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From Cadet Guard to World Stage: Meridian WG, Heat Safety & WGI’s New Regional Plus Events - Water Break Weekly
217 Plays13 days ago
Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
This week on On A Water Break, Alicia Sharp (@aliciaoninsta2), Nicole Younger (@o2bnpjs), and special guests Angela & Adam Miller from Meridian Independent Winter Guard take us from the earliest days of cadet guard training to the thrill of performing at WGI World Championships. We talk about how they’ve built a program where members start in 3rd grade, stick around for years, and grow into confident, high-level performers.
In the News, we dive into:
• Heat safety in marching band after 11 Mississippi students collapsed during extreme temperatures — and why policies for football don’t always apply to band.
• WGI’s new Regional Plus events launching in 2026 — double panels, more feedback, and what it means for performers and instructors.
• Rumblings about WGI’s new judges training platform and why mentorship matters for future adjudicators.
Angela also takes on our 60-Second Tech Block with rapid-fire tips for teaching cadet guard, we all vent in Water We Doing?! about swing flag rules, prop setup times, last-minute show orders, and the epidemic of open-mouth performing, and then we end with some big smiles in Gush & Go.
Panelists & Guests
🎙️ Alicia Sharp — @aliciaoninsta2
🎙️ Nicole Younger — @o2bnpjs
🎙️ Angela & Adam Miller — @meridianwg (FB/IG/TikTok) | meridianwinterguard.com
Sponsors
🧳 Peak Group Travel – Helping you navigate your next adventure, from across the country to your next competition.
📍 peakgrouptravel.com | IG/FB: @peak.group.travel
👗 Guard Closet – Your one-stop shop for guard gear, consignment, and custom design.
📍 guardcloset.com | IG/FB/TikTok: @guardcloset
Listen Everywhere
🔗 YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | onawaterbreak.com
Hashtags
#MarchingArts #ColorGuard #WGI #CadetGuard #MeridianWG #WinterGuard #MarchingBand #DrumCorps #GuardTeaching #HeatSafety #RegionalPlus #GuardCloset #PeakGroupTravel #OnAWaterBreak
Recommended
Transcript
Podcast Introduction & Engagement
00:00:00
Speaker
everyone and welcome back to On a Water Break, the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at a rehearsal on a water break. This week we are talking about all things Wintergard.
00:00:11
Speaker
We'll also find out what made Nicole say. so Like I said in in the last one, there's a lot of new and instructors coming up sometimes and they are fresh off of tour or aged out. So all this and more on this week's episode of On a Water Break. Adolph the Met and go. Welcome to On a Water Bridge. The podcast where we talk everything marching arts.
00:00:43
Speaker
Everyone, bring it in. It's time for a water break. Hey, everyone. It's Alicia. We have a great episode this week, and it's all about winter season. Yes, DCI has wrapped up, and while the majority of us are in fall marching band mode, independent guards across the nation are gearing up for winter season.
00:01:01
Speaker
So before we see who's on the sidelines this week, go and subscribe on your favorite listening app. Write us a review. Share this with a friend.
Nicole's Tour Insights & Teaching Decisions
00:01:09
Speaker
If you've got a question or a good topic to talk about, email us at onawaterbreak at gmail.com or find us on social media and DM us if you want to be on the show.
00:01:18
Speaker
We even have a form now that you can fill out if you want to be a guest, and that link is in our bio. So sidelines this week. Nicole, hello. How's your summer going? Are you still on tour? Yeah.
00:01:30
Speaker
While we're recording this, yes, but when we air it, no. Oh yeah, of course.
00:01:39
Speaker
That was such a dumb question. That's okay. It's great. It lets people know what we're doing at the off time. We're working in advance here. Right. I have three more days at home and then i fly out to meet Academy for the last week of tour.
00:01:54
Speaker
It's pretty fun. We've got a couple... There's a couple of shows before we actually start like prelim semisfinals, but man, I can't be... I have... I haven't been this proud of a group of kids in a really long time.
00:02:06
Speaker
And I'm so happy to go back, and be with them for the last like week and, you know, just be their cheerleader. all And, you know, kiss it goodbye because this is literally, i know I have some friends are like, didn't you say you quit teaching? And I was like, yeah, but this is really last. This is the last thing like drum, you know, drum corps.
00:02:28
Speaker
I'm done teaching drum corps. So yeah. But it's in you couldn't pay me enough to teach summer band. Just couldn't do it. Couldn't do but It's too hot. You know, I didn't know that until I got to the desert.
00:02:40
Speaker
We're doing drum corps in the desert. but Well, I will say you guys should be very proud. I love Academy show this year. I think the production is beautiful and the idea is beautiful and I've been all about it all season. So we'll just say because this is airing after and final, congratulations on an amazing season. Thank you so much.
Interview with Angela and Adam Miller
00:03:01
Speaker
Also on the sidelines this week, we have Angela and Adam Miller from Meridian Independent Guard out of Lexington, Kentucky.
00:03:09
Speaker
Hi, guys. How's it going? Good. How are you? How are you all doing? I'm glad that you all asked us be on the show. It's great. Yeah. This is a great one. thrilled to have you on the show. We have a little thing we like to do with our new friends, though, called the 32-count life story.
00:03:23
Speaker
We give you eight off the Met. We don't count it for you. You have to count yourself in now, but you get eight off the Met and you tell us everything from the beginning of your life up to this very moment in 32 counts.
00:03:34
Speaker
If you can do it. He gets to go first. Adam's about to say who's going first, so glad that's Adam. Adam, are you ready for it? Because I'm ready with the message. Let's go for Here you go.
00:03:50
Speaker
All right. My name is Adam Miller. i'm one of the co-directors of the Meridian Winter Guard. I started off in this area of the local high school, middle school, high school band, graduated, marched a drum corps a long time ago called the Cavaliers.
00:04:05
Speaker
I got some drum corps experience there. I got back, went to school. I actually a music major for a while. Got interested in the law. I'm actually a lawyer by trade. And so during the day, I'm a criminal defense lawyer. and I've done that for like 25 years.
00:04:22
Speaker
I was blessed over the last 25, 30 years to be around some great people in marching band activities. I worked with a lot of bands in this area in the Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, judged a little bit.
00:04:36
Speaker
And a few years ago, we started the Winter Garden. I'm going to pass it off to her where we started. Good job.
00:04:47
Speaker
No idea that you were lawyer. Yeah. i you know i A lot of people who know me in the band world think I'm a band person. And like the same thing, like people like I've been around a lot of people in the lawyer politics world. And they're like, I can't believe that you are in the band. And I was like, yeah.
