This year, band director Josh R. brought his marching band to perform in Walt Disney World® Resort for the first time. The trip was successful, and Josh hopes to start a tradition of performance travel at his school. We were lucky enough to get insights into his experience planning and going on tour.
A Bit on Disney World
When it comes to choosing a destination, “the performance venue is the big thing for me,” says Josh. He thought the Disney parade would be the perfect opportunity for his band. His personal highlight of the tour was watching his students step off to march. “The kids lit up. They were so excited to step out and perform for everybody.”
Another reason the high school band loved Walt Disney World® Resort? Escaping Midwestern winters: “It was in the 80’s the entire time we were there!”
Parent Concerns
Alleviating worried parents can be tough, but Josh did it like an old pro. When parents expressed concern over paying for the trip, Josh planned a series of fundraisers throughout the year. Other concerns included the length of the trip (it was a full week), cleaning uniforms and the fact that Josh had only been at the school for two years.
Going Social
“We did a lot of social media while we were down there. We used the hashtag #marchwiththemouse on Twitter and Instagram, which allowed parents to see some of our experiences.”
Working With Brightspark
Josh describes working with his personal team at Brightspark as easy and efficient. “They were very good at responding with emails and taking care of everything. And our Tour Director Ron Dalboro was fantastic.”
A Big Impact
“The kids have been over the moon about the trip. The school made a big deal about it and made announcements on our morning and afternoon. We have our trophy showing in the front office. Overall the parents and students were ecstatic about the trip and our strong performance.”
