2014 Marching Band thread

[marcyinPA]

I think when my DS went to WDW with the band in 2011, it cost $1700. They flew from Philly and NY- band is so large that they split them up. They had four full days in the parks and had park hoppers. They marched three times- 2x in the MK and once in Epcot. They stayed at POR on site four to a room. Every meal was covered. I think they got $15 per meal. Nine months later, the band went to Hawaii to perform for the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and they marched in the Waikiki Holiday Parade. That trip was $2700 per student. That was a VERY EXPENSIVE year for us!!

 

[Katy Belle]

How is everyone's season going?! I'm sure some of you have been to Contests by now!

Our football team isn't doing so great. I think we've won one, and lost 3. Homecoming is this weekend. Fingers crossed for that!

Our band competed in our first contest on Saturday. We didn't make Finals There were 22 bands, 12 go onto Finals. The Director said that we were 13th, and were 0.1 point behind the #12 Band. Gives us hope for next week! I thought we sounded great, and looked OK. Hoping for more energy next week!

Our poor Color Guard Girls!!! They marched in bare feet and the field was so hot that they burned their feet!!! DS17s girlfriend is in Guard. She has 3 blisters on the bottom of her feet! One of the girls has 11 blisters! OUCH. They were not so disappointed that we didn't make Finals. Girlfriend said she would rather break her arm than go out again. I have no idea what is up with their shoes!!! Their Coach supposedly ordered them from some internet shop and got some great deal. Fingers crossed they have shoes on Saturday!

We got to watch some outstanding Bands! Union, from Tulsa, was excellent, as usual. Van Buren High from Arkansas was huge and outstanding.

My own two looked great and had a super fun day. Our oldest drove over from his college to watch his brothers, so we had an awesome day! I got a little choked up watching my kiddos. When we first moved here, 4 years ago, and learned all about Marching Bands and how they now work, my youngest was my little buddy! He would go to the contests with DH and I and cheer on the Band. Now he's out there, in Drum Line. Time, it flies.

So proud of all of these dedicated kids. They work hard!!!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

How is everyone's season going?!

Our fifth football game was Friday, and we lost, so we are now 4-1. It was a little disappointing, but we were facing the toughest football team in our conference, so that's OK.

The band's first competition was on Saturday, and we came in second in our group, but got the score we wanted, so I guess that's OK. The drill instructor felt that actually did a better job on Friday during the football game. I think some of the kids were nervous. My wife and I felt the music was good but the marching was messy. We've got another competition on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, our daughter's college band traveled by bus to an away game about 4 hours away, played at a local high school on Friday, stayed overnight on cots in the high school gym, played at the away game on Saturday, and drove back. She was back in her dorm 2AM Sunday.

 

[WinchesterVol]

My DD is a Senior this year in the marching band where she plays piccolo and flute. We went to two competitions where we placed 1st and 3rd. The band is performing in the Outback Bowl Parade on New Years Eve and performing at the Outback Bowl on New Years Day. Before we head back to Tennessee we are stopping by MK on January 2 to spend the day! Can't wait!!

 

[Monykalyn]

How is everyone's season going?! I'm sure some of you have been to Contests by now!

Our football team isn't doing so great. I think we've won one, and lost 3. Homecoming is this weekend. Fingers crossed for that!

Our band competed in our first contest on Saturday. We didn't make Finals There were 22 bands, 12 go onto Finals. The Director said that we were 13th, and were 0.1 point behind the #12 Band. Gives us hope for next week! I thought we sounded great, and looked OK. Hoping for more energy next week!

Our poor Color Guard Girls!!! They marched in bare feet and the field was so hot that they burned their feet!!! DS17s girlfriend is in Guard. She has 3 blisters on the bottom of her feet! One of the girls has 11 blisters! OUCH. They were not so disappointed that we didn't make Finals. Girlfriend said she would rather break her arm than go out again. I have no idea what is up with their shoes!!! Their Coach supposedly ordered them from some internet shop and got some great deal. Fingers crossed they have shoes on Saturday!

We got to watch some outstanding Bands! Union, from Tulsa, was excellent, as usual. Van Buren High from Arkansas was huge and outstanding.

