80 – Competition Best Practices: Bhangra at the Alamo
Sup y’all, on this episode of The Bhangra Podcast, we are talking to Ampal Kaur and Deshmesh Singh about their experience running the award winning competition Bhangra at the Alamo and hopefully you can learn from some of their best practices.
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Transcript
This is The Bhangra Podcast stop y'all.
2
And welcome to another episode
of The Bhangra Podcast.
.
3
And today we're going to be talking to
the co-directors of bhangra at the Alamo
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and talk about their experiences
running the award winning competition.
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And hopefully you can learn
some of their best practices.
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All right, let's get into it.
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my name is ample.
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I am the director,
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one of the directors of bhangra
at the Alamo.
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I mean, it was a smash.
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And the other director, thing.
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That girl.
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Awesome.
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And so these two are.
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We've actually competed
against each other back when we.
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At least I first started dancing
in, 2014.
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I was back then, I was on Steel City.
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They were, you know, on Alamo.
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And you kind of gone back and forth
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on these guys for a while, and it's
awesome to see a lot of competition.
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And also my favorite competition that's active right now, like absolutely won. And,
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they won
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best Best Foreign Competition
at the Summer awards.
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And overall, just as a competition
I've heard just rave reviews
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from absolutely everybody,
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whether it comes from communication,
mixer, sponsors, like every
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from every aspect of this competition,
it has had nothing but praise.
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And the reason I wanted to put them on
today was just to kind of
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get an idea of how they ran the comp.
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One lessons can be learned.
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What lessons can be gleaned
from their experience, and how other comps
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can copy this experience and hopefully
adapted to their own practices.
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So I guess, first and foremost,
why did you guys start like,
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what was the reason you guys started Alamo
on the first date in the first place?
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I think I think for me it was just like
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I said, it was just on my bucket
list as the only person.
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yeah.
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And, yes.
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I don't want you on vision
for the longest time.
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And I think after the pandemic kind of hit
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and I wanted to insane
comes forward happening.
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I think you just kind of took that time
to, like,
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actually sit down
and talk about it and plan it out,
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and then, you know, once restrictions
started lifting,
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trying to just find a venue
and kind of like, build it organically.
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We didn't really know what we were doing
initially.
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And, but yeah, it was just me.
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I realized you for a long time,
and I think, I think Texas
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definitely deserved it.
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On the mission of our foundation.
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And, yeah, I just want to throw a
really good one specially, in the South.
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I think we
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had a conversation in like 2016,
but we were so young
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then we had one meeting
about throwing a competition,
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and like one of our friends dorm rooms,
and we never talked about it after that.
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I don't know if you remember that
the finish it was, it was in Rama's dorm,
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but we like we talked about doing a comp
and we after that day,
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we never talked about it because I think
we were still a little young and
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and still I was still in college.
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And you don't have the skills or resources
or money to develop the competition.
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But, I think after the pandemic,
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we weren't dancing.
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We had a lot of free time.
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So I think summer of 2021, 2021.
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Yeah,
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2021, we decided,
look, we started looking at venues
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and no one was responding to us actually,
but we just started there.
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We started looking at venues
and getting a price.
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And we also like wanted to combine.
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And like we always talk about our
two favorite or three favorite clubs.
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So we just wanted to like combine
our like knowledge
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and accomplishment
to throughout the ten years
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I've been dancing
and put it all together into.
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So what were those?
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What were those influences?
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How the what were those comps, as
you kind of drew inspiration
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from?
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my first comp that I really, really loved
was the Notorious Vanguard.
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I was in 2014, and that comp was like,
it wasn't the best run comp,
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but our liaison was the best
liaison I've ever had in my entire life.
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And he made that experience that good.
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So of of Sheen,
if he's still around and he was so good to
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so he made that experience so good.
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little
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fun fact that the Compton have t shirts
and they like last day
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put like ironed on the logo on t shirts
and just handed it to us
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and we were like,
oh my God, it's not even that good.
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So I've seen handmade new t shirts for us
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with our names on the back
and sent them out to Texas.
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Yeah.
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So that's
that's the best liaison experience.
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So that's one of them.
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So that's kind of what we took
that look at. Lee is on.
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He makes the experience.
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It doesn't matter like how great
the comp is or where the comp is.
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It's the liaison
that makes or breaks it for you.
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An English maybe you can talk quite a bit.
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Oh God.
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Yeah.
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I mean, that was just like,
I think I was the first time Tucson.
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We ran t where like,
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you kind of feel like money was no object.
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just because, like,
the grand scale of the mixer.
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And I was at leasing and, like,
the venue was fantastic.
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And like, I think we got, like, a party
bus, the after party that.
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Yeah.
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got a theme.
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So for people who don't know teed up
and that was ran by releasing
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who who's a YouTuber
and now doing other things.
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But she ran this formerly a competition
and the theme was circus.
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Yeah.
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So that was the entire theme
throughout the entire weekend.
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Yeah.
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And you had to include,
some sort of circus gimmick in there.
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So which is interesting.
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Think so?
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Yeah.
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It was, it was so grand,
like the mixer had bouncy castles in it.
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The mixer had like circus games
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and like carnival games and it like, it's
something I've never even seen.
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And this is like my third comp,
so I'm like already so spoiled.
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You think from like
I went from like fun little bird to t dot.
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so like that was a big factor in that.
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Like how money can bring in a lot
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like the experience just gets better
when you have money in your pocket
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and like anything else in life, I guess.
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Yeah, yeah.
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It's I think other comps,
we were just like
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biography where I think I would talk about
just been there.
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He was just very involved
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as a director with the teams,
and he would come and check on us.
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So that was a good like example
of how a director can be approachable.
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You can, he can also like show up to your
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like tech time, like he was just around
and he made us feel like we were at home.
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And the last comp
that we drew inspiration from was RDR.
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I don't think it was the all girls
competition.
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that happened in DC,
and I actually got to judge that.
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That was really
cool. But a lot of our like,
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I think we took inspiration from them.
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I loved the way they ran it.
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So we actually sat down with End of Need,
who was one of the directors
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or one of the board members,
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and she gave us a lot of tips
and tricks on how to budget
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and how to have a schedule,
like what kind of schedule you need.
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They were so organized, so we
we took a lot from them as well.
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Yeah, we also I my yeah.
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With just been there too
and just like how
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he ran fever and this was all leading up
to like our first night.
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So we definitely talk to.
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But we had Martin in the circuit
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Walter Lloyd also.
And we started our comp.
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So shout out to those guys to open up and
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share
all that information, information on this.
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One question
that you have and I think this is a comp,
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this is an issue that plagues
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a lot of any competition,
whether they're just starting
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or they're getting getting ready for
the next year is just
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sponsorships, fundraising,
like when you're not, especially
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as a competition that is not attached
to a school that just kind of has
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a relatively easy source of funding.
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isn't attached, however,
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personally seems to have
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like has isn't
doesn't seem to be short of funds.
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It seems to run really well and run
just like any other competition.
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So I guess all I have is for anybody
who's out there maybe listening
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to this and thinking like, well, yeah,
I would love to get a competition.
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But like when we even start
getting the money to even like this
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or put like a down payment
to reserve the venue or anything like
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that, I know it.
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well, I think, I think what we had done
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initially was Nelson's a recommendation.
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Oh yeah.
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From like RDR,
I was trying to build a budget.
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Right.
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So just make a list of everything
that you can think of
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that would cost money to to throw up our
competition and like, put a number on it.
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And even if you go even if it's a guess,
let's put a number on it
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and then, you know, tally everything up
like you would tally things
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from like positive venue to like,
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you know, the cost, stickers
that we want to give to everybody.
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And they're making Easter baskets, like,
everything.
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And judges hotels, like judges flights,
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like cameramen, like flights and hotels.
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So, like,
we added all that up before we started,
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I think
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before
we even, like, signed for the venue.
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Yeah.
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So we just make, like a giant budget
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with every little detail thing
that's going to cost money.
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And then like, once you get that tally
and you have that giant number
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at the bottom, then you have like a goal,
like, okay, for us to throw this comp,
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we need to raise,
you know, X amount of dollars.
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And then from there, you know, what we did
is we built a fundraising packet.
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And you know, everybody on board
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was assigned a certain dollar amount
coming into the comp.
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So if you want more
then you had to hit your fundraising goal.
