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My Disney Soft Launch + Humdrum
May. 15th, 2024 09:11 pmMonday I woke up early and nervous of course. How else!
Breakfast and off to Disney. Said hello to everyone and set up my things in the warm-up room, then had a look at my costume. It was on the rack along with everyone else's, with my name (spelled incorrectly) on the separator. Don't worry, my name is spelled correctly on the actual costume tags!
Please DO NOT reshare this photo. Thank you.
Everything fit just as well as when I'd tried it on last. I still needed a hat so went with my boss to "the hat closet" to try some on. Also picked up some epaulettes and a plume and was ready to go.
My boss chose that moment to ask if I'd be ready to do a castle set next week.
I panicked for a split second, but then realized that of the eight medleys he gave me I've already learned two. All I need to be ready for a castle set next week is one more medley, because they are interspersed with parade music for the sets. That was a pleasing realization!
So I said yes, and my boss made the first set of the day reflect what he'd expect me to know for next week: Mickey's Fanfare, Let It Go from Frozen, the Hot Dog Dance, Mickey's Clubhouse, Be Our Guest, Under the Sea, and Wanna Be Like You. I watched the band play these and air-tromboned along. The only one I don't know yet is Wanna Be LIke You. Yay! I can do this!
For the second set I stayed in the break room to eat lunch, practice Under The Sea, and run through all of the parade and flag retreat music. When the guys got back from their set they all checked in to make sure I was comfortable and clear on when to stop and start, raise and lower my horn, etc. I was grateful for their willingness to help and support me; in my experience some guys like to give their subs a hard time, or be ornery because they don't like someone "moving in on their gig." Or the usual: hate my guts instantly simply for being female. But these gents have been total gents! There was none of that.
I said I felt ready. It all sounds straightforward, and it looked straightforward when shadowing, but it's different when you're doing things yourself and have the potential for your brain to go into panic mode. I had to trust that that wouldn't happen.
When it was time for the parade I got dressed in my full costume for the first time ever. I really love the pants and how well they fit! The vest is "ok" but I am excited for the new "female-cut" vests that we're supposed to get later in the summer. The parade starting point is a solid half-mile walk away from the Utilidors (that walk is going to SUCK in the full heat of summer) so we started walking at 2:15 for the 2:35 set. We got there, had some water that was waiting for us, lined up in formation...then the drums started the march cadence, and off we went into the park.
Actual footage! You can see me at the beginning in the very middle. (CLICK HERE to watch)
I was still nervous, but there were so many smiling people lining the parade route, and each time we stopped playing we waved and smiled and people applauded and were having a good time :)
I got all of the starts and stops just fine. Only had trouble musically on a small part of When You Wish; not surprising, that one is a bit tough in spots. I was never out of step once. I did drift a little bit forward and backward, not being used to matching pace in a square-shape (I don't have a marching background) but that is not very noticeable and will come with time.
My favorite part was when we did the little loop in front of Cinderella's Castle, which is also the part when we stop directly in front of the castle to play When You Wish. Imagine that for decades--since high school--you have dreamed of being a musician for Disney. And then when it finally happens, your very first performance is playing "When You Wish Upon A Star" in front of the iconic castle.
It's something I never dreamed I'd get to do.
I'll never forget it.
(stock image)
And just like that, my first Disney parade was over.
We marched backstage and as soon as we stopped the guys turned around and started congratulating me. "That was perfect!" and "Didn't hear any holes!" and "Great job!" and "You're officially one of us now!"
They are so kind. It felt SO nice.
The little cart with icee pops was waiting for us. I got a blue one :)
I even got cheered unexpectedly on the way back down the Utilidors: a woman in a food service costume started heckling "the boy band," saw me, and started screaming, "WAIT A MINUTE! YES! YOU GO GIRL!" I cheered back and we started a brief hullabaloo :P
That also felt very nice :) :)
I hadn't been able to bring my phone for the parade, but stayed in costume and brought it up before the next set, and asked the trombones if they'd be willing to do some photos. They kindly agreed! Our handler Donna volunteered to take the pics for us.
The trombone section (the guy who's about as tall as me is Keith, he's who I'll be subbing for most of the time.)
Keith and I doing poses!
The guys went off to do their set, and I went back downstairs...and ten minutes later they were back down there with me. They got rained out! Also the flag retreat was cancelled because A) the flag-hoist-thing was broken and B) another storm cell was coming through. We said our goodbyes, got changed, and headed out into the rain.
I was so happy to do this today.
Yes, playing in the sun and heat will be hard. Yes, I'm only a substitute, I am not as skilled as the regular players and won't be called more than a few times this summer to fill in. But truly...I have worked all my life to do this. Decades ago, as practically a child, I said, "I want to do THIS." And today I actually, really got to do it. I think it's a rare and wonderful thing. A treasure to hold in my heart.
