're smiling. It's fine. We're going to be fine. We got it out of the way. Can I offer a piece of advice? Absolutely. Yes.
00:09:12
Speaker
um The first time I took kids to Dayton, accidentally built Dayton up to be a very big thing. You know what I mean? And I think at the end of the day that we we went out in Nutter Center and my kids lost their minds. It was one of the worst runs we had had the entire c season because suddenly they were so nervous.
00:09:32
Speaker
And
Competition Insights and Challenges
00:09:33
Speaker
I think in retrospect, I really wish I had downplayed it and let them go and chill. And because they were so strong and we could have done much better. I think because that regional experience was so stressful, imagine the kids going into Dayton like, but you know what I mean?
00:09:49
Speaker
I would definitely just, you've got to be as cool as a cucumber. You know what i mean? and Just really still for their sake. Right, right. And I do, I think I'm probably one of the most laid back people ever. I'm like, it'll, it is my famous words are it is what it is. Like that's, it is what is. Whatever it's going to happen, it's going to happen.
00:10:10
Speaker
We are, we do have one more regional. We're going to go to San Antonio in a couple of weeks. It will be the first time. We've never been, obviously. There's a lot of groups outside of our state because we're in Louisiana.
00:10:22
Speaker
And that's what I want them to see. So they I mean, even though they I've had a couple girls attend the Dayton experience with me and we've done prelims and went to different centers just so they can get the feeling for it all.
00:10:35
Speaker
Probably 75 percent of the girls have no idea. So, so we're this, this regional in San Antonio will probably be like the first like big experience that they see going up against so many different groups in a class and groups we've never seen before.
00:10:53
Speaker
um And haven't really like, I'm not like a research person. Like, I don't know who we're going up against. We just show up, show up and compete. But from what I've heard, that Texas produces a lot of really amazing guards. So I'm excited just to see, just to see what everybody's got going on. and I'm a spectator at heart. Before a director, I mean, I just want to watch. i want to see what everybody's doing.
00:11:18
Speaker
um I'm actually not going to the San Antonio Regional. I'll be in, is that the the 15th? or the fifteen Two weekends from now. Okay, so 15th. Yeah. Okay.
00:11:29
Speaker
I won't be at that show. We're
Social Media and Community Building
00:11:31
Speaker
going to the the Power Regional the next weekend. But I'm actually, what do you remember what school it's at? I'm going to look it up because I don't even remember. don't even know that information. Okay. I'll be right back with you. And then I can give you some pointers.
00:11:43
Speaker
But yes, there will be a lot of A-class color guards there because that we are we are overflowing with A-class here. Oh, we're the same way in Missouri. There's so A-class. Yeah. a class So and maybe you guys would know about this. So when I noticed how many guards there are actually registered for championships, is this a normal number? Like, is that a normal number and what we're seeing now? That's the A class always?
00:12:10
Speaker
Wow. There's always like 100. Like when I took my kids two years ago, there were like 126 A guards, i think. We went pre-pandemic and it was, I want to say, like around 175 that So A-Class is the bread and butter of WGI. Like, it brings all the money. so And we don't know where we're going to be because I, too, am bringing, although I've been to WGI with a lot of different guards.
00:12:42
Speaker
I'm bringing my high school team for the first time as well. and And we don't know where we're going to be either. We could be in Kentucky for prelims. We could be in Cincinnati. We could be, we don't know. So there's a lot of unknown. Well, the positive is Kentucky and Cincinnati.
00:13:00
Speaker
Really close. they are So yes, you're going to be out there for prelims for sure. rest So k Christy, the um the the competition's actually at Northeast ISD, their sports gym, which is actually where Crossman did spring training for many, many years when I was teaching them. um So we were in that we were in that arena. It's a good sized arena. I've never been to a competition there. We've only rehearsed there.
00:13:30
Speaker
But it looks, I mean, there's bleachers on all sides and I mean, for for Central Texas, it looks like a big arena. Yeah. You know, on here. I mean, it is a good sized arena, but I've never done a competition there. But actually, Tech at Championships are there a month later.
00:13:48
Speaker
So I will be there after you. Gotcha. Well, our prop is our main concern whenever we're at a different venue because it presents some challenges. It is very large, it's heavy, and it's awkward to get in and out of doors. And we do our due diligence to make sure that we're within the guidelines of measurements.
00:14:09
Speaker
We just had some logistical issues that made our parents a little bit slower this time. So we're hoping that The prop is half the battle for us right now. And as much as I want to kick myself, it does add enough fee that we're keeping it. We're keeping the prop. It's happening. It's huge. The next it's you couple years, you're going to be like, no props.
00:14:29
Speaker
No props. Never. At all. I love props. But here's the thing. I feel like there will be a time when I can look back and say, we rolled that prop like to all of those shows. And it definitely was worth it.
00:14:44
Speaker
was worth it. I mean, we've had a few, I mean, you know, injuries, but it's fine. I want to totally change the the topic now. I want to know about your social media because you have quite the following over on TikTok for sure.
00:15:02
Speaker
So, yeah. Tell me about this. What would you like to know? Okay. So first, this is, this is, I did not attend this account to be a color guard account. This is my personal TikTok page. I, both of my sons are heavily involved in social media. They, one of them makes a full-time income on social media. And he said,
00:15:20
Speaker
As soon as he started seeing that those color guard videos were taken off, he said, this needs to be a color guard page. And he's like, I don't know nothing about it, but this is what the people want. You need to give it to them. And thankfully, the team really...
00:15:35
Speaker
was receptive to that and they just know at any moment you're being recorded at practice. And we stick a camera in the corner. Funny stuff happens at practice all the time.
00:15:47
Speaker
Now, a lot of times we're setting it up to be skid or something. Of course we do we do that. It really took off, I guess, like a couple years ago, we had our first viral video. It was, think, in 23, maybe.
00:16:04
Speaker
the kid it was totally the kids. I wasn't even in it. It was legit. They had a video. They said, this is hilarious. I said, fine, I'll post it And it was our the viral video not only got 15 million views, which everybody was crazy over, but yeah e ESPN reposted it.
00:16:22
Speaker
So everybody was like, ESPN doesn't post color guard stuff. So that's when you knew you made it. Because like they don't think you know guard's a sport half the time, right? yeah ESPN's eyes anyway.
00:16:35
Speaker
So they felt very um validated when that happened. And it was just a cool moment for the team. It really was. I'm so thankful that the girls... Don't give me a hard time about it.
00:16:48
Speaker
We have a few that don't really like to be on camera, but they know they just say, okay, don't post that one. And I don't, I mean, it's very simple, ah but we do like to have a lot of fun.
00:16:58
Speaker
definitely relieved a lot of tension posting on social media. I do think that. Oh yeah. It's a good time. All right. Let us go on to the news.
00:17:27
Speaker
All right, Alicia, I believe you are kicking us off.
Mental Health and Industry Announcements
00:17:32
Speaker
and So Randall Standridge, a well-known music composer, ah making waves on social media this week in a positive way, though.
00:17:41
Speaker
um I actually screenshot the post made some highlights because I wanted to share, but he was very vulnerable with his audience and shared that he had been struggling with a major depressive episode and really struggling with his mental health.