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and obviously,
like we all helped each other,
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talk to people and whatnot, but,
you know, said
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that 100% is is it
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comes out to be set community,
foreign competition.
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Yeah. Right. No community.
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in San Antonio, you know, supports us
in multiple different ways.
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obviously
fundraising is a big one of them,
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but we also do our best
to showcase their business, whatever
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it is, in multitude of ways
through our fundraising packets.
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and obviously invite them to the show.
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And like, you know, this is probably
the biggest lift, I think that we have,
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entering a competition is fundraising,
right?
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Because he can't really throw up
until you know that, hey,
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we're going to hit our budget number
that we put aside to today's competition.
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so on and so forth.
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I mean, if we're going from like,
the ground up,
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you know, and you're out there
and you want to throw a competition,
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I think the first thing you want to do
is figure out
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what your biggest expenditures can be,
and it's usually going to be your venue.
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So, you know, reach out a couple venues,
get some pricing and see where you're at,
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you know, and then from there
you can build your budget.
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That's going to be the biggest chunk
of money you're going to spend is
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on that event. Yes, yes.
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And I want to
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ask a little bit more,
a little bit more into the outreach thing.
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So this is actually an issue
I have with a lot of competitions where
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like because they're funded by the school,
they just kind of
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have it very easy in the sense that
they have fundraise, which is awesome.
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Like,
you know, you can run the competition,
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blah, blah, blah,
but then look in the audience
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and there's like 20 people there
and is an auditorium is empty.
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And I ask them like, yo,
where is everybody?
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It's like, oh no, like this
probably had a the team go anywhere.
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Did you post on anything
other than Instagram?
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And Facebook was like, no, why else would
what else would you do?
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You do
your own thing isn't on Facebook like
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like they don't follow whoever, like,
why aren't you going to the wall?
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Why am I in the must you do the television
or whatever the heck?
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Why are you like, table in there?
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perfect example.
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Okay, so brb first four years
if you watched any old burger videos like
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one through four, like it's standing room
only like that entire audience is packed.
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You cannot find a seat. It is crazy.
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and they would go table.
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They do all this stuff.
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And then I remember burn.
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My sophomore year.
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So I think those like, burn
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the the off beach up here.
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big ten.
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Yes. So they,
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so they which I think sit told them
they go to guys
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like you need to like go to them on theirs
and all that stuff.
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You need to go physically table
and then one of the uncles,
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apparently the director was like,
hey, oh, you guys are back.
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I have like,
I would I missed you guys know and we need
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you've been going on the past
ten years like, no, you haven't.
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I didn't know about it.
Let in the community.
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Yeah. But yeah.
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No. Strangely like didn't even know that.
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Do this like, this is such an easy dog.
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Just go sit there like you need to, like,
actually put
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like, any outreach,
it really needed something very important.
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And so other than just, you know, like,
I, I like what are some like,
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what are some things that you did
to like actually gone to community.
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Like it seems you guys have like obviously
does it live in John
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so long so maybe easier
just naturally think of like who I go to.
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But what is something like
what are some things
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that what are some techniques challenges.
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That's that's something else to learn from
you guys
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and what you did
in order to like better connect with
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that.
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It's like fill the stadium.
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I mean, auditoriums.
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Fill the auditorium, fill like whatever,
like getting donations, whatever.
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But like, honestly, I'd like you fill
the seats.
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You got money to.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, I think I think for us, we,
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Yeah.
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He's able you tables outside.
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that's I think we're, we,
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visited, like, all the Indian restaurants.
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you know, in the area,
we put up posters everywhere.
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Indian restaurants, Indian grocery stores.
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Yeah. And mean grocery stores.
You know, he's hot.
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So the people that are on them,
I mean, they're like,
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put up the post train ticket piece.
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you know, we like, hey,
this is happening.
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You know, I know drive people there like,
you literally like stick
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posters, you know, on the registers.
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So yeah, they'd be like, you can put it.
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And I was like, can I put it on here?
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Like,
where everyone checks out? Yeah. you.
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Know.
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Yeah,
we were a little annoying about it, but,
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you know, like you, I'm doing, you know,
one of the people that we went to to go
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for the poster ended up being a sponsor.
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So, you know, we are just like,
or anything that kind of happened.
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But, yeah, I mean, you just got gotta
you just really got to be out there.
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And I think to your point, yeah.
Like you can't just post on Instagram.
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You have to have conversations
with people.
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I think we also
you try to hit up a couple of like,
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Indian events that were happening
in the city like outlet.
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It was like a whole
event or something like that.
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you know, we try to hand out,
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literally just hang out.
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There's the people, like, if you were
interested in, talk to people.
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And surprisingly,
I mean, you get a lot of positive
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feedback and people are, like,
itching to go to something.
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and, you know, obviously, depending
on your price point where it might be,
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you know, we definitely make sure
that you don't want to pass out
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anyone right in charge,
some exorbitant amount for a ticket,
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you know, I mean, for us, it's
all general admission.
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Everything's the same.
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Everything's the same cost.
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You know, we want families to be able
to take their kids to something,
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where they can see
their culture showcased on stage.
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and so we don't want to, like,
make some crazy pricing up
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so you can have a pretty straightforward,
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and I think I think the other thing is,
is like, like we've been
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to competitions where they have like
these like ginormous auditoriums,
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which is like super grand looking,
but then like, yeah, it's your place.
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I'm going to quickly show up
and there's all that. Great.
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So yeah, you know,
that, is not the biggest auditorium
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at all,
but I think being able to feel it,
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you know, makes it feel that much better.
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so, you know, sometimes in a smaller
auditorium, you can fill it easier.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Like we we went to look at one this year
because we were just I was just curious
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and it had like 3000 seats.
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And I was like, I will admit that selling
tickets is the hardest thing we do.
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And it requires a lot of time.
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Every weekend is is set aside
to go to the quarter and table there and,
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and talk to aunties and uncles like it's
hard like to like have to stop them
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and like tell them about a comp
and it's it's not easy.
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Like I understand it's awkward sometimes,
but you have to do it.
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I don't know if every conference
this way, but our, our auditorium
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uses Ticketmaster.
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Ticketmaster,
either you have to buy it online
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or you have to go physically to the venue
and we get to take it there.
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Yeah.
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So in our case, we know our Punjabi
community isn't going to go drive
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all the way to downtown
and buy one ticket for their family.
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So what I, what we do is
I kind of work around there.
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So I I'll go and pick up like 50 tickets
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before every Sunday
and we physically sell them to all right.
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We physically tickets out to them.
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So it's lot more convenient.
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And instead of using Ticketmaster,
as you know, they have a lot of fees.
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So like $30 tickets going to be $40
if you use the online method.
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But if you go buy a physical ticket
and just like possible,
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yeah, they're saving ten bucks and
they physically have the ticket already.
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So I think that kind of helps us,
I think more direct, like people.
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Nobody likes doing it on online,
I think not our,
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not like the go to the community.
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But yeah, we just want ten tickets
and they want
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they want to physically see them.
So give it to them. Yeah.
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Yeah.
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I think one other thing that we did was
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they kind of house and I think
a lot of times already kind of do this.
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But you know, if you're
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trying to think strategically,
how do I get more people in the seats?
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You know, why don't you just invite, like,
the local Unger Academy,
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you know, give them an exhibition slot or,
you know, their local team or,
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you know, so everybody wants to come
watch their kid form.
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Everybody wants to watch the farm.
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So, you know,
if you invite others to come exhibition,
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they're more than likely going
to bring people,
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with them who will obviously need a ticket
in order to see the show.
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So, you know, you can.
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Think
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heads teams because then their yeah,
their parent and their mom and dad comes.
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So that's two. People.
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okay.
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The kids teams and then they're going
they're grandparent parents.
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So as for the tickets already sold.
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So like we we make an effort
to showcase our academies here.
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Like this year we're going to showcase
our own academy as well as the Houston.
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Yeah.
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And so a lot of the kids are going to be
like they they're so excited.
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Like a lot of kids at our academy.
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Now for Alamos Academy, I can remember
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for DeLay's performance because they were
in the audience watching last year.
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And they like talk about like, oh,
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I remember that move they did
that we're showing them.
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So it's all the me like this.
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Like, I like this organic circle
of like my impressions.
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Yeah. So,
they're like the little kids and.
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Yeah.
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Bentonville was too hard. Oh, God.
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We teared up like that.
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Yeah. Oh.
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That's awesome.
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yeah. No. Yeah. Because likely.
