Drums on the Ohio Recap

It's been one week since Drums on the Ohio (our home DCI show) was hosted at the Reitz Bowl in Evansville, IN. And we are still reeling with excitement!

But even before the first corps took the field on June 28th, Band Shoppe was already enjoying the festivities. That morning, 120+ students from local middle and high schools joined Band Shoppe staff and other local guard instructors with a handful of volunteers to present the free Tri-State Color Guard Clinic! The students broke out into 5 groups including Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Flags as well as a Rifle and Sabre class. After spending about 2 hours learning and practicing their routines, all of the students came back together to perform what they had just learned in front of the others. It was awesome to see students of all ages engaging, learning and encouraging one another.

All students warm up with 100 flag spins!

Advanced Flags breakout class

Rifle Instruction

That evening at Drums on the Ohio, some students from the clinic took the field to be recognized during the Star Spangled Banner performance.

Tri-State Color Guard Clinic participants ready to take the field at Drums on the Ohio

Music City, from Nashville TN, kicked off the evening, with their show Tribe, with music including Pagan Dances, Goddess of Fire and Trail of Tears.

Pioneer from Milwaukee, WI took the field next, performing music from the Broadway production of Les Miserables in their 2017 performance, titled Irish on Broadway.

Next corps to perform was Madison Scouts, commanding a presence with their headdresses and masks. Their 2017 production, Last Man Standing included music Pilentze Pee, Miraculous Mandarin, Depletion & O2, Hope & Despair, and Music for Prague 1968.

During the intermission, the crowd was entertained with a Drum Line Battle performed by Evansville’s Boom Squad. The Boom Squad had two groups performing against each other, with team Old School winning the battle! Local music store H&H provided a check to the Boom Squad organization, which helps to provide after school programs and encouragement to intercity students. The crowd was very receptive to the Drum Line Battle, especially since the youngest participant was only 2 and-a-half years old!

Evansville Boom Squad with the check presented by H&H Music Store

Right after intermission, it was time for the Boston Crusaders to take the field. The Crusaders’ 2017 production, Wicked Games included Moonlight Sonata, The Adoration of Veles and Ala, Whispers, Cortege Macabre (from Grohg), Wicked Game, Toccata (from Piano Concerto No. 1), and The Verdict.

The Blue Stars performed next, taking the field with their 2017 production, Star Crossed, depicting 3 famous love stories, Romeo & Juliet, Great Gatsby, and Moulin Rouge.

The Cavaliers wrapped up the night, with their show Men are from Mars. Including music Fanfare for the Common Man, Wine-Dark Sea, Little Green Men, Mars, My Way, and more.

On Thursday, Band Shoppe hosted the Boston Crusaders for a BBQ dinner at North High School (Evansville, IN). Every member of the Crusaders (and support staff) received gift bags and a special shirt to commemorate their visit! To spend time with the members and staff was a highlight of our week!

It was a great week thanks to everyone who volunteered their time for Drums on the Ohio, Tri-State Color Guard Clinic, and for the staff members who helped at the dinner with the Boston Crusaders! We are so thankful to have the opportunity to sponsor such a fantastic show right in our own city, we hope it continues for years to come!

Spring Training Contest Winner Recap

Lori Elkins won our Band Shoppe + DCI Spring Training Contest, and on June 22nd, she and her family had the VIP experience at the DCI Tour Premiere, kicking off Drum Corps International's 45th Season!

Lori and her daughters were given a behind the scenes tour which included checking out the press box, production truck, and getting field-level access before the show began.

Band Shoppe + DCI Contest Winner enjoying their backstage tour with a visit to the press box!

Lori said:

My daughters and I were so excited for our VIP tickets and backstage look at the DCI tour premiere! So cool to see how it all comes together from the live cinema production to the corps preparation. Have been a DCI fan for many years and now have a new appreciation for the work behind the scenes. Thank you so much to Band Shoppe and John Denovi of DCI for a night to remember! We had a blast!

Thanks Lori, for sharing your photos and VIP experience with us, we are so glad that you and your daughters got to experience this together!

DCI Spring Training Reveal - Boston Crusaders

The 2017 Boston Crusaders Present: Wicked Games

In October of 2016, Band Shoppe's Design Team met with the new Artistic Director for the Boston Crusaders, Keith Potter, to discuss initial design concepts for the corps. We knew that we would have a challenge before us — design a signature look with timeless elements to help the members look tall, strong, and consistent, that could also adapt to the ever-changing show themes. This uniform should incorporate removable elements and that should allow for maximum mobility. All this, while also producing a uniform durable enough to stand up to the rigorous wear of these talented athletes over the course of a few years. This initial vest concept was developed by Band Shoppe's team without context or show theme in mind.

