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International Coverage!
Intro: Welcome to the Indy 2006 coverage! I (Scott Johnson) will try to keep you updated on what we're up to during our stay in Indy. This year seems like a much shorter trip, so I'm sure things will move quickly. I'll try to include a few comments about our activities, with the most recent here at the top. Let me know if you have any questions (email me here).
Latest News - Monday, July 10: And now back to our regularly scheduled programming! By now, everyone is home, well except for me -- I'm still in Indy for my real job (till the 15th), but otherwise the guys and families should be back home. I'm still getting some pictures and will post them as soon as I can.
Sunday, July 9, 12 noon: Months of preparation, work, coaching, planning, worrying, anxiousness and anticipation are now boiled down to 'relief'. Many of the guys and families are either home or on the road. I talked to Sandy in the bus a few minutes ago and they left about on time (9:00 eastern time). I have a few more pictures waiting to process (actually waiting for time to work on them), so there will still be more updates, hopefully later today. But for the most part, International for 2006 is about over. Lots of conversations are already taking place about what we do next, and believe me, it all involves raising the bar even higher on our performance level! It's been fun so far, and there's plenty more to come. By the way, for you St. Joe locals, our next performance is for Harmony University on August 5th. You can read more about it on the main VOA page, but I would encourage you to buy your tickets (we are the only seller for non-Harmony University attendees, and we make a little money on it too!). See you there!
Saturday, July 8, 2006, 9:00 a.m.: If you haven't looked it up already, we placed 23rd. Ok, so it wasn't top ten, or 15 or even the 19th we came ranked. But when we asked everyone if they felt good about our set when we came off the stage, it was a resounding YES! And that didn't happen last year, we were pretty down about it LAST YEAR. Do we wish we had place higher, yes, but we are 23rd out of 800 (!) choruses in the WORLD. We are very proud of our performance, and yet, we know we have lots of room to work and improve the set for this fall. Also, many of the guys were told by audience members that ours was very "entertaining". Plus we had fun, so isn't that the goal! I have lots of pictures from yesterday, including ones from other cameras, AND I have GREAT pictures of our contest set. I'm working on putting them all together and hope to post them early this afternoon (things have been kinda crazy). Check back soon. Contest Pictures (added Sat 3:20 p.m.)
Friday, 7/7/06, 11:00 a.m.: Another good rehearsal. We seem to be remembering the things Bemo told us at each previous rehearsal, so collectively it keeps getting better. Most guys are at the Chorus competition. Everyone is due back at 4:30 for the final warm-up. (No pictures from this morning, same ol', same ol' rehearsal stuff, but I do plan on getting more pictures from other cameras soon!)
Friday, 7/7/06, 8:40 a.m.: Another good rehearsal last night, including a surprise stop from our recent coach David Harrington. He brought out some nice features of both songs. The guys have worked really hard to fine-tune every aspect of our contest set. Our last true rehearsal starts here in a few minutes, then many will go watch the first half of the chorus contest. At 4:30, we'll be back at the hotel for a final warm-up and then enter the contest pattern at 5:30. On-stage at 7:09 p.m. (6:09 Central time). Pictures from Thursday evening
Thursday 7/6/2006, 3:20 p.m.: Some guys made it up in time for breakfast, then it was time for our first official rehearsal in Indy. Everyone seemed anxious to get started and by a little after 10:00 a.m., we were warmed up (mostly!) and going. Bemo focused on energy in the verse of the ballad as well as a "big, fat, warm" sound throughout. By 11:45 we were done and a busload rushed off to the contest site to catch 12th St Rag and 3 Men in the quartet contest. Most are still at the contest and a few are back at the hotel goofing off. Bemo promised us an intense practice tonight at 9:00.
(Wednesday 7/5/2006, 11:45 p.m.): Most of the chorus has arrived as of 11:30 p.m. A few will be coming in later due to work commitments, but it's good to have "most" of us here.
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