Meet the Crusaders / Aidan Williams

In celebration of the 2016 DCI Drum Corps Season, Band Shoppe and The Boston Crusaders are pleased to present Meet the Crusaders. This is part 1 of a 12 part series with Q & A with a few of the amazing people that make up this Corps of Giants!

Aidan Williams - 2016 Boston Crusaders Drum Major

(and 2015 Band Shoppe cover model!)

photo courtesy of the Boston Crusaders

Q: Whats your full name, age, and years how many years have you been with the corps?

My name is Aidan Williams and I'm 22 years old. This is my 5th year with the corps. It is also my bonus and age out year.

Q: Where are you from?

I am from West palm beach, Florida

Q: Where do/did you go to school?

I go to Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. I will be graduating in December of this year.

Q: What do you study or what is your current major?

My majors are Actuarial Science and Risk Management & Insurance. I am studying to be an Actuary post-graduation.

Q: What is your role with the Boston Crusaders?

I played mellophone for 3 years and this is my second as one of the drum majors. Of course, I conduct and help keep the show together but my favorite part of the job is the role I get to play off of the field supporting my fellow crusaders.

Q: What was your inspiration to become a Boston Crusader?

After watching the 2011 quarterfinals in the theaters in high school, I knew I wanted to be a Boston crusader. I also had a friend in the corps and the camps happened to be in Florida, so it all worked out!

Q: What does being a Crusader mean to you?

I have an unending love for the organization after all that it has done for me. Being a crusader means to be a part of an accepting group of strangers who take on the task of putting a drum corps show on the field and end as a close family of friends.

Q: What advice would you give to future Crusaders?

Don't be afraid, you will easily find a home here.

Q: Who inspires you?

My bus driver, Sheldon.

---

B O N U S   Q U E S T I O N S !

Q:What is your favorite kind of cookie?

The pre-cut pillsbury cookies that have seasonal images printed on them.

Q: If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be?

Too much time on my hands, by Styx

Q: What is the one, single food that you would love to have right now?

An egg sandwich. All the way!

Q: What do you think cats dream about?

I think cats dream about how to take over the world.

2016 DCI Tour Premiere at your local theater!

Marching Music’s Major League™ Premieres its 2016 Tour Live on the Big Screen!

Fathom Events and Drum Corps International invite you to join fans from all over the country as Marching Music’s Major League™ brings the sixth annual DCI Tour Premiere to select cinemas nationwide on Thursday, June 23! Drum Corps at the Cinema: 2016 DCI Tour Premiere features best of the best in marching.

The event will be broadcast live for the second year and will feature six of DCI’s top ensembles: Bluecoats (Canton, OH), Boston Crusaders (Boston, MA), The Cadets (Allentown, PA), The Cavaliers (Rockford, IL), Carolina Crown (Ft. Mill, SC) and Phantom Regiment (Rockford, IL).

Here are all the details:

Date: Thursday, June 23

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT / 6:30 p.m. MT / 5:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. AK / 2:30 p.m. HI

Run Time: 2 hours (approximate)

Ticketing: Click Here to see if your local theater is showing this exciting event!

Get your tickets now to catch all of the action LIVE on the big screen!

Competing Corps - Listed in performance order 
Boston Crusaders - Boston, MA
The Cavaliers - Rosemont, IL
Phantom Regiment - Rockford, IL
The Cadets - Allentown, PA
Bluecoats - Canton, OH
Carolina Crown - Ft. Mill, SC

Find out more, buy your tickets, and more at Fathom Events!

Crusader Cam: Season 3, Episode 2

photo courtesy of The Boston Crusaders

Week 2 of the Crusader Cam is here! 

Get and inside look at the Boston Crusaders' tour, and view the 2016 Season from the member's point of view.

Tune in every Friday at 5pm for a new episode or stay up do date on Facebook!

Crusader Cam: Season 3, Episode 1

photo courtesy of The Boston Crusaders

Season 3 of the Crusader Cam is here! 

If you don’t keep up with Crusader Cam, you’re seriously missing out! The Crusader Cam is a fun, firsthand look inside the lives of our members as they spend the summer traveling and performing across the country.

Tune in every Friday at 5pm for a new episode or stay up do date on Facebook!

A Welcome Message from Band Shoppe!

Welcome to the Band Shoppe blog/newsroom – we're glad you stopped by!

For those who don't know about us, Band Shoppe is a division of Pearison Incorporated based in Cynthiana, Indiana. Pearison Inc. was founded in 1970 by Chuck Pearison, along his wife Susan, as a small music repair shop operated out of their two car garage in Poseyville, Indiana. The business soon expanded to include marching uniforms and accessories, these products were sold from a small black and white flyer that was mailed to three states under the name "Band Shoppe".

Since then, Band Shoppe has grown to nearly 90 employees! With a full staff of sales and customer service representatives all based here in the USA, as well as secure online shopping, Band Shoppe gives you an easy shopping experience with fast and reliable shipping through USPS and UPS. Our recent 20,000 square foot manufacturing addition has expanded our facilities to 55,000 square feet. This expansion gives Band Shoppe the ability to make even more of our quality marching products right here in the USA, including our full line of custom uniforms and flags!

Here's what you can look forward to in the Band Shoppe Blog: 

• We'll introduce you to the people who make Band Shoppe different
• We'll share with you information about the products we sell - our quality custom marching jackets, color guard and percussion uniforms, and our made-to-last show flags as well as fun tips and tricks to help your group stand out 
• Look for special guest bloggers, interviews with giants in the activity, and a few surprises
• We'll answer your questions about how to make your show's vision a reality
• We'll keep you up to date on sales and events taking place

Stay tuned for weekly updates with tips, tricks, tutorials, how-to guides, event wrap ups, photos, and much much more for both marching band, and color guard. We hope you find some interesting and helpful information, new ideas, and opportunities to join the conversation.

