Just received an estimate today from Kanstul Musical Instruments for a new set of G bugles. Suprisingly the price tag was lower than what I expected. A big deal was made a decade ago about how allowing Bb horns into our activity would allow more corps to form since Bb horns are suppose to be cheaper. Well, with the exception of Jupiter my order would be $5000-$10,000 more with the same instrumentation with other brands! The only draw back is  the delivery time. G bugles are made to order so they cannotship out the next day unlike their Bb counterparts. If a good dekivery date is available the 2011 season could see the Highland Knights on G bugles. For those wishing to know more about G bugles a good article is listed on the website " The Middle Horn Leader" it can be found at the following address http://www.middlehornleader.com. Check out the link to the Evolution of the Bugle 1968 to present.

Posted by bejayb2002 at 8:17 PM EDT

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After many years it finally happened! We finished our first season and unlike many corps that have tried, we did not loose our shirts in the process! I was soaked on 7/31 as I unloaded the bus at the office for the last time for 2010, but it was a good rain. After everything was in place in the storage room I went up to the second floor of the building and sat in the office for an solid hour, cold wet and dark since I did not bother to turn the lights on.  I thought about everyting that happen and what we did which can never be replicated again. I wish I could having giving a better farewell speech but I would have fell apart in front of everyone and that would have been a disaster, probably funny to the membership. At the moment I'm already setting things in motion for 2011, yes we will have uniforms going forward, newer equipment, greater numbers, more out of state travel and even a few international trips, but nothing will ever compare to this moment.

Posted by bejayb2002 at 12:58 AM EDT

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Kilts, bagpipes and scottish music comes to mind when you hear the name Highland Knights. When I first came up with the name all that was previously written was the inspiriation. Kilts would make us easily recognized and gaelic music was supposed to be our trademark, that is no longer the case. That image has become to restrictive in my opinion. Being that we are a parade corps our audience is the average joe, not a fan of the latest wind enemble craze or William Walton. Our direction will trend towards "fan friendly" pieces since we are in the business of entertainment, not impressing judges. No we will not be playing Lady Gaga or Tupac, but our music and style in general has shifted. When people see and hear us, they will remember us.

Posted by bejayb2002 at 9:09 PM EDT

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Being that our season is almost finish I know find myself trying to decide which way to take next years hornline. The current supply of horns are being sold off as I type so we are officially in the makret for a new hornline! I'm seriously leaning towards G bugles this time around. The sound and projection is umatched by anything else out there. I want the kids to experience true drum corps (in my opinion which is the only one that matters) so the bugle is starting to look like the likely path. There are some downsides to this approach which include:

* The learning curve, members will have to adjust to the key of the horn

* Resell, virtually there is no market for these horns anymore

* Production time, even if I were to order the horns today I would still be pushing it in order to have them in January

* Price, the contras cost more than a quality used car!

So, depending on the production time the 2011 season could bring about the only junior drum & bugle corps utilizing G bugles. If we go Bb again which is a strong possibility, more than likely I will switch to Yamahas to match the drumline.

Posted by bejayb2002 at 1:55 PM EDT

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Mood:  sharp

This is a absolute dictatorship! This is how I would describe the my governance style when compared to other similar organizations. When most people set out to start a non-profit or any club organization they do so with a group of people. Many take solice in leaving the decision making to a group of individuals instead of taking on the challenges alone, not me. Committees, boards or whatever name they may go by are great for some organizations but not mine. Things tend to slow down when more people are involved, egos tend to grow and unification is sometimes difficult to obtain. I prefer an organization that is stripped down to the bare bones management that is necessary, not a board just for the sake of having one. The Highland Knights Drum & Bugle Corps was chartered with an advisory board, powerless but there. To take a few from Bill Cook, the legendary founder of the Star Of Indiana Drum & Bugle Corps,

"A dictator is responsible for all decisions and acts of a drum corps. He/she has a vision where the organization is going and how to get the organization to the destination. A dictator must be benevolent or ruthless, keeping in mind that survival of the organization is more important than any individual. A dictator cannot share power; he/she consolidates it."

