The members of the 2010 UDMB Field/Ad Staff are nothing short of awesome. In my three years on staff, I have never seen this group so passionate and so hungry to create the best possible environment for a successful season.
Tonight’s kick-off to staff camp, and the official start the 2010 season, picked up right where last May’s meeting left off. You guys and gals have impressed me so much with your ability to think forward, problem solve, and collaborate as a staff. The communication has been wonderful, and we are setting ourselves up for a fantastic season. My question to everyone (including myself) is: How can we maximize the awesomeness of this season?
Here are some of my thoughts…
Being in marching band is all about the experience. We all sacrifice a lot to participate in this activity (our last two weeks of summer, our MWF afternoons, the majority of our weekends in the fall, etc.) but we are rewarded with an awesome experience. As a member of a marching band, participating in the music ensemble is a thrill in and of itself. Anyone who was lucky enough to perform Malaguena in 2007, Pictures at an Exhbition in 2008, or Bohemian Rhapsody in 2009 (a few of my favorites) can attest to that. As memorable as those performances are, many of the truly lasting memories are made off of the field. The individual friendships we form and the camaraderie we feel with the other members of the band and our sections are at the core of our marching band experience.
As a staff, we essentially have two main responsibilities which – if fulfilled – will lead to an awesome experience:
1) On the field, we must set a perfect example, create the best possible environment and assist our peers to the best of our ability. As my pseudo-scientific high school band director used to say, hard work = success = fun.
2) Off of the field, we must go above and beyond to enhance the experience of everyone involved. Organizing section socials/get-togethers, seeking out individuals to ensure they feel welcomed and accepted and appreciated, or even having your section do something for another section (the drum majors love cookies, by the way) — these are the types of things that enrich the lives of the people involved and strengthen the bonds between individuals, who then become a whole.
The more you invest in creating a positive experience for everyone, the more awesome this season will be for everyone (yourself included!). And the investment will pay dividends by creating lasting impressions on the younger members of the band, who look up to you 10x more than you probably realize. You will influence them to continue the tradition of excellence and encourage them to be just as (or even more) awesome when they are in your position next year, the year after, or three years down the road. And then they will do the same for the group that comes in behind them, and so on and so forth… For that reason, the awesome experiences that you create this season, both on and off the field, will be felt for generations to come.
As I stated before, I am floored by the maturity and passion of this group. I have no doubts that you can rise to the task of helping to create an amazing experience for everyone involved and that you, the 2010 UDMB Staff, will help to create a legacy of awesomeness.
- Andrew Tremblay, drum major