00:05:06
Speaker
So, yeah. We have another person that we have on from time to time, Jonathan Lischeck. And he's a lawyer as well. Yeah. Yeah, that's great. I was about to say, I know two lawyers that are also guard people. Honestly, you would be really surprised when I went to law school. know this is about killer guard, but you'd be really surprised how many people that I went to school with that had music degrees or like they were interested in composition. It's just it's it's actually kind of it's it's it's very interesting, actually.
00:05:35
Speaker
There's something there like with the analytical mind and the creative or something. Cool. Well, fantastic job. I didn't actually count how many counts that was. I was probably like 34 count. Get out of there. So but Angela, are you ready?
00:05:50
Speaker
Yes, I am. All right. Adolph the Met. Here you go.
00:05:55
Speaker
Okay, so I started out with my career in band when I was in high school at Lafayette. And after that, I kind of walked away from band for a while and went towards my career. And my career is an elementary school teacher.
00:06:08
Speaker
So by the day, I teach second graders. And then um In the evenings, I work with winter
Evolution of Meridian Guard
00:06:14
Speaker
guards. I've also, I met Adam, actually, as my husband, we were working with marching vanguards.
00:06:19
Speaker
So that's how, and it's morphed into having Meridian now. That was pretty good. That was concise. Yeah. Oh, I should give you some applause for that one too. Adam got some.
00:06:31
Speaker
So Angela, you went to the l a wait l a f a y e t t el L-A- Lafayette in Lexington, Kentucky. Yeah. I was a cheerleader too.
00:06:43
Speaker
pu I have lots of, well, Robbie, like my, well, you all know I used to live in Kentucky. So I was like, okay, all right, Lafayette.
00:06:53
Speaker
Yes. All right. So your life stories led all up to Meridian. Tell us a little bit about Meridian, how you got started, what your vision is. so So, you know, really a long story short, when we, um,
00:07:08
Speaker
It was 2018 and it's one of the things that kind of set us apart. Like we never really envisioned on creating like an independent guard. We were just, we were kind of finishing up doing band stuff. We're like, you it'd be fun to do an indoor line.
00:07:22
Speaker
So we actually started Meridian as junior's guard. So, I mean, I think that's, we actually kind of started at the base and really make a long story short as our kids got older,
00:07:35
Speaker
we changed the guard in order to do that. And, you know, we weren't even an A-class guard until two years ago. to make a long story short, you know, we're at local show and there's some people, it's like, hey, I'm getting ready to graduate from high school.
00:07:49
Speaker
Would you all ever consider doing that? And we're like, you know, we never really thought about it. Like we're independent, but we were basically an independent regional A-guard. ah We've really kind of morphed out of a junior's guard, which I think is kind of unique because,
Podcast Previews & Guard Closet Services
00:08:04
Speaker
you know, that was kind of our interest was just teaching the students. you know, we have a lot of instructors now that have gone on that like they're teaching their own lines. So our guard, not only in the staff and the membership, you know, and especially in our adult line, they teach themselves. They're either teachers or they're instructors in band.
00:08:24
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, so do you have a lot of members that have been with the program a long time then? We do. We have some that have started with us when they were in third grade because we weren't intending to do an elementary line. We were like, you know, when we did that in the state of Contegra, everybody's like, y'all are crazy.
00:08:41
Speaker
But where I teach second grade and they know that's what I do for fun on the weekends and in the evenings, we wanted to know more about it. So we started just kind of the club thing and then decided let's go out and compete them.
00:08:54
Speaker
that first year and that was the COVID year. So we went out and we did yes defeated, undefeated. And then the superintendent comes to a practice and said, I'm sorry, we have to shut you down.
00:09:04
Speaker
So we're like, oh so the next season we went on to be virtual with WGI in tri-state. So that was, we did well. And then, yeah, but we've had some kids who have been with us that are, I mean, some, because our meat and butter has always been bread and butter. Sorry. Should be, I should say probably the IRA because they were all middle schoolers. so we yeah visit that are like yes This is the first season. If you look at the IRA that we've ever had, somebody be able to drive themselves to practice.
00:09:33
Speaker
Our IRAs, middle schoolers, and couple of high schoolers. But now our big group of them are moving up to ninth grade. So they've been with us for like six years. Yeah. So we have multiple members that have four, five, six years. So like we have really got to see them grow up.
00:09:49
Speaker
And they're just that age that's been with us is just now getting to a stage where they're ready to probably move up to the next guard that we have. Yeah.
00:10:00
Speaker
Awesome. I do remember seeing you all at WGI last year. And I could say, like, just following you through the season, tremendous improvement. So I hope you all at the convention center. Yes. Thank you.
00:10:17
Speaker
yeah Yeah. Yeah. It's, I mean, it's, you know, it's something that we, you know, you kind like, I've been doing this for 30 plus years, but I had never really, you know, gone to Dayton. You know, I had like worked the event before the percussion side of it, just volunteering, but I'd never, you know, worked with a group that's gone there. So I actually, we've learned a lot as a staff.
00:10:40
Speaker
It is a lot of fun. It's really neat to see the kids because a lot of time our membership, it's the first time they've ever been to world championships. So they get to take in that initial that initial you know And I remember that as a performer, like, you know, going to drum corps show for the first time, going to world championships the first I mean, it's really neat to kind of see them kind of experience that. So, but I appreciate the kind words. and Thank you.
00:11:07
Speaker
So how many guards does Meridian actually have as a whole for the program? Three. if Three. Okay. So you've got like, and then I'm sorry, the cadet line, the independent regional A, and then the independent Okay, cool.
00:11:20
Speaker
Wow. I think having that cadet line really sets you guys apart, like just as a program as a whole. I don't know that I've ever seen your cadet line either. I know I've seen your other two.
00:11:31
Speaker
The cadet line only has gone exhibition, but they'll be, since it's something new in our circuit to compete, they'll actually compete this season. Well, we we did the virtual season. I'm sorry. Yeah, but we have not...
00:11:45
Speaker
like we have not That first year, the COVID year, we came out as a junior star. Of course, they canceled the season. And then after that, we've either done virtual or we've gone out to like the local events, our local circus tri-state.
00:11:58
Speaker
ah So we've done that, but we haven't competed them. Cool. So... We want to take some time real quick. We'll come back and talk more about
Heat Safety in Band Practices
00:12:08
Speaker
it. But we want to take time to preview some of the amazing episodes and bonus content we have going on.
00:12:14
Speaker
Trish just wrapped an episode with the 1934 Foundation. was all about legacy and preserving core history. That was fantastic and is out now. So be sure to go back and check that out.
00:12:25
Speaker
It was dramatic news. Let me tell you. Our text thread was blowing up afterwards. So go see what you missed and listen to that one. Jackie's DCI correspondents have now wrapped up their tour. They crushed it all summer with tour reporting.
00:12:41
Speaker
So check out their content. We had a newer... correspondent joined us at the end of the season, Jay from the Blue Coats. So check that out and then be on the lookout for a super special new series from on a water break this winter, as we follow along through the season with a few different, uh, indoor programs and highlight the ups and downs of the winter season with them.
