Parade Auxiliaries

[Cardinal Regime]

There is one more visual thought – SoCal guards tend to look less similar than NorCal.

Interesting take. I would say completely the opposite. I think the uniforms of the SoCal guards are much more similar than the NorCal ones. Today, off the top of my head, I think of only Benicia, Fairfield, Franklin, Foothill and Buhach Colony as wearing similar Scotish style uniforms.

Have I forgotten any others?

[cgamy]

There is one more visual thought – SoCal guards tend to look less similar than NorCal.

Interesting take. I would say completely the opposite. I think the uniforms of the SoCal guards are much more similar than the NorCal ones. Today, off the top of my head, I think of only Benicia, Fairfield, Franklin, Foothill and Buhach Colony as wearing similar Scotish style uniforms.

Have I forgotten any others?

I have no idea of all the bands up in your neck of the world. I can't think of any two auxiliaries in SoCal who look alike though, through the wonders of You Tube, there are numerous videos from the 1970's where the aux. all look similar. Interestingly, the gentleman who put these videos up (marchingband01), has re-opened my eyes to the aux world from the late 1970's. Darned if those guards didn't turn around and march up the sides of the band after doing their roll-off. I was a band geek in those days and didn't pay much attention to the pageantry aspect of what was going on. It has been a wonderful Sunday evening going down memory lane with these videos.

Amy

[dmcoach]

I know back in the dark ages when I first began teaching color guard, it was fashionable for everyone to wear boots and short skirts…that evolved of course to sometimes trendy costuming…

Don't forget hats!!!


Well, since we're in the topic of costuming, and with Amy's comment of going down memory lane, I think it would be nice for guards from the whole state to look back to their past and embrace costuming that reflects their mascots now.

I know that a lot of the groups are sticking to their themes, but it's been a while since I've seen guards dressed up like their school mascots. Now, I'm not talking about costumes, I'm thinking more about elaborating on a theme. Best example I can think of is Arcadia, Apaches, girls that look like Pocahontas.

I might be forgetting other groups here, but as a spectator for guards, I think it's nice and unique.

[Brad]

I'll try to address the comment on the"scotish" theme of some of the guards in Norcal. There has been some discussion with the showmanship judges on the "continuity" of uniform styles of the entire marching unit. You have a band with a standard cadet style uniform, the guard in page 36 of the Algy's catalog, and the DM in full scotich ragalia. So, you have the 3 elements of your unit, with no cohesive thought running through the program, and they where starting to get dinged in their showmanship sheets. And many dirctor's where enchanted by the british style of parade band, and have band nicnames such as regiment, brigade, etc. So, many of the guards started to adopt a plaid into their uniform to help tie things together. This is mostly observation on my part, not from discussion with directors.

[JCYS]

Guard should be judged by guard judges no matter what they do and have a minimal effect on the band scores. They have their own trophies and awards. Parade is NOT field show. They can do whatever they want, but making the guard almost 50% of the band score is just ridiculous. We are, in essence, judging them twice, because I can tell you right now 2/3 of my marching tape and 3/4 of my showmanship tape are all guard oriented.

Some of the top groups in Nor Cal are investing almost 50% of their booster budget to produce a top guard program just for the street. There is a movement to take back the band scores FOR THE BAND on the street and let the guards stick with their own awards. I think it will catch on as the money dries up.

I have no problem with either Nor Cal or SO Cal concept of street guards, I do have a problem with the influence of guard scores on the band placings.
Sorry, must just be the music teacher in me. Band kids get dinged because of something they have no control over..in effect..a totally separate group...can you imagine your band placing be determined by how good (and big) your drill team was? Yuch.

JS

[danceswithwood]

JCYS,
I hear what you're saying and agree with it for the most part. There's sometimes a huge mismatch between the band proper and the colorguard in terms of ability and maturity (and that blade cuts both ways) that it sometimes seems unfair. My only worry would be that I know a band director or two who would simply do away with colorguard on the street with their band were it not for the weight it presently carries in their overall scoring. Just a thought.

A note to some of the costume comments from other folks here. Costume choice often comes down to dollars (big surprise). If I'm given a budget that allows me to buy only one uniform in a year (or three and yes, it happens) .......... well, let's just say I'm not putting plaid skirts or feathered headbands on the winterguard floor if ya' know what I mean.


