| Subject: Scotland, 2005 |
Author:
Pat Ryan
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Date Posted: 23:00:24 09/12/03 Fri
American Celtic Pipe Band at the WORLDS in 2005!
Playing at the World Championships is an experience every single bagpiper and bagpipe drummer should have. After seeing what was involved this year, I REALISTICALLY believe that the American Celtic Pipe Band can achieve this goal by 2005. This year, in the Grade 4B contest, there were 49 bands. There will likely be a similar number of bands in 2005. Do I think well win? Probably not. BUT We could have a chance and it would be an experience youll remember for the rest of your lives.
OK, Say we do this. How much is it going to cost me?
Based on my trip this year, you can expect to pay about $1000 per person for flight, dormitory and bus transportation. In a perfect world, the band would pay for everything. This, however, is not a perfect world so youll need to start saving up. In addition to the $1000 for essentials, I brought over $600 and came back with about $50 in my pocket so figure on $1500 - $1700 for the whole shootin match.
Cant the band pay for some of it?
Sure, we may be able to work something out. Using a model that Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band has used, we can attach incentives for each person attending the Worlds. I would propose that every parade you attend will count as $30 towards a Scotland Account for each person, and every dance/performance count as $15. Freebies (i.e., parades and performances done for the American Legion) will not go towards your account, since theyre freebies, and basically pay for the hall were lucky enough to practice in. What they will count towards is NEGATIVE $15 if you miss one. Yeah, that kinda stinks, but barring a legitimate excuse if you miss one of the freebies we do every year for the legion, youll have money taken out of you Scotland account. We want to avoid the well, its a freebie, so I dont have to go mentality. When we return from Scotland in August of 2005, every parade and performance would count the same for those who made the trip until the end of the year (ensuring that a full TWO parade seasons would help offset the costs).
Well that doesnt seem like a lot of money. How does that benefit me?
$30 a parade is a drop in the bucket. But lets say that between now and August 2005, we play in 10 paying parades and 6 paying dances/performances. If you make ALL of them, youll have $390 put towards your room, bus and plane costs. If we do more parades say 15 youre looking at about half of you base cost for Scotland. Keep in mind, if we commit to doing this, we can book airline tickets much earlier, and your base cost will go down significantly. I booked my airline 3 months before the Worlds and paid $760. If I had booked 6 months before the trip, the cost would have dropped down to about $450 you could pay for your plane ticket by attending 15 parades in the next two years.
Not a bad idea. Ill just go to parades. Who needs Wednesday practices?
You could do that. But if you do, you run the very REAL possibility of getting cut at the Worlds. Nobody wants that.
What if I dont plan on going to the Worlds? Will I still get paid for each performance and parade?
No. The purpose of this plan is to offset the cost for those players who wish to make the trip. We cannot as a not-for-profit organization pay individual players for participating in volunteer events. If you attend a parade and dont go to Scotland, the band will keep that money which would have gone to you. This is not a punishment for not going to Scotland rather it is an incentive for those who do go.
Well, Im not a competing member of the band and I still want to go does that mean I have to pay my own way?
If you are a planning on going to Scotland, regardless of competition status, any parades or performances you attend will count toward your trip. This includes EVERYONE. Pipers, drummers, color guard. Whoever wears a kilt and will be going to the Worlds. And keep in mind, these are MARCH tunes were playing. Just like the Marches we play walking down the street so everyone who comes to practice will have the benefit of learning new tunes that we will likely play in parades.
Wait, wait, wait. Were forgetting one very important thing here. The band does these parades to pay for things like instruction, and uniforms, and reeds. How will the band survive financially if we put this plan into motion?
I thought about that. Lets say we do a parade in Lindehurst, and the band gets $900 for our efforts. Lets also say that we have 25 people in the line of march (a number I havent seen in MANY years). That means that assuming all 25 are going to the Worlds, the band takes home $150. Many of us work very hard for this band, and we get reeds and uniforms. Why not try one time to reward those who participate in parades? If the band does 15 parades @ $900 per, with 25 performers, the band walks away with $2,250 over the next two years. Added to what we currently have in the band account.
