BootsnAll Travel Network
Add this blog to: MyYahoo, Google, Bloglines, RSS


Articles Tagged ‘Obama Inaugural Parade’

More articles about ‘Obama Inaugural Parade’
« Previous Page
Next Entries »
« Home

Local TV News Does a Story

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

OK, I’m not sure that 30 seconds counts as a story, but one of our local news stations was at the Minnesota Freedom Band’s rehearsal last night and got some footage for a short — like blink-and-you’ll-miss-it short — news piece on my — and my fellow band member, Harvey’s — participation in the Inaugural Parade next Tuesday.   Here’s a link:

I pulled down the YouTube link showing the KARE11 coverage because it was replaced with a slightly longer one that mentioned the other two local musicians, but not me — nice!  I am seriously a behind-the-scenes person who tries to avoid the limelight, so in that respect, I really don’t care, but they could at least get the story straight!!

Posted in Obama Inaugural Parade | 1 Comment »

More Details… 10 Days to Inaugural Parade

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

Well, January 20th (Inauguration Day) is now within the 10-day weather forecasting window, so I just checked the forecast for D.C.  It’s looking good with a high of 38 degrees, sunny and 0% chance of precipitation.  I sure hope that holds; that’s downright balmy compared to our current 14 degrees in Minnesota.  But, any forecast 10 days out is bound to change, so I’m not getting my hopes up too high.  In any case, we’re packing many layers and warm gear to be ready for any weather scenario.

Am I bringing a drum to play?  Silly question, maybe.  But, I am NOT bringing a drum to play.  New York City’s GLBT band (Big Apple Corps) has awesome marching percussion (as well as being a FINE marching ensemble), so they are providing most of the percussion instruments that we’ll be playing.  The drum I’ll be playing is a Pearl Championship series FFX snare drum with a Remo White Max high-tension head. Photo  NY’s BAC will also be providing the carrier.  I’ll bring drum sticks, spare sticks, stick bag, drummer’s gloves, snap-on lyre, flip folder and my music.  While I have the tunes memorized, I still want to have my music available at least for rehearsals for situations where the director says, “Let’s take it from measure 33.”  Plus, who knows, my nerves might kick in, and I’ll blank out.  I hope not, but I’d rather be prepared for anything!

OK, on another topic, Dan will be formally assisting the band during our practices and performance in D.C.  On January 28th, LGBA put out the call for volunteers — often referred to as “Band Aides” — and Dan signed up.  Along with carrying a rainbow flag as part of our field shows in Chicago for the 2006 Gay Games VII, he also was a Band Aide.  According to LGBA, in this role, he will be providing all types of assistance, including registration, uniform distribution, taking attendance, guiding folks to rehearsal locations, lunch distribution, marking the rehearsal line up, carrying equipment, loading equipment, moving supplies, rehearsal room set-up, picking up lunches, errands, etc.  We’re not certain, yet, what this means in terms of where Dan will be during the actual parade, but we are expecting to receive more details early this week via email from LGBA.

Then, I need to clarify a reference I made in an earlier post about tempo changes during the parade and, specifically, in the arrangement of Ode to Joy that we’ll be playing.  I found out the other day that we will NOT be making any tempo changes in any song or while marching to a cadence.  We are required to keep a consistent tempo of 112 beats per minute at all times.  This is per parade organizers.  And, this tempo is actually slower than the 132 and 148 at which I’ve been practicing the sped up sections of Ode to Joy.  So, I’ll have to do some practicing of Ode.. with just a metronome instead of the sound file.  I was telling Dan yesterday that playing and marching to Ode.. to the sound file several times never fails to cause me to break a sweat!

Peace,
Tim

Posted in Obama Inaugural Parade | No Comments »

Waiting, Practicing, Working, Planning

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009
This post will be a bit of a grab bag of stuff related to preparations for our trip to D.C. to march in the Inaugural Parade. Our parade uniform will consist of silver baseball jackets -- under which I will likely ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Obama Inaugural Parade | 1 Comment »

Yea – I Now Have All the Music for the Parade!

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008
This morning I received the link to download the cadence that we'll be using for the parade.  For those not familiar with marching terms, this is what the drum line plays and what the band marches to between songs.  The ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Obama Inaugural Parade | No Comments »

Is Dan Marching?

Sunday, December 28th, 2008
My partner, Dan, has become more and more involved with the Minnesota Freedom Band and the LGBA national group over the years that I've been a member.  The first time I recall him performing with us was when the MFB ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Obama Inaugural Parade | 1 Comment »

I’m Marching in the Inaugural Parade!

Friday, December 26th, 2008
Well, Dan and I will be traveling again in January.  No, we won't be gone for five months again (although, that sounds like fun).  We'll actually only be gone for about five days.  But, the event I'll be participating in ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Obama Inaugural Parade | 2 Comments »

« Previous Page
Next Entries »