00:13:03
Speaker
We are definitely going to be seeing Meridian again. So we will get back out on the field for a few minutes and we'll come back with you on the next water break.
00:13:22
Speaker
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Speaker
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Speaker
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Speaker
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00:14:15
Speaker
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00:14:28
Speaker
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00:14:43
Speaker
All right. So why don't we see what is happening in the news this week?
00:15:03
Speaker
I love our new sound. It's just such a groove, right? Nicole, I think you're up with our first story, right? Okay. Okay. This isn't, don't have paper. So I wanted to do that so bad. So I just grabbed the mail anyway.
00:15:18
Speaker
ah So like I said, Angela and I were talking about this because it's just so hot everywhere. And honestly, I don't understand how, you know, people are dealing with it, but there are safety protocols in place. However, 11 band members that were taken to the hospital amid practices in Mississippi heat, and it's rising a debate about rehearsal safety.
00:15:40
Speaker
So I'm just going to paraphrase what I'm seeing here, but it was a scary scene that played out in Tupelo, Mississippi. So it Wednesday after 11 high school members collapsed during extreme heat.
00:15:53
Speaker
That's already, like, that's not even a paragraph of what they wrote. Yeah. And that would make me ah scared as an instructor to see 11 kids go down.
00:16:04
Speaker
So it's rising serious questions about why were they even allowed to rehearse in those conditions? I will get to what I know in a moment, but I'll just tell you what's happening in here. So both Mississippi and Tennessee football teams must follow strict heat safety rules.
00:16:19
Speaker
Same for the band. If the wet bulb globe temperature, which is the heat factors, it factors in the heat, humidity, sun angle, wind, and then goes above, if it goes above 92 degrees, outdoor football practice is not allowed.
00:16:33
Speaker
When we use it, At least, you know, as far as I'm concerned, the latest time I've used it this summer, 13 minutes of instruction, five minutes of shade.
00:16:45
Speaker
That's how that goes. You can't go past having 13 minutes of instruction without any, like a water break or a shade break or something like that. So between 90 and 92, football team is limited to one hour.
00:16:58
Speaker
Okay. So no pads, no contact, frequent breaks, cold immersion, tubs, that kind of thing. But for marching bands, those same heat policies are not enforced. Hmm.
00:17:09
Speaker
Hmm. Hmm. um studentss are outside in full sun carrying heavy instruments and moving constantly many schools treat the band like an extracurricular activity instead of a sport now i will say the information was not gathered correctly here maybe for that program and even for that program i'm pretty sure that they take that heat index into consideration and what the actual What you know that the wet bulb globe is saying, but like there is a different zones. I don't know if y'all do this where you are in Tennessee or where you are in Kentucky, but like um yellow, there's yellow, orange and red, you know, and that's how we at least in drum corps were like, okay, we can go we can rehearse for a while.
00:18:01
Speaker
Or, hey, we're in the orange, so this is what we have to do. So when you're in orange, you can go for, I want to say, 18 to 20 minutes, and then you have to have like five-minute breaks, like literal five-minute breaks in between.
00:18:14
Speaker
Now, water breaks and shade breaks are not the same, so you put those together. yeah So you're adding more time for them to have more shade, and they can have water while they're in the shade, but they need to drink more water at the same time.
00:18:27
Speaker
That's where you get that time from. But then when you get into red, you strictly have to stay to that 12 to 13 minutes and then it's to the shade. Right. yeah you know And then come back out again, 12 to 13 minutes in the shade until you get out of that zone.
WGI Regional Plus & Venue Challenges
00:18:43
Speaker
So I struggle to think that maybe the school that they were referring to, I'm looking down at right now. But it does say this is how they compare is a wet bulb globe temperature of 87 usually lines up with the heat index of 95 to 100 degrees.
00:19:01
Speaker
um A reading of 90 equals a heat index of 105. Okay. OK, so they like you all were talking about today, it was where you are. Yeah. I mean, hopefully those, you know hopefully those students have recovered. You know, I feel bad for them.
00:19:16
Speaker
You know, my dad, my dad was a sports coach. He coached for 20 years in football. He's basketball coach now. But like I with every program I've ever been with.
00:19:27
Speaker
like the band program I've worked with, they always worked in conjunction with AD, you know, with ambient air monitor. And if it hit 95, you were done. And, you know, so like, you know I don't know the circumstances. I'm sure that, you know, hopefully the kids are fine on that, but yeah, like one thing, particularly with color guard is, you know, a lot of places um I was lucky enough when I taught outdoor guard that we had places to go inside. So,
00:19:57
Speaker
That would be one thing that I would say is if if you can, there's just there's got to be times when you can just go inside, particularly right after lunch. And I know a lot of band programs, they kind of do those all day.
00:20:10
Speaker
But that is super important, particularly for colored art, because they're outside a lot. And there's just a physical component that is a lot more demanding, I think, physically than, you know, other sections.
00:20:23
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. One of the programs that I am the staff coordinator for the program coordinator this past year, we actually purchased a tarp that is 75 by 100.
00:20:37
Speaker
It goes lot feel in our gym and it is a printed football field. So we get four steps outside the 35, um, on in either direction, which for us, the band is about 80 kids. Um, and that's about as much as we use most time. We have some drill sets we can't do in there, but we also get to about, I think 10 steps behind the front hash from the front sideline.
00:21:02
Speaker
And it's enough that this week in our district, I'm in Tennessee, um, where bands have not been allowed to rehearse outside. We've managed to get our opener and ballot on because we're in the gym, learning in the air conditioning. The kids are more engaged, tuned in.
00:21:19
Speaker
Now it was ah it was an expensive purchase, but what we've gotten out of it already in peace of mind and safety and rehearsal time has been so worth the money that we had to spend. Yeah.
00:21:31
Speaker
um or use Yeah, it's going to be a year. So if you're interested in something like this, you can also email us or, you know, me or Nicole, we can help you out with guard closet.com on ordering something like that. So, you know, shameless plug there, but.
00:21:45
Speaker
Just to wrap this up too, to let you know. So the Tupelo public district, I'm just going to read this because it's an actual quote, but the Tupelo public school district. said that they did everything that they could to ensure the safety of those students and that none were hospitalized after being evaluated by medical professionals.
00:22:02
Speaker
Now, this is the quote. As a precaution, 11 below high school students were taken to North Mississippi Medical Center to be treated for heat exhaustion. After thorough evaluations, the medical staff and trainers, all students were released and they were not hospitalized. Mississippi high school activities.
