Have You Tried Turning it Off and on Again?

I took the title for this entry from one of my favorite shows on Netflix, The IT Crowd. If you’re not familiar, it’s a British comedy set in the IT department of a large corporation. Of course, the IT department is located in the sub basement of the building and everyone else in the company ignores the team members until their computer doesn’t work. This usually prompts a phone call to the IT and one of the cast members will answer saying, “Hello, IT. Have you tried turning it off and on again?” This is the most used catch phrase for the entire series.

Many of us across the globe had to basically switch marching activity off for the summer and fall of 2020. Currently, there is optimism (and the trends are in the right direction) things are swinging back toward normal. Just how far the swing goes remains to be seen. It is hard to imagine things snapping back to their exact former pre-Covid state. But, many who switched marching activity off may get the opportunity to switch it on again.

I see this as both a challenge and an opportunity. This is just how I choose to look at change (once I grouse about the situation). We will have the opportunity to hit a “soft reset” button on our programs

Sure there have been changes, but what are the main constants?

1. Music. The art form/medium in which we work and the creative opportunities it offers. That stays constant. Hang on to that. ALWAYS.

2. Us. As directors and staff, we are a constant. Classes of students come and go, but we greet them as new members and we stay behind while they move on once their time with us is through. Even if we move to a new job/position, we are still a teacher and teachers are a constant.

Let’s look first at the challenges.

1. There may have been changes in your parent booster group since the last time the marching organization had a camp, hosted a contest, traveled, or even raised funds. The booster group may need your guidance more than ever. My experience is that parents who are involved in such organizations want to do the right thing to help support their students, but they may need help identifying what that support involves or how it looks. Be concise and constantly communicative well in advance. Maybe ask parents who no longer serve to act as a sounding board or share their expertise to assist with institutional memory.

2. The pandemic likely affected available funds. There may be a need to make things happen with fewer dollars. Deciding what can be cut and how to deal with cuts will be important. Re-imagine, Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse may be an important phrase for the 2021 season.

3. There may have been changes in school personnel over the last year. Depending upon the position, this personnel may be vital to the success of your group. Get with them early so they know what to expect.

4. If your group didn’t field a marching organization in 2020, you will essentially have 2 classes orfnew members. Your group will be younger than usual when it comes to experience being a member of a marching ensemble. In order to offset this, it will take planning and possibly more front-end prep time to get the new members ready for the season. Some of the same practices I mentioned in my entry from April (Adjusting Plans Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic Part 2 (Planning for the Season), utilizing zoom, instructional videos and video assignments could be a way of adding needed instructional time even before meeting the group in-person this summer.

5. Because the overall age of the band will trend younger, the leadership team will also trend toward inexperience as leaders. More time will need to be invested in your leadership team so they are prepared to help your less experienced members. They will need mentoring to learn how to be an effective/knowledgeable leader. Plan training events where they can get some experience teaching marching fundamentals or running music rehearsal.

6. There will be an adjustment to the overall demands of the schedule. I don’t know about you, but in 2020 I felt a bit like a “slacker” since my university group had a significantly different rehearsal and performance schedule. We didn’t have a band camp, we rehearsed for shorter amounts of time, we didn’t have game days (that’s seven 14 hour work days that didn’t happen), we didn’t travel, and we put together one show rather than 7. Don’t get me wrong, I was working. It just felt a lot different.

7. Depending upon where you are located, you and your students may just need time to adjust to being around people again. My wife and I definitely cut back on our social schedules. We didn’t travel as much or eat in restaurants as much. But we did still get out some and we did take a trip out of state back in July. We followed all of the protocols, of course. I have spoken to many who haven’t eaten in a restaurant in over a year or even socialized with friends. Chases are, your students have experienced some of this since last March. Being around larger groups of people is going to feel weird. I for one am ready for it, but I know there will be an adjustment period. Be ready and aware. Some students may have lost friends or family members during the pandemic and may feel unsafe. You can be there for them.

Now let’s look at the opportunity. There is really just one….

This coming season could be a time to hit the “soft reset” on your program. Now when your group is trending younger, is the perfect time to tweak or change some things about your program that before would have given you pause. Go for it. Want to slightly change your marching style? Go for it. Want to change processes or procedures? Go for it. Want to shift the group’s persona? GO FOR IT.

Students will be excited to be back together and (hopefully) performing for football crowds and fans. They will be willing and open to change in a way they may not have been before. GO FOR IT! You may have turned the activity off….Now it could be time to turn it back on again…

I love hearing from readers like you. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.—DB