{"id":3221,"date":"2019-06-27T08:03:07","date_gmt":"2019-06-27T12:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.musictravel.com\/blog\/?p=3221"},"modified":"2021-05-04T15:34:15","modified_gmt":"2021-05-04T19:34:15","slug":"meet-music-travel-consultants-tour-director-bob-medworth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musictravel.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/27\/meet-music-travel-consultants-tour-director-bob-medworth\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Music Travel Consultants Tour Director Bob Medworth"},"content":{"rendered":"

MTC Tour Directors like Bob Medworth orchestrate trip magic, mastering logistics and group plans to run each trip as flawlessly as possible, so directors and travelers can relax and truly enjoy it! A seasoned music educator for 41 years, Bob’s extensive experience allows him to anticipate a band\u2019s every need, build a special rapport with the group and make certain no trip detail is overlooked. We are excited for you to meet Music Travel Consultants Tour Director Bob Medworth!<\/h4>\n

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\"Left:
Left: Bob, Ruth Ann, and daughter Whitney on the floor at World Class Finals at WGI Championships this past April. Right: \u201cThe pink sombrero,” gifted to Bob by a group of Granite City H.S. band members on a recent trip to Epcot and Walt Disney World!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bob retired in 2018, completing a 41-year legacy as band director at Brazil High School and Northview High School in Brazil, Indiana. Bob’s wife, Ruth Ann, directed the color guard and their daughter Whitney was also deeply involved with the band for 20 years.\u00a0So, the \u2018band\u2019 truly felt like the \u2018family business.\u2019 Bob\u2019s remarkable career allowed him to develop a great number of friendships and relationships in Brazil that made the job a lot of fun. Bob explained, \u201cClay County definitely cares about their bands, and the support and culture of the community is perfect for developing and maintaining a great program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teaching and assisting drum corps has been a highlight of Bob’s career.\u00a0 He’s worked with Star of Indiana, Carolina Crown, Blue Devils, Madison Scouts, and the Bluecoats. Bob said, \u201cNot only was that always a tremendous learning experience, but it automatically provided a huge family, within the activity.\u201d Wife Ruth Ann taught color guard at national camps, owns a dance supply business, and has served on the board of WGI. She directed the Indiana State University (ISU) Sparkettes for 11 years, the ISU Color Guard for 6 years, and spent 26 years as the ISU Cheerleading coach. Along the way, her Northview H.S. Winter Guard won two state championships and was 25 times a WGI finalist.\u00a0 Daughter Whitney worked at DCI and was an event manager at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. As Bob remarked, \u201cWe have always just moved from one pageantry activity to another, year round, and it has been great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bob Medworth was gracious enough to share some answers about his experiences with MTC:<\/h4>\n
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How long have you been a Tour Director for Music Travel Consultants?<\/strong>
\nBob: I think my first Tour Director [trip] for MTC was probably around 2003. Northview HS was going to NYC at Christmas and [MTC Executive VP] Jef Furr said, \u201cYou\u2019ve seen me do this trip four or five times\u2026 why don\u2019t you just be the Tour Director?” So I tour directed that trip for free, and that allowed a kid who did not have money to go on the trip.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\"Left:
Left: Perry Meridian Band and Orchestra enjoying dinner and the Illuminations Fireworks show at Epcot this past March. Right: Bob\u2019s wife (Ruth Ann) and daughter (Whitney) at Epcot during Christmas season.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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How many total trips have you tour directed?<\/strong>
\nBob: I have no idea. I\u2019m guessing 40 or 50.<\/em><\/p>\n

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What is the hardest part of being a successful MTC Tour Director?<\/strong>
\nBob: You have to bust your tail to instantly fit into the culture of the group you are with. Every band or choir is run differently, every set of boosters has their own methods, and every director has different needs. My challenge is to blend in immediately and figure out how I can bring my skills and the resources of MTC into the hour-by-hour operation of the group I am with.<\/em><\/p>\n

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“Bob is one of our best! Having been a band director who traveled with his band, he knows the ins and outs of travel for music groups! He can adapt, he’s truly a people person and he’s one of the best parts of your trip! He makes it fun for the kids with his sparkling personality!”<\/p>\n