00:22:22
Speaker
Yes. The Mississippi High School Activities Association has a strict policy regarding heat in practice and measurements from the wet bulb test, but where below the threshold, the Tupelo School District does everything possible just to ensure that the students are safe, whether it's activities or sports, ample weather, Gatorade, popsicles, cooling tents are always available ah with the heat, and students are highly encouraged to stay hydrated, even away from practice.
00:22:49
Speaker
That's true. Yeah. Yeah. ah We will use this opportunity to see where we can make improvements to minimize future risks. A spokesperson for the school district said also has a lot to do about what, and yes, I'm happy that those kids are safe, but also it's the pre-prep to camp as well. You know what I mean? Like getting yourself automated to being outside the heat, drinking enough water, like literally starting to drink from a water jug.
00:23:17
Speaker
And we tell that to our guard members that are going to go on to do color guard. You need to go outside and stand in the heat for 10 minutes a day, spin for 10 minutes a day, because it's totally different than indoor. It is. And, you know, if marching band is a sport, I would say it's an endurance sport. Very, very few sports go for 12 hours a day. So, yeah.
00:23:38
Speaker
Yeah, that's true. Man. Well, we'll move on and because thankfully we're getting into the winter season. get to do indoor color guard. Unless, I mean, if you're in California, but we're not going to talk about that.
00:23:50
Speaker
We do. We do. Coming from WGI themselves about these new regional plus events that are going to happen this year. And this is super intriguing to me. WGI did a press release and they said, WGI is proud to unveil a major innovation for the 2026 competitive season, the launch of regional plus events.
00:24:11
Speaker
Newly designed regionals mark a significant evolution in the competitive landscape, improving the accessibility of traditional power regional events with an enhanced adjudication model to better serve performers and educators. Wow. So they're modeled after Power Regionals.
00:24:27
Speaker
The ah Regional Plus events are going to feature a double panel of judges for all finals performances. So every finalist group will be evaluated by two full panels. So they'll get a broader and more comprehensive perspective of each show.
00:24:40
Speaker
Doubling the finals panel provides groups with more feedback feedback. growing the program, preparing for world championships. It says that they're doing it because of the challenges associated with securing large scale venues for the power regionals, especially post COVID. There are fewer arenas available to host these power regionals.
00:25:01
Speaker
So it sounds like the regional plus events are going to be happening in our schools that host like normal regionals, but we're offering that double panel is what I'm getting.
00:25:12
Speaker
Um, Go ahead. My understanding, i ah WGI actually released like a video series right after that. And I think they had their summer meeting that they had, I guess it was in June.
00:25:25
Speaker
And that was one of the questions that came up during the discussion, which was, would you rather have a bigger arena or, you know, more feedback? And I think the general consensus of that meeting was, is that they would rather have the double panel in order to get, you know, more feedback. I think particularly in the A classes, I know we have a regional A guard. A lot of times, you know, we're not allowed to go to critique.
00:25:51
Speaker
So having that extra tape goes a long way, whether it's a sixth judge tape at the local circuit or, or you get a double panel. So mean it's very vital, I think, for, you know, the the developing guards to do
Judges Training in WGI
00:26:04
Speaker
that.
00:26:04
Speaker
You know, I think it's nice to have the big arena. I know as a marcher, like I liked being and in the stadium. We did a power regional two years ago when they brought them back. We did the mid-east power regional. It was good. he went CentOS.
00:26:18
Speaker
And so, you know, you do get a different environment, but You know, i I think this is a good opportunity ah for people to kind of take advantage of the more feedback because, you know, you do have limited budgets sometimes ah for staff.
00:26:32
Speaker
Speaking of budget too, WGI is spending some money here because they're doing 25 regional plus events. So 25 shows where they're paying for a double panel. So give me, let me figure this out. So we have now, now we have regular regionals that happen. Yes. We have power regionals.
00:26:51
Speaker
Yes. Then we have but regional plus. Yes. Yes. My understanding, they have one-day events, two-day events, and regional plus. There's no power regionals.
00:27:04
Speaker
So thought where a power regional was, was a two-day event. Like said, I'm not an expert in this at all, but my understanding was power regionals were in the big arenas. It was like something like Dayton.
00:27:17
Speaker
And so I think if you actually go on the website, there's one day events, two day events. Right. And then the regional plus, which is the double panel instead of regionals.
00:27:28
Speaker
And the article I'm looking at does not mention that we're continuing power regionals, but it says that the events will retain the format and spirit of power regionals. so that that was the that And I wasn't at that meeting, but from the discussion that I heard that rules committee meeting as they went and they said, would you rather have a power regional or would you rather have something where you're going to get more feedback?
00:27:53
Speaker
And the general insistence was is that they wanted more feedback. yeah And that does make sense too, after I looked at the whole like regional schedule, how many more regionals there actually are. Okay.
00:28:07
Speaker
That's a good idea. I mean, a lot of groups, you know if you don't get in on day one, depending on where you're going to go, Those regionals, they feel really quick. Oh, that's all I see is like the days when people are signing up for regionals and all you see in your feed is I've got my finger on the button, my finger on the button. I'm ready to go. no And it's just like, calm down. We signed up on day one last year.
00:28:30
Speaker
One of our guards was in tier three and we got waitlisted immediately. It's just like, that's just a reality. So I'm actually glad that they have more regionals. Yeah. Having the double panel though, going back to your original question, Alicia, like but like A class itself, and I'm not saying not regional A, but like the A class itself, that's gonna be a lot more beneficial towards them just because it's such a bloodbath every year.
00:28:56
Speaker
It really is. You know, like there was that one year where everyone who made finals at, well, not everybody, but everybody who made finals in A class scored above a 90. And it's just like, okay, and then there are some people who scored above a 90 and still didn't make A-class finals. So maybe that will oh maybe that will help with promotions.
00:29:17
Speaker
Maybe that will help us shrink A-class a little bit. Yes. A-class finals be looking very open class these days. I mean, I will tell you, we...
00:29:29
Speaker
We listen to every single tape at every single show. Oh, yes. And, you know, we actually get a lot of benefit out of it. So, like, when we go to these events, the double panel would be welcome because, you know, you're getting twice as much feedback at one show.
00:29:45
Speaker
And it's not perspective from two different judges on the same thing, because then we can say, well, they've seen this and we've seen that. So we talked about when that came up and I'm like, see the benefits of how we can sit and take all of our notes that we need to, because it's, and also VGI is saving money because they don't have to use the big arenas.
00:30:03
Speaker
True. and so I really hope that this will catapult people more into looking at the judges sheets and not just the front, but also the back. So they know what the points of comparison is and then where, where the tents are coming from. Yeah.
00:30:20
Speaker
Speaking of, a really good segue to the other topic that we wanted to discuss in the news. And we have no official news on it because nothing has come out yet. But we all were sad at the demise of WGI Certify. And now WGI has announced a new judges training platform that is going to be released.
