Strength in numbers

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I started clinics yesterday for all incoming freshman and current high school students who are interested in being on my color/winter guard team.

I was a bit concerned as I never had the chance to go on a recruitment drive to our feeder jr. hi's and that is usually how I get a nice turnout.  Now bare in mind a nice turnout for me is usually 8-10 students.  Thats cool as I don't like to go too much over 15 in a guard.  Some instructors seem to think that the more the merrier adage applies in this arena.  I do not.  I have had as much as 25 guard members and something gets lost in the translation on the field or floor.

First of all, by shear common sense you would deduce that it is harder to get a group of 25 or more to work in sync and become "one" during a show.  There is more of a chance of all those performers, preforming as seperate entities and that is not a good thing for a guard. The whole is greater then the sum of its parts.

Another reason is also common sense.  Throw together 25 different personalities ( especially when those personalities happen to be mostly or all of the female persuasion) and you get MAJOR DRAMA.  I don't like drama and try to avoid it all cost.

Another major reason for a smaller-ish guard is simply a basic fact of finances.  We are not a school who dumps a huge (or even a reasonable) amount into its fine arts program, in fact it is probably one of the smallest budgets on campus.  When we are looking at something as simple as silks that go on the flag poles we are talking anywhere from $30-$50 dollars PER performer-Per silk, and sometimes you can use up to 4 or more silks per semester show.  Now this does not even go into the cost of uniforms (usually around $100 PER performer) transportation etc.  My sewing abilities have become very useful, not only in the uniqueness I am able to create ( flags and uniforms no one else has ever seen) but it helps financially as well.

So any way back to the clinics.  I hold 4 days worth of clinics and tryouts on the 5th day...I have 7 returning members for fall so I was looking at no more then 8 or so new members.  Great if I had had the normal amount  turn up...but last night much to my pleasure and frustration I had 20 people show up.

Watching them last night I could see at least a dozen who have strong potential and would hate to loose any of them, but I will have to.

Now the trick is to get them to return.  Usually after the first clinic I have a few who drop because it is just not for them, they didn't realize that is was such hard work etc.  I am hoping ( for the first time in my career) that this natural attrition does occur.