2011 Marching Band Season post--already....

[Pembo]

Good call-here the hornlines/drumline all wear white to every practice, colorguard wears a "colored" shirt (all the same each day-so one day they are in red, another day pink, etc.). It helps the directors see lines, etc. better.

We keep our uniforms all season but upkeep is pretty easy-wash the collar liner after each use, brush any dirt off if needed. Last year the kids go rained on expectantly part way through their performance and the kids' neck straps from their saxophones left a black mark on the white part of their uniforms so we had them dry cleaned to remove that. The cleaner gives us a deal-$10/uniform.

The Boosters provide colored bandanas for each section and a bonus, the bandanas are great for soaking in water and putting on the neck. It's a high of 90 today I think. They're kids, they're tough.

Our uniforms only get dry cleaned and they never come home. Kids change into them at school before every game/performance. I've only had the pants home twice, to adjust the hem. Glad we don't have to worry about cleaning...

 

[momof1princess]

well, DD13, who starts 8th grade in 2 weeks, started her first day of band camp an hour ago! she was so excited, she woke up 45 minutes before the alarm went off, lol.

 

[Gina]

I'm all for them toughing it out generally, but the heat this week has me a bit worried. Last week was bad enough -- heat indices in the 102-105 range -- and DS said a bunch of kids were throwing up from the heat. And they were there half-days.

Today starts the all-day practices, and the heat index is supposed to be near 107 every day. I'm hoping like crazy they got the A/C in the band hall fixed today, so they at least have someplace to go cool off, or they're going to be dropping like flies. I'm so impressed by any kid in band or color guard -- they all work SO hard at what they do!! I know I couldn't do it!

 

[golfgal]

I'm all for them toughing it out generally, but the heat this week has me a bit worried. Last week was bad enough -- heat indices in the 102-105 range -- and DS said a bunch of kids were throwing up from the heat. And they were there half-days.

Today starts the all-day practices, and the heat index is supposed to be near 107 every day. I'm hoping like crazy they got the A/C in the band hall fixed today, so they at least have someplace to go cool off, or they're going to be dropping like flies. I'm so impressed by any kid in band or color guard -- they all work SO hard at what they do!! I know I couldn't do it!

Our first week of practice we were in the 130+ heat index range-they stayed in the school and practiced there. They are off today since they were at camp last week and start drill camp tomorrow. We are supposed to be in the 105+ range again--on blacktop--all day

 

[Dismom+two]

My daughter is going into her Jr. year of high school and is in the marching band. She is starting band camp on the 15th. She is very excited to hear what their program music will be. They have a new band director so they are all anxious to meet him too.

Lets hope for a great year!!

 

[momof1princess]

DD13 came home at lunch (11:00am-12:45pm) after 3 hours and said she was tired...lol. she ate lunch quickly and spent the rest of the time lying down in her room. i have a feeling that, when she gets home around 5:00pm, she's going to be totally exhausted.

 

[jen0610]

My mom just sent me a text. It read, He needs a nap!!! I can't wait to get home. She is picking DS up everyday from band and dropping him off at home. This week she is doing me double the taxi service, as while she drops DS off she picks DD up and takes her to the dance studio for her 1st year of dance intensives. I'll go pick her up at 9 tonight. Should make for an interesting week with the teens!

 

[marcyinPA]

Do your kids practice on natural turf, artificial turf, or something else?

Ours practice on artificial and it is HOT. Band camp starts next Monday, and I'm hoping our streak of being in the 90's is over by then. Every year, DS gets the best tan of the summer from being on that field, but this year I worry about him because he is on Doxycycline and it makes you sensitive to the sun. I've been already harping about sunscreen, so hopefully he heeds my advice!!

 

[m&m's mom]

Our band is the same, mostly soph-senior with a few select freshmen. He would NOT be allowed to miss practice for that, any practice, with our band, period. Pretty much the only allowed absences are illness and a death in the family. The summer schedule is posted late Jan/early Feb and no vacations, etc. are excused. At our house it would just be a NO, you are not going on the bike trek, end of story. You committed to being in the band, you will go to band practice.

