Proud KS Scout: Mega bucks!
Well we are Stateside! Since my last post we’ve been a very busy corps. A weekend rehearsal in the UK only four days ago now feels a long time ago because so much has happened.
MEGA BUCKS!
28-08-2015
Monday morning was a very early start (4:30am). Once we arrived at the airport we were greeted by our fabulous tour manager and four check-in desks dedicated to Kidsgrove Scouts.
The airline staff greeted us with a warning, “This is not a party plane!” But the flight was superb and we all arrived safely at JFK airport – 6pm local time (11pm GMT) with the heat and humidity greeting us immediately. Four coaches arrived to take our party to the hotel where we were checked in quickly, by which time many people were very tired.
Tuesday – happy faces all round at breakfast and lots of excitement. Many of the younger members who hadn’t visited New York before seemed to be buzzing (as was everyone!) As a free day members/supporters got to explore the city at their leisure and a great day was had by all.
Wednesday – first rehearsal day. I felt equally anxious and excited but talking to my friends made me realise lots of other members felt the same. The coaches arrived early for people wishing to visit Wall-mart to stock up on water, drinks and snacks. Picture the TV program Supermarket Sweep and a similar scene was reenacted in store due to a limited amount of time before rehearsal and a dash for the best water coolers! Dale Winton would have been impressed.
We arrived at rehearsal and met our American staff in person and everyone was allocated equipment. The Boston Crusaders D&B Corps have been so incredibly generous in sharing their equipment with us and we all felt excited and honoured. As the brass and percussion started warm ups the guard needed to tape poles and attach flags; 120 poles needed to be made up! It was during set up that we all made a new friend; a snake! Which was slithering amongst our bags and coolers where we stood (pictured). The beautiful Keleigh tried to shoo it away but we decided it was probably easier if the whole colour guard moved. Lunch was a delicious feast with seconds available and fresh fruit for the remainder of the day (the juiciest water melon I have ever tasted).
After lunch we worked in sectionals on the opener and later coordinated this as a corps. Some pass throughs really weren’t working for me but the members in the brass line who I needed to pass through were very eager to help get it sorted. :-) First day of the U.S. rehearsals survived! Now out for tea with four of my most handsome friends who are always fabulous company.
Thursday – Medea day! Coaches arrived at 8:15am and off we set for rehearsal. The morning was spent in sectionals cleaning Medea. This piece is at 195 beats per minute which feels fast! It was hard work to keep going at times but our guard instructor, Jimmy gave us all an analogy which really worked for me and helped me keep pushing through. Thinking of our show as a bank and the amount of deposits (effort) we put in creates our balance. I’m going for mega bucks!!! Another wild life visit – three small deers visited back field for a nose but soon vanished once the drum line arrived. The afternoon felt equally tough when we coordinated Medea as a whole corps as it’s just a tough, demanding piece and only 110% effort seems to be able to make this piece work. The high school band where we are rehearsing in New Jersey came to watch us and their support really helped.
I called home after rehearsal and it felt good to hear my two boys whom I’ve left at home. Tonight I ordered a takeaway (lasagne and salad, not like takeaway at home – note to self to talk to my brother-in-law (drum line) about this and compare to Kass, his favourite takeaway establishment) and I ate in the hotel room whilst having a cuddle with my little girl. Now time to chill and catch zzzzzzz in order to revisit my bank in the morning and work on increasing my balance!
SHOW DAY READY
29-08-2015
So it’s midday and I’m currently sat on the coach en route to Bridgeport for our first show.
Yesterday was very hot and subsequently three days in, harder work. Rainbow day for the colour guard! So we all rehearsed in our chosen colours, a nice way to start the day with photos (to be uploaded later).
The day started with our third visit of wildlife; geese. But they spoon waddled off to listen to the brass line. Oh my days…… The horn line sounded incredible today. During stretch out I got goose bumps just from the sound of the horns warming up. The quality of the sound they produced all day today was just femoninal and really inspired me to try harder.
Today we worked predominantly on our ballad and Pagan. We deep cleaned the ballad (where we use 7 foot poles) to ‘and’ counts; Gem Moore this should make you happy! I have big sets at the end of Pagan followed by a toss which earlier in the year resulted in a visit to A&E and some skin glued back together above my eyebrow. We worked the interlude into Medea where we were told to roll play a part of monkeys and minions to Chief Druid. Some further explanation was needed for most of the guard as they are of an age who took that literally and were inspired by Despicable Me!
Our new stones were finished and put into place. Huge thanks to Bob, Doreen and Lea for their hard work and talents in getting these so good.
We rehearsed till late and were invite to play at the high schools show and tell. The stand filled up with parents and we watched the high school band perform. They had only been at band camp for two weeks and did a really fantastic job! The director Nelson Mendez introduced The Kidsgrove Scouts to the audience as ‘a marching band on steroids’.
It was a great run through and felt good to be under the floodlights. I was so physically exhausted I didn’t even think I’d get through the show but this helped calm the nerves for a good performance; that and a cuddle off my beautiful Zimmers (nickname for a branch of our supporters).
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