2014 Marching Band thread

[Happy Snowman]

New to this thread, I have a freshman who is in his first year of marching band. The bummer of it is they decided to replace the field with astroturf right before school started so they will not be performing at the first two home games as the games have been moved off site. His first game to march at will be Oct 3 and his last Oct 10.

The exciting thing about band it he will be marching down Main Street USA on January 24, I was not selected to chaparone, but that is OK my DD and I will fly down for the weekend to see the band, leaving him to ride the nice bus for over 24 hours. It will be our second trip in like 7 weeks as we are going as a family from Nov 29 to Dec 4 then returning Jan 23 to 26.

YAY for not being selected as a chaperone!!! Those bus rides are brutal!!!

 

[marcyinPA]

New to this thread, I have a freshman who is in his first year of marching band. The bummer of it is they decided to replace the field with astroturf right before school started so they will not be performing at the first two home games as the games have been moved off site. His first game to march at will be Oct 3 and his last Oct 10. The exciting thing about band it he will be marching down Main Street USA on January 24, I was not selected to chaparone, but that is OK my DD and I will fly down for the weekend to see the band, leaving him to ride the nice bus for over 24 hours. It will be our second trip in like 7 weeks as we are going as a family from Nov 29 to Dec 4 then returning Jan 23 to 26.

That trip to Disney is fun! My oldest DS marched 2x (day and night parades) a few years ago (2011 I think) in February. The band flew, but it was really stressful because we were in the midst of a big snowstorm and they barely got out. My youngest and I flew down separately with my best friend- our flight was canceled three times! Yikes! But really fun trip and everyone had fun. Nice to get away from snowy PA for a week too!!

 

[dispor]

A belated thank you to those that responded to my question about the uniform cleaning.

I have another question for you...

Our band meets at the school at 5:00 p.m. on game days. Most of the kids just stay at the school, because by the time they'd get home they would have to turn around and come right back.

I know some of the school's teams feed the players at the school before games. I believe the parents bring the food in.

Do any of you do anything similar for your band members?

 

[Happy Snowman]

A belated thank you to those that responded to my question about the uniform cleaning.

I have another question for you...

Our band meets at the school at 5:00 p.m. on game days. Most of the kids just stay at the school, because by the time they'd get home they would have to turn around and come right back.

I know some of the school's teams feed the players at the school before games. I believe the parents bring the food in.

Do any of you do anything similar for your band members?

Sometimes if the kids were at practice all day or they were working with a clinician or something like that, they would order food in. The kids would pay in advance and then a parent would pick up the food or the restaurant would deliver. Usually it was pizza. Most often though, they would have a lunch or dinner break and the kids would all pile into cars and go to Subway or wherever.

I think having "team" meals is a great idea if most of the kids are staying anyway. Maybe suggest it to the directors and offer to coordinate? If you do pizza or subway, you could collect money in advance from the kids.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

A belated thank you to those that responded to my question about the uniform cleaning.

I have another question for you...

Our band meets at the school at 5:00 p.m. on game days. Most of the kids just stay at the school, because by the time they'd get home they would have to turn around and come right back.

I know some of the school's teams feed the players at the school before games. I believe the parents bring the food in.

Do any of you do anything similar for your band members?

Our kids get out at 2 and have rehearsal. After a short rehearsal, they have an hour or so to eat and change. The food is paid for by the boosters/out of band fees. We have a band mom that coordinates it for every home game. We tried various ways of having the kids pay, but it seemed easier to just build it into the budget than have a parent have to worry about collecting cash every week. Last week was subs from a grocery store, this week pizza, usually senior night is something a little more elaborate, plus a cake. Places like Chipotle have given us great deals when she orders way in advance and lets them know what it's for.

 

[beavismom]

Our kids are not allowed to leave on game days so we have a program where parents pay at the start of the season and then food is delivered and handed out to the kids after school.

 

[erij11]

New to this thread, I have a freshman who is in his first year of marching band. The bummer of it is they decided to replace the field with astroturf right before school started so they will not be performing at the first two home games as the games have been moved off site. His first game to march at will be Oct 3 and his last Oct 10.

The exciting thing about band it he will be marching down Main Street USA on January 24, I was not selected to chaparone, but that is OK my DD and I will fly down for the weekend to see the band, leaving him to ride the nice bus for over 24 hours. It will be our second trip in like 7 weeks as we are going as a family from Nov 29 to Dec 4 then returning Jan 23 to 26.

