Meet Music Travel Consultants Tour Director Tim Greenwell
Scroll through Facebook for about three minutes and you’ll see first-hand that Tim Greenwell doesn’t stay put for long periods of time.
A resident of Carrollton, Texas, and Principal of Liberty Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas, Tim’s interests include hanging with his dog, Sophie, time with friends and family, fine arts events, live theatre, and musical performances. He also enjoys going to movies, college football, museums, Drum Corps International events, all things marching bands and of course travel.
In Tim’s earlier high school band and student government career experiences, he personally organized and carried out participation in five bowl games, four concert band trips, a band senior class trip to the Midwest Clinic, five-band senior class trips to New York City, the hosting of a state student council convention, a trip to the state dance championships, two regional winter guard competitions and travel to multiple state dance, drumline and winter guard championships.
In simple terms, you won’t find many who are more genuinely immersed in the fine arts or one with as much energy.
Do you have any background in music, education or music education?
Tim: My formal music education started in fourth grade with private piano lessons and expanded to playing trombone starting in seventh grade and continuing to this day. I have been a part of award-winning programs my entire career including San Jacinto Junior HS and Midland Freshmen HS in Midland, Texas; Olathe North HS in Olathe, Kan; and the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan. My performance ensembles resume includes marching and concert bands, orchestra, trombone choir, mixed chorus, men’s glee club, and multiple theatre productions. Over a period of 14 years, I served as the assistant director of bands and director of auxiliaries for Center High School in South Kansas City, Mo.
How did you get started tour directing?
Tim: My initial experience in tour directing began informally while teaching at Center HS. To save money for the families in our program, I took on all of the arrangements for transportation, housing, food, and whatever event communications for each specific trip. While serving as an administrator on the Rose Parade trip with the Flower Mound HS Marching Band, the tour director, Nancy Reichmann and I talked and shared stories throughout the trip and before the end of it encouraged me to apply with the support of the other tour directors on the trip and as they say, the rest is history.
How many total trips have you tour directed?
Tim: As an educator, I tour directed a total of 20 trips; and for MTC one great trip to date to the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis.
What is the most challenging part of being a successful MTC Tour Director?
Tim: The most challenging part of being a successful tour director is the best part, providing an optimal and memorable experience for everyone involved in the trip.
What is the largest group you have tour directed?
Tim: The largest group I have directed was the 300+ members of the Claudia Taylor Johnson HS Marching Band of San Antonio, Texas.
What is one fact you wish travelers knew before a trip departs?
Tim: My advice to travelers prior to a trip is to be rested, hydrated, and informed about the various aspects and overall schedule of the trip. Pack in advance and avoid any emergency worries due to not paying attention to the expectations of the trip.
“What impressed me about Tim right away was his positive energy while interacting with the students and parents. No matter the time of day, he was happy and helpful to everyone around him. With his quick thinking skills, upbeat personality and creative problem solving, I think Tim will quickly become one of our most requested tour directors.”
What is your proudest moment when your presence made a difference or significant impact on a trip?
Tim: There are thankfully a lot of proud moments in my personal and professional life but one of the more memorable ones was carrying a high school band member with spina bifida on my back through caverns so that she could experience along with her bandmates even though accessible services were not available. Her excitement of getting to have that experience made it all worth the effort.
What is your favorite place to travel or visit with & without groups?
Tim: I travel to New York City every spring. It is an amazing place that is always changing yet always remains the same. It truly never sleeps and has so much to offer anyone who visits.
What does it take to be a successful MTC Tour Director?
Tim: Being a successful MTC Tour Director requires providing a top-notch trip experience to each and every group you travel with while being in tune to their specific characteristics and what they hope to achieve through their travel experience.
What are the benefits of having an MTC Tour Director at your side?
Tim: It is always beneficial to have someone literally look after you and take care of your needs to have any experience be the best it can be. An MTC Tour Director provides that and more to any travel group he or she works with on behalf of the entire group.
Any advice or tidbits you want to share with directors considering performance travel?
Tim: My advice for those considering group performance travel is to do it. Think of the positives of the experience and how the trip and its many aspects can provide lifelong memorable opportunities.
This or That
We asked Tim some rapid fire questions about his favorites from the following choices
Do you think you have what it takes to wear the cape and be an MTC Tour Director like Tim?
Contact Music Travel Consultants to start planning your trip.