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Yeah. No, no, no. Go ahead, go ahead.
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Now I just think about
it is really like it makes art like
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it really helps our community.
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Like, we have 50 to 60 people
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that adults want to learn,
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and we wouldn't know that, but it's it's
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really because of all the teams that come
and they showcase their talent on stage.
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And not everyone wants to be like them.
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Oh that's cool.
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Wow. Okay, cool.
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That's that's fantastic.
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Yeah.
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No, I mean like, Amber, I was on the go
to, like, with champs and CIA.
405
Like,
that was a thought that was like CIA.
406
Rob basically winning
champs was a huge thing for them.
407
I've been bothering, some to, like,
408
get a cop in Detroit for,
like, the exact same reason.
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I don't really think arts folks,
like, are, like, working on something.
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It's often
that is a really, like, fortuitous circle
411
that just keeps feeding
itself. It's really great.
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I don't know any more questions, though,
like selling tickets.
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And I kind of wanted to move on
to some of the
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the things that the circuit cares
about a little bit more.
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And that's, justice. so
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like, the everybody loves yell.
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Listen, I read all the posts and stories.
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Everybody's talking about blind whatever.
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And like a centralized organization
and all this stuff, I'm like, you
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get candidates over to that.
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And like, I would, more than happy to do
whatever it is, you know, like,
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I mean, you know, honestly,
I just like that it won't happen.
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I don't know what to tell you, but, so,
so but I do really like yours process.
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Specifically what I was reading just,
So what do you guys.
425
so So, you know, quick plug,
426
did you know that you could have listened
to this entire episode seven days ago?
427
If you support us on Patreon,
428
you can get every episode
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429
You'll also get access to the live
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430
where you can ask the judges
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431
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432
as well as access on the Patreon
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433
We're ask a bunch of questions
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434
and also answer more of your questions
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435
anyways, going
to patreon.com/thebhangrapod to get access
436
to even more bhangra.
437
That's patreon.com/thebhangrapod
All right. Bye.
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what we do is we, Well,
439
let's let's backtrack a little bit.
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So, when me and Apple did was
we're putting this time
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together is honestly me
to figure out what our rubric is.
442
And, you know,
rubric is super important to us because,
443
yeah,
that kind of gives our comp an identity.
444
And that's what teams look for.
445
when applying for a top position.
446
and so, you know, once we kind of bake
447
ami break, as long as we could,
you know, put it in the application form
448
so that teams know exactly, you know, what
we're looking for from them.
449
And then we kind of started a process of,
putting out a diverse application.
450
So we let anyone apply, obviously,
and then based on some of the questions
451
that we asked, the resume,
you know, we would move certain candidates
452
to the interview process,
where we interview them in order
453
to have a conversation about,
you know, how they view it.
454
and then you creatively, you know,
455
what are some, maybe some innate biases
that they might have based on their style,
456
you know, where they did that
within their role and so on and so forth.
457
So it's it's a lot of just like an open,
open ended conversation.
458
And it just gives us
the ability to, to understand how their,
459
their brain thinks.
460
I think, and how they view our rubrics.
461
and then based off those interviews,
you know,
462
we'll select judges
that we think one represent.
463
and the circuit will
464
two are able to speak eloquently,
give feedback, really, really.
465
Well, and three, you know, understand
the fact that, you know, when we select
466
ideas for our, they are meant to be
an extension of our committee.
467
They're basically joining our board as
some of the most important people on board
468
because their integrity during that show
469
is what is ultimately going
to give our top credibility.
470
And so we take the rubric and the judges
thing, like really, really seriously.
471
and, you know, we want to ensure that
we pick the right people to represent us.
472
And so that's our hosts in a nutshell,
have won enough.
473
I miss anything.
474
Yeah.
475
No, this is very involved
in the interview process.
476
And then they'll like,
we'll put it on paper and see, like,
477
if these judges match with each other
and then we'll go from there.
478
But I think he covered it all.
479
again, our judging process
was a shout out to RTR, again,
480
inspired by them, because they did that to
me and I really liked it.
481
So we brought it to our comp and
482
and I hope I'll,
I wish a lot of other comps would do that.
483
Like, we're not interviewing you, like,
we're not like drilling down on you, like,
484
what do you think about this?
What do you think about that?
485
We're just ask.
486
We're just having a conversation
kind of like this.
487
We just want to know how you like where
your brain is when it comes to like it.
488
like the way you see the circuit going,
the way circuit has been going.
489
So it's just really just to understand.
490
But I think most importantly,
we try to like, see how they speak
491
and if if they're able to speak
well in an interview,
492
they're going to be able to get good
feedback.
493
So feedback is very important to us. It's
494
I think I always say like the first place
team is so happy.
495
Like, of course they're going to have
496
they're going
to get good feedback from the judges.
497
But what about like the,
you know, the bottom teams?
498
How are they going to be more successful?
499
So it's really important to us
that our judges are able
500
to help them out as well,
because we want them, those teams,
501
every team that comes to our comm
to succeed at the future cons they go to.
502
So the only way they can do that is
if our judges are able to, you know, know,
503
pick their sides and help them get better
504
where they can go and place other comps.
505
So we try to think about like the future
as well, a little bit for our teams.
506
I think the other thing for us is like.
507
You know, when
508
when you have well-established
teams comes your competition
509
more often than not, more often than not,
they know what they're doing.
510
And so you really need
511
a judge to be able
to speak to someone at that level
512
and do them feel like,
you know, or, you know,
513
sometimes people aren't open to feedback
right after it, but maybe helping them
514
understand why they didn't place,
you know, is just as important and moment.
515
And so, yeah.
516
Selecting judges to match the level of,
517
the teams that are coming here.
518
I think it's also really key. So
519
it's definitely important
because I've been in those judges meetings
520
with some teams, and,
521
you know, you really need some people
who really know what they're talking about
522
and are well respected
and able to in order to be able to talk
523
to those people that are looking for
that feedback in that moment.
524
so. Anybody who has
525
judge, let's put that in there, do that
ahead.
526
There. You yeah. You,
you know, you know, you know. Exactly.
527
Yeah.
528
This is one thing I want,
I wanted to ask so one
529
I know of a few different competitions
are going through different ways to
530
give feedback.
531
in terms of,
532
you know, for example,
533
I remember one year
they had a thing where they had judges
534
like this one judge each table,
you rotate to all of them,
535
and then eventually you had
like a full 30 minutes with the judges
536
like that because they were, like you
said, different stuff.
537
then there was just like,
okay, you get ten minutes with the judge,
538
but then like XYZ 18 just, just like, no,
539
we're staying here for 45 minutes
and nobody's leaving until we go.
540
And then there's like,
I think now all of it is,
541
this year where they just said, no,
no judges meetings until like, tools.
542
I just kind of want to know, like,
543
like, what are your thoughts on that?
544
But ultimately I agree these
that's really important to like
545
it's just as like
546
I found this a lot
because you're in plenty of times
547
when I judge and I'm like to
I got 30s to like sing my shoe
548
and I can't, I can't,
I can't communicate this, I can't.
549
I'm like, I'm trying to like, distill
as much as possible, but like,
550
what I really want to do is just like,
pull up your video and be like, all right,
551
five minutes this happened.
552
And this is why I didn't
like it in Boulder.
553
I try to about like how it contrast
wasn't great and all this stuff.
554
And I want to like, nerd out about you
with your formations and stuff
555
in a time for that.
556
And so how do you balance the time
expectation that schedule expectations
557
and also the law,
like the same exact thing you said?
558
Like just feedback does really lead
to like future performance.
559
And if you as a competition create
a reputation like,
560
you know, the judges here smack and every
if you go to this competition
561
like you might not like the places
but like you will be set up for
562
success in the future. So,
563
where some like things or strategies
or ways
564
you sort of in order to like,
help move the feedback is.
565
Well, I mean, I was understanding
so I can bounce people over to this.
566
Yeah.
567
I think a lot it has to do with,
568
well, one like I was at Mila.
569
So I heard about the whole we're
having judges meeting after the comp.
570
So I'm serious.
571
get feedback on how that actually went
because that's, that's an existing idea.
572
but at the same time, you know,
573
regardless, someone's
going to come up to the judges
574
and start
talking to them about things at night.
575
So, yeah, you're not having it,
but you kind of are having it.
576
So the other party isn't doing it.
577
Yeah. Yeah. In here.
