Meet Music Travel Consultants Tour Director Robert Gibson
With the love of music in his veins, Robert Gibson thrives as an MTC tour director.
Robert Gibson has directed band since 1980, from elementary school to college. In June, 2018, he retired from the education field after spending 34 years involved with school music programs, the last 18 years with the Dublin City Schools in Dublin, Ohio. During that tenure, Gibson directed bands in Ohio and Maine. In addition to his work in education, he served four years with The Commandant’s Own United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, as a section player, Music Theory instructor and soprano bugle soloist.
He also served five years with the 122nd Ohio Army National Guard Band as the assistant conductor, music librarian, trumpet section leader and director of the Army Brass Quintet. Gibson earned his Bachelor of Music from Ohio University in 1980 and a M.Ed. from Ashland University in 2004. In 2009, he was appointed Director of Bands at Ohio Dominican University (ODU) and remained there until retirement in June, 2015.
While at ODU, he directed the university’s Marching Panthers Band, Wind Ensemble and Pep Band. In June of 2015, he was appointed director of the Worthington Civic Band in Worthington, Ohio. This adult community band, which began in 1973, performed and traveled extensively throughout the United States and internationally includinge Australia, British Isles, Europe and the Caribbean. In 2021, he and his wife, Debbie moved from Columbus to Cincinnati to begin new adventures and be closer to their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.
What year did you start as a Tour Director for Music Travel Consultants?
Robert: I started in March of 2023.
Do you have any background in music education?
Robert: Yes, extensively.
How did you get started tour directing?
Robert: While teaching in Dublin, I traveled with my bands on many trips, mostly to Disney and was the lead teacher on our 8th grade D.C. trip each fall. In that capacity, I was the tour director for our four busses and 200+ students.
How many total trips have you tour directed?
Robert: With MTC, I have completed my two training trips and am scheduled for six more over the next year.
What is the most challenging part of being a successful MTC Tour Director?
Robert: I believe that the most challenging part of being a successful MTC Tour Director is the attention to the many details that go into making each trip the very best it can be for our clients and their students.
What is the largest group you have tour directed?
Robert: Probably, my D.C. trips with over 200 students and adults.
What is one fact you wish travelers knew before a trip departs?
Robert: I wish all travelers would read and fully understand the itinerary prior to departure. There are always folks who glance and in doing so, might miss some very important information that they need to know, especially the walking component of any trip.
What is your proudest moment when your presence made a difference or significant impact on a trip?
Robert: I believe that if the students and adults associated with the trip are completely satisfied with their experience, I could be no prouder.
What is your favorite place to travel or visit with or without groups?
Robert: I enjoy exploring favorites and new places alike. I really like visiting the Hawaiian Islands and cruising with family. With groups, I enjoy Disney, NYC and Europe.
What does it take to be a successful MTC Tour Director?
Robert: I believe that to be successful you must listen to the director of the group with which you are traveling. Only by doing this can you truly make the trip and experience the very best for our clients and their families.
What are the benefits of having an MTC Tour Director at your side?
Robert: The most exciting and beneficial part of having an MTC Tour Director by your side is the personal touch to everything we do. Whether it is making decisions on where to stop for a break or meal, fixing any reservation concerns or adjusting the schedule, we are there to accommodate the needs of our groups and give then the very best travel experience we can.
Any advice or tidbits you want to share with directors considering performance travel?
Robert: The director should just book their trips with Music Travel Consultants and then sit back and let us do our best to provide them with the trip of a lifetime.
This or That
We asked Robert 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 Robert?
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