The lights drop, the crowd gasps, and the drumline hits the tunnel—suddenly halftime isn’t a break anymore. We invited band director Chris Janowiak and three juniors to share how West Ottawa’s Ignite show turned Friday nights into a must-see, must-hear spectacle without losing the musical heart that drives a great band.
We talk through the why and the how: the move from traditional competition sets to a performance-driven format built for community connection. Chris brings Nashville-seasoned insight and a creative partnership with arranger Benjamin Easley to blend wind writing, backing tracks, stadium lighting, and smoke effects into a tight seven-minute arc. The students open up about learning choreography with ribbons, setting smoke on the podiums, and locking tempo to a track that never budges—a shift that raised accountability and sharpened their skills.
Inside rehearsal, fundamentals took center stage, from balloon breathing for stronger air support to focused ensemble work that’s already lifting tone, blend, and balance ahead of concert season.
The payoff is visible and loud. Fans stop mid-aisle. Visiting administrators ask, “What was that?” Respect rises as the show’s accessibility draws in “Nacho Joe” and new listeners who pull out their phones to capture the action and sounds. Favorite highlights—like a Johnny Cash Ring of Fire sprint, the color guard’s high-energy visuals, and the addictive echo of the drumline in the tunnel—keep the flow going until the game returns. Along the way, we dig into leadership, buy-in, and legacy: why this cohort will be remembered for trusting fast, adapting hard, and setting a new bar for what a high school band can be.
If this conversation fires you up, share it with a friend who loves Friday night lights, subscribe for more stories from the Panther community, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.
This episode was recorded on October 2, 2025.
Podcasts now dropping at 5pm every Sunday evening for that late weekend chill, or listen Monday AM during that morning commute or workout. Please like, follow, subscribe, or leave a review. Even share with someone who might like to listen. Thanks for taking the time to get to know each other a little bit better. The people who make West Ottawa Athletics what it is. Go WO!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_03 (00:41):
You know, Nathan mentioned the part of the show
where like the instruments arein the grass and we're like
doing choreography with ribbons.
Like that's pr like a prettysignificant difference from what
was happening before.
You know, and like pitching thatto the kids and going, like,
hey, this this is gonna bedifferent, but like it's gonna
be cool, you know, and thatpayoff that Nathan is talking
about of like, hey, we do that,and the crowd kind of goes nuts.
(01:03):
It's like super weird for us,like when it was August and we
were in the gym, like learningthat for the first time, and
everybody's kind of like, we'regonna do what?
SPEAKER_08 (01:16):
Hey everybody, this is Rodney Valinga with the West
Ottawa High School AthleticProgram, and you're listening to
the 29-1 podcast.
29 Sports One Team, the showthat brings you into the lives
of student athletes, coaches,and other faces in the Panther
sports community, bringing youthe stories you might otherwise
never hear.
(01:37):
Join myself and athleticdirector Bill Kennedy as we dive
in with you to get to know eachother a little bit better, but
(03:02):
I'm gonna go to the city.
SPEAKER_09 (03:11):
Halftime at a Friday night football game at West
Ottawa Stadium isn't just abreak anymore.
It's become must-seat.
Today we sit down with fourmembers of the West Auto
Marching Band who, along withthe Color Guard, have flipped
tradition on its head.
The time between the second andthird quarters is now buzzing
with the anticipation of Ignite,their performance-driven show,
(03:32):
and it has a community tuned intogether at halftime like never
before.
And it's our pleasure to ask whois it?
Sebastian Ruiz, Benaville,Nathan Bosgart, Chris Genoviak.
SPEAKER_07 (03:45):
Thanks, guys, so much for taking some time today
to come in and sit down with us.
I'm so stoked of what you guyshave accomplished already.
In three nights, we get one moreshot at this at a football game,
and I could not be more excitedto maybe try to add a little bit
to that next time around.
SPEAKER_09 (04:01):
Oh, really?
What are we adding, Mr.
Kennedy?
SPEAKER_07 (04:04):
There might be a light show during the band
performance.
Might be.
In the stands.
SPEAKER_09 (04:09):
Yeah.
Oh, the in the stands.
That's right.
All inclusive experience.
Okay.
All right.
We're stepping it up.
Well, you guys have done theIgnite show three times now.
How are you guys feeling aboutyour effect on Nacho Joe?
Are you familiar with that term?
SPEAKER_05 (04:22):
Did you tell them that?
SPEAKER_03 (04:24):
So I was I was telling them about in like at a
football game, like not a lot ofpeople understand necessarily
what's happening with themarching band or how much maybe
how much work goes into it.
And so our job is to appeal toNacho Joe, who like doesn't have
that knowledge, but is therelike for a football game?
Maybe eating nachos, maybe hisname's Joe.
I don't know.
(04:44):
Nacho Joe.
unknown (04:45):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_09 (04:46):
But you guys feel like you're having an effect on
the crowd at night on Fridaynights?
What does it feel like, Nathan?
SPEAKER_10 (04:50):
I I think it's awesome just like seeing the
crowd just like erupt, andespecially like during certain
scenes, especially when we getdone with our choreo during uh
part two with the percussionist.
It's it's awesome just seeingthe crowd just blow up and just
it's awesome.
SPEAKER_06 (05:04):
I like seeing like the people and just like he
said, like when uh Nathan saidand just uh blow up, but um also
like people staying there towatch the halftime show.
Yes, that's good stuff.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_11 (05:18):
I love the support from the community and just uh
friends and family, just likesupporting what we are doing and
just kind of helping us keep theflow going and just leveling up
this band.
SPEAKER_09 (05:28):
That's a really good take on it, keeping the flow
going.
I hadn't heard that yet.
I like that.
SPEAKER_07 (05:31):
Yeah.
So last week, from time to time,the okay conference commissioner
will stop by different schools.
He tries to make his rounds justto see, check in with ADs, see a
little competition on a Fridaynight.
He walked in with like threeminutes left in the first half
on Friday, and I said, Perfecttiming.
SPEAKER_02 (05:49):
I said, Ready, buddy?
SPEAKER_07 (05:51):
Dan, you're in for a treat.
And now his background is thathe was the principal at Reese
Puffer High School for 29 years.
Reese Puffer is a very longtradition, awesome marching
band.
Awesome.
And the performance ended, andhe's like, It's gonna take me a
day and a half just tocomprehend what I just saw.
(06:12):
Seriously, seriously.
And he just turned around and welooked into our crowd, and like
you guys were alluding to, noone's getting up to go get those
nachos.
Uh at the end of the day.
Well, concession sales havespiked during the third quarter.
SPEAKER_05 (06:28):
Yeah.
Oh, there we go.
SPEAKER_09 (06:29):
Just changed.
Just a different time.
Well, let's get to know you guysa little bit.
Maybe we'll start out uh withyou yourself, Nathan.
Maybe tell us a little bit aboutthe instrument you play, where
you are in the school gradewise.
Tell us about that.
SPEAKER_10 (06:39):
I'm a trumpet player, just pretty standard.
Well, I'm like play second part.
I'm a junior currently in highschool, just taking it easy,
enjoying my time a little bit,just having fun with my friends.
SPEAKER_09 (06:50):
Nice.
How about yourself, Bennett?
SPEAKER_06 (06:52):
I'm a drum major, and then I'm also a junior.
You guys are both juniors.
Okay.
SPEAKER_09 (06:56):
So you're coming back next year.
And how about yourself?
Uh I'm a junior as well.
Oh my gosh, we got three juniorsin the room.
SPEAKER_11 (07:02):
I'm on the drum line, so one of our snares.
I mean, I I'll be one of thesection leaders this year and
will be our section leader againnext year.
And I've done this, what, sincefourth grade.
You guys too, since you weresmaller?
SPEAKER_10 (07:14):
I mean, I've been doing it since like sixth grade,
so I don't have as muchexperience.
SPEAKER_11 (07:18):
Yeah, sixth grade is when it usually starts from
middle school, but I decided togo ahead, jump ahead and take
piano lessons during fourthgrade.
Okay.
With Sue Gainforth, if you know.
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_09 (07:28):
There's a time where the school ends last year and
you're moving into this year,and you hear that this is going
to be happening.
How did you guys feel when youfirst heard the band was
switching from a traditionalcompetitive band to a
performance style Friday nightband?
How about you?
Do you remember that, Sebastian?
SPEAKER_11 (07:45):
Yeah, I was excited.
I'm a little bit of myself asJanoviac knows a DCI guy.
So I listened to DCI, it's DrumCorpse Drum Corps International.
Okay.
You know, and it's professionalmarching band.
It's a different level.
It's they put a whole summerworth of work into an amazing
show.
But the big thing was the soundspeakers.
You wanna explain the soundspeakers to us a little bit?
SPEAKER_03 (08:07):
Yeah, and that's that's been the biggest
difference from a musicalstandpoint is the addition of
the sound reinforcement.
And so just adding thosedifferent effects and backing
tracks and stuff that's sort ofenhanced what we're doing
musically.
SPEAKER_09 (08:18):
Absolutely.
Yeah, I got you sent those tome.
I had a chance to listen to themjust straight.
SPEAKER_03 (08:22):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (08:28):
Last week I gave a fire safety talk and nobody paid
any attention.
This is why I'm hot.
This is why I'm hot.
This is why this is why.
This is why I'm hot.
This is why I'm hot.
This is why I'm hot.
This is why.
This is why.
This is why I'm hot.
SPEAKER_09 (08:46):
Nice.
Well done.
Yeah, it's really, really welldone.
How about the rest of you guys?
Were you excited when you heardthat you're gonna take this new
direction?
Oh, a little tentative, maybe?
That's okay.
That's alright.
SPEAKER_10 (08:57):
I think it was just like at first, I was like just
asking myself a whole bunch ofquestions.
Like, I don't know, I didn'treally, I don't listen to too
much like marching bands orwhatever, just whatever pops up
on my feet or whatever, but likeI was willing to see what was
different and was willing tojust check it out.
And I'm glad I stayed in theband program for this long to
see the switch.
(09:18):
I got to experience just like amore traditional band, I guess,
for two years, and now this yearswitching it up, and it's like
it's a nice difference.
I like the backing track, itreally adds an element that we
probably can't, you know, addourselves too much just because
like maybe it's just harder forpeople to understand like the
recognizableness of some of oursongs in past years, and this
(09:39):
one it's right in your face,it's kind of obvious what songs
are on the speaker.
Sure.
Yeah, it's grey.
I I think it's I think it'scool.
SPEAKER_09 (09:48):
Yeah, and it's not really like one versus the
other, they're just differentways to do this.
SPEAKER_03 (09:53):
For sure.
SPEAKER_09 (09:53):
Right?
Yep.
And Chris, this really comes outof you living in Nashville for
the last number of years andyour experience at Ravenwood
High School.
You want to tell us about that?
SPEAKER_03 (10:00):
Yeah, absolutely.
When I was at Ravenwood, we didwe did competitive band stuff.
So our big focus was gettingready, the getting the band
ready for performances onSaturdays and traveling all over
the country to do that.
But sort of in the southeastUnited States, like the sort of
style of show that we're doinghas sort of already taken off a
little bit, you know.
So groups that are not doingcompetitive band that are doing
Friday nights like we're doinghave sort of moved this more.
(10:23):
It there's more choreographybased, you know, there's you
know the light show that'shappening, you know, with the
stadium lights and the backingtrack and all that.
So I think this is a trendthat's definitely started
already down there that's gonna,it's gonna work its way up.
So we're definitely setting thetrend up here, but it's by no
means an original idea.
This is already happening in theSouth.
SPEAKER_09 (10:40):
So Yeah, it feels real original around here when
we see it for the first time.
And so you moved up here afterbeing in Nashville for how long?
SPEAKER_03 (10:47):
I was down there for 11 years.
Oh, 11 years.
West Ottawa graduate, graduatedin 2004.
Right.
Taught just outside of Kalamzufor a while, ended up in
Nashville, played music, taughtmusic, and then had to move back
because my wife and I had acouple little babies and we want
to be around our family.
So it's been great.
SPEAKER_09 (11:02):
All right, so it's a little nicer to be around come
back home in a way.
SPEAKER_03 (11:05):
We needed help.
SPEAKER_09 (11:07):
Let me ask you this.
Why do that here?
SPEAKER_03 (11:12):
I mean, I think it was just, you know, when I found
out that I was going to betaking kind of the lead role of
the marching band, it was like,well, what do we want to do with
this that's gonna engage thecommunity?
You know, Sebastian kind oftalked about it, like just
feeling like we're getting somesupport from the community and
that they're engaged.
And you guys mentioned they'renot, they're not leaving their
seats at halftime.
How do we do that?
You know, and if we want adifferent result, if we want
(11:32):
something different, we have todo something different with the
product, right?
We just keep doing the samething.
It's that's great.
There's nothing wrong with that.
But if we want a differentresult, we're gonna have to
change some things just a littlebit.
And so that's kind of where theidea came from.
We just wanted to engage theaudience members and Friday
night crowd just a little bitmore.
SPEAKER_07 (11:49):
Yeah, one of the things that stands out to me as
an AD, so I travel on Fridaynights with our football team.
I haven't missed a varsityfootball game in my eight years
here.
Every school does it a littlebit different.
You know, two weeks ago, oryeah, two weeks ago, we were at
Hudsonville High School, youknow, and they have a ton of
props and things that they'rebringing out onto the field.
Another great band.
(12:09):
An unbelievable band.
Um, you go to like Zealand West,it's very much more traditional,
straight line, marching type ofstuff.
