The Flaggots Ohio Story

WHO WE ARE BACKSTORY OUR MISSION Flaggots Ohio is a GLBT (& straight!) col- 1994: Early Seeds. A group of 10 march with the To develop a volunteer visual performance orguard based in Columbus, Ohio. We have Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus in the Columbus Gay Pride ensemble that is challenging and enjoyable Parade and perform to Give It Up at the Pride Rally at members from all corners of the Midwest Bicentennial Park. for its members while producing the highest who make our group what it is...FUN! quality entertainment within our means. 1997-1999: Groundwork. In 1997, a small flag ensemble and 1 rifle appeared in the Columbus Gay Pride Our Director parade. Performance 2002: Debut! Flaggots Ohio debuted with 15 perform- ers in the Columbus Pride Parade performing to Mary J. History Blige’s No More Drama. Later that year, FO performed at the National PFLAG Conference held in Columbus. AIDS Walk Central Ohio OSU Drums & Dough 2003: Beautiful. FO debuts original choreography to Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful at AIDS Walk Central Ohio 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 2012, 2013, 2014 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and a comprehensive Ohio Pride Tour including Dayton, OSU Homecoming Cincinnati and Columbus. 2013, 2014 Parade 2004: All Things Just Keep Getting Better. FO enjoys Equality Ohio 2013, 2014 increased media coverage in 2004, adds a new website, 2008 and completes 2 live performances with Simone Denny, Columbus Pride singer of the season’s title song and theme of TV’s Queer Gay Games 9 Cleveland 1993, 1997, 2002, 2003, Eye for the Straight Guy. 2014 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2005: California Dreamin’. FO sends 20 proud Ohio Gay Games 7 Chicago representatives to the San Diego Pride Parade and 2013, 2014 Matt Eisert 2006 Festival in July, winning “Most Outrageous and Creative New York City Pride Matt Eisert brings many years of business Marching Float” in the process! Pride Night Kings Island 2011 and pageantry experience to his role as 2006: How We Got Here… FO brings Deborah Cox to 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 the streets with the anthem San Diego Pride Director of Flaggots Ohio. With a business Nobody’s Supposed to Be PFLAG National background in Project Management added Here, entertaining record crowds from Columbus to Kings 2005 Island and Gay Games VII in Chicago! Conference to performance experience from color guard, 2002 Palm Springs Pride 2007: Superfreak… FO’s dazzles crowds at the June dance, theater and choral music, he not only 2007 coordinates the ensemble’s leadership and Gallery Hop, CLGSA’s Bat-N-Rouge Softball Game as well Mary Ann Brandt visual teams but also acts as President of as winning Best 2007 Performance at the Columbus Pride 2002–2014 (various shows) Dayton Pride Parade and Festival! 2003, 2004, 2005 Flaggots Ohio, LLC. California Dreamin’ 2008: Mesmerized… Ohio’s Flaggots met up with 2005 (stage variety show) Indianapolis Pride He has also appeared with the Madison their Spinning Sisters—ROTC Chicago—to mesmerize 2008 Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, the Steel City Indianapolis, performing Defying Gravity, Girlfriend and Dancin’ in the Streets Ambassadors, Excalibur Drum & Bugle FO’s 2008 Feature...Mesmerized! 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Cincinnati Pride Corps, Presque Isle Night Raiders, Columbus 2009: Absolutely Not… FO brings another Deborah 2003 Bat ‘n’ Rouge Gay Men’s Chorus, Flaggots New York, Cox anthem—Absolutely Not—to a new Columbus Pride 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, Cleveland Pride ROTC Chicago, and the Edinboro University parade route with revitalized membership. 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 2004 marching band. His production and chore- 2010: Fever… FO sizzles the pavement to Cascada’s ography credits include various shows for Fever and then shifts gears for a big trip... Gallery Hops, Columbus Pittsburgh Pride Mary Ann Brandt, Nina West, Columbus 2011: The Big Apple… FO takes a year off in Columbus, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012 2012, 2013, 2014 Stompers, and Stonewall Columbus. and the break allows members from FO to join our mother Yellow Springs Pride group in the New York City Pride Parade for the first time! Via Colori, Columbus 2013 2012: Stronger… FO brings Kelly Clarkson’s pop 2004, 2005 anthem to the streets of Pittsburgh for the first time, and Toronto WorldPride dazzles the crowd with rifle in “Moves Like Jagger.” Stompers Invitational 2014 2004 2013: When Love Takes Over… FO brings David Guetta & Kelly Rowland’s dance hit to summer Pride season plus GALA Chorus Concert a rifle/flag feature of Lady Gaga’s “Applause.” 1996 2014: Wings… FO takes the Little Mix hit “Wings” international and wins “Best Choreography” in the 2014 Toronto WorldPride Parade for their efforts! Who can join Flaggots Ohio? YOU CAN! All it takes is time, love for your fellow citizens— regardless of their diversity, love for this peculiar pageantry activity, and an unabashed desire to Membership Info display your fabulousness. Membership Basics Performing Support Flaggots Ohio is a diverse group of people with wide-ranging performance backgrounds who all Members Members come together to represent our community and Many performing members of Flaggots It cannot be overstated how impor- have FUN while creating uplifting pageantry and Ohio have some kind of pageantry per- tant support roles are to Flaggots vibrant entertainment anyone can enjoy. formance background, whether being in Ohio! We simply could not operate high school colorguard or a world-class without a talented and hard-work- There are many roles you can play in our organi- drum and bugle corps / winterguard. ing crew of people minding all the zation. Visit our website for winter rehearsal and But you need not have