We here at "Gulf Coast Corps Review" were able to catch up with "Prof" after their home show in New Orleans last night for a brief interview. What we came away with, well, we still arn't sure of.

GCCR: Hi, are you Prof ?
Prof: Well, depends on who's asking and who's buying?
GCCR: Well, my name is Arthur T. Shrank III and I'm a staff writer with GCCR and if you don't mind, I'd Like to ask you a few questions for our weekly on-line news feature.
Prof: Never heard of it, you paying cash ?
GCCR: No no, this is strictly a non paying gig.
Prof:: then you're buying
GCCR: Buying WHAT ?
Prof: Martinies,... Bombay Sapphire Martinies,.. you'll like them, by the way, you like fish ?
GCCR: Fish ? uhhh I guess so
Prof: Anchovies son, anchovies in the martines

At this point he made a bellowing sound and within 5 minutes the whole corps and staff had gathered around him in a very quiet, ordelly manner. As I tried to get close enough to hear him speak he just frowned and grunted untill I moved away. He spoke for less than 3 minutes and the everyone started moving towards the equipment truck and finished packing up.

At this point he pointed towards me and said "follow the truck".

Driving out of the parking lot and winding between the more than 200 live oaks, I really wasn't sure what I was in for but as lemmings to the sea, I followed. I must say that following the trucks was easy. In bold print on the back of each 48' trailer was a sign that said: : I may be slow, but I'm ahead of you". Later I would find the meaning behind this sign.

Arrival at school

As I pulled into a parking lot between two seperate gyms I realized that no matter how run down the metal type buildings my be, the field is one of the finest natural turf fields I've ever seen. A full sized field, but no stands As I got out of my car I noticed a tower that must have been 35-40 feet tall and at least 12 x 12 platform at the top with something large that seemed to be covered in timpani covers.

I noticed that besides the 2 tractor trailers, there was only one Vanhool coach in the lot decorated in school colors.. The place was a bee hive of activity as car after car of members pulled up and started moving into the gym. I was not sure why everyone was calling some people "Doc" At this point "Prof" pointed at me again and yelled "follow me" as he got into his car.

As I followed him out of the lot I noticed that the driveway was lined with yellow hazard paint in what seemed to be 221/2 inch intervals, but I was taken aback again as I noticed his tag plate and the holder that said " I may be slow, but I'm ahead of you". 4 blocks later we were pulling into the lot at a local bar. As we entered a group of people got up to leave with nothing nice to say to "prof" yet the rest of the bar seemed to welcome "Mike" as several people leaft their seats for Mike and I to sit down.

As I opened my notebook and got ready to write, the bartmaid smiled and introduced herself as she set a bottle of Bombay Sapphire on the bar along with 4 martini glasses, a shaker, bowl of ice, olives and a can of anchovies. At this point Mike began to make martinies with the skill of a craftsman and the attention of someone doing brain surgery.

Barmaid: So Mike, you been out playing band.
Prof: <nods his head not looking away from his work
GCCR So I noticed a large group of people leaving when you walk in, was that because of you ?
Prof: Naaa, we get along, it's just that since this new fangled on-line juke box was installed, we listen to alot of Buddy Rich / Getz / Jo Stafford stuff those headbangers and cowboy wannabes don't like.
GCCR: So, I noticed you have trucks but only one bus ?
Prof: No, that's the bus for the sports programs, along with 6 or 8 school buses parked in another lot on the other side of the gym. No, our buses are on the way. We didn't expect to need them back out of the shop but it looks like we picked up a show in Houston Sunday night so we called to tell them to stop working on them and get them to school ASAP.
GCCR: You're pulling buses out of the "shop" for a trip ?
Prof: Out of the paint shop, they were going to be painted Monday but we need them.
GCCR You OWN your own buses ?
Prof: It's the only way to go, I wanted to buy old Silver Eagles but there just are not enough parts around so we settled on 4 early 1980's MCI's that we bought from church groups for less than 20 grand each, then stripped them down and rebuilt the engines as well as the interiors to make them more comfortable for the kids....those days of cramming kids on a bus used to #### me off as a member, so we reworked the interior with 40 seats on 3 of the buses, each with a kitchenette in the rear and a flip down big screen just behind the drivers seat. The 4th bus is fitted with 28 seats and the kitchenette and all that stuff but we also have a work table for meetings and 12 bunks for sleeping. You know, for less than 70,000 a bus we have some of the top of the line equipment on the road, and besides, it fits into out "old School" way of thinking

