The Band Prop From Hell -- Updated!
Getting a high school band on the field takes a LOT of work, from many people. What looks like a well-oiled machine is fraught with pitfalls-- private anguish, long hours of practice, long hours of sewing, making props, preparing food, and the melding of many different personalities. It is important for a band parent to remember: It's all for the kids.
Our kids start band camp right after the 4th of July. Since school didn't let out until June 8th, this year, our kids had only 1 month of vacation, before they began band camp. Weeks of 12 hour days out in the hot sun. They begin practice long before the football team, and practice longer hours, too! They bring their lunch, but the band moms fix all of them dinner. Band moms also slave away in the uniform department, sewing on buttons, repairing jackets, sewing up the seams of bibbed pants that have been torn, and cleaning gloves, gauntlets, and repairing hats.
No matter how frustrating it was for the band moms, nothing equalled the frustration and frenzy of the band prop dads. Our band director envisioned a large lotus leaf, that opened to reveal a flute soloist, right on cue. The assignment was given to the props and maintenance committee head. To be honest, he and his main helper had no idea where to start. So the first thing they built, was a 5' diameter, 8-sided box. Three weeks ago, the band parent president called my husband in, to take a look at where they were and to finish the project.
Oh. My. Gosh. The first leaf had not been constructed, there were no mechanical workings, not even a design that could possibly work, and no one had any idea what to do next. Enter, my husband, also known as Magnum, here on NT.
He designed the leaves and petals, the air controlled mechanism, (air was required as the band had already spent money on buying scuba tanks to power the system), the hinges, and basically, the works. His involvement included 6-12 hour days, every night and all weekends, trying to get it built and ready to go by the first contest.
Yesterday, the band first had a parade for the Middletown festival. Since he pulls the chow wagon to contests, he had to pull the chow wagon in the parade. He frantically left the non-working prop, (the helper guy had installed all the switches in backwards), and ran to the school to pick up the chow wagon. We like to show all of our equipment during these parades, to spur donations to the band, so we can keep operating. All of the line that you can see is our band.
I met him after the parade, and was just grateful to be able to spend some time with him, after all this fol-de-rol, while we drove down to Glasgow, KY to set up and start cooking supper for the kids.
We were assigned a space in the parking lot, equal to the other, smaller bands, and we knew, from the very beginning, that it was going to be a tight fit. We have the chow wagon, the semi-truck, the box truck, 2 trailers full of equipment, and three school buses. Plus, once there, we pull out 3 other trailers to haul all the pit instruments out in the field. Add 50 parents and 130 kids to the mix, the kids dressing in their uniforms, the moms running around like maniacs trying to get everyone fed and dressed, the dads heaving and hauling equipment-- (they band has 2 minutes to get everything on the field), and then we have the flower crew. The flower can't be transported all together, so it must be put together, the leaves inserted, with the soloist inside... Somehow, we fit all that into our space!
At our specified time, (8:31 pm), the band got onto the field. Glitches: the homemade feathers for the hats shed feathers, and a few became unwound during the show... The soloist couldn't find the pedals for the petals in her long flowing dress... The band directors didn't want the lotus to open up at once, but piece by piece, (DUMB idea), so it appeared to be somewhat glitchy, and the valves need adjusting, (a part where there was no time), so that the petals move slowly and gracefully, not WHAM, down on the field. But the end result was this-- the show starts at 4:00 on the video.
This is what the lotus looks like, all folded up and ready to go! Note the hot pink feathers-- they were their own nightmare...
This is how it looks, from the field, when unfolded. From the top, I bet it looks better!
Remember that the show starts at 4:00, about. Note: The video is not showing up in preview mode, so, if you really want to see it, here is the link ! (Eastern High School Marching Band, Glasgow 2014)
Thanks for coming by!
UPDATE: Our band director, a young man of 37, had hip replacement surgery earlier this year. This past week, he has been terribly ill, and unable to attend practices. We are going to a Bands of America competition tomorrow. I hope that he is able to come, and not be in such terrible pain! I think he is rejecting his new hip, and am so worried about him. If y'all don't mind, please send healing thoughts to our dear Mr. Arthur!
Thanks!
Tags
Who is online
265 visitors
Thanks for coming by! Dear Magnum has nearly killed himself over this lotus thing...
The show still needs a lot of "cleaning", but they did really good for their first time out!
Personal comment, the "leaves" carried around look like pine cones, to me. They don't show up as hot pink, but they are...