Thats not a lot of money in the band kitty. How do we pay for instruction?
Instruction may have to suffer with this plan but it may not. IF we get 25 members marching down the street, it is entirely likely that MORE parades will come our way, and MORE money will go to the band. It is also entirely likely that LESS instruction will actually be needed. The alternative is to have everyone pay their own way which we can do. But this plan could also increase attendance at band functions.
What makes you think we can get this off the ground and actually make it happen? Weve tried the competition thing for the past two years, and it hasnt worked.
I knew you were going to ask that question. And its a reasonable objection. Heres another question: Why cant we? Whats the WORST that could happen? We go over to Scotland in 2005 and finish 49th out of 49. BUT wed still go to Scotland and play on Glasgow Green. Wed get to see the best pipe bands in the world perform. Wed have the opportunity to watch recitals by the top pipers in the world. And wed get to PLAY at the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS! And finally - we might just be able to increase attendance at parades.
OK rabbit, youve convinced me. Sounds like a good plan. But how will we get ready? I mean this is a BIG step for a band that hasnt competed in over a year.
The Grade 4 contest at the Worlds in a March Medley only. Well put together a march set this Fall and begin working on it with the goal of playing it in Scotland in 2005. Since next year is a leap year, were pretty lucky that well be able to play the set quite often before 2005. Based on historical dates of contests, only here are the contests I hope we can play:
2004
Monmouth, 2004 March Medley
Fair Hill, 2004 March Medley
Bonnie Brae, 2004 March Medley
Maxville, 2004 March Medley
Hunter, 2004 March Medley
Westbury, 2004 March Medley
Nassau, 2004 March Medley
2005
Monmouth, 2005 March Medley
Fair Hill, 2005 March Medley
Rockland, 2005 March Medley
Maxville, 2005 March Medley
North Berwick, Scotland, 2005 March Medley
Perth, Scotland, 2005 March Medley
World Championships, 2005 March Medley
Wed play the set in competition THIRTEEN times before the Worlds over the next two years.
What if I bust my back working on this and Im just not up to speed? Will I get cut?
Unfortunately, yes. Competition is fun, but having a chance to win is more fun. If youre not up to speed by the time we reach Scotland, you probably wont play. That doesnt mean you cant keep trying. And it doesnt mean you cant participate in mass bands or wear your uniform the day of the games. It just means that though wed be going to Scotland to have a GREAT time, were also going to compete against the best Grade 4 bands in the world, and we need to make every effort to acquit ourselves well. Before the Perth contest this year, I went up to the Pipe Major and told him if he felt I should be cut, please cut me. I wasnt having a great day, and wasnt sure if I was going to be an asset to the group. He thought about it and decided to let me play. But others in the band did not play that day. And others in the band were cut for the Worlds. Sure, they were disappointed, but in the end, they were happy that the band they were associated with put their best foot forward and put forth their best performance to date. I asked one of the people who was cut if they were ok with it. She said she was, because she knew if she would have gone out there on the field, she would NOT have been an asset to the performance. And thats exactly what were looking for. In competition, you need to be an asset, not just a player. Sorry, but thems the breaks.
Can we win?
One of the members of the Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band is also the Pipe Major for High Desert Pipes and Drums in New Mexico. High Desert went to the Worlds in Grade 4B back in 1999 and won. They WON the worlds. What did they play? Jacks Welcome Home and Highland Wedding. Thats it. They played two tunes, went to Glasgow Green, and took home the hardware. Why cant we do that too? Worst case scenario, we all have a lovely two week vacation in Scotland.
So thats my proposal. The band will vote on this at the next band meeting on November 12th (two Wednesdays after the Pipers Ball). Im in. I know Damien Murray and Tim Delaney are in. My brother Tom is in hell be down often enough in the next two years to get up to speed (though he likely wont have the band to offset his costs). I hope youre in too.
Cheers.
Pat.
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