Here are a few link to help you get started:
>> Read more about Band Shoppe
>> Read the Band Shoppe Responsibility Statement
>> Follow us on Social Media:            
>> Shop now at bandshoppe.com

Please remember: We ask that you keep your comments relevant to the conversations taking place here so that we can maintain respect for all those involved and add value and depth to the discussion. All comments are moderated. Profanity, racial and ethnic slurs, and rude behavior won’t be tolerated and we will quickly remove any comments that are offensive, disrespectful or irrelevant.

This blog is a public forum – don’t post anything confidential or private. Also, these are the personal views of the individuals posting here, and not necessarily those of the Company. And, lastly, this is not the place to submit specific customer service questions or technical support inquires. For specific customer issues, please complete a Contact Us request with as much information as possible or give us a call at 1.800.457.3501.

Thank you for reading, visiting, commenting and contributing. We’re excited to have you here!

The Band Shoppe Blog Team

WGI Thoughts

One of the best things about participating in the marching arts is the opportunity we get to meet wonderful and talented people! At many shows, you would swear that you are at a family reunion instead of a competition where performers are battling it out to be crowned champions. This year's WGI Color Guard Championships were no exception, and getting to bring our exhibition booth to the "tent" was an incredible experience. We met people from all over the country, and even had a chance to speak with those that came from Canada, The Netherlands, and even as far as Japan.

One of the best things about the face to face interaction is seeing and hearing the passion people have for the performing and marching arts. It was also great to see so many families supporting their children's endeavors. Many of the performers (and quite often fans) were visibly exhausted from the often grueling schedule of early wake-up calls and multiple performances at 3 different arenas throughout the week, but all seemed to handle it with a sense of grace and professionalism that is a trademark of what they do. So many times we only a get a chance to interact with many of you over the phone or through an e-mail, so it was a refreshing change to have that personal element of an actual in-person conversation.

The performances at WGI were some of the best ever, and there seemed to be an endless display of artistry, talent, and athleticism. The range and variety of aesthetics on the floor were incredible. At the end of the week, our crew walked away with the continued respect and admiration for all the hard work and energy that performers, volunteers, staff, and families put into making sure events like these exist and thrive. The feedback and input we received from so many of you out there will help our staff as we begin to start the process all over again to develop our lineup of quality products geared at making sure your group has all the tools necessary to look, sound, and perform your best. We look forward to meeting more of you at future events! If you were not able to sign up for the latest Catalog, which ships out soon, make sure to request one here.

In the Know

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, you do better.”
-Maya Angelou

College graduations are just around the corner, and that means the job hunt has most likely commenced for many future music and performing arts educators around the country. Some of the lucky ones may have experience teaching a band camp or two, but it is important to remember that heading up your first band program is something that can be overwhelming at times. There are a plethora of resources out there, and a simple Google search will pull up at least a dozen links. There seems to be more and more media floating about than ever before, and we know it all can seem too much. Here are a few sites that might be of interest to our customers:

MARCHING.COM is a one-stop source of marching events, links, resources, news and photos. Find details of major parade and field competitions, links to marching bands on the net, and a directory of services and supplies for your marching band, color guard or drum line.

Halftime Magazine® is a bimonthly lifestyle magazine aimed at the marching arts. Halftime Magazine® connects high school and college musician-athletes through shared experiences about competitions, school spirit and band traditions.

Winter Guard International is the world's premier organization producing indoor color guard and percussion ensemble competitions. As a non-profit youth organization, WGI serves as the leading governing body of the winter guard and indoor percussion activities. The staff at WGI has written and produced some great articles and videos that cover a wide range of topics important to developing instructors. Color Guard people might want to look here, while Percussion people might want to check out this link.

ColorGuardEducators.com was started in January 2007 as a resource and community for color guard educators: designers, coaches, choreographers, directors, judges, parents, and student leaders who are dedicated to providing the best possible experiences for their performers.

Micro Marching League (MML) lets marching fans design their own shows and share them online. Our supportive community is a great place to try new ideas, collaborate, and generally share your passion for the marching arts.

Band Shoppe also carries a full selection of educational DVD videos, and later this spring/summer we will be adding several more titles to the collection.

Do you have any favorite resources?  Share them below in the comments section!

Are you ready for next season? We are!

photo courtesy of The Boston Crusaders

Every spring, about this time, directors all over the country start prepping for their summer and fall marching seasons. Some years we get off to a head start, other years we just pray that the show is done before the last performance. What is it that separates the very best of the best from those that merely show up to gate? It's probably safe to say that all successful programs are led by an individual(s) that are highly organized, goal oriented, and strategic. This year, make a commitment to stay on top of your "to-do" lists. Plan early and don't wait until the last minute to get organized. You'll be glad you did!

If the unexpected does happen, just know that Band Shoppe is here to help with those "Uh Oh!" situations that come up. That's why we carry a huge selection of quality in-stock products. Many items ship out within 1-2 business days! This year we have stayed on top of our game and have produced what we feel is the best catalog to date. It's filled with hundreds of new products that are sure to help your group look, sound, and perform their absolute best. If you're not on our mailing list, make sure to request your 2016 Master Catalog. Are you ready for next season? We are.