Posted by bejayb2002 at 12:15 AM EDT

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Mood:  cheeky

I have been asked numerous times about the corps plans for next year so for those of you who are curious this is what to expect.

* We will proceed as a parade corps for the 2011 season

* We will continue to focus on local parades (NC/SC) but will add a couple off out of state performances and 1 possible international performance

* WE WILL BE IN UNIFORM!

* New horns and new drums will be ordered

* There will be NO COLORGUARD

* We will remain in Kannapolis NC

* No booster club is in the plan because frankly, it isn't needed

* Everyone must audition for a spot

* Tuition WILL BE LOWERED in order to make membership more accessible

* More but not to many rehearsals will occur

* Schedule will not be released until it is confirmed and confirmed again.

* We will become more active in the community (Kannapolis/Charlotte)

* We will have fun doing what we do!

To be continued...........

Posted by bejayb2002 at 11:57 PM EDT

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Mood:  special

OK, first time ever posting a blog entry so here goes.......

First, the Highland Knights Drum & Bugle Corps is about to wrap up a short but sweet season. Timeline for this years events are as follows:

June or July (Can't really remember)

* Decided to finally make my dream a reality and start a drum & bugle corps.

* Posted staff positions online

* Decided that a small town would suit the corps current & future needs so I began looking for a location that would allow us to rent school facilties without alot of red tape, Kannapolis was chosen.

* Could not find a reasonable office so I rented out a house to serve as the corps first office.

August-October

* Got all legal issues in order and incorporated the Highland Knights Drum & Bugle Corps Inc.

* Contacted area schools for recruiting and interest began to peak

November

* Some of the staff was complete, still hiring

* Held our first meeting on November 21st, current members Jacob Bradley, Andrew Lloyd, Garris Sherman, Cadere Graham and Kyle Sunderman were the first members in the corps. Janitor never showed up and we were locked out of the school. The most akward moment in my ENTIRE LIFE!

* Ordered instruments, ready for the first rehearsal.

December

* Finish hiring staff, ready to go.

* Membership interest dropped, considered calling the whole thing off on Christmas Day, brother advised to continue.

January

* Instruments started coming in, notified by dealer and Yamaha that the drums were on backorder (not told this at time of order)

* Nervous as hell, rehearsal approaching and still no drums. Again considered calling the whole thing off. Decided to split rehearsals, brass first and battery later.

* First rehearsal for hornline. Can't remember the numbers but enough came to get started.

* Battery rehearsal cancelled due to snow storm.

February

* Some of the battery arrived. Met Matt Andrade  to tune and put the drums together at office. Cold, no heat accept from the stove in the house and it was getting late in the evening.

* Full Corps rehearsal, excited to see everybody

* All brass music had to be rewritten

* Waiting on uniform prototype

* A few batterty instruments available, Matt was able to borrow some snares (Thanks Wingate U and Porter Ridge)

March-June

* Finally received uniform prototype, wrong on so many different levels. Remained optimistic about the possibility of getting the uniforms in time but knew deep down that it might not happen.

* Corps began to progress

* Had to politely remove members due to their doubts about the organization and me, no room for it in my corps now nor ever.

* Schedule in place, changes on the horizon.

* Last attempt to get a uniform, switched to the pipe band look. Many parts from different companies. Kilts and sporrans made it!

July-Current

* First performance, best night of my life to date. Could not believe that something I had dreamed of since I saw my first DCI performance in 94' finally happend. Two buses arrived, only one paid for.

* Unexpected schedule changes but we adapted.

* Finally gave up on uniforms, better luck next year.

And now, down to two performances. Learn alot this year, know what to do and what not to do and who to do it with going forward. Already planning next season. Getting rid of current equipment to make room for the 2011 equipment ( Yea I know our stuff isn't a year old yet but when you can afford it buy it)

Lets finish this!

(Excuse the grammer errors, not in the mood to spell check)

Posted by bejayb2002 at 11:39 PM EDT

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