I'm new to this thread too and my daughter is in her 2nd year of marching band on color guard. She loves it. Her band is also marching down Main Street USA but on March 29th during her Spring Break! I am still trying to figure out if DH and I can swing the trip to watch her or not. I'm hoping we can do March 28 - 31, with just 1 park day as we are planning a short trip Jan 23 - 26. Maybe will we will see your son's band. I'm not sure if we can do both. I really want to see my baby march down Main Street USA but I also want to experience the low crowds in Jan. We went in July so I know what the Spring Break crowds wil be like.....!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Our band meets at the school at 5:00 p.m. on game days. Most of the kids just stay at the school, because by the time they'd get home they would have to turn around and come right back.

I know some of the school's teams feed the players at the school before games. I believe the parents bring the food in.

Do any of you do anything similar for your band members?

Our band members meet 3PM after school and practice before the game at 7PM. They have about an hour long break for dinner before getting ready for the game, but are expected to find their own food. Mostly parents show up with fast food, or the kids go in groups to the local McDonalds.

The only time they are fed is for Middle School Band Night, when the middle school concert band is invited to play during the football game.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Third game for us is this Friday. Our team is currently 2 - 0.

This Friday is Middle School Band Day. The entire 6-8 middle school concert band will be with the marching band. They get to help play the players onto the fiend and play stand music. This is how our children got interested in marching band back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

During halftime, I believe we are doing our full show and also playing a song or two with the middle school band.

The game and halftime show will be televised on local tv, and the band director and drum majors will get interviewed.

 

[marcyinPA]

A belated thank you to those that responded to my question about the uniform cleaning. I have another question for you... Our band meets at the school at 5:00 p.m. on game days. Most of the kids just stay at the school, because by the time they'd get home they would have to turn around and come right back. I know some of the school's teams feed the players at the school before games. I believe the parents bring the food in. Do any of you do anything similar for your band members?

Many kids go home and come back. My son will often stay at school on Fridays because their report time is also 5:00. Our band parents don't feed them though. They are on their own. Many kids drive and will go out for food, and we have several options within walking distance to go out and grab food. We have 300 kids in band though, so providing food weekly would get $$. One thing our band parents do provide is 3rd quarter food at home games. Instead of going to the snack stand, the band parents set up under the stands and offer hot dogs, soft pretzels, and soda- for $1 each. Kids get released, go under the stands, get their food, and go back up into the stands. Plus, every kid gets a bottle of water for free. (Through donations).

 

[Southernmiss]

A belated thank you to those that responded to my question about the uniform cleaning.

I have another question for you...

Our band meets at the school at 5:00 p.m. on game days. Most of the kids just stay at the school, because by the time they'd get home they would have to turn around and come right back.

I know some of the school's teams feed the players at the school before games. I believe the parents bring the food in.

Do any of you do anything similar for your band members?

I started a tradition of bringing my kids in band chicken wraps, extra water and snacks. They practice until 4:30, have a break until 5:15 and then more practice before going to the stands at 6:30 or so. I've been doing this for 6 years now. Now with my 2nd and 3rd band student. It's nice to touch base with them between school and the game.

Our booster parents have adopted a tradition of providing both our home band and the visiting band with a hot dog, chips, fruit snacks and a bottled water at 3rd quarter. All free to the students. We have sign up sheets and parents send in all of the supplies. Our band has 200 kids and staff alone. Some weeks we'll feed 350 plus people! !! It's a wonderful tradition and now other bands have begun doing this, too. Can't tell you the number of hugs we've gotten from visiting kids who forgot $ or couldn't bring $ for concession stand food. It's also a chance for the kids of both bands to meet and talk a minute.

My boys are ready to eat a second time by third quarter lol.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

A belated thank you to those that responded to my question about the uniform cleaning.

I have another question for you...

Our band meets at the school at 5:00 p.m. on game days. Most of the kids just stay at the school, because by the time they'd get home they would have to turn around and come right back.

I know some of the school's teams feed the players at the school before games. I believe the parents bring the food in.

Do any of you do anything similar for your band members?

We feed them before every game. There is a meal committee, and they ask for extra parent volunteers to help serve. The cost is built into what we pay at the beginning. We have around 250 so there are 12 volunteers. Friday night we had Arby's sandwiches, chips, applesauce, and various baked goods. There are volunteers who bake so dessert is not part of the budget.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

A belated thank you to those that responded to my question about the uniform cleaning.

I have another question for you...

Our band meets at the school at 5:00 p.m. on game days. Most of the kids just stay at the school, because by the time they'd get home they would have to turn around and come right back.

I know some of the school's teams feed the players at the school before games. I believe the parents bring the food in.