Once the main vest was approved, we finally received the show theme of "Wicked Games," a dark and complex interplay based loosely on the Salem Witch Trials. Keith wanted a fresh and modern take on the theme. The guard uniforms were to feel youthful and innocent with a more imposing aesthetic for the corps. With show theme in mind, Band Shoppe's team went to work with Keith’s direction creating sketches and samples until everything was just right.

photos courtesy of the Boston Crusaders

The result was an exercise in balance — from the pairing of traditional polyester with spandex stretch wear to incorporating digital elements with dimensional straps, flounces, and drops. Movement and breathability are key with these versatile uniforms as drum corps continue to blend elements of dance.

It is modern in it's presentation of conceptual textures and that it will allow performers to move in a way that we see drum corps going today.

— Keith Potter, Artistic Director for the Boston Crusaders

Band Shoppe is proud to present the uniforms for the Boston Crusaders 2017 show “Wicked Games.” See their new uniforms in action when the Crusaders head to Southern Indiana for DRUMS on the OHIO Presented by Band Shoppe on June 28 at the Reitz Bowl.

New Contest Time!

It's time for our next contest, this one is all about the FILTERS!

You know, the ones that give you amazingly cool glasses or turn your selfies into an adorable lamb.
We want to see your creativity come alive with your favorite filters and our Band Shoppe catalog!

Interact with the new 2017 Band Shoppe catalog, an older catalog, or use our online catalog to create a fun image by using filters or stickers, and feel free to add text as well!

(Here's an example)

Post these images to Instagram with the tag #BandShoppeFilterFun

The winner will receive 2 tickets to ANY of these #DCI Premiere Show Dates (of their choice)

DCI Tour Premiere Show Dates

6/30 Muncie, IN – DCI Central Indiana

7/8 Minneapolis, MN – DCI Minnesota
7/8 Orlando, FL – DCI Orlando
7/10 Jupiter, FL – DCI South Florida
7/12 Lebanon, IL – DCI St. Louis
7/14 Martin, TN – DCI Martin
7/15 Alexandria, KY – DCI Northern Kentucky
7/18 Broken Arrow, OK – Tour of Champions - Oklahoma
7/20 Denton, TX – DCI North Texas
7/20 Belton, TX – DCI Central Texas
7/21 Houston, TX – Tour of Champions - Texas, Presented by Band Shoppe
7/22 San Antonio, TX – DCI Southwestern Championship
7/24 Dallas, TX – DCI Dallas
7/26 Little Rock, AR – DCI Arkansas
7/26 Hattiesburg, MS – DCI Southern Mississippi
7/27 Birmingham, AL – DCI Birmingham
7/28 Dothan, AL – DCI Southern Alabama
7/28 Nashville, TN – The Masters of the Summer Music Games
7/29 Powder Springs, GA – DCI Southeastern Championship
8/2 Pittsburgh, PA – DCI Pittsburgh
8/4 Allentown, PA – DCI Eastern Classic: Night 1
8/5 Allentown, PA – DCI Eastern Classic: Night 2
8/6 Buffalo, NY – Tour of Champions - Buffalo

*Must be 18 years old to win. Live in the Continental United States.
Band Shoppe is not responsible for travel expenses. 

We look forward to seeing what you create!

Meme Contest Wrap-Up!

 

If you follow us on Facebook, then you may have noticed a fun contest we've been promoting for the past few weeks.

It included a picture from our 1992 Band Shoppe catalog and asked for our followers to comment with fun Meme Captions.  The response was fantastic!! We had such a hard time picking the winner because they were all so clever and funny.

We thought it would be fun to share the winner, and a few other that made us LOL! 😂

Winning caption

 

Thanks to all of our participants!
Make sure to check back on Monday for a new fun contest (with an awesome prize!)

 

And be sure to sign up for a chance at a VIP Experience at the DCI Tour Premiere
at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the deadline for entrants is June 9th.

Band Shoppe Sponsors DCI Spring Training 2017

Band Shoppe is excited to announce a partnership with Drum Corps International (DCI) to sponsor DCI Spring Training 2017, kicking off the historic 45th season of Marching Music’s Major League™.