My own two looked great and had a super fun day. Our oldest drove over from his college to watch his brothers, so we had an awesome day! I got a little choked up watching my kiddos. When we first moved here, 4 years ago, and learned all about Marching Bands and how they now work, my youngest was my little buddy! He would go to the contests with DH and I and cheer on the Band. Now he's out there, in Drum Line. Time, it flies.

So proud of all of these dedicated kids. They work hard!!!

Was your band at Renegade Review?? My DD is in the Kickapoo band-they got 7th in finals-they were very disappointed in their performance (my DH blames the freshman lol-she said the competition the week before where they beat everyone by >7 points made them a bit cocky)

They will be in Tulsa this upcoming saturday, then Bands of America in STL the following week.

 

[daemom]

We're hosting a contest in a couple of weeks and trying to come up with something different to sell at the vending tables. Besides t-shirts, buttons, beads and noisemakers, what are you guys buying or what do you see is selling?

 

[Happy Snowman]

We're hosting a contest in a couple of weeks and trying to come up with something different to sell at the vending tables. Besides t-shirts, buttons, beads and noisemakers, what are you guys buying or what do you see is selling?

Christmas ornaments seem to be popular. Take clear bulbs, apply a decal for the various schools logo, fill the inside with school color tulle. If you can find someone that can make stickers of the school/band logos at a reasonable cost, they are not expensive to make, they just take time but maybe something you can have the band members do--everyone makes 5 or something like that.

 

[Kimberlyann11]

DD's band got straight ones last night as the MSBOA festival. That was kind of a surprise because they have a lot of freshmen and it has been a struggle to get them to focus. Everyone came through when it was important.

 

[Jennabeth]

DD's band got straight ones last night as the MSBOA festival. That was kind of a surprise because they have a lot of freshmen and it has been a struggle to get them to focus. Everyone came through when it was important.

I'm in Michigan too and my dd's band was at a MSBOA festival last night. We are on the west side of the state. Which one were you in?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

We're hosting a contest in a couple of weeks and trying to come up with something different to sell at the vending tables. Besides t-shirts, buttons, beads and noisemakers, what are you guys buying or what do you see is selling?

When we go to a marching band competition at another school, we never buy anything except candygrams, buttons, and food. This is especially true if I was already charged $5 - $10 for a ticket to get in and then overcharge (more than $2) for candygrams.

And if everything being sold is branded for the host school, there's really no point.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

Marching band finally got a chance to perform two weeks ago and we are still 10 days from our next performance.

Our State Fair Parade was cancelled due to rain (we were hoping to win the $2,000 first place money) and our first home game was postponed to Saturday due to rain (band did not perform on Saturday).

Due to a huge influx of Freshman (50+) plus the number already in band, we have 153 students in marching band this year, and we had to order 30+ uniforms to the tune of $11,000, so we are trying to fund-raise like demons.

This Friday we are hosting our first ever "Mouse Races" and are hoping to make a chunk of it that night.

This is the first year with a new director, and she doesn't feel they are ready for competition yet, so it will be next year before we do that.

We are going to WDW in April for spring break. It is approximately $900 per student which includes 20 hour bus trip, 4 days in the parks, 3 nights in hotel (4 to a room), marching at MK and special music program at Epcot.

Our son did it 4 years ago so we are very excited.

 

[daemom]

Christmas ornaments seem to be popular. Take clear bulbs, apply a decal for the various schools logo, fill the inside with school color tulle. If you can find someone that can make stickers of the school/band logos at a reasonable cost, they are not expensive to make, they just take time but maybe something you can have the band members do--everyone makes 5 or something like that.

Great idea! I hadn't thought of Christmas ornaments!! Thanks for the idea, I'm going to pass it along!

When we go to a marching band competition at another school, we never buy anything except candygrams, buttons, and food. This is especially true if I was already charged $5 - $10 for a ticket to get in and then overcharge (more than $2) for candygrams.

And if everything being sold is branded for the host school, there's really no point.

Are the candygrams the same thing as airgrams or bandgrams? We charge $1 for those. We've sold buttons and cowbells but they're ALWAYS tailored to the school colors or school logos of the visiting schools. I would think the only kids who would buy our logo items would be our kids. I sure don't blame you for not wanting to buy "their" stuff!

 

[Kimberlyann11]

I'm in Michigan too and my dd's band was at a MSBOA festival last night. We are on the west side of the state. Which one were you in?