So it's cool to then have ourown kind of thing here because
there's really not anyone elsethat's performing the way we are
right now.
SPEAKER_09 (12:25):
I'm like crazy proud when I watch you guys.
Thank God that's what I waslike.
I watch you guys and like, yeah,that's us.
Yeah.
Like I'm glad it's us doing it,not somebody else.
Yeah.
Right?
Like, that's the way I feelabout it.
Bennett.
I asked you if you were excitedabout this to start, and you
went, nah nah, kind of likethat, right?
Um, what kind of doubts orapprehension did you have when
(12:45):
this started?
What was that like for you?
SPEAKER_06 (12:47):
I think uh at the start for me, it was kind of
just I wasn't like I was moreinto what we've been doing in
the past years, and that waskind of my flow.
But as like I've been through itmore, I've gotten more used to
it, and it's definitely morecomfortable, and I can be more
excited for like shows.
SPEAKER_09 (13:05):
Yeah, I mean if you really love the way you were
doing it, that's that's not funeither, right?
Kind of goes the oppositedirection.
SPEAKER_07 (13:12):
Yeah, it's like a coach coming in and deciding
we're going from a motionoffense to a you know pick and
pop offense and basketball.
SPEAKER_03 (13:19):
And there's a and there's a lot of differences,
right?
You know, and we're leaningheavily on like the visual side
of things.
I mean, you know, Nathanmentioned the part of the show
where like the instruments arein the grass and we're like
doing choreography with ribbons.
Like that's pr like a prettysignificant difference from what
was happening before you know,and like pitching that to the
kids and going like, hey, thisthis is gonna be different, but
(13:40):
like it's gonna be cool, youknow, and that payoff that
Nathan is talking about of like,hey, we do that, and the crowd
kind of goes nuts.
It's like super weird for us,like when it was August and we
were in the gym, like learningthat for the first time, and
everybody's kind of like, we'regonna do what for a second.
SPEAKER_10 (13:55):
Yeah, and like hearing everyone's like, my leg
hurts and stuff, like my leghurt for like two days after we
did that after being honest.
Man, it was worth it seeing iton tape and stuff.
unknown (14:06):
Cool.
SPEAKER_11 (14:06):
Yeah, I want to jump in talking about doubt.
I think there was a little doubtover here too.
I know I said I like the idea,but it was a different role for
us as drumline because before wekind of had the role of settling
the groove and stuff, but withthe backing track, that kind of
creates the groove and we helplike at the backboard of it
essentially.
Like the groove is played by theuh what do you call it?
The uh yeah, the backtrack sure.
SPEAKER_09 (14:28):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_11 (14:28):
And we have to like support it in a sense.
And tempo is a big thing I thinkwe've worked on as a drumline,
being able to hold it steadybecause that track's not going
anywhere.
So we have to stay right withit, and so that's something
that's helped us grow a lot thisseason.
SPEAKER_09 (14:42):
That's one of your biggest challenges for you
personally.
SPEAKER_11 (14:45):
I would agree, just as like a whole drumline.
SPEAKER_03 (14:47):
Because there's no ebb and flow with the tempo,
right?
The tempo is what the tempo isgonna be.
So it's really their job.
Like they can't be off at all,you know.
So it heightens theiraccountability as musicians.
SPEAKER_11 (14:58):
They they cannot be wrong, and switching our drum
line from no pit at all.
We just have drums, bass drums,cymbals, that's it.
SPEAKER_03 (15:05):
So there used to be keyboard instruments on the
front sideline.
Yeah, and okay, so we're notdoing that this year.
And that was something that thatSue Gainforth sort of was like,
you know, this is like kind ofthe perfect time to kind of
switch gears a little bit andhave everybody be on the field
and give everybody thatexperience.
So pretty cool.
SPEAKER_09 (15:19):
Bennett, big adjustment for you, biggest
adjustment that you had to makewas the hardest part for you.
SPEAKER_06 (15:24):
Well, from the year before, I used to play tenor
saxophones, so this is my firstyear as a drum major, so it's a
lot different in the role, andjust instead of like playing
this instrument like last year,I couldn't really hear the
tenors, but this year they'relike almost too loud.
SPEAKER_09 (15:47):
There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes to
pull this off.
Anyone that does any work inwell, you know, first of all,
the work in sports, butperformance arts, the work in
the background is tremendous.
Chris, there had to be acreative process for this,
right?
Like, did you write this, comeup with this arrangement?
How did how did this come about?
SPEAKER_03 (16:05):
Sure.
There's a buddy of mine inNashville who who, again, was
sort of piloting this inTennessee.
And him and I just well, webecame really, really good
buddies.
Really great band program downthere.
And when we started thinkingabout switching some things up a
little bit, I was kind of like,man, like it'd be kind of cool
to go this direction.
So I totally leaned on him.
His name is Benjamin Easley,awesome music educator.
(16:26):
But he was the one who wrote themusic for all of the wins.
He put together all the backingtracks, and so everything that
we're doing is sort of like hisbrainchild, you know, and we
were just able to get thatproduct and adapt it for what
we've got going on.
SPEAKER_07 (16:38):
So pretty cool.
Well, I can tell you it hasalready led to a lot of
speculation on the sideline onduring halftimes, like, what's
next year?
We're already talking, like,okay, are we gonna stay in the
earthy themes?
Are we going water next year?
Yeah, are we going window?
Fire's a nice go-to for numberone.
(16:59):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03 (16:59):
I think Mrs.
Jernigan asked me that questionthe other day.
You know, she said, you know,there's already buzz about next
year.
What are you gonna do next?
And it's like, you never justyou're never trying to like
outdo it.
You're always just trying tohave like that piece that like
people will remember, you know.
So it's like hopefully the bandis bigger and better next year,
like of course, but as far asthe product goes, you know,
maybe similar vibe, you know,but some different twists and
(17:20):
turns in there as well.
SPEAKER_09 (17:22):
You guys are talking about the the vibe for next year
already, the buzz for next year.
Have you ever experienced thatbeing in marching band where
that's been even a conversationin the public space?
Not too much, no.
I haven't really experiencedthat.
I mean, it's so rare, and herewe are, and it's it's so
exciting.
For you, Bill, we're up in thebooth a lot.
(17:42):
So for football games, I'm up inthe booth the whole time, so I
can I can see everything.
Bill generally goes on thesideline.
What was it like for you, Bill,the first time you took this in?
SPEAKER_07 (17:53):
So the the first show that I saw it, I did not
see our performance again in ourhome opener against Grand Ledge
because I was actually over downby the locker rooms talking with
their AD.
That's very commonplace amongstADs.
We try to connect at some point.
I saw the background, Ibasically saw everybody's backs,
and I saw that the stands werepacked and everybody was going
(18:16):
nuts.
So the next week we had the nexttime in, we had Grandville, and
Grandville's very much more atraditional marching band style.
SPEAKER_02 (18:23):
Another great band.
SPEAKER_07 (18:24):
Another great band.
So I stayed on our sideline sothat I could watch the show.
And then I walked over to theGranville side, and the first
thing they said to me was, Holycow, what was that?
And their one assistantprincipal actually looked at me
and she goes, Oh my gosh, I wishthat we would do some of that
kind of stuff.
(18:45):
And I was like, Oh, all right,all right.
So we're having an impact.
But yeah, I just the way thatour fans react to it all.
I I told Chris from the verybeginning when he first stepped
in and you know, he came andplayed around with lights during
lacrosse season last year to tryto see how that was gonna work
with the show.
My goal is that when peopleleave West Ottawa on a Friday
(19:08):
night, they say the first thingthey do when they walk out is
I'm going back there next week.
And I think we've done that.
Our stands are packed every homegame.
SPEAKER_09 (19:16):
I get a really big kick out of when halftime
starts.
The first time I saw it.
So usually when you're up in thebooth, it's like bathroom break
time at halftime, right?
You're gonna try and get out ofthere, and I'm like, oh, not
this time.
And I remember going, What isgoing on down there?
was like the first we all kindof like, what's happening?
And of course, Mike Hammond wascoming up and they're doing all
that stuff there.
But we went out on that thatporch and kind of watched, and
(19:38):
I'd never done that before forthat, and so it was pretty,
pretty cool to go out there anddo that for that moment.
Guys, what is your rehearsalschedule like?
How has your rehearsals changed?
What different things are youdoing now to you know to ramp
this up and get get through it?
SPEAKER_11 (19:55):
Well, so a big key is uh Monday night rehearsals,
is what we do.
So during school we have anhour, it's uh fourth hour for
the wins, fifth hour forpercussion, and we rehearse an
hour during school, gettingbetter, just really leveling up,
raising the floor so that theroof just goes with it.
We're just going like that.
It's like we use that a lot incross country as a runner.
(20:16):
It's just kind of like theconsistency you build, you're
gonna get better throughoutthat.
And then Monday nights we do 5to 8:30, do a rehearsal there,
and we just work on gettingdrill done, making better music,
and so that the listeners canenjoy it even better.
And it's our best product byfestival.
SPEAKER_10 (20:35):
Yeah, so a lot of what uh he had to say, uh
something different that we kindof started last year, but I also
kind of want to point out wasthe use of balloons for the wind
section being newer, of course.
That I think that's reallyhelped musically.
And it sounds weird.
Like, what do you do with theballoons?
Well, you blow into them,obviously, but what's going on
here?
I have no idea what you're eventalking about.
SPEAKER_03 (20:57):
So, obviously, like as a wind player, like the the
biggest tool and asset you haveis your air and your breath
support, and using balloons tosort of like simulate how air
should be flowing through yourinstrument and how much and at
what speed and how many countsis something we started doing
last year.
And I think it's really helpedthe horn line specifically.
They just they have a biggersound, it's more full, it's more
(21:20):
mature because we've we we useballoons in rehearsal every
single day.
SPEAKER_09 (21:24):
So you're just trying to match it and then
learning how to match it, isthat what you're doing?
SPEAKER_03 (21:27):
Yep, and translating it from the balloon to the
instrument, right?
SPEAKER_10 (21:30):
Yeah, and it's helped tremendously as a win
player myself.
A trumpet, it's just helpedtenfold, I think.
And especially my section justsounding spectacular after it
and hearing all the othersections.
We've definitely made animprovement with the use of
balloons and like taking moretime to work on fundamentals and
like everything that goes intoplaying an instrument rather
(21:51):
than actually playing the musicand playing the instrument.
That's really helped us excelmore as a band, I think, from my
perspective.
SPEAKER_06 (21:58):
Yeah, and this year we made a change.
So, like normally we would gooutside during fourth hour
because we have a fourth hourband, and this year we haven't
been really doing that.
We've been going outside onMonday night rehearsals.
I think that like reallybalances out the horn line, like
the music and the marchingitself.
SPEAKER_03 (22:15):
Yeah, and sometimes we would rehearse the dots, the
different formations on thefield during class.
And so, kind of what they'retalking about is we've just
spent a little more time on themusic inside.
Because the, you know, some ofthe there's a few less
formations than there have beenin the past.
So maybe it doesn't take as longto rehearse that stuff.
But if we're really trying toelevate what we're doing
musically, you know, and and toNathan's point about
(22:36):
fundamentals, it's just likeathletics, right?
Like you're you're getting muchmore accomplished in an athletic
practice when you're doingdrills and when you're doing
fundamentals.
You know, an athletic practiceisn't mostly scrimmage, you
know, it's it's mostly you knowthe drills and fundamentals.
And so that's what we've beenreally trying to focus on, and I
think it's paid off.
SPEAKER_07 (22:54):
So you just brought up something that I I have to to
pry, I guess.
What is more important?
The music or the way thatyou're, I guess, distributed on
the field.
SPEAKER_03 (23:06):
So like music versus visual?
SPEAKER_07 (23:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (23:08):
I have my own opinions.
SPEAKER_11 (23:11):
I want to go around the room.
I think the music matters most.
Yeah.
Like me personally, how yousound was a big factor because
that's what you hear.
The visual is important, and Isay there's a balance for both
of them, but I think the musicis way more important.
SPEAKER_06 (23:26):
Yeah, I agree with him.
I think there is a balance forboth, but overall music is like
the thing you're hearing, and Ithink that's more important as
we're in music, we're in band,and like during concert season,
we obviously we're not marchinganywhere.
So I think music is moreimportant for the band in the
year.
SPEAKER_03 (23:44):
And I think that's the key, right?
Like the centerpiece of of theband program is what we do once
marching band is over.
Like marching band is by far themost visible thing, but what we
are doing right now is to try toset us up to be really
successful come concert bandseason in a couple of weeks.
So in that regard, yeah, all thevisual stuff's cool and it's fun
to like put the instruments downand spin the ribbons and do all
the choreography and like andall that, like it's all great,
(24:06):
but we gotta be able to soundreally killing.
Otherwise, when we play aholiday concert in the PAC,
we're gonna sound kind oftrashy.
We don't really want that.
You know, we want to soundreally good.
SPEAKER_09 (24:14):
Yeah, no one's going to a concert where they sound
bad but look good.
SPEAKER_03 (24:18):
Correct.
Nobody's doing that.
I don't know about nobody, butwe're not gonna do that.
Yeah, we're not gonna do that.
SPEAKER_07 (24:23):
There's some artists out there that I would argue
they don't sound very good, butthey put on a show and they get
a lot of people in arenas.
SPEAKER_09 (24:30):
Yeah, moving around, what does it take to like
collaborate with that colorguard?
SPEAKER_03 (24:34):
Who's in charge of the color guard, by the way?
