I am a big fan of the show Bar Rescue.  Watch enough episodes and you figure out that it is simply a variation on a theme: Bar is failing….because the staff is failing….because leadership is failing.  John Taffer comes in, with a couple of other experts, and teaches the leadership and the staff the things they don’t know that they don’t know.  Quite often they are good people who simply lack the knowledge and insights they need to be successful.

In a similar way, I like to think LCL Mentors is part of a show called Band Rescue.  Bands are struggling….because the students are struggling….because leadership is struggling.  LCL Mentors offers an opportunity for band programs to elicit the support they need to learn the things they didn’t know they need to know.  Your program is not a failure.  Your students are not failures.  YOU are not a failure.  Just people who perhaps, lack the knowledge and insights necessary to reach your potential.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to recognize and acknowledge those times when you might benefit from the support of others.  Band directing is not an easy job.  You have to be a teacher, administrator, travel agent, repairman, banker, parent, friend, psychologist, and any number of others things you didn’t learn in college.  You could be embarrassed by the need for help, wise enough to ask for help, OR embarrassed that you needed help and never asked.  You get to decide.  Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert