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OAWB Lost In Translation Canadian Colorguard Roundtable image

OAWB Lost In Translation Canadian Colorguard Roundtable

On A Water Break
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159 Plays10 months ago

Join host Cynthia Bernard as she gets Lost In Translation On A Water Break . She interviews people from around the globe about their lives and experience, so no one gets lost in translation.

This Week’s Guest -

Sonnor de La Prairie

Micheal Watier - Designer

Fb: sonnordelaprairie

IG: @sonnor_de_laprairie

Les Éclipses de Longueuil

Jasmine Cousineau - Designer and Caption Head

Fb: leseclipsesdelongueuil

IG: @les_eclipse

Help them get to WGI: https://www.zeffy.com/fr-CA/donation-form/11e389de-afb3-4fa9-83b6-8df3460330c0

3e Légende de St-Eustache

Kevin Westerman - Co-director and part of the design team

Fb: 3elegende

IG: 3elegende

Sponsor a meal: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/f09fdf15-6ffd-4c41-8b96-e04a3a06bd5a

Listen to the main episode to keep up on everything going on in the marching arts with our hosts:

Meet our Hosts

Jackie Brown - @spintronixguard

Stephen McCarrick - @stephenmccarick

Cindy Barry - @leandermomma

Nicole Younger - @o2bnpjs & @thecookoutcg

Trevor Bailey - @t_pain151

Trish O’Shea - @trishdish1002

Beth Beccone - @bether7189

Chris Rutt - @wildhornbrass1

Cynthia Bernard - @cynthiabern

Ashlee Amos - @famousamossss_

Theo Harrison - @harrisontheo07

Stephanie Click - @stephanieclick

Whitney Stone - @dancerwhit

Justin Surface - @J_dex07

Ashley Tran - @itsashleytran

Jack Goudreau - @goudreau_

Bill Woodward - @remoking100

Emily Nee - @tch.makes.art

Ricardo Robinson-Shinall - @ricardorrobinson

Callie Quire - @cnquire

Music provided by leydamusic.com Follow him @josh.leyda

Avatars provided by @tch.makes.art

#marchingband #colorguard #dci #podcast #onawaterbreak #lostintranslation

#international#global

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Transcript

Introduction & Guest Introduction

00:00:00
Speaker
Hi everyone and welcome to this segment of Lost in Translation where we pick a word with our guest or guest and drop on their life experiences or culture so we define that word a little bit more so no one gets lost along the way.
00:00:27
Speaker
Hi, my name is Cinta Lehrmah, and I'm your host for this segment of Lost in Translation, part of On a Waterbreak. And today I have three guests that I worked a lot with you guys this year, right? Kevin, how do you say your last name? I think I've never said your last name in the- Can you give it a shot? Westminster? It's Westerman. Westerman, I'd see it. So it was just like, I can't remember your name at all. It was just not.

Roundtable Discussion Format & 2024 Word

00:00:54
Speaker
And from Third Legend, we have Jasmine Kaznoe, better known as Jazz from these Eclipse, and Michael Wezzi, better known as the friend of Kristin. No, you're not. As Mike from Sonor. How are you guys? Good. Good, good. So it's the first time we're doing a roundtable. We may look a little weird at first because we want to be, we're very polite Quebecers that let everyone answer one after the other.
00:01:20
Speaker
I promise we like each other. No, Mike is not respectful usually, but he's going to be the nicest tonight.

Mike & Sunor: Roles and History

00:01:26
Speaker
So 2024 is our word. We're heading up to championship. So before we go and dive in this, can you just tell us a little bit about yourself? Because we know a lot about each other, but can you tell a little bit about yourself and your organization? Can we start with Mike? Sure. Sure. I'm with Sunor. I've been with them on and off for 30 some years.
00:01:51
Speaker
Yeah, so it started as a member of March Dwindegard, of March Drum Corps, and right now I'm the lead designer for the cadet, the RA, and the A group. And do you know, and I may ask questions that you guys don't know that, but do you know Sonora's been around? Since 1985 was the first season, and their first WGI was 1986. 1986. And I was there, unfortunately.
00:02:14
Speaker
It's my age.

History of Color Guards

00:02:17
Speaker
It's not 38 years of championships. It's our 40th season this year. We're the oldest active color guard in Quebec. It's so cool to go sometimes. Sometimes how far those groups are. Maybe you know, but I don't know how many 40-year-old even American organizations there is. I know that
00:02:42
Speaker
I mean, there's Black Watch. There's not a lot. I mean, you know, some of the founding ones like were the Cavaliers and Phantom Regiment and Quasar and Urte, they've all disappeared. So I think Blessed Sac is really the torch bearer right now.

Jasmine & Les Eclipse: Role and Challenges

00:02:58
Speaker
Yeah, you're right. I know Black Watch has been there for a while too. And I hate that I know all of this. I was there.
00:03:07
Speaker
Well, it's two of the things. You were there and you're a nerd of color guard and here on Lost in Translation and On a Water Break, we're not shy about being nerds of color guard. It's okay. I am the nerd. Yeah. And you were Jasmine and Jas. I'm Jasmine. I'm with Liz Eclipse. I've been with Liz Eclipse for
00:03:26
Speaker
15 years already? Gosh. We have the same amount of years. Yeah, that's crazy. Yeah, I mean, I've marched other places, but I've marched those eclipse and I started teaching years ago and now I am the designer and captain head for the ink group. And given.