“Drum Corps International spring training is a special time of the year for corps members and fans alike because it means the start of the competitive season is just around the corner,” said John DeNovi, DCI’s Senior Director of Business Development.  “Much like you see in Major League Baseball when players report to training camp, DCI spring training marks the official start of a new year when things start buzzing with the excitement and anticipation of all that’s in store for the coming summer months. DCI is excited to partner with Band Shoppe to highlight the lead-up to Opening Day of the 2017 DCI Tour.”

As part of Spring Training, Band Shoppe will be offering exclusive online content, interactive contests, and giveaways for Drum Corps fans leading up to the start of the season.

“It is a great privilege any time our company has an opportunity to work with DCI. Band Shoppe is honored to support Spring Training as all the corps begin preparations for an amazing year of competition. We have some really great things in store for this year and we look forward to continuing our partnership for many years to come,” said Jay Pearison, President of Band Shoppe.

In addition to Band Shoppe’s involvement, DCI will feature special online content from a number of World, Open, and International Class corps as well as SoundSport teams from around the world as they put the finishing touches on their productions and get ready to thrill audiences during DCI’s 45th anniversary season.

Spring Training 2017 begins Monday, May 15, lasting until Opening Night of the 2017 DCI Tour at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Thursday, June 22.

Planet Fitness “Judgement Free Band”

New Year’s Eve is an exciting time. But in New York City, the excitement is heightened as over a million people descend on Times Square for the Big Ball Drop. New York’s Times Square performs an annual confetti test a few days before the New Year’s celebration, where an estimated 1.5 TONS of confetti is dropped from the rooftops at Midnight every year. To accompany the 2016 test, a local New York drum line provided some awesome beats to pump up the crowd and get in some practice as they prepared for their performance at the biggest party of the year.

The Marching Cobras, an after-school music program based in New York, had been preparing their routine for months. In two days’ time, they would take the stage in front of millions at the Times Square celebration and put on an electrifying performance. The Marching Cobras would be representing Planet Fitness as the “Judgement Free Band” during the 2016 New Year’s party, sporting Band Shoppe custom uniforms.

SEE MORE: Watch the confetti test before New Year’s Eve 2016

The Marching Cobras are no strangers to Times Square. In 2014, they worked with the NFL to produce a spectacular performance during the Super Bowl 48 pregame presentation. In addition, the group lead the Vince Lombardi Trophy into MetLife stadium that year. They have also been in the movies, appearing in Birdman with actor Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, and Emma Stone, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2015.

Marching Cobras CEO, Terrel Stowers, began the non-profit organization in 2008 with a mission to enrich lives of youth by providing opportunities for artistic expression and leadership development through music, marching band, step, dance, and much more. Culturing teens through music and the performing arts, the staff takes pride in developing the lives of their members by helping them become responsible and respected members of society. The organization services the 5 boroughs of New York and the New York Tri-State area, with outreach programs in Connecticut and North Carolina. All with the hopes of improving the mindset and behaviors of the kids involved.

The organization offers several programs for students and parents to help prepare them for the challenges of life, while bringing families together. “There are transitional programs that we offer as far as job readiness. There are other options with parents coming to meetings and getting involved,” said Stowers.

As the Cobras organization continues to grow, Stowers looks to one day expand the reach of The Marching Cobras to other areas where togetherness and the lessons of music and dance education would impact communities in a positive way.

READ MORE: Learn about The Marching Cobras on their website

The Marching Cobras outfitted in Band Shoppe custom uniforms as the Planet Fitness "Judgement Free Band."

The Cobras have participated in some extraordinary opportunities over the organization’s 9-year existence. But performing on stage at Times Square for New Year’s 2016 would be the experience of a lifetime for current members.

Planet Fitness kicked off a new campaign New Year's Eve 2016 – “The World Judges, We Don't – At Planet Fitness, Be Free.” As the title sponsor of New Year’s Eve in Times Square, a concept was developed to give Planet Fitness their “halftime moment” by producing a New Year’s Eve show halfway through the night, leading up to the drop of the ball. With a Planet Fitness branded stage, they wanted to have a marching band come out and get the crowd amped before the final count down.  After several emails and phone calls, The Marching Cobras were signed to represent Planet Fitness and become the “Judgement Free Band” on their stage. The next question was, were do you get uniforms?

“Call Band Shoppe ASAP! Band Shoppe will get you quality uniforms,” Stowers told representatives with Civic Entertainment Group, A Seacrest Global Group Company.