578
Let's. Yeah.
579
So, I think for us, like we don't
580
necessarily put a time limit on it,
you know, we want our to feel comfortable.
581
and, you know,
we want to just walk out of that
582
judge's
meeting room feeling, you know, satisfied,
583
so I can put a time limit on it.
584
But then again, at the same time.
585
Yeah.
586
I mean, you know,
you can't necessarily have an hour, but,
587
I think for us, it's like.
588
And we, we talk about this
and we struggle with this every year.
589
It's like,
yeah, timing of the competition.
590
Like I think Americans need to end by
591
like 830, 9:00 like this.
592
Every con is owned by like 830, 9:00
593
teams are back in the hotel
by like nine 930.
594
The latest judges
meetings are starting in.
595
You know, they're going for an hour
and a half, two hours, whatever it is.
596
And everyone still has enough time
to, like, enjoy their time.
597
So I think that's a neat part of it.
598
you know, so it's getting crazy
when like, and I've been a judge,
599
so I understand this.
600
It's like, you know,
you talk your head off for like 2.5 hours
601
and it's like 130 in the morning
and you're just like,
602
yeah, I'm just gonna go to bed.
603
So, I mean, want
I wanted to have a good time. So.
604
So, yeah,
I think turning it off, I'm really.
605
And then obviously like, for us,
like miniature, like, judges
606
signed on to be judges.
607
Our comp, like, you have to be open
to giving feedback after the competition.
608
Like,
609
you have to be able to
give your notes, set up time when people,
610
you know, we're going to skip shares
or sheets, you know, all that good stuff.
611
My show on the Satisfied,
post competition.
612
So if we can't do it
in that initial judges meeting,
613
you know, we'll definitely ensure it
happens, you know, then that first week.
614
So that's something that we do.
615
But yeah,
it's it's not like the best system.
616
But I think the biggest part of it
is really just ending your show on time
617
and giving yourself
enough time that night to.
618
I know you're not honest.
619
I never even thought about that
because I was I right?
620
Like,
621
if you're if your comp ends at eight,
like you can have two hours of judges
622
meetings and like, everybody's still in,
I don't like going to sleep
623
or waking up or whatever at a normal time.
624
And yet you're right.
625
Yeah.
626
Our last performance is like 815, 830.
627
Our last competing team.
628
And then it takes like 30 minutes,
like settle the show.
629
But last year we ended at like 9:00
and our hotel was five minutes away.
630
So you just got one back.
631
And then, I mean, it was hard.
632
I do remember like yelling.
633
I was like, it's only nine.
634
I yeah, I can like it.
635
I was.
636
Screaming, wake up! And then yeah.
637
oh, oh I'm an old man.
638
Yeah. in like, not, not not so good.
639
Yeah.
640
Well,
I think along with, how we encourage
641
good feedback is also
I think has to do with.
642
So timeline wise, our competition
last year
643
happened in April and of early April.
644
Our first judges meeting was in January.
645
So we had our one and only captains
meeting with the judges and the teams in
646
January that give the teams three months
647
to prepare, set to our rubric.
648
So now that the judges and me and the
major have explained the entire rubric to
649
the teams
and they are building their sets,
650
or they're modifying their sets
towards our competition and our rubric,
651
and then when they're
at the judges meeting,
652
I think they can already know why
they didn't like place.
653
I think it has.
654
It really has to do with that.
655
We were really up front with our rubric,
and when we had our judges meeting way
656
beyond, like, you know,
I think any other comp does these days
657
and it helps with like expectations,
the team's expectations and like,
658
well, connect expectations
they have from the judges.
659
So if you're building yourself for Bata,
you know why you didn't win.
660
Like yeah.
661
Because you like knew about it
from such an early early on.
662
So I think I think I would recommend comps
to have earlier judges meetings,
663
maybe have one again if you want to,
just to like refresh for the judges.
664
But like it doesn't help
when the judges meeting is
665
like three weeks before the comp.
666
Like three weeks
is not enough time for us to redo our set.
667
But three months is.
668
So, like,
I think everything like that also helps
669
us, create
good, good expectations for our teams.
670
Therefore they understand like like that's
I just meetings are not that long.
671
Like no one has ever stayed
for 30 minutes.
672
And they, Yeah, they're always like,
I mean, people are upset and things.
673
And then there's a pause about it,
but it's but,
674
but I think this last year
was really smooth.
675
To go into just time management.
676
And, actually,
now that, you know, right now,
677
you guys are going
to the registration process,
678
what are some things you can tell
me about when it comes to
679
timing or
680
registration, like how runs costs,
all that stuff.
681
Like you kind of went into that.
682
How can you talk to me
like as early as possible?
683
but what are some other things
that you think are really important
684
that you're not seeing as much in the past
year, right.
685
I don't. I'm. Sorry.
686
I just have one when I finish things like,
687
we haven't done it yet,
but we will do it.
688
We like to announce our judges
before our deadline
689
so people know what they're applying to.
690
So that's like,
691
I think something that's really important
in the registration process,
692
which
I think a lot of comps are doing now.
693
So I really like that.
694
But you can go, let me think.
695
I think for us
it was also just about like timing
696
everything correctly
so that, you know, once line up is hit,
697
you have won like a bunch
and a lot of time to builders.
698
I understand
699
the regret character just happened
and you just meeting with the captains.
700
I think we also like, you know,
if there's anything that's unclear
701
on the rubric,
we have time to tweak it, you know?
702
Okay, this wording seems weird.
703
you know, judge
A, do you have a changing effect?
704
PDP, so on and so forth. Okay.
705
We're going to rewrite
just flying the rubric.
706
Send it out to everybody,
make sure one's on the same page.
707
and then you,
708
I think, is giving teams enough time
to like book flights, the whole deal,
709
like giving them the best shot
and also I and the cheapest flight
710
so that they're not,
you know, get selected.
711
And so we got to book
flights immediately,
712
you know, before maybe they have it
put together and whatnot.
713
So, yeah, Tanya's
definitely a big thing.
714
and how we spaced everything out, right?
715
For ourselves at least.
716
So yeah.
717
Well, we're going to wrap up in March.
718
That's how starts March. Yeah.
719
Yeah.
720
So we do we give give teams
and us three months to like figure it out.
721
I think that's the time
that's worked for us.
722
And we've done this
for the past three years.
723
And we're going to do it again.
724
so from the day you pick your lineup,
you have three months
725
until the competition. And that's
726
that.
727
We spend our entire three months.
728
So immediately
after we select our teams, me, the Army
729
and the captains,
that team have individual group chats.
730
So it's not just like one captains chart.
731
It's individual group chats with her
and they're constantly
732
communicating with us
so they know our names.
733
They know who I am. You know who this is.
734
And we don't even bring in the liaisons
until like a week before the comp.
735
But me and this may make it an effort
to get to know the captains
736
and answer any questions
they have leading up to the competition.
737
So at the end of the day, if anything,
by the end of it it'll become our besties.
738
So like that's how like, like you
just we just like really get to know them
739
really well.
740
So we do that.
741
I think that's really important because
sometimes you don't even hear from like,
742
the director until the week off.
743
But we're like very involved in the
process.
744
with every team,
745
whether that's like
746
getting the gold letter to help
or I write a letter for NJ
747
because they have to have a letter
to like, come through.
748
So it's just like the craziest,
weirdest stuff.
749
Or it's like, hey, like,
can I ship something to your house?
750
Like, I need it for the stage.
751
So like, we're there every step of the way
for the teams in any way possible.
752
I think a lot of teams, some of the teams
will be like, we need practice space.
753
Like we'll pay for it,
but can you just like director?
754
So we'll like,
try to finding practice spaces for them.
755
And sometimes I mean, we do sometimes,
756
like, we try our best.
757
I mean, I'm not going to say we're 100%.
758
So we try as best as we can.
759
So I think that's like the timeline.
760
The registration will end.
761
we have like early on a date.
762
Luckily, there's no middle one.
763
18th and then two weeks later,
just like every comp,
764
March 3rd and then we have a really quick
turnaround.
765
We're going to tell the teams, like,
766
I think in the next 2 or 3 days
that they're in,
767
we're not going to make them
wait that long.
768
Okay.
769
So just
so they're like ready and prepared.
770
But yeah, I don't know if that answers
your question one thing.
771
So actually I kind of like that. Yeah.
772
One thing that,
773
I mean, if we're talking about earlier
today was like so registration processes.
