Back to Basics

Back to Basics

In-Person Competitions!

Director’s Responsibilities

Director’s Responsibilities

Have you…

• Taken care of your MAIN/WGI membership and dues
• Updated your staff and administrators on Competition Suite
• Registered for shows (once payment is received)
• Made your Gym and bus reservations
• Created a schedule with rehearsal and performance dates
• Informed members and parents of expectations
• Worked with your school, board, boosters to finalize your budget
• Arranged for chaperones for competitions, including checking for appropriate clearances (they’ve had a year off too!)

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Director’s Responsibilities

Have you…

• Taken care of staff paperwork? (background checks, etc.)
• Finalized rosters (staff/member) and uploaded to Competition Suite (opening soon)
• Notified MAIN E-board of any class changes
• Ordered any custom/catalogue costumes, flags, equipment, etc. *Supply chain issues may make your orders take longer than in previous years, PLAN FOR THIS
• Taken care of your music license needs
• How are you transporting your equipment, props, and floor?
• Is there a timing restriction on getting into the school (when you return from a show?)

Getting Back to Indoor Practices

Getting Back to Indoor Practices

• Be aware of your state/school/facility requirements that may include health questionnaire and temperature checks. (reach out to your band director, activities/athletic director, etc)
• Know your school/organization policy indoor practices regarding masks/no masks:

High intensity physical activity clause

Possible masks mandates expiring in NJ/PA in January?

• Know your school/organization policy on symptoms, illness, close contact, quarantine, COVID testing (rapid test and/or PCR), return from travel. Possible different requirements if member vaccinated or not.

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Getting Back to Indoor Practices

• Tell members to stay home if sick and do not come to practice if waiting on COVID test results (PCR test takes 24-48 hours)
• Have hand sanitizer and extra disposable masks in guard box/first aid kit
• School/organization may require staff to be tested if not vaccinated

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Policies will change over time…be flexible and understanding.

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Everyone’s Favorite Part of Practice…

BASICS!

Dance and Movement Basics

• Warm up exercises: get the blood flowing and body moving
• Barre/center technique: pliés, tendu, etc.
• Across the floor: apply technique on the move, work to vary speed and rhythm
• Build a strong foundation: focus on technique, pointing the toes, standing up straight

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• Use repetition to make things become muscle memory:
• Example: member learns to straighten legs at the barre then that carries over to leaps, jumps, etc.
• Add more challenging things as season goes on

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Equipment Basics

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• Flag basics – builds technique and arm strength – try to do them every practice
• Introduce a couple basics for the first few practices, then add on as the season progresses
• Build up to tosses
• It will take time for all members to get through them, but you will get through them faster each time you do them. They will pay off in the long run!
• Same applies to rifle/sabre

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Everyone’s Favorite Part: Show Design

Now the Fun Part… The Show

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• Pick a theme that you think your members will do well with and can relate to
• Music first or theme first…either one works!
• Explain the show concept to staff and members
• Plan for flags, uniforms, props, floor, etc.
• Check on music licenses – does the song/artist fall under ASCAP/BMI? Do you need to request additional license from music publisher- can you find it on Tresona or Clicknclear?
• Music editing, voice over, etc.- Can you do it in-house or do you need to hire someone?

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Designing the Show

• Introducing the theme – character intro, musical feel, emotion
• Make a count sheet and identify key lyrics or musical accent counts
• Plan the pacing of your show:
• Beginning- Middle - End
• Identify your “feature” sets and impact moments
• Where are your “applause points”?
• Writing work - what do your members look good doing
• Identify specific skills you want to have in the show
• Example: 45 flag toss from behind the back
• Something you taught during dance class

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Designing the Show

• Be prepared for practice with work/drill ideas: Rehearsal time is VALUABLE, being prepared allows you to get MORE done in LESS time.
• Don’t forget about transitions – how to get members/sections on and off the floor. Turn your TRANSITIONS into MOMENTS.
• Soloists – great for transitions, but don’t give all your solos to one person (what would happen if the soloist had to quarantine for 10 days?)
• Prop moving + Equipment exchanges - what if someone had to quarantine? Prepare and practice the “Plan B”.
• “The Flag Feature” – it’s ok to teach this even before you get to it in the drill. Even if it changes, your members have something to practice while teaching different sections.
• Resolution – idea conclusion at the end of the show.

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Preparing for the First Show!

It’s time for the first (in-person) competition!

• Don’t worry if you are not “done” with the show….try to find an appropriate stopping point. There is still plenty of season left!
• Plan for your “temporary” costumes if needed. Have performers wear them to a dress rehearsal before your show day (that way you can adjust any choices if needed)
• Take time at a rehearsal to go through what it will be like at a show (remember you will likely have more students than usual attending their first in-person competition this year!)
• Practice stretching in a hallway.
• Go through the times warm-up blocks, then WAIT before you can go into the performance space.
• Practice setting up all the floor/props/equipment
• Run the show (with the “show announcement”)
• Clean up the show-- everything OFF the floor!
• Invite parents to watch so they get used to having an audience (if possible).

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It’s time for the first (in-person) competition!

Be prepared for covid protocols:

• Transportation – masks required on buses (Federal laws, state laws)
• MAIN/WGI/host school requirements (i.e. masks to be worn when not eating/drinking or performing)
• Possible extra time in between guards to refold mat, let the air settle, prevent close contact between units exiting and entering the floor
• Possible guards performing in blocks and then leaving to prevent contact/gym overcrowding
• Possible alternatives to award ceremony and critique

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MAIN Show Protocols will be set closer to the first shows.

Policies will change over time…be flexible and understanding.

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Support Your Members

Support Your Members

Our young performers have been through A LOT in the past year and a half and many of them are struggling:

• Be flexible and understanding. Reach out to the parents and school counselors if you see someone really struggling.
• Take the time for team building and fun activities they can do as a group.
• Bring back “traditions” lost during the virtual season (pre-show hype, bus dances, etc).
• Build them up- celebrate their successes!
• Try to be a good role model in the way that you manage your own stress. Acknowledge when things aren’t working and model problem-solving!

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Contribute

Add Your Ideas on the Topics to our PADLET

What’s Next?

Town Halls

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