Fun in Atlanta

Hey -

I just sold one of these shirts today. I kind of had forgotten about them, but, cool if peeps are still buying them. It's like, you know, do you really care what? Whatever!

You can pick one up at www.cafepress.com/big_johns or www.cafepress.com/marchit.

So, Harrison High School Marching Band is going to Macy's in 2009? Congrats! I'm just down the road from them. Lassiter's been there. Ooltewah's been there. Harrison's good. Having to keep up with Kennesaw Mountain, Lassiter, Walton, etc. here in Cobb County. Great. But I guess the seniors and juniors are kind of screwed. They don't get to march in the parade, even though they're the ones who did the work to get the band noticed and in the parade in the first place!

Do Drum Majors Really Rule

Hey - true story.

Back in 1980, Mount Union College marching band. Two dudes trying out for drum major. Well, the guy who went first got burned real bad. He had been the dm for his high school band, and he went out and did the traditional serious dm thing - walked out silently, turned sharply and saluted. He was fine.

Next guy was a show off, went out there with his chest puffed out, strutting like he was in the Ohio State Band, swung his arms, put on a real show. Did a snappy salute and made everyone cheer.

Poor Scott, the first guy. Got slammed. And the second guy, I forget his name, was DM for three years.

Get the shirt at www.cafepress.com/big_johns

Great Embouchures

I never heard the word "embouchure" until I was in band in college. I guess that doesn't reflect well on our high school band program. That was in Titusville High School in Titusville, PA. But it was a good band.

Everyone knows that brass players have great lips. Imagine how much money they could make in a kissing booth. That's what this shirt is all about.

I actually sell quite a few of these shirts. You get it? Embouchure test - i.e., kiss me?

Find it a www.cafepress.com/marchit or www.cafepress.com/big_johns

The Blue Devils are Better than the Cadets

I really think the Blue Devils are better than the Cadets. Sure, George Hopkins makes all kinds of noise about changing rules, updating things so that we can hear the conga drum, running his beloved USSBA, which, I think, does serve a good purpose for high school bands, and keeping things together in Allentown. But I don't really like the way the Cadets have been mking shows in the last few years. And the Blue Devils have blown them away.

I think the reason for all the rules proposals from Hoppy is because the Cadets can't win. But the Blue Devils just keep pumping out hot corps year after year, smashing it in the audience's face each time. And I think they're just too cool.

I like Phantom, too, lately. And Crown and Bluecoats - (I was a Bluecoats fan when Bluecoats weren't cool --- like 1977!).

Anyway, here's our cool shirt of the day. You can find it at www.cafepress.com/marchit or at www.cafepress.com/big_johns.

Cool shirts here

Hey.

You've all seen those oval stickers that you get on vacation, right? The ones that have a three-letter code of the destination? Well, I've made an entire series of shirts and gifts that have the same things for instruments. See, each of the circles you see in this picture can be on a separate shirt or gift. I've already had one band parent order a whole set of stickers for the entire band! It was cool - she got about 120 of them.

You can find lots of great marching band t-shirts, color guard t-shirts, drum corps t-shirts and music t-shirts and gifts at www.cafepress.com/big_johns and also at www.cafepress.com/marchit.

Will the Crossmen Make Finals in 2008?

I really hope so. I marched in 1983 when we took 13th by .10 - in the days of ticks. They got back in Finals in '84, but then descended down during the "dark years." They finally got back into finals in 1989, I think, and were in for 16 consecutive years. Then, I guess George Hopkins and the Cadets got tired of them and the Crossmen fell by the wayside for a while - and missed finals a couple of years. Then they moved to San Antonio where, amid hopes of rebirth, they fell yet another spot to 17th.

Now that they've been down there for a while and have established themselves, do we think they can make a serious push and get back into the big show on Saturday night? Seems everyone's good these days... even Madison and Blue Stars. And tour is so short nowadays that you have to get out early and establish yourself ... basically your ultimate placement is taken care of within a couple of shows. So if you start the season out losing to Southwind, say, you're not going to be in Finals.

So... can Bones get back in this year? Is there enough talent in San Antonio, both on and off the field to do the job? What do you think?

Here's another in the cool "beat me" series of marching band t-shirts. www.cafepress.com/marchit and www.cafepress.com/big_johns

More on Duet Studio

Hey:

More on duetstudios.com. Judy and I have branched out to do videos for real estate agents. We shoot video of properties and then set up Web sites for agents. It's pretty cool. We haven't made any money off it yet - but we're working toward that. We also have a wedding coming up on April 18 at Mount Bethel United Methodist Church.

If you need a wedding videographer or a wedding video in Atlanta, visit www.duetstudios.com. We'll do a great job for you, we promise!

Hey! Atlanta Real Estate - Atlanta FMLS - Atlanta real estate agents - I can recommend a great agent! Sara Hibbard at Metro Brokers!

Let's Get Drunk!

Hey. How's it going? Today's shirt is kind of different. It's not a band or corps shirt, but it does remind me of a time I got really wasted. Back when I was in the Crossmen, the day before we left on second tour - we had a beer blast at our house. For some reason I decided I could outdrink Mongo. Well, anyone named Mongo is probably a pretty big guy, yes? He weighed around 350, slimming down to 325 over the summer. I was down to 170. Now, who could outdrink who? Well, I was out and down and really hung over the next day while I was trying to wash my uniform and get packed to leave on tour. Sheesh! Stoopid!

You can find the shirt here http://www.cafepress.com/heretogetdrunk

Let's see... some good keywords. Blue Devils, Bluecoats, Blue Knights, Madison Scouts, Cavaliers, Pioneer, Phantom Regiment, Spirit from JSU, The Academy, The Cadets, Boston Crusaders, Troopers, Santa Clara Vanguard, Seattle Cascades, Pacific Crest, Jersey Surf, Teal Sound, Blue Stars, Southwind. We'll see if that helps to get some hits.

Read the rest of the blog!