As the season progresses, Wilson’s marching band Royal Wilson Marching Alliance (RWMA) advances into each competition at different schools and places. However, Wilson’s RWMA received the opportunity to host the Golden State Field Classic (GSFC) on Oct. 29.
This year marks the 33rd annual GSFC is an event hosted by the RWMA organization each year. The competition features marching band and color guards together from schools all over Southern California. However, the challenge appears for the RWMA in the form of hosting the event itself. In addition to performing at their competition, members of the RWMA are also the workers of the event for the whole day, starting from ten in the morning to nearly midnight. Students are assigned roles throughout the day, such as parking, admission, food and stadium to ensure the event runs smoothly.
On top of that, this year they have added additional food booths as an opportunity for each section to raise money for the band. Each section, divided by instrument, is placed in charge of the sale of a certain food, and at the end of the night, the sales are totaled up.
With so much to manage, it is a wonder how the students of the RWMA are able to handle it, while mentally preparing to perform later in the night.
Junior Monica Vargas gave some insight into how she balanced performing and working throughout the night.
“I just tried to preserve the things that I knew I needed later, like strength in my legs. I have work to distract me from worrying about the show later,” Vargas says.
Monica currently plays the clarinet on the field and worked at the stadiums on the day of GSFC. Jobs in the stadiums include cleaning up the bleachers, designating spots for seating, and controlling when spectators are allowed to enter the bleachers in between performances. Roles such as this involve being on your feet quite a lot, so students plan out ahead how long they need to take a break before performing on the field.
Another student, junior Yessika Espinosa, shares the most challenging part about hosting GSFC.
“Staying on task and not getting distracted by other things is probably the most difficult,” they explain.
Yessika plays the mellophone (a marching french horn) on the field and was in charge of food sales this past event. As stated earlier, every section is in charge of a certain food item and the mellophones chose elote. So, in addition to performing with the mellophone on the field in the evening, they also had to manage the sale of elote during the day. Food sales become especially busy when larger schools start showing up, since those schools tend to bring in larger crowds of people to watch them. Combining the work of making the elote, managing orders, and exchanging money, while also preparing for a performance, is a lot.
With so many things to take care of in such a short amount of time, it takes discipline to carry out each task to the best of one’s ability. Every student has a job, and along with the help of parents and volunteers, they all can put together an event as organized as GSFC.
It is not easy to host large events such as this, but they are often one of the most effective ways to raise funds large enough to support the entire band. Supplies like food, water, tables and tents were all external donations put together by the RWMA. In the end, the RWMA and other marching bands across the nation are maintained through the support and money they can earn through their events.
At the end of the day, students put in the work and effort needed to fuel their goals later in the season. That being said, the RWMA’s next performance will be at Los Altos on Nov. 5. Hope to see you there!
