Marching Band - competition hospitality

[momxx5]

I am asking for some assistance from any band parents.

Last yr I was in charge of the hospitality room. It was fun and turned out great. My co-chair owns a party store and did the decorations which we awesome. The hospitality room is for the Band directors to come eat, relax, meet with each other, etc.

This year we are on a much stricter budget. Also, its mid-October when the weather is SO unpredictable. Some yrs its been 70+degrees, last yr it was freezing and I was so thankful to be in the Hospitality room with hot chocolate

A staple in our Hosp. Room is BBQ. We are in NC and have a family that comes and cooks BBQ right on premsis. The smell alone is enough to want some.

So we'll have BBQ, with fixings...slaw, beans, rolls.
Last yr we had veggie tray, fruit tray and deli tray along with chips/salsa.

I was hoping to simplify things...and go back to the tradition of having alumni participate in providing food.

I was thinking of chili.....with fixings.......shredded cheese, onions, corn bread muffins, tortilla chips.......and of course our famous BBQ with fixings.

Along with that we'll have a dessert table, sweet tea, water, coffee and hot chocolate.

The event runs from 10am to almost 10pm...with 3 separate band divisions. So the food has to be "fresh" for each division.....not like the last division (which is higher level) is eating leftovers.

Do you think that chili is too risky with the weather?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mrsklamc]

I'm not really clear if you were asking for opinions in general or just about the weather and chili... I wouldn't risk it (used to live in NC and it was rarely cold enough) but I don't think you need both chili and BBQ at the same time.

 

[mousesweetie]

My DBF used to be a band director and has also marched for years I just consulted him on your post and he said chili might be a bad idea.

Best of luck to you.

 

[hambirg]

I too am not sure I fully understand the question either. I'm from the PNW where the weather is completely unpredictable. I think offering chili any time of year is completely appropriate. If the budget is a problem this year, I think offering some kind of sandwich tray, veggie tray, some fruit or other salads and a beverage is more than adequate. I think offering the the bbq is more than gracious. HTH

 

[richmond282]

Our competition was today. We had chicken fingers, brocoli cheese casserole, potato salad, veggie trays and various desserts for our hospitality room. I think band directors (myself included) and staff appreciate anything you offer. If you are going to offer chili, I think that's fine, but I'd have an alternate side dish as well for any directors that don't want chili. (I know it would tear up my stomach.) Or if you just want to have a potluck type dinner and ask band parents to bring food in shifts, that would also be appropriate.

 

[momxx5]

Thanks for all your input.

Thinking more on it chili isn't different enough from BBQ, so I think we'll highight the famouns BBQ and go from there.