You're so sweet! I'll tell him what you said!
The prop weighs 850 pounds and has 6 wheels. HEAVY, but, thankfully, it rolls...
What a lot of "behind the scene" work that was!! This looks like such a GREAT group of kids, I'll bet they are fun to be around. Kudos to Magnum for all of the time and energy he put into this. May this be an AWESOME year for this Band!
My daughter produces and directs and choreographs musical theater. Coordinating any activity involving a significant number of participants -- particularly with diverse assignments -- is quite a feat!
All of us slept 9-11 hours, and we're exhausted...
Thanks for your kind wishes!
One person, who drops the ball, causes a ripple effect of awfulness... I can only imagine how many headaches your daughter has!
Sometimes it's one of the adults who are there to supervise the kids!
Just incredible story, Dowser!
That's what I was thinking! Well-deserved!
Nice to see you again, dear lady!
Nice to see you, too!!!
I will pass it on to Magnum-- he's exhausted!
Oh, thank you!... and I bet he is exhausted.
I've known people like that, and they would give you their heart, if they could. Expertise in Science projects to major tasks as this...their labor and paying forward their wisdom is relentless. We can't praise them enough. to you both.
Thank you, so very much! He's a good man, and a smart one!
Every time... The kids get it done!
Magnum can be proud of his service to the band that is a great Lotus Flower and I'm sure ith a bit more tweaking it will look even better. The parents are the unseen force that makes so many of these events happen and no one is even aware of them.
I thoroughly enjoyed that presentation , both the visuals and the music ... A lot of oriental influence . Bravo !
I'm very proud of him that he kept his cool, when the others kept messing it up... Besides just being proud of him, in general!
The parents do a LOT, and the kids are appreciative, as is the band director. He knew how hard this was. But, you know, it is worth every moment, too.
Thanks! I like that part about it, too!
You two are super parents! That is some job that Magnum did. I hope that Peep knows that not all dads can or would know how to do that.
BTW I think that the lotus came out amazing!
Peep is amazed! I knew he could do it, because he understands physics and how things work... These other guys had no idea. They first designed the large leaf, (11' long), with a 1" lever to move it up and down. It might have worked in outer space, but not on this planet...
John gets a lot of credit for this, I think. Even more credit, considering the morons he had to work with. (i.e. installing the switches backward, using scuba tanks instead of regular air tanks, etc.)
Thanks! I'll tell him!
What a fun video. Magnum did a great job on that prop. I'm sure people were giving him all kinds of pats on the back. Very cool.
Actually, true to form, all I heard were complaints. The leaves weren't bright enough, it moved jerkily, why wasn't the box painted, etc. Nyeh, typical.
People can be so predictable. I think he did a GREAT job!
Well fuck them very much.
I couldn't have said it better myself...
He has SLAVED over this lotus-- and needs to be encouraged, not criticized-- especially for the "color" of the thing. He designed it, built it, and someone else painted it!
jwc, ya need to point that out to the complainers. I find that behavior plain old mean spirited.
Duck race !!! Photos photos please. That sounds like wonderful fun.
Isn't that the truth!!! We all have to remember that people are VOLUNTEERING their time, energy, and $$. Take what you've got and be grateful.
Most people, are, I think, unaware of what goes into executing most "club" activities-- and if they can't do it themselves, shut up.
If you can't say something nice, shut up.
Yes, please, pictures!!!
We have a rubber duck race for charity during Derby week, here. Soooo much fun! They close off a place on the river, and release all these wonderful little yellow ducks. When the ducks cross the finish line-- they are picked up and their number is read. All these charities get some $$ for their cause. People line up to get in! It's SO much fun!
There are those who try and elevate their own self images by trying to lower the images of others.
The idea quacks me up, keeps me from getting down, has me wondering who pays the bill
and has me temporarily out of puns.
Thanks, jwc. It looks like you guys were having a blast on the river. I looked at all the photos. Beautiful area.
You don't get down of an elephant. You get down off a duck.
What a lovely haintsome guy in the back of that boat! It looks like you had a wonderful time, for a very worthy cause! BRAVO!!!
Many people like that, A. Mac. Sigh!
I'm just so glad he's my husband-- I am blessed!
What a hoot, dear friend!
I love the duck race, because it is fun!!! And it helps out a LOT of charities. I always "buy" a duck, or sponsor a duck, for the KY Humane Society! Makes me feel good, and it's so much fun!