Fought traffic all the way home where Jameson was waiting to hear all about my day!
I scarfed dinner and did laundry, then spent the night typing all of this up and accepting congrats on social media. I feel awkward? Bashful? About getting attention for this. But it also made me glad to know that fulfilling my dream today brought some people vicarious joy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, we are back to the monotony of data entry!
I was up early like usual to do it, and got about 3 hours in before the company website had some sort of error and none of us could save our work. Annoying!
So I stepped away to vacuum, wash my Minick trombone, make iced tea, and make strawberries n' cream popsicles using a months-old vanilla ice cream and strawberries about to go bad. 1 + 1 = delicious.
Random fact: after the band got rained out yesterday, I realized that I do NOT want my Williams trombone to get rained on, and therefore shouldn't be using it in the park. My Minick trombone is also a rare horn but has all its lacquer so I will use it instead. At least that's what I said, but when I practiced it later I was SO disappointed. It's nowhere near as good as my dear Williams. Argh. I worked on Wanna Be Like You but didn't try very hard...I felt mentally tired after yesterday in the park.
Meanwhile Jameson was out getting his tattoo finished. It's Queen's logo for their Japan tour.
Here are the before and after photos. The first photo was taken after his initial session, and the second was today.
He likes it a lot! It took about four hours today and eight hours total to complete.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday I was so happy to wake up to a thunderstorm. How soothing! And we badly need the rain.
Data entry all morning. At 11 I stopped to go get ingredients for dinner and random groceries.
Lunch, trombone, work, dinner, which was "Summer Pasta" from Dude Diet: Wheat spaghetti with zucchini, tomatoes, pancetta, shallot, garlic, balsamic, basil, red pepper flakes, and ricotta salata. My favorite is when it's all the veggies together, before adding the pasta.
My plate. Ricotta salata cheese is difficult to find, so this time I tried cotija and it was an excellent substitute texture-wise (flavor was not the same but it's ok.)
After dinner I had wanted to do another hour of work, but was slapped sideways by a sudden migraine. I don't get bad headaches too often, and when I do it's usually either tension, eye strain, or barometric pressure. I am lucky; one Motrin and closing my eyes for an hour will usually eliminate it completely. Did that and felt better, but not until 9pm.
Thursday I hope to go for a walk, Saturday we're going to see Peter Pan downtown (I have a friend in the pit), and other than that nothing on the docket.
Breakfast and off to Disney. Said hello to everyone and set up my things in the warm-up room, then had a look at my costume. It was on the rack along with everyone else's, with my name (spelled incorrectly) on the separator. Don't worry, my name is spelled correctly on the actual costume tags!
Please DO NOT reshare this photo. Thank you.
Everything fit just as well as when I'd tried it on last. I still needed a hat so went with my boss to "the hat closet" to try some on. Also picked up some epaulettes and a plume and was ready to go.
My boss chose that moment to ask if I'd be ready to do a castle set next week.
I panicked for a split second, but then realized that of the eight medleys he gave me I've already learned two. All I need to be ready for a castle set next week is one more medley, because they are interspersed with parade music for the sets. That was a pleasing realization!
So I said yes, and my boss made the first set of the day reflect what he'd expect me to know for next week: Mickey's Fanfare, Let It Go from Frozen, the Hot Dog Dance, Mickey's Clubhouse, Be Our Guest, Under the Sea, and Wanna Be Like You. I watched the band play these and air-tromboned along. The only one I don't know yet is Wanna Be LIke You. Yay! I can do this!
For the second set I stayed in the break room to eat lunch, practice Under The Sea, and run through all of the parade and flag retreat music. When the guys got back from their set they all checked in to make sure I was comfortable and clear on when to stop and start, raise and lower my horn, etc. I was grateful for their willingness to help and support me; in my experience some guys like to give their subs a hard time, or be ornery because they don't like someone "moving in on their gig." Or the usual: hate my guts instantly simply for being female. But these gents have been total gents! There was none of that.
I said I felt ready. It all sounds straightforward, and it looked straightforward when shadowing, but it's different when you're doing things yourself and have the potential for your brain to go into panic mode. I had to trust that that wouldn't happen.
When it was time for the parade I got dressed in my full costume for the first time ever. I really love the pants and how well they fit! The vest is "ok" but I am excited for the new "female-cut" vests that we're supposed to get later in the summer. The parade starting point is a solid half-mile walk away from the Utilidors (that walk is going to SUCK in the full heat of summer) so we started walking at 2:15 for the 2:35 set. We got there, had some water that was waiting for us, lined up in formation...then the drums started the march cadence, and off we went into the park.