.

[Schimmy]

Guard should be judged by guard judges no matter what they do and have a minimal effect on the band scores. They have their own trophies and awards. Parade is NOT field show. They can do whatever they want, but making the guard almost 50% of the band score is just ridiculous. We are, in essence, judging them twice, because I can tell you right now 2/3 of my marching tape and 3/4 of my showmanship tape are all guard oriented.

Some of the top groups in Nor Cal are investing almost 50% of their booster budget to produce a top guard program just for the street. There is a movement to take back the band scores FOR THE BAND on the street and let the guards stick with their own awards. I think it will catch on as the money dries up.

I have no problem with either Nor Cal or SO Cal concept of street guards, I do have a problem with the influence of guard scores on the band placings.
Sorry, must just be the music teacher in me. Band kids get dinged because of something they have no control over..in effect..a totally separate group...can you imagine your band placing be determined by how good (and big) your drill team was? Yuch.

JS

All students performing should be adjudicated, rated and ranked. If the students' performance reflects the visual or showmanship part of the performance than that student she be counted toward that caption whether it effects the placement positively or negatively.

[guard4life10]

Guard should be judged by guard judges no matter what they do and have a minimal effect on the band scores. They have their own trophies and awards. Parade is NOT field show. They can do whatever they want, but making the guard almost 50% of the band score is just ridiculous. We are, in essence, judging them twice, because I can tell you right now 2/3 of my marching tape and 3/4 of my showmanship tape are all guard oriented.

Some of the top groups in Nor Cal are investing almost 50% of their booster budget to produce a top guard program just for the street. There is a movement to take back the band scores FOR THE BAND on the street and let the guards stick with their own awards. I think it will catch on as the money dries up.

I have no problem with either Nor Cal or SO Cal concept of street guards, I do have a problem with the influence of guard scores on the band placings.
Sorry, must just be the music teacher in me. Band kids get dinged because of something they have no control over..in effect..a totally separate group...can you imagine your band placing be determined by how good (and big) your drill team was? Yuch.

JS

Being a member of a group whose guard scores affect the band, I like it. Knowing that what we do do affects our fellow members only makes the guard units work 10 times harder. Looking at the top bands in the NCBA, they have the top guards as well. Every member of the band works to play well for the guard and the guard works hard to show offf how well the band is playing. The units depend on and support each other, making the band and guard one unit.

[twinmomma]

Guard should be judged by guard judges no matter what they do and have a minimal effect on the band scores. They have their own trophies and awards. Parade is NOT field show. They can do whatever they want, but making the guard almost 50% of the band score is just ridiculous. We are, in essence, judging them twice, because I can tell you right now 2/3 of my marching tape and 3/4 of my showmanship tape are all guard oriented.

Some of the top groups in Nor Cal are investing almost 50% of their booster budget to produce a top guard program just for the street. There is a movement to take back the band scores FOR THE BAND on the street and let the guards stick with their own awards. I think it will catch on as the money dries up.

I have no problem with either Nor Cal or SO Cal concept of street guards, I do have a problem with the influence of guard scores on the band placings.
Sorry, must just be the music teacher in me. Band kids get dinged because of something they have no control over..in effect..a totally separate group...can you imagine your band placing be determined by how good (and big) your drill team was? Yuch.

JS

I must respectfully disagree. While yes, danceswithwood is right that there is often a difference in ability from guard to band or vice versa, parade is just as much about showmanship as field show is, just in a different venue. If you want to be judged solely on music ability alone, then concert festival is where you need to be. But putting a band on the street means taking the hit OR the benefit showmanship wise that having an auxiliary unit provides.

[agentsquishypenguin]

I can't really speak for NorCal, since I have neither seen nor participated in bands up north. However, SoCal is a different story. I am currently a member of an SCSBOA band and have competed against some of the best bands in SCSBOA.

A big issue down here is actually getting the membership. Sometimes the color guard is small because thats the only people doing it.

There was a comment that I saw earlier about how the routines are created to win, not to entertain. Well, that is one of the few reasons why high school students do band, because of competitions. They want to show off the big trophy they win, not say they made a little girl's eyes light up in amazement. But really, isn't that more rewarding?