774
Yeah, I think the registration process
on our end.
775
But take a minute here and just gripe
about, teams submitting their athletes.
776
Yeah.
777
Shoot shoot.
778
Let's get out.
779
Let's go. Hey, Sam, talking to you.
780
Unless Sam White, sending it.
781
And then you get a really good audition
video really does make a great sense.
782
And by graduation video, I'm not even
talking about, I'm going to talking about
783
the clarity of the video,
the lighting in the video,
784
the sound in the video,
785
you know,
they don't send me, like a four £0.20,
786
you know, in a garage
with my head like this angle.
787
This side. Weird thing.
788
I know my my favorite thing.
789
So I judged the Avs for Derby City
and like,
790
somebody just like colorful, like,
you know, like,
791
am I just like, all the brow in the corner
and we're all like,
792
yo, why am I looking like,
how involved will you do it?
793
Y'all? Like, right here like this.
794
Crazy like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
795
So I think I just like little tips
and tricks,
796
you know,
like we're obviously not going to
797
we're going to watch your video
for your dancing, but you know, it helps
798
you like everyone's
799
wearing the same colored pants
and everyone's the same color shirt.
800
And your video is like on tripod,
you know, like you
801
just someone can hold it to
it doesn't matter.
802
But the lighting is good and it's not like
car lighting in the bag flashing.
803
And then you're like, silhouettes.
804
but yeah. So I think that's important.
805
I also think like from a clubs
perspective, like when
806
you're writing out your registration form,
it doesn't have to be that long.
807
All you need is a name and email
808
or phone number
and the link toward their audition video.
809
We don't need anything else.
810
And as a club,
you don't need anything else.
811
Like why would you want to know?
812
Like the name
and their birth dates, their signatures?
813
Like, what are you gonna do that?
814
Like you're telling like teams that aren't
even getting to provide all that?
815
It's it's
so useless you're gonna throw it away.
816
So, yeah, we just asked for a name.
817
Email, birth, not birth name. Email.
818
Hey, how many people do
you think is going to come?
819
They're like 25. Okay, cool.
820
So that's it. Like.
821
And then we ask for a logo
because we use it for like
822
or like a video, but that's it.
823
Like two links.
824
And at the time
they're like we'll email it.
825
So I'm like following up.
826
But regardless, make it like really easy
for teams to apply to your account.
827
Like it's not
828
I don't need to log in to their emails
829
and they don't need to do all that stuff.
830
So yeah.
831
The people don't like filling out forms
that won't.
832
you know, some of these stories,
allegations, forms are getting crazy
833
like, what does
what does I'm sorry, Marilyn Monroe.
834
What does Marilyn Morgan need to you, bro?
835
I don't fucking know.
836
I'm just.
837
I'm trying to judge like it's
nothing to me.
838
Like, I was like, I like it.
839
It's like a cool calm.
840
There's, like, kind of close by, like,
I like the, I don't know. I.
841
Yeah, I think I did.
842
I think we asked that question.
843
No I cannot off enough.
844
Oh okay.
845
Well I don't know if I will.
846
We are coming to you.
847
Maybe we love reading.
848
you think how. Us but.
849
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, it is it.
850
I think it's just like our own,
like ego booster at that point.
851
Yeah.
852
It was like, oh, my God,
you guys are so sick.
853
Like, I love you guys. Texas greatest.
854
The greatest, right.
855
Like, you know Greg Abbott and he's
the best, you know, like oh okay.
856
Okay.
857
I got that right. Yeah.
858
We got to go here.
859
Oh, row. Guys, guys. I'm wearing.
860
What am I wearing?
Like, always a little things.
861
but okay.
862
oh. 16 Reg,
863
I have a
you added a thing about tech time flow.
864
Best practice.
865
Please
866
enlighten. Yes.
867
That's so comedy.
868
Like mixer is important to us.
869
And we try to have, like, fun with it and
try to bring like our unique twist to it.
870
But Saturday, which is most cops comp
days, is the most important day for us
871
and the most important day for our dancers
and our teams.
872
So I want to emphasize that
873
we try to make it as a stress free
874
experience for the teams
as much as possible.
875
I mean, you were there during tech time
like no one was yelling.
876
Everyone was like very calm.
877
So that I think that's really important
as a committee and as a board
878
and a director, you should not be adding
more stress to the teams.
879
You know, I'm not saying
have that walk all over you.
880
That's not right.
881
But like don't stress them out.
882
I'm like, hey, hurry up, let's go.
883
I'm gonna cut your tech time
if we're not there, blah blah blah blah.
884
Like, hey, I'm going to cut your mics
midway.
885
You're not finished with it.
886
Like, if they have a minute left,
let them finish it.
887
It's totally fine.
888
You as a comp, you have to build in
time to know that that's going to happen.
889
Like, we have five minutes from them
to walk from that door to that door,
890
and they take five minutes
to lock on that.
891
So it doesn't.
892
But it's like I would recommend building
out like a very detailed schedule.
893
And when we go over this in our captains
meeting the night before.
894
And like I give them a piece of paper,
it tells them why don't you come down
895
when they're going to go on the shuttle,
when the how long the walk, like
896
they're going to walk
from a point to viewpoint
897
and they're going to it's
going to take them that time.
898
So everything is very detailed.
899
So we we, we give our teams
everything they need to be on time.
900
And I think in return
they all have been on time.
901
Like we've had a very on time tech time.
902
And it's like one of the biggest feedbacks
we do get.
903
So I think like building a very
detailed tech time schedule really helps.
904
Like it only takes us ten minutes
to get from our hotel to the venue.
905
But we've added 20 minutes
because who cares?
906
Just add it in there
907
and then maybe, maybe some team will need
that extra five minutes
908
to finish out their tech time.
And you have it there.
909
So like I think that's what we do it
on our end.
910
To avoid stressing out the teams, avoid
cutting like tech time in the middle.
911
Like we give you a routine 20 minutes,
but if it takes 21, it's okay.
912
Yeah. You don't have to like cut.
913
You don't have to, you know,
it doesn't matter.
914
Yeah.
915
Yeah, absolutely
I like I remember doing that the,
916
the you know the one
917
I was like doing the little
like the leverage the one like.
918
Well this three minutes left you,
give you 45 minutes to run a zip line.
919
Come on dog, this is crazy.
920
Like this is I don't finish there. Yeah.
921
They're like high on energy
and they're kind of like yeah.
922
You know, they like mentally
prepared to do this run through.
923
And now you cut up in the middle.
924
So I think like I mean be strict with time
because obviously time is money
925
because you literally rent out the theater
for a certain amount of money.
926
But but like also think about the teams
like this is the most important day
927
for them that weekend.
928
So and teams are slow like no offense
you always.
929
Yeah.
Well there's a lot of. Like dilly dally.
930
Oh my.
931
Say to take time like t shirts and shorts
and like
932
that was it even sometimes
we don't even use props right now.
933
Like not part of the attire now.
934
It's like Charlie and like.
935
Lulls after warming us now,
936
before like, yeah, I seen the
you know, the drill.
937
So I think it was like a ritual.
938
Yeah.
939
You know, give them enough time
940
because it's like herding cats
and sometimes you just go with.
941
The herding cats is crazy.
942
Oh, man, that's a great.
943
Oh, I mean, I love our teams and they're
very like they're very respectful
944
and they're very on time, but we account
for their lateness all the time.
945
Like we account that some guys
are going to be in the bathroom.
946
And yeah.
947
I don't want to
948
on this because Alamo is one competition
that I see
949
seemingly gets just the greatest amount
of shared ability.
950
Like, for example, like somebody
might be really mad about placings
951
or like how it judges
says something or this
952
and that in like every other competition
I've ever been.
953
And immediately directors head off
saying the Arkansas like it is like
954
it's just like the hinder button
that like, fuck the cup like that.
955
That is a button that we just love
hitting.
956
Okay. And
957
Alamosa, one car
that like that button is almost never hit.
958
And obviously it's a lot of it
is because of good planning and things.
959
Yeah. Yeah. No.
960
Like cross those fingers.
961
Nothing happens this time. But, like,
962
I would like to say
963
that I think one of the reasons
why there is
964
so much variability
965
is not just because
you guys are from the motor circuit.
966
And I like people in general. You know,
967
but I think it's the communication.
968
Your level of communication
that I've heard is unparalleled
969
to any little competition.
