It's been a LONG while since I've looked at this blog. A pandemic tends to throw a wrench into things.
But I got some questions from Sam, NACHO trombone in Findlay, OH who joins us during the summer. And while I was just going to jot down my replies and send them his way, I thought this was a good opportunity to get back in here and start journaling again about the NACHO journey.
So let's do some NACHO reflection!
From Sam:
I got some other questions for you too. On Wednesday I'm holding the first rehearsal for my own band like NACHO. We got 6 people showing up for the first day. I’ve written about 10 charts so far.
How do I make it from first rehearsal to the first few gigs?
Our first year we mostly practiced and only had a couple of gigs. The first, the Columbus Marathon, wasn't until mid-October and the others were some holiday gigs which we used the Salvation Army Band books.
I recommend contacting events like 5Ks, local library events, and other fundraising type events who don't have any music listed as part of the event. After our first year, I started cold calling/emailing any event I could find where I knew music would be appreciated. Many didn't have a band and we provided a fun boost for the event, which got us invited back.
The aim was to have at least one performance a month that we could look forward to and that gave us focus. Early on it didn't matter what the gig was, just that we were getting out in public and playing.
Now how fast that works for your group may be different than it was for NACHO. We started out with several Eastern European charts that were tough to play and took a lot of practice to get them right. We also got some high school level pop charts which didn't take nearly as long to get "gig ready."
Even today with the newer charts that Martin arranges, we will break them down into three categories:
- Play it once or twice and it's ready for a gig
- Needs a few rehearsals to get gig ready
- Woodshedding for a few months
This helps decided what type of charts to work on during practice. Once we sight read all the new charts they get grouped into the above categories. Each practice we will have a few from each category, knowing we will spend the bulk of the time on the "woodshed" charts. Most 90 minutes, allows us to get through anywhere from 10 - 14 charts.
How do I keep people involved?
This is what keeps me thinking and planning at the end of and beginning of each season. We get many people join the band because of the mission and the style of the group. But what keeps them engaged?
Goals!
For NACHO, it's fundraising. When we started raising money and specifically promoting our fundraising for a pinball machine for the Ronald McDonald House, the interest and ideas from the band members increased tremendously. It gave them something to aim for, to support and to brag about.
Fundraising is a natural fit for our band because of our relationship with the hospital and Ronald McDonald House. After spending a few years establishing ourselves and getting connected to the right people, it was easier to build that relationship where we could fundraise on their behave.
Along with fundraising is high profile gigs like ComFest, Jazz and Rib Fest, HighBall Halloween. When those types of gigs are on the schedule, it gives the band members something to look forward to...and work towards. These are the gigs where you bring your "A game."
Most of the gigs we play, are low key, low stress and low expectations. Not that we don't want to give our best and put on a good show...but for most of the audiences out there, just showing up, playing and making them smile and laugh is all you need to do.
I will regularly remind folks that whatever they commit to, bring their best for that day. It won't be the same for each gig, and it doesn't need to be. Life happens and you have to take that into consideration. You will get members who come in after a horrible day or getting horrible news and all they want to do is play and forget for an hour or so. Let them do that and take whatever they give you.
The more you play and hang with your musicians, learn about them and their interests (in and out of music), the more you'll be able see what will motivate them.
What have you learned organizing Nacho that you didn’t know when you started?
Short answer: SO MUCH!!! lol
I would say the number one thing is how to manage the people. Get to know them, what they bring to the table and listen to any and all ideas. Many of the things we do came from various members of the group, which is another way to keep them involved and engaged.
Managing the money
This became an issue in our third year. Early on we got paid a small amount that covered some of our charts and the original signage we used. Then we had more paying gigs that involved paperwork and "on paper" NACHO didn't exist. So I handled the money and it went through me. The problem with that came when tax season rolled around...I was on the hook for that "income" even though it wasn't really mine, but again, on paper, there was no NACHO, so I handled the taxes for that income.
Early on we met with representatives of the NCH marketing and Foundation teams to see how we should handle the band as an entity. Should NACHO be an official part of the hospital? If so, what guidelines to we need to adhere to because of this?
It was ultimately decided, NACHO should be it's own organization that is "aligned" but not officially associated with the hospital.
That is why we go by NACHO Street Band, and not Nationwide Children's Hospital Orchestra...even through that's where the name came from when we started. It's part of the band's history, so when people ask, we can share that but we make sure to keep ourselves separate from the hospital to avoid confusion.
Ilana, one of our flute/piccolo players is a lawyer, who in 2018 was working with a neighborhood group getting established as a 501.c.3 nonprofit. That's what we wanted to do, so I worked with her to get everything in order, so "on paper" we could be official. That process took a few months, but by the end of the year, we had signed and submitted the paperwork to establish ourselves as a nationally recognized nonprofit.
That made everything else easier: getting a NACHO bank account, setting up our nonprofit Google account, collecting money, and promoting our mission.
Delegate!
I handle about 85% of what needs managed for the band. Early on get other band members to help find potential gigs, find out what other skills (music or other) that they can bring to the band.
Martin handles music: arranging, running rehearsals, etc.
Jessica handles designing: posters, stickers, etc.
Pete, Gary, Larry, and anyone else who likes beer: find bars and breweries we can play
Ilana - Bexley 4th of July gigs, legal advice
All band members: on the lookout for any potential gigs where they live - helps to cast a wide net
Practice your pitch!
Be able to share what your band does and what they are about in a 20, 30, 60 second elevator pitch...and have it written out so it's ready to send out via email, text, or social media.
Scale Up!
Don't try to do everything all at once and be prepared to experiment to see what will and what won't work with your group. As you find what works, be prepared to expand in those areas, especially as your band grows.
And what works now, may not work next year. As your catalogue grows, don't feel like you have to play the same songs all the time.
We started out playing in costumes for the first year or two. Then it got too hot in the summer months to always be in costume, so we adopted the tropical shirt look. We tried a hospital+steam-punk look...that lasted for about two gigs. Then we gradually came into the tropical shirts & T-shirts "uniform" for our events.
Adapt or Die - Be Flexible!
NACHO attire has adjusted because it needs to and will continue to based on the gigs. Same with the music and types of gigs we play. I am always looking for new opportunities for the band, which again keeps them engaged and involved.
Trying to stay as one thing can be okay, but you will find yourself reaching limits. This can be okay, but it may be more difficult to keep members engaged and expand in musical and venue opportunities.
Bottom line - make playing music fun for the musicians and the audiences. You do that and you'll have a successful group.
