Welcome to the Queer Big Apple Corps Marching Band!
We know you have questions, and we have answers! Run your cursor over each picture for more information!
Who are we?
We are the Queer Big Apple Corps Marching Band! Founded in 1979 as the New York City Gay Community Marching, we’ve changed our name a few times and marched about a million miles over the last 45 years bringing the Sound of Love and Joy to people all over the world! So, get ready to have more fun than you thought possible in a pair of Dinkles!
What does it mean to be a member of the QBAC?
It means fun, first and foremost, but it also means working hard at rehearsals preparing for the many parades we march in and stand-and-play gigs where we perform. (Rehearsals are half the fun in marching band!)
From February through the end of April, the band rehearses indoors at the Julia Richman Education Complex (JREC), 317 E 67th Street just east of 2nd Avenue. And then May through October, rehearsals are outdoors at Foley Square, located at Worth and Lafayette Streets in Lower Manhattan. All rehearsals are on Thursday.
When do we rehearse?
Below is the schedule for the 2024 Pride season:
AT JREC
Town Hall, March 7, 6:30-10 pm
Sectionals/Full Band, March 14, 7-9:30 pm
Sectionals/Full Band, March 21, 7-9:30 pm
Sectionals/Full Band, March 28, 7-9:30 pm
Full Band Rehearsal, April 4, 7-9:30 pm
Guard/Dance Crew, April 11, 7-9 pm
Full Band, April 18, 7-9:30 pm
Guard/Dance Crew, May 2, 7-9:30 pm
AT FOLEY SQUARE
Musicians, May 2, 7-9:30 pm
Full Band, May 9, 7-9:30 pm
Full Band, May 16, 7-9:30 pm
Full Band, May 23, 7-9:30 pm
Full Band, May 30, 7-9:30 pm
Full Band, June 6, 7-9 pm
Full Band, June 13, 7-9 pm
Full Band, June 20, 7-9:30 pm
Full Band, June 27, 7-10 pm
What should I bring to rehearsal?
Well, that depends! Musicians, you’ll need:
— Your instrument! (With the exception of a few – sousaphone, mellophone, and percussion players, the band will supply you with an instrument to play.)
— A lyre.
— A fiip folder. (If you don’t have one, we can sell you one!)
— A pencil.
— Comfortable shoes for marching.
For guard members, the band will provide you with a fiag and pole as well as any other equipment used this season. Your captains will tell you what shoes are best for rehearsals. Dance crew, the same – the band will provide you with any equipment used this season. Your captain will tell you what shoes are best for rehearsals.
What if I can't make all the rehearsals?
The most important thing is that you get to experience the sound of love and joy with us! We are very flexible when it comes to rehearsal/performance attendance, but we do have a few requirements for major performances like NYC Pride. Click below for the full attendance policy.
This all sounds great! But what will it cost me?
Glamour and glitz doesn’t come cheap! Below are some of the expenses we encounter as members of the band. But please know that financial assistance is available! We have never, nor will we ever turn someone away just because they may not be able to afford the price of things.
— Annual participation fee, marching band: $75. (Reduced to $25 for new members who must also buy a full uniform.)
— Musician uniform expense: $85 for pants, shoes, and hat which are yours to keep. The band supplies your overlay that you will use at most parades and events, and one tee shirt. Additional tee shirts are $15.
— Guard uniform expense: $75 for the full uniform. (The band supplies a tee shirt that is yours to keep that you will wear at certain gigs. Additional tee shirts are $15.)
— Dance crew uniform expense: $75 for the full uniform. (The band supplies a tee shirt that is yours to keep that you will wear at certain gigs. Additional tee shirts are $15.)
I hear the band travels! What's the deal with that? And what will that cost me?
We do! This year we are traveling to Washington, DC (parade on June 8, 2024) and Providence, RI (parade on June 15, 2024). If you share a room with 3-4 other people, take an affordable mode of transportation, and stay for one night it will cost you about $100 (+/-) in each city. There are partial scholarships available, so if you cannot afford that, don’t worry! You can still come! Need more info? Click the button below!
It's great that the band will assist new members financially, but where does the money come from?
Many places! The band receives grant money from the City of New York, we rely of the generosity of our donors, we of course have participation fees as discussed earlier, and (this is where YOU as a member come in) we conduct a few fundraising events and drives throughout the year.
Executive Director Jason Cannon will ask us all to create fundraising events on our social media accounts, so when the call to action comes please be a QBAC Superstar by creating your fundraising page! Sure, we need big corporate donors, but any donation no matter the size is a good donation! Plus, those $10 and $20 donations are what got us to our 45th Anniversary Season…help us get to Season 46 and beyond!
I still need information! Where do I get information?
The band leadership communicates with members in a few different ways but primarily a wonderful software with a confusing name – Chorus Connection! Here is where you will find the band’s calendar, an archive of all emails sent to the band by the directors, and music files (printed music and audio files). You will receive an email inviting you to join Chorus Connection. If you haven’t received it, please check your spam folder. Still not there? Let your captain know.
Occasionally we need to communicate with members immediately, and for that we have a text blast service. To sign up for that, please text “QBAC” to 41372.
Before each gig you will receive both an email and text blast with all the pertinent information specific to that gig – we call it the “How To Do” – this will have everything you will need. Where to go, when to be there, what to wear – we will tell you “how to do” the gig!
But wait! I still have questions! Where do I go?
Ask your captain first! They may not have the answer but they will know where to send you. Below are the people who run the band and they know everything! For more info, email info @ qbac.org.
Sydney Hayes
Program Services Director
Andy Richards
Membership Coordinator
Jared Burleigh
Events Coordinator
Jason Cannon
Executive Director
Marita Begley
Marching Artistic Director
Nicole Gutman
Royal Dresser (for uniform questions)