When you are "with the Band" schedules can be interesting!
Anything involving several hundred students, instruments, busses and traffic just takes a while!
We often don't know "appearance" time til days before-hand!
Day-Of Performance preparation is time-consuming, multiplied by 200 people dressing,
losing/finding uniform pieces and parts, warm-up of horns, loading onto busses and ...well - it has to
be experienced to be understood! It happens, and the students get better each time they do it...they
get lots of practice before the year is out! The upper classmen and section leaders are there to help
the freshmen! (as are chaperones and directors) IF you know you have a conflict that day-please
tell directors ASAP-they can often help you figure out if you can "do it all" that day or not !
Contests & Game Dates:
See the website calendar for marching contests and game dates.
Times will be announced AS SOON AS they are
known. YES, they are required performances.
CHANGES and ADDITIONS*
There may be sectionals or extra rehearsals called prior to contests.
Pay attention to the YAHOO and the BAND WEBSITE…
*
these things are also announced at school to the kids, but get in the habit of asking. Even though
they are high school students, they forget to tell you!…another reason it is good to have some
contact info for other Band Parents, build a network!!!
Here is a clue as to what to expect on one of these days!
A 'Typical' Game Day
7:30 AM - Zero Hour
9:15 - School Day
3:45 - Pep Rally - wear specified shirt
4:15 - School Dismissed
4:20 - Supper served in cafeteria (far-away game? meal may be served ON LOCATION)
Dress - Uniform of the Day
5ish - Inspection/Rehearsal
Load Busses/Trucks
Leave for Stadium
7 or 7:30 pm Game/Halftime
Load Busses/Trucks
11-11:30 (usually-depends upon game length, traffic), - Arrival at Band Hall
Unload/Clean/Put away Equipment
Dismissal
A 'Typical' Marching Contest Day
Rehearsal/Warmup/Visualization - at school
Dress
Load Busses/Equipment
Arrival on site
Final Inspections/Uniform Adjustments by Uniform Committee/Chaperones
Official Warm-Up
Contest
Await Results
Load Busses/Equipment
Ride Home with many trophies
Arrival/Unload/Unpack/Clean and Store Equipment/Dismissal
there 'could be' a meal or snack thrown in here, depends upon time and length of day
Usually, we don't know the time the Band will perform/compete until a week prior to Contest. All the steps
leading up to Step-Off take 2-4 hours...plus drive time..SO - as soon as we know a contest time, then the
rehearsal/meal/arrival/departure/dimissal times can be determined and announced.
IF you know you have a conflict that day - please tell directors ASAP - they can often help you figure out if you
can "do it all" that day or not !
A 'Typical' Parade Day
parades are usually in the mornings and we are finished by noon at the latest
Rehearsal/Warmup - at school
Dress
Load Busses/Equipment
Arrival on site/Find place in Parade Line Order
Hurry Up and Wait
PARADE
Load Busses/Equipment
Ride Home
Arrival/Unload/Unpack/Clean and Store Equipment/Dismissal
A 'Typical' Concert Contest Day
Rehearsal/Warmup/Visualization - at school
Dress
Load Busses/Equipment
Arrival on site
Official Warm-Up/Tuning
Contest
Sight-Reading Contest
Await Results
Load Busses/Equipment
Ride Home with many trophies
Arrival/Unload/Unpack/Clean and Store Equipment/Dismissal
there 'could be' a meal or snack thrown in here, depends upon time and length of day
Usually, we don't know the time the Band will perform/compete until a week or so prior to Contest. All the steps
leading up to Stage-Tiime take a while...plus drive time..SO - as soon as we know a contest time, then the
rehearsal/meal/arrival/departure/dimissal times can be determined and announced.
IF you know you have a conflict that day-please tell directors ASAP-they can often help you figure out
if you can "do it all" that day or not !