Do any of you do anything similar for your band members?

Prior to any football game there is a band meal. Also prior to competition and when there are practices that span lunch there is a band meal. Some of the parents handle it.

 

[Katy Belle]

Our kids get out of school at 2:35 (grades 9-10), and 3:05 (grades. 11-12). Home games they report at 5:30. They are told to eat before they come. They are allowed to visit the concession stand during 3rd quarter. Away games they report as early as 3:30. They are told to bring dinner to eat on the way. Band Boosters feeds them lunch and dinner, and snacks, at all contests, and occasionally breakfast.

A few of the sections eat dinner together before home games. One of the parents hosts the whole section. I know Drum Line and Color Guard both do this.

We lost our football game Friday night. It was an away game. The home team didn't have a marching band, so our band ran their show at half time. It looks better every time! Still only 3 1/2 minutes of the show ready!

This week is an away game, 3 hours away. Taking only Pep Band, on a volunteer basis. DS14 is required to go, with Drumline. DS17 is planning to skip this one.

 

[klj27]

I am in charge of planning and coordinating our band's upcoming trip to Disney. I am curious how much other band trips cost and what is included This trip is six days (two travelling and four park days) with everything included except for souvenirs they wish to purchase there.

 

[momof1princess]

A belated thank you to those that responded to my question about the uniform cleaning.

I have another question for you...

Our band meets at the school at 5:00 p.m. on game days. Most of the kids just stay at the school, because by the time they'd get home they would have to turn around and come right back.

I know some of the school's teams feed the players at the school before games. I believe the parents bring the food in.

Do any of you do anything similar for your band members?

Our school doesn't feed the band before football games-we're small, only 42 members, and trying to get parents to help would be like pulling teeth. We can barely keep our concession stands staffed. Our band director is NO help-he could require parents to help, like other schools do, but he wants to make sure everyone likes him.

Our kids report to the band room prior to football games at different times-it depends on how far away the game is. Of course, if it's a home game, they don't usually report to the band room until about 6:00pm. As far as food goes, they either eat at home before the game, stop and buy something on the way to report to the band room, or eat after the game (parents will buy them food and give it to their bus chaperone so they can eat on the way home-they can't eat while in uniform, because their jackets are white).

This is my 5th year as a band mom-DD17 started marching in 8th grade, but was a band manager (aka equipment grunt) in 7th grade. I will kind of miss it after she graduates.

 

[Katy Belle]

I am in charge of planning and coordinating our band's upcoming trip to Disney. I am curious how much other band trips cost and what is included This trip is six days (two travelling and four park days) with everything included except for souvenirs they wish to purchase there.

Our band is going to Orlando this year. They are telling us $1,400 per student. They are taking Charter buses. I think they are leaving on a Thursday after school, and returning the next Thursday. It's a 24+ hour drive. I think it's 5 nights in hotels. Staying off-site, 4 kids to a room. They are doing 3 days at WDW parks, one day at Universal, both parks, a trip to a beach, medieval Times, and maybe Gator Land. They are telling us that two meals per day are included in the price, and some days the third meal. Kids are responsible for any extra snacks and souvenirs.

 

[Kimberlyann11]

Our band boosters picks up pizza, pop and chips for the kids to eat before games. They only charge enough to break even. The kids report at 4:00 and have a practice before the 6:45 pre-game show. We don't march at away games.

We went to an invitational Saturday night. Five bands from the area marched. I got there about ten minutes early and took the very last parking place. The stadium was packed. The band right before us closed their show with our opener! Not cool.

It was a lot of fun. I would go to that even if DD wasn't marching in it.

 

[mom2kazkids]

Our band trip to WDW is $850, Thursday to Tuesday, includes 3 park days, meals, hotel and the bus there (24hrs to get there). Tenative schedule has them leaving after school on Thursday, getting to Florida Friday about 5, pizza party and rehersal, all day Sat at Magic Kingdom (marching day), Sunday at Animal Kingdom, Monday at Hollywood Studios, supper at Planet Hollywood, then on the bus for the ride home, getting home Tuesday at supper time.

Then I guess I need to also add the costs of me and my daughter flying down on Friday, three nights at Pop Century with 3 days park hoppers and our meals.

 

[lovegrumpy]

We have a trip planed to WDW in May. Leaving Thursday and coming back late Sunday night. Not marching just doing the special program you can do. They have us doing a dinner at medieval times and plant Hollywood plus breakfest at rain forest cafe at AK. Not to king on some of the plans but well go with the flow.