Kevin & Third Legend: Role and COVID Resilience

00:03:42
Speaker
Hi. Yeah, so I'm with Third Legend. I'm a co-director, but also I'm on the design team for the open group. Yeah.
00:03:50
Speaker
And so the word, and it's a number, but I mean, I guess we can write. What does 2024 means to you? Let's go the other way around. Kevin, do you have an idea?
00:04:01
Speaker
I think, well, 2024 for us, it's our third full season in open class and we're still trying to establish ourselves in that sense. We've been successful for quite a few years now and just trying to keep that, I don't know how you say it, the excellence that we've expected from our members and from our staff and just keep on building on it. I think the other thing that
00:04:24
Speaker
is interesting about your organization. I don't know if our legend has been around for how long? We're in our 24th year. God, already? I was there. That's crazy. It's crazy. And for Quebec, it's a fairly young organization. I mean, the youngest is Capitienne, but then I think it's, it's sort of legend. But I, I don't know if you can say a word on that, but as an organization, cause when you do an important work for us and we want to talk about championship, but your organization's also, I think are interesting for,
00:04:51
Speaker
Americans and you being an ex-American or maybe you are still American, but you can say a little about that. But Lord Legend has now four groups. You have mini, novice, G, and open. And I don't know, like you went through, or maybe you didn't, you can say, but you went through COVID pretty okay. Like it looks like it's the organization that didn't
00:05:17
Speaker
I was also in order to but you keep on being really good at recruiting for some reason.
00:05:23
Speaker
I think, cause if you look at our regional A, well, sorry, I'll start with the open cause that's where I have the most experience.

Recruitment Strategies Post-COVID

00:05:30
Speaker
So our open group, we've had a lot of them since 2017, 2018, when we, when we first started going back to WGI consistently and they've, they've stuck with it. And, um, you know, we've added a lot of people on the way, either from our own program or recruiting from other, other organizations in the area, you know, we all know you still members in New York. Oh yeah. That's, that's how we do it. Yeah.
00:05:52
Speaker
No, no, you know, we've had a few like, you know, people from because I used to teach in the States in New York. We've had a few people from there come up, we've had some members from our Scholastic Group Carpet DM here in Quebec join. So like, they've helped like, this sounds colder than I mean it, but like pad out the ranks as like, we've lost some of our like, yeah.
00:06:12
Speaker
original third legend people. And we've also had a lot of people move up from like the old regional A and A that we had before COVID. So that was helpful. And I think, you know, we, we tried really hard to keep everyone engaged. We did like solos and stuff like that during COVID. And that helped a lot. And then we also started a couple of
00:06:31
Speaker
summer dance programs with the City of St. Louis Dash, and that helped to recruit for our younger groups too. Yeah, that you're really lucky to have that. We talked about that before, but to have that type of support from the city is... Yeah, it's invaluable. I think, like, big shout out to the City of St. Louis Dash for supporting us with their facilities and marketing and all those things they're able to give us. Yeah. And for you, Jasmine, what does 2024 mean?

Les Eclipse's 2024 Challenges & Successes

00:06:57
Speaker
I mean, 2024, we didn't even know if we were going to have an A group.
00:07:01
Speaker
I mean, there's only six of them. So, and that was like our limit. That was like, we have to be six in order to have a group and here we are. So it's starting off pretty rocky. I mean, we, like I said, we didn't know if we were going to have a group. Our budget wasn't super high either. I mean, we lost the bingo and everything. So kind of just going with the, with the flow.
00:07:20
Speaker
And I mean, we've ended up being super successful as of now. So I think the kids have really brought the program to where it is now. And the good thing about being six is that they all want to be there. And we started the season by telling them, we're not going to WGI. Are you still in this? And they all said, absolutely. We just want to spin flags in a gym. So that's the good thing about being six. They all are really motivated and just really want to do color guard, I guess.
00:07:47
Speaker
And Jasmine is very, very humble, but I can, I can say on the other hand that it's also a staff team. And I mean, in general around this group is people that just want to be there because they didn't want it to fall. And it kind of, Mike was there, but it kind of resembles of the vibe that we had the, what year was that, Michael, the 2008 with Sonora. It's just, yeah, it's just a group of people that wanted things to work out, period. So.
00:08:13
Speaker
And I'm not saying that usually staff team is not in that vibe, but sometimes you get in a group of things and you're just the same team as always, as you've always been together and stuff. And this is a brand new team. No one as, I mean, Leah and I work together, you and I work together, but like.
00:08:29
Speaker
It's as a team. It's not Finn and I work together. Like there's pieces, but as a team, like, and, and the Jasmine is very humble. She's not going to say it, but it's your first design, your first caption edit. And, and yeah, I was going to say that I forgot, but I was going to say about the legend.