00:17:54
Speaker
um He wrote that he had a depressive episode that lasted 11 months and that he had tried to function as normally as possible. He had commissions do publisher deadlines to meet, conducting engagements.
00:18:06
Speaker
He had a marriage and friendship and and a life to manage and that he was so far from okay that he wore a mask. And he talked a lot in his posts about wearing that mask, saying that he was fine, saying yes to things, everything's fine.
00:18:22
Speaker
But then he went on to talk about how that mask ultimately for him cracked. And at the end of his... Post, he said, having a depressive episode does not mean that you are not taking care of yourself. It means that that's the time when you have to take care of yourself even more.
00:18:36
Speaker
Stick to your meds and strategies that work for you. And if they're not working, get with a professional who will help you find the ones that do. This is me taking off the mask. I'm fine now, really.
00:18:47
Speaker
So yay for him being a positive force of talking about struggling with mental health. I think that's worth us taking note of it and that he's doing better. always good to be your true authentic self in this activity where are we so often have to put on characters for the performances that we do.
00:19:07
Speaker
I have a news story for today because those of you who keep messaging me and emailing me about Excalibur Sabres, I have some good news and some bad news.
00:19:22
Speaker
And DSI made posts on their social media that they are not going to be restocking Excalibur Sabres.
00:19:33
Speaker
Period. And I know everyone's like, oh, yeah, because Excaliburs have been around for a hot minute. And that's what I spun when I marched Drum Corps. And so, you know, they've been around for a while, but Basically, the reason is because they are creating a new model of Saber.
00:19:55
Speaker
And it's just been a much longer process than they were hoping it would be. So they are just letting everybody know the current plan is to have a limited production run ready to go by this summer of this new Saber, which has not yet been announced what the name is.
00:20:14
Speaker
So we'll see what's coming. Anyway, follow DSI. They'll keep you guys updated on everything. Christy, this is your first time and we're already throwing you in
Marching Music Day and Future Events
00:20:24
Speaker
with a new story. So, okay.
00:20:26
Speaker
That's true. And I think that there should be a contest to name that new saber and whoever wins the naming rights gets one for free. So that's my tag. of on tick talk Post that and tag that on your Tik TOK. Yeah. I think that's a great idea.
00:20:42
Speaker
Kids are creative. I mean, we're creative too. right, so I'm going to talk about March 4th March 4th. So it says DCI is marching to the rhythm of life on Marching Music Day.
00:20:56
Speaker
And that's on March 4th. And it's in honor of musicians and performers that have diverse styles and backgrounds. And it basically just tells you how the beat of a drum started with the military, how this has the beats go back to training in the battlefield, and then it was brought to a football stadium, and then on Broadway, and how it's evolved and developed over the years, and that the military roots of drum corps has evolved into an art. And that's really what the article's about.
00:21:31
Speaker
How do you observe March 4th? And it says to support your local marching music groups by attending their performances, supporting their competitions, contributing to their musicians, whether it's through a school, a veterans group, or independent ensemble.
00:21:49
Speaker
No matter how you support, they will appreciate you. And they do suggest using two hashtags as you do this. And one of them is hashtag March 4th. spelled out, and also hashtag Marching Music Day. And that's it.
00:22:05
Speaker
And it's on March 4th, so it's easy. Perfect. Yes. All right. Trish. yeah Okay, everybody. for us Yes. Okay, everybody. Save the date. The 2025 WGI Advisory Board meeting dates are confirmed.
00:22:22
Speaker
And the WGI Advisory Board will be held in June 6th and 7th 2025 at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas. Doesn't that sound good right about now?
00:22:36
Speaker
And it's just really important because, you know, they discuss and develop the philosophical and competitive operations of WGI, as well as certain groups that participate to our events. That's a quote from Ron and Kervis.
00:22:50
Speaker
And also, those of who think that it's just for the world-class. There is an additional and open caucus on Friday afternoon. That's open to everyone. So, you you know, if you've been in a vacation and you want to head to Vegas for a few days and you want to get some work done as well, this sounds like it's for you.
00:23:11
Speaker
That's like one of the best places to go to get work done, honestly. Can you imagine Vegas in June, though? Yeah. I'm indoor baby for a reason. Yeah. I think it's time for everybody to get excited because Alicia and Trish are on the sidelines with the one and only Denise Bonfiglio. You guys don't miss it.
00:23:40
Speaker
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00:23:55
Speaker
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00:24:09
Speaker
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00:24:21
Speaker
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00:24:33
Speaker
ah you listened to our podcast on a water break? 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.
00:24:46
Speaker
Check us out at guardcloset.com or follow us on social media.
00:25:00
Speaker
And we are back, everybody. Put down your equipment, get out your notepads, because we are about to get a huge lesson about this activity. Trish, why don't you tell us who you have on the sideline?
00:25:12
Speaker
We have on the sidelines today marching arts pioneer and Hall of Famer with over 50 years transforming drum corps, winter guard, and me back in my Royal Guardsman days. Please welcome Denise Bonfiglio.
00:25:28
Speaker
Denise, it is such a pleasure having you on the podcast tonight. I mean, who better to kick off Women's History Month first as somebody who just, you know, i go back to my marching days a lot. And but now that I'm with my kid, I think back to those days. And I mean, just every time I see you, I think about you walking in the gym in Queens, New York, ah you and Peggy Twiggs and all those people walking in the door. Like if but somebody would have told us then,
00:25:57
Speaker
What we were going to learn then and still use now, we'd make a million dollars. So, you know, welcome to the, welcome to Out of Water Break. Thank you for having me, ladies.
00:26:08
Speaker
Very excited to be here.
00:26:11
Speaker
um Women's History Month, I mean, but you know, I've had that song in my head for days now when I remember doing this, you know, who ran the world? Girls, right? You've had it in your head, right? So Denise, is it true that you're the person who came up with the idea of having the judges have snack tables next to them at those long regional days?
00:26:33
Speaker
Is that true? It could be true. I tend to rearrange the furniture when I judge. I am i mean, it takes a woman to think of something like that, right? We celebrate Women's History Month. I mean, how intelligent is that, that like, you just need to have that right there. I mean, but before we get too, too into it, what we want to do is we want to get your 32 count life stories. You have 32 counts, Denise, to get it all in there. Okay.
00:27:00
Speaker
So we'll give you eight off the Met. Let us have it. Okay. Perfect. Perfect.
00:27:09
Speaker
Well, my career started well before you were all born, actually, in a drum corps from Reveille, Massachusetts, Icy Reveries, and went on to join my father's drum corps. and i Ah, 27 Lancers.
00:27:22
Speaker
Marched in that corps and taught that corps. until they deceased in 1986. Then I went on to teach the cadets from 1987 to 1997. I went on to teach Star of Indiana there last year in 93. I taught Santa c Clara Vanguard, 97 to 99, and then went back there from 2004 until 2018.
00:27:41
Speaker
That's my drum corps experience. Wernigar, taught Santa Clara Imperials, Quasar, Erte, Chattahatchee, Miamisburg, Lawrence Central, World Guardsmen with you, and one of the members, Suburbanettes, Emeril Marquis,
00:27:55
Speaker
1983 to 94 and then from 1990 to 2001 when they folded. I taught the Santa Clara Vanguard Winter Guard. I brought them back 2006 until 2016. And I and um and now i just judge all over the world. I've been judging since 2002. Wow.
