Marching band uniforms HELP!!!!

[nkjzmom]

Bless your heart!!!

You have my sympathy. I was band mom* and uniform mom for 3 years, and vice president of the boosters for 2 of those years. Good luck to you!

My advice: Check for repairs when doing fittings for the first time. Get everyone fitted at least 2 weeks in advance, giving you time to wash and repair or hem. check the uniforms each week after the game, so that you have time to get repairs done. Figure out if you are dry cleaning weekly (expensive!) or febreezing and letting air out on hangers (with band bags attached) for a few weeks. What about color guard/flag core? Do you have to do those uniforms as well? Can those be washed and if so, are you doing them each week (I was for 2 years, no reimbursement--2 loads of washing a week, airdry only) or are you farming them out to various parents?


Check out the uniforms for the first few games, so that the kids get to know whatever system you are putting into play (who gets theirs first, who turns in first, how do you want them turned in--inside bags, in a pile to be dry cleaned weekly; are they wearing the full uniform on the bus or just the pants---etc). make sure there is a policy set with the band directors--what to do if the kids forget socks/shoes/band tshirts, etc.

Make yourself a safety kit and bring it with you to each game. Small sewing scissors, needles, thread, safety pins and duct tape (easy to temp fix a hem!). It can be brought in, as long as it comes in with some band gear, just don't hand carry it through the gate, most security won't let it come in with scissors. Have a back up parent who can take your spot in case of illness or injury.

*band mom means I held the cell phones and wallets and "girl stuff" at the games, in ziploc bags. Also, I'm the one who went to all the performances at the local middle/elementary schools as a chaperone.
VP means I was the one making the phone calls for volunteers (and sometimes telling people that I dont' understand the words No I can't volunteer to help my child). Also, ran the concessions stand, filmed/photographed each game, and made the band scrapbook for the last two years.

Thanks Jedana....I like the safety kit idea. I think there may be one in the closet. I'll have to make sure it's stocked. I assume I'll have a container with all sorts of extras...socks and gloves mainly.

Along with the small closet we store things in our band's tractor trailer. I'm going with the past chairwoman on Thursday to check it out.

 

[nkjzmom]

I am going to be watching this. I am the treasurer for our High School band. the school is only 2 years old. This year was our first varsity year, and we had no seniors. We literally started from scratch. We are very small right now (only 40 members) but will almost double with the incoming freshmen class. The 3 officers were at every football game. It was so hard to get other parents to help. In our district, the bands are responsible for concessions at the football games. I only got to watch my son march at away games because I was serving nachos! If someone has tips for getting other parents to help out, I'm all ears.

Do you have other sports groups that have parents that could come help out? We have 2 high schools in our city and we share the stadium. We alternate working the concession stand and it works out pretty well.

 

[nkjzmom]

I am going to be watching this. I am the treasurer for our High School band. the school is only 2 years old. This year was our first varsity year, and we had no seniors. We literally started from scratch. We are very small right now (only 40 members) but will almost double with the incoming freshmen class. The 3 officers were at every football game. It was so hard to get other parents to help. In our district, the bands are responsible for concessions at the football games. I only got to watch my son march at away games because I was serving nachos! If someone has tips for getting other parents to help out, I'm all ears.

Not sure of the details but our band has a point system where students/parents are given points according to time spent helping the band. The points are then converted into money for each student through our fundraisers.

At each booster meeting there is a table with sign-ups for concession help, chaperone help, pit crew, etc. THIS year I will add one for the uniform committee!

 

[nkjzmom]

I did this for the last four years! We have a band of about 150-175. We have a closet -- a fairly small room -- and all the uniforms are kept in that closet. During band camp (summer), every kid is fitted and assigned a jacket and pants. Each jacket and pants (bibs -- they're new) has a number, and they're hung on a hanger that has that number, then all hung in numerical order. We have a couple of parents who do the tailoring, and one of my jobs each summer was to be "hat mom" -- clean each (Mr. Clean Magic Erasers work well), repair and fit hats to each band member. Before each game or parade, the kids line up and request their uniform; after the event, they are responsible for hanging the uniform up correctly and returning it to a parent who hangs it in the closet. Hats are also fitted and numbered (we have chickens also --what a pain). We have custom made (but not very nice -- very old and run down at this point) storage cubbies on wheels where the kids pick up and leave their hats. We have a

Uniforms are cleaned over the summer, and as needed during the year, if we've had a particularly muddy event.