So that's taught by Sue Barreland Alyssa Lacey.
Okay.
And some of those students arein the band program, but some of
them are in orchestra or choir.
We sort of opened it up toanybody this year, can be a part
of that.
And so they're responsible forsort of they write all the
choreography that the kids dowith the different the equipment
that they have.
(24:54):
It's that it's a bigundertaking, you know, because
they're coming up with all ofthe choreography themselves,
which is it's a lot.
SPEAKER_09 (25:01):
What's fun about the visuals that it's new and it's
different and it's crazy.
SPEAKER_02 (25:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_09 (25:06):
Stop, drop, and roll.
I love that part.
That part's really fun.
Uh, there's I like Lord Jesus.
SPEAKER_07 (25:14):
There's a fact that is one of my all-time favorite
favorite YouTube videos videosthat I've ever seen.
SPEAKER_09 (25:20):
And there's people like you guys don't see it
because you're doing it, but Iwill see people just look at
each other, they'll turn it likethis.
Like the reactions in the crowdare really fun to watch.
And you've been able to do thattoo.
So you're really setting a tone.
Getting set up for halftime,actually getting this executed
is a massive deal.
Halftime is 15 minutes long plusanother three minutes.
(25:41):
Then at your show is a littleover seven minutes long.
What does it take to get it allset up to go and it's almost
like controlled chaos in thebeginning, or what's that like?
SPEAKER_06 (25:50):
I think uh just focus is the biggest thing.
Focus throughout the band.
Sometimes we're unfocused, andyou can see the results in our
show.
It'll be not quite as good, oryou can see like lots of spots
where like, oh shoot, like I didthat, or you can point out
things, but like you can tellwhen the entire band is really
focused and dialed in and we'reready to have an amazing show.
SPEAKER_09 (26:13):
Of the three shows, which was your best so far?
SPEAKER_10 (26:16):
Man, I think our latest show is probably the best
one.
Just I think and going back tothe point of like being like
calm or poised, I think it'sjust like you can really tell a
difference.
And with this show, I can tell alot more people were more
focused and like locked incompared to like previous shows,
and like you can definitely seethe result, I think.
Like, especially if you have theeye for it.
SPEAKER_09 (26:38):
I'm sure the first time the adrenaline just must
have been through the roof onthat first night.
SPEAKER_11 (26:43):
It's it's so much fun.
I mean, I enjoy it.
Like, we would all would not behere if we did not enjoy music.
I think that's a big key, iswhat drives this band.
Everybody's there and justloving the process.
The process is amazing.
And you feel like you've gottenbetter same thing?
Exactly.
I think as a drumline too, backto what we were saying,
technique and stuff.
We've been working technique,working with the metronome.
(27:05):
It's just made us way better andjust driving us up.
And that's something I love tosee.
SPEAKER_09 (27:10):
And this is happening in a year where we
have four home games instead offive.
Yeah.
Let's go.
We can work out all the kinks,and then I know you guys would
have one more night.
SPEAKER_07 (27:18):
Well, next year we actually have a stretch at the
beginning of the season.
So we are home week two, weekthree, week four.
SPEAKER_09 (27:23):
Oh wow.
SPEAKER_07 (27:24):
Three straight weeks we're home on Friday night.
SPEAKER_09 (27:27):
Are you guys setting up all the technical stuff too?
Uh with those audio backtracks,I know that's Hammond up top.
Stadium lights is Hammond, butthose smoke machines and all
that stuff, who's all gettingthat set up before we start?
You guys don't even know.
That's your focus.
You're locked in.
SPEAKER_10 (27:43):
Yeah, I'm just a wind player.
I'm just on the ground waitingfor everything.
I'm just a wind player.
That's Ben's job mostly, Ithink.
SPEAKER_03 (27:49):
The drum majors get the smoke machine set up on the
podiums.
Um, and then I have I I controlthat from the field, and then
Mr.
Hammond's up in the box doinglights, and then I'm running all
the tracks from an iPad on thefield.
SPEAKER_09 (28:00):
Yeah.
Oh, you're doing the tracks fromthe iPad on the field, really.
Okay.
All right.
So, but we have Mike Hammond upin the booth.
Yep.
So Mike comes up there.
Can you tell us?
This is a really interestingstory, your guy's background.
Yeah.
Can you tell us kind of how youmet him the first time?
Yeah.
And walk us through that.
SPEAKER_03 (28:17):
So I met him as probably 1999 when he applied
for his job at at West Ottawa.
Because at the time they puttogether a panel of parents and
students that sat on theinterview panel.
And you were one of those guys.
I was one of the students.
So when I was going into ninthgrade, I was on the interview
panel when he got hired.
So when I so when he was on mypanel, how do you feel doing
(28:38):
that?
SPEAKER_09 (28:38):
Is that like a little ego when you're a ninth
grader?
I mean, I don't remember.
SPEAKER_03 (28:44):
I thought I knew stuff, but I was what, 13?
Yeah, I didn't didn't knowanything.
So but when the tables turnedand I was interviewing here and
he was on the interview panel,obviously, it was like, oh, the
tables have turned.
SPEAKER_09 (28:56):
You know what's really cool about him, and maybe
you guys will appreciate thisbecause you're younger, but when
you're older, sometimes you canget stuck in a rut or stuck in
the way you're doing things, andhe is not that way at all.
SPEAKER_03 (29:07):
Not at all.
SPEAKER_09 (29:08):
What is it like for you guys as young students to
know that the men that areleading you are so open to new
things and doing those thingsthat way?
I love it.
SPEAKER_11 (29:16):
It creates everything.
It's like everything I feel likejust being able to have new ways
of music and see differentthings.
I think Genoviak has opened up anew way of how I see marching
band and just a different style.
And I enjoy it a lot.
SPEAKER_09 (29:30):
Do you like saying the name Genoviak?
SPEAKER_11 (29:32):
Oh, yeah.
I call him Mr.
J.
We call him Mr uh Jahomie.
SPEAKER_09 (29:38):
I love saying Genoviak.
I was practicing earlier.
I'm like Jenoviak.
SPEAKER_12 (29:42):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_09 (29:42):
I was like, he we were talking on the phone, and
it's like it's like DirkNovitsky.
That's the way we uh pronouncethat name because it's a W.
Yeah.
It's not a V in that one spot.
What's the difference betweendoing a Friday night show, so
Friday night light show, I'llcall it, as opposed to doing
traditional a marching band?
SPEAKER_10 (30:00):
You know, I try to keep myself in the head space
that it's like just another justreps on the field, you know?
And I think I can just get themost out of that because it's
like that's when I'm morefocused and when I can just make
less mistakes.
But I think the difference isjust like I'm kind of used to
it.
(30:20):
So like I guess the crowd tooand the atmosphere around
everyone, too, just being aroundthat, it kind of pumps you up a
little bit more.
But throughout the years, I'velearned to balance that out, and
it's just like an amazingfeeling.
And then when I get out, it'sit's awesome saying hi to
everyone.
And I've talked to many peoplenow after the game, and it's
like they they love the show,and I just love that atmosphere.
It gets my adrenaline pumpinglike crazy afterwards, and it's
(30:44):
it's great, you know, just beingaround everyone after.
SPEAKER_09 (30:46):
It's amazing how much people talk about like
whether it's athletes, you guysare in performing arts, that
when you get into the moment,you have to like lock in and do
your thing.
You know, with what's going on,it's all this fanfare and noise
and energy, but you guys gottado what you're there to do.
Then you're not really can youpay attention to the crowd or
doesn't really do you any favorsto do so?
SPEAKER_06 (31:07):
No, I think for me, I just personally act as if it's
a rehearsal and I try to give mybest effort every single time
and just tune out everythingelse and focus on my job.
SPEAKER_09 (31:18):
Do you have times where you hear something like
the crowd reacting like, oh,okay.
SPEAKER_11 (31:22):
When the lights go off, it's my favorite part.
At the very beginning.
It's go time.
It's go time.
Let's go.
Let's go.
SPEAKER_09 (31:31):
I just it is a unique sound in the stadium.
How many people are there on anormal Friday night, Bill?
SPEAKER_07 (31:36):
So I would say last Friday, pretty good crowd.
We were probably somewherebetween 5,500 and 6,000.
SPEAKER_09 (31:43):
Oh wow.
Guys, that's a massive crowdhere in front of.
We had about the same for grandfor grand.
It's a high school game.
SPEAKER_07 (31:50):
Yeah, and it's I mean, it's packed.
I would say since we've movedinto West Ottawa Stadium now on
year four, that's just becomethe norm for Friday nights.
You know, crowds are just whichis so awesome.
SPEAKER_03 (32:01):
It's you know that the community has supported the
district enough to have afacility like that where they
want to come and be, and it'sit's cool and everything looks
nice.
And now, you know, and the marchof man thing's happening at
halftime, but it's just to yourpoint earlier, Bill, it's just
like the Friday night experiencehere is top notch.
SPEAKER_07 (32:19):
Yeah, it's just what I tell people all the time is
you know, you come to a game forthe first time.
You know, I go to the gym herein town, and one of the guys
from the gym came to the gamelast week, and I saw him on
Tuesday, and he's like, What inthe heck is going on over there?
First of all, the stadium isinsane.
Yeah, you know, and then it'sall of the other stuff that we
(32:39):
build into it.
Right.
It it really is a I stay upuntil 1:30, 2 o'clock in the
morning on Friday after homegames because I'm too wired.
Yeah, I'm in the middle of likethis chamber of just my I'm just
being assaulted by sound andlights and noise and energy.
And I it takes me hours to likeget to a point where I can go to
(33:02):
sleep.
SPEAKER_09 (33:03):
What's it like for you guys post-game?
SPEAKER_07 (33:07):
Exhaustion.
SPEAKER_10 (33:09):
No, not not usually.
I am so wired up.
It's not even funny.
It's like I've had like 30 cupsof coffee.
It's crazy.
You can ask like every one of myfriends in the band or not.
I am I'm jumping all around,literally.
It's it's awesome.
It gets me pumped.
I'm just I love the feeling somuch.
SPEAKER_06 (33:26):
It's I'd say for me, I'm more relaxed after the game.
SPEAKER_09 (33:30):
I kind of you have that nice relaxed vibe.
I'm gonna say that, but it's agood vibe.
I'll say that too.
SPEAKER_06 (33:36):
Yeah, after I go home, I normally just pop down
on my bed and go to sleep and dothe next day.
SPEAKER_09 (33:42):
Nice.
I love it.
SPEAKER_11 (33:43):
Yeah, I mean, I'm probably just kind of like the
same as how I am, just excited.
And then I leave the fieldexcited, kind of relaxed a
little bit.
But the thing is, usually I havelike uh Saturday invites for
cross country and stuff.
Yeah, right, because you're incross-country as well.
(34:03):
And then the rest of the game,I'm like, all right, let's go.
SPEAKER_07 (34:06):
Let's go.
What's that like for you tobalance, you know, obviously
very demanding sport incross-country, right?
You're putting miles upon milesin every each and every week,
and then also putting in hours,you know, with with the band.
How how does that balancehappen?
SPEAKER_11 (34:25):
Well, I I like the balance personally.
I think it's two very differentthings.
I feel like you have one thingyou're out here like mentally,
physically demanding.
I feel like marching band's morementally demanding because you
have to be focused at all times.
The physical aspect is not asbad for marching band as more
like cross-country.
But the balance I really likebecause it kind of gives me like
(34:46):
a break in between each, not toomuch of one or the other.
I would like definitelyrecommend anyone like younger,
do music.
It's it's really good for you,and it helps you grow as just
like a human being.
SPEAKER_09 (34:57):
What are your guys' favorite parts of the show that
you're not involved in?
Where you look over and you go,I love that we're doing that,
but it's not nothing I'm doingright now.
But anything stand out?
SPEAKER_06 (35:07):
That's a good cue.
Uh for me as a drum major, justwatching the choreo, I think,
especially when everyone's doingit and it's like right on, I'm
like, yeah.
SPEAKER_10 (35:18):
I mean, I really like the the effects that Selene
has behind her, like the gasshooting up from the uh drum
major stand.
Man, that is that's really cool.
I don't know.
I'm too focused on everythingelse.
I can't really pay attention toanything.
SPEAKER_09 (35:33):
Well, I have a one of my favorite parts is the uh
or the ring of fire from JohnnyCash.
Come on, Chris, give mesomething.
SPEAKER_02 (35:40):
I can't get that low, man.
SPEAKER_09 (35:42):
So that's my favorite part.
So I'm gonna play it becausethat's what I was gonna do.
So we're gonna play some JohnnyCash.
(36:36):
You're going way backartist-wise with Johnny Cash,
and then the visuals on that arecrazy.
Everybody's running.
Are you guys all running on theJohnny Cash Ring of Fire?
Who's doing what?
SPEAKER_03 (36:47):
Nathan's the one doing the most running.
Sebastian and the drum liner inthe middle, and Bennett's always
on the podium conducting theband.
Oh, you're one of those guys?
Yeah.
Now I get who you are.
That's what drum major isrunning.
SPEAKER_09 (36:59):
I love that.
Are you far left?
Yeah.
I knew it was you now.
I was watching that today, andI'm like, that guy in the far
left is really in it, man.
Because you're like.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_10 (37:12):
So Nathan's doing all the running.
I I mean, I could score atouchdown if I really wanted to.
SPEAKER_07 (37:18):
So that's one of the things I wanted to ask.