00:30:40
Speaker
We don't know when. The rumor I heard was August. So hopefully we'll know something about that soon. But it sounds like WGI is reaching... into trying to train people on these sheets more and train new judges, which thank God, because we need it.
00:30:56
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I do like the fact that there were numbers of different, like, I guess you could say seminars or maybe even trainings that you could sit in that every or not every, but a lot of different circuits had going on. So yeah.
00:31:11
Speaker
Like if you wanted to know more about the DA sheets, you can jump on the webinar here. If you wanted to know more about these sheets, you jump on here, which was super helpful. And for those circuits... And I would love, mean, I was just waiting on that because during the pandemic, I did adjudicate.
00:31:27
Speaker
And so, I mean, I just dove into that because I had nothing better to do because I wasn't teaching. And so, you know, that's where I, and I still have all, I still have all that paperwork, but at the same time, you know, there's something to be said about going into a place physically, you know, and I'm not sure if that's what they're offering, but like, I would hope that that's what it would be.
00:31:51
Speaker
Well, I would say this, just, you know, ah I did trainings for, you know, outdoor and also with WGI. And, you know, i I got certified up through, I think it was like level 300. They had like different levels, like 100, 200 all the way up.
00:32:06
Speaker
So I went through the 300 level. I did mostly upstairs certifications. But one thing that I liked about it and one thing I hope they continue on with was the mentoring program.
00:32:18
Speaker
I had some like, as I said earlier, like I've been blessed with being around a lot of really good teachers. But having a mentor that you go to show with and you sit up there And you do a tape and they analyze it and they listen. They say, hey, make sure you're using those qualifiers.
00:32:35
Speaker
Make sure you're using the sheets. And there is an art to that. And it does come with practice. And I think even as old as I am, I've been doing this a long time, got a lot out of the mentor program.
00:32:49
Speaker
ah And so I hope they do keep that because there's a lot of wealth and knowledge out there that you can pass off to younger ah judges. There is a number of of judges that are above me that I will, I mean, I'm sure I have annoyed the ever loving crap out of them just because I'd be like, Hey, can you listen to this tape? Hey, can you listen to this tape? Hey, what do you think of this number management? What do you think of this? And, you know, just because that's, I mean, that's my wheelhouse. That's my passion.
00:33:21
Speaker
And so I really hope that whoever is coming into that knows like one good numbers management. And there's, you know, there's other sheets that are tools. I would say that judges will use like the bloom because a lot of the directors that are coming up, especially in any class,
00:33:38
Speaker
And whether they're going into WGI or not, you know, some of those groups would like to go and experience a regional. Well, when they go into those regional settings, they don't always know that verbiage.
00:33:49
Speaker
And so a lot of times too, it's just like, you know, you don't want to alienate, you know, those directors, but at the same time you want to meet them where they are. And then hopefully they will look at the back of that sheet and understand where you're coming from with the words that you're using.
Travel Tips for Bands
00:34:06
Speaker
yeah Yeah, absolutely. Well, with that, it is time for your Peak Travel Tip of the Week, brought to you by our sponsors at Peak Group Travel, helping you navigate your next adventure, whether it's across the country or just to your next competition. Hi, everyone.
00:34:22
Speaker
It's time for your travel tip of the week with me. I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel. Are you traveling with delicate or oversized instruments? Be sure to check with your bus company or your airline for any extra fees that you may incur or any climate-specific needs you have for your instruments.
00:34:39
Speaker
A little extra legwork before you leave could help you avoid costly repairs when you arrive. Don't forget to like and follow Peak Group Travel on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and be sure to email info at peakgrouptravel.com when you're ready to start planning your next performance tour.
00:34:58
Speaker
I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel and your travel tip of the week.
Teaching Cadet Guard Effectively
00:35:14
Speaker
Ready to elevate your travel game? Welcome to Peak Group Travel, the ultimate adventure creators. Whether you're planning an unforgettable class trip, a once in a lifetime parade experience for your marching band, or a choir tour full of memorable performance venues, Peak Group Travel handles it all so you can focus on making memories.
00:35:31
Speaker
From breathtaking international destinations to amazing adventures right here at home, Peak Group Travel customizes every journey to your vision. We're not just planners, we're your partners for the trip you want for your students.
00:35:44
Speaker
Our online registration portal makes managing your pre-trip experience smooth and convenient. We even collect your payments if you'd like. Picture it. Effortless planning, unmatched experiences, and smiles that last long after the journey ends.
00:35:57
Speaker
That's the Peak Group Travel difference. And if you choose to partner with Peak on your next tour, and you mentioned that you heard about us on the On a Water Break podcast, you'll earn a $100 trip credit. Discover why groups everywhere trust Peak Group Travel.
00:36:10
Speaker
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And be sure to visit peakgrouptravel.com today. You pick the date and we'll make it great.
00:36:29
Speaker
Everyone, we are back. 60 Seconds Head Locks
00:36:39
Speaker
60 seconds. Don't know why it started repeating. That's okay. We love recording. He was so great, man. He was like screaming. And him like recording that in his kitchen.
00:36:53
Speaker
and him like recording that in his kitchen So it's time for our 60-second tech block. This is the segment where one of our hosts or guest clinicians is put on the spot to deliver a nonstop 60-second tech block on a topic that needs some serious attention after that last rep.
00:37:10
Speaker
Our special tech this week has come prepared with three topics that she thinks she can talk about for a full 60 seconds straight. No hesitation. No pauses. Just technical gold. This week, We're going to throw that over to Angela. Now, Angela, you said your best topics were teaching cadet guard, theater improv techniques, and training scholastic versus independent guards. So, Adam, Nicole, what do we want to hear about Angela?
00:37:37
Speaker
Well, she is the expert in the cadet guard. I think she could provide a whole lot for that. Yes. Okay. I was going to say there's a lot of, um like I said in in the last one, there's a lot of new and instructors coming up sometimes and they are fresh off of tour or aged out. So teaching the training scholastic versus independent groups could be something I don't want to hear.
00:38:06
Speaker
and john please I'll be the tiebreaker and say love cadet guards, so I want to hear about teaching the babies. um But that just means we'll have to have Angela back to talk about training scholastic versus independent. Maybe in our super special new series we're going to start this winter, I'll do a quick yeah chat with her about it. But Adam, can you pull up a 60-second timer on your phone?
00:38:32
Speaker
I've got it. And Angela, are you ready? Ready. all right. 60 seconds on the clock. And go. So teaching a cadet guard is a totally different beast because being a second grade teacher, I know how to deal with littles.
00:38:49
Speaker
So when you're dealing with the littles and my cadet guard are third through fifth grade, and I'm going to tack on some sixth graders that aren't quite ready for the next step. You have the big thing you have to keep in mind is you have to keep it fun and short.