I gotta agree that I would not allow either. You make a commitment and you stick by it.

Our first week of practice we were in the 130+ heat index range-they stayed in the school and practiced there. They are off today since they were at camp last week and start drill camp tomorrow. We are supposed to be in the 105+ range again--on blacktop--all day

We are already 105 and supposed to get up to 108 degrees- oh yeah- today is the projected coolest day of the week.
We are across the street from the school and DD did not come home for lunch. I asked DH what she was going to do and he said he did not know. Really??

 

[golfgal]

Do your kids practice on natural turf, artificial turf, or something else?

Ours practice on artificial and it is HOT. Band camp starts next Monday, and I'm hoping our streak of being in the 90's is over by then. Every year, DS gets the best tan of the summer from being on that field, but this year I worry about him because he is on Doxycycline and it makes you sensitive to the sun. I've been already harping about sunscreen, so hopefully he heeds my advice!!

We practice in the parking lot of the school-they have football field lines painted on there for us. There is a large hill the directors can stand on and watch the kids. They do use the football field sometimes (real grass) but it is easier hauling their stuff to the parking lot.

DS was on Doxy last year and it only took one burn to heed my advice. He was VERY good about sun screen this year . Hats and sun glasses (and hula wear for his section at band camp this year) also also musts.

 

[momof1princess]

well, DD13 got home just after 5:00pm. she was sweaty and exhausted, but excited. i'm not really thrilled about all this extra stuff we have to buy, but, i guess that's just part of it. time to suck it up and open my wallet, lol.

 

[Pembo]

Our kids are on a field right outside the school. The director stands on a huge podium. He is short and I always think of Shrek and Lord Farquart when I see him up there. lol

Funny story - my son is a picky eater and they band provides meals to the kids all week. I'm helping with the clean up/set up of meals. Last night 6 adults ran up me to tell me my son didn't eat dinner. It was sloppy joe and I knew he wouldn't touch it. I pack extra food for him in his cooler. Today I saw him before lunch. He was finishing his apple. Tonight I get there to help serve dinner and I'm told that he didn't eat lunch. Now I'm glad they noticed he didn't eat but in reality he did eat. Last night he ate salad and dessert lol. Today for lunch he ate his apple and orange from home, chips and cookies. For dinner he had mashed potatoes and a cupcake.

DS is skinny. He says it's prejudice. They think he'll starve if he doesn't eat. It's so hot out, I'm happy he is eating anything and I know he's drinking lots of water. That's more important to me. But he's got all these adults in a tizzy. I told them not to worry about him, he'll be fine. I'm sure he didn't eat last year either but nobody knew who he (or I) were.

It's 90 today and 90% humidity. At dinner the kids looked wiped and they still have until 9 tonight. I hope they get out early.

 

[jen0610]

Do your kids practice on natural turf, artificial turf, or something else?
Ours practice on artificial and it is HOT. Band camp starts next Monday, and I'm hoping our streak of being in the 90's is over by then. Every year, DS gets the best tan of the summer from being on that field, but this year I worry about him because he is on Doxycycline and it makes you sensitive to the sun. I've been already harping about sunscreen, so hopefully he heeds my advice!!

We practice in the parking lot of the school-they have football field lines painted on there for us. There is a large hill the directors can stand on and watch the kids. They do use the football field sometimes (real grass) but it is easier hauling their stuff to the parking lot.

We have the same parking lot/football field set up as golfgal. We do have a 2 story tower built, that the director and several of the assistance are up on during a good portion of the practices. It gives them the same view that the judges will have during competitions.