00:28:12
Speaker
wow I love that you had to write that down to reference. I had to before i had to, I had to write all that down actually. But what an amazing career. Oh my gosh.
00:28:25
Speaker
Yeah. It's been a combination of ah designing, directing, teching, you know, all of that, you know, through my years for sure. What has been your favorite part of that? Cause you've really been in all of the places in the activity. What do you feel most called to? What do you enjoy the most?
00:28:42
Speaker
I always enjoy teaching the most. The administrative part of it, the management part of it, all of that is really hard. It's difficult and, you know, kind of organizing and planning and, you know, especially when they're, whether it's Drunk Horse touring or Winter Garden's moving, you know, going to different places. There's a lot of logistics that go on and my professional career, I was in software development, so I understand logistics for sure.
00:29:09
Speaker
time bound. So so that's that's easy for me. That part of it's easy for me. But what I love to do is actually teaching and be in front of the members and you know working with them and helping them achieve what it is that they wanted to achieve.
00:29:24
Speaker
When did you meet Trish in that teaching career? I heard you mention it, but it went fast and I had a metronome in my head. So I went down to Royal Guardsmen to teach them their rain year, the rain show. And they and That's when I met Trish. She was a member of the guard. Actually, that was, i will say this, that guard, those members, which I still see to this day, you know, at drum Porsche, at the winter guard shows and drum Porsche shows, actually, it was the most fun I ever had.
00:29:53
Speaker
They were super fun people. You know, they really were, you know, they played hard and they worked hard. She was all business though. i'm going to tell you this. So, um, Sabre,
00:30:04
Speaker
but I was not a rifle when the, when the, that particular year when the Sabres split up and some of them went on rifle, me and this other girl went on flag. And it was so funny because we'd be working on a part of the show that they'd be like, okay, rifles go with Denise flags go over here with, i don't know, i guess Peggy or Mike Johnson or whomever.
00:30:24
Speaker
And they would all be like, oh, we're going to get our butts kicked. And I'd be like, bye. You I was always so jealous that I wasn't a rifle. And then, you know, then they would all be like, oh, man, this is going to be intense.
00:30:37
Speaker
And I'd be like, okay, bye. So that was really fun. That's one of my favorite memories. So a mishmash of different people and different talents and all that in that garden, you know.
00:30:49
Speaker
But the personalities, you know, that were there just made it work and blended together. And we just had a blast. And, you know, the guard worked really hard at it. So it was good. It was a great experience. It really was.
00:31:01
Speaker
How old were you, Trish, at that point? It was my age out year. So I was 21, I guess, 22. What's the age? I don't even know what it is anymore. But yeah, I was around that.
00:31:12
Speaker
There was talk that. They were going to raise the age then. I was so excited. I was like, I get to do one more year. get to do one more year. And then they were like, no, they're not doing it. all oh I feel like that's a rumor every year on tour.
00:31:26
Speaker
Right. You know what I mean? It's just wishful thinking. Exactly. Exactly. Which is funny. Denise, we've not you know had a chance to really meet personally. I've admired your career for a very long time.
00:31:39
Speaker
And i always feel like this activity, it's all about who you know, right? And we all have those mentors that help us get to that next step. Who were your major influences when you were building your career and and going down these different paths? Yeah.
00:31:54
Speaker
It was more the people I was working with, you know. so I know that you guys had spoken with Anne Fields back in the day. She taught me way, way back, way back in the day, you know. And, you know, Stephen Kovitz, who's passed, also taught me way back during the day. You know, these were influences in the Boston area, you know, that were truly teaching us to spin and teaching us to move and all that.
00:32:17
Speaker
But having the opportunity to work with Peggy, Peggy and I grew up together, literally grew up together. She lived up the top of the hill from where I was. And she was actually the one that taught me how to spin rifle.
00:32:29
Speaker
Peggy was once upon time a rifle at the beginning of her career. And then she hated the fact that anyone that was left over that didn't want to be rifled, it's on the flag line. And she hated that. So she was determined to change that whole myth around, which she did, which she did. she But her and I, you know, we learned together. We learned, you know, George Zingali. We all grew up together. Mark Sylvester, we all grew up together, you know.
00:32:51
Speaker
And we all kind of learned from one another. And we took out the best parts of what we learned from others so and made them better. And the worst parts made us better. The screeching and the hollering that happened back in the day.
00:33:04
Speaker
know I never wanted to teach like that because I hated being treated like that. So I found in this activity that you tend to learn more from bad teaching habits as opposed to good teaching habits. You forget about them. You forget about how good it was or how you got so good.
00:33:21
Speaker
Anyway, so that's just some of my past. I've worked a million years with um John Bandicoff and and Jim Moore and Greg Legola, April Gilligan-Martinez, all those folks, you know. I've worked with so many different writers, choreographers, Matt Adams, I mean, the list just goes on, you know.
00:33:40
Speaker
And i I've learned from every single one of them, you know. And I loved the challenge of being able to take their vision of what they choreographed and then blend that to all the people I was teaching, the members I had in front me,
00:33:55
Speaker
to make them look like one and more importantly to make that interpret what it is that the choreographer was kind of leaning towards so i love that part i love that part of teaching and just spent a lot of time talking about that with somebody else that we're afforded referred to like tax know there's a bunch hacks but the fact of the matter is that every technician is also a designer because you're taking you're taking that choreography And you are creating the techniques behind that, which is a whole craft and of itself.
00:34:26
Speaker
But more importantly, making sure that performers perform that in the manner that the choreographer wanted it to be performed. You know, so it's a whole craft and of itself. It takes years to hone.
00:34:38
Speaker
It takes years and years to understand but what motivates the body, certain parts of the body and of the energy behind it and all of that. Yeah. And all of that learning has helped me from a judging perspective, because when I'm looking at something, when I'm looking at skills, I know what it took for them to get to that point.
00:34:59
Speaker
as good as they are, are issues that they've got, you know, and I typically know what they need to do to fix, to fix, to make it right, you know, so, and we're not supposed to, you know, our job as a judge is not to, to be in that, that position.
00:35:14
Speaker
We're not the teacher. ah We can also tell you what's wrong. And then you guys are supposed to figure out how to make it work right, you know? So anyway, yeah. There's times when I do step over that line sometimes when I really feel that it's going to help, you know, a lot of the younger instructors that came out of that program and they're just learning.
00:35:33
Speaker
And there are times that I will spend time and critique or whatever and talking to them about different ways to rehearse the guard, different programs to set up to help them. So I do go outside of those boundaries at times. Trust me.
00:35:46
Speaker
I loved something you said a few minutes ago that I kind of wanted to circle back to about Peggy. um Because my favorite thing about her is she was such a champion for the flag line. i flagged during I was forced to spin weapon for two seasons and I hated every minute of it. So I i love what you said about it um and about growing up down the street from her. So is she the person that kind of pulled you into the activity originally?
00:36:13
Speaker
think, well, well My father, actually, he started his career oh yeah in drum corps. And so it became a family thing. I mean, I grew up in drum corps, you know, so that's all I knew from when I was probably 12 or 13 years old.
