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I'm going to try out for colorgaurd... I want to make it SO bad. Do you have any tips for me?
-Just be yourself and stay focused on what the instructor
tells you to do.
-number one pay attention to the
instructor or the captains whomever is conducting the tryouts. Never
use the
words " I can't ". If I learned anything in my 8 years is that I could a lot
more than I thought I could.
And above all be yourself. I have seen people
make the guard strictly because the refused to give up trying.
How do I keep my silk from raveling up when I'm doing drop spins?
- When drop spinning, keep your thumbs along the seam where the silk and the sleeve meet. This
should help you to keep the flag spinning straight.
- When you're doing dropspins make sure you turn your left wrist (assuming
your doing right handed dropspins) all the way around so that your hand is perpendicular to the floor. If your hand isn't
turned all the way around, you'll twist your wrist as you're trying to pull the flag back up to the point where it's straight
up. If you need to, turn your left wrist so that your hand is a little more than perpendicular for a while til you get used
to the feeling. It takes a while but with practice, you'll stip doing it... trust me, I had the same problem!!!
-Don't
turn your wrists. Doing drop spins are alot like pouring a glass of water, if you turn your wrists when you are pouring the
water is going to spill.
I was newly appointed Captain and next year! I'm nervous about the position, but I also think I will
do a good job. Point being I would like any comments, suggestions, or advice any current or former guard officers could give
me.
- I was guard captian at my
highschool. It is a hard thing to be. You have to remember to be respectfull of the other guard members. You can't just walk
all over them. But, you must also earn their trust. Don't let them push you around. If you have to be the bad guard captain,
do. Remeber to have fun and let them have fun. Cause that is what guard is all about.
-In regards to the question about
being a captain: Last year as a Junior, I
was voted for one of 6 captains (we had a huge guard--40 members.) and I
wasn't
sure about it either. I thought if I was to be bossy everyone would
hate me! Now I'm a Senior and I was appointed (by
our band director) to be
one of only 2 captains. I became more aggressive as time went by and I
learned that yes the
other members will hate me at some time but only for a
short while--they'll get over it! The key to getting something
done is
ALWAYS BE NICE! Never, I repeat NEVER yell at them. That will definitely
bring a guard down! Always discuss
things with your fellow co-captains
before making a decision. Do not be afraid to be a little bossy just not a
lot!
I hope this helps you and good luck, you'll be great!
I have been to everysingle girl on
our corps and none of us can figure it out so we were hoping that you could let us know... what in the WORLD is "folding the
floor"?
-Folding the
floor is another term for folding up the tarp. In case you haven't been exposed to indoor guard (winterguard), most guards
have a tarp they put over the gym floor. After your performance you have to fold it back up.
-"Folding the Floor" is basically
just what it sounds like, except the floor is not the actual floor of the gym. If you've even been to a winterguard show,
you might have seen some guards that have floor mats (or tarps) that cover the gym floor. Some of them have designs on them;
some are plain. Either way, they have to be folded after the performance so that they can be transported and stored easily...
it's a real pain in the butt!!
-Folding the floor refers to folding a floor that is used in winter guard (you know those
colored tarps put on the floor)
My highschool guard is not happening now. Everyone
quit cause we don't get any respect and just get made fun of even from the band. Actually probably more from there than from
any were else. What can I do?
-Before
colorguard or winterguard starts put posters advertising guard and how great it is on the school walls. This helped us get
more people.
-What guard isn't? Make it fun
and try to give the guard its own identity away from the band if necessary.
Do things together as just the guard. Have your own fun. Create your own
inside jokes. It worked for us. We even ended
up becoming larger than we
could "legally" march in winter guard and had alternates. We also became a
much tighter
guard.
When you toss a rifle do you wrap your thumb?
-Don't
wrap your thumb! press it against the side, like your hitch-hiking... its good technique and it'll help your gun from
wobbling, and rolling around in the air!!
How do you impress your instructor?
-When I first started guard
I used to get yelled at for everything,
our main instructor is moody and very anal. He'd teaches us things then gets
mad
because we couldn't do it the very first time perfectly. But this is the
3rd year I've been working with him, and we're
best friends now, it got a
little easier every year. The best advice I can give is to get to know your
instructor
on a personal level, try and be friends with them. It's a little
easier if you get to see them outside of practice. I
don't know if that would
be a problem for you. My instructor helps out with bingo for drum corps every
week so we
get to hang out outside of a practice / competition setting.
Whatever you do don't suck up, that makes it seem like your
desperate. The
other big no no is don't ever talk back. If they yell at just say ok bitch
them out in your head, that's
what I do, like I said, he's very anal so he
thinks he's always right. If you talk back they lose respect for you because
they interpret that as disrespect toward them. I hoped I helped out some.
good luck.
-As an instructor I can tell
you that the best thing to do is to be yourself.
The one thing that I hate the most it when one of the girls is sweet
to my
face and an absolute b**** behind my back. Believe it or not, what you say
outside of guard/band practice does
get back to your instructor. They're not
oblivious to all you think they are. The more you try to impress your
instructor,
the less you're going to. Nothing takes the place of a hard
worker! (i.e.- practice and perform your best all the time)
-Do what they ask, ask good questions(ex. is your foot like this or like
this), be polite, offer to do things for
them, respect others, keep your
personal problems out of guard, dont yell, dont get an attitude, and perform
- There
are two things that impress instructors; talent, and attitude. Of these two, I think attitude is more important to focus on,
because you can't change talent, you either have it or you don't. But if you don't (like me!) your attitude towards guard
can take you farther than someone with lots of talent, but a bad attitude. (For exaple, I'm on an Independent World Class
guard, and its because of my attitude, NOT my talent) The best way to show your instructor that you have a great attitude
is to WORK HARD! Your instructor may notice you struggling with some new work, but working hard. Then if you practice at home,
and get better, your instructor will probably notice your improvement and dedication. Another way to get far is to always
be polite, smiling, cheerful, and respectful, not only to your instructor, but to everybody. Even if you disagree with what
someone is saying, try to bring up your point in a respectful way...Nobody likes to be treated rudely. Also, help whenever
you can! If there are flags left on the field, pick them up. If there are new members who are struggling, help them! Your
instructors are very observant, and usually know about everything that goes on in the guard.(So NEVER talk about ANYONE behind
their back, because your instructor WILL find out!) Finally, always come to practice EARLY, always apply the corrections your
instructor asks you to make, and thank them for helping you fix that problem. (I know it may not feel to you like you are
doing anything wrong, but they have lots of experience, and can see you from a different point-of -view).......P.S. These
tips also work in the "Real World!"
How high can you throw the rifle? 5,6,7.....etc.?
-Well it was really hard for me
to get out the higher tosses because I broke
my arm in '96 and so I stuggled the most. What you gotta do though is push
yourself. Dont settle at a 3 or 4 always push yourself. Like when you are
practicing on your own instead of practicing
4s constantly try for a five..
and for me after I get a 5 the 6 was just there. But, if you are having a
hard time
you might want to try standing in 2nd, it gives you more support
and force under your toss than standing in first position
would.Oh and
another thing. Have someone else count your toss when you are trying for
something higher at first because
I thought I was only tossing a 4 1/2 and it
turns out that it was a 5 1/2! Hehehehe!!!!
-I'm a Sophomore and can throw
at 5 1/2 I'm trying hard
to get a 6 but still can't.
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