970
And the only competition I can command
971
because I haven't competed with you guys
at this competition.
972
But is is chess with God?
973
I was like almost hitting
texting like every day
974
that, hey, it's 343 days before the comp.
975
Are you okay? I'm like,
y'all do not like the relax.
976
but what what are some differences in
the communication that you guys implement?
977
First of the communication
that you've seen from other competitions
978
and that you think you've addressed in
maybe some ways.
979
And I think you should
improve the application because I think
980
that is key to success is just
981
making sure everybody's like,
982
I got a on top and not like from from
an outsider's point of view.
983
Like I think that's who
I think that's you're like magic.
984
Magic basically does.
985
Yeah.
986
Bring.
987
Yeah.
988
I think I think for us,
or at least for me personally,
989
I think it really just begins with
990
it begins and ends with our team
and team that helps one point.
991
I mean. Yeah, or or whatever.
992
But you know, it's it's really
everybody who's on on board
993
and on staff
and volunteering and or liaisons.
994
We make it like very,
very abundantly clear,
995
like guys like we want to treat like
996
every single person that comes to
our account is our family member, right.
997
Like we're having a giant reunion.
998
We're all related.
999
One, make sure everyone has a great time.
Speaker:
So experience is like one of our top key
metrics is like regardless
Speaker:
if they don't place or what have you,
but they have to have a good time.
Speaker:
Like how do we make sure they have a good
we have conversations with liaison like,
Speaker:
you know, find out whose birthday it is
on that theme, like
Speaker:
what kind of, you know, what can we do
extra to make someone's like,
Speaker:
you know, day better or what
have you or their experience better?
Speaker:
Because, for example, last night,
me and Phil, you know, share this on
Speaker:
like some of we were all at dinner
and we were literally just like,
Speaker:
reminiscing about the great experiences
that we had at competitions, right?
Speaker:
Like, oh, you know, you remember
we went to fever this and this happened
Speaker:
and that happened.
Speaker:
Did yes, had a good time.
Speaker:
And not once did we talk about
when placing we got
Speaker:
like that
wasn't even part of the conversation.
Speaker:
It was about like,
who would we be at the after party was,
Speaker:
you know, just the overall
great experience that we had
Speaker:
and, you know, with each other.
Speaker:
So, you know, we take that
and like figure out a way
Speaker:
to make
a really good experience for a team.
Speaker:
So how do you like have the dining table
Speaker:
at, you know, deejay when they were
they get together.
Speaker:
They talk about data
Speaker:
and wanted to be a positive experience
whether they place or not or whatnot.
Speaker:
So I think from a
it's like really just understanding
Speaker:
that our team needs to make sure
that experience over everything.
Speaker:
And I think that trickles down
to communication
Speaker:
and being like upfront, being out there
and making sure everyone knows who you are
Speaker:
so that if there is an issue, they can come back to us and we can take care of the.
Speaker:
I think,
Speaker:
I think, I don't know,
I think it's just everything from like
Speaker:
and like you said, like Kendall would text
you every day, like I do the same thing.
Speaker:
Hey, have you booked your hotel?
Speaker:
Hey, I know you haven't booked
because I see the list.
Speaker:
I'm going to ask you anyways,
so it's like,
Speaker:
I think they'll do hotels and like,
can we get like.
Speaker:
And obviously like, teams
wait till the last minute and
Speaker:
I every year this happened teams
wait till like the very last minute
Speaker:
to book hotels and
and then like we are block fills up.
Speaker:
So like
Speaker:
are we going to just say no or my are
we are me
Speaker:
and you're going to go talk to the hotel
and get my room.
Speaker:
So like I think that like just like
Speaker:
we just I think
Speaker:
communication and like
I just think we never say no to anything.
Speaker:
Like we always figure out a way
to figure it out.
Speaker:
And we tell our liaison that to like,
if your team needs something,
Speaker:
just just go do it like it's
Speaker:
I know sometimes I like really stressed
like, why do you need 20 days
Speaker:
but like just go by for them and
and if they don't pay you back, like,
Speaker:
we'll figure out a way to get your money
back.
Speaker:
Like, it's like it's just make it
as seamless as possible for the teams.
Speaker:
And I think I don't even think we do
anything extra in regards
Speaker:
to communication.
Speaker:
Like, I know we like detail everything out
Speaker:
and we have like group chats,
just like most comps do, but.
Speaker:
Then.
Speaker:
I, I don't know, I think
maybe we just put ourselves out there and.
Speaker:
I think it's that,
I think it's that I really think
Speaker:
it's just the fact that like,
we're like the thing that you mentioned
Speaker:
about, you don't you don't even like lube
and liaisons until like,
Speaker:
yeah, before nine individual
and of course like oh two
Speaker:
the liaisons are my, the, the person
I'm interfacing with most often.
Speaker:
Like, yeah, I'll add that to it
seems like a long time in person in charge
Speaker:
just all the time.
Speaker:
And if I need something
like it's not like the liaison talks
Speaker:
that their committee board talks to you,
it's back and forth.
Speaker:
It's just like it's very like,
I need something. Hey.
Speaker:
And you just say I got like,
we'll we'll figure it out,
Speaker:
I think.
Speaker:
Yeah, I think, I really. Think it's that.
Speaker:
And yeah, like reasons are a great source
of like help during the weekend.
Speaker:
But they really don't need to be involved
in like
Speaker:
in like things
that teams need prior to that.
Speaker:
Because most of our liaisons
aren't sometimes known right answers.
Speaker:
They don't have the same experiences
that I may have had in my journey
Speaker:
with Bermuda.
Speaker:
So when I think about it,
the person is going to understand me.
Speaker:
Like,
if you're the team who doesn't understand
Speaker:
you or not, you're going to the most
is me or the Schmidt, because we've been
Speaker:
very like, that's why
we put ourselves out there first.
Speaker:
And and I'm not saying you have to be,
like, knowledgeable
Speaker:
about Bangla to be like,
get help, answer all these questions.
Speaker:
But like, maybe like,
take out the middleman.
Speaker:
You don't need seven middlemen
in the middle to get the answer.
Speaker:
Just like be the direct person
for for any team to get answers from.
Speaker:
We're also we're also like in every group
chat. Right.
Speaker:
So it's like a team liaison.
Speaker:
Yeah. And us
so we have visibility to that.
Speaker:
And then you're talking
about what the issue is. And so
Speaker:
we'll chime in.
Speaker:
But yeah we're like any outlets
that I just don't add it.
Speaker:
So we
we typically always have the captains
Speaker:
and us me and mishmash up until the week
up and on Monday, the week of the comp
Speaker:
will add the rest of the team.
Speaker:
And that's
when the phones are just blowing up.
Speaker:
It's crazy to be on our end.
Speaker:
So then what be like
if you really need me, just call me
Speaker:
because
I'm not going to go to eight chats.
Speaker:
But I try to.
Speaker:
But regardless, we're like in it.
Speaker:
Well, we're always watching. Yeah.
Speaker:
So if anyone needs anything,
we figure out a way through.
Speaker:
Yeah.
Speaker:
We also we also put like our timekeeper
in our weekly too.
Speaker:
So like someone who's literally in their
job is just sitting at a computer
Speaker:
looking at our detailed minute
by minute schedule, we can go
Speaker:
and they'll be like,
they'll message the group or is on like,
Speaker:
hey, you downstairs
in the next five minutes for your shuttle
Speaker:
only isn't that worried about
when I don't need to go hunt?
Speaker:
There's just one person in there.
Focus on everything.
Speaker:
Like yell
Speaker:
message Nienaber about this manager,
you gotta go get this van at the site
Speaker:
or you got to go and, you know, boa
plate a late night right now, so on.
Speaker:
And so like Central Command on
that's like you kind of say yeah, yeah.
Speaker:
Yeah. Like and that person
just sits on that computer.
Speaker:
Maybe if you're here next time.
Speaker:
Although it's, is that person over there
doing absolutely nothing.
Speaker:
We're just on their computer
and they watch plays.
Speaker:
They watch for a landing.
Speaker:
They're like they know like
oh right. Delayed.
Speaker:
We gotta figure out something for them.
Speaker:
So like we have like one person or two
people
Speaker:
really focused on keeping us in check
the entire weekend time wise.
Speaker:
I used
Speaker:
that helps our comp on in time too.
Speaker:
So that's that's.
Speaker:
Like I mentioned like,
Speaker:
I think somewhat helps us with
communication is our group is very small.
