Skip to main content

THE BAND



Since 2000, I've been the voice of the Rittman Indians Marching Band. I started my duties when my daughter was in the 11th grade. I figured it would be two years and out, but now I am starting my 7th season.

I've enjoyed watching the students I work with grow into responsible young adults. I have also enjoyed working with Ed Sims, the director of the band. He knows what's most important, which are the students, and in most cases their names are the only ones to appear in the scripts I read for the shows.

The Rittman Band is a show band, and as such don't enter in band competitions, but go to plenty of shows. We all find that we have alot of admirers, from other bands to band parents to Fox 8 weatherman Dick Goddard, who has emceed several of our shows throughout the years.

My style of announcing is somewhat unique. I feel that I have to help out the microphone, so I have the tendancy to yell into it. It works however, as I've gotten compliments from many. And I've been told that it helps to energize the band.

I've learned over the past six years that even though I should do my best that it's not about me. It's about the hard working students that comprise the band, and thats the way it should be.

Supporting the band is a very dedicated group of folks. They are the Rittman Band Boosters, and not only do they assure that the band gets the best support possible, but they've taken excellent care of me in the past. If any band boosters read this blog, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The band has already played one show this season, and will be performing at halftime during all home games for the Rittman Fighting Indians football team, along with other shows.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Post 800: Time to chat

Hi Guys, It's hard to believe that this is post number 800 for this blog. I started this blog out of my desire to communicate. Since radio and television is becoming more and more automated and less and less personal, I'm glad I made the decision to go in this direction as it has given me many blessings. When I first decided to write my musings, a friend from the radio and television boards who goes by the name of newsnomore, told me not to be discouraged if I didn't get any readers. The fact that I did in the early going made me surprised and grateful that anyone was enjoying what I wrote. I've had people tell me that maybe it wasn't meant for me to ever be in radio, that maybe my calling was blogging. Nowadays I think blogging makes for better two way conversation than terrestrial radio, especially the way I do it, non confrontational. The closest I come from any confrontation is the innocent digs that Pat and I shoot at each other. On an average day I get betwee
12 comments
Read more

Lawson's Chip Dip

On a couple of occasions I have written posts dedicated to Lawson's, a convenience store chain that was located in Ohio for close to 50 years. In the late 1980's the chain was bought out by Dairy Mart, of Engfield Ct. Dairy Mart was then purchased by Alimentation Couche-Tard, and most stored were rebranded Circle K. Something that has survived the years since Lawson's has left the landscape is Lawson's Chip Dip. I get many hits on this blog from people out of Ohio, I'm thinking former Buckeyes, looking for availability of this chip dip. I had gotten an email from a former resident of Cleveland looking for it. I emailed Circle K about this sometime ago asking if it was possible to send the dip out to those out of state, they said because of quality issues that it was not possible. My only suggestion would be to get in touch with Circle K in your home area and ask them to start stocking this very popular item that seems to make every get-together complete. Now we wil
28 comments
Read more

Sometimes Sports are Just Sports

 This may or may not make the final cut of my book. I was writing about some events this weekend and what had started as a joyous Friday night at my home school district became a weekend of heartbreak in the area after what happened at another school. Sometimes We Need to Realize That Sports are Just Games   Friday nights in late summer and early fall are sometimes a big deal for high school students and their families. As the long-time band announcer for my local high school, it is a time of year I always look forward to. This past Friday night was originally supposed to be the homecoming game for the local high school. The schedule had to be changed a bit because of the uncertainty of the opponents being able to field a team. There was talk around the league that they may have had to forfeit this game, so homecoming for the local school was rescheduled. The opponents, which are rivals of my local school district, were able to field a team and the game was played. The game was
Post a Comment
Read more