Growth Initiatives at Third Legend & Sunor

00:08:44
Speaker
If you can move and go see third legend, what Kevin said about the kids being there for a couple of years at championship, it shows.
00:08:51
Speaker
I don't want to say they're on the top of their peak because we hope they haven't peaked yet, right? We hope. We hope for a long peak forever. We hope for a long peak with them. And I mean, they're really, really strong. They're really nice kids to work with. So you need to go see third legend, but you need to go see basic clips also, because if you know all that, like they're six, it's impressive that they're six the way they handle themselves.
00:09:16
Speaker
The way they look, but when you think also about this group was basically the, the, the staff team was built end of August because one thing led to another and they lost their, their design their staff team and in August for different reasons but.
00:09:31
Speaker
It was built on a corner, not even a corner or a table, like on a road to Hackett. It was in Allentown, yeah. Like, Maasten talked to me. She was like, I'm in Allentown. I was like, good, I'm going tomorrow. Let's talk then. So, I mean, that's how it ended up going. But yeah, it was a lot of me and Maasten, because when that happened, Maasten kind of called me and was a lot of Maasten being like,
00:09:52
Speaker
this person has potential, this person has potential, this person has potential, can they say yes, yes, cool. And so it's just, it's lazy clips line, stars that line, if you can say. And for you, Michael, what does 2024 mean? I mean, it's weird, because we're literally the new kids on the block, even though we're the oldest color guard out there. To me, 2024, it's a year of growth.
00:10:14
Speaker
You know, we basically started from zero eight years ago, built the program back up, got some, you know, got feeder groups so that we can get a group, went up a last year. This year is our first WGI year. So it's just, it's just continuing the plan that we started with eight years ago. So just cool.
00:10:34
Speaker
Yeah, and Sonora, we should have said that from the start, but I know I said it. I work with the three organizations this year, and that is one of the most interesting thing that I've done is to be involved with different organizations that have the same goal, basically, was to first show up at championship because we can talk on how much it costs to go and how much of a work it is.
00:10:58
Speaker
But Sanor, those kids, you need to be able to see. And on top of it, they go right after dinner, around dinner. It's a good time to go see a show.
00:11:07
Speaker
And then, but those kids are the most, I don't know what the right word would be, efficient. Like they, like my mom, like Mike knows that, but my mom came to one rehearsal, she's a cleaning person, she cleans like, and they, we were cleaning them, we could clean them for eight hours straight. And it was not just like, oh, little counts here, like real deep cleaning when you spend like 15 minutes on two counts, a full day. And they applied and stuck with the stuff that applied like right on. They're fairly young, like Mike, maybe,
00:11:37
Speaker
I always say that. My youngest one is 13. My oldest one just turned 20. The average age is about, I want to say 15. Yeah. So it's two things. One, they're fairly young. I mean, 20 is not that young, but they're fairly young. So they are at that moment where they just grab so much information.
00:12:01
Speaker
the biggest sponge I'm around this year I think and on the other hand the vibe there is in this gem doesn't show it doesn't show that there's a 13 and a 20 I don't know how to say that but they blend so well they blend well they mesh well there's no there's no like clicks they just they just I mean I've taught a lot of groups over the years this group just likes being with each other yeah and they're just excited for every single little thing this year which is just nice to see
00:12:27
Speaker
And they love watching Color Guard. Yeah, they're at that age where they want to be in a gym watching guard from 9 in the morning to 9am. And there's also a testament to... When does that stop? Oh, it does, though. I have been around Color Guards, I was like, we don't go, but Jasmine marched years. Am I wrong, Jasmine? Years with these eclipse where we would go see like maybe an hour. And I was like, but we're here.
00:12:50
Speaker
But there is sometimes one part of group sets. I mean, ooh, it's not like this at least. It doesn't work. But no, not the last year. But what was I going to say about that? Yeah, there is also something that is really nice. Like Mike is talking about planning. And I mean, we say you're a type A person. Mike plans a lot. I don't agree with that.
00:13:11
Speaker
Okay. And, um, and I think to have like a two year, five year, maybe it was an eight year plan, but like to have a five year plan, more than just a year plan, right? It's a 10 year plan. The 10 year plan is to try and get him back into finals. We're on your eight. You're on your eight. Yeah. So I think that is a testament of how important it is to not just have a one or two year plan, even though, even if you have a old, quote unquote, old, old organization, like
00:13:41
Speaker
always have at least a three year plan in my mind. Like it really depends where your goal is and where you are set. And this year I walked out this team. I was brought in mostly to bring in a technique program is what we can say. And, um, but it was super clear from the get-go, like we want to be comfortable semi-finalists. And I mean, we're not going to jinx nothing. We don't know, but as of right now, we've got really great reviews. Like maybe you can talk a little bit about critique, how it went, but really great reviews from judges in it, how
00:14:11
Speaker
they can see that there is a plan from the regional A all the way to the A. And yeah, I think, I mean, you know, we approach critique differently this year because I'm not looking at the season. I'm looking at the plan. So we go into critique going, listen, our plan this year is this, you know, we're not, we're not finalists. So here's what we did this year. What do we need to build on for next year to get us to the next level? So our goal this year was to make finals at a regional, which we did.
00:14:38
Speaker
go to Dayton, which we will, hopefully next semis. If we don't, that's okay too. We're going to move on to next year. So I think the judges appreciated the fact that we came at things differently and we're looking not just to what we need to finish the season, but what do we need to grow into next year with the regional light and the independent day. Yeah. Now that I'm seeing the other side, the judge side, I can say that it's very refreshing to see an organization that know exactly what their goals are.
00:15:07
Speaker
And that set that goal and that's what they're doing for their members. And I'm not saying people are not working for the kids, but there's people that are working for the kids, but want to be really creative and give them a little bit more and go maybe a little bit at the head of the members. And so to see that is, it is refreshing. And I think it was appreciated by all the judges that we talked. So what's special about this season for your organization? It's not the Jasmine first. Oh my gosh. There's so much that is special this year. I don't know what to.
00:15:37
Speaker
I mean, just the fact that we weren't supposed to go to WGI at first, and then we kind of like realized that, oh, this show actually has a lot of potential and the kids are motivated. They, you know, they want to be there, like I said. So that is super special that we actually get to go and that we ended up making that decision kind of last minute. So I think that, and also the fact that, like I said, in the beginning, we didn't have much budget to go with, like Mattson told me right at the beginning, you have to design a show.
00:16:07
Speaker
And you have no money to do it. I was like, perfect. So everything besides the uniforms are reused. The flags have all been used by Liz Eclipse. One flag that we use is from a former seamstress that worked with Liz Eclipse. And president. She was president. Yeah, she recently passed away. So we wanted to honor that. And plus, the flag just fit perfectly with the color scheme. So I guess that's their special nod.
00:16:33
Speaker
Yeah, it's, uh, Matson and I talked about it a lot this year, Lee's Eclipse. And it's a year that I think is very fitting. There's a lot of wink to the past and there's a lot of support that comes from, there was a post today that was written by Lee's Eclipse because they're going to the BHI to announce it after regional. Cause that was their goal to first to bring the regional A and the A class to the regional. And it's a lot of money. And, and I know that we can talk to any.
00:17:00
Speaker
group, we all know that now buses are double the price that they were before COVID. It's not just for Canadians, but we do have that exchange rate that makes it crazy.