So, with the additionalmovement, do you feel that it's
gonna add a level of physicalfitness that's gonna be needed
for those in the marching band?
SPEAKER_10 (37:33):
I mean, you get used to it.
Probably doesn't hurt.
I mean, I don't know.
It really depends on like how uhmobile you want to be, I guess.
Uh like for me, I like to take atumble during one of the parts.
SPEAKER_09 (37:45):
I'm like, I just roll around in the turf a little
bit, but I feel like is that achoreographed part or the little
No, that's all me right there.
SPEAKER_10 (37:53):
Mitch Noviak just like make it look crazy chaotic.
I'm like, sure, I can do that.
I think my wife said that aftershe was at the last game.
SPEAKER_03 (38:02):
I think I remember seeing that after.
Yeah, yeah.
I'm not even kidding.
She's like, there's kids fallingdown up there.
Are they okay?
I was like, I'm pretty sure it'spart of the act.
SPEAKER_09 (38:08):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Do you guys feel with like thisstyle you're being you're able
to be, I mean, you gotta befocused on what you're doing,
but at times do you feel you canbe more creative?
SPEAKER_11 (38:17):
Kind of hard with a drum, carrying the drum for us
guys.
Not like we do like a triplebackflip while we're marching.
SPEAKER_09 (38:23):
There's your creativity.
It's gonna have to step up thephysical portion.
SPEAKER_03 (38:26):
There are a lot of places though where it's like,
yo, here's the vibe.
Just sort of create that vibe.
And where the kids are all kindof doing some different stuff,
you know, specifically the windplayers.
Yeah.
So in that aspect, probably alittle bit.
SPEAKER_09 (38:37):
Who's who's carrying the biggest instrument out
there?
Who's got the hard who's got thehardest?
SPEAKER_11 (38:41):
The big bass drum, I'd probably say.
SPEAKER_03 (38:43):
Yeah, maybe Lucas carrying the big bass drum or
any of the guys playingSusaphone, playing the tubas.
SPEAKER_09 (38:47):
Are they required to cover any distance, or are you
kind of taking it easy on them?
SPEAKER_03 (38:50):
Lucas playing bass drum, maybe taking it a little
easier on him, but the tubas,there's no mercy.
There's no mercy for them.
SPEAKER_09 (38:56):
I'm gonna have to pay more attention to see who's
doing what now that we kind ofknow who's who.
Do you guys think the band islooked at differently from the
public now with what what you'redoing?
Have a feel for that?
SPEAKER_10 (39:07):
Definitely like I guess more respected, I guess,
because like in past years I'vekind of kind of heard like a
little bit more negative thingsabout the band, you know, just
being like an athletic orwhatever.
Now we're out here doing this,and now they're switching up and
being like, wow, this show isamazing.
I I've really heard a bigdifference on just how people
view us and respect us more, Iguess, you know, and just having
(39:30):
opportunities like this to be onthis podcast too.
Like let's go, right?
Really open up just the doorsand like really let people see
like what band really can be,whether it's like just whatever,
it's awesome.
SPEAKER_03 (39:42):
I think it's important too.
Like what was happening here inprevious years was very, very
good.
Exactly.
What we're trying to do isincrease the accessibility for
Nacho Joe, right?
You know, because like ifthere's people in the stands who
are musically inclined, youknow, they might they probably
would say, I would say thatthere was much more musical
expression in shows previous,right?
(40:04):
But we've created sort of thisgateway to marching band that
more people can experience, Ithink is kind of what we're
after.
SPEAKER_09 (40:12):
And you know the thing too, I've loved marching
bands my whole life, just beinga sports fan.
Like for any college footballgame or high school game, just
the noise of a marching bandjust feels so good, right?
It's part of that pageantry of aFriday night.
And I've always loved it.
And this, I'm just I don't knowwhat it is.
It's just is it more modern?
(40:32):
Is it just more now?
It's just more accessible.
SPEAKER_03 (40:35):
Yeah.
It more people can be connectedto it because more people
understand that's cool.
SPEAKER_07 (40:40):
So one of my favorite parts of Friday night,
and it has been since I, youknow, I've been involved in high
school athletics for 20 plusyears, when the when the drum
line comes into the stadium.
SPEAKER_11 (40:51):
That's my favorite part.
SPEAKER_07 (40:52):
It's gotta be when the drum lines hit the tunnel.
I'm just like, oh, it's go time.
SPEAKER_11 (40:59):
It's like a sense of yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (41:01):
Wait, what is that like for you as as one of the
members of the drum line cominginto the stadium and that
reverberation is that super loudas you're walking through there
and that sound is bouncing down?
SPEAKER_11 (41:10):
Well, I have earplugs in to protect my ears
because if not, I would probablynot hear you right now, no
matter how loud it is.
But it's so nice walking downbecause everyone's like turning
their heads like, who is that?
It's like all of us marchingdown.
They're like, wow, they gettheir phones out, they're
recording, and then we get inthe tunnel, it's all echoey.
It's like an amazing feelingbecause it's like we're here.
Yeah, we're here, let's go.
(41:31):
And we wait, and then we go outon the field, and everybody's
cheering.
It's just amazing.
It's an amazing feeling.
SPEAKER_09 (41:36):
Do you guys take on a different persona when you put
on your uniform?
SPEAKER_12 (41:41):
Good question.
SPEAKER_09 (41:42):
Uh I I used to be a mascot, Billy.
Didn't know this.
I didn't know this.
But I'd be a mascot.
You can't tell.
So I'd put on the mascotuniform, and I'm I when I get in
there, like I'm crazy already,but I'm really crazy put that
on.
Did you guys ever have that likewhen you get all dressed up and
all that?
Like, is there a part of youthat kind of transforms into
this performer?
Do you have that at all?
SPEAKER_10 (42:02):
Me personally?
No, not really.
I'm just I'm just me.
Uh just like I'm just a littlebit more excited, I guess, but
that's just me.
I'm I'm it's awesome.
SPEAKER_09 (42:11):
Bennett, you're very animated when you direct.
Your movements are veryanimated.
Is anything like do you feel anyof that or not really?
SPEAKER_06 (42:21):
Not really.
SPEAKER_10 (42:22):
I think I mean I've known this guy for years, and
it's like you you definitely area little different.
Like you're more animated, Iguess, too.
It's just your face is a littlethe same a little bit.
Like you look more serious, butyour hands are moving all about.
SPEAKER_09 (42:35):
You look more it's always important to be ourselves
for sure.
SPEAKER_06 (42:38):
I would say just with that, that's just with any
performance, and I really makesure to focus and just again do
my job, make sure that we can beour best.
SPEAKER_03 (42:48):
And I think we talk about that in rehearsal.
You know, we say, you know, wewant to have maximum effort,
maximum focus all the time.
So hopefully there isn't a bigdifference.
You know, maybe we put the supersuit on and maybe there's yeah.
We're a little more poised,maybe because it's like, oh, to
Sebastian's point, now it's nowit's go time.
Now we're doing this for people.
But if we're doing ourrehearsals correctly, you know,
there probably isn't a bigdifference.
(43:09):
There shouldn't be that becausethat's when big mistakes can
happen.
And same thing with an athleticteam.
You know, you start doing thingsdifferent in a practice than you
would in a game.
Game's not gonna go super well,you know.
SPEAKER_09 (43:19):
What's it like for your families to see you perform
this way?
We had we talked to Tim Beard inour last podcast, and one of the
greatest joys he said was thatwhen people can watch their kids
do things and enjoy themselvesand have success, it's like this
great thing.
Do you get anything from familyor friends where you know
they've kind of pulled you asideor anything where they say, Hey,
(43:39):
this is really great.
I love that you're doing this.
Any moments like that?
SPEAKER_11 (43:43):
Yeah, I would definitely say there is so when
we had our summer rehearsalwhere we do like a week straight
of like preparing our show upand like wearing all the drills
stuff.
Band camp.
I say band festivitiessometimes, you know, band
festivities I'm at.
Make it sound less than that.
Get away from the stereotype.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Exactly.
I'm at band festivities.
(44:03):
But after that, we did our showfor the parents, and I remember
my dad and sister were watching,and after, like, that is
amazing.
It's super cool.
Especially as my sister, she'sin middle school, she'll be
probably in the drum line withme next year.
That'll be sweet.
And then my brother uh alsoplayed in the drum line years
back, and so he saw adifference.
He's like, that's really cool.
(44:24):
So I wonder is how good we canget for festival.
Like, wow, this is really good.
It's gonna be really fun.
SPEAKER_09 (44:32):
How about you guys any?
SPEAKER_10 (44:34):
My my dad mostly, he he loves it.
Like, he was he was a drummer atWest Ottawa years and years ago,
and like he's just told me he'sreally proud of me too, and just
like really cool.
We wish my grandpa could haveseen it.
He passed away just like lastyear or whatever, wanted
everything, but you know, I kindof do it for him a little bit.
My grandpa, since I know he healways supported me and just me
(44:57):
being in band and stuff.
I think it's just real realcool, real cool.
My family really appreciates it.
My mom, me and my mom, she'slike, Oh, you take so much time
to do it, but it's worth it.
But yeah.
Yeah, my family reallyappreciates it, I think.
SPEAKER_09 (45:13):
How do you guys feel about being this is the year
where this kind of changed?
Time's gonna go on.
There's a lot of teams or yearsat West Ottawa that are
remembered.
So we go back to some basketballteams, uh, go to Gabby Reynolds'
team back in the day, go toHelen Sachs winning state title.
This is the first year of this.
We don't know where it's gonnalead or what's gonna happen next
(45:33):
year.
What's it like to know thatyou're actually gonna be part of
something that kind of tiltedthe direction a little bit in a
in a new way?
SPEAKER_05 (45:50):
Boom, boom, boom.
We can take over it because itdoesn't matter.
SPEAKER_09 (45:54):
Boom, boom.
You guys can speak on it too.
I'll let I'll let Bennett thinkuh I love that Bennett's taking
his time.
That's really nice.
SPEAKER_11 (46:03):
We gotta let him craft his response.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_09 (46:06):
And sometimes you don't, you know, reflect on
these questions until you'reasked them.
SPEAKER_06 (46:09):
Yeah.
I think um for me, just thinkingthat like in the future of the
program and like Janovia, he'llbe able to like reflect and kind
of remember me as he's new here.
He can remember me as like oneof the first.
And I think that that part iscool.
SPEAKER_03 (46:27):
And and that's a great point because there's so
much change and so manydifferent things that the kids
are being asked to do right nowthat I will like I will always
remember this specific group ofpeople that's in the band right
now because they probably willexperience the most change out
of anyone, you know, goingforward.
And that's that's really hard todo.
It's really hard to take on somenew things and try some new
(46:49):
stuff and trust somebody thatlike I haven't been around that
long, you know.
Like we are doing things a lotdifferently this year, and I
only got here last year.
So I don't have like the deeprelationships that maybe a coach
would have after it's like we'regonna run this scheme for these
four years, and now, okay, cool,guys.
Now we're gonna do this.
We just don't have thatrelationship yet, you know.
(47:09):
So I just give them so muchcredit for trying so many
different things this year.
And to that point, like I willremember them for that for sure.
SPEAKER_09 (47:17):
Because it's hard, it's really hard to do.
And you guys took a leap offaith and you were willing to
trust.
What's been the reward?
SPEAKER_11 (47:25):
Being able to say, I got to do this.
Like when I'm older, I'll belike, I got to be a part of the
West Ottawa High School Band fortheir Ignite show.
It's something cool to say, Ifeel like.
SPEAKER_10 (47:34):
Yeah, that's I'm the same way.
I think it's real cool.
Probably tell my kids about thisor something, you know.
I think this is really somethingworth just telling about because
it's so interesting and cool,and just just all just everyone
just loving it so much makes melove it more, and just being
willing to tell people that,yeah, I'm in band, I'm one of
(47:55):
the marches in it, you know, andthen for them be like that, you
guys did amazing, like, and justagain, all these compliments.
It's it's really awesome.
SPEAKER_06 (48:03):
And for music, I think just connections is a
really important thing.
And music, you you should alwaystry new things, and like there's
oh there's so much learning thatyou can learn through different
people and people from differentplaces.
SPEAKER_09 (48:19):
You three are a great example of buying in, a
little reservation at first,maybe, right?
Which is all very good andnormal, and then you guys jump
in.
It's I mean, applauds all aroundfor real.
It's amazing.
SPEAKER_11 (48:33):
Yeah.
I would say mentioned somethingabout earlier about what it does
for us is also building when weget into concert season more
people coming to the new PIC andhearing us play.
That's a different thing, it's adifferent style.
It's I really like it too.
It's a big ensemble player,percussion ensembles.
If you haven't heard one, Iwould recommend you do.
(48:53):
They're amazing.
I've I've been a part of so manycool ones, trios, quartets, it's
amazing.
I would definitely recommend.
SPEAKER_03 (49:00):
It's getting more people to pay attention to what
we've got going on just from awhole program standpoint, right?
You know, like maybe you know,we advertise like, oh, this is
when the band is doing theirholiday concert.
And it's like, maybe you get 10more people at that concert that
wouldn't have come normally, butthey remember something cool
that they heard or saw in thefall.
And so they're like, Man, let'sgo see what they're up to now.
You know, so that's a greatpoint.
SPEAKER_09 (49:22):
Chris, you have you must have a lot of great young
people.
These three young men here.
Fantastic.
You guys are great young guys.
I mean, you're very thoughtful.
You think deeply about what youdo, you're committed, you're
locking in, you're doing allthose things.