00:36:31
Speaker
And so that's kind of where I started. And interesting enough, I never marched Wintergarde. I always taught Wintergarde. Even when I was marching drum corps, I was teaching Wintergarde.
00:36:44
Speaker
um You know, and that was back to St. Anthony Imperial Day, you know, so that's the we're talking in the beginning just before WGI started. the So so I always I always taught Wintergard. I personally went into a lot of different individuals back in the day. It was a big thing like I&E.
00:37:02
Speaker
I did a lot of individuals, individualized by my career. but you know So I was always performing someplace. you know I'm still performing as a judge, I guess. That's such a deep memory for me just now. I completely forgot about it.
00:37:17
Speaker
but yeah I forgot that that even existed. Does it still exist? No, they finally, think they got rid of it at DCI. You know, the course just don't, you know, it was always a nuisance to. yeah sad and numbers much matter and Yeah. all that right So I think they finally, I believe they finally, you know, got rid of the program, unfortunately. So yeah.
00:37:40
Speaker
Yeah. But anyway, so that's kind of how I started. I started in drum corps and started, they used to have drill teams back then. So used to write drill. Drill teams and teach drill teams. And, you know, so, but I never was on, was never on a gymnasium. I did. I take that back.
00:37:57
Speaker
I did an instructor couple of years. They had the, they the local, the local circuit had an instructor's guard. It was like crazy. Love that.
00:38:08
Speaker
George Zingali, Jim Vitegliato, Peggy Twiggs, all of us, we all marched, we all performed on the floor and with some crazy music and stuff. and it you know And we had fun with it. We had fun with it. And that was like the highlight of the year, waiting for the instructor's guard to come out. you know So anyway. my gosh. We need video of that.
00:38:29
Speaker
I don't know if there was any back then, but it's hilarious hilarious. I want my circuit to do that so bad. That would be fun. I mean, the kids go wild for it because now here they are, all their instructors are now on the floor, you know, and they get to yell at them for dropping a rifle or dropping a flag or whatever, you know?
00:38:47
Speaker
Yeah, it's hysterical. Yeah.
00:38:51
Speaker
So talk to us about a little bit about breaking into the judging community. I mean, as a woman who had all this, wealth of knowledge and experience. um Did you, were there any challenges?
00:39:03
Speaker
You know, I mean, it's kind of odd because I mean, even myself growing up, you know, in the activity, you know, there was so many girls or women marching and performing. And it would always seem like there was just so few women on the judging panel.
00:39:20
Speaker
Was that, did you, did you face, you know, did you face any struggles with that or was it pretty seamless or? well Back, I guess when I was teaching Emeril Marquis, and was on, you know, ah an instructor's panel, you know, that WGI had.
00:39:37
Speaker
WGI had this group of people that were part judges, part instructors, and it was all under Shirley Whitcomb, you know, tutelage that we were writing, we were writing the WGI program.
00:39:49
Speaker
philosophy. We were writing the judges system. So, or rewriting it from originally what it was. And I was a part of that. And I worked hand in hand with Shirley, every word that was in that book, you know, her and I labored over that.
00:40:03
Speaker
And so while I was still teaching, but was writing and defining, you know, what the adjudication system was all about. And I did that for, don't know, close to 10 years with her, working with her.
00:40:16
Speaker
So When an Emerald Marquis folded their last year, she said to me, okay, you've written the words, you know the philosophy, you know the system, now it's time for you to put it into work.
00:40:29
Speaker
And I was so surprised my first year judging, and I never thought about the male-female thing, to tell you the truth. I knew that there weren't a lot of women on the judging panels at that time.
00:40:42
Speaker
I never really thought about that. i just I just wanted to make sure that I could now take this philosophy and interpret it the way it should be interpreted. And that's the biggest issue that you know newer judges have is that we all know the language of teaching, right? When we're cleaning something, when we're working something, we're designing something, we understand what that language is.
00:41:02
Speaker
But now taking that language and putting it into you know the judging system. So it's the implementation of it that makes it either the success or a failure. for every person that's actually judging, you know? and And was really, I was surprised by all of that, you know, how much more difficult it was to be able to communicate, knowing I know what I saw, but now being able to talk about how I saw that as it relates to vocabulary, excellence, composition, you know, repertoire, all that stuff.
00:41:34
Speaker
So that was challenge. And it was interesting that its it's still taking a while, you know, to get more women involved in judging. There are definitely more than there ever has been, which is fantastic, you know.
00:41:49
Speaker
And in fact, to tell you the truth, I think it was maybe two years ago. It was the first time there was an all-female panel downstairs in IA in both movement and equipment. So, um mean, how old is WGI, right? We're talking 40-whatever years, you know. It took that long.
00:42:06
Speaker
It took that long to get four women down there, you know, on those captions downstairs, you know, so. That's amazing. Yeah, it was exciting. It was exciting, you know, just finally, you know, so anyway.
00:42:21
Speaker
And I just think that we're better with numbers. I don't know. We're all, you know, women are just, you know, we're more tactical in nature and, you know, all of that. I'm only joking, but anyway. so I immediately thought of the song earlier, the girls who run the world.
00:42:37
Speaker
That's correct. Denise, one of the reasons I was very excited to be part of this panel and to chat with you is and because I wanted to ask question of you.
00:42:47
Speaker
have judged in the fall for about 10 years now. And, you know, I judge every year. But this weekend, I'm going to be trial judging in winter for the very first time. I'm very, very excited. I'm so spending half of the day doing movement and half of the day in design analysis, which are really the the captions I feel the strongest about.
00:43:07
Speaker
So as a seasoned judge to a brand new judge, do you have any advice for me? I do actually, because more recently in the past few years, I judge equipment and I've also been judging design analysis.
00:43:24
Speaker
And the synergy there is that they're both analytical captions. That's the synergy. But my greatest challenge is coming down, when you're downstairs on equipment, you're very skill-based, right?
00:43:36
Speaker
When you come upstairs, it's not about the skills. It's about how those skills are composed to the design. And it's still still to this day, I want to talk about the skills of what they're doing as opposed to talking about how, you know, the reasons why they were written, whether they're musical, you know, all those things.
00:43:56
Speaker
ah you know, um so from a composition perspective. So yeah that's the area that I still, and in fact, I spent most of my day today, just going over design analysis. And, you know, because I've been judging equipment for so many years, that DA caption, you know, there's a lot of, there's a lot of comparisons, like points of comparisons on the back of that sheet that really need to know them in order to be successful and and judging that caption. So just remember to stay big picture, you know, upstairs and stuff talking because we talk talk talk downstairs because we're looking at skills like every muscle that move we're looking at that and then we eventually talk about that whereas upstairs it's a whole different perspective or you need to sit back and take it let it absorb a little bit you know and then talk about you know what's great about it or not so great or where they have opportunities to you know to further the develop cool thank you thank you i hope that helps
00:44:53
Speaker
Yeah, it does. it actually Absolutely. good Good. Trish, do you judge? you i just don't. And people have been telling me for years should. I'm just not ready to give up the other side of it yet. know. That's the hard part. It is.