Financial and Parental Support Challenges

00:17:10
Speaker
But there's the thing with Ma'a Ma'a Roo, and there's all the alumni that support, and there's the four previous directors that kind of wrote to Martin and supported how much we could. All of that kind of shown that the arrow was pointing to WGI, and it was just that.
00:17:28
Speaker
And for you, Kevin, what's special about the season for you guys? Oh yeah, for this season, for us, for this year, Third Legend tried to really tackle a lot of initiatives. We expanded our board because we're growing and it's not something that
00:17:45
Speaker
three people can manage all by themselves out of their kitchen meeting every you know six weeks or whatever it used to be. We've created committees to help us with transportation and food and all those things that like you know when we had 12 members and only one group was going to WGI it was
00:18:01
Speaker
It was easy enough to just be like, okay, we're going to make a big batch of pasta salad and they're going to love it. But like now, you know, we have to plan meals for multiple groups all at the same time. There's special requests and dietary needs and things like that. And, you know, and, and we've just been able to really accomplish a lot. We have like our sponsor a meal program.
00:18:21
Speaker
this year, which has been really successful. I know a lot of other groups have already done it, but it's the first time we've done it. A big thank you to all those people who've donated. Yeah. And like you mentioned before, the mini group, I guess, like I said, this year is just special because we've really been able to launch a lot of initiatives successfully. We have a sponsorship with digital performance gear that's really helped us defray a lot of the costs that come with producing a show.
00:18:45
Speaker
Yeah, I like you know, it's hard to just pick one thing and you know, it's just it's really nice that we've been able to receive that support to help grow the organization in ways that are like allowing more people to participate for less cost. As you mentioned, it's just so costly now go to WGI and go to regionals and all that. So everything we've been able to do to help diminish that for the members has been a blessing really. And you might
00:19:11
Speaker
I mean, I mean, everything's special, just the fact that that, you know, I'm getting a Sonora group back to WGI, that's big, because, you know, I was with them in their heyday, you know, we've started over so many times. So I think between that and the fact that, you know, we now have two feeder groups into the A group, we're setting them up for success in the future.
00:19:29
Speaker
So I like where the organization is going and I feel confident that they have a brighter future than they did eight years ago. So I think it's a lot of that. A lot of very, I'm a very proud daddy when it comes to Benor and my kids. Just funny because there's a lot of people that know how you didn't like kids several years ago.
00:19:51
Speaker
Like, not at all. But... I didn't enjoy kids until I started teaching little kids. No, I love it. No, you are. You are that. And then you protect them in every single way possible. And it shows. It just shows. And the way also that the parents are very around. Like, there's volunteers that are really... But there's a lot of support from the parents. And I think parents are excited for them to go to WGI also.
00:20:16
Speaker
Because I think we're going to have a lot of food. I was talking to Shatam. There's going to be a lot of moms and dads. There's a lot of moms and dads. They're super excited for their kids. That's what I really love. The parents really embraced Sonor and were to bring your kids. Year after year, they're coming back. Their sisters are coming back