Kudos to you guys for real.
It's great.
SPEAKER_07 (49:38):
Yeah, thanks so much, guys, for coming on with
us today.
SPEAKER_03 (49:41):
Yeah.
I I appreciate the three ofthese guys and everybody that's
in the marching band that'sworking really hard and big push
to the end of the season.
One more game and festival onthe 14th.
We're pumped.
It's gonna be great.
The best is yet to come.
Ooh, heard it.
SPEAKER_09 (49:53):
All right.
Well, get that 55, 100 up tosix, maybe 61, 62.
If we can get him in there,Kennedy.
We'll get him in.
All right.
Well, thanks for coming on,everybody.
SPEAKER_11 (50:01):
And remember, we are West Ottawa.
SPEAKER_09 (50:03):
We are community.
We are each other.
Thanks, guys.
Thanks for coming on.
Really appreciate you guys.
Thanks, thank you.
SPEAKER_11 (50:09):
Thank you.
Thank you.
You know, Nathan mentioned the part of the show
where like the instruments arein the grass and we're like
doing choreography with ribbons.
Like that's pr like a prettysignificant difference from what
was happening before.
You know, and like pitching thatto the kids and going, like,
hey, this this is gonna bedifferent, but like it's gonna
be cool, you know, and thatpayoff that Nathan is talking
about of like, hey, we do that,and the crowd kind of goes nuts.
(01:03):
It's like super weird for us,like when it was August and we
were in the gym, like learningthat for the first time, and
everybody's kind of like, we'regonna do what?
SPEAKER_08 (01:16):
Hey everybody, this is Rodney Valinga with the West
Ottawa High School AthleticProgram, and you're listening to
the 29-1 podcast.
29 Sports One Team, the showthat brings you into the lives
of student athletes, coaches,and other faces in the Panther
sports community, bringing youthe stories you might otherwise
never hear.
(01:37):
Join myself and athleticdirector Bill Kennedy as we dive
in with you to get to know eachother a little bit better, but
(03:02):
I'm gonna go to the city.
SPEAKER_09 (03:11):
Halftime at a Friday night football game at West
Ottawa Stadium isn't just abreak anymore.
It's become must-seat.
Today we sit down with fourmembers of the West Auto
Marching Band who, along withthe Color Guard, have flipped
tradition on its head.
The time between the second andthird quarters is now buzzing
with the anticipation of Ignite,their performance-driven show,
(03:32):
and it has a community tuned intogether at halftime like never
before.
And it's our pleasure to ask whois it?
Sebastian Ruiz, Benaville,Nathan Bosgart, Chris Genoviak.
SPEAKER_07 (03:45):
Thanks, guys, so much for taking some time today
to come in and sit down with us.
I'm so stoked of what you guyshave accomplished already.
In three nights, we get one moreshot at this at a football game,
and I could not be more excitedto maybe try to add a little bit
to that next time around.
SPEAKER_09 (04:01):
Oh, really?
What are we adding, Mr.
Kennedy?
SPEAKER_07 (04:04):
There might be a light show during the band
performance.
Might be.
In the stands.
SPEAKER_09 (04:09):
Yeah.
Oh, the in the stands.
That's right.
All inclusive experience.
Okay.
All right.
We're stepping it up.
Well, you guys have done theIgnite show three times now.
How are you guys feeling aboutyour effect on Nacho Joe?
Are you familiar with that term?
SPEAKER_05 (04:22):
Did you tell them that?
SPEAKER_03 (04:24):
So I was I was telling them about in like at a
football game, like not a lot ofpeople understand necessarily
what's happening with themarching band or how much maybe
how much work goes into it.
And so our job is to appeal toNacho Joe, who like doesn't have
that knowledge, but is therelike for a football game?
Maybe eating nachos, maybe hisname's Joe.
I don't know.
(04:44):
Nacho Joe.
unknown (04:45):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_09 (04:46):
But you guys feel like you're having an effect on
the crowd at night on Fridaynights?
What does it feel like, Nathan?
SPEAKER_10 (04:50):
I I think it's awesome just like seeing the
crowd just like erupt, andespecially like during certain
scenes, especially when we getdone with our choreo during uh
part two with the percussionist.
It's it's awesome just seeingthe crowd just blow up and just
it's awesome.
SPEAKER_06 (05:04):
I like seeing like the people and just like he
said, like when uh Nathan saidand just uh blow up, but um also
like people staying there towatch the halftime show.
Yes, that's good stuff.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_11 (05:18):
I love the support from the community and just uh
friends and family, just likesupporting what we are doing and
just kind of helping us keep theflow going and just leveling up
this band.
SPEAKER_09 (05:28):
That's a really good take on it, keeping the flow
going.
I hadn't heard that yet.
I like that.
SPEAKER_07 (05:31):
Yeah.
So last week, from time to time,the okay conference commissioner
will stop by different schools.
He tries to make his rounds justto see, check in with ADs, see a
little competition on a Fridaynight.
He walked in with like threeminutes left in the first half
on Friday, and I said, Perfecttiming.
SPEAKER_02 (05:49):
I said, Ready, buddy?
SPEAKER_07 (05:51):
Dan, you're in for a treat.
And now his background is thathe was the principal at Reese
Puffer High School for 29 years.
Reese Puffer is a very longtradition, awesome marching
band.
Awesome.
And the performance ended, andhe's like, It's gonna take me a
day and a half just tocomprehend what I just saw.
(06:12):
Seriously, seriously.
And he just turned around and welooked into our crowd, and like
you guys were alluding to, noone's getting up to go get those
nachos.
Uh at the end of the day.
Well, concession sales havespiked during the third quarter.
SPEAKER_05 (06:28):
Yeah.
Oh, there we go.
SPEAKER_09 (06:29):
Just changed.
Just a different time.
Well, let's get to know you guysa little bit.
Maybe we'll start out uh withyou yourself, Nathan.
Maybe tell us a little bit aboutthe instrument you play, where
you are in the school gradewise.
Tell us about that.
SPEAKER_10 (06:39):
I'm a trumpet player, just pretty standard.
Well, I'm like play second part.
I'm a junior currently in highschool, just taking it easy,
enjoying my time a little bit,just having fun with my friends.
SPEAKER_09 (06:50):
Nice.
How about yourself, Bennett?
SPEAKER_06 (06:52):
I'm a drum major, and then I'm also a junior.
You guys are both juniors.
Okay.
SPEAKER_09 (06:56):
So you're coming back next year.
And how about yourself?
Uh I'm a junior as well.
Oh my gosh, we got three juniorsin the room.
SPEAKER_11 (07:02):
I'm on the drum line, so one of our snares.
I mean, I I'll be one of thesection leaders this year and
will be our section leader againnext year.
And I've done this, what, sincefourth grade.
You guys too, since you weresmaller?
SPEAKER_10 (07:14):
I mean, I've been doing it since like sixth grade,
so I don't have as muchexperience.
SPEAKER_11 (07:18):
Yeah, sixth grade is when it usually starts from
middle school, but I decided togo ahead, jump ahead and take
piano lessons during fourthgrade.
Okay.
With Sue Gainforth, if you know.
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_09 (07:28):
There's a time where the school ends last year and
you're moving into this year,and you hear that this is going
to be happening.
How did you guys feel when youfirst heard the band was
switching from a traditionalcompetitive band to a
performance style Friday nightband?
How about you?
Do you remember that, Sebastian?
SPEAKER_11 (07:45):
Yeah, I was excited.
I'm a little bit of myself asJanoviac knows a DCI guy.
So I listened to DCI, it's DrumCorpse Drum Corps International.
Okay.
You know, and it's professionalmarching band.
It's a different level.
It's they put a whole summerworth of work into an amazing
show.
But the big thing was the soundspeakers.
You wanna explain the soundspeakers to us a little bit?
SPEAKER_03 (08:07):
Yeah, and that's that's been the biggest
difference from a musicalstandpoint is the addition of
the sound reinforcement.
And so just adding thosedifferent effects and backing
tracks and stuff that's sort ofenhanced what we're doing
musically.
SPEAKER_09 (08:18):
Absolutely.
Yeah, I got you sent those tome.
I had a chance to listen to themjust straight.
SPEAKER_03 (08:22):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (08:28):
Last week I gave a fire safety talk and nobody paid
any attention.
This is why I'm hot.
This is why I'm hot.
This is why this is why.
This is why I'm hot.
This is why I'm hot.
This is why I'm hot.
This is why.
This is why.
This is why I'm hot.
SPEAKER_09 (08:46):
Nice.
Well done.
Yeah, it's really, really welldone.
How about the rest of you guys?
Were you excited when you heardthat you're gonna take this new
direction?
Oh, a little tentative, maybe?
That's okay.
That's alright.
SPEAKER_10 (08:57):
I think it was just like at first, I was like just
asking myself a whole bunch ofquestions.
Like, I don't know, I didn'treally, I don't listen to too
much like marching bands orwhatever, just whatever pops up
on my feet or whatever, but likeI was willing to see what was
different and was willing tojust check it out.
And I'm glad I stayed in theband program for this long to
see the switch.
(09:18):
I got to experience just like amore traditional band, I guess,
for two years, and now this yearswitching it up, and it's like
it's a nice difference.
I like the backing track, itreally adds an element that we
probably can't, you know, addourselves too much just because
like maybe it's just harder forpeople to understand like the
recognizableness of some of oursongs in past years, and this
(09:39):
one it's right in your face,it's kind of obvious what songs
are on the speaker.
Sure.
Yeah, it's grey.
I I think it's I think it'scool.
SPEAKER_09 (09:48):
Yeah, and it's not really like one versus the
other, they're just differentways to do this.
SPEAKER_03 (09:53):
For sure.
SPEAKER_09 (09:53):
Right?
Yep.
And Chris, this really comes outof you living in Nashville for
the last number of years andyour experience at Ravenwood
High School.
You want to tell us about that?
SPEAKER_03 (10:00):
Yeah, absolutely.
When I was at Ravenwood, we didwe did competitive band stuff.
So our big focus was gettingready, the getting the band
ready for performances onSaturdays and traveling all over
the country to do that.
But sort of in the southeastUnited States, like the sort of
style of show that we're doinghas sort of already taken off a
little bit, you know.
So groups that are not doingcompetitive band that are doing
Friday nights like we're doinghave sort of moved this more.
(10:23):
It there's more choreographybased, you know, there's you
know the light show that'shappening, you know, with the
stadium lights and the backingtrack and all that.
So I think this is a trendthat's definitely started
already down there that's gonna,it's gonna work its way up.
So we're definitely setting thetrend up here, but it's by no
means an original idea.
This is already happening in theSouth.
SPEAKER_09 (10:40):
So Yeah, it feels real original around here when
we see it for the first time.
And so you moved up here afterbeing in Nashville for how long?
SPEAKER_03 (10:47):
I was down there for 11 years.
Oh, 11 years.
West Ottawa graduate, graduatedin 2004.
Right.
Taught just outside of Kalamzufor a while, ended up in
Nashville, played music, taughtmusic, and then had to move back
because my wife and I had acouple little babies and we want
to be around our family.
So it's been great.
SPEAKER_09 (11:02):
All right, so it's a little nicer to be around come
back home in a way.
SPEAKER_03 (11:05):
We needed help.
SPEAKER_09 (11:07):
Let me ask you this.
Why do that here?
SPEAKER_03 (11:12):
I mean, I think it was just, you know, when I found
out that I was going to betaking kind of the lead role of
the marching band, it was like,well, what do we want to do with
this that's gonna engage thecommunity?
You know, Sebastian kind oftalked about it, like just
feeling like we're getting somesupport from the community and
that they're engaged.
And you guys mentioned they'renot, they're not leaving their
seats at halftime.
How do we do that?
You know, and if we want adifferent result, if we want
(11:32):
something different, we have todo something different with the
product, right?
We just keep doing the samething.
It's that's great.
There's nothing wrong with that.
But if we want a differentresult, we're gonna have to
change some things just a littlebit.
And so that's kind of where theidea came from.
We just wanted to engage theaudience members and Friday
night crowd just a little bitmore.
SPEAKER_07 (11:49):
Yeah, one of the things that stands out to me as
an AD, so I travel on Fridaynights with our football team.
I haven't missed a varsityfootball game in my eight years
here.
Every school does it a littlebit different.
You know, two weeks ago, oryeah, two weeks ago, we were at
Hudsonville High School, youknow, and they have a ton of
props and things that they'rebringing out onto the field.
Another great band.
(12:09):
An unbelievable band.
Um, you go to like Zealand West,it's very much more traditional,
straight line, marching type ofstuff.
So it's cool to then have ourown kind of thing here because
there's really not anyone elsethat's performing the way we are
right now.
SPEAKER_09 (12:25):
I'm like crazy proud when I watch you guys.
Thank God that's what I waslike.
I watch you guys and like, yeah,that's us.
Yeah.
Like I'm glad it's us doing it,not somebody else.
Yeah.
Right?
Like, that's the way I feelabout it.
Bennett.
I asked you if you were excitedabout this to start, and you
went, nah nah, kind of likethat, right?
Um, what kind of doubts orapprehension did you have when
(12:45):
this started?
What was that like for you?
SPEAKER_06 (12:47):
I think uh at the start for me, it was kind of
just I wasn't like I was moreinto what we've been doing in
the past years, and that waskind of my flow.
But as like I've been through itmore, I've gotten more used to
it, and it's definitely morecomfortable, and I can be more
excited for like shows.