It takes us probably 10 parents to rotate through all the games and parades, volunteering to fit, sew, distribute and collect.

NotUrsula, I LOVED seeing your jacket pillows! Four years ago, when our band decided it was time for new uniforms, we (the head uniform mom and I) spent several hours trying to find a way to donate or sell our old uniforms, without success. Our old ones had capes and sashes -- I (half joking, I think) suggested we make pillows as a fundraiser -- that's what we did, using the capes, sashes and brass buttons! It cost us very little -- just for the pillow forms - and we sold them for $25 each. We sold more than 100 pillows! I'll try to find the pictures I have and post one.

We have 3 sets of uniforms...white, orange (blech), and black. It is rumored that we are in for new ones in the next year or two!!! We have decided to donate our old uniforms to a very small school that is just forming a band. I think they'll be able to get our insignia off and replace it with theirs. I think the pillow idea is a great one!

 

[Reddy]

Make sure they are the same color as the Football teams
our colors are blue & gold
the football team & cheerleaders decided to go with Navy blue instead of the bright blue - all got new ones at the same time - band didn't look like they belong

 

[NotUrsula]

We have 3 sets of uniforms...white, orange (blech), and black. It is rumored that we are in for new ones in the next year or two!!! We have decided to donate our old uniforms to a very small school that is just forming a band. I think they'll be able to get our insignia off and replace it with theirs. I think the pillow idea is a great one!

You have three full sets? Yowza, that's a heck of an investment. I've never known any band to have that many currently-used field uniforms for the entire band. (Special ones for the drumline and the auxiliary units, yes, but not the entire band.)

As for maintainance issues, invest in a couple of big rolling tackle boxes and fill them with the needed repair items. and tools.

I'm with Richmond on the subject of simplicity. All the little extra details add a layer of vigilance you will need, and they can't be seen from field distance anyway, but if you do have them, a hefty fine system for having to borrow a loaner spare works fairly well. Storing the uniforms at school is the best way to keep track of items and make sure kids don't forget any pieces on performance days, but honestly I don''t know too many schools that have the space. Most just have kids take the uniforms home and keep them there for the season.

I can't take credit for the pillow idea; this was the first time I'd seen it done. I just used that photo because it was a good image of the detail on Auburn's jackets.

BTW, on the topic of removing embroidery: it will always show a color difference. The only good option is to completely cover the area with a patch, though that can be problematic on upper sleeves, because it stiffens the shoulder area of the jacket.

 

[yellowlabforever]

Since we are a college, our uniforms are held in a large closet-type room inside the hallways of our college's football stadium.

Like many others, ours were handed out at band camp (two weeks before our first game), and we did them by oldies getting their old uniforms back first, and then newbies getting measured for their seams and hems for their new uniforms.

We had our theater costuming department hem our clothes, but I would say just keep it simple. We need three uniform managers to get everyone's uniforms, and it is a long process just to hand them out. The simpler the better, and it might help getting help as well. My friend was the uniform manager, and he had to have a total number of 10 people helping him get everyone situated with their uniforms and such in a timely manner. (and we have less than 150 in our marching band).

We had a bag for our uniforms, that included a pocket for our marching shoes, and featured a hole for hanger which we could put our overalls and our marching coat on. VERY helpful/useful, for at games all we would have to carry was that and our shako (our hat) to the music building and back.

 

[nkjzmom]

You have three full sets? Yowza, that's a heck of an investment. I've never known any band to have that many currently-used field uniforms for the entire band. (Special ones for the drumline and the auxiliary units, yes, but not the entire band.)

We've had these 3 sets for years...one set was bought while I was in the band there....that's 20 years ago! The orange ones haven't been worn in quite a few years. They've been wearing the black ones for the last few years with the drum majors wearing the white ones.

 

[golfgal]

I just can't imagine the work to collect and hand out uniforms for every competition . We would have to be doing that twice/week for 3 months times 190 kids.

 

[jen0610]

I just can't imagine the work to collect and hand out uniforms for every competition . We would have to be doing that twice/week for 3 months times 190 kids.

Honestly, once the newbies get the hang of it, for us dressing 110-130 kids in a half hour is a snap. And that includes the kids making sure that what they were wearing is put away.

 

[erincon23]

I just can't imagine the work to collect and hand out uniforms for every competition . We would have to be doing that twice/week for 3 months times 190 kids.

