So You Run a Program…?? Free Virtual Workshop for Marching Arts Educators
So You Run a Program…??
Free Virtual Workshop for Marching Arts Educators
Running a marching band, colorguard, or drumline can feel like spinning fifteen plates at once. Schedules, design decisions, budgets, recruiting, mixed skill levels, parents, admin… it’s a lot.
You don’t have to do it alone.
Guard Closet is hosting “So You Run a Program…??” — a free, 90-minute virtual symposium for directors, designers, techs, and educators who want real support, real answers, and real solutions to the everyday chaos of running a program.
- Date: Sunday, November 30, 2025
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
- Location: Virtual (Google Meet)
- Cost: Free
- Bonus: Every attendee receives a free 20-minute 1:1 consult with a Guard Closet Brand Manager.
What You’ll Learn
This is not a sales webinar. It’s the kind of practical, “here’s what actually works” conversation we wish someone had offered when we were new.
Time Management & Culture
Presenters: Alicia Sharp & Joey Montes
How to build a realistic schedule, avoid rehearsal chaos, and create a culture your students and staff can actually live in all season.
Design & Creative Inspiration
Presenters: Nicole Younger & Kim Jones (with a drill moment from Joey Montes)
Designing for the performers you actually have, finding inspiration that fits your budget, and avoiding that “box show” feeling so your production feels like yours.
Spirit Wear vs Spirit Costume
Presenters: Jeremy Williams & Jackie Brown
The difference between everyday spirit wear and a true spirit costume, how school-branded looks (plus tools like the Widener spirit flag) help with parades, community presence, fundraising, and long-term identity for your program.
Recruitment & Retention
Presenters: Alicia Sharp & Joey Montes
Growing your program and keeping the members you have by building visibility, connection, and a culture that students want to return to year after year.
Budgeting & Fundraising
Presenters: Christine Ream & Jeremy Williams, with design insight from Nicole Younger
Working within the budget your school gives you, using fundraising and consignment wisely, and making design choices that stretch dollars instead of draining them.
Teaching Across Skill Levels
Presenters: Jackie Brown & Alicia Sharp
Blending brand-new performers with veterans, using tools like “the block” and buddy systems, and designing in a way that supports mixed-skill groups without watering everything down.
Throughout the workshop, we’ll also highlight strategies for small programs: looking bigger on the field, using color and equipment smartly, and leaning on experts so you don’t waste time or money guessing.
Why Guard Closet Is Doing This
We know what it feels like to be the person everyone looks to for answers… when you’re still trying to figure it out yourself. The big idea behind this symposium is simple:
“You don’t need to be an expert in everything to run a program. You just need to know who to ask.”
Our Brand Managers are designers, directors, and educators who have been in the trenches. They know what it’s like to run small programs, medium programs, and wildly ambitious ones on tight budgets. This workshop is our way of opening doors, not handing you a one-size-fits-all box.
Bonus: 20% Off at gifts.guardcloset.com
As a thank-you for registering, attendees will also receive a coupon code for our merch store:
- Website: gifts.guardcloset.com
- Code: Given at the end of Symposium
Use it for holiday gifts, show gifts, or something fun for yourself.
Ready to Join Us?
If you run a program — or want to — this night is for you. Bring your questions, your challenges, and the things that keep you up at night. We’ll bring experience, ideas, and support.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Let’s make this season — and the ones after it — feel more manageable, more intentional, and a lot more fun.