A Nod and a Wink
By Graham Davies

Body language is a far less important presentation tool than the human voice. But it can get you into trouble just as quickly as what you say.

Ask Drum Major John Coleman. He has been suspended from duty for 6 months by the Cleveland Firefighters’ Memorial Pipes and Drums. His cardinal error was to wave and wink at the newly-inaugurated President Obama. Clearly a criminal contravention of the pristine protocol that serious Drum Professionals have observed since time immemorial.

This incident demonstrates how dangerous inappropriate body language can be. It also shows that most of the senior officers of the Cleveland Pipes are not winkers: but they are something else ....