00:39:02
Speaker
Anything you're teaching must be fun and short. I've learned that even when I'm teaching technique like a drop spin, needs to be somewhat of a game. So but we draw little smiley faces on our hands so that when we have thumbs up, look at the smile, thumbs up, look at the smile.
00:39:18
Speaker
So everything has to be short because all you hear is I need a bathroom break. I need a juice break. I need a water break. So I've learned it. Keep it fun and keep everything you're teaching within 15 to 20 minutes and lots and lots of repetition.
00:39:31
Speaker
And that keeps them engaged and that keeps them wanting to learn more. And I've just seen a lot of success with it lot of proud kids. Oh.
00:39:43
Speaker
yeah
00:39:48
Speaker
ah No, but for real, that was awesome. I think short and fun. That's the key, right? Oh my gosh. For what it's worth. And this could be my, what are we doing this week? I might actually, I'll hold on to it, but I will just say, if you're not making it fun, you're doing something wrong.
00:40:04
Speaker
Right. Yeah. I mean, I just I've learned that if it's not a game and not fun, that especially the littles, because they're rolling on the floor more than they're twirling. And you know what? Those I mean, in all honesty, those kids that you have, you know, you got to do things like that. They grow up to be fantastic performers.
00:40:24
Speaker
I was just, naep that's where they fall in love with it. is And that is the key. In my opinion, I think the one thing about cadet guard is you have to instill that passion for performance because they will grow up and you know they're going to do something.
00:40:39
Speaker
And if you get them early enough and they enjoy that, they will like, we're all here because we love the activity. And it's like, okay, why do we love it? Well, if you just instill that in younger people, they feel like you're just teaching the next generation.
00:40:56
Speaker
Yep. Gotta find your why. And if they find it early, that's great. Yes. And I do love it. I love the littles. I really do. I will tell you, when I lived in upstate New York, I did teach a cadet guard for one year.
00:41:10
Speaker
There's a special place for people who want to teach cadet guards. That's what he says. It is different. He comes in business. and So, I mean, I completely understand when you were like, if you don't make it short and fun, I was like, oh, yeah. yeah It was fun. They were doing a lot.
00:41:27
Speaker
But I also know I'm just like, I, yeah, there's a certain age where my, I can't. There's a lot of people that I've had come in just to visit and they're like, no, I'm
Marching Arts Practices & Planning
00:41:40
Speaker
done. Tap out 15 minutes.
00:41:41
Speaker
Yeah. i hope say Adam did it with me for years until his career took him otherwise. And he comes in and visits and he goes, I'm good to visit. I'm good to do a look. I'm good. Oh my gosh. Yeah.
00:41:53
Speaker
But we all bow down to you. Yes. Seriously. I have a friend, Susie Harloff. She teaches ah the cadet guard over at Avon. And like, not to mention, cause it is cadet guard one. So I'm already like this, but it's, there's like, has a million of them.
00:42:12
Speaker
Yes. At once. yeah I'm already getting goose pimples talking about this. I couldn't do it. i do I do say third grade is the youngest I will go because I know competitive wise, they start at kindergarten and elementary cadet is kindergarten through six. There's no way.
00:42:29
Speaker
I used to be a kindergarten teacher and love me some little five-year-olds, but not with a flagpole in their hands.
00:42:37
Speaker
I mean, because constantly I'm saying, please do not ride the flagpole like it's a horse. This is to my third world of mid-graders. Please, that is not a lightsaber. Please do not roll up in the silk. It is not a blanket. it is not cold in here. So those are the types of things that you have to, you know, constantly be saying.
00:42:54
Speaker
Yeah. But yeah, it does take ah a different type of person, I would say, I guess. Yeah. ah Meanwhile, I am the person that's riding the flag like a horse around the It's like your spot is in the back behind the bra.
00:43:11
Speaker
ah Well, speaking of that sass. What are we doing?
00:43:24
Speaker
What are we doing? So that was a really solid 60 second tech block. Hopefully someone out there just got some advice they didn't know they needed, but now we'll switch it up and it's everyone's favorite. What are we doing?
00:43:36
Speaker
This part of the show where we let loose a little bit or maybe a lot. This is your chance to race. about something in the marching arts that just doesn't make sense to you. It could be a tradition that needs to go away or a habit that performers can't seem to break. Maybe it's something that makes you think, why are we doing this? Or why have we started doing this?
00:43:54
Speaker
Whatever it is, it's your moment to call it out. So who's got something they want to get off their chest? Angela. Me. So my first thing, I love me some swing pole. I do love swing flag. It's beautiful out on the field.
00:44:09
Speaker
And that is what my go-to is for my littles is to teach them swing pole because it's something that they can maneuver and handle. But my gripe is we don't count it as equipment. It doesn't count as equipment time.
00:44:23
Speaker
So I'm like, why we, you know, why can we not use that as equipment time? Because especially if we're looking at cadets and we're looking at those beginners, because I've got kids that a five foot pole is just too much for and you can't find flags for a five foot pole, but I can put flags on a swing pole and teach them that technique and that maneuver.
00:44:44
Speaker
but it doesn't count as equipment time. Yeah. I, it's so weird because we'll tell you that I've always looked at that as equipment and I always wanted Look at it during. Now I can have somebody literally stand there and hold a rifle or hold a regular flag and not ever twirl it. And then I get equipment time with them while my. yeah Actually, in the pandemic year, yeah I didn't know that rule either. I've done this a long time. yeah I didn't know it didn't qualify for that.
00:45:14
Speaker
And so the judge came over and said, oh, you got to do that. So like we actually changed our show just to let somebody like hold the flag. So, but yeah, it's not equipment time. i'm kind of Neither are airblades.
00:45:25
Speaker
And that's an easy. I knew that. I know that's an easy piece of equipment time. But to teach littles how to twirl a rifle, an airblade is a lot easier for them to maneuver, but it doesn't count as equipment time either.
00:45:40
Speaker
That's fair. i think like with, with swing flag, especially it's affecting movement. It's affecting general effect. It's affecting your design. Like why would it not be equipment?
00:45:51
Speaker
yeah and we're We're seeing it come back in a big way. like I'm actually glad I've seen a lot of drum chords this year with swing. Yeah. i like me some swing flag too. Yeah. It's beautiful. I love swing flag when it's huge. I call it Texas big when they have the huge flags. I used to have that with my groups. I'm like, we're going to have a swing flag, but I need it to be like five times bigger than what you have going on. You have seen some beautiful moments on the winter guard floor too, where some of the the guards are bringing out those big poles with our big swing flags, excuse me.
00:46:22
Speaker
And, but I'm like, I'm glad I'm seeing it in other guards, but I want it to count as equipment time. That's just me. no No, I totally get that. So I'm with you, Nicole, when you said it is a fact and you said it too, that it it is part of what I have to teach them body carriage.
