Give and Take

Okay, so here's the update on the pep band situation: I weaseled my way out of this Friday's game.

I had people in place at the admin meeting on Monday who pushed for a loophole that would allow me to cancel if I had less than 10 kids show up. I went ahead and took it. The truth: I think I had less than 10 kids available. For sure, I had less than 10 kids confirm that they would go. There might have been more... but I was already resigned to cancel, so i didn't ask.

I told Principal Palpatine, and she wasn't happy... but she did agree to let me cancel. But I could tell that she was really displeased.

So... where I should have been happy that I got my Friday vacation back, I ended up feeling a) guilty for wiggling out of a commitment and b) fearful for the consequences this may have on my relationship with administration, athletics and the football parents.

But today, I may have turned things around for the better. Before I left school yesterday I put in a call to one of the "big gun" marching band directors in Southern California, a guy who's been around since I was in high school, running one of the most aggressive, competitive programs. I told him that we needed a drum line coach, and wondered if he could give me some names (and some advice.) It turns out Mr. Big Guns was off the entire week. I left the message on his voice mail, expecting him to get back to me on Monday. Maybe.

Well, it turns out Mr. Big Guns is a workaholic like me. He checked his voice mail (via remote) and gave me a call today on his cel (he was at a car dealership waiting for a repair). We talked for about an hour. He gave me the name of a drum line guy that he recommended highly. As soon as I got off the phone with Mr. Big Guns, I called Drum Line Guy straight away. He sounded VERY interested in working with us. He's going to meet with me next week.

So, about an hour ago I fired off an e-mail to Palpatine, as well as our athletics director, the ASB advisor, the football coach, and the assistant principals and told them about the progress I made towards developing the drum line.

Not ten minutes ago I got a reply from Palpatine:

Mr. Maestro, thank you for moving forward. It is obvious to all of us that you have taken the request to heart and you have spent a lot of time on making this possible. Your efforts will not go unnoticed.

That's what I needed to hear. I can now dig in to Thanksgiving dinner in peace. And I don't feel so bad about Friday's game anymore.

Whew.