Competitive Strategies and Feedback

00:20:33
Speaker
with their kids. We started a whole kid-dad group this year. We got all new kids.
00:20:37
Speaker
So I think everything that surrounds the organization now is in a really great place. Um, so that just makes me really proud of, of what we've been able to accomplish and trying to get the kids not to feel like they're the babies anymore, like getting them to understand that they are a competitive, a group has been difficult. But you know what we've, we've talked about that you and I, and I talk about that to a lot of different people, like I, we're different, different, not them, can I say this?
00:21:07
Speaker
Different circuit has different amounts of A-class and Scholastic A and Double A and all that. But in the history of our circuit, the A-class have been really strong A-classes.
00:21:26
Speaker
when third legend start to make finals in A class, right? So I don't know how long that is. So for a group that their goal is not to be top five A class, but to build and to go towards a goal that makes sense for every year because it was not a one year goal to say like this year we're making finals, but then be compared
00:21:47
Speaker
to third legend in the minds of the judges that are now and even even in our minds as you know what I mean like even as a culture like the a class that even the people in the stands are used to see are like very mature and and very mature programs and kids older kids in general and you guys yeah to have the kids look at those groups and be like we're the same like we play in the same field we are what you're the same you're not it's it's not and
00:22:17
Speaker
And in A class, there's so many groups that you can be a very, very successful group. If you make semis, you're successful. Well, if you go to a BGI, you're successful. Yeah, that's why it's good to go to the States because, you know, I agree. It's hard to compete in Quebec because there's two of us and you have laser clips, which are a major powerhouse in A class and us. So.
00:22:38
Speaker
That's not a lot of fun for us in Quebec. But when you go to the States, all of a sudden there's 16, 17 other groups and the kids get to see that they are competitive within their competitive class. So it makes it easier for us to get them to buy into the fact that they're competitive. So I think that was a major move this year is to get into two regionals so that they could see what their playing field was.
00:23:01
Speaker
and that they actually do belong in A-Class. Yeah. I like how you're saying that they belong and that they understand because I don't think to some extent that they, not that they don't trust us, but we're mom, we're dad, we're team. Of course, we're going to tell them they're the best. Not that they don't believe us, but once they don't see where they're ranked and how well it works for real. This show, I don't want to say in particular because you always write entertaining shows, but this show stands out on its own in the A-Class.
00:23:29
Speaker
which is not easy to do period. And, and as in Quebec and in the US too, it's a crowd pleasing show. Like people want to clap and clap, not just want to, they clap. You have reactions from the crowd. Well, that's, that's my advertising background. A lot of that when I design shows. I know, but that's to say it fits them and it helps them believe in their program also. Cause when you're,
00:23:55
Speaker
in a program like the thing that I write where there's no room to clap or it doesn't make sense to clap, kids get scared at a certain point when you have like four minutes of silence. But yeah, I think everything. It's like just the fact that the last regionally actually had some kids from other groups coming up to them going, you know, we love our show, blah, blah, blah. It's something they've never experienced. It was very heartwarming when they'd run up to me and go, I was in the bathroom and somebody said they love our show. And I was like, are you sure they were talking about our show? No. No.
00:24:25
Speaker
Isn't that the best when you were members, guys? To have people tend to say... I always go out of my way to tell... When I see members of shows that I like, I always go out of my way to tell them because I used to love it when I marched. It's validating, yeah. It is, it is. And it comes from the outside and in the end, we kind of do it. We do it for the judges, we do it for a rink, but we love to please the crowd and we don't have that response unless
00:24:50
Speaker
someone stop us and say it and claps. And sometimes there's no room for claps in shows. So that's really cool. I always come for claps.
00:25:15
Speaker
Hey everyone, it's Jeremy, and here are your announcements coming from the box. You wanna drink up on a water break lost in translation with Cynthia Bernard, uncover the glitz and glamour of twirlers with on a water break in rhinestones hosted by Lexi Duda, get the insider scoop from the stands with on a water break from the stands with Cindy Berry, aka Leander Mama, and join the band Family in on a water break family style with Stephanie Klick, plus much, much more to come.
00:25:45
Speaker
Make sure to follow us on social media at onawaterbreak for all the latest updates and bonus content. Got something to share or a burning question? Email us at onawaterbreakpodcastatgmail.com. So don't be the person that doesn't tell their friends about a water break. Make sure everyone stays hydrated. Okay, field staff, take it away. Let's reset.
00:26:17
Speaker
Making a parenthesis, if that's a word, I always, I kind of say, like we talk about money and stuff, but I think one of the things

Tuition Fees Comparison: Canada vs. US

00:26:24
Speaker
that is also interesting and maybe Kevin can testament to that is how little our tuition is. I don't think people realize how little our tuition is compared to the US. So can we go, it's not a private information. Like, can we go around and just say how much the tuition for this year was for your kids?
00:26:41
Speaker
I don't know if you all know. I might have to confirm with some sources. I think I plan to know for every group. It's around what? Mike, do you know? I want to say 600. I think it's 630. I'm not wrong. It's close. Do I win something? No, because I don't know exactly. I think it's a number that I heard at some point. I want to say it's in the 600 range, which is really good for everything that they're doing. Canadians. Oh, yeah. You have to remember that part.
00:27:10
Speaker
That's about $2.50 US. It's less. Jasmine, do you know? I have pulled it down. Yeah, so from last year, it was higher than this year because they went to WGI. I mean, we're going now, but I want to say maybe in the 700s, 800s, I'm not sure exactly, but somewhere similar to that.
00:27:33
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. I think it was five, they pulled it down to like 550 and it used to be 750 or something like that. I was completely off land. I don't know. No, I know, but I'm saying this and after the COVID year, we did a, I don't know how you say that in English, but a payee. We did like, you need to pay at least levels. Yeah. So you need the least amount the kids could pay. Maybe that's an idea for people, but the least amount they had to pay was $680 coming back from COVID.
00:28:02
Speaker
But then we did like levels where like, if you're a little bit more of ease of money, like you can pay this and if you, and put it into a calendar. So we had kids that had more money to spare and were okay with paying $800, but the flat fee, I don't know how to say it, but the tuition tuition was 680. So it makes sense if now it's seven. Yeah. And you, Kevin. We did have to raise ours a little bit this year, just because the team grew and yeah.
00:28:32
Speaker
But it's still hovering just above 1,000 Canadian. And for reference, I know that what I paid in 2012 when I marched independent A was 600 US. So it's crazy to hear that, you know.
00:28:45
Speaker
When I started marching, it was like five dollars. I don't think I ever paid a tuition at Les Ettoalas because my dad was a director, so he was printing probably like 10 times the amount, but it was $350 in 1996. How would you go? And we were going in buses, like Les Ettoalas, we were like...
00:29:06
Speaker
When I march Cavaliers, DCI, 500 bucks. Wow. 500 bucks. US? That'll get you an audition weekend this year. 500 bucks when I marched, and I thought that was a lot back then.
00:29:20
Speaker
Really soon 500 bucks is going to be like a video audition. Right. Exactly. That's pretty much what it is. I mean, it's getting there. Yeah. I think one thing about third legend though, I do want to say is like, because we increased it since COVID. Yeah. We have really tried to keep the motto though. Like if you want to be in the gym, come to the gym. We're going to make it work.
00:29:45
Speaker
Yeah. Like we've always made it work. Even when people are like, I can pay half,