00:46:41
Speaker
I have to teach them how they are holding it. It's the same types of things I'm teaching projection and everything as a regular piece of equipment, but it's just easier for little short two and a half foot child. that you're getting Yeah. They will feel successful.
00:46:58
Speaker
Yes. At the end of it too. and That's big. That's big, Nicole, that they'll feel successful. Yeah. Who's next? Adam, you got one. Yeah.
00:47:09
Speaker
Like this is a pet peeve of mine. If you've ever seen our shows, we have tons of props and what are we doing with seven minute show changes in regional way?
00:47:20
Speaker
Like you get, you have to be out there for four minutes. You've got 90 seconds to get on and 90 seconds to get off. And I run around like a crazy person trying to pick up all the equipment and get it off the floor.
00:47:35
Speaker
And I know everybody has had that, but, Why can't we just have 10 minutes? Why can't we just have a little bit more time? Maybe it's a new one for everyone. yeah i think yeah I think sometimes people just like us running around, like, you know, where it shows and where, like, guards are helping each other. so You know what? They're probably playing, like, yackety-sacks in between everyone. But why can't we just have, like, eight minutes? It sure would make scheduling easier.
00:48:07
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I understand, like, you know, there's some shows and the day gets long. But, yeah, having an extra minute would be helpful. It very helpful. What's a minute, you know? It's like.
00:48:21
Speaker
Oh, that's good. Do you have one for us this week, Nicole? I think I do. Because and what i what I do besides like you know when I used to teach, but obviously I'm judging, but like having people get like their clear idea across.
00:48:38
Speaker
So what are we doing not making sure that we are you know starting as early as possible to, I don't know, order those backdrops that you need? Or order those props that you would need. Making sure you've gotten the right thing on the floor. Make sure you've got the right image that's on your floor, on your flags. Take that time. you know If you're really wanting to make that the right design for your show, you will go back for another like re-edit of an image or something like that. Do not do AI.
00:49:10
Speaker
Oh, gosh, I should change that too. What are we doing getting stuff printed? and Yes.
00:49:16
Speaker
I don't like that. It's cringy. it makes my It makes my skin crawl. It's just like someone could have designed a little bit better, but no, you wanted to take the route to do that.
00:49:27
Speaker
Or maybe they paid for someone to do that, which I'm sorry that if that happened to you. Really. I'm very sorry. It didn't come from me. yeah ah get that But like, really take the time to do that. Like if your uniforms are going to be intricate and very much to the point of your show, take the time in there early, get in there early. Like you can never be too early.
00:49:50
Speaker
ah Exactly. Exactly. Agreed. Agreed. We worked, we ordered our, uh, show like tops design tops for the band to wear it's the first year we've ever done that and not worn band uniforms and we had that order placed before the end of may and they were here and like june 10th it was wild how fast they came and we got in before the rush and we let that driver that i mean i i agree with you completely getting in early and also like it's scary are we stressing ourselves out doing everything last minute
00:50:21
Speaker
as yeah You just don't really think about it. It comes with experiences like you you just think, well, you can just magically order a uniform and then you order it the first time. You're like, okay, we'll have it for you in 10 weeks.
00:50:32
Speaker
she was yeah Nice. But I mean, I work with companies like that right now and it's becoming marching band season. And honestly, if you're getting in with me right now, like those production times take anywhere from six weeks to 10 weeks. And they're like, we did it by. And I'm like, no, look at your calendar and count with me.
00:50:49
Speaker
You know, like, let's be real honest and you have to pay by then. So I really, and I feel, feel so bad for those, for like the band directors that come in and like, they just got their job last week, you know, yeah i'm going to go in and meet and sign paperwork and do their, what is they do? The in-person training, the onboarding training. Yeah.
00:51:12
Speaker
All of that. And then, oh, let's meet some kids. Let's meet some parents. Let's meet whoever else you're working with. Oh, right. You have a show to put on. All right. Let's meet the drill writer and the designer and all this other stuff. Okay.
00:51:22
Speaker
So you don't have any music ordered? Fantastic. Let's order the music and all this other stuff. Wait a minute. Got to go back and go to the people in accounting. Who are you again? Like, I feel bad for them. I really, really do. Cause they get the runaround and it's just like, okay, well on my end, I'm going to help facilitate and get your designs to you, but you've got to put your face in whoever else's face and be like, this takes 10 weeks.
Community Highlights & Achievements
00:51:45
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah.
00:51:49
Speaker
And i get it's so important, too, because, you know, those little details, like you said, about the way that a uniform looks, the way that a flag, that goes a long way, not only with just preparation, but like how the kids think about the show. Yep.
00:52:04
Speaker
You know, how you how you ultimately do really does hinge on those on those details. So I think the more you can plan. I mean, I have a notebook. I write down show ideas all the time.
00:52:15
Speaker
I may sit on a show for two, three years, you know, and then just pull out and say, this is the right time to do it. But like the more that you can plan, the better off you're going to be. Yes, that's a great point.
00:52:27
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, that deserves ah applause. the My what are we doing is not the one I thought of earlier. I'm going to save that for another episode, but mine is short and sweet.
00:52:38
Speaker
What are we doing performing with our mouths hanging open all the time? Close your damn mouth. yeah Every time I see someone dancing and their mouth is hanging up, like that's not performance. That's just like preach a broken jaw. Close your mouth.
00:52:53
Speaker
I hate it. Do something else with your face. That's all I got.
00:53:00
Speaker
yeah yeah I have nothing more to say than thank you for saving them. Good job, everyone. Set your equipment down. Touch and go. Yeah. i So now that we got all that off our chest, I really had to.
00:53:14
Speaker
We'll get into our gush and goes. So welcome to gush and go. This is your chance to shout out something awesome that's happening in your life, whether it be marching arts related or not. Maybe you're excited about a performance, a student success, a big life event, or just something cool you brag about. This is no negativity here, just unfiltered hype.
00:53:32
Speaker
So who wants to start? You want to go in that same order? Angela, you want to kick us off? Yes, so I'm so pleased to say that I just got done a week of so or so with cadet camp. I had a free camp open to anybody, third grade through sixth grade, whether they had experience should experience.
00:53:50
Speaker
And I had every day over 35 kids show up. Yes. And I, of our IRA kids, they came in and helped. They were junior instructors. And five hours for three days, so 15 hours.
00:54:03
Speaker
And yes, with a lot of breaks. in there And then we actually taught them a little performance that they performed, a 90-second performance for their parents and their families. And it was very successful. I have had so many parents, like as we're sitting here, parents are saying, when are we having open gym? When can my child come do this?
00:54:22
Speaker
My child's going into the third or fourth grade. They're very interested in it. And it just... um It's something that I'm proud of, but I'm also proud that five of our, you know, middle school and high school kids, I asked them to come help me and they knew nothing except for you're going to go work with a bunch of little kids.
