Section 2: Playing the Game
Developing a Website for Your Guard
First off, let's
clarify what this means. You don't have to go all out and purchase space, tools, or
hire someone to build it for you. It's just simply a webpage that the game utilizes
as an outlet for you to put your show into words. Because the game implies human
judges, your webpage needs to display certain criteria so that the judges can score your
guard. However, don't be shy with the design of the page. Let it be just as
intriguing as your show!
Go to one of the free
webspace providers, such as Yahoo! Geocities, Tripod, Homestead, (if you have) Hometown
AOL, etc. It is completely up to you who you use. Each have space limitations
and offer free homepage building tools to help you if you need it. On your site,
you'll need to display costume design, silk design, any stationary stage props, and in
writing, describe the show concept and show theme. And through your creativity you
need to some how link your show music to the page so that judges and other players can
hear it as they are enveloped by your show idea.
Assistance with this
requirement will be provided upon request. If you need help and want it from the
OAWGS, please send us an e-mail with the subject line of Guard Site Help. Be
sure to include your Guard Name, OAWGS Password, and URL of your site with a description
of what you need help with.
Developing Your Show
A winter guard show
consists of more than just putting a number of individuals on a floor with a routine.
There's creativity, style, design, originality, intellectual attachment, visual
communication, imagery, and craftsmanship. This part of the game allows you to put
your visions into a physical and legible perspective for everyone to enjoy.
There are three key
show elements that preside over a show idea. They are show concept, show theme, and
show design. These elements work together and when executed well, they produce a
successful image-inducing, emotion-wrenching, goose-bumpish physical reaction. As
mentioned above, all three of these show factors must be on your player homepage for
adjudication. Explanations during text-based sections are crucial. Be sure to
label each section on your player homepage to avoid confusion on the judge's part.
Because human players judge all three of these sections, there are
several specific guidelines involved. Be sure to follow them to evade
disqualification. To get more information on judges and adjudication, click here. Listed below are the criteria to use when
developing your show.
Show Concept
The show concept is
a virtue of words. Because we cannot view the conjured images in your head, and you
of ours, this portion of the game requires you to explain your show idea verbally.
How the musical selection, costumes, silk designs, floor tarpaulin, stationary and
animated props gel to create your show. Each section will allow your mind to set
free the notions, creativity, and overall concept.
The more detailed the
explanation is, the higher your score will be. Elements to be judged will be
originality, definition, and technical merit.
Originality
A unique quality that is not of duplicative nature or reminiscent of OAWGS / WGI guard
performances.
Definition
To explain the idea thoroughly with detail and reasonable precision without making
reference to an OAWGS / WGI guard.
Technical Merit
To use a level of grammar with flowing phrases that amend ideas to one another allowing
the judge to immerse themselves into your show without interruption.
Show Theme
The theme is a
corridor of audio dreams with no exit echoed by a breath; allowing the audience to become
enveloped in your concept with ambiance. This section entails that you reference
your show concept with a purpose to why the concept exists, evolves, and executes;
allowing a tangible idea to become re-invented through your perspective and opinion.
The more detailed the
idea is, the higher your score will be. Elements to be judged will be originality,
definition, and technical merit.
Originality
The unique expression of opinion and re-creation of a distinguishable concept.
Definition
To place the idea within a realm of understanding, relative proportion, or theatrical
justice without making reference to an OAWGS / WGI guard.
Technical Merit
To use a level of grammar with flowing phrases that amend ideas to one another allowing
the judge to immerse themselves into your show without interruption.
Show Design
Design is an aspect
of optical illusion; creating and re-creating a vision that you see with your mind's eye
and casting it upon a stage for others to see with theirs. This, by far and parallel
to WGI, will be the most difficult of tasks within the game. With the difficulty
comes a soothing sense of style and shape, crucial crux of color, and precise position of
detail and poise. This section demands a great deal of planning and coordination
while you integrate a level of ethereal power and unique stature to your show.
Bringing to life a
working dream takes time and attention to detail from a design perspective. Each
element must belong to the same ideology yet stand for an individual purpose. When
constructing the physical aspects of the theme and concept, put the design in respect to
interpretation of what you see, what you would want to see, and what would make you see it
if you could not understand it in words. Areas of design typically consist of, but
not limited to, floor tarpaulin, backdrops, stationary stage props, animated stage props,
costumes, silks, weapons, and spinnable props. They provide a palette of creative
energy from which you can paint a masterpiece of moving art.