Speaker:
We have like maybe 7 to 8
Speaker:
people on our board
and that's all we need.
Speaker:
And so no one's giving you different
information because our group is so small.
Speaker:
We all have the same information.
Speaker:
And what helps us keep like a line
is we have weekly meetings
Speaker:
where, leading up to comp,
like I think two months before the comp,
Speaker:
we'll have these weekly meetings
where we talk about
Speaker:
what everyone's assigned to, like,
how are the shirts
Speaker:
going, how's the food going,
how are the fights going.
Speaker:
So we like we share it.
Speaker:
We're very open with our entire team.
Speaker:
We don't we don't keep
we we tell like where's fundraising at?
Speaker:
So I think because we all share everything
with our group,
Speaker:
we're all on the same page.
Speaker:
And therefore we were like giving everyone
the same information.
Speaker:
But small
teams is the way to go in my opinion.
Speaker:
Yeah. So there's not.
Speaker:
A 100% agree.
Speaker:
I used to be on competition board.
Speaker:
so the classic competition is for called
paired up.
Speaker:
And I would always be complaining
Speaker:
as we do this, this organization
is literally a hundred people.
Speaker:
I'm not 100 people.
Speaker:
I was like,
Speaker:
this is this is completely unnecessary.
Speaker:
I am losing like, yeah, go on about that.
Speaker:
one thing I wanted to ask.
Speaker:
So Alamo
Speaker:
famous for its mix it
Speaker:
meaning
probably the most vocal participate.
Speaker:
And there's I got a mix.
Speaker:
I, I haven't been on Alamo mixes,
you know, like noodles
Speaker:
or like, even even like like me, cash.
Speaker:
And we usually like,
also on be like anti mixer train
Speaker:
with me for now
because of the time that they're like not.
Speaker:
Well I think so.
Speaker:
What do you like, what do you like.
Speaker:
So like, what do you guys do there. Like.
Speaker:
Like what?
Speaker:
What are you doing to, like,
make the mixer experience worse for me?
Speaker:
Not passing or not going,
Speaker:
you know, like, because, like, in
all honesty, like, my name is on the time
Speaker:
and, like,
it's like I'm me as team captain
Speaker:
or like dancer person is like,
I like rap is like some line up for me.
Speaker:
So I love I'm just like, you know,
let me go.
Speaker:
Leave me alone. Yeah.
Speaker:
Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. So.
Speaker:
Oh, yeah.
Speaker:
Like, in some ways all mixes.
Speaker:
And how do you guys like ones that you do?
Speaker:
I'll tell you, you can talk about it
in my apple, but I'll, I'll do the,
Speaker:
I'll do the,
I'll do the big picture stuff.
Speaker:
So one thing, keep
it as short as possible.
Speaker:
So like long enough
for you to have an impact,
Speaker:
but not long enough
to let people get bored
Speaker:
too. If you can
Speaker:
always have it at the hotel that you they,
they're staying at.
Speaker:
So I'm really you come downstairs
and this right there you want to show,
Speaker:
you know, take you on
campus and walk 100,000ft to go
Speaker:
to this random ass
room, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker:
So, get lost in the way, like,
oh, where are we?
Speaker:
I don't know where.
Speaker:
Where did you drop us off?
Speaker:
We're on the other side.
Okay? We got to walk in.
Speaker:
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker:
So it's just a lot of, Yeah. So again.
Speaker:
Right.
Speaker:
You can have a little move along
and make sure
Speaker:
if you don't have to take the teams
super far right where competition is.
Speaker:
So yeah,
we have ours at the ballroom in the hotel.
Speaker:
We had it for two years.
Speaker:
Was supposed to happen this year as well.
Speaker:
and then I think, like you said,
Speaker:
if you're going to have it
next year, it's a really good one.
Speaker:
And so, you know, and that takes like,
Speaker:
I mean, ever we'll speak
Speaker:
to, to remind, but, you know, like,
you have to have a wow factor, right?
Speaker:
Like you, you want to entertain everybody.
Speaker:
and then in terms of the food thing,
well, we what we've done is
Speaker:
and this year was
we give you food before the mixer,
Speaker:
so there's no food at the mixer.
Speaker:
You get said before the mixer even starts,
like 5 p.m.
Speaker:
Friday.
Speaker:
Their scene has their food.
Speaker:
You've in, you got dressed.
Speaker:
Now you're downstairs from mixer.
Speaker:
So it's like
not eating part of the outfit.
Speaker:
So you get that taken care of.
Speaker:
and then.
Speaker:
Yeah, that's all you sing the most?
Speaker:
yeah.
Speaker:
The so the food thing
I think helps us a lot.
Speaker:
So we're not wasting any time
getting in line in the buffet line,
Speaker:
putting food in people's trays
and taking it out of people's time away.
Speaker:
We had deliver the food.
Speaker:
The liaisons
will bring them to your rooms.
Speaker:
You can eat it then or eat it later.
Speaker:
They're usually like burritos or something
from Freebirds or we've had that. So.
Speaker:
So that takes away
at least that gives us an app that takes
Speaker:
gives you your A team and our back and
that you don't have to waste at a mixer.
Speaker:
So that's how we like
when people don't like
Speaker:
what mixers you're sitting there
and like doing absolutely nothing.
Speaker:
So, Rima is our mixer chair.
Speaker:
She also, helps us run the comm
and does a lot of, like,
Speaker:
the fine detail
that makes the comp look as grand as it is
Speaker:
when it comes to, like, decoration
and like theme.
Speaker:
Like last year,
our theme was wild Wild West.
Speaker:
And to figure out how to get a bowl inside
that Hilton
Speaker:
was literally the hardest thing ever.
Speaker:
But she figured out a way how to do that.
Speaker:
So he's just really creative
and he thinks of games.
Speaker:
She incorporates like bungalow games
Speaker:
into like your regular minute
to win at games and combines
Speaker:
them together to, come up with something
that's fun and also relatable.
Speaker:
Like, I don't want to play a game
where I have to break a block of ice
Speaker:
to find out my line of number, like,
why am I drawing this block of ice?
Speaker:
And I don't know which comp I'm
referring to, but oh oh, unwritten rules.
Speaker:
Well, the.
Speaker:
Dumbest thing is going to get hurt.
Speaker:
Okay. Yeah.
Speaker:
It's like it's going to
the ice is going to come and cut you.
Speaker:
Yeah. That's crazy okay. Yeah.
Speaker:
So like the games are like
pretty easy to understand.
Speaker:
you also have a day.
Speaker:
That you're going to chime in there.
Speaker:
We also. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker:
As a board as a viewer dancer. And.
Speaker:
Then figure out if they work or not.
Speaker:
We time them.
Speaker:
We had like a other time
game one of the years
Speaker:
and we like figured if it would work
and it does work.
Speaker:
But so we kept that
and then we had like a game last year.
Speaker:
We're like,
can they make a shaker with newspapers?
Speaker:
And we like trying
and it's like not working.
Speaker:
Like, why would we do this game
if it's just not going to work like that?
Speaker:
I like, we like, we test all these games.
Speaker:
So that's really important.
Speaker:
But I think this match
that it probably it's a short mixer.
Speaker:
It's only an hour.
Speaker:
You get in with your entire team.
Speaker:
We have like an intro
and then every team walks in
Speaker:
and then and we have tables,
but there's nothing on the tables.
Speaker:
You're sitting and chatting.
Speaker:
I think we have
Speaker:
like the first game is everybody's
favorite game.
Speaker:
You dance your particular team.
Speaker:
I personally believe that mixer
should let you dance and have fun.
Speaker:
We we mixed teams up.
Speaker:
Some people like it when they dance with
their own teams, but like it's a mixer.
Speaker:
So we mix them up and let them like.
Speaker:
But even then we have a little
like team thing going how to make it fun.
Speaker:
So we give it like a
Speaker:
we in the last few years, it's kind of
like our own little thing we like.
Speaker:
We picked out our segments from the past,
Speaker:
so we picked out our own mixes
and we'll be like, here to the D2, a mix.
Speaker:
Like we've done the D2 this already,
but you do it now.
Speaker:
So like we make it like a showdown thing.
Speaker:
So that's like a good chunk.
Speaker:
Leagues takes 30 minutes,
Speaker:
but like then we just do like a fun
little double blind and pickle mixer.
Speaker:
We're gonna pick your lineup
when you leave. That's it.
