theplayingcats.com 2007 FBA

2007 FBA

Photos(soon), video and story by J.Starke!

The band room opened at noon on Saturday, October 13th, 2007 in preparation for our journey to Ft. Walton Beach H.S. football field for our FBA marching Music Performance Assessment.  

The band warmed up and took to our football field for a field rehearsal.  Parents in attendance said the band sounded really good.  The band practices hard, so hard in fact that an auxiliary girl had to ice down her jaw after being taken out with a kick from another aux girl.  She bounced right back and the practiced continued and the show went on... If you don't have a shirt or hoodie that says you are with the band then you are on the outside of a great group of people.  

We arrived at Ft. Walton Beach High School and proceeded  unload the instruments.  Aryn who was unable to march with the band didn't allow that to dampen her spirit.  She was very instrumental in uniting the band and support staff with "pinky power."  Aryn painted the left pinky nails of almost everyone with the band.

The kids (and adults) took a bathroom break and at 5:45PM we headed to the warm up area. Jordache Grant tuned the brass section and JaVera Hollinger worked the colorguard section.   FAMU's marching 100 tuba extraordinaire, Micheal Young was in the house and assisted tuning the tubas in the warm-up area.   We the hit the water station before entering the stadium.  

The band was escorted into the stadium and took their positions on the field were they performed the music from Dream Girls.    

some of the great smiles!

The auxiliary judge said of the auxiliary, "great smiles and energy." Another judge said he enjoyed the show. The wildcat extended family really enjoyed the show.  Oh by the way the band received an overall score of SUPERIOR!!!  If you don't think this event was very important to the kids, you should have seen all of the tears flowing after it was announced!!  Some tried to hold back the tears.  If this out pouring of emotion didn't move you, then nothing will!

Before the band kids left Ft. Walton Beach they all held up their left pinkies and said, "It was all the pinky!"  We had a "surprise" for the kids waiting in the band room.  We said they worked so hard let's feed them.  We called "Auntie" Joyce to order some pizza's for our kids.. She first called the 'other' pizza place and they said no way.   Auntie Joyce then called Domino's Pizza on 9th and Langely and they delivered 60 pizza's before the band arrived home from Ft. Walton Beach HS.  Please whenever you are in Domino's tell them thanks for making our band kids feel special on a special day, by coming thru for the band on such short notice.

We also need to give kudos to Uhaul on Davis Highway.  Not only did they cut a great deal, they let us keep the truck for our Friday football game, Saturday FBA event and for our Monday's football game at PHS.  We can thank Jeff Harrison for brokering that deal   Again please remember to thank Uhaul for supporting our band whenever you use their services!!  Our Wildcat family tries to support our local vendors as many have been very good to us.  

Every large family will always have small issues.  Remember our band kids spend more time with each other than any other organization period! We don't stop when football season is over...  We start practicing in the early summer and we continue well into the next year...  

Well time to shut down the computer, charge up batteries and get ready for Monday's make-up game.  I'm with the band are you???  My 2¢

If you post your videos on the web, let us know and we will link to it...-tpc!

 If you have any FBA band photos send them to photos@theplayingcats.com.