When displaying this
section, please label silks and props for the orchestration stage they are used, i.e.
"Opening Flag" or "Stage 1 Flag". If you decide to use weapons
that differ from the traditional shape, size, weight, etc., be sure to make a physical
interpretation for the judges. The more detailed your design, the higher your score
will be. Elements to be judged will be originality, definition, and technical
merit.
Originality
The unique display of visual enhancements to bring your vision to life.
Definition
The appropriate use of design elements to re-create a vision that coincides with
musical selection.
Technical Merit
A professional perspective and action taken to construct each element as it represents
a integral part of the show.
Stage Design
This section allows
you to explain the orchestration of the show. Since there are staging elements
selected as rehearsal aspects of the game, a description of each stage gives the judges an
account of visual aid to understand the concept, theme, and design as a working
production. As you submit a show specifics form within the competition registration,
the judges will be aware of these staging elements in order to accurately adjudicate the
areas of your show in part and as a whole. Be sure to break down each stage and
describe the interpretational value as they relate to the concept, theme, and design of
the show. This section is judged as part of the overall impression category.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are the
decisions you make that directly affect your guard's competitive performance. Based
on when you hold them, how often you hold them, for how long you hold them, and how you
utilize the time during them, your guard will be affected in various ways. After
you fill out the Audition Form and it has been processed, within 24 hours you will receive
an e-mail informing you that you are set-up to begin rehearsals.
By clicking the link
sent to you via e-mail, you will find a concise version of your audition showing only
those members you have selected. Statistics for your guard are also found here.
This changes from rehearsal to rehearsal and after competitions. Near the
bottom of the page, you will find another link which allows you to begin your next
rehearsal session. Within each of these forms are criteria you must fill out
detailing the account of your rehearsal. Because rehearsals from session to session
may not be the same, we've made it to where you can choose what is being rehearsed and for
how long.
Prior to holding
rehearsals, it is wise to develop your show ideas. This will help determine staging;
who is doing what during which part of the show. You will have the option to
determine these during each rehearsal. Also, you may want to print out your
rehearsal results prior to holding another rehearsal. Rehearsal sessions are not
archived and are deleted by successive rehearsals.
Rehearsal Time
Rehearsal time is
not scheduled nor is it set for a specific block of time. The game determines
rehearsals when you hold them by what day you fill out the rehearsal form and how long you
hold them by the amount of time you spend on each exercise and stage section of your show
each session. The assumption of break time is not included unless you specifically
manipulate your members to where they aren't working the entire time. This is an
element that you must figure out by trial and error.
Rehearsal Specifics Form
On this form, you
will notice that it looks similar to the audition form, however, it shows only those you
selected as members of your guard. There are some differences to this format though.
The Select area is more than just a check box. In the Select area, you find
16 categories with initials. These initials represent orchestration staging.
The initials are defined as:
Name
|
Description |
Lower-case "o"
|
"o" is the opening stage of the show. Those who begin the
show with this piece of equipment or lack thereof while performing. |
Lower-case "f"
|
"f" is the feature stage of the show. A required element
that details that all members of a group must perform at the same time on the same piece
of equipment or dance with the same routine. Only one equipment or dance feature is
required. |
Lower-case "c"
|
"c" is the closing stage of the show. Those who end the
show with this piece of equipment or lack thereof while performing. |
Lower-case "s"
|
"s" is the stage-to-stage section of the show. Those who
spin or dance parts of the show that are not during opening, a feature, or closing. |
Upper-case "D"
|
"D" is the dance element of the show. Those who are
performing without equipment during any stage of the show. |
Upper-case "F"
|
"F" is the flag element of the show. Those who are
performing with flag during any stage of the show. |
Upper-case "R"
|
"R" is the rifle element of the show. Those who are
performing with rifle during any stage of the show. |
Upper-case "S"
|
"S" is the sabre element of the show. Those who are
performing with sabre during any stage of the show. |
Upper-case "P"
|
"P" is the prop element of the show. Those who are
performing with a non-traditional piece of equipment during any stage of the show. |
Be sure to check
that you don't have a member performing two equipment/movement pieces during the same
stage of the show unless that is your desire. This increases rehearsal time to
execute the show with the chance of a successful performance. It is also wise not to
continually change your mind from who is doing what when on a frequent basis. It
causes confusion and stress on your members. Having a plan and sticking to it
usually works best.
