While not many people know what color guard is really about, more people are becoming interested in the activity, according to new color guard coach, Sammy Lawson.

Cape Central High School has a color guard consisting of 15 people that perform with the marching band during shows and has grown by 5 people for the upcoming season.

“It’s getting more attention now in parades and commercials; general attention is being drawn to color guard,” said Lawson.

Because of the attention being drawn to color guard, more people are beginning to know what it actually is.

“Color guard is an incredibly far-reaching community of artists, performers, and dancers that come together to make a show they are proud of and they sacrifice so much and put in a lot of work for it to go well,” said Lawson.  

When asked if people know just how much work goes into color guard, color guard veteran Abigail Kester said “Absolutely freaking not. They think it’s walking around with a flag and spinning it in circles. They think that we don’t do much besides looking pretty and holding our flags.”

Because most people don’t know just how much work actually goes into color guard, they don’t realize how satisfying it can be for a member after a good performance.

“The most personally satisfying thing is coming off the field after performance after months of practice and feeling like you gave everything and you couldn’t have done any better,” said Lawson.

More and more people are trying out for color guard and if you plan to, there are a few things that you would need to have. Things like having a good work ethic, the willingness to try, and the ability to receive criticism and change approach are important in color guard according to Lawson.

Things, like knowing dance fundamentals and being able to catch projectiles in general, are also important.

“Confidence is key. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, be confident,” said Lawson.

“As long as you’re willing to work for it, go for it. No one really knows what they’re doing so just try out. Just bring all of yourself. Just be dramatic, and don’t take yourself too seriously or you’re going to fail,” said Kester.

Another thing that you must do in color guard is practice. If you mess up something, then you need to practice it. Color guard has already started practicing twice a month for the upcoming season and will attend every band camp as well as their own guard camp over the summer. When the school starts in the fall, the color guard will practice every day and will stay after school on certain days every week.  

“Practice it until you get it right, then practice ‘til you can’t get it wrong. Do your best,” said Lawson.

As for the next season, Lawson has no major concerns and thinks that the color guard will do very well.

“I enjoyed auditions and seeing how much effort people put in for dance and flag choreography,” said Lawson.

While Lawson has many tips for both veterans and newbies, the one he emphasized the most was, “fake it ‘til you make it, be undeniable.”