Exciting Announcements!

Hello MEPA Percussion Unit Directors

 

We are excited to announce that we have entered in to an agreement with Yamaha Corporation of America.  They are now a corporate sponsor of MEPA.  This brings with it benefits for MEPA:

 

1.)    They are donating a custom lacquer snare drum that will be raffled at Percussion Circuit Championships in March.  This drum was recently used by the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.  Raffle tickets will be sold at all shows where MEPA T-shirts are sold.  This will include circuit championships so all of our member units will have the opportunity to enter.  We will post a picture of the drum as soon as it arrives.

 

2.)    Yamaha is going to provide one of their clinicians at the next MEPA Educational Event most likely taking place in December of next year.

 

3.)    An ongoing relationship where Yamaha is excited to assist MEPA in furthering the educational offerings for all of our members.

 

 

Have your unit members purchased their MEPA T-shirt yet?  The demand for these shirts has been much higher than expected and because of it I have added some other colors and styles to the offering.  The more shirts we sell, the more your circuit benefits so please continue to help us publicize our 2009 association shirts.  I’m still taking mail orders and as of now, my plan is to sell shirts at the following shows assuming each show sponsor grants permission:  Centerville, Kettering, (one northern show) and circuit championships.

 

And finally, during the week of WGI Percussion Championships, I am bringing Scott Koter, program coordinator for The Cavaliers and many of the best marching ensembles in America, to Dayton to conduct a show design clinic.  You may have not heard of Scott but if you are serious about designing an award winning marching band, percussion ensemble, or winter guard show, you need to come to Dayton on Saturday, April 18^th in the morning.  Interestingly, a judge at the Lebanon show today works in the same school district as Scott and got me even more excited about hearing him speak.  If you have questions about this, please e-mail me at tim.parker@ketteringschools.org.  More information will soon be coming to you. 

 

Best of luck as you continue providing life changing opportunities to young people throughout Ohio!

 

Tim Parker

MEPA Percussion Representative

Rule Clarification

Clarification on Use of Air Blade in Competition

 

WGI defines authorized equipment as a flag, rifle or sabre to satisfy the minimum equipment time in the WGI rulebook (see Page 76 in the 2009 WGI Adjudication Manual and Rulebook).  There might be some confusion as defining the Air Blade as a “rifle”.  While the “sickle rifle” was grandfathered into the definition of a legal rifle some years back, the Color Guard Steering Committee felt that the Air Blade did not fit the traditional definition of what is a rifle.  Since 2009 is a rule change year, proposals to change that definition could be considered by the Advisory Board at the end of this season should one be submitted.

 

What does this mean to those guards using the Air Blade this season?  Only that the Air Blade will be classified as a prop and not authorized legal equipment.  Color guards can choose to use the Air Blade in their program as long as the minimum equipment time is fulfilled using the standard rifle, flag and/or sabre.

 

To avoid penalties, color guards must make sure a minimum of 3 ½ minutes of the show (or 3 minutes in the case of Regional A groups) includes authorized equipment in hand. If the Air Blade is being used at the same time as an authorized piece of equipment (such as a flag or sabre) that will count toward your equipment time.  Just be certain you have at least 3 ½ minutes of flag, sabre or rifle work in your show.  

If the Air Blade is the only piece of equipment being used on the floor, you’ll want to go back and verify you have 3 ½ additional minutes of authorized equipment time to avoid a penalty.  The time spent with the Air Blade alone on the floor will not count towards your minimum equipment time by the Timing and Penalties (T & P) judge.

 

Should you have any questions, please contact Dale Powers, Color Guard Coordinator at dale@wgi.org.

2009 MEPA Shirt unveiled

The Mid East Performance Association would like to unveil the 2009 MEPA T-shirt.  The design below is the front of the shirt with the back of the shirt listing all 2009 member units.  The shirt will come in 3 colors:  Black shirt with white logo, Grey shirt with black logo, and pink shirt with white logo.  We will also have a limited supply of hoodies.  The cost of the shirts is $12 for a T-shirt and $25 for a hoodie.  All proceeds from the shirt will go back to the association to continue to provide the memorable experiences our members are used to.  A preorder form is being sent to all unit directors where they can order shirts for their unit.  Shirts will also be sold at selected show sites during the season.  We will announce those sites as they are finalized.

Show Your MEPA Pride and Support the Association by Purchasing a Shirt This Year!

Here Comes Show Season- Part I

I’m going to take off my educational writer hat for this article and put on my show sponsor hat.  If you attended the MEPA Experience, you heard a series of top 10 lists.  I have one more to present here although it won’t be 10.  This is my top 4 facts that our show sponsors would like everybody to know.  Each year I host between 4 and 9 days worth of WGI and MEPA shows and much of what I have seen and heard could be a long series of articles but here are just a few.  If you’re a first year director and getting ready to go to your first season of shows, congratulations.  Here are 4 facts to keep in mind.

1.)  Parents and Spectators Need an Education- Most won’t come in knowing that they shouldn’t leave or enter the stands during a performance.  They also won’t know that it isn’t appropriate to heckle other groups unless directors tell them.

2.)  Communicate Show Details to Parents- Communicate to them the ticket costs, the fact that they can’t pay with credit card, and the price is not open to haggling.  Also let them know that performance sites, custodians, judges, and hotels are priced for an entire event so tickets must be priced the same way.  “Why do I have to pay this much just to see my child perform” is the most common question I get.  Of course the answer to that is that a ticket entitles the person to 4 or more hours of great performances.  At slightly more than $2 per hour, that’s quite a deal.  (I have always believed that the worst job one can have at a show site is ticket sales…well, besides the parking lot)

3.)  Please purchase from the concession stands- Show sponsors understand that bringing food and drinks to the show site will saves kids from spending a lot of money.  Remember, though, that shows often serve as primary fundraisers for the school hosting the show. (Most, if not all of the ticket proceeds go to the expenses of the show)  With my group, we often had a sizable carry in before we left our school so I knew my kids were fed and then I allowed them to go to the concessions to support the sponsors.  I never permitted my parents to feed the ensemble in the cafeteria at the show site. Sponsors know that all kinds of details go in to eating when on the road but when possible, support the concessions.

4.)  FINALLY…all of my parents, performers, bus drivers, and staff knew of my “pastor rule.”  Treat all show site personnel like you would treat your pastor, minister, or Rabbi.    I explained to them that this whole winter experience is an inter weaved organization.  We’re all in this together and every piece of the puzzle needs our financial and moral support.  If show sponsors don’t make money, we won’t have show hosts and costs for all of us go up.  All money is going back to young people.  Nearly every dime and dollar is going to a worthy cause.  Not very many organizations can claim that.

These four items are not necessarily things we think about as directors but as we all know economic times are tough and our organization depends on successful shows to continue as the strong organization that we are well in to the future.

TALK BACK:  What experiences have you had at show sites that would be helpful to all of us?  How do you handle food for your unit while on the road?