Andy Brady's love for band choreography leads to successful business
Released: December 22, 2006
What started out as a passion for marching band choreography has evolved into a successful company for University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduating senior Andy Brady. The St. Louis native co-founded Plus One Drill Design last year and continues to expand the company.
What Plus One Drill Design does is quite simple. "It is my job to get everyone to move together and look alike," Brady said. The end result is rewarding, but the task for Brady and co-founder Nick Lane, UW-Whitewater alumnus, requires much work. "Setting up a program could take a few days, or in most cases, it could take a few weeks." The company bases its prices off the amount of time required for the service. "Our services cost anywhere between $500 to $7,000."
The process begins when Brady and Lane receive a musical score from the band director. "Our next step is to use the musical score and decide what will complement it visually," Brady said. In setting up the drill design, Brady makes sure the students maintain good posture in their movement. "We also have the students practice basic exercises like left, right and forward steps." He then uses the drill-charting program Pyware to plot the positions.
For many high schools, marching band is a large part of the band curriculum and implementing choreography into the band sequence is vital for the band's collective success. According to Brady, while most band directors have music education degrees, they lack the experience to teach choreographic instruction. Brady started this business to fill the void.
Brady has extensive experience in choreography and choreographic instruction. For three years, he was a member of the Madison-based Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, a high - intensity summer-touring corps that use a militaristic protocol. Following a three-year stint as a member, Brady taught the Madison Scouts for two years.
Last year Brady and Lane pooled together their resources to start Plus One Drill Design. The two met in 2000 on a drum corps tour. They dubbed the company Plus One Drill Design and Consulting because in band marching, a "plus one" is known as the next step forward. "Our company takes that additional step to service our clients." It has only been a year and the company has already increased its business from two clients to fifteen.
"Marching band is gaining a lot of popularity because it is now an all-inclusive art," Brady said. Glenn Hayes, UW-Whitewater band director, agrees that there is a need or expertise and fine instructors. "There is always a niche for a great teacher. Brady's knowledge of band movement in conjunction with his marching expertise is second to none," Hayes said.
Plus One Drill continues to expand as clients provide testimony to the company's excellent work. Rod Schueller, director of the bands at Texas State University, praised the company for its outstanding services.
"I have known Andrew Brady for more than seven years. In that time, I have met and taught few people that match his desire and knowledge in the area of marching execution and visual design. I am confident that in years to come, Plus One Drill Design will become THE visual design and consulting firm in the Midwest-perhaps even the country," Schueller said.
Other Plus One clients include: the Cadets of Waukesha West High School, Waukesha; Columbus High School Marching Band, Columbus; Capital Sound Drum and Bugle Corps, Madison; and Oregon High School Marching Band, Oregon.
To fully understand drill design, Brady chose UW-Whitewater to complete his bachelor's degree in that discipline. "My education has opened a bunch of doors in composition," he said. As an assistant for the UW-Whitewater marching band, Brady built relationships with key faculty members. Under the tutelage of Hayes and Barbara Grubel, assistant professor in theatre and dance, Brady will complete his major in contemporary drill design in spring 2007.
Brady is grateful for all the help he has received thus far. "There would be no way I would have been successful without the help of UW-Whitewater."
- LeQuez Spearman,spearmanlt22@uww.edu