The only time we are actually on the football field is on our Thursday night practices. That is the night at we go until 8. The band can get on the field after their dinner break gets over at 5:45.

well, DD13 got home just after 5:00pm. she was sweaty and exhausted, but excited. i'm not really thrilled about all this extra stuff we have to buy, but, i guess that's just part of it. time to suck it up and open my wallet, lol.

It's a never ending flow from your wallet. There's the window decals and the sweatshirts and t-shirts to show support. On competition days, there's all the snacks to have for on the bus eating - need to make sure there is enough for going to and coming home from the competition. Plus, he needs money to eat while he is at competition. The morning of the 1st competition, the sections will all meet for breakfast, so he'll need even more eating money. On home football game nights, needs money to get stuff from the concession stand during the 3rd quarter.

And it doesn't stop with marching band. Pep band - needs the t-shirt and at every game he needs money to get something to eat during half time. Jazz band - kinda follows the same marching band need for money for eating as they go to competitions.

Between DS's band needs and DD's dance studio needs, I don't think my wallet ever closes. If it's not one, it's the other needing money for "their thing". At least it keeps them busy and active.

 

[momof1princess]

We have the same parking lot/football field set up as golfgal. We do have a 2 story tower built, that the director and several of the assistance are up on during a good portion of the practices. It gives them the same view that the judges will have during competitions.

The only time we are actually on the football field is on our Thursday night practices. That is the night at we go until 8. The band can get on the field after their dinner break gets over at 5:45.



It's a never ending flow from your wallet. There's the window decals and the sweatshirts and t-shirts to show support. On competition days, there's all the snacks to have for on the bus eating - need to make sure there is enough for going to and coming home from the competition. Plus, he needs money to eat while he is at competition. The morning of the 1st competition, the sections will all meet for breakfast, so he'll need even more eating money. On home football game nights, needs money to get stuff from the concession stand during the 3rd quarter.

And it doesn't stop with marching band. Pep band - needs the t-shirt and at every game he needs money to get something to eat during half time. Jazz band - kinda follows the same marching band need for money for eating as they go to competitions.

Between DS's band needs and DD's dance studio needs, I don't think my wallet ever closes. If it's not one, it's the other needing money for "their thing". At least it keeps them busy and active.

oh my goodness! while i'm looking for a first job, i should also be looking for a second job!

between band and ballet, we're going to be broker than broke!

 

[golfgal]

We have the same parking lot/football field set up as golfgal. We do have a 2 story tower built, that the director and several of the assistance are up on during a good portion of the practices. It gives them the same view that the judges will have during competitions.

The only time we are actually on the football field is on our Thursday night practices. That is the night at we go until 8. The band can get on the field after their dinner break gets over at 5:45.





It's a never ending flow from your wallet. There's the window decals and the sweatshirts and t-shirts to show support. On competition days, there's all the snacks to have for on the bus eating - need to make sure there is enough for going to and coming home from the competition. Plus, he needs money to eat while he is at competition. The morning of the 1st competition, the sections will all meet for breakfast, so he'll need even more eating money. On home football game nights, needs money to get stuff from the concession stand during the 3rd quarter.

And it doesn't stop with marching band. Pep band - needs the t-shirt and at every game he needs money to get something to eat during half time. Jazz band - kinda follows the same marching band need for money for eating as they go to competitions.

Between DS's band needs and DD's dance studio needs, I don't think my wallet ever closes. If it's not one, it's the other needing money for "their thing". At least it keeps them busy and active.

NO KIDDING... fortunately our kids are not allowed to eat in uniform and we are always the last band to perform so we save money not having to buy snacks at competitions Pep band doesn't cost us anything-no special shirt or anything. Jazz Band is free except for about $100 for their overnight stay for a Jazz Festival (that is optional really). Marching band is $850/kid and that includes a week away at band camp, all transportation and accommodations to two overnight trips (one being a 2 night stay). They get a "show" shirt as part of the band camp fee too. Each section usually designs a shirt for the year-usually around $10. They have a 'standard" sweatshirt that the band has been getting for years. Our twins got one each as freshmen but they have shrunk/kids have grown that they no longer fit so they want new ones this year--$45/each. It's about $8 each to get into the competitions for DH and I. I try to buy something from the concession stand-even if it is just a bottle of water-to support all the bands.