GCCR: So is that buss with the bunks the staff bus ?
Prof: We don't have a "staff", we have members too old to march. To seperate members and staff is something I've never liked. They must learn that they are equal in the mission. Besides all of the instructor/members are all students of mine. They might have graduated back in the late 70's, but they are still my students and some have become my teachers.
GCCR Your teachers ?
Prof Yes, we believe that we all have the ability to teach each other "something", some more than others. The instructors are all really great teachers and band directors of their own school programs and many have learned things that I never did. Hell, I'm a common sense guy and learned through mistakes through the years. I was LD and had to reinvent many things in music so I could understand it, but I guess you noticed that from our brass scores so I'm gonna leave them alone in sectionals and one of the other directors will take that over.

At this point people were wanting him to play some music so I got a brief moment to try and get a grip on just who this guys is. I just wasn't sure where to go next. As I was thinking, Buddy Rich's "Love For Sale" started to play as he settled into his seat to mix another batch of Martini's.......

GCCR: So I would like to know more about your "old school" concept
Prof: Well, I think many people miss the older shows of the 80's and 90's. I think too many "staffs" have lost touch with the audiance. Joe Average is not going to spend and arm and a leg for a ticket to watch most corps today. Even if they marched, they might be able to appreciate the show but very few will buy another ticket next year nor will the donate to the cause. You know, Bobby Hoffman said it best and I really don't remeber the exact quoye but it was something like this
If you take 100 people, maybe 20 will know a classical piece, maybe 50 will know a Buddy Rich piece, but 98 of those 100 will know Gene Gene the Dancin Machine".What he was saying but in MY words are : People sitting in a football stadium in the heat don't want chilled peach tea and sushi, they want a big ole HAM SANDWICH and a cold beer. The guy with mustard running down his face knows what he took a bite of and wants more. Thats something few corps today can offer to Joe Average and we aim to please.
GCCR: So who is Bobby Hoffman ?
Prof: Who is Bobby Hoffman ? Are you serious ? How can you doing an interview about Drum Corps and you don't know Bobby Hoffman ?

PROF Listen, if you really want to know, take the ride to Houston with us and experience time with the kids and me and I'll have you eating Ham & Cheese Po-boys or Mufalattas in no time. And don't worry, we have wi-fi installed on all the buses.

Well, how could I pass this up ? I didn;t even have the chance to ask him about the 4 man line of 14/16/18 tim toms or the fact that the 10 man snare line plays on TDR's with pinstripes. Hopefully I will get my interview with this bizarre man and maybe learn a few things on the way.

I'll try to get the rest of this interview posted from the bus along the way.

wish me Luck

Arthur T Shrank III
Gulf Coast Corps Review

With another 5 days before their next contest, Shades have kept the reporter locked in bay 3 of the drum bus so that no hints to their progress will excape. Morale has fallen as too much time has been spent in practice on their encore tune "No Body Know the Trouble I've Seen". The corps might be making a trip to a nearby show just to see what everyone else is up to sometime in the next few days

. After a steady diet of Muffalattas, Po-Boys and Roman Candy, the corps is looking forward to a Saturday night out at the Local Ryans Steakhouse and has rented a local water park for 2 am till 5 am freetime fun. The older members and adults wiill enjoy freetime at the local casino run by the Findaho tribe. All in all Saturday night should be a nice break from the gring of practice.

It's been 10 days between shows, we are tuned and hyped and just hope that 10 days of practice shows up in tonights scores. We're just praying to break back into the top 8 of division 1 once more before our show maxes out and we fall by the wayside. and start fundraising.