HUSKY BAND & SPIRIT

With so many differing ‘gameday’ scenarios, rehearsal issues, location changes, there is never a day in-service that is problem-free. Over the course of the year, there are a plethora of events that require setup, active-facilitation, and teardown… which means there are tons of chances for problems to present themselves! From transporting heavy equipment, to conducting halftime shows in a packed stadium, there are so many moments where things can ‘go-wrong’. It is said that character is define by how one reacts to adversity; as a member of the HMB Student Staff, there are many situations full of varying degrees of adversity, and those situations always become the most memorable when quick-decisions are made to solve the issue at hand. There is rarely the ‘right’ way to fix the problem at hand, but some solutions are definitely more efficient than others, and are more replicable for future scenarios.

When it comes to serving such a large organization (one that has MANY elements & moving parts involved) it is very much an “all-hands-on-deck” situation. An organization of this size can never be a one-person-show… It calls for multiple leaders to band together and constantly brainstorm new ideas, new ways of doing things, and for as many people as possible to help out with the laborious tasks that are necessary for the organization to function at the highest possible level. As Staff Assistant, it is vitally important to lead in such a way that ‘lightens the load’ for all involved; to essentially make it so no one feels spread too-thin… and so burnout does not occur. Within such a large group, there are many people who carry differing strengths, and it is up to the Student Staff to figure out where everybody’s efforts should be designated towards. If the Student Staff are focusing on utilizing others’ contributions in an effective and efficient manner, the toughest goals set can be accomplished in a graceful manner.

We are given two ears and only one mouth… meaning we should listen twice as much as we speak. As Staff Assistant, there are times where there needs to be extra eyes & ears on the field during rehearsals; eyes to assist the visual designs/formations of the show, and ears to assess the musicality and encourage musicianship of the highest degree. Outside of conducting and assisting with rehearsals, much of the roles of the members of Student Staff are reliant on verbal communication from directors and staff. Sometimes, this verbal communication is presented during loud scenarios (sometimes through static-filled walkie-talkies) where the adrenaline is high and everyone is moving at a fast pace. Due to the reality that sporting events and marching band music is extremely loud, it is imperative to stay focused and tune the ears to the requests made from the higher-ups. Failure to do so can result in a collapse of functions among the staff members since everyone would be assuming different versions of one piece of intended information—much like the game ‘telephone’ but on a larger scale with real-life implications. In addition, the members of the marching band approach the Student Staff to provide insight, opinions, concerns, and the like… which requires careful attention to listen to the needs of the members and see them as individuals who have value.

Staff Assistant is one of those roles that is a never-ending journey from the moment you are hired to the moment you pass the baton to the successor. Every day is an adventure; every day presents new opportunities—opportunities to learn, to grow, and to achieve the fullest potential of one’s self-development journey. There are moments that push to the limit, and moments where it feels like giving up is the easiest thing to do; however, through these situations are where the most growth occurs, the most skills are honed-in, the joy shines through. From learning how to drive unique vehicles, organizing events, running sound equipment, leading rehearsals, conducting shows, and entertaining crowds that push decibels into record-setting-limits, there is never a dull moment!

Within the Husky Marching Band, there are varying levels of authority: Senior Staff, Student Staff, Drum Majors, Section Leaders, Squad Leaders, and so on. Within each category, there are clear power dynamics at play, and create checks-and-balances so no decision made goes without oversight and refinement before it gets put into action. Staff Assistant particularly is a role that is in a very unique spot on the power scale: it is technically above the rest of the students (section leaders, etc) but drum majors almost hold as much power. The Staff Assistant answers to the Undergraduate Assistant (essentially the president of the undergrads) who answers to the members of the Senior Staff (Director, Director of Ops, Graduate Assistants, etc). Staff Assistant & Undergraduate Assistant serve together and do the same tasks, but there are slight power differences in terms of final-say during the day-to-day basis. Outside of the HMB, there are external power dynamics at play… especially during sports events where there are so many other authority figures telling everyone where they can & cannot go, and what they can & cannot do.

To hold a position on ‘Student Staff’ is to hold a role that is synonymous with the idea of service. Service is the backbone of all leadership positions within the organization, and if one were to try and carry out the duties without a focus on servant-leadership, one would quickly become disheartened after most likely becoming burnt-out. Service requires a proper heart-posture—one that places the needs of others above the needs of self; one that seeks to uphold the values and morale of the organization far beyond the reach of negativity. From filling waters for everyone, to serving dinner and cleaning up when messes are made; from applying first-aid to wounds to being there when someone is going through moments of anxiety and needs someone to talk to… The Staff Assistant does it all, and does it all with a smile & positive attitude. It is a pure joy to serve such a wonderful organization!

Similar to problem-solving, having the ability to respond to ambiguity is a necessary skill one must have—or at least be willing to develop—to adequately fulfill the duties of Student Staff positions. Due to the fact that things are in constant flux, and there are a ton of members in the organization, things can become unpredictable quickly… so quickly that the response has to be formed during the ‘fight-or-flight’ mode of the brain. This may sound dramatic and exaggerated, but it is completely true. Anyone who has ever served as a Student Staff member of the Husky Marching Band can confirm that there is constant ambiguity that takes place during high-stakes situations where the circumstances are less than ideal and people are pulling the leaders in every direction at the same time. At times, the ambiguity comes from lack of clear communication due to the varying levels of power and so many ‘telephone’ scenarios that require authority figures to clear-up. Sometimes when this happens, decisions need to be made without clarity since time is of-the-essence. This requires the ability to have great judgment, critical thinking skills, and the ability to be flexible and patient with others. If done properly, the moments of ambiguity can turn into moments where everyone can thrive and celebrate the successful outcome.