SPEAKER_09 (13:05):
Yeah, I mean if you really love the way you were
doing it, that's that's not funeither, right?
Kind of goes the oppositedirection.
SPEAKER_07 (13:12):
Yeah, it's like a coach coming in and deciding
we're going from a motionoffense to a you know pick and
pop offense and basketball.
SPEAKER_03 (13:19):
And there's a and there's a lot of differences,
right?
You know, and we're leaningheavily on like the visual side
of things.
I mean, you know, Nathanmentioned the part of the show
where like the instruments arein the grass and we're like
doing choreography with ribbons.
Like that's pr like a prettysignificant difference from what
was happening before you know,and like pitching that to the
kids and going like, hey, thisthis is gonna be different, but
(13:40):
like it's gonna be cool, youknow, and that payoff that
Nathan is talking about of like,hey, we do that, and the crowd
kind of goes nuts.
It's like super weird for us,like when it was August and we
were in the gym, like learningthat for the first time, and
everybody's kind of like, we'regonna do what for a second.
SPEAKER_10 (13:55):
Yeah, and like hearing everyone's like, my leg
hurts and stuff, like my leghurt for like two days after we
did that after being honest.
Man, it was worth it seeing iton tape and stuff.
unknown (14:06):
Cool.
SPEAKER_11 (14:06):
Yeah, I want to jump in talking about doubt.
I think there was a little doubtover here too.
I know I said I like the idea,but it was a different role for
us as drumline because before wekind of had the role of settling
the groove and stuff, but withthe backing track, that kind of
creates the groove and we helplike at the backboard of it
essentially.
Like the groove is played by theuh what do you call it?
The uh yeah, the backtrack sure.
SPEAKER_09 (14:28):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_11 (14:28):
And we have to like support it in a sense.
And tempo is a big thing I thinkwe've worked on as a drumline,
being able to hold it steadybecause that track's not going
anywhere.
So we have to stay right withit, and so that's something
that's helped us grow a lot thisseason.
SPEAKER_09 (14:42):
That's one of your biggest challenges for you
personally.
SPEAKER_11 (14:45):
I would agree, just as like a whole drumline.
SPEAKER_03 (14:47):
Because there's no ebb and flow with the tempo,
right?
The tempo is what the tempo isgonna be.
So it's really their job.
Like they can't be off at all,you know.
So it heightens theiraccountability as musicians.
SPEAKER_11 (14:58):
They they cannot be wrong, and switching our drum
line from no pit at all.
We just have drums, bass drums,cymbals, that's it.
SPEAKER_03 (15:05):
So there used to be keyboard instruments on the
front sideline.
Yeah, and okay, so we're notdoing that this year.
And that was something that thatSue Gainforth sort of was like,
you know, this is like kind ofthe perfect time to kind of
switch gears a little bit andhave everybody be on the field
and give everybody thatexperience.
So pretty cool.
SPEAKER_09 (15:19):
Bennett, big adjustment for you, biggest
adjustment that you had to makewas the hardest part for you.
SPEAKER_06 (15:24):
Well, from the year before, I used to play tenor
saxophones, so this is my firstyear as a drum major, so it's a
lot different in the role, andjust instead of like playing
this instrument like last year,I couldn't really hear the
tenors, but this year they'relike almost too loud.
SPEAKER_09 (15:47):
There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes to
pull this off.
Anyone that does any work inwell, you know, first of all,
the work in sports, butperformance arts, the work in
the background is tremendous.
Chris, there had to be acreative process for this,
right?
Like, did you write this, comeup with this arrangement?
How did how did this come about?
SPEAKER_03 (16:05):
Sure.
There's a buddy of mine inNashville who who, again, was
sort of piloting this inTennessee.
And him and I just well, webecame really, really good
buddies.
Really great band program downthere.
And when we started thinkingabout switching some things up a
little bit, I was kind of like,man, like it'd be kind of cool
to go this direction.
So I totally leaned on him.
His name is Benjamin Easley,awesome music educator.
(16:26):
But he was the one who wrote themusic for all of the wins.
He put together all the backingtracks, and so everything that
we're doing is sort of like hisbrainchild, you know, and we
were just able to get thatproduct and adapt it for what
we've got going on.
SPEAKER_07 (16:38):
So pretty cool.
Well, I can tell you it hasalready led to a lot of
speculation on the sideline onduring halftimes, like, what's
next year?
We're already talking, like,okay, are we gonna stay in the
earthy themes?
Are we going water next year?
Yeah, are we going window?
Fire's a nice go-to for numberone.
(16:59):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03 (16:59):
I think Mrs.
Jernigan asked me that questionthe other day.
You know, she said, you know,there's already buzz about next
year.
What are you gonna do next?
And it's like, you never justyou're never trying to like
outdo it.
You're always just trying tohave like that piece that like
people will remember, you know.
So it's like hopefully the bandis bigger and better next year,
like of course, but as far asthe product goes, you know,
maybe similar vibe, you know,but some different twists and
(17:20):
turns in there as well.
SPEAKER_09 (17:22):
You guys are talking about the the vibe for next year
already, the buzz for next year.
Have you ever experienced thatbeing in marching band where
that's been even a conversationin the public space?
Not too much, no.
I haven't really experiencedthat.
I mean, it's so rare, and herewe are, and it's it's so
exciting.
For you, Bill, we're up in thebooth a lot.
(17:42):
So for football games, I'm up inthe booth the whole time, so I
can I can see everything.
Bill generally goes on thesideline.
What was it like for you, Bill,the first time you took this in?
SPEAKER_07 (17:53):
So the the first show that I saw it, I did not
see our performance again in ourhome opener against Grand Ledge
because I was actually over downby the locker rooms talking with
their AD.
That's very commonplace amongstADs.
We try to connect at some point.
I saw the background, Ibasically saw everybody's backs,
and I saw that the stands werepacked and everybody was going
(18:16):
nuts.
So the next week we had the nexttime in, we had Grandville, and
Grandville's very much more atraditional marching band style.
SPEAKER_02 (18:23):
Another great band.
SPEAKER_07 (18:24):
Another great band.
So I stayed on our sideline sothat I could watch the show.
And then I walked over to theGranville side, and the first
thing they said to me was, Holycow, what was that?
And their one assistantprincipal actually looked at me
and she goes, Oh my gosh, I wishthat we would do some of that
kind of stuff.
(18:45):
And I was like, Oh, all right,all right.
So we're having an impact.
But yeah, I just the way thatour fans react to it all.
I I told Chris from the verybeginning when he first stepped
in and you know, he came andplayed around with lights during
lacrosse season last year to tryto see how that was gonna work
with the show.
My goal is that when peopleleave West Ottawa on a Friday
(19:08):
night, they say the first thingthey do when they walk out is
I'm going back there next week.
And I think we've done that.
Our stands are packed every homegame.
SPEAKER_09 (19:16):
I get a really big kick out of when halftime
starts.
The first time I saw it.
So usually when you're up in thebooth, it's like bathroom break
time at halftime, right?
You're gonna try and get out ofthere, and I'm like, oh, not
this time.
And I remember going, What isgoing on down there?
was like the first we all kindof like, what's happening?
And of course, Mike Hammond wascoming up and they're doing all
that stuff there.
But we went out on that thatporch and kind of watched, and
(19:38):
I'd never done that before forthat, and so it was pretty,
pretty cool to go out there anddo that for that moment.
Guys, what is your rehearsalschedule like?
How has your rehearsals changed?
What different things are youdoing now to you know to ramp
this up and get get through it?
SPEAKER_11 (19:55):
Well, so a big key is uh Monday night rehearsals,
is what we do.
So during school we have anhour, it's uh fourth hour for
the wins, fifth hour forpercussion, and we rehearse an
hour during school, gettingbetter, just really leveling up,
raising the floor so that theroof just goes with it.
We're just going like that.
It's like we use that a lot incross country as a runner.
(20:16):
It's just kind of like theconsistency you build, you're
gonna get better throughoutthat.
And then Monday nights we do 5to 8:30, do a rehearsal there,
and we just work on gettingdrill done, making better music,
and so that the listeners canenjoy it even better.
And it's our best product byfestival.
SPEAKER_10 (20:35):
Yeah, so a lot of what uh he had to say, uh
something different that we kindof started last year, but I also
kind of want to point out wasthe use of balloons for the wind
section being newer, of course.
That I think that's reallyhelped musically.
And it sounds weird.
Like, what do you do with theballoons?
Well, you blow into them,obviously, but what's going on
here?
I have no idea what you're eventalking about.
SPEAKER_03 (20:57):
So, obviously, like as a wind player, like the the
biggest tool and asset you haveis your air and your breath
support, and using balloons tosort of like simulate how air
should be flowing through yourinstrument and how much and at
what speed and how many countsis something we started doing
last year.
And I think it's really helpedthe horn line specifically.
They just they have a biggersound, it's more full, it's more
(21:20):
mature because we've we we useballoons in rehearsal every
single day.
SPEAKER_09 (21:24):
So you're just trying to match it and then
learning how to match it, isthat what you're doing?
SPEAKER_03 (21:27):
Yep, and translating it from the balloon to the
instrument, right?
SPEAKER_10 (21:30):
Yeah, and it's helped tremendously as a win
player myself.
A trumpet, it's just helpedtenfold, I think.
And especially my section justsounding spectacular after it
and hearing all the othersections.
We've definitely made animprovement with the use of
balloons and like taking moretime to work on fundamentals and
like everything that goes intoplaying an instrument rather
(21:51):
than actually playing the musicand playing the instrument.
That's really helped us excelmore as a band, I think, from my
perspective.
SPEAKER_06 (21:58):
Yeah, and this year we made a change.
So, like normally we would gooutside during fourth hour
because we have a fourth hourband, and this year we haven't
been really doing that.
We've been going outside onMonday night rehearsals.
I think that like reallybalances out the horn line, like
the music and the marchingitself.
SPEAKER_03 (22:15):
Yeah, and sometimes we would rehearse the dots, the
different formations on thefield during class.
And so, kind of what they'retalking about is we've just
spent a little more time on themusic inside.
Because the, you know, some ofthe there's a few less
formations than there have beenin the past.
So maybe it doesn't take as longto rehearse that stuff.
But if we're really trying toelevate what we're doing
musically, you know, and and toNathan's point about
(22:36):
fundamentals, it's just likeathletics, right?
Like you're you're getting muchmore accomplished in an athletic
practice when you're doingdrills and when you're doing
fundamentals.
You know, an athletic practiceisn't mostly scrimmage, you
know, it's it's mostly you knowthe drills and fundamentals.
And so that's what we've beenreally trying to focus on, and I
think it's paid off.
SPEAKER_07 (22:54):
So you just brought up something that I I have to to
pry, I guess.
What is more important?
The music or the way thatyou're, I guess, distributed on
the field.
SPEAKER_03 (23:06):
So like music versus visual?
SPEAKER_07 (23:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (23:08):
I have my own opinions.
SPEAKER_11 (23:11):
I want to go around the room.
I think the music matters most.
Yeah.
Like me personally, how yousound was a big factor because
that's what you hear.
The visual is important, and Isay there's a balance for both
of them, but I think the musicis way more important.
SPEAKER_06 (23:26):
Yeah, I agree with him.
I think there is a balance forboth, but overall music is like
the thing you're hearing, and Ithink that's more important as
we're in music, we're in band,and like during concert season,
we obviously we're not marchinganywhere.
So I think music is moreimportant for the band in the
year.
SPEAKER_03 (23:44):
And I think that's the key, right?
Like the centerpiece of of theband program is what we do once
marching band is over.
Like marching band is by far themost visible thing, but what we
are doing right now is to try toset us up to be really
successful come concert bandseason in a couple of weeks.
So in that regard, yeah, all thevisual stuff's cool and it's fun
to like put the instruments downand spin the ribbons and do all
the choreography and like andall that, like it's all great,
(24:06):
but we gotta be able to soundreally killing.
Otherwise, when we play aholiday concert in the PAC,
we're gonna sound kind oftrashy.
We don't really want that.
You know, we want to soundreally good.
SPEAKER_09 (24:14):
Yeah, no one's going to a concert where they sound
bad but look good.
SPEAKER_03 (24:18):
Correct.
Nobody's doing that.
I don't know about nobody, butwe're not gonna do that.
Yeah, we're not gonna do that.
SPEAKER_07 (24:23):
There's some artists out there that I would argue
they don't sound very good, butthey put on a show and they get
a lot of people in arenas.
SPEAKER_09 (24:30):
Yeah, moving around, what does it take to like
collaborate with that colorguard?
SPEAKER_03 (24:34):
Who's in charge of the color guard, by the way?
So that's taught by Sue Barreland Alyssa Lacey.
Okay.
And some of those students arein the band program, but some of
them are in orchestra or choir.
We sort of opened it up toanybody this year, can be a part
of that.
And so they're responsible forsort of they write all the
choreography that the kids dowith the different the equipment
that they have.
(24:54):
It's that it's a bigundertaking, you know, because
they're coming up with all ofthe choreography themselves,
which is it's a lot.
SPEAKER_09 (25:01):
What's fun about the visuals that it's new and it's
different and it's crazy.
SPEAKER_02 (25:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_09 (25:06):
Stop, drop, and roll.
I love that part.
That part's really fun.
Uh, there's I like Lord Jesus.
SPEAKER_07 (25:14):
There's a fact that is one of my all-time favorite
favorite YouTube videos videosthat I've ever seen.
SPEAKER_09 (25:20):
And there's people like you guys don't see it
because you're doing it, but Iwill see people just look at
each other, they'll turn it likethis.