READ MORE: View an Ad Age article about Planet Fitness campaign

Band Shoppe was contacted by Civic and was tasked to provide a unique, custom uniform that was in line with Planet Fitness, and would also look great worn by The Marching Cobras. The team at Band Shoppe quickly went into action to give them an excellent uniform worthy of the Planet Fitness brand.

“Band Shoppe was great and an absolute dream to work with! Planet Fitness has very distinct colors and Band Shoppe was able to match the uniform colors and the shako. You just really delivered!” said Tiffany Wagner of Civic Entertainment Group.

The Planet Fitness “Judgement Free Band” Custom Uniform Design Features:

• Pantone Matched Digitally Printed Fabric on Jacket: Get your school or group’s color match
• Sublimated Applique Patch on Back of Jacket: Print most anything onto a patch and apply it to the garment
• Custom Shako: Pantone Color Match with Jacket
• Side-Zipper: Non-standard Jacket Entry

Band Shoppe was honored to be a small part of the New Year’s festivities, working with Planet Fitness and Civic to provide quality, custom uniforms worn by The Marching Cobras for their performance. They looked great and the performance was amazing. But we also celebrate the work that Terrel Stowers is doing, providing communities with safe and healthy alternative activities for at-risk youth, while growing music and dance education, and fostering positive relationships.

SEE MORE: Watch The Marching Cobras perform on New Year’s Eve

South Iredell Recovers From Accident

‘Tis the season! As we embrace the season of giving, and care for those closest to us in our community, Band Shoppe asks that you remember the marching band family across the nation too.

Band Shoppe is very proud to have been a small part of these student’s lives in 2016. But this isn’t about us. It’s about supporting our community -- our music community, our marching community, our education community. There are many music programs out there that need a little support from the music community and their local community to thrive.

South Iredell, NC

On a wet October Saturday in 2015, the South Iredell Marching Vikings had just pulled up to their rival high school, North Iredell, for the first band competition of the year. As students were getting off the buses to enter the school’s main entrance, their equipment truck had pulled up under a concrete and metal overhang in front of the school. As students were walking in, the equipment truck struck a support beam and caused the overhang to collapse.

At first, everyone thought it was nothing as there was a loud scrap when the truck moved under the overhang. But as the truck continued to move, metal and concrete began to fall on students passing through to the entrance. As students in the way of danger began to scream, many became trapped under piles of falling debris. Those not involved in the accident rushed to help their fellow injured band-mates move from harm’s way. And then after the first wave of concrete fell a second wave of material fell from the overhang injuring additional students.

“You realize something wasn’t right. And you are just praying for those kids,” said Band Director Jill Smith in an interview with WCNC in Charlotte, NC.

When the tragic incident was all said and done, 25 students and adults were injured at North Iredell that day – including three with life-threatening injuries. But thankfully, no one lost their life due to this accident. And the South Iredell band moved on. But there is more to this story.

Scene where equipment truck struck a support beam of overhang in front of North Iredell High School.
Photo courtesy of WXII.

When Band Director Jill Smith came to South Iredell, there were only 32 students in the band. Now the band has grown to 130 and the music program has not been able to afford uniforms for the rest of the Marching Vikings.

“We have about 60 kids in the original uniforms and then about 60 kids in make-shift-whatever-we-could-afford. So they can look kind of disjunct on the field,” Smith told WCNC.

A year later, the accident has brought the entire band together but they have never felt completely united when on the field. With the help of WCNC and the support of their community along with Band Shoppe, the South Iredell Marching Vikings received new marching band uniforms. Now the band can finally look as united as they feel!

To view the news story about South Iredell, you can go to the WCNC website at:
http://www.wcnc.com/news/contests/dream-day/one-year-after-tragedy-south-iredell-band-receives-dream-day-surprise/355297509

The South Iredell Marching Vikings in their new uniforms.

Photo courtesy of WCNC.

With their new uniforms, the band has never been stronger. Everyone has recovered from the accident and have grown from the experience.

---

If you feel compelled to help this group, you can reach out to South Iredell on their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/SouthIredellHS/

Denham Springs Overcomes Adversity

‘Tis the season! As we embrace the season of giving, and care for those closest to us in our community, Band Shoppe asks that you remember the marching band family across the nation too.

Band Shoppe is very proud to have been a small part of these student’s lives in 2016. But this isn’t about us. It’s about supporting our community -- our music community, our marching community, our education community. There are many music programs out there that need a little support from the music community and their local community to thrive.