ANY performing details of each performance and clinic schedules and download the membership experience to join FO as a performer! supporting the performers. handbook. Or email us for more information at [email protected]. We look Even if you’ve never spun a flag or rifle If you are more interested in forward to meeting you! before, we’ll help you build the skills you behind-the-scenes participation, need during winter technical rehearsals there are many roles you can fill. in preparation for the summer season. FO needs support crew to drive the Each performer is expected to pass sound truck (affectionately named a basic skills assessment in order to “Ruby”), pass out water during perform, but with dedication and hard parades, document our engage- work on your part, you’ll experience the ments in photographs and video, joy and camaraderie only the Flaggots carry the banner and honor flags, can offer! operate the sound system, and distribute marketing materials to the crowds. We also have other internal roles where your help may benefit FO, including web development & fundraising. You have a place with us— just ask! 2 015 Season Schedule* Performance History

AIDS Walk Central Ohio OSU Drums & Dough 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 2012, 2013, 2014 JUN 06 >> Short North Gallery Hop 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, OSU Homecoming 2013, 2014 Parade JUN 13 /14 >> Washington DC Pride Equality Ohio 2013, 2014 2008 Columbus Pride JUN 20 >> Columbus Pride / Festival Gay Games 9 Cleveland 1993, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2014 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, Gay Games 7 Chicago JUN 21 >> Bat ‘N Rouge Softball Benefit 2013, 2014 2006 New York City Pride Pride Night Kings Island 2011 AUG 8/15/16 >> Mary Ann Brandt 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL San Diego Pride PFLAG National 2005 Conference AUG 17–22 >> Gay Softball World Series 2002 Palm Springs Pride 2007 Mary Ann Brandt AUG 26 >> OSU Drums & Dough 2002–2014 (various shows) Dayton Pride 2003, 2004, 2005 California Dreamin’ 2005 (stage variety show) Indianapolis Pride OCT 10 / 11 >> Atlanta Pride* 2008 Dancin’ in the Streets 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Cincinnati Pride OCT 16 >> OSU Homecoming Parade 2003 Bat ‘n’ Rouge MULTICULTURAL RALLY 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, Cleveland Pride 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 2004 DEC 12/19/20 >> Mary Ann Brandt CHRISTMAS SHOW Gallery Hops, Columbus Pittsburgh Pride 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012 2012, 2013, 2014 Yellow Springs Pride Via Colori, Columbus 2013 Performance Requests 2004, 2005 Toronto WorldPride Stompers Invitational 2014 Scheduled appearances are subject to While our season schedule is usually set by May, 2004 * change without notice. You can always we want to hear from you! If you are interested in GALA Chorus Concert find up-to-date schedule information for incorporating the unique energy of Flaggots Ohio 1996 Flaggots Ohio on our homepage at in your event, let us know. We can send you our www.flaggotsohio.org! performance space requirements and talk further about your needs. Send requests to: [email protected] Sponsorship Who can help Flaggots Ohio? (Each sponsor level also includes the benefits YOU CAN! listed at each preceding level) + Every donation, large or small, helps us achieve our $1000 Donation mission. Flaggots Ohio believes in our community, and we do our best to support those who support >> “Small Ensemble Performance” at Event of us! We are able to provide Flaggots Ohio supporters Choice (up to 2 songs, subject to FO Performance with a variety of advertisement vehicles in thanks Requirements) for their generous contributions to our activities. >> Verbal acknowledgement during introduction/exiting music (where permissible) Growth & Challenges Since 2002, Flaggots Ohio has performed for HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of festivalgoers across Ohio and beyond simply by “parading around” $500–$999 Donation ...LITERALLY! Products of our efforts include cheers of approval, new friends, awards, certificates, >> Highlighted Logo and Link on our home-page fan letters and a steady stream of performance requests, each reaffirming the importance of our >> Logo on the back of FO’s Performance T-shirt existence. With this recent success, interest and during the Columbus Pride Parade and Rally growth continue to lead our list of challenges as we (100,000 Spectators anticipated) march this year. In an effort to manage these welcomed challenges, >> Logo on all publicity Flyers & Handbills an organizational overhaul is near completion, including new & improved features on our website $250–$499 Donation at www.flaggotsohio.org. There, web surfers can discover what we have in store for the season and >> Logo, Link and small write-up on the “Our visit our Sponsors’ websites with one click directly Sponsors” page of our website from our home page! Event Sponsorship Want extra exposure at an Event on the Flaggots $25– $249 Donation Calendar with your logo displayed on the back of >> Name or Business listed with link on the “Our our T-shirts? Let us be human billboards for your business this summer! Sponsors” page of our website $250–$350 (Silver donation of printing cost) Goods GOODS: Bottled Water, Gatorade 2, Sunscreen, Electrical Tape, Mini-DV Camcorder Tapes, & Services Recordable CD’s & DVD’s, Gasoline Gift Card, Flags, Goods & Services are at times Flag Poles, iPod, Ski Bags, T-shirts or Uniforms, BETTER than cash to Flaggots Ohio! 1000-watt Sound System See our website “Wish List” for the top-priority items in addition to SERVICES: Event Promotion, Tax Preparation, these every-day staples: Legal Counsel, Music and Video Editing, Hotel and Airline Accommodations, Transportation Costs, Membership Event Catering, Costume/Flag Sewing Services Photo Album Photo Album