The long road to Benson

There's just something about that annual trip to Benson.

For our family, the first time we saw one of our kids in a parade, it was in Benson. It was the year of the Matador, when the horn line all wore red capes (that turned out to be kind of a nightmare in the street when they had to undo the clip and be all matador-y with them, then re-do the clip, all while wearing gloves and holding instruments.)

But I was in awe. I knew nothing about marching
bands, nothing about what is good or bad about a given performance (truth be told, I'm only marginally better at spotting good vs. bad in a a performance today, six year into this stuff.) But I did know that I was hooked.

There's something very, very powerful about watching a group of kids you care about march down the street, looking sharp, sounding sharper, and putting their best collective foot forward in competition. And Benson was the first time that sort of goosebumpy, tear-jerking, proud parent moment — the kind most of you have probably felt many times — hit me. Our daughter was a rookie clarinetist, still reeling from Spat Camp, still sore. But she was so, so ready to getting to the competitions. And it all started in Benson.

So while it may be the furthest we travel for a parade before Alexandria, and it's tough to stay awake sometimes on that ride home, there will always be a soft spot in my heart for this city and this parade.

The other thing about Benson: it almost always rains. I think that, of all the Benson parades we've attended, maybe one of them was sunny.

That first parade was a wet doozy. The photo above is from that parade. You can see the wet street and umbrellas in the crowd. Props and applause to the Lancers for marching a great show that day IN THE RAIN! That was part of the "wow" factor for me. Nothing stops them. (Literally nothing. The following year, in Calgary, as the Lancers marched behind a group of horses, I watched in horror/amazement as several Lancers, refusing to break "step" or whatever it's called, stepped right in steaming piles of horse dung — true story, folks, ya can't make this stuff up.)

I totally get that many families take the Benson trip as a chance to not follow the band. It's quite a haul, and one that, after HOURS of research by the clarinet player in the picture up there, doesn't have a Chipotle anywhere in sight.

Still, we wouldn't miss Benson. For us, it's where all the magic began.

Meet the Lancers is tonight

Meet the Lancers.

The very name of the event suggests some irony. "Meet" the Lancers? For a very scant few, sure, the Meet the Lancers event will be your first experience with them and you'll be blown away. But for so many others ... You've already met the Lancers. Some of you met the Lancers five or six years ago and have been fans ever since.

Yet ... in a way, you haven't met them. At least not this version. The show they're doing this year is different. The marching routine is different. And the music is beautiful. Sci-fi fans for sure will definitely love the music. The show, called "The Rings of Saturn," includes music from and inspired by "Dr. Who" and "Star Trek."

One of the amazing things about Lancers is how, every year, they start with nothing but a bunch of young people and by Meet the Lancers, they've got something brilliant to show everyone.

It's the same way every year — in that they're brand new every year. Let that sink in for a minute.

We're not quite sure how it happens. But we've got some theories.

Our favorite theory is that there's something special about both the kids who accept the challenge to become Lancers and the staff members that push them to excel.

It's no secret that getting through Alpha and Spat camps is NO EASY TASK. Any of you who have seen the condition your kids are in when they've come home the last few nights know just how hard they've been working. Twelve-hour days. Sweltering heat. Complicated drill maneuvering. Unbearable repetition. Fixing mistakes. Constant revisions. Injuries. Ice. Lions. Tigers. Bears. OH MY!

And the staff ... They deserve a pat on the back this year. With Mr. Krusemark spending time with his newest arrival and family, Mr. Kotila and the rest of the staff have picked up the slack in a big way. It's not easy when the Director is away for big chunks of time when the kids are learning the drill. So when you see the staff, give them a pat on the back.

And tell your friends to come out for Meet the Lancers!

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE!

Have you ever wondered whether there's any old 77 Lancer footage out there?

No?

Well, we have. And we stumbled across a little bit on YouTube.

Oh, and there's this hat in the display cases at West.
There must have been a Mankato High School marching band back in the day.


So take a look at what there is out there. And when you're done, head over to 77lancersalumni.com and check out our new website dedicated to alumni. It's a great way to relive your Lancer memories as well as reconnect with old band mates.

Enjoy!

STOP THE PRESSES!

Have you heard the news? 

We're totally famous, you guys. Well, famous-er. (I mean, let's be honest, Lancers was always been pretty famous, right? Right.)

Here's the latest bit of notoriety: KEYC came out the other day and brought us a little bump in attention in the community. Oh, and word has it The Free Press will be coming out as well, probably tomorrow morning (if my sources are correct.) You can look for that story in Wednesday's or Thursday's paper.

A decade ago, there had been a somewhat sour relationship between the Lancers organization and the media. But lately, they've been very good to us. A big THANK YOU to Erika Brooks for coming out last week, and to The Free Press reporting team for whatever coverage they can give us. 

One of the biggest thrills for the group is feeling like their hometown supports them. Getting this kind of coverage lets them know they're taken just as seriously as the football team.

Elsewhere in Spat Camp ...

■ Everything is working out very well at Mankato West High School. Having them closer to the downtown area has given the group better visibility. The horn honks and shout-outs from passing cars are a testament to how much this community loves its marching band. 

If you're free over the next few days, come down and check out the rehearsals! We're sure the kids would love the excitement that would come from a few more curious onlookers.

■ Our new photo sharing site is up and running! We'll soon have every photo Eric Bunde and Robb Murray have shot throughout Alpha and Spat camps available for your perusal, as well as all the photos we've shot from the previous three years.

If you bookmarked the site from last year, you'll want to update that URL to this: mankatoarea77lancers.smugmug.com. And when you get there, the password is 77lancers.

The switch was made because the old photo sharing site went out of business. Luckily, the new site is slick, has tons of features and is just as easy to use.

■ Sign up to CHAPERONE parades!

This is truly the best way to get a taste of your child's Lancer experience. And while you can't lug a tuba for them, you can lug water and first aid kits, and fetch Gatorade and forgotten reeds/gloves/shoes/sanity/etc.

Stop by the Parent Board room — just down the hall from the cafeteria — and sign up! Plenty of good spots still available.

And ...

Please remember to contact anyone on the parent board with questions. We know Lancers — and Spat Camp — is ... well, a lot. A lot of stuff to remember, a lot of money, a lot of sweat, a lot of pain. 

But it's worth it. In a few weeks when they've performed a dozen shows and are a happy, well-oiled marching machine, they'll be so glad they persevered. And so will you. 

Thanks!

-Robb

Here we go, folks! Spat Camp is upon us!

So finally, after months of working diligently to figure out logistics work around schedules, we've got a home base for Spat Camp!

Well, sort of.

As you probably already know, we'll be splitting time between Prairie Winds Middle School (Friday and Saturday) and Mankato West High School (Sunday-Meet the Lancers).

The solution is an odd one but it's also one that comes with some new opportunities.

Being close to downtown is likely to give us a lot of visibility during Spat Camp, and if people can see us practicing for a few days, they may be interested in coming out to see us. Also, the Meet the Lancers event has the potential to be a truly unique experience. The hill leading up to the front doors of the school will give spectators a unique view on the show. And hopefully the weather will hold out for us make it a day to remember.

We as a Parent Board are super excited to get this season going, and we know the kids and staff feel the same way.

Rookie parents, remember to talk to a board member with any questions regarding meals or uniforms, etc. We're here to help. Also, please sign up to volunteer! We've still got plenty of opportunities from Spat Camp through the final concert for you to be a part of. And please be a part of it! It's super fun and a great way to get to know other parents.

Thanks, folks! Check back soon for updates througout Spat Camp and the rest of the season.

-Robb