We were in Royal Oak - the opposite side of the state from you guys.

Next Saturday the kids are marching in Ann Arbor at the Big House - the University of Michigan stadium. The dumb school scheduled the PSAT testing for the same day so DD has to take it at our rival school on a Wednesday during the day. Which means I have to take time off of work to drive her.

I can't justify having her miss the U of M thing for testing. The kids are real excited for that one.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Are the candygrams the same thing as airgrams or bandgrams?

Same sort of thing as airgrams, only instead of announcing the message over the loudspeaker, the message is attached to a candy bar and given to the student.

Not sure what a bandgram is, but I assume that's like a candygram...only without the candy.

 

[Octoberbeauty]

How is everyone's season going?! I'm sure some of you have been to Contests by now! Our football team isn't doing so great. I think we've won one, and lost 3. Homecoming is this weekend. Fingers crossed for that! Our band competed in our first contest on Saturday. We didn't make Finals There were 22 bands, 12 go onto Finals. The Director said that we were 13th, and were 0.1 point behind the #12 Band. Gives us hope for next week! I thought we sounded great, and looked OK. Hoping for more energy next week! Our poor Color Guard Girls!!! They marched in bare feet and the field was so hot that they burned their feet!!! DS17s girlfriend is in Guard. She has 3 blisters on the bottom of her feet! One of the girls has 11 blisters! OUCH. They were not so disappointed that we didn't make Finals. Girlfriend said she would rather break her arm than go out again. I have no idea what is up with their shoes!!! Their Coach supposedly ordered them from some internet shop and got some great deal. Fingers crossed they have shoes on Saturday! We got to watch some outstanding Bands! Union, from Tulsa, was excellent, as usual. Van Buren High from Arkansas was huge and outstanding. My own two looked great and had a super fun day. Our oldest drove over from his college to watch his brothers, so we had an awesome day! I got a little choked up watching my kiddos. When we first moved here, 4 years ago, and learned all about Marching Bands and how they now work, my youngest was my little buddy! He would go to the contests with DH and I and cheer on the Band. Now he's out there, in Drum Line. Time, it flies. So proud of all of these dedicated kids. They work hard!!!

We are definitely in the same area!

We've come in 1st in our division for our first two competitions. 6th overall in first comp and 3rd overall in 2nd comp. We are up against some much bigger schools for those overall scores. I'm so proud of our kids.

We perform 2nd tomorrow so they are a bit nervous about that, and we can't do our aerials if it's raining. I'm chaperoning at Union tomorrow so it's going to be a very long day. These kids put in more hours than any other group at school. Its a lot of dedication. I love being a part of it

 

[Monykalyn]

So got my competitions switched-tomorrow is Renegade review at Union Broken arrow last week

sounds like there will be a few bands with parents on Disboards there tomorrow-here is hoping rain stays away.

We are the Kickapoo Golden Arrow band-and my kid is the "tall girl" playing bass clarinet (seriously-even kids from other bands know her as "tall girl"-she is 6'1 and practically disappears if turns sideways-wish I had that metabolism back!)
Good luck to all the bands tomorrow!!

 

[m&m's mom]

I have 2 kids in band this year. We have, once again, been warned within an inch of our lives not to discuss, or post, or breathe a word or picture- or anything else for that matter about the band.
Sooo I wish I could participate because we historically do very good in state competitions, and it's our state year.
Wish everyone good luck with their competitions this year.

 

[Octoberbeauty]

So got my competitions switched-tomorrow is Renegade review at Union Broken arrow last week sounds like there will be a few bands with parents on Disboards there tomorrow-here is hoping rain stays away. We are the Kickapoo Golden Arrow band-and my kid is the "tall girl" playing bass clarinet (seriously-even kids from other bands know her as "tall girl"-she is 6'1 and practically disappears if turns sideways-wish I had that metabolism back!) Good luck to all the bands tomorrow!!

Waving hello! I'm also a tall girl at 5'11". I'll be watching for her.

 

[Monykalyn]

Waving hello! I'm also a tall girl at 5'11". I'll be watching for her.

Cool! Tall women unite

 

[lovegrumpy]

We are hosting are very first show today. All a little nervous about that plus we are adding in another piece to the are show tonight.