Third Legend's Show Theme: Persephone

00:29:50
Speaker
like we've always found a way for them to either fundraise more or find a sponsor, you know, like it's because of how small the community is up here, especially like if people want to do it, we're going to find a way for them to do it. I love that.
00:30:02
Speaker
And before we end that, can you talk a little bit about your show? Like I pick people's interests maybe and things that are the storyline or things that are special that they need to look for. Who wants this? Are you sending this to the judges or? Well, it would be. I'm not saying, you know, I love that you're saying this. I'm not saying this, but it's really good if you're doing this and the judge hears something. It's not fast. If you're an independent open prelims,
00:30:30
Speaker
27. It's not, it's not a bad thing if they know a little bit about your program before. So Kevin, do you want to start? Yeah, sure. So this year we wanted to go with something very visual and, you know, kind of like a stark contrast. So, you know, we've done very flowery, happy shows in the past and like, you know, trying to keep the style similar, but also explore something a little darker. We went with
00:30:53
Speaker
It's called Persephone, the promise of spring. And yeah, so it follows the story of Persephone who's kidnapped into the underworld by the god of death, Hades. And then, you know, she's, you know, very sad and melancholic at first. And then there's a rage that grows inside of her until finally Hades offers her a pomegranate or the seeds of a pomegranate.
00:31:13
Speaker
It fixes everything. And it fixes everything, no. So with that, she's allowed to leave the underworld for six months out of the year. And that's how we have our seasons according to the myth. So we have a little surprise ending ready for Dayton. So yeah, that's going to be the cherry on top. I can't wait. I don't know how you guys made it happen. I know what it is. I haven't seen it. But yeah, I think
00:31:38
Speaker
Third Legend show this year is fairly interesting because it brings everything that we've always liked at Third Legend, the theatrics and the, and you went even more into the props, how do you say that, production value even more.

Creative Processes and Collaborative Work

00:31:52
Speaker
And I mean, that's not a surprise. So I'm going to say there's some flower petals thrown here and there. Like that's Third Legend. Yeah, I mean, that's Third Legend, right? Big shock, right?
00:32:01
Speaker
Going also that the members kind of wanting and you felt like the members were wanting to portray something different. And it's very fun to see them flourish in that rage part in particular because they really like that. They really like to perform that.
00:32:17
Speaker
Young adults love to rage. So we thought it's a good way to get those feelings out, you know, like most art, I guess, art and sports, for that matter, you know, it's a good way to express those feelings in like a healthy way, kind of let loose and, you know, rage against your own Hades, whatever it may be.
00:32:35
Speaker
I really like that, you know, I've, I've geeked out since the beginning that I told a lot of symbolism, like you mentioned, you know, yeah, well, yeah. Yeah. But the first, well, cause you, and that's when I was saying that I'm working with a three organization. And what's really interesting is that you, you change your concepts, uh, through the summers. And when you're talking about the concept you want to do, you're like, we're doing this. And then two weeks, I was like, Oh, nevermind. We're doing this. Like the way that food legend works creatively is really not attached.
00:33:05
Speaker
to a particular idea. Like there's not a big grip. I don't want to, and it's, I don't know how to make, not making sound bad, but there's not a big grip on like one thing and it's like, no, we're doing this and it's only this. And I'm the only one that has, you know what I mean? Like, but I guess, you know, cause you're there. And, but as soon as, as you said, Greek engine, whatever, I was like, Oh, geeked out. Cause for people that know the program of the COVID program of laser clips open was
00:33:32
Speaker
Sartornalia Festival of Chaos and it's kind of intertwined with like Persephone is the daughter of the show that we wrote anyway so like I was of course like into it as far as but yeah it's interesting it's very interesting how like you're saying you're saying you're part of the program or the design team and there is like a design force
00:33:53
Speaker
behind base and behind you and stuff. But I think what makes a lot of what's very interesting with organizations that as as soon as someone has an idea that comes from an intellect, something that was thought out, and it's not just a feeling idea, like it's taken very seriously, like always.
00:34:11
Speaker
I mean, not to monopolize the time or anything, but like it's that we really do, like we don't do titles really, other than like the administrative stuff, like, you know, general director and all that stuff that we have to do under law and all that. But like, like we don't, we really all share that, that like creative vision and we try to like hone in because like the more of us who enjoy the program, the more of the public, of the judges, of the
00:34:35
Speaker
members who will enjoy the program as well. So like no idea is too like silly or like from an inexperienced staff member to bring up or try because you never know when it's going to be like oh but then it will spark something someone else. So we try to be very like egalitarian in our approach like amongst ourselves too. Who wants to go next Mike? Do you want to
00:34:55
Speaker
Sure. I mean, the show, the show is called Blank Page. And I really wanted to design something this year that would be ownable for the kids. So it's the whole idea of, you know, when you're staring at a blank page, it's in life when you're you need to make a decision and you don't know where to go. And there's so many possibilities and

