Just a few short weeks until I pack everything I’ll need for the summer into one large duffel bag and my laptop bag before heading out on the road. Slated to depart my humble home on June 17th for a short tour of 11,000 miles with performances in 15 states including the DCI World Championships in sunny Foxboro, MA.
Since last summer’s chance encounter with someone I marched with back in ye olde days (1993) I’ve been driving a few weekends a month for the Cascades. After driving all last summer tour I had a nice short break before starting doing the “Spokane Van” driving in January it gave me a chance to get to know the Eastern Washington people fairly well.
For those of you who are fans, I’d highly recommend volunteering for your local corps for at least 2 weeks on tour. It’ll give you a much better idea of how hard these kids really work. If you’ve got no clue what I’m talking about imagine an activity that is equal parts athletics, music, abstract design and teamwork. All of those things combine together and are then framed by the limits of a standard football field. Pretty cool.
I’ve got to say one of the best things about going on tour as a driver is the chance to spend the summer seeing the country from a side other than through the window of a hotel near the business or tourist district. It really gives you a chance to experience things from the perspective of a local (as much as you can in a 2 day period). From the perspective of a designer it lets you step back and see things from a different angle and also allows you to take a break and disconnect from the digital for quite awhile due to spotty cellular coverage and rare exposure to internet cafes.
With no reliable connection to the internet on tour I don’t plan to be online much until around August 17th or so but will try and keep a tour journal with a few guest posts from some of the members whenever I get a chance to get online.
Hopefully you’ll see us on the field Saturday night in Boston during Finals. Otherwise take a look at the tour schedule and try and attend a show this summer. It’s never a bad thing supporting youth activities.
Related Posts
June 27th, 2005 at 11:32 pm
Hey Chris…
Do you still have those photos you took from tour last season? I would love to get a copy of them either on CD or thru a website.
Thanks!
Nate Savalza
2003-2004 Mellophone
June 27th, 2005 at 11:32 pm
Hey Chris…
Do you still have those photos you took from tour last season? I would love to get a copy of them either on CD or thru a website.
Thanks!
Nate Savalza
2003-2004 Mellophone
July 7th, 2005 at 11:53 pm
I do indeed have them. I’ll try and burn them when we pop through tricities on monday. If not I’ll upload them when we get back in august.
July 7th, 2005 at 11:53 pm
I do indeed have them. I’ll try and burn them when we pop through tricities on monday. If not I’ll upload them when we get back in august.
August 3rd, 2005 at 3:06 am
Hey Chris,
I am a friend of many in the 2005 Cascades drumline:
Brian Phillips (Tenors), Josh Fulfs (Snare) and Emanuel “Cookie” Olieya (Snare). I live in Tri-Cities where they all grew up, and was an instuctor to them at one point or another. Those guys make me so proud. Tell them hi and good luck in Foxboro (assuming you get this before next week).
I just wanted to say that I enjoyed the design of this page, and wanted to connect with you regarding some design and layout tricks/techniques whenever you are available. I work for the family-owned company I listed for my URL above (as a designer), and as I learn more XHTML and CSS codes and tips, I enjoy it more. You obviously have a hold of the conepts involved, and it’s be great to learn a thing ro two from you (no formal schooling in it myself).
Good luck to you and the ‘Scades, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
~ Derek Munson
(Seattle Cascades Pit – 1999)
August 3rd, 2005 at 3:06 am
Hey Chris,
I am a friend of many in the 2005 Cascades drumline:
Brian Phillips (Tenors), Josh Fulfs (Snare) and Emanuel “Cookie” Olieya (Snare). I live in Tri-Cities where they all grew up, and was an instuctor to them at one point or another. Those guys make me so proud. Tell them hi and good luck in Foxboro (assuming you get this before next week).
I just wanted to say that I enjoyed the design of this page, and wanted to connect with you regarding some design and layout tricks/techniques whenever you are available. I work for the family-owned company I listed for my URL above (as a designer), and as I learn more XHTML and CSS codes and tips, I enjoy it more. You obviously have a hold of the conepts involved, and it’s be great to learn a thing ro two from you (no formal schooling in it myself).
Good luck to you and the ‘Scades, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
~ Derek Munson
(Seattle Cascades Pit – 1999)
August 20th, 2005 at 9:38 pm
Hey Derek,
Just noticed your comment so I figure I’ll respond.
You’ve got a pretty nice site going at ssi and anytime you want to talk xhtml or css let me know. I’m not formally schooled either just been hacking away at this whole web thing since the midninties. Anyhow keep in touch and I might actually have a percussion gig for you if you want it :)
August 20th, 2005 at 9:38 pm
Hey Derek,
Just noticed your comment so I figure I’ll respond.
You’ve got a pretty nice site going at ssi and anytime you want to talk xhtml or css let me know. I’m not formally schooled either just been hacking away at this whole web thing since the midninties. Anyhow keep in touch and I might actually have a percussion gig for you if you want it :)