Like the reactions in the crowdare really fun to watch.
And you've been able to do thattoo.
So you're really setting a tone.
Getting set up for halftime,actually getting this executed
is a massive deal.
Halftime is 15 minutes long plusanother three minutes.
(25:41):
Then at your show is a littleover seven minutes long.
What does it take to get it allset up to go and it's almost
like controlled chaos in thebeginning, or what's that like?
SPEAKER_06 (25:50):
I think uh just focus is the biggest thing.
Focus throughout the band.
Sometimes we're unfocused, andyou can see the results in our
show.
It'll be not quite as good, oryou can see like lots of spots
where like, oh shoot, like I didthat, or you can point out
things, but like you can tellwhen the entire band is really
focused and dialed in and we'reready to have an amazing show.
SPEAKER_09 (26:13):
Of the three shows, which was your best so far?
SPEAKER_10 (26:16):
Man, I think our latest show is probably the best
one.
Just I think and going back tothe point of like being like
calm or poised, I think it'sjust like you can really tell a
difference.
And with this show, I can tell alot more people were more
focused and like locked incompared to like previous shows,
and like you can definitely seethe result, I think.
Like, especially if you have theeye for it.
SPEAKER_09 (26:38):
I'm sure the first time the adrenaline just must
have been through the roof onthat first night.
SPEAKER_11 (26:43):
It's it's so much fun.
I mean, I enjoy it.
Like, we would all would not behere if we did not enjoy music.
I think that's a big key, iswhat drives this band.
Everybody's there and justloving the process.
The process is amazing.
And you feel like you've gottenbetter same thing?
Exactly.
I think as a drumline too, backto what we were saying,
technique and stuff.
We've been working technique,working with the metronome.
(27:05):
It's just made us way better andjust driving us up.
And that's something I love tosee.
SPEAKER_09 (27:10):
And this is happening in a year where we
have four home games instead offive.
Yeah.
Let's go.
We can work out all the kinks,and then I know you guys would
have one more night.
SPEAKER_07 (27:18):
Well, next year we actually have a stretch at the
beginning of the season.
So we are home week two, weekthree, week four.
SPEAKER_09 (27:23):
Oh wow.
SPEAKER_07 (27:24):
Three straight weeks we're home on Friday night.
SPEAKER_09 (27:27):
Are you guys setting up all the technical stuff too?
Uh with those audio backtracks,I know that's Hammond up top.
Stadium lights is Hammond, butthose smoke machines and all
that stuff, who's all gettingthat set up before we start?
You guys don't even know.
That's your focus.
You're locked in.
SPEAKER_10 (27:43):
Yeah, I'm just a wind player.
I'm just on the ground waitingfor everything.
I'm just a wind player.
That's Ben's job mostly, Ithink.
SPEAKER_03 (27:49):
The drum majors get the smoke machine set up on the
podiums.
Um, and then I have I I controlthat from the field, and then
Mr.
Hammond's up in the box doinglights, and then I'm running all
the tracks from an iPad on thefield.
SPEAKER_09 (28:00):
Yeah.
Oh, you're doing the tracks fromthe iPad on the field, really.
Okay.
All right.
So, but we have Mike Hammond upin the booth.
Yep.
So Mike comes up there.
Can you tell us?
This is a really interestingstory, your guy's background.
Yeah.
Can you tell us kind of how youmet him the first time?
Yeah.
And walk us through that.
SPEAKER_03 (28:17):
So I met him as probably 1999 when he applied
for his job at at West Ottawa.
Because at the time they puttogether a panel of parents and
students that sat on theinterview panel.
And you were one of those guys.
I was one of the students.
So when I was going into ninthgrade, I was on the interview
panel when he got hired.
So when I so when he was on mypanel, how do you feel doing
(28:38):
that?
SPEAKER_09 (28:38):
Is that like a little ego when you're a ninth
grader?
I mean, I don't remember.
SPEAKER_03 (28:44):
I thought I knew stuff, but I was what, 13?
Yeah, I didn't didn't knowanything.
So but when the tables turnedand I was interviewing here and
he was on the interview panel,obviously, it was like, oh, the
tables have turned.
SPEAKER_09 (28:56):
You know what's really cool about him, and maybe
you guys will appreciate thisbecause you're younger, but when
you're older, sometimes you canget stuck in a rut or stuck in
the way you're doing things, andhe is not that way at all.
SPEAKER_03 (29:07):
Not at all.
SPEAKER_09 (29:08):
What is it like for you guys as young students to
know that the men that areleading you are so open to new
things and doing those thingsthat way?
I love it.
SPEAKER_11 (29:16):
It creates everything.
It's like everything I feel likejust being able to have new ways
of music and see differentthings.
I think Genoviak has opened up anew way of how I see marching
band and just a different style.
And I enjoy it a lot.
SPEAKER_09 (29:30):
Do you like saying the name Genoviak?
SPEAKER_11 (29:32):
Oh, yeah.
I call him Mr.
J.
We call him Mr uh Jahomie.
SPEAKER_09 (29:38):
I love saying Genoviak.
I was practicing earlier.
I'm like Jenoviak.
SPEAKER_12 (29:42):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_09 (29:42):
I was like, he we were talking on the phone, and
it's like it's like DirkNovitsky.
That's the way we uh pronouncethat name because it's a W.
Yeah.
It's not a V in that one spot.
What's the difference betweendoing a Friday night show, so
Friday night light show, I'llcall it, as opposed to doing
traditional a marching band?
SPEAKER_10 (30:00):
You know, I try to keep myself in the head space
that it's like just another justreps on the field, you know?
And I think I can just get themost out of that because it's
like that's when I'm morefocused and when I can just make
less mistakes.
But I think the difference isjust like I'm kind of used to
it.
(30:20):
So like I guess the crowd tooand the atmosphere around
everyone, too, just being aroundthat, it kind of pumps you up a
little bit more.
But throughout the years, I'velearned to balance that out, and
it's just like an amazingfeeling.
And then when I get out, it'sit's awesome saying hi to
everyone.
And I've talked to many peoplenow after the game, and it's
like they they love the show,and I just love that atmosphere.
It gets my adrenaline pumpinglike crazy afterwards, and it's
(30:44):
it's great, you know, just beingaround everyone after.
SPEAKER_09 (30:46):
It's amazing how much people talk about like
whether it's athletes, you guysare in performing arts, that
when you get into the moment,you have to like lock in and do
your thing.
You know, with what's going on,it's all this fanfare and noise
and energy, but you guys gottado what you're there to do.
Then you're not really can youpay attention to the crowd or
doesn't really do you any favorsto do so?
SPEAKER_06 (31:07):
No, I think for me, I just personally act as if it's
a rehearsal and I try to give mybest effort every single time
and just tune out everythingelse and focus on my job.
SPEAKER_09 (31:18):
Do you have times where you hear something like
the crowd reacting like, oh,okay.
SPEAKER_11 (31:22):
When the lights go off, it's my favorite part.
At the very beginning.
It's go time.
It's go time.
Let's go.
Let's go.
SPEAKER_09 (31:31):
I just it is a unique sound in the stadium.
How many people are there on anormal Friday night, Bill?
SPEAKER_07 (31:36):
So I would say last Friday, pretty good crowd.
We were probably somewherebetween 5,500 and 6,000.
SPEAKER_09 (31:43):
Oh wow.
Guys, that's a massive crowdhere in front of.
We had about the same for grandfor grand.
It's a high school game.
SPEAKER_07 (31:50):
Yeah, and it's I mean, it's packed.
I would say since we've movedinto West Ottawa Stadium now on
year four, that's just becomethe norm for Friday nights.
You know, crowds are just whichis so awesome.
SPEAKER_03 (32:01):
It's you know that the community has supported the
district enough to have afacility like that where they
want to come and be, and it'sit's cool and everything looks
nice.
And now, you know, and the marchof man thing's happening at
halftime, but it's just to yourpoint earlier, Bill, it's just
like the Friday night experiencehere is top notch.
SPEAKER_07 (32:19):
Yeah, it's just what I tell people all the time is
you know, you come to a game forthe first time.
You know, I go to the gym herein town, and one of the guys
from the gym came to the gamelast week, and I saw him on
Tuesday, and he's like, What inthe heck is going on over there?
First of all, the stadium isinsane.
Yeah, you know, and then it'sall of the other stuff that we
(32:39):
build into it.
Right.
It it really is a I stay upuntil 1:30, 2 o'clock in the
morning on Friday after homegames because I'm too wired.
Yeah, I'm in the middle of likethis chamber of just my I'm just
being assaulted by sound andlights and noise and energy.
And I it takes me hours to likeget to a point where I can go to
(33:02):
sleep.
SPEAKER_09 (33:03):
What's it like for you guys post-game?
SPEAKER_07 (33:07):
Exhaustion.
SPEAKER_10 (33:09):
No, not not usually.
I am so wired up.
It's not even funny.
It's like I've had like 30 cupsof coffee.
It's crazy.
You can ask like every one of myfriends in the band or not.
I am I'm jumping all around,literally.
It's it's awesome.
It gets me pumped.
I'm just I love the feeling somuch.
SPEAKER_06 (33:26):
It's I'd say for me, I'm more relaxed after the game.
SPEAKER_09 (33:30):
I kind of you have that nice relaxed vibe.
I'm gonna say that, but it's agood vibe.
I'll say that too.
SPEAKER_06 (33:36):
Yeah, after I go home, I normally just pop down
on my bed and go to sleep and dothe next day.
SPEAKER_09 (33:42):
Nice.
I love it.
SPEAKER_11 (33:43):
Yeah, I mean, I'm probably just kind of like the
same as how I am, just excited.
And then I leave the fieldexcited, kind of relaxed a
little bit.
But the thing is, usually I havelike uh Saturday invites for
cross country and stuff.
Yeah, right, because you're incross-country as well.
(34:03):
And then the rest of the game,I'm like, all right, let's go.
SPEAKER_07 (34:06):
Let's go.
What's that like for you tobalance, you know, obviously
very demanding sport incross-country, right?
You're putting miles upon milesin every each and every week,
and then also putting in hours,you know, with with the band.
How how does that balancehappen?
SPEAKER_11 (34:25):
Well, I I like the balance personally.
I think it's two very differentthings.
I feel like you have one thingyou're out here like mentally,
physically demanding.
I feel like marching band's morementally demanding because you
have to be focused at all times.
The physical aspect is not asbad for marching band as more
like cross-country.
But the balance I really likebecause it kind of gives me like
(34:46):
a break in between each, not toomuch of one or the other.
I would like definitelyrecommend anyone like younger,
do music.
It's it's really good for you,and it helps you grow as just
like a human being.
SPEAKER_09 (34:57):
What are your guys' favorite parts of the show that
you're not involved in?
Where you look over and you go,I love that we're doing that,
but it's not nothing I'm doingright now.
But anything stand out?
SPEAKER_06 (35:07):
That's a good cue.
Uh for me as a drum major, justwatching the choreo, I think,
especially when everyone's doingit and it's like right on, I'm
like, yeah.
SPEAKER_10 (35:18):
I mean, I really like the the effects that Selene
has behind her, like the gasshooting up from the uh drum
major stand.
Man, that is that's really cool.
I don't know.
I'm too focused on everythingelse.
I can't really pay attention toanything.
SPEAKER_09 (35:33):
Well, I have a one of my favorite parts is the uh
or the ring of fire from JohnnyCash.
Come on, Chris, give mesomething.
SPEAKER_02 (35:40):
I can't get that low, man.
SPEAKER_09 (35:42):
So that's my favorite part.
So I'm gonna play it becausethat's what I was gonna do.
So we're gonna play some JohnnyCash.
(36:36):
You're going way backartist-wise with Johnny Cash,
and then the visuals on that arecrazy.
Everybody's running.
Are you guys all running on theJohnny Cash Ring of Fire?
Who's doing what?
SPEAKER_03 (36:47):
Nathan's the one doing the most running.
Sebastian and the drum liner inthe middle, and Bennett's always
on the podium conducting theband.
Oh, you're one of those guys?
Yeah.
Now I get who you are.
That's what drum major isrunning.
SPEAKER_09 (36:59):
I love that.
Are you far left?
Yeah.
I knew it was you now.
I was watching that today, andI'm like, that guy in the far
left is really in it, man.
Because you're like.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_10 (37:12):
So Nathan's doing all the running.
I I mean, I could score atouchdown if I really wanted to.
SPEAKER_07 (37:18):
So that's one of the things I wanted to ask.
So, with the additionalmovement, do you feel that it's
gonna add a level of physicalfitness that's gonna be needed
for those in the marching band?
SPEAKER_10 (37:33):
I mean, you get used to it.
Probably doesn't hurt.
I mean, I don't know.
It really depends on like how uhmobile you want to be, I guess.
Uh like for me, I like to take atumble during one of the parts.
SPEAKER_09 (37:45):
I'm like, I just roll around in the turf a little
bit, but I feel like is that achoreographed part or the little
No, that's all me right there.
SPEAKER_10 (37:53):
Mitch Noviak just like make it look crazy chaotic.
I'm like, sure, I can do that.
I think my wife said that aftershe was at the last game.
SPEAKER_03 (38:02):
I think I remember seeing that after.
Yeah, yeah.
I'm not even kidding.
She's like, there's kids fallingdown up there.
Are they okay?
I was like, I'm pretty sure it'spart of the act.
