Stafford Lancers
Newbie
There are many of you on these forums that will know lots about what I’m about to say and some who know nothing but please all read on and hopefully the forum spirit can help us throughout 2012 and onwards. I am a longer term member on the forums, but thought it best to start a new user for this rather than continue to use my existing username.
Stafford Lancers (www.lancers.co.uk) are a youth showband organisation, not for profit, with rehearsals taking place 1 or 2 times a week at Sir Graham Balfour High School. We take inspiration from American High School drum corps and marching showbands to perform a choreographed visual and musical display from the 3 individual sections of the band – Brass, Percussion and Dance.
It is very easy to say what we aren’t and don’t do rather than describe what we do achieve, as the activity is thought of as parade band or a Scout group type marching band and we are typically neither of those – although we do turn our hand to it from time to time.
However, we do travel throughout the summer weekends around the country competing against other likeminded organisations. We offer opportunities to young children and teenagers to do something different instead of sitting inside every evening and weekend or removing them from hanging around on the streets of Stafford. There are many youngsters who are not interested in sports who want/need an active interest. Many of our members have also received nationally recognised musical certifications, which can be used for short term for achievement folders and long term for CVs. We have a large pool of volunteer staff members with many years of experience in performing and managing the band, the majority of whom have been involved in music and displays from a very young age and have progressed to now share their knowledge and expertise – the band itself has been running since 1994.
As the majority of you will have never attended any type of band competition, such as the “Brass Explosion” competition at Stafford Rangers each year where bands from all over the UK and Ireland visit and compete, most of you won’t have seen Stafford Lancers do what they are best at. Stafford FM was there all day in 2011. However, many of you would have seen us this year at the Stafford Christmas Santa Parade in our Blue and White uniforms. In the last year, we have also been seen on national TV during the McDonalds “Great Tastes of America” campaign (albeit very briefly!) (http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/1000872/mcdonalds-launches-new-taste-america-campaign) and on Sky TV during the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Recently, it has become more difficult to recruit new members into the organisation. Nowadays, there are many more activities and hobbies ready to interest the youngsters of today rather than this and its typically “uncool” perception doesn’t help. It is also a commitment and a skill that takes time to learn and master, in a culture that demands instant success.
Whilst our numbers are healthy, especially compared to other organisations that do similar things, we need more members to come and take the challenge.
• Firstly, if you have a Son/Daughter or a family member between the ages of 8-16 who wants to try something new, to make new friends, to do something different, perhaps already plays/used to play/wants to play either brass or drums – let me them know about us and get them to come along to a rehearsal just to see what we’re all about. Anyone is welcome to come along to a rehearsal, have a tour around and listen and see what it is about. It is completely free to look and try. Rehearsals currently run between 7pm - 9.15pm, Thursday Nights, Sir Graham Balfour High School.
Now I’m looking towards the Business or website owners with the next few ideas, but as an individual if you can help please shout up. I know we have lots of Businesses on here – including IT Support, Clothing, Novelty and Luxury Foods, Professional Services, Car Dealerships (naming no names!)
• Do you have a Twitter Account / Facebook Account / Website directed towards local Staffordians that you can use to give us a shout out and a link? We have our own Twitter account @StaffordLancers where we can reciprocate.
• Do you premises, as an employer or employee, and can put up posters up advertising, leaflets on the desk etc. If you can send me your details, I’ll get some promotional material posted out to you in the next couple of weeks.
• Do you have a shop premises and would be willing to place a Stafford Lancers collection box on the counter, as our weekly subscriptions don’t cover the costs of running the band.
Additionally,
• Do you have an event/fete/special occasion that there is potential to perform at? Unfortunately, we are unable to perform free of charge as it costs us money to get our large equipment there and we need to earn additional income to support the band, but if there is an opportunity perhaps you could get it touch and it can be discussed!
Finally,
• Do you have other comments, suggestions, ideas, anything you want to say regarding the band / music / hobbies etc that may be of use? Perhaps you’ve always thought “why doesn’t this happen” or “what happened to” or a fundraising idea.
Now is the time to get involved for 2012, as we plan our schedule / dates in the diary etc. We also have a management committee meeting tomorrow night so any ideas raised and (hopefully!) offers given can be discussed and carried through. Stafford Lancers, its members and staff, represent Stafford throughout the country each year and it would be great if local residents and businesses could support this activity so that many more people can be involved. Send me a PM or get the discussion going...