See, that's where having a band director who really hates marching band comes into play! Our band only "uniformed up" for probably 5 home football games (more if we were in the playoffs), homecoming parade, and Memorial Day parade. There are other high schools in our district that do a lot more -- our director says he only does marching band because the district requires him to! (that was fine with my DS...) Our band didn't go to away games, wore a band t-shirt for basketball pep, and doesn't do competitions.

 

[golfgal]

See, that's where having a band director who really hates marching band comes into play! Our band only "uniformed up" for probably 5 home football games (more if we were in the playoffs), homecoming parade, and Memorial Day parade. There are other high schools in our district that do a lot more -- our director says he only does marching band because the district requires him to! (that was fine with my DS...) Our band didn't go to away games, wore a band t-shirt for basketball pep, and doesn't do competitions.

We are a field show band. We march in two parades, wearing t-shirt/shorts but we do perform at half time for every football game and have at least one field show competition each weekend, sometimes two. They hand out uniforms once, collect once.

 

[nkjzmom]

See, that's where having a band director who really hates marching band comes into play! Our band only "uniformed up" for probably 5 home football games (more if we were in the playoffs), homecoming parade, and Memorial Day parade. There are other high schools in our district that do a lot more -- our director says he only does marching band because the district requires him to! (that was fine with my DS...) Our band didn't go to away games, wore a band t-shirt for basketball pep, and doesn't do competitions.

We are a field show band. We march in two parades, wearing t-shirt/shorts but we do perform at half time for every football game and have at least one field show competition each weekend, sometimes two. They hand out uniforms once, collect once.

wow, so many differences between areas of the country. We perform a halftime show for every varsity game, home or away. They march in a couple of parades, mainly Christmas and Homecoming. We have a county night of bands which is a showcase of local marching bands. (It's a blast!) Then we march in a few area competitions. Also, there is an optional yearly trip which involves some kind of performance. For instance, this year they went to FL and marched at WDW!

 

[SandrA9810]

When I was in the colorguard over 10 years ago, we had friday night football games and saturday night competitions. The band and guard were about 200 together, which required 4 buses for any away events. We also made it to regionals but never went to state as the groups split to do concert band and winter guard (both indoors). On that, we went to nationals in Ohio, and the band went to nationals as well. That was the stronger suit for each group. Marching season was like a warm up...

Out of all the freshman, there were only about 30-40 between the two. So your older members already know what their doing, and what to do to get ready. They're less likely to forget items, and already know how to put items on. Our colorguard took care of our own uniforms, which we were individually given at the beginning of the year and took care of ourself. Plus our guard equipment.

The band/guard took care of the concession stand at the football games, as well as the Panther's arena (Florida Panthers hockey team). The member or member's family had to participate at a certain number of these events, as well the band and guard would hold their own saturday/sunday fundraising like a car wash. Ohh and the band also did the christmas tree stand. Even with all the volunteer work, it was still about a grand out of pocket for each member for the year. So parents were slightly more motivated to participate to bring down their individual cost.

Our band at the time was a well known, highly achieved band. So new members/parents followed in the foot steps. Mr. G was also the band director and he expected highly of the entire group. Sadly he left after marching season the year I was there, and everything went cu-put in the following years.

 

[GHRmom]

TONS of great suggestions and glad I found this board!

I am taking over as Uniform Coordinator this year, and am going to streamline as our band is growing every year. So much that we needed to purchase additional uniforms to add to our current stock. They are numbered and we assign each member a bag with bibs, jacket, etc.

I am looking for suggestions on the numbering of the new uniform pieces. Current Coord. suggested re-numbering every piece (300 pieces!!), but there has to be an easier way! We only purchased 13 more uniforms, in random sizes. Thought of just adding a 2- for the new pieces, so can keep sizes grouped together (???).

What have others done?

 

[Pembo]

My advice? Just say no!

 

[bittybabygrower]

I'm with Pembo lol seriously, we tried what you suggested my DD's freshman year, it eventually worked out after the kids started yelling at each other to pay attention to the numbers (they get laps for uniforms not put away correctly or out of order lol).

 

[lovetoscrap]

I'm just wondering if anyone else can offer me advice as to how to involve parents and how to stay organized.

