First Impressions

Where to begin?

My name is Tyler 'Ty' Long, I'm a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma where I reside today as an active arranger, clinician, adjudicator, and owner of EVision Music. I'm an alumni, educator, fan and sponsor of students in DCI, BOA, and WGI, but most of all I am the voice, brains (what little I have), and orchestrator of "Stepping Off!".

So, what's the scoop? What do I bring to the table of "blogging"? Where is my coffee? No, really its 2 a.m.; I'm writing my first blog and have misplaced my coffee...ouch!

By now, you can assume I'm not here to report in as a young adult waiting to be selected as a future marching member, nor am I the "old guy" recalling his days of marching timpani or glockenspiel across the DCI touring schedule. I'm the middle man, the new alumnus , and the aspiring young adult who has the privilege of creating a world with the knowledge and experience the pageantry arts have bestowed and with that give back to those organizations.

Now outside the hectic life of a would-be arranger and educator, I've discovered the true heartbeat of all pageantry arts, non-profits, and small businesses are the ledger books and the savvy businessmen. Ever heard the phrase "you can't get something, for nothing"? It's most certainly the prime evil of creating and maintaining a dream, whatever that dream may be, but without the driving force of economics you'll most certainly fail. DCI, BOA, and WGI all are facing monumental struggles daily, weekly, and certainly on fiscal bases. Music for All  recently released a press announcement for the "BOA Alumni; 1.25 Million Dollar Campaign" (http://www.bands.org/alumni/ ); they're looking to raise money to offset the decline in funding and the ever-growing  price for deserving venues to host the outstanding Bands of America regional and national events. Also, Drum Corps International (www.dci.org ) hosts numerous corps websites, all of which can access their respective home pages, and on at least 90% you’ll find a call for alumni, sponsors, and fans to help in that push to get those tour busses down the road and back again.

Today's economy is killing our arts; it's drowning the brilliant educators and events in debt rather than encouraging growth and new age design. As the young adult businessmen, I seek to persuade more people to help support our struggling foundations … assist where you can, attend events, buy the overpriced t-shirts and DVDs (with a smile), but above all insure the future of pageantry arts, today!

So, there you have it! My first "Stepping Off!" blog; raw emotion, incredible facts, but most of all a topic of true importance and significance that I felt would make a great first impression and open the door of my heart to one of the battles I'm most passionate about. Don't worry - not all will be starch, fact finding and nail-biting suspense; I'll loosen up the tie and unbutton the collar and let the enjoyable moments of my day to day entertain. Until then, thanks for reading!

Forever Royal,

-Ty.