00:45:09
Speaker
That's the hard part. Yeah. And WGI made some rules this year that if you teach, you can't judge. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And so some of those judges that were impacted by that, they are doing some of the regionals, but they're not allowed to judge WGI, which I think that I'm hopeful.
00:45:26
Speaker
am hopeful that that rule will change because, you know, I think it's important that judges stay involved in this activity to see what's going on and to kind of be part of that and learn, learn from that because we learn from that independent world-class.
00:45:42
Speaker
that world class is supposed to be, you know, basically all their virtuosic and they're setting standards for this activity. the And there's creativity that's happening there, you know? So that's the class that we kind of learn from. And I think it's important that, you know, as a judge that we're connected to that, you know, we get to experience that someday, you know, at times. And to see how the kids have changed too.
00:46:06
Speaker
yes. Kids have changed so much. Like, You know, a couple of weeks ago, I had a kid who was really, really sick. And my designer's like, should come to the show? said, I can't do that. I can't put her out there. Like, I can't do that. Where, you know, when we were kids, we were out there sick, tired. We were out there hurt.
00:46:26
Speaker
I mean, I'm watched WGI finals one year with a broken finger. I mean, things like that happen, but yeah, I mean, I think it's important for you make a really good point for judges to still be in the gym and seeing, you know, that, you know, it's very different now and you know, it's really important, but let's, let's transition to something a little bit more fun.
00:46:47
Speaker
So, We have a part of our um show that we like to include our guests on, and it's called, What Part of the Marching Arts Are You? You could be the ballad. You could be the intense woodwind feature.
00:47:00
Speaker
Maybe the band parent pushing the prop on. What is something in the marching arts that really describes who you are? i would be the soloist.
00:47:10
Speaker
I like that answer. i would be the soloist. Yes. That I can free form whatever I want. Give me a program. I got it. ah That's what I would be. I would be soloist. I love that. I love how quickly you had that answer too.
00:47:23
Speaker
Yeah. bri What are you? I don't remember what your answer was when we did this before. Oh, it's so hard because I would, I would say,
00:47:36
Speaker
pretty valid with the sabers because I love sabers but I know people think that I'm like such a big mouth and like such a loud mouth and they probably would say I'm like you know the opener or you know you know the last 16 counts of the closer or something like that but the screaming trumpet in the closer right perfect that's hysterical what are we doing
00:48:10
Speaker
what are we doing? So, um, the, what are we doing segment? Who wants to go first? do You guys have a, what are we doing this week? I do have a, what are we doing? What are we doing?
00:48:22
Speaker
Having to tell people, that the announc What are we doing that the announcer has to tell people to sit down at a WGI regional and not walk around during somebody's performance?
00:48:35
Speaker
I watched Indy last weekend, and I know it's a little bit that was a little bit tricky of a setup at Warren Central because it does look like There's a track around the top. And, but people were literally walking during, and then I even said it here. I even posted a status.
00:48:52
Speaker
Will the person walking around during Lafayette show, please sit down. And then the announcer came on and said, I'd like to remind our spectators that there should be no walking around or um moving around while a color guard is on the floor.
00:49:04
Speaker
Why does that need to be announced? Like, why does that, does that have to be said? Just do it. Just like, you know, it should not have to be said. It is a should pandemic.
00:49:15
Speaker
It's a pandemic. I went to a Broadway performance and it's same stuff is happening. And it's, I don't want to blame the literal pandemic and use that as scapegoat, but somehow society lost so much etiquette during that time. And, and that performance etiquette is, is gone and it ah drives me crazy. Denise, what about you? Do you have a lot reading? During one, you know, if you're judging the show and a guard doesn't show up and then the whole show stops.
00:49:43
Speaker
Like we have, you know, because they weren they won't let the next guard go on, you know, until their time has come or whatever, even though they're standing there waiting, waiting, waiting, right? Yeah. So that's disturbing. And every regional has somebody that ah pulls out and then here we are, we're hanging We're waiting, you know, all that stuff. And everyone's getting antsy and all that. So anyway, what are we doing with that?
00:50:07
Speaker
We should fill that time with a dance break. Yeah, something. Lighten up the place a little bit or, you know, agree. Denise, the gush and go section. This is your time to brag or tell us about something awesome going on right now. you have a gush and go?
00:50:24
Speaker
I mean, we're in the midst of the WGI regional season, but I do have a wish. I do wish to someday take a picture of a whole female panel upstairs judging a fact in design analysis, ladies.
00:50:36
Speaker
So that's what my wish is. Yes. I would love to see that. So would I. would I. Mm-hmm. Well, Denise, and I know Trish will probably want to say the same thing, but thank you so much that for joining us. You are an inspiration in the activity. And all I've been thinking this whole time is I hope the younger people in the activity.
00:50:59
Speaker
listen to this segment and, and hear you talk about what a rich history WGI has, WGI has, but it's a short. And, you know, even for me listening to you talk, I'm like, you taught people that taught me.
00:51:12
Speaker
and I feel like WGI is something that's lasted so long, but really it's not, you know, it's, It's not been around as long as I feel like it has been sometimes. So thank you for that reminder. And I hope and people listening um feel the way that way too, but church, I'll let you wrap up our segment with Denise.
00:51:29
Speaker
Denise, thank you so much for coming on. It's always a pleasure to talk to you and reconnect and just go back to, I mean, I say this, I said this on the Peggy podcast and I say it to Brian and all those people all the time.
00:51:42
Speaker
I'm so grateful for the instruction that I had when I was a kid, because, you know, I can apply it now and I can bring my passion to, you know, from that I have to them.
00:51:56
Speaker
and like, they just came back from a week long break and we had rehearsal last night and my movement person also works with fusion and we have not seen fusion live yet. We have not seen them. The one show we were going to see them at, it was canceled. It was snowed out.
00:52:10
Speaker
So they have not seen them live. Jackie walked in the door and they were like, oh my God, can you teach us that fusion flag feature? I'm like, oh my God, they've already seen fusion like on video. You know what i mean?
00:52:23
Speaker
So like, because of the foundation that I have and the passion that I bring now, my kids have it. And I'm so grateful for that. That's awesome. That's awesome. I love hearing that stuff.
00:52:35
Speaker
Well, thank you both for having me. It's been a joy to, I love talking about our history. I like talking about our past. I like talking about our future. Our future is bright, you know, at WGI. And will be getting on plane tomorrow, heading to Philly to see you, Trish.
00:52:52
Speaker
Maybe Sunday. have a show Saturday. all alright well I'll be sure to say hello for sure. Alicia, was great to meet you.
00:53:10
Speaker
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00:53:30
Speaker
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00:53:44
Speaker
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00:53:58
Speaker
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00:54:24
Speaker
Hey, everyone. We are back. Trish and Alicia. Let's talk about that Denise interview. It was so good. it was good. Just I'm forever shocked at how vast WGI history is, but how short it is. And that's all I could think about the whole time. I don't know about Trish.
00:54:46
Speaker
She really goes into like every aspect of the marching arts that she's been involved in from teaching to being a director to judging. She goes, she runs the gamut and it's really, really, it was a really great,
00:55:01
Speaker
interview with her. Yeah. We need to get her back on at some point and get more more specific with some of her topics because we could learn a lot from her. Oh, I know. I love talking to her. It just makes like such a perspective on the whole activity and everything that we've done. It's all man.
