Leadership BLAST!

OPPORTUNITY: For many years prior to COVID-19 during the Bands of America Grand National Championships, Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser would present a one-time leadership workshop for participating students. Having presented with Tim numerous times at this event, Fran Kick was approached by James Stephens, Senior Director of Education & Advocacy, and Ben Zolkower, Senior Education & Advocacy Coordinator, to create something completely updated while offering a more scalable and flexible schedule.

RESULTS: Fran Kick re-invented and co-created an “INTERACTIVE Leadership Workshop BLAST!” event for both participating high school students and non-participating students. The ultimate goal was to create something engaging, with multiple presenters, and a musical energy for ALL the Bands of America participating groups and ANY non-participating groups. Striving to build better leadership and smarter followership that transcended the marching band season.

This first-of-its-kind next-generation student leadership experience was NOT a sit-and-listen event either! Everyone was involved in a multi-level experiential approach, applying what they learned as they learned it right then and there. With a multi-start time layered schedule, band directors could select a session that worked best for them and their students attending Grand Nationals. DysFUNKtion Brass was the headlining act performing throughout the day, with Eric Jimenez, Justin McLean, and Frank Crockett joining Fran Kick as presenters. Both the content of the curriculum and the high-impact interaction were designed to inspire everyone in any band program to lead better, follow smarter, and keep KICKin’ IT IN long after the marching band season was over.

Judy Kick created all the promotional flyers, advertising, social media graphics, and support materials.