Sonor's Show 'Blank Page': Themes and Creativity

00:35:13
Speaker
so many ways to go. But finally, you just make a decision to go there.
00:35:16
Speaker
So that's what I wanted the kids to think of in the show. So they can have their own story and their own progression. So we built the show that it starts, everybody starts to the left so that you're reading left to right and everybody enters the floor at their own pace because everybody has their own decision, their own story, their own life to live.
00:35:35
Speaker
And as the show progresses through all the emotions and everything, you know, everything that can happen in life, everybody ends up finishing to the right as your story, you know, as that story comes to an end, but they all finish at their own tempo, at their own pace when their story ends, because nobody's story is the same. But when they finish, they can look back and see that whatever decision they made got them to where they are today.
00:35:58
Speaker
So on a very, very, you know, emotional level, that's what you want to do. But it's also a show that's very, if you don't understand all of that, it's still very easy to read. It's a literal blank page with people going from left to right. And there's pencils on the flags. So it worked. I worked on a lot of levels. I just wanted something easy, comprehensible for our first year WGI. That was also interesting, hopefully.
00:36:26
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, I think so. The other thing that is really interesting is that when you first told me about that concept before I heard the music, it was very like almost anxiety inducing, because a blank page, like as a creative person, you know, like it's like, like, where are we going? And I was like, it was kind of a
00:36:43
Speaker
I don't want to say deep, but kind of a new emotion to portray for those members. It was a lot available and you were like, no, it's the hope, it's the writing the first word so you know that you're creative and that you know that you're, you know, that you're a creative person, you're an artist. So it's not like deep and lingering and oh my God, where am I going with that blank page? It's like how they explore the blank page.
00:37:09
Speaker
creatively. It's not about angst or being angst-ridden, it's about I've made this decision, I'm comfortable with it, I'm moving forward in life. So it's about the hope and positivity of making a decision and getting to somewhere else in life that you wanted to go. And as a technique person and also as an
00:37:29
Speaker
now has eight class geekin' sheets. I think it was such a really smart concept. So we can write, I don't want to say simpler, but a very technical show at first. Like September, the show was very, very technical and the tosses and the way they were standing on the floor and stuff. And to build with them and giving them more and more and more within the program that was written for them.
00:37:53
Speaker
And because the show is a blank page, it worked either way, right? It worked as a very technical blank. I don't want to say blank, but like, you know what I mean? No, I know what you mean. Because we had, I mean, they're young, so we had to build them up and we can't overwrite the show at the beginning of the season because they're just not there yet. But this show allowed us to become more difficult as the members got more comfortable and better in what they were doing. Yeah.
00:38:17
Speaker
and go step by step and stop wherever they needed to stop. And probably now we could go even a couple of steps, but we're not going to because it's WGI. We want them to be comfortable and blah, blah, blah. I always have surprises for WGI. It's going to be a surprise for me. We'll see how that goes. Because it petals. It's not petals.
00:38:41
Speaker
It's pencils. It's drawing pencils at the audience. And the other thing that I think is really fun is the color palette, and not that there's a lot of colors, but it's a very refreshing color palette. A lot of people talk to us about the color palette. Once again, it's my advertising background. I'm really big into design and color and emotions and manipulating emotions.
00:39:05
Speaker
That's where the views of design. I mean, that's advertising, how to get what you need out of people emotionally. Yeah, you're right. And also, remember, who's the print effects, film and floor? Yeah, film and floor effects did our flags and they did the design for the pants.
00:39:28
Speaker
Yeah. So what worked really well also with them is that because they were the same people that printed the tart, the tart, the tartan on the pans, and then the flag, we were sending them what we wanted, but we were like, make sure that it works together. Because sometimes when you have a flag in the floor printed, if it's not the same place or maybe it's not the same year, because we recuperate a lot, like sometimes it, you know, the tint of the tartan worked. So maybe they didn't do any tweaking at all, but just know that they were supportive in that way.
00:39:57
Speaker
and we're also i mean we're also using third legend's old floor so technically the floor made finals oh wait is that the it's the floor you used last year oh yeah there you go there you go that's a good luck charm for you
00:40:12
Speaker
And you just ended all the flags and all the everything made finals before. I think so. The floor is cut. So it's like a bunch of pieces from a bunch of things. It's like glued together. It's like a whole scrapbook. I don't know what that was from. I don't know the flags.
00:40:33
Speaker
I think the Madami rule flag is the hours. I don't think the ending one made finals. Which one is that? That's Art of Falling. No, it didn't make finals. Maybe we're cursed. No, don't say that. No, I'm just kidding. So what's your show about? So our show is called Three. And we basically started designing when we found out that they were six.
00:41:01
Speaker
So we went around, you know, the number six, four, three, three triangles, tarps. We have a lot of like three duets. We have trios, we have three sections. Who's going around that number as much as we can? Three part of the show. Three, yeah, three parts to the show. I mean, it's, ours is from left to right, but we, like Yit Sheung is like kind of more directed towards one triangle. I mean, obviously we try to take the whole floor, but,
00:41:30
Speaker
That's kind of how we processed is like this triangles, this part, this one, that part. So yeah. And I mean, the color scheme for us, like I said, it's just all reused. So I went with the flags that we had that kind of went together and my favorite color