00:55:19
Speaker
It's amazing. So everybody needs to know we are starting a new segment. called the 60-second tech block. So each one of our hosts or guest clinicians are going to be forced, forced, I say, to give a 60-second tech session with the section that needs it the most after their last run. So...
00:55:41
Speaker
but Basically, our special tech this week had to choose three topics that they thought they could give 60 seconds nonstop speech about. And maybe it'll help some of our listeners out there. So this week, we are going to start by bringing Alicia to the podium.
00:56:00
Speaker
Hello. I'm excited. ah You said your best topics were number one, across the floor performance. Number two, marching block posture.
00:56:13
Speaker
And number three, pointing your toes. And you guys, what do you want to vote? What do you vote on this? What topic? Across the floors. Yeah, I could be into that.
00:56:24
Speaker
All right Let's do it. I'm all about it. As long as Christy, you cool with that? Jackie, what are you? I was already going to say across the floors because of what you told us before we started the recording. And then I just realized you said that before Whitney even got in and Whitney wanted to hear about across the floors too. So it's meant to be.
00:56:41
Speaker
e What did I say? don't remember. About you were doing across the floors on a field. Oh yeah. Yeah. Drum Corps. Not that this is story time, but I mean, I just associated with things. I'll tell you, I don't do across the floors outside with my kids like ever because of my own experience, breaking an ankle in the middle of my last year of drum corps.
00:57:05
Speaker
But I digress. um I'm a movement person through and through. i have tons of movement things to talk about for sure. So Do I have a countdown for this? It sounds like you're ready.
00:57:16
Speaker
Yeah, of course. Trisha's the timer. 60 seconds. 60 seconds. 60 seconds. 60 seconds.
00:57:33
Speaker
ah So across the floors, you have to use them at the time, not just to teach technique and and connecting dots and lines. We've got to use that to train and teach performance, right? And lifting up and posture.
00:57:45
Speaker
And in the dance world, you don't go across the floor. You go corner to corner so you can see yourself. in the mirror the way i translate that background into my across the floor block is when we're moving across the floor i'm always asking the kids where are the judges and at all times we're turning our heads to our judges so if we're moving sideways across the band room our judges are going to be up right at the top of the gym so we're tilting everything this way and i joke about like show off your highlighter or what kind of blush do you have on let us see that 20 seconds
00:58:17
Speaker
The entire time we're doing Across the Floors, no matter what technique we are doing, we are focused on finding those judges, lifting up, being available and performing. And it will translate to your floor always.
00:58:32
Speaker
Girl, you made it. Ooh, yes. That was pretty good. Way to What do you guys think? I could do the same. Great minds. We're on the same wavelength there.
00:58:45
Speaker
There's so much to learn in Across the Floor time. Can you do um flag or weapon across the floors? Never a weapon. I use flag across the floor, though, for sure.
00:58:56
Speaker
I'm too scared of weapon. Like, personally scared of weapon. so So this is a really interesting thing for me to share, but I'm going to do it. So have zero dance experience.
00:59:10
Speaker
I don't even know what the terms that people use on my movement tapes. So I hire someone to do all of my movement, all of it, even ah to hire somebody to do my across the floors, which, and they know that's good. but That's definitely my weakest area as an instructor. And I'm cool admitting that. And I really don't want to learn.
00:59:31
Speaker
don't want to know. will gladly pay someone to do all of my movement. Every bit of it. Christy, don't know anything about accounting. i pay someone to do my taxes.
00:59:43
Speaker
Like I'm all about it. I do think and I will preach to everybody that I ever talk because movement affects every caption. you know, as long as you're reinforcing it and you're not just doing it to go through the motions. I see so many instructors, but like, okay, jazz walks, because we always do jazz walks. Like, and we're just going through the motions and we're not using that time to reinforce technique and performance.
01:00:08
Speaker
So I think yeah as long as that element's there, hey whoever. Absolutely. Well, this is the perfect time to talk about what are we doing?
01:00:18
Speaker
What are we doing?
01:00:27
Speaker
What are we doing? I am not supposed to be the first one to go for this, but I'm going to be the first one to go with my what are we doing today? Because I want to know, what are we doing not talking about what this prop is in Christy's show? Because for real, how big is it? What what is it? What's going on?
01:00:48
Speaker
So I will tell you the inspiration for and the prop, where it came from. Shenandoah, like...
01:00:57
Speaker
2018, 2017 had a platform that rotated at the end of their show. And they all jumped on it and did this really tight flag work. It was beautiful.
01:01:09
Speaker
And when I saw it, I said, we're gonna do that. and But it's not gonna be a square, it's gonna be an hourglass. So we built a giant hourglass.
01:01:19
Speaker
I say we, my amazing prop parents. built a giant hourglass out of wood and it's on wheels and it breaks into four. And we never made it to the part where it spins.
01:01:35
Speaker
because it's very expensive to get something motorized underneath such a heavy prop that can hold 18 performers. All those logistical nightmares happened.
01:01:50
Speaker
So the prop does not spin, but it does separate. We haven't built it back into the show. It wasn't the show. We had to take it out. um But so here's the deal.
01:02:01
Speaker
The prop is 24 feet by feet 24 feet by 24 feet. It's huge. It is it is huge. It takes two minutes to set up. And we have to shave that down by 30 seconds in the next three weeks, which is challenging.
01:02:18
Speaker
Are you getting your kids up on top of it like you planned? Yes. How are you handling that with the rule? Oh, yeah. so So we we use the prop throughout the show. We're on it and we're off of it throughout the show. And then the the ending is um ah moment where they're all on the prop together, sharing that space super close together.
01:02:39
Speaker
Wait, are they all 24 feet in the air? Oh, no, no, no. I meant like 24 by 24 by 24, like in a square.
01:02:51
Speaker
like, how did you get that? Doorway? Okay, so so it's flat. I'm going to tag you. I thought you meant literally like a giant three-story. I was too. I thought they were like in the rafters of the gym. That would be great though.
01:03:11
Speaker
Okay, so it's only, it's less than two feet off. It's a platform. It's a platform, like two feet off the ground. Okay, that makes more sense. Yes, it does. I'll tag you in the TikTok of the video of my parents putting it together at the last competition. So it's earned us a lot of a time deduction. i mean, deductions on timing, but it's going to be worth it when we figure it out and we get out of that deduction range. We'll be fine.
01:03:36
Speaker
It's beautiful, though. It looks great. play yeah ah just keep in. Like we've had we've had multiple parents have had grandparents stitches, bruised ankles.
01:03:50
Speaker
Yeah. So where when we just keep telling them it's amazing. It's beautiful. We love the prop. It is great. broke We are pro prop. Sometimes you just got to make sacrifices to make your dreams happen.
01:04:04
Speaker
Yes. There's no going back. The prop is happening. yes All right. Trish, what are we doing? So i was inspired by listening to Christie's stories about, you know, her guards first regional and stuff like that. it took me back.
01:04:22
Speaker
my Northern Valley team's very first regional 2017 Trumbull regional. Now, again, like I had two guards in that show that Northern Valley was regional. I was with the Scholastic A guard as well. So, I mean, I've been through gamut and whatever, but so we get there.