Actual footage! You can see me at the beginning in the very middle. (CLICK HERE to watch)
I was still nervous, but there were so many smiling people lining the parade route, and each time we stopped playing we waved and smiled and people applauded and were having a good time :)
I got all of the starts and stops just fine. Only had trouble musically on a small part of When You Wish; not surprising, that one is a bit tough in spots. I was never out of step once. I did drift a little bit forward and backward, not being used to matching pace in a square-shape (I don't have a marching background) but that is not very noticeable and will come with time.
My favorite part was when we did the little loop in front of Cinderella's Castle, which is also the part when we stop directly in front of the castle to play When You Wish. Imagine that for decades--since high school--you have dreamed of being a musician for Disney. And then when it finally happens, your very first performance is playing "When You Wish Upon A Star" in front of the iconic castle.
It's something I never dreamed I'd get to do.
I'll never forget it.
(stock image)
And just like that, my first Disney parade was over.
We marched backstage and as soon as we stopped the guys turned around and started congratulating me. "That was perfect!" and "Didn't hear any holes!" and "Great job!" and "You're officially one of us now!"
They are so kind. It felt SO nice.
The little cart with icee pops was waiting for us. I got a blue one :)
I even got cheered unexpectedly on the way back down the Utilidors: a woman in a food service costume started heckling "the boy band," saw me, and started screaming, "WAIT A MINUTE! YES! YOU GO GIRL!" I cheered back and we started a brief hullabaloo :P
That also felt very nice :) :)
I hadn't been able to bring my phone for the parade, but stayed in costume and brought it up before the next set, and asked the trombones if they'd be willing to do some photos. They kindly agreed! Our handler Donna volunteered to take the pics for us.
The trombone section (the guy who's about as tall as me is Keith, he's who I'll be subbing for most of the time.)
Keith and I doing poses!
The guys went off to do their set, and I went back downstairs...and ten minutes later they were back down there with me. They got rained out! Also the flag retreat was cancelled because A) the flag-hoist-thing was broken and B) another storm cell was coming through. We said our goodbyes, got changed, and headed out into the rain.
I was so happy to do this today.
Yes, playing in the sun and heat will be hard. Yes, I'm only a substitute, I am not as skilled as the regular players and won't be called more than a few times this summer to fill in. But truly...I have worked all my life to do this. Decades ago, as practically a child, I said, "I want to do THIS." And today I actually, really got to do it. I think it's a rare and wonderful thing. A treasure to hold in my heart.
Fought traffic all the way home where Jameson was waiting to hear all about my day!
I scarfed dinner and did laundry, then spent the night typing all of this up and accepting congrats on social media. I feel awkward? Bashful? About getting attention for this. But it also made me glad to know that fulfilling my dream today brought some people vicarious joy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, we are back to the monotony of data entry!
I was up early like usual to do it, and got about 3 hours in before the company website had some sort of error and none of us could save our work. Annoying!
So I stepped away to vacuum, wash my Minick trombone, make iced tea, and make strawberries n' cream popsicles using a months-old vanilla ice cream and strawberries about to go bad. 1 + 1 = delicious.
Random fact: after the band got rained out yesterday, I realized that I do NOT want my Williams trombone to get rained on, and therefore shouldn't be using it in the park. My Minick trombone is also a rare horn but has all its lacquer so I will use it instead. At least that's what I said, but when I practiced it later I was SO disappointed. It's nowhere near as good as my dear Williams. Argh. I worked on Wanna Be Like You but didn't try very hard...I felt mentally tired after yesterday in the park.
Meanwhile Jameson was out getting his tattoo finished. It's Queen's logo for their Japan tour.
Here are the before and after photos. The first photo was taken after his initial session, and the second was today.
He likes it a lot! It took about four hours today and eight hours total to complete.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday I was so happy to wake up to a thunderstorm. How soothing! And we badly need the rain.
Data entry all morning. At 11 I stopped to go get ingredients for dinner and random groceries.
Lunch, trombone, work, dinner, which was "Summer Pasta" from Dude Diet: Wheat spaghetti with zucchini, tomatoes, pancetta, shallot, garlic, balsamic, basil, red pepper flakes, and ricotta salata. My favorite is when it's all the veggies together, before adding the pasta.
My plate. Ricotta salata cheese is difficult to find, so this time I tried cotija and it was an excellent substitute texture-wise (flavor was not the same but it's ok.)
After dinner I had wanted to do another hour of work, but was slapped sideways by a sudden migraine. I don't get bad headaches too often, and when I do it's usually either tension, eye strain, or barometric pressure. I am lucky; one Motrin and closing my eyes for an hour will usually eliminate it completely. Did that and felt better, but not until 9pm.
Thursday I hope to go for a walk, Saturday we're going to see Peter Pan downtown (I have a friend in the pit), and other than that nothing on the docket.