Les Eclipse's Show 'Three': Themes and Elements

00:41:43
Speaker
is purple. So kind of just lined up and we painted the scrapbook triangles, that color.
00:41:51
Speaker
And I think people should know that having a lot of money makes you very creative, but having absolutely no money makes you very creative, too. Because that idea of cut floors, if I'm not mistaken, was Frém, that kind of thing. I think so. Yeah, I think so. And then he was more... From what I remember, he was more thinking about painting triangles or trying to have triangles on the floor.
00:42:16
Speaker
as a next director was also like, and if you have little triangles folded, because that's what we did in Sana'a 2007, right? It wasn't triangles, it was rectangles. But I was like, it's easier to carry because you're only six. So pulling a tarp up and down the stairs with six kids that will probably be broken in March. So just marching. So those triangles is also like an operational thing where you need to count on just the members to have your stuff together, right?
00:42:44
Speaker
So that was also something, but when the tarps open, the triangles open at Bethlehem, I was at home. This doesn't look like a, we don't have enough money where we're going through the drawers like, it doesn't look like that. It looks like the choice, like what, I don't know how to say it. Like well thought out, yeah.
00:43:06
Speaker
It's so pretty. It's so pretty. And we're going to give a shout out to Fred because he would give himself a shout out. He drew the triangles and he just like kind of like drafted it out. And then I was like, okay, that's it. And then we just went from there. He was like, I just did it in like two seconds. I was like, well, that's what it is now. So I mean, the whole show looks completely thought out. I mean, I don't I don't think you're selling yourself as much as you should.
00:43:36
Speaker
I think even though you have to reuse flags, the choices you made with the color of the floor, with the black outfit they had on, everything works to perfection. So yeah, it might be a reuse, but you made the right decisions to create a show that, especially with six members that can get really boring really quickly when you only have six, there's no part in that show at all that is boring at any point because of the way everything is staged and works together.
00:44:05
Speaker
so from beginning to end it's just it's just it's really really good i hate to admit it but it's really good well thank you thank you for saying that because at this point of the season is tired of us throwing flowers at her she's starting of hearing her name in the little tracks i mean
00:44:22
Speaker
Yeah, then it sucks. But like, but yeah, it's so good. And a lot of people think that when you become a designer, you have to do everything or else you're not the designer. So even Jasmine doesn't kind of feel the designer of this show, because there's more than I mean, Fred and I are there and Maxin helps a lot. And then
00:44:41
Speaker
But you are the designer of the show because you're the one that reached out and said, you're the visionary behind the show. That's what I want to say. We helped you here and there, and we programmed massage little things here and there. But if you weren't there, this year wouldn't exist for Lisa. So anyway, I want to... I don't like receiving compliments. Like you said, I'm not good with it, but I appreciate all the help.
00:45:09
Speaker
But for the uniforms too, that's one thing I wanted to go for is the very sleek look, the back bun. The triangles have really rough edges, so we just wanted them to look really pristine on the floor. So I think that helps too with how mature they look also, just the fact that they're all put together, kind of ballerinas I guess.
00:45:30
Speaker
Well, thank you very much for tonight's roundtable. It was very enjoyable. I like talking to you guys and I like that we all together have those discussions. If everyone wants to see or find or follow any of the groups, Ford Legend, Lazy Clips, and Sonora the Lappéri are on social media. And they're all really good at posting. So if you want to follow them through the journey up to Championship and at Championship, you can go there and you can find all the social media
00:45:58
Speaker
links in any of the wherever you're listening to this podcast. And yeah, any words of closing out or give money if you can. Give money to anyone if you can. If you have spare money. I know it's hard. I know we're really excited like that. We're all going to WGI together this season in the same hotel. Yeah, same hotel even. It's going to be a big Quebec party. Yeah. So yeah. So if you have a chance, we're going to try to in the in the description, write the hours of the freelance.
00:46:28
Speaker
So if you have a chance to go see and it is doable, if you want to have a prelims to back day, it's possible because it just go in the morning and then and then some I'll probably might get five twenty. Six thirteen. Six thirteen. And then if you hop on your car right after the sonor going.
00:46:47
Speaker
you're gonna make it for Third Legend because the both of the stands or stadiums are like 15 minutes away and you can make it. So thank you very much you guys. If you want to join me and have a discussion about any word, you don't have to be a superstar color guard person, you can be a parent, you can be a color guard lover, or a color guard superstar also. You can reach us on any of the social media on on a water break. So thank you guys have a good night and see you soon. Thank you.