01:04:39
Speaker
i ah walk in, I do the sound check. Now we competed in that Connecticut circuit a few times. So I happened to, they hired them for the regional. So happened to know them really well. We did sound check. Everything was great.
01:04:52
Speaker
I get the kids out on the floor. I had been sick that whole weekend. I kept telling my friend, I'm never going to hear announcer say, WHI Sport of the Arts is proud to re present Northern Valley High School. I'm going to be sick. I'm not going to make it, which I did. It was all good.
01:05:05
Speaker
So we get there. do the sound check. All that happens. We get out on the floor and we did Crimea River by Michael Bublé. And it went dun, dun, dun, dun.
01:05:17
Speaker
So I stopped it. I was like, absolutely not. I went down and stopped the show. And I said, I would have taken, like saying you're taking that penalty. I would have taken a 20 point penalty that day to have those kids have a good prelims run for their first ever regional.
01:05:32
Speaker
I would not have even cared. So now I'm going through the rounds with my Scholastic A team with Smelford and Tom Beresford, the chief judge of day comes running and finds me in the equipment warmup.
01:05:44
Speaker
And he says to me, did you do a sound check? And I said, absolutely. He goes, okay, then you're off the hook. There's no penalty, no anything. You're good. Don't worry about it. So always, always, always do your sound check.
01:05:57
Speaker
Even if it's on CompSuite, it's fine. but Now we use CompSuite, whatever, the fact that we did, it's fine. It'll be all good. Always do your sound check anyway because today they might come and say to you, something happened music. Did you do a sound check?
01:06:10
Speaker
So it ended up being the fault of the guy who actually dropped the pitch and messed the whole thing up. So what was he doing that day? But to share ah regional horror story with you, I feel you.
01:06:23
Speaker
I've been there. What are we doing? Skipping soundcheck. Don't ever do that part.
01:06:31
Speaker
Whitney. What are we doing? Okay. Mine is... It's not, I'm not digging anyone. It's just really funny that this happened. But everyone is using Hope by NF this year.
01:06:45
Speaker
Like, there were literally five guards in finals at Indy that used it. On Saturday, Milford and Warren Central used it back to back. Back to back.
01:06:56
Speaker
It was like, oh, no, we're really... Wait, we're doing this. Oh, it's not a mistake. You didn't hit the. It's like, did we accidentally use the same soundtrack? Nope. Nope. Everybody's just using it. And it's so funny because I love NF and I saw him last June in concert.
01:07:13
Speaker
And it it's just funny because somehow that's the song. But like, I mean, he doesn't curse in any of his music. So, and that's, that's why I really got into him. Cause I'm like, Oh my God, I can, this is rap that I can use at rehearsal around high school kids. Cause doesn't really exist otherwise.
01:07:31
Speaker
And he's, he's just really good. So it's just funny that like now everybody's using him. and Everybody's using the same song. Like there's so many good songs on his, like on his list, you know, like it's just, it's hilarious. like This year hide and seek or what is it? Turning table. last year Everybody did busy Borden.
01:07:50
Speaker
Last year was Lizzie Borden. and this year is And the Golden Hour. that was Golden Hour. was yeah oh Kill me. never want to hear that song again. i feel so old because I'd never even heard of this. So I just just looked it up.
01:08:03
Speaker
I'm going to listen to it when we're done. You're going to also listen to his album. I will. It's all really good. and You can actually play it around your high school kids.
01:08:15
Speaker
So what are we doing not like checking in with other guards in the area and finding out what other shows we're doing. mean, you're kind friends. I mean... Well, this goes back to the whole, like, being secretive about your show thing. Yes. Everybody's secretive and everybody's doing the same thing at at the Indie Regional. I don't know. It's just, it's crazy that, like, that happens.
01:08:37
Speaker
You know, like, i mean, it happens with, like, color schemes, too, a lot, I notice. Like, last year, everybody wore red. Like, everybody was wearing red. Blue's always a popular color, but, like, last year, it was, like,
01:08:48
Speaker
Oh my God. The top three guards are all wearing red. Like just stuff like that happens, like not on purpose, but it just does. So that's the trend this year. But again, if we announced our shows,
01:09:00
Speaker
or weren't so secretive about everything, maybe more people would have chosen that song. Whitney, is it you that does the like what's on trend recaps after WGI every year that I love? yeah I do the, what I learned at WGI. i Yes. Yeah.
01:09:15
Speaker
You just reminded me of it. I'm very excited for this year. i I'll write on that. Christy, what are we doing? all right. So have to go a different direction here. i need to take this time to ask, what are we doing having an elementary color guard in every single town?
01:09:37
Speaker
And here's why. My kids, my current kids on my varsity team, 80% of them started in fourth and fifth grade. So, so like we're missing a big opportunity when these kids have that opportunity to join,
01:09:55
Speaker
you know, competitive cheer, competitive dance, and they're four and five years old, you're missing the boat when they get when it comes time to be in guard because they're already, the parents are $80,000 deep in competitive cheer. They're not go let them switch over to guard in ninth grade or when they get to middle school.
01:10:15
Speaker
So I feel like I don't know how to go about... making this happen. Just wish that we had more elementary teams competing against each other in local circuits.
01:10:26
Speaker
I wish that the cadet level would start seeing more time, like in WGI. I feel like all these other areas are starting so young, we need to jump on that boat, because how awesome would it be for all of your ninth graders to have five years experience on FLAG?
01:10:43
Speaker
Or even more. I wish we would have had you on a few months ago. and We did an interview with Nanette DeRiemer from um Washington Elementary in Pennsylvania. And she has an elementary school program.
01:10:56
Speaker
And they were amazing. And... She's got like 75 kids in the program now. And I'm an elementary school teacher. I'm a kindergarten teacher. And I just started, actually had club today.
01:11:09
Speaker
and I actually started, every teacher had to do a club. So I was like, all right, I'm going to color guard club. So I have a little color guard club at my elementary school too. And Nanette and I were just kind of really... you know, brainstorming and it would have been yeah really great, but you should really check that episode out. That was, I will, was really good. I will.
01:11:26
Speaker
It's something I'm very passionate about because I've seen the benefits of it, you know, six, seven, eight years down the road that my fourth and fifth graders are now finally seniors and juniors. So you're finally getting a feeling of someone who's had all that experience. And even though what they're doing at fourth and fifth grade is super simple It equates to them being able to handle the equipment so much better because they're so comfortable with it And it's just another part of something that they can be a part of at school. So I'm trying to snag as many of them as young as I can because that's how your varsity team is going to grow.
01:12:02
Speaker
and then they get into middle school and they start looking up their own moves online and experimenting. and It's great. What are we doing without elementary school guards? We need those kind of programs.
01:12:17
Speaker
Alicia, what are we doing? roll What this everybody, what are we doing? Ripping off prior world class shows.
01:12:30
Speaker
I think there is a big difference between being inspired by something, using a part of something. but Like Christy's example of She Saw, She Was Awesome rotating prop, and that inspired this prop she's using this year.
01:12:45
Speaker
I'm talking about watching video after video of the same show and taking the staging, the music, pieces of choreography, the costuming, What are we doing?
