TKA 2011 Transformed. This post covers the challenges involved in writing and producing The King’s Academy (TKA) 2011 show named, “Transformed.”
Leadership
I truly believe in the saying, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”. I had various failures as a leader in 2011 and those failures led to sub standard planning and performing.
We went into 2011 with talented and experienced performers. It was the best band we’d ever had. And, we were coming off of a fantastic 2010 season. 2011 was going to be our year to win a state championship.
But that was not going to happen.
Let’s start at the beginning… show design.
Show design
We had decided to do music titled, “Optical Illusions“. I was intrigued with the idea of creating optical illusions on the field.
I talked to our art teacher and he free handed an optical illusion that we could paint on a large mat. We could put a few mats on the field with these illusions. He felt that it would pretty easy for us to paint.
Optical illusions flags would be easy. And, I was enthusiastic about writing drill that would play into the optical illusion idea.
Sounded like a slam dunk.
And then…
If you read my previous posts you will notice that I allowed myself to be influenced by staff members. I needed their input in order to keep the shows fresh and interesting. I felt like I kept an open door for the staff to contribute ideas.
Not everyone agreed.
Two staff members approached me and wanted to talk. We sat down in my office and they told me that I never listened to their ideas. They felt that I didn’t appreciate them.
I don’t do conflict well. It’s my kryptonite.
They thought that we should do the same music, but call it, “transformed”.
I caved.
The boosters built a huge tunnel. During the show, the band members went in one end of the tunnel and came out of the other end with different colored plumes.
The concept was thin and it never worked. I couldn’t figure out how to express ‘transformed’ in the drill or in the colorguard flags.
And I had no one to blame but myself.
Student Conflict
I’ve already mentioned that we had a great band. Our senior class was exceptional. And, that was part of the problem
I didn’t have a lot of experience with this type of band. I’m more of a builder and I don’t like or understand the needs of prima donnas. This band was filled with exceptional performers. And, they fought with each other…. A LOT!
Winds would yell at the percussion, “You’re rushing!”. Percussion would yell back, “You’re dragging!”. I couldn’t get a handle on the infighting.
At the preview show dinner I saw that the band didn’t even want to be around each other. I have some fuzzy memories of conversations and attempts at trying to make peace between the students. But, they just didn’t seem to like each other!
And, I believe that my inability to keep things together led the band members to lose confidence in me, their director.
States
The King’s Academy Marching Lions had a reputation. We were highly respected. Some bands would rather not be in competition with us. We were a 5 time state finalist in the last 6 attempts.
Our confidence was high heading into semi-finals. I was excited to see our school’s president in attendance. This was a first! We’d be able to show him what it was like when we dominated the competition.
Everyone expected us to at least be in the top 5 and make finals. So, when they announced us in 8th place, you could hear the audience react.
I’ll never forget the sound of a stadium full of people saying, “Ooh!!” at the same time. And, then the sound of hope for all of those bands that knew they were above us and might make finals.
Finals
We attended finals as spectators. I was livid and stewing in my rage. We should be performing. I didn’t work all year to sit and watch other bands perform!
When it was time for the awards ceremony I told the band we were leaving. There was only so much I could stomach.
We lined the band up and left the stadium
I always walked at the front of the band with the drum major. As I walked the band towards the bus, I could hear the students laughing and carrying on behind me.
How in the world could they be happy!!
I stopped the band and gathered them around me. I thanked the seniors for their years of hard work and asked the staff to walk them back to the bus. They didn’t need to hear what I was about to say to the rest of the band.
My emotions were raw. I didn’t do marching band in order to give kids a ‘good time’. I did this to give high quality shows..and to be competitive! To achieve at the highest level.
My mentor, LJ Hancock, would say it this way, “This band doesn’t go anywhere for the ride!”.
The scene played out something like this:
“Everyone look over there.”
I pointed to the finalist bands heading into the stadium.
“Those bands are going on the field for the awards ceremony.”
“You are going back to the hotel.”
I’m sure there was more said, but that was the gist of it.
They seemed to understand me. The goal was to be in finals. The goal wasn’t to have a good time eating nachos and pizza while giggling and watching other bands perform in finals.
This wasn’t a band vacation.
Lessons
We had now missed finals twice in three years. In 2009 I made a lousy show design choice and in 2011 I caved to staff pressure for another poor concept.
The next show needed to have a clear, easily expressed concept.
And, infighting needed to addressed immediately and not tolerated.
The 2012 season had begun. I didn’t care that it was only November 2011.
P.S.
We did have a visual transformation in 2011.
We worked with the legendary Michael Cesario to get a simple and clean look.
I loved that uniform.