Our band has optional fundraisers pretty much all year long so it's possible, if your kids participate, that you don't have to pay anything. A portion of what is sold during the fundraisers go into the kids' band accounts and that can be used for band fees, trip fees, etc.

 

[jen0610]

It's about $8 each to get into the competitions for DH and I. I try to buy something from the concession stand-even if it is just a bottle of water-to support all the bands.

I hear ya on supporting the bands. I think at every competition we get at least a drink. I know at semi-state last year - 20 bands - we ate lunch and dinner there, as we got there for the 1st band and stayed and watched every single band perform. It was one long day, but very well worth the time to see some amazing bands. Thank goodness they had these really yummy rib-eye steak sandwiches.

The kids getting stuff at the football games and during pep band getting stuff during their break, I don't mind because when they are buying at the concessions stand, it's money going into the band funds as we run them.

 

[Pembo]

I'll stop complaining about cost now. We have a $400 pay to play that goes to the district. Band camp fee is $50 which includes all meals and a tshirt. No money is needed all week. I paid $30 for his marching shoes and $3 for gloves. Half time snacks are always provided by the band boosters at home and away. We only do 3 competitions and the boosters provide dinner if there are 2 meals involved otherwise just $10 covers the day.

Pep and jazz band are FREE. Concert band was $20 for a tux shirt, pants and jacket provided.

Our boosters have a steak fry in the fall, fruit sale in Nov, and a Night at the Races in Feb. The kids do 3 car washes in July to pay for the end of band camp lock in.

I'm glad I live here not where some of you do...your fees are HIGH

 

[momof1princess]

in addition to the band fee (which includes a t-shirt and payment for her uniform and shoes) we have to buy white gloves (2 pair); at LEAST 2 boxes of reeds ($41.99 per box at our local music store! but i can get them for $19.99 per box online); tall, white socks (at least 2 pair) and hair elastics and bobby pins. i also need to take her clarinet in to have a stripped screw replaced. thank goodness for repair contracts!

 

[golfgal]

in addition to the band fee (which includes a t-shirt and payment for her uniform and shoes) we have to buy white gloves (2 pair); at LEAST 2 boxes of reeds ($41.99 per box at our local music store! but i can get them for $19.99 per box online); tall, white socks (at least 2 pair) and hair elastics and bobby pins. i also need to take her clarinet in to have a stripped screw replaced. thank goodness for repair contracts!

Reeds are so expensive. I'm just glad the kids don't play oboe . We get 2 or 3 pair of gloves each year. They are only $2/pair but they are white and get dirty so fast. We keep on fresh for BOA. We have to have plain black socks for our uniforms. DD16 needs new shoes this year too-those are $35. DS at least uses his marching shoes for dress shoes during the school year.

 

[momof1princess]

Reeds are so expensive. I'm just glad the kids don't play oboe . We get 2 or 3 pair of gloves each year. They are only $2/pair but they are white and get dirty so fast. We keep on fresh for BOA. We have to have plain black socks for our uniforms. DD16 needs new shoes this year too-those are $35. DS at least uses his marching shoes for dress shoes during the school year.

i know! when the lady at the music store said $41.99, i almost passed out! i can buy them from woodwind & brasswind through sunshine rewards for $19.99 per box and get cash back! i'll buy the gloves at the music store, since DD will need to try them on to get a good fit. too bad we're just going to cut out the fingertips, lol.

i wish our band shoes could be worn for dress shoes, but they're white, lol, and the kids would probably mess them up.

not sure how many competitions we're doing this fall. last fall, while DD was a lowly band manager, we did 2, but i think there are at least 4 on the schedule this year.