01:12:57
Speaker
Because that's happening in my local circuit this year. And I'm not going to trash talk anybody, but it's also not the first time it's happened. And when your regional A kids are trying to do a world-class show, that is a very, very popular world-class show. It's not a good look for you.
01:13:12
Speaker
That's all I got. And they they didn't buy the show off of the designer or something. They just literally ripped it off. Oh my gosh. Yeah. yeah It's not cute.
01:13:23
Speaker
And the drill is what kills me, the staging, because they have been about the same amount of kids. The only thing they changed is the prop. They've you know altered, and what they're doing works with the song, and it works with the theme, but it's...
01:13:37
Speaker
No one is sitting in that gym that is any part of this activity. No one's watching that not knowing what they stole from. And that's what it is. At that point, it is stealing.
01:13:49
Speaker
And I could go on and on about intellectual property and who owns a show when the season's over. Is it the designer? or Is it the school or choreographer? Whatever. But at that point, it's stealing and I'm not.
01:14:01
Speaker
I'm Yeah. Color guard plagiarism is so real. Yeah. And it's like, you can't copyright it you know? when... yeahly ah When a place I marched, Pride Cincinnati, took the prop idea, the seesaw proppy thing, the gravity prop from, mean, they got in a lot of trouble for that. Like they, I always wonder what came of that.
01:14:25
Speaker
There was trouble. I don't know exactly what happened, but I know that like there were lawsuits, potential suing and things. Good for that artist. I mean, I don't want, I don't wish negative on any Winter Guard program, but good for that artist. Yeah. um Yeah.
01:14:40
Speaker
Well, the thing is, like, and I kind of felt after seeing Cincinnati and then seeing social media, his like his his anti-gravity thing started popping up and like his accounts were like getting some more exposure.
01:14:55
Speaker
Like, yes, he was he was French, I think. Right. Did they just assume that just because he was in another country that people weren't going to notice that he had the exact same. There was no effort to make the prop look any different from what his original design was. And that kind of blew my mind. And I just remember seeing that comment on one of the Pride of Cincinnati videos from the artist that said, that's my prop. Can I talk to you?
01:15:26
Speaker
I think the whole color guard world saw that and gasped collectively. Yeah. Don't steal. Stealing is bad. My three-year-old could tell you that.
01:15:40
Speaker
All right, let's switch it up and get over to it. Great job, everyone. your equipment down. Gush and go.
01:15:48
Speaker
Let's start off with Trish.
Personal Experiences and Event Highlights
01:15:50
Speaker
Okay, my gush and go is I'm watching a ton of flow marching the last few weekends. And I am so excited for WGI this year. There are so many amazing shows. They really are. think it's going to be a really, really good Dayton this year. And I'm really excited.
01:16:09
Speaker
That's my question. Go.
01:16:13
Speaker
Alicia? I never gush and go about myself, but this is going to be my first. I um and just super excited. I'm starting to book out through the fall. Currently, I only have one weekend open for judging.
01:16:27
Speaker
So if you need a visual effect, visual ensemble, or a color guard judge on October 11th, hit me up. It's my only available date. and And then today I booked a choreography client and it's going to kind of turn into a full program coordinator position with them, I think, that I'm very excited about.
01:16:47
Speaker
And that is my third for the fall right now. And I usually limit myself to six. So I'm just, it's early for that stuff to be getting nailed down and I'm excited about it. and Yeah. Yeah.
01:16:59
Speaker
People are getting on their stuff right now. That's awesome. Whitney, gush and go. um my god, I was like, I just did my, what are we doing? I'm here. Gush and go. It's definitely mid-season.
01:17:15
Speaker
We have the Austin Regional this weekend, and it's on flow, so watch my kids. um That's all. Just competitions.
01:17:26
Speaker
don't know. Yeah. when i said Christy, what do you want to gush and go on about? oh So my gush and go is going to be follow us on TikTok. And here's, we not only provide amazing and funny and relatable content, I think that a really good way to support other color wards is really just to follow them on social media, comment on their stuff, like their stuff, share it.
01:17:56
Speaker
And that just helps the community grow because when you get little, you get to squeeze into mainstream. Social media is kind of the way to do that in the color guard world.
01:18:07
Speaker
And every now and then something really crazy happens. Like our baseball coach at school said, did I see you? on TikTok with your color guard group, he had no idea we even had a page, but it showed up on his. So we like, you just gotta, I feel like that's the way we're going to get out there. So just be, follow everybody. Everybody that has a flag in their hand, follow them, comment, do all the things.
01:18:31
Speaker
I just went to follow and look, there it is. New follower of anyone. and That's what
Authenticity and Community Engagement
01:18:37
Speaker
it looks like. I really don't have that many followers. We really don't. That's not compared to some of these people, but we do have some. Almost 13,000 people following you. Could you imagine if 13,000 people walked into this room right now and they were looking at you?
01:18:52
Speaker
Well, yeah, but I guess. but we keep it real you you're gonna see me in my robe sometime like it's it's a real thing it's not all for show i promise you'll find that out really quickly that's the best way to be well i don't have did you see the prop yet it's not too far down there i just watched the 15 million views episode it's called gush and go not gushing stay let's go god the band director's yelling at us uh-oh I'm sorry. That's because I don't have a gush and go this week. So I'm just happy you're all here. That's my gush.
01:19:28
Speaker
So thanks for a great rehearsal this week. This is a great way to kick off Women's History Month. Thank you, Trish, Alicia, and Whitney. Thank you, Denise, for being on with us and bringing your amazing stories and wisdom.
01:19:43
Speaker
Thank you to our guest clinician, Christy, Of course, shout it out one more time. Where can we find you on your social media? On TikTok. It's at Supermama. And you'll see all the flags. It's great.
01:19:55
Speaker
And let me tell you something. And the prop. And to be, to actually just be mentioned in the same podcast as Denise, I think I'm going to need, like, I'm going need moment for that. Right?
01:20:06
Speaker
Love you, Denise, wherever you are. I don't know where she is, but I'm honored. Oh, well good luck with your season. Thank you. And to all of our listeners out there who are competing right now, good luck to you guys as well.
01:20:20
Speaker
If you have a question or a good topic to talk about, email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com or find us on our social media and DM us if you want to be on the show. We even have a form now you can fill out if you want to be a guest because we love having people on our podcast. So check that out.
01:20:37
Speaker
It's at our link in bio on all of our social media. Or you could just take out your phone, make a video, and send it to us.
01:20:47
Speaker
Give us your are we doings and your gush and go and maybe you'll see yourself on the podcast soon. One more thing, don't forget about our YouTube channel. Go subscribe. You can see all of our lovely faces. You can see the beautiful sunburn that I got today February.
01:21:05
Speaker
And all of our other shenanigans that we get up to, like Alicia changing her name to Jeremy after her producer. Oh, forgot we record.
01:21:16
Speaker
Plugged my own like judging business. Come find me. My name's not Jeremy. It's all good. all good. We'll link you. So also before you close out of your podcast listening app, go subscribe, read review, share this with a friend, follow us on all social media at on a water break, and we'll see you at the next rehearsal on a water break.
01:21:45
Speaker
The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit LidaMusic.com. And until next time, thanks for tuning