Denham Springs, LA

In August of 2016, Southeastern Louisiana was hit with a historic amount of rain not caused by a hurricane. From August 12-14, some areas received up to 25 inches which resulted in catastrophic flooding of the nearby rivers. Flood waters ravaged the area damaging and/or destroying more than 146,000 homes. In addition, thirteen people lost their lives. The National Weather Service was quoted in saying that this type of rainfall happens in the state of Louisiana every 1,000 years. Governor John Bel Edwards called the disaster, “unprecedented” and it is known as the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

One of the areas hardest hit by this historic flooding was the town Denham Springs, LA, located about 25 miles east of Baton Rouge. It was the 6th day of school for Denham Springs High School when the rain began. Music Director Dr. Andrew Hunter had to cancel outdoor marching band rehearsal for his group that day and move things inside when the rain didn’t stop.

As Dr. Hunter recalls, “The next morning I got a call that school had been canceled due to the heavy rains. Later that night, (the faculty) received an email from the principal saying that we might be doing some sandbagging in the morning.”

After receiving this email, Dr. Hunter asked his assistant director to go to the school and move any equipment from, “below the waist to over your head.” They were able to do that with a lot of the instruments and save some of the sheet music but ,unfortunately, the majority of the equipment couldn’t be moved – so all of those items had to stay. The next day, the Amite River, west of town, flooded -- and water rushed into the city reaching as high as 6 feet in some places. Ninety percent of the structures in Denham Springs flooded and of the 185 students in the music program at DSHS, about 135 lost their homes. Life had completely changed for everyone.

Downtown Denham Springs after the Amite River flooded into the town. August 2016.
Photo courtesy of The Weather Channel

Over a week after the water subsided, Dr. Hunter and his staff were able to get back into their band room to see the aftermath. Faced with a lot of uncertainty about the school semester, Dr. Hunter and his team wanted to try and do all they could to resurrect the music program and the marching season from this disaster. But that would prove to be challenging as students had moved to other areas for school after the flood, or weren’t in school aiding with clean up at home. To do this, they were going to need a little help.

“It’s always someone’s senior year, and you really hate to punt on someone’s senior year,” said Hunter. “But I really felt strongly to salvage a good marching season for the students, many who had just lost their home. Maybe this could be a distraction from the reality of the situation.”

Dr. Hunter and his staff implemented Band Camp 2.0. And the community rallied together. School resumed and classes would begin at Noon and would go until 5PM. The staff and students dug deep, worked hard, and practiced from 6PM-8PM, giving kids an opportunity to think about something else for a couple of hours. Many former students in the area came back to the high school and gave their time and talents to help prepare the band for the upcoming season. And so with a lot of help from the community, and a little bit of help from Band Shoppe, Denham Springs was able to rebound and compete in the 2016 season.

The band went on to receive straight superior ratings at all of the contests they performed in during the 2016 season. The group performed at the McNeese State University “Showdown at Sundown” High School Marching Band Festival on October 22, 2016. After missing so much time due to the flood, and having gone through so much, out the 26 bands that performed at the competition, The Jacket Pride Marching Band finished in 3rd place overall.

Dr. Andrew Hunter, Band Director of Denham Springs (Right) alongside Carly, Assistant Band Director (Center Right)
with Band Shoppe sales staff at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL -- December 2016.

As Dr. Hunter would tell his students after the flood:

“Who controls how we respond to adversity? WE DO. We respond the way you've been taught: head-on, full throttle, and determined for success in spite of what may seem like overwhelming odds.”

But the rebuilding effort continues today. The once flooded band room will finally be reopened to the students beginning January 5, 2017. The band recently held a successful fundraiser to recover much of its equipment, but they still need a lot of help to replace everything that couldn’t be saved.

#BandShoppeLove Belleville East HS

We love hearing from our customers!

Our friends at Belleville East Lancer Bands from Belleville, Illinois shared these spooky images from their 2016 production "Which Witch" with us! They are wearing marching band uniforms, custom color guard uniforms, and using custom designed mover panels.

This show looks like a lot of fun, well done Belleville East High School!!!

photos courtesy of the Belleville East Lancer Band

Band Shoppe is the company who has made all our current band and guard uniforms. The company is about 3 hours away from us in Indiana, so all made in the USA! Thanks for working with us to look great, Band Shoppe. We've had so many great compliments this year!

Thank you so much for sharing your pictures with us, it's always a pleasure working with your group! You all look fantastic!!


We love hearing from our customer! If you would like to have your group featured on the Band Shoppe Blog & Social Media, post your pictures to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, tag us and use the hashtag #BandShoppeLove!