Upon completion of this
form, you will begin the rehearsal session.
Warm-up Exercise Form
Most rehearsals
begin with a body movement warm-up. This is your chance to develop the flexibility
and body movement of your guard. By selecting the exercises and the amount of time
you spend on each one will increase or decrease their ability to move according to your
standards. Each exercise will be defined at the bottom of the form by a
checkpoint-count system. Notice that some exercises are named something that you may
not be familiar with, but when reading the description of how to do them, you may call
them something else. This is just part of the nature that some parts of the country
call one thing something where another part calls it something else.
If you have a specific
exercise in mind that is not listed, please format the exercise in the checkpoint-count
system and send it via e-mail so that it may be
added.
Major Sphere of Influence:
|
Dance |
|
Expression |
|
Movement Judge's Scoring |
|
|
Minor Sphere of Influence:
|
Morale |
|
Professionalism |
Fundamental Exercise Form
Equipment
fundamental exercises are more common with nearly every group. It introduces the
basic building blocks to beginning members and aligns experienced members into a
simultaneous unit. This is an opportunity to develop the natural talent into
skillful art with equipment of your guard. By selecting the fundamentals and amount
of time you spend on each one will increase or decrease their ability to spin by your
standard. Each fundamental will be defined at the bottom of the form by a
checkpoint-count system. Notice, once again, that some fundamentals are named
something that you may not be familiar with, but when reading the description of how to do
them, you may call them something else. This is just part of the nature that some
parts of the country call one thing something where another part calls it something else.
This form also
separates fundamentals into two groups, Flag and Weapon. Only those who have been
selected to perform flag staging will benefit from flag fundamentals, just as only those
who are selected to perform weapon staging will benefit from weapon fundamentals.
If you have a specific
fundamental in mind that is not listed, please format the exercise in the checkpoint-count
system and send it via e-mail so that it may be
added.
Major Sphere of Influence:
|
Flag |
|
Rifle |
|
Sabre |
|
Morale |
|
Equipment Judge's Scoring |
|
|
Minor Sphere of Influence:
|
Professionalism |
|
Ensemble Judge's Scoring |
Sequence Work Form
Sequence work is
where all the warm-ups and fundamentals start to evolve. Sequence work is a phrase
that describes show routines. Here you will decide what area(s) of the show you will
rehearse. By choosing the area, amount of time spent, and level of difficulty of the
routine, you develop your show with the guard learning and performing in a rehearsal
environment. When selecting a section, only those who are selected during the
rehearsal specifics will benefit from it.
Level of Difficulty
The level of
difficulty is a factor that is applied to standard of how hard it is to do something.
It ranges from 1.2 being the easiest, most basic routine to 3.6 as the humanly
limitless level of work. You determine the level of difficulty by evaluating the
members who are performing that section of the show and determining if they can handle it.
For example, if the members of the opening stage on flag average a 50.00, you might
be inclined to say, "They can do 50% of the highest difficulty work as a group so I'm
going to create a 2.4 level of work to this section". This may be true, but you
need to attempt it first. Now, if you're keeping records and reading the statistics,
you'll know if that was a wise move and can continue along those lines, or if it may need
some modification. As a rule, the higher level of difficulty is only awarded when it
is flawlessly executed during performance. Failed attempts at higher difficulties
usually result in lower scores.
An example of a proper player/guard homepage can be found here. ( https://members.tripod.com/oawgspresident/
)
Blind Rehearsals
Blind
rehearsals occur when you are ready to hold a rehearsal session and results from your last
rehearsal/competition have not been posted. On occasion this event may happen, so
there is no need to worry. Your results will be posted as soon as possible for all
blind rehearsals as they accrue. To hold a blind rehearsal, just simply use the last
link to your rehearsal results and proceed as normal. If your results are not posted
within 72 hours of a session, please contact the OAWGS
President.
|