I am going to be watching this. I am the treasurer for our High School band. the school is only 2 years old. This year was our first varsity year, and we had no seniors. We literally started from scratch. We are very small right now (only 40 members) but will almost double with the incoming freshmen class. The 3 officers were at every football game. It was so hard to get other parents to help. In our district, the bands are responsible for concessions at the football games. I only got to watch my son march at away games because I was serving nachos! If someone has tips for getting other parents to help out, I'm all ears.

I know this is an old thread but this is a problem for the ages! Our band has TONS of parent and student help. Why? Partly because we are blessed with a great district with involved parents but a large part is because those parents with the most volunteer hours are the ones that get to go on the "big" trip (every spring there is a trip, usually to New York, Canada or Orlando) as a chaperone for free. And our students have to have a minimum number of hours to "letter" in band so they are always trying to get more hours by helping with things like uniforms. My daughter has been one of the Uniform Managers for several years and the students really take care of most of the day to day issues like fittings, issuing them before each performance and making sure they are returned correctly after each one (uniforms NEVER go home, they must be returned to the band room after each performance and picked up before you go). They teach every student how to properly hang up and put away the uniform when they do the fittings and after the first performance. Believe me, you don't want to cross the uniform managers if you don't hang your pants up correctly or put it away in the correct closet!

TONS of great suggestions and glad I found this board!

I am taking over as Uniform Coordinator this year, and am going to streamline as our band is growing every year. So much that we needed to purchase additional uniforms to add to our current stock. They are numbered and we assign each member a bag with bibs, jacket, etc.

I am looking for suggestions on the numbering of the new uniform pieces. Current Coord. suggested re-numbering every piece (300 pieces!!), but there has to be an easier way! We only purchased 13 more uniforms, in random sizes. Thought of just adding a 2- for the new pieces, so can keep sizes grouped together (???).

What have others done?

Our uniforms are all separate pieces and each piece has it's own number. Kids may have one size in pants and a different size in a jacket. If we add more we just give it the next number in the sequence. So if the last jacket was number 258 then the new ones will be 259, 260 etc. The numbers aren't related to the sizing at all, it is just for inventory control.

 

[Katy Belle]

TONS of great suggestions and glad I found this board!

I am taking over as Uniform Coordinator this year, and am going to streamline as our band is growing every year. So much that we needed to purchase additional uniforms to add to our current stock. They are numbered and we assign each member a bag with bibs, jacket, etc.

I am looking for suggestions on the numbering of the new uniform pieces. Current Coord. suggested re-numbering every piece (300 pieces!!), but there has to be an easier way! We only purchased 13 more uniforms, in random sizes. Thought of just adding a 2- for the new pieces, so can keep sizes grouped together (???).

What have others done?

Ours are numbered like yours. We have a few new ones to add now too. I think adding a 2 is fine... and maybe marking them in a different way, like different color, or something, to make it obvious that they are the new ones, less likely to get confused.

Ours are numbered with same sized bibbers and jackets... the 48tall jacket is #46 and the 48 tall bibbers are #46. If your new pieces are not matched sets, ours aren't, then it becomes even trickier. Bottom line, you want to be able to account for them and whatever # or name you give them, will help.
Ours aren't matched sets because they were ordered for specific kiddos.

We also have garment bags for each kid, that has the jacket number on it, and a tote bag with the same #. So a kid knows his number is 100, and it corresponds to everything. That helps tremendously. I have several kids numbers committed to memory...not that I want to..

We have a student "leadership" group. They teach the kids how to care for the uniforms, hand them out at every event, and collect them after, check to make sure they are properly hung up. We have rolling racks they hang on at school and permanent racks they hang on in the semi. The leadership kids take them to the semi and hang them up, usually. Occasionally we uniform ladies have to do it, but its rare. We still manage all problems, all dry cleaning, etc, but having the leadership group is a huge help.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Our kids' uniforms had dark pants til mid-way through DD's years in marching band. The director had a great(?) idea that the new uniforms should have white pants. They looked sharp in marching competitions, but it made a lot of extra work for the band parents committee. Before each game, parents had to cover the bleacher seats with white sheets to keep the uniforms clean. Band members weren't allowed to eat while in uniform (which makes sense.) In the dark-pants days, the kids checked out their uniforms once for the whole marching season, and were responsible for getting them dry cleaned as needed. A nearby cleaners gave them a discount. With the white pants, uniforms were checked out before each game, then checked back in after each game. What a time-consuming headache.

Each student was required to purchase two pair of white gloves, so those were not part of the band's inventory.