This One Time, At Band Camp...

I usually write about my experiences in TV production here, and I promise I will get to that. But first, a little backstory.  
I grew up in Van Nuys, California, spitting distance from all of the major movie and TV studios. When I was a kid, film production crews were a common sight in our neighborhood, and I never paid much attention to them. They were just part of the landscape of the San Fernando Valley.  
As a teenager, I was a grade A marching band geek. I was a member of the Royal Cavaliers Youth Band, one of many youth bands in Southern California. Now, without blowing my own horn (see what I did there?), we were among the best marching bands in the country (7 time California State Champions, 1975 VFW National Champions).  
During the summers, we toured the country, competing against some of the top youth marching bands around. This didn’t come cheap. Paying for buses, meals, and accommodations, not to mention uniforms, props, flags and all of the stuff you needed to put on a show, meant that we had to raise money year round. Candy sales, bake sales, raffles...  you name it, we did it. 
You’re probably wondering what any of this has to do with TV production. I’m getting to that. Being within spitting distance of the movie and TV studios, another fund raising activity we did was appearing on TV shows, usually in the background of larger scenes. We were featured on the Premiere episode of The Captain and Tenille Variety Hour. We did some long forgotten game shows (anyone remember The Girl In My Life?). We were featured in, and even front end credited on the Disneyland 25th Anniversary Celebration on ABC. We even appeared (twice!) on stage with Alice Cooper. Of course, they all paid us (and also gave us those all important exposure bucks). By the way, our appearances on the Disneyland anniversary show and The Captain and Tenille show are on YouTube, if you're really bored and want to look them up.
Another easy way we made quick cash was to provide audience members for many different game shows. They would either pay us, or donate a large prize (TV, Washer/Dryer, Dishwasher) that we would then raffle off. In fact, what got me thinking about all of this was the recent passing of Peter Marshall, legendary host of The Hollywood Squares.  I can’t tell you how many times I attended tapings of that show. Rest in peace,  Mr. Marshall. Safe travels.  
Being around the sets of these productions gave me a chance to watch everything that went on behind the scenes. I was fascinated by the cameras, the sound, the blocking, the lighting. Whenever I could, I would talk to the crew members and ask about their jobs. It all seemed like so much fun. On Hollywood Squares, I especially loved watching the center camera during commercial breaks, when it would zoom in for a closeup of “the secret square”. It made me feel like an insider knowing who it was. Peter Marshall was an absolute pro at keeping that show fun and entertaining. 
Of course, being a band geek, I entered college as a music major. But within a few semesters, I realized I wasn’t going to be a world famous concert musician. I was squarely on course to wind up a junior high school band teacher. Suddenly, music no longer felt like my life’s calling.  
But at Cal State Northridge, right next door to the music building sat the Radio/TV/Film building. I took a couple of elective courses, then switched majors and never looked back. It turned out to be a good move. I’ve spent 40 years working in the TV industry.  Those early days, waiting around on a set, or sitting in the darkened audience of a taping left a lasting impression on me.  And as an editor, I still rely on my musical knowledge and timing in my work.  It sure beats listening to the strained tones of a junior high school band.