Since we’ve been joined this summer by many, many, new-to-us faces, (which has my heart all a-flutter – I’m just so happy to have everyone!), I thought I would provide a bit of a run-down on what is our most high-profile gig: the annual trek to Victoria Beach!
This year, the date is Saturday, August 11. We always choose a Saturday because it’s an all-day event, and this one has really snuck up on us! (We have our gig next week, two weeks off, one rehearsal, then the Beach!)
Your executive committee mobilizes and really pulls out all the stops to make this a most enjoyable day at the lake for us.
Because the band pays for parking, we try our level best to carpool. If you are someone who needs a ride, please make yourself known. I’d like to avoid the last-minute panic if possible, so please don’t be shy about speaking up. (Email, comments on the blog, speaking to me – Elizabeth – directly – all of these are ways to help us help you have a day at the lake).
It’s also good for you to know that Victoria Beach is a pedestrian community – they strictly limit the use of cars. There will be a shuttle (usually we have two) moving percussion and other heavy instruments from the parking lot to the bandstand where we perform. Anyone who has mobility concerns will be able to hitch a ride as well.
We arrive hungry (around lunch time) and perform for about an hour, rest for 20 minutes, then play for another hour. (Don’t worry – it’s the one concert where I do my level best to drag out the talking in order to help your chops. I won’t lie to you, though – it is a long blow).
We do have an audience – largely weather-dependent. But, what you may not realise is that the band’s sound carries throughout the community, so there are folks listening to us play from their cottage yards. In other words, it’s a bigger audience than it looks. The other thing to be aware of is that your committee promotes this actively by publishing concert information in the local newspaper and by strategically placing posters throughout the Victoria Beach community. We are well-hyped!
After the playing is done, the partying begins. We are extremely fortunate to have friends (Jim and Frances Woolison) who graciously open their cottage to us for the remainder of the afternoon.
The band takes care of supper – we ask for a contribution of $5/person to help with food costs, payable to Dave Patrick (our treasurer and the man behind the timpani – among other percussive-type things). Dave will walk around collecting lunch money at the Woolisons’ cottage (so we don’t solicit money from someone who isn’t there).
Friends, family, spouses, nearest and dearest strangers – as long as they pay their $5, they can eat with us. It is BYOB.
It’s a really fun day, and I hope most of you will be able to join us!
The committee does need to know numbers in order to make sure we provide enough food. I will do a “show of hands” at rehearsal on Wednesday to get a count, but I know some of you are not able to be there.
If you are not able to get to Wednesday, July 11’s rehearsal, but you are planning on attending Victoria Beach, please comment below with the total number of people are in your group (that would be yourself, plus any non-band members you are bringing to share in the food) on or before July 20, 2018.
I will be bringing myself and Paityn and my mom as a guest.