Speaker:
The mixers are over by like nine, 930,
so it's not that late.
Speaker:
Or maybe actually not even that eight,
maybe 830.
Speaker:
Yeah, he's only nine. We're not.
Speaker:
Yeah, but it starts at like seven.
Speaker:
So we try to finish by and then by 830.
Speaker:
So it's just like one hour.
Speaker:
And then you can go upstairs
back to your rooms.
Speaker:
And then that's then we have that space
converted back to practice.
Speaker:
And we like everyone starts
practicing like
Speaker:
I think it's just
I don't know, it's a short mixer.
Speaker:
It's like short and sweet
and we try to add like a theme to it
Speaker:
to bring, bring like represent
your city, your comp, like art.
Speaker:
We do like a Texas thing
because that's what works for us.
Speaker:
But like treat it as a like a big event.
Speaker:
Like it's like like the decor helps,
you know, like don't
Speaker:
just like paste a piece of paper
marker on it, like like Comic-Con,
Speaker:
like maybe
print it out on a piece of paper
Speaker:
or like, maybe do like a balloon arch,
like everyone
Speaker:
can just get it for like $30 online,
and you guys can help make it.
Speaker:
So, like, all these little things,
I don't cost a lot.
Speaker:
Help the room look better.
Speaker:
Like when when you walk in.
Speaker:
Wouldn't you rather want to walk into,
like, a decorated nice place
Speaker:
with music and lighting and like,
oh, one thing I would add,
Speaker:
if we're going to run a mixer,
make sure you have a mic and a speaker
Speaker:
because no one can hear you.
Speaker:
If you're like, just speaking,
like trying to talk to 200 people,
Speaker:
like make sure there's a mic
and there's a speaker system.
Speaker:
Also, make sure we. Hear
you explain that. Games.
Speaker:
Yeah. No, no.
Speaker:
If your explanation for your game
takes more than like
Speaker:
15 seconds, it's not worth playing.
Speaker:
Yeah.
Speaker:
Like it'd be. It's not that serious.
Speaker:
In two seconds again,
because I think that's naturally 90%
Speaker:
of the people lose interest. It's like
I don't get all we're supposed to do then.
Speaker:
So yeah, email in this.
Speaker:
Like if you wanted to.
Speaker:
I was on bail for a second.
Speaker:
was an overall really tight
run shape mixer.
Speaker:
I don't know what the fuck happened
this year.
Speaker:
I didn't really was ball around like,
Speaker:
ads of hands, like dog
like I told my listeners to go speed that.
Speaker:
Like listening to the show in Rhode
Island years and 6:00 5:00 it is eight.
Speaker:
And these are in the middle of game 2.5
out of like ten
Speaker:
to like quadruple blind pick this like
Speaker:
in the tail all the one thing I was
so yeah I was scoring
Speaker:
I was like literally like yo directed
and I went out to money.
Speaker:
I was like, this is, this is crazy. What?
Speaker:
I'm just just like out of a. Hat bag,
out of the.
Speaker:
Hat three times.
Speaker:
What we'll call
it was go. I'm hungry. Yeah.
Speaker:
You also the best salad.
Speaker:
I was so pissed as a salad in the villa.
Speaker:
Oh, yeah.
Speaker:
Sorry. Yeah.
Speaker:
I'm not very good.
Speaker:
I things, like, Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker:
Questions?
Speaker:
well, no, it is everybody.
Speaker:
Yeah.
Speaker:
It's anything else you want to talk about?
Speaker:
I think for us, we're just thankful
Speaker:
that we get the opportunity to do this
next circuit.
Speaker:
I think for me, it was just like
Speaker:
it was so full circle, like being able
to start up team, found a team,
Speaker:
champion team, and then now be able
to like to account for other teams.
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It's like,
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yeah, being able to see this side of it
and then really just be happy
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for like teams that hit our stage
like it's it's like the best feeling.
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So you know you guys are willing
and you're available.
Speaker:
Juniors please come apply.
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It's about invite all of you guys
to come watch to let us know.
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And just, you know,
I'm as bullish as I come watch and,
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you know,
we'll make sure you have a good time.
Speaker:
But, yeah, look forward to seeing
our extended family in San Antonio.
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And yeah, I don't have
anything else to add to that, I think.
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yeah.
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I'm really, like, grateful
for all the great feedback
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we've been receiving from the circuit
and everyone who vouches for us.
Speaker:
So just want to say thank you.
Speaker:
I don't think it's I think we
we talk about this a lot.
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Like we can advertise our competition
on the discord or
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on Instagram or email
you or bother you as much as we want.
Speaker:
But it's that like, it's
when you, your friends tell you, hey,
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this content is great.
You go, it's like that.
Speaker:
It's like when that word
words are traveling, that's like
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when I think that's what really helps us.
Speaker:
And everyone's been very positive.
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So shout out to everyone
who has told their friends about us,
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and their friends
are not telling their other friends.
Speaker:
So like I think that is just helping us.
Speaker:
that's just encouraging us to throw even
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hopefully a better comm this year
if we can.
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We'll try not to mess up inside.
Speaker:
Outside of what we're seeing right now.
Speaker:
Cheating is not me and Apple.
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It is literally everybody else
that helps us and increase to help us.
Speaker:
Yeah. So, you know, we
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we don't try to take any,
you know, the craze, it's
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it's really people like me, myself,
you know, someone.
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So I know everybody on our board.
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Yeah. Jasmine.
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I mean, it's
it's a tremendous thing to do.
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It's not worth I can't do not know.
Speaker:
And it is so difficult,
but it's rewarding at the same time.
Speaker:
So I know
teens are like it's hard to prepare
Speaker:
their sets for a competition,
but I do not.
Speaker:
None bored. Whatever competitive.
Speaker:
I too
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is also probably watching their ass off
to like make sure you have a good show,
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you know?
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And so we start planning six month.
Speaker:
It's like six months of our lives
is planning that competition.
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But yeah, I don't want to miss anyone,
but our entire board is so, so selfless.
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Like they'll do anything and everything
and and they don't have to like
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everyone is an adult
and everyone has their own lives,
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but they take our time to help
do this competition and we're just really
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grateful to them.
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Shout out to all you five six people
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for going into.
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Yeah, that's
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and you two of them are for like coming
and like shooting art for our videos.
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They're amazing.
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I love watching, like,
I don't get to watch the show, you know,
Speaker:
because inside stage.
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So like,
the closest I'll ever get to watching
Speaker:
our show is through your videos
and, like, through those videos, too.
Speaker:
So, I appreciate you guys coming out
and like, supporting and,
Speaker:
you know, shooting the videos.
Speaker:
You don't have to do that,
but you do it for the service.
Speaker:
All right.
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yeah, I'm
I'm really glad it has this conversation.
Speaker:
I know it's
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something we've been talking
about for a while, and this is something
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I definitely want to do more of.
Speaker:
just,
like, talk to folks about experience.
Speaker:
and hopefully, like, people
can learn from this conversation as well.
Speaker:
If anybody else listening to this,
listening to this and like,
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wants more of these or if anybody wants
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more pointed questions, I don't know, like
just like put in the comments,
Speaker:
put in the discord something, let me know
because I do all the things
Speaker:
and just like address questions.
Speaker:
So sorry guys, but all right, cool.
Speaker:
Yeah.
Speaker:
All right.
Speaker:
Well, this is another episode
of the Warren Podcast and listening.
Speaker:
Something.
Speaker:
Thank you again for listening
to another episode of the Bhangra Podcast,
Speaker:
and a huge
shout out to my Patreon supporters
Speaker:
that are able to make this whole thing
a reality.
Speaker:
All helped me pay for all the cameras,
the lighting, the audio, the software,
Speaker:
and also just the other cool projects that
I really want to do to help the circuit.
Speaker:
Like.
Speaker:
I'm going to warrant show
Speaker:
and some of the other, adjacent
initiatives that I've been talking about
Speaker:
on various different platforms.
Speaker:
some housekeeping.
Speaker:
You'll be on the lookout for some merch
that I hopefully will be dropping
Speaker:
within the next 1 or 2 weeks on us,
And if you'd like more exclusive content
Speaker:
and early ad free episodes,
be sure to check us out and support us
Speaker:
on Patreon, patreon.com/thebhangrapod,
and be part again!
Speaker:
patreon.com/thebhangrapod.
Speaker:
All right, all right. So yeah.
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