Stafford Lancers (www.lancers.co.uk) are a youth showband organisation, not for profit, with rehearsals taking place 1 or 2 times a week at Sir Graham Balfour High School. We take inspiration from American High School drum corps and marching showbands to perform a choreographed visual and musical display from the 3 individual sections of the band – Brass, Percussion and Dance.
It is very easy to say what we aren’t and don’t do rather than describe what we do achieve, as the activity is thought of as parade band or a Scout group type marching band and we are typically neither of those – although we do turn our hand to it from time to time.
However, we do travel throughout the summer weekends around the country competing against other likeminded organisations. We offer opportunities to young children and teenagers to do something different instead of sitting inside every evening and weekend or removing them from hanging around on the streets of Stafford. There are many youngsters who are not interested in sports who want/need an active interest. Many of our members have also received nationally recognised musical certifications, which can be used for short term for achievement folders and long term for CVs. We have a large pool of volunteer staff members with many years of experience in performing and managing the band, the majority of whom have been involved in music and displays from a very young age and have progressed to now share their knowledge and expertise – the band itself has been running since 1994.
As the majority of you will have never attended any type of band competition, such as the “Brass Explosion” competition at Stafford Rangers each year where bands from all over the UK and Ireland visit and compete, most of you won’t have seen Stafford Lancers do what they are best at. Stafford FM was there all day in 2011. However, many of you would have seen us this year at the Stafford Christmas Santa Parade in our Blue and White uniforms. In the last year, we have also been seen on national TV during the McDonalds “Great Tastes of America” campaign (albeit very briefly!) (http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/1000872/mcdonalds-launches-new-taste-america-campaign) and on Sky TV during the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Recently, it has become more difficult to recruit new members into the organisation. Nowadays, there are many more activities and hobbies ready to interest the youngsters of today rather than this and its typically “uncool” perception doesn’t help. It is also a commitment and a skill that takes time to learn and master, in a culture that demands instant success.
Whilst our numbers are healthy, especially compared to other organisations that do similar things, we need more members to come and take the challenge.
• Firstly, if you have a Son/Daughter or a family member between the ages of 8-16 who wants to try something new, to make new friends, to do something different, perhaps already plays/used to play/wants to play either brass or drums – let me them know about us and get them to come along to a rehearsal just to see what we’re all about. Anyone is welcome to come along to a rehearsal, have a tour around and listen and see what it is about. It is completely free to look and try. Rehearsals currently run between 7pm - 9.15pm, Thursday Nights, Sir Graham Balfour High School.
Now I’m looking towards the Business or website owners with the next few ideas, but as an individual if you can help please shout up. I know we have lots of Businesses on here – including IT Support, Clothing, Novelty and Luxury Foods, Professional Services, Car Dealerships (naming no names!)
• Do you have a Twitter Account / Facebook Account / Website directed towards local Staffordians that you can use to give us a shout out and a link? We have our own Twitter account @StaffordLancers where we can reciprocate.
• Do you premises, as an employer or employee, and can put up posters up advertising, leaflets on the desk etc. If you can send me your details, I’ll get some promotional material posted out to you in the next couple of weeks.
• Do you have a shop premises and would be willing to place a Stafford Lancers collection box on the counter, as our weekly subscriptions don’t cover the costs of running the band.
Additionally,
• Do you have an event/fete/special occasion that there is potential to perform at? Unfortunately, we are unable to perform free of charge as it costs us money to get our large equipment there and we need to earn additional income to support the band, but if there is an opportunity perhaps you could get it touch and it can be discussed!
Finally,
• Do you have other comments, suggestions, ideas, anything you want to say regarding the band / music / hobbies etc that may be of use? Perhaps you’ve always thought “why doesn’t this happen” or “what happened to” or a fundraising idea.
Now is the time to get involved for 2012, as we plan our schedule / dates in the diary etc. We also have a management committee meeting tomorrow night so any ideas raised and (hopefully!) offers given can be discussed and carried through. Stafford Lancers, its members and staff, represent Stafford throughout the country each year and it would be great if local residents and businesses could support this activity so that many more people can be involved. Send me a PM or get the discussion going...