My youngest son is in his high school’s marching band, and during the holiday season they had the opportunity to march in a parade that was widely televised. Apparently the process for getting invited to perform in a big parade or bowl game is to send in an application. The application may include recommendations, information about the band and what it does, and of course a video showing the band performing. Obviously when this video is made, it will be a well-rehearsed band that is playing and marching its very best! And if something happens that is not its best, I assume they then make Take 2! and perhaps Take 3! It’s such a nice luxury to be able to do things that way rather than a nervously performed audition, isn’t it? This band has been to many, many parades both in the U.S. and in other countries over the years, and they have a wonderful (well-deserved) reputation.
But times have changed, and things may not be as comfy these days anymore. Just like Britney Spears could tell you, we are not always in control of which of our images get circulated to the public. Right before the band’s trip last year, the band director called a meeting to scold students who had not been rehearsing regularly or seriously enough. He said practice had been sloppy because some of the students didn’t know the music or the marching well enough yet! Then he pointed out, “It would take just one bad YouTube video to ruin the great reputation we’ve enjoyed for 35 years.” Wow. Of course parents make videos at every football game and even at some of these practices, and of course a fraction of those parents put the videos on YouTube. It never occurred to us that someday the people in charge of a parade or bowl game would say, “The _____ band wants to come here? Well let me look at some of these YouTube videos….nah, don’t think so…” The wonderful convenience we find on the interwebs can also turn around and bite us, so be aware of what fragments of your life are finding their way out there!
Photo credit: rochelle, et. al.
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You take the good with the bad I guess. I mean, 20 years ago 99% of the populace had no means of broadcasting to the public. Now anyone with a computer has a broadcast platform–and that makes each of us more susceptible to appearing gratuitously in public media.
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So true – It really is wonderful how much we can do now. I can easily share very large files with my mother in another city, instantly point her to videos of the kids I have made, all sorts of things we take for granted these days.
That’s when the beauty and ugly of internet come crushing in with each other. Plus, good things never travel far, but bad does. Isn’t it scary? You got that right, Put your best foot forward! Give the best and always be cautious, we never know who’s watching. Well, at least we know HE is. =)
Best wishes my dear friend. You’re really getting better and better in your writing. I enjoyed it a lot!
@wchingya
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Well said – the beauty and the ugly! Makes me glad I’m not a celeb.
Thanks so much Ching Ya! You are such a sweet friend, and I always enjoy learning from your site.
Technology is coming back to bite us. This is similar to GoogleEarth’s street view where you can take a discreet look at a property you where considering buying.
Now my lovely wee home, with a garden full of spring flowers, was recorded late afternoon, on a gray winter’s day, and looks bleak and friendless. Good thing I have no intention of moving!
So, yes, every time we are on public view nowadays we have to remember that somewhere, someone might be adding us to their latest YouTube offering.
Oh wow! Yes, you’re so right! I sometimes see terrible videos on TV where people have played pranks on each other too. And of course everyone with a phone can take video instantly now.