SPEAKER_09 (38:08):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Do you guys feel with like thisstyle you're being you're able
to be, I mean, you gotta befocused on what you're doing,
but at times do you feel you canbe more creative?
SPEAKER_11 (38:17):
Kind of hard with a drum, carrying the drum for us
guys.
Not like we do like a triplebackflip while we're marching.
SPEAKER_09 (38:23):
There's your creativity.
It's gonna have to step up thephysical portion.
SPEAKER_03 (38:26):
There are a lot of places though where it's like,
yo, here's the vibe.
Just sort of create that vibe.
And where the kids are all kindof doing some different stuff,
you know, specifically the windplayers.
Yeah.
So in that aspect, probably alittle bit.
SPEAKER_09 (38:37):
Who's who's carrying the biggest instrument out
there?
Who's got the hard who's got thehardest?
SPEAKER_11 (38:41):
The big bass drum, I'd probably say.
SPEAKER_03 (38:43):
Yeah, maybe Lucas carrying the big bass drum or
any of the guys playingSusaphone, playing the tubas.
SPEAKER_09 (38:47):
Are they required to cover any distance, or are you
kind of taking it easy on them?
SPEAKER_03 (38:50):
Lucas playing bass drum, maybe taking it a little
easier on him, but the tubas,there's no mercy.
There's no mercy for them.
SPEAKER_09 (38:56):
I'm gonna have to pay more attention to see who's
doing what now that we kind ofknow who's who.
Do you guys think the band islooked at differently from the
public now with what what you'redoing?
Have a feel for that?
SPEAKER_10 (39:07):
Definitely like I guess more respected, I guess,
because like in past years I'vekind of kind of heard like a
little bit more negative thingsabout the band, you know, just
being like an athletic orwhatever.
Now we're out here doing this,and now they're switching up and
being like, wow, this show isamazing.
I I've really heard a bigdifference on just how people
view us and respect us more, Iguess, you know, and just having
(39:30):
opportunities like this to be onthis podcast too.
Like let's go, right?
Really open up just the doorsand like really let people see
like what band really can be,whether it's like just whatever,
it's awesome.
SPEAKER_03 (39:42):
I think it's important too.
Like what was happening here inprevious years was very, very
good.
Exactly.
What we're trying to do isincrease the accessibility for
Nacho Joe, right?
You know, because like ifthere's people in the stands who
are musically inclined, youknow, they might they probably
would say, I would say thatthere was much more musical
expression in shows previous,right?
(40:04):
But we've created sort of thisgateway to marching band that
more people can experience, Ithink is kind of what we're
after.
SPEAKER_09 (40:12):
And you know the thing too, I've loved marching
bands my whole life, just beinga sports fan.
Like for any college footballgame or high school game, just
the noise of a marching bandjust feels so good, right?
It's part of that pageantry of aFriday night.
And I've always loved it.
And this, I'm just I don't knowwhat it is.
It's just is it more modern?
(40:32):
Is it just more now?
It's just more accessible.
SPEAKER_03 (40:35):
Yeah.
It more people can be connectedto it because more people
understand that's cool.
SPEAKER_07 (40:40):
So one of my favorite parts of Friday night,
and it has been since I, youknow, I've been involved in high
school athletics for 20 plusyears, when the when the drum
line comes into the stadium.
SPEAKER_11 (40:51):
That's my favorite part.
SPEAKER_07 (40:52):
It's gotta be when the drum lines hit the tunnel.
I'm just like, oh, it's go time.
SPEAKER_11 (40:59):
It's like a sense of yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (41:01):
Wait, what is that like for you as as one of the
members of the drum line cominginto the stadium and that
reverberation is that super loudas you're walking through there
and that sound is bouncing down?
SPEAKER_11 (41:10):
Well, I have earplugs in to protect my ears
because if not, I would probablynot hear you right now, no
matter how loud it is.
But it's so nice walking downbecause everyone's like turning
their heads like, who is that?
It's like all of us marchingdown.
They're like, wow, they gettheir phones out, they're
recording, and then we get inthe tunnel, it's all echoey.
It's like an amazing feelingbecause it's like we're here.
Yeah, we're here, let's go.
(41:31):
And we wait, and then we go outon the field, and everybody's
cheering.
It's just amazing.
It's an amazing feeling.
SPEAKER_09 (41:36):
Do you guys take on a different persona when you put
on your uniform?
SPEAKER_12 (41:41):
Good question.
SPEAKER_09 (41:42):
Uh I I used to be a mascot, Billy.
Didn't know this.
I didn't know this.
But I'd be a mascot.
You can't tell.
So I'd put on the mascotuniform, and I'm I when I get in
there, like I'm crazy already,but I'm really crazy put that
on.
Did you guys ever have that likewhen you get all dressed up and
all that?
Like, is there a part of youthat kind of transforms into
this performer?
Do you have that at all?
SPEAKER_10 (42:02):
Me personally?
No, not really.
I'm just I'm just me.
Uh just like I'm just a littlebit more excited, I guess, but
that's just me.
I'm I'm it's awesome.
SPEAKER_09 (42:11):
Bennett, you're very animated when you direct.
Your movements are veryanimated.
Is anything like do you feel anyof that or not really?
SPEAKER_06 (42:21):
Not really.
SPEAKER_10 (42:22):
I think I mean I've known this guy for years, and
it's like you you definitely area little different.
Like you're more animated, Iguess, too.
It's just your face is a littlethe same a little bit.
Like you look more serious, butyour hands are moving all about.
SPEAKER_09 (42:35):
You look more it's always important to be ourselves
for sure.
SPEAKER_06 (42:38):
I would say just with that, that's just with any
performance, and I really makesure to focus and just again do
my job, make sure that we can beour best.
SPEAKER_03 (42:48):
And I think we talk about that in rehearsal.
You know, we say, you know, wewant to have maximum effort,
maximum focus all the time.
So hopefully there isn't a bigdifference.
You know, maybe we put the supersuit on and maybe there's yeah.
We're a little more poised,maybe because it's like, oh, to
Sebastian's point, now it's nowit's go time.
Now we're doing this for people.
But if we're doing ourrehearsals correctly, you know,
there probably isn't a bigdifference.
(43:09):
There shouldn't be that becausethat's when big mistakes can
happen.
And same thing with an athleticteam.
You know, you start doing thingsdifferent in a practice than you
would in a game.
Game's not gonna go super well,you know.
SPEAKER_09 (43:19):
What's it like for your families to see you perform
this way?
We had we talked to Tim Beard inour last podcast, and one of the
greatest joys he said was thatwhen people can watch their kids
do things and enjoy themselvesand have success, it's like this
great thing.
Do you get anything from familyor friends where you know
they've kind of pulled you asideor anything where they say, Hey,
(43:39):
this is really great.
I love that you're doing this.
Any moments like that?
SPEAKER_11 (43:43):
Yeah, I would definitely say there is so when
we had our summer rehearsalwhere we do like a week straight
of like preparing our show upand like wearing all the drills
stuff.
Band camp.
I say band festivitiessometimes, you know, band
festivities I'm at.
Make it sound less than that.
Get away from the stereotype.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Exactly.
I'm at band festivities.
(44:03):
But after that, we did our showfor the parents, and I remember
my dad and sister were watching,and after, like, that is
amazing.
It's super cool.
Especially as my sister, she'sin middle school, she'll be
probably in the drum line withme next year.
That'll be sweet.
And then my brother uh alsoplayed in the drum line years
back, and so he saw adifference.
He's like, that's really cool.
(44:24):
So I wonder is how good we canget for festival.
Like, wow, this is really good.
It's gonna be really fun.
SPEAKER_09 (44:32):
How about you guys any?
SPEAKER_10 (44:34):
My my dad mostly, he he loves it.
Like, he was he was a drummer atWest Ottawa years and years ago,
and like he's just told me he'sreally proud of me too, and just
like really cool.
We wish my grandpa could haveseen it.
He passed away just like lastyear or whatever, wanted
everything, but you know, I kindof do it for him a little bit.
My grandpa, since I know he healways supported me and just me
(44:57):
being in band and stuff.
I think it's just real realcool, real cool.
My family really appreciates it.
My mom, me and my mom, she'slike, Oh, you take so much time
to do it, but it's worth it.
But yeah.
Yeah, my family reallyappreciates it, I think.
SPEAKER_09 (45:13):
How do you guys feel about being this is the year
where this kind of changed?
Time's gonna go on.
There's a lot of teams or yearsat West Ottawa that are
remembered.
So we go back to some basketballteams, uh, go to Gabby Reynolds'
team back in the day, go toHelen Sachs winning state title.
This is the first year of this.
We don't know where it's gonnalead or what's gonna happen next
(45:33):
year.
What's it like to know thatyou're actually gonna be part of
something that kind of tiltedthe direction a little bit in a
in a new way?
SPEAKER_05 (45:50):
Boom, boom, boom.
We can take over it because itdoesn't matter.
SPEAKER_09 (45:54):
Boom, boom.
You guys can speak on it too.
I'll let I'll let Bennett thinkuh I love that Bennett's taking
his time.
That's really nice.
SPEAKER_11 (46:03):
We gotta let him craft his response.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_09 (46:06):
And sometimes you don't, you know, reflect on
these questions until you'reasked them.
SPEAKER_06 (46:09):
Yeah.
I think um for me, just thinkingthat like in the future of the
program and like Janovia, he'llbe able to like reflect and kind
of remember me as he's new here.
He can remember me as like oneof the first.
And I think that that part iscool.
SPEAKER_03 (46:27):
And and that's a great point because there's so
much change and so manydifferent things that the kids
are being asked to do right nowthat I will like I will always
remember this specific group ofpeople that's in the band right
now because they probably willexperience the most change out
of anyone, you know, goingforward.
And that's that's really hard todo.
It's really hard to take on somenew things and try some new
(46:49):
stuff and trust somebody thatlike I haven't been around that
long, you know.
Like we are doing things a lotdifferently this year, and I
only got here last year.
So I don't have like the deeprelationships that maybe a coach
would have after it's like we'regonna run this scheme for these
four years, and now, okay, cool,guys.
Now we're gonna do this.
We just don't have thatrelationship yet, you know.
(47:09):
So I just give them so muchcredit for trying so many
different things this year.
And to that point, like I willremember them for that for sure.
SPEAKER_09 (47:17):
Because it's hard, it's really hard to do.
And you guys took a leap offaith and you were willing to
trust.
What's been the reward?
SPEAKER_11 (47:25):
Being able to say, I got to do this.
Like when I'm older, I'll belike, I got to be a part of the
West Ottawa High School Band fortheir Ignite show.
It's something cool to say, Ifeel like.
SPEAKER_10 (47:34):
Yeah, that's I'm the same way.
I think it's real cool.
Probably tell my kids about thisor something, you know.
I think this is really somethingworth just telling about because
it's so interesting and cool,and just just all just everyone
just loving it so much makes melove it more, and just being
willing to tell people that,yeah, I'm in band, I'm one of
(47:55):
the marches in it, you know, andthen for them be like that, you
guys did amazing, like, and justagain, all these compliments.
It's it's really awesome.
SPEAKER_06 (48:03):
And for music, I think just connections is a
really important thing.
And music, you you should alwaystry new things, and like there's
oh there's so much learning thatyou can learn through different
people and people from differentplaces.
SPEAKER_09 (48:19):
You three are a great example of buying in, a
little reservation at first,maybe, right?
Which is all very good andnormal, and then you guys jump
in.
It's I mean, applauds all aroundfor real.
It's amazing.
SPEAKER_11 (48:33):
Yeah.
I would say mentioned somethingabout earlier about what it does
for us is also building when weget into concert season more
people coming to the new PIC andhearing us play.
That's a different thing, it's adifferent style.
It's I really like it too.
It's a big ensemble player,percussion ensembles.
If you haven't heard one, Iwould recommend you do.
(48:53):
They're amazing.
I've I've been a part of so manycool ones, trios, quartets, it's
amazing.
I would definitely recommend.
SPEAKER_03 (49:00):
It's getting more people to pay attention to what
we've got going on just from awhole program standpoint, right?
You know, like maybe you know,we advertise like, oh, this is
when the band is doing theirholiday concert.
And it's like, maybe you get 10more people at that concert that
wouldn't have come normally, butthey remember something cool
that they heard or saw in thefall.
And so they're like, Man, let'sgo see what they're up to now.
You know, so that's a greatpoint.
SPEAKER_09 (49:22):
Chris, you have you must have a lot of great young
people.
These three young men here.
Fantastic.
You guys are great young guys.
I mean, you're very thoughtful.
You think deeply about what youdo, you're committed, you're
locking in, you're doing allthose things.
Kudos to you guys for real.
It's great.
SPEAKER_07 (49:38):
Yeah, thanks so much, guys, for coming on with
us today.
SPEAKER_03 (49:41):
Yeah.
I I appreciate the three ofthese guys and everybody that's
in the marching band that'sworking really hard and big push
to the end of the season.
One more game and festival onthe 14th.
We're pumped.
It's gonna be great.
The best is yet to come.
Ooh, heard it.
SPEAKER_09 (49:53):
All right.
Well, get that 55, 100 up tosix, maybe 61, 62.
If we can get him in there,Kennedy.
We'll get him in.
All right.
Well, thanks for coming on,everybody.
SPEAKER_11 (50:01):
And remember, we are West Ottawa.
SPEAKER_09 (50:03):
We are community.
We are each other.
Thanks, guys.
Thanks for coming on.
Really appreciate you guys.
Thanks, thank you.
SPEAKER_11 (50:09):
Thank you.
Thank you.
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