00:54:39
Speaker
And it went fabulous. And it is that aren't truly our leaders, but we kind of pushed them into that role. And it was just so good for my heart to see these kids take what they knew going back to when they were in third or fourth grade, learning to teach a drop spin or to teach a windmill or a butterfly or, you know, something like that. Even the the prayer tosses. I mean, when they did the prayer tosses, those kids would have thought they all, you know, tossed a big double or something. It was just, it was one of those things. i was like, but that's just, it was exciting to have that many kids show up every day and parents to truly be teary eyed and thankful that their child got to do something like that.
00:55:17
Speaker
Oh, there's a lot of these de sweetest things. They don't excel in anything else. And I have a background in special education, so I will take anybody. And so that made my heart very happy to see kids there, even with special needs that were able to twirl with us.
00:55:33
Speaker
So that made me happy. Yeah. Very nice. That is awesome. and Who's next? Adam, was it you? I'll go. Yeah, my gush and go this week.
00:55:45
Speaker
You know, I love to see, as we said earlier, of our members. They have lines of their own. We have staff people that have their own lines that they do for other schools.
00:55:58
Speaker
And I got a chance this year. I kind of stepped away from doing the outdoor stuff as much. I judge still a little bit, but I get a chance now to kind of go see my students and people that we work with.
00:56:12
Speaker
And I'm really happy to see people out there doing their thing now. And it's kind of interesting at this point in life. career I get to see people that I've helped go on to do things. And that's been actually really rewarding. You go in, have to see other people doing their thing, not only.
00:56:31
Speaker
performing, you know, they're performing with sound sport or they're performing in drum corps or they're on a staff somewhere with the drum corps or they're teaching their own line. And that it's kind of neat to see. And so, um you know, you when you get to that point, like you really like seeing younger people kind of step up and kind of take it into a new direction.
00:56:53
Speaker
And so like that's been kind neat. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Last summer, there a past student of mine who aged out of Crown.
00:57:06
Speaker
And um when I was in Texas, I taught them. like ah they're on they were I gave them their first rifle to spin with. And I'm like, you're in Crown. Look at you. You know, like not ugly crying. i mean, it was just really, I mean, it touched me.
00:57:21
Speaker
But I was just like, this is great. What a full circle moment. I need to quit teaching. Like, I'm doing a whole lot.
00:57:29
Speaker
Yeah, it's also nice when you go to a group and you're like, you'd be like, hey, I don't have to wait till everybody's gone. I'll see you later. So yeah, there's that too. There's that too.
00:57:40
Speaker
I'm going now. In decent hour. but Oh, gosh. I know that I'm next on the gush and goes. I'd probably say that I am, i guess there's a lull in between the Sunwind marching band starts on it. And that's only for me, right? I know that that lull is not a lull for everyone else because they're going to be in band camp.
00:58:05
Speaker
And I'm excited to have nothing going on. and recharge my battery. I am one of those people like when my battery life goes you know cost pretty low or my social battery, that's what I meant.
00:58:19
Speaker
When it gets low, i yeah i can't ah you know i can't fill from i can't fill anybody else's cup if my cup is empty. So ah I'm real big into like making sure that I can do self-care, maybe have a couple of days while I'm doing skincare or
Closing Remarks & Audience Engagement
00:58:35
Speaker
something like that. I know everybody's like, that's so millennial of you. And it's just like, I know I'm not a millennial, but those things work for me.
00:58:43
Speaker
You know, when I'm not rushing around or anything like that. um But I'm excited about that um because like, I actually do have a handful of clients that I'm working, like working on either uniforms, backdrops, flags, or choreography for and all around the US. So it'll be nice to have them get their things, get used to those things, and then like see the finished product with like all the bells and whistles, with all the drag.
00:59:10
Speaker
no like Let me see what you've done. Let me see your show after all the drag is on
00:59:17
Speaker
on. I like it. My gush is it's short. took on, took way more clients this summer than I should have. And I absolutely overwhelmed myself accidentally. Um, now I told myself A couple summer months ago, i had six clients and I told myself I would never do that again. I would limit to five.
00:59:38
Speaker
Well, this year I have nine. So, um, head spinning off a little bit, but we have completed camp or worship choreography. Now I say we, me, and camp or choreography now for four of those groups. And like,
00:59:54
Speaker
Putting one of those groups to bed last night, like getting everything in the Google Drive and like sending it off and being done with it was like, yeah, because now the rest of it does not feel overwhelming. Everybody at least has their openers. Everybody at least has their ballads.
01:00:09
Speaker
Well, we're getting there. I totally understand how to help everybody, but yeah and it gets overwhelming. Now, just like, it does you know, if if you don't recharge your batteries, you can't give what you don't have. And if you don't have any energy, you can't give it.
01:00:26
Speaker
So, yeah, super important that you've got to recharge those batteries. Yes. Yeah, that's... I've been doing the whole, like, working 7 a.m. m to 4 p.m., running to the high school, and like and like, you know, evening band camp is happening, and I'm in the chorus room writing choreography, but somebody needs help with something, so I've got to run to that. as Like, it's been...
01:00:48
Speaker
It's been long days. Yeah. Anybody know of good spa in the Tennessee area for Alicia? Drop it in the comments.
01:00:59
Speaker
Drop it in the comments. Yes. We don't need it. We're going to lot of water break massages. next feature. discussion of stairs Let's go. ah Thank you guys for a great rehearsal this week. And thank you for spending time with us today, um Angela and Adam. Where can we find Meridian on social media?
01:01:25
Speaker
We're on all the basic meet Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. It's we ran ourselves pretty good. ah We actually have a website. It's meridianwinterguard.com, but we're on all the socials under Meridian WG. yeah yeah If you Google Meridian Winterguard, you're going to find us on all the major platforms.
01:01:43
Speaker
yeah Awesome. So be sure to go follow them, and especially because they're going to be back around this winter as one of our featured groups. And if you have a question or a good topic to talk about, email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com or find us on social media and DM us if you want to be the on the show. Remember, we have that form now that you can fill out. The link is in our description.
01:02:04
Speaker
And if you want to be a guest, we love having new people on the podcast. So check out that link in our bio. um You can also take out your phone, make a short video, send it to us. Maybe you'll see yourself posted on the podcast.
01:02:16
Speaker
and Also, don't forget, we have a YouTube channel and ah go subscribe to that. You can see us all there in our post-rehearsal glory. And before you close out of your podcast listening app, go subscribe, write us a review, and share this with a friend.
01:02:32
Speaker
Follow us on social media at On A Water Break, and we will see you at the next rehearsal On A Water Break.
01:02:41
Speaker
The On a Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and Christine Ream. The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit LidaMusic.com.
01:02:53
Speaker
And until next time, thanks for tuning in.
01:03:00
Speaker
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Speaker
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