Newark Days Parade

Saturday, September 19, 2009

 

Please read this schedule in its entirety. We have had issues with people not reading the schedule all the way through to the end, and then missing vital information.

 

Students who are not performance-ready due to lack of preparedness (i.e. missing band camp, missing class/rehearsals, missing sectionals, making no attempts to catch up, etc.), may be removed from the parade block. Please PRACTICE, as your performance affects the performance of the ensemble.

 

Uniform checklist:

q        Shoes must be clean. Before the parade, practice walking around your home in the marching shoes to get used to them. Do not scuff them.

q        Practice your instrument with your gloves on, especially if you play clarinet

q        Wear black socks (full length, not ankle-length) and clean, white gloves. Failure to wear the complete uniform, correctly, may result in being barred from performing. (Buy black socks, now.)

q        Check pant length and do the necessary hemming before the day of the parade. Pant bottoms should touch the top of the uniform shoes with no bunching of fabric. (Do not cut cloth!)

q        Tuck in the uniform ruffles and use safety pins for the cummerbund, if necessary. (Do not lose them or drop them.) Wear a t-shirt under your uniform. It doesn’t matter what kind, since it will be covered. (On all-day trips, with both parade & field show, you will need to wear your band shirt…represent!)

q        If your uniform is missing the top button on the inside of the jacket, you will need to sew one on.

q        Long hair needs to be placed in a bun. Hair must be off the collar of the uniform.

q        No gum. No jewelry. No makeup. (Color Guard wears makeup, uniformly)

Reminders: Get rest (sleep) the night before a competition. If you have difficulty waking up, have a band buddy give you a phone call in the morning, so that you know that you will get to school in time. The morning of a competition, eat breakfast. Take care of personal hygiene. Rinse your mouth out with water before you play a wind instrument. Be proactive by telling your parents/guardians about band activities in advance and getting your permission slip signed (www.americanband.rocks.it), so they will know to drive you to school in the morning. It is not okay to wake them up 5 minutes before you need to be at school, when you never told them in the first place, nor is it okay to just leave, while they are sleeping.

7:00 A.M. Band room open - arrive in complete, full uniform
7:20 RA/Band Leadership Meeting (Parents/Guardians/Volunteers: Please arrive on time, as we need time to go over the schedule, distribute check-off sheets, answer questions, etc.)

7:25 Band Leadership team calls anyone who may be late to make sure they have woken up

7:30 Stand in parade block in parking lot, with instrument in hand (out of the case, put together, in working order). Be on time. (Section leaders need to check & correct uniforms and instruments for completeness and working order – gloves, reeds, neckstraps, mouthpieces, bits, sticks, holsters, poles, flags, etc.)
7:35 Check in with Responsible Adult (RA) before loading vehicles.
(No bus for this trip.)
7:40 Load vehicles (wearing full uniform and bringing all needed equipment, including holsters, sticks, cymbals, stick bag, banner, pole, flags, etc.) and head for Newark.
7:50 Arrive at St. Edwards and Civic Terrace Blvd. This year, we are unable to use the parking lots at St. Edwards. Do not enter the parking lots. Drop off band members and instruments on Civic Terrace between St. Edwards Street & Birch Street. Staging area is the field at St. Edwards School on St. Edwards Street & Civic Terrace. Keep your shoes clean by staying off the dirt/grass, until you receive further instructions from Mr. Wong! Eat breakfast (if you don’t eat donuts (magic word), then bring something that you can eat). Parents who will shuttle to the end of the parade route should do so at this time, so that there will be rides at the end of the parade route. (I recommend finding parking on the residential/side streets.) The parade will end at the stoplight at Lake & Cedar Blvd.

8:00 BL meeting (if necessary, location TBD)

8:10 Drink water, rinse out mouth before playing (use restrooms/port-a-potties)
8:25 Set up for parade, stretch, mentally warm up (focus on our band and our goals, not on other groups)

8:30 Marching warm up

 

 

(see other side)

8:50 Music warm up (bring the Ultimate Warm-up, but not your entire flip folder) (Guard separate)

9:05 Tune in sections, together, etc.

9:20 Prepare to move the block (beret inspection, etc.)
9:45 Parade starts. DM – remember to salute in the competition zone. Guard & ID Unit –
smile!!!!!!! (Band boosters are to walk on the off-camera, left side, of the band & guard. Boosters should remain out of the judging area, on Cedar Blvd., after the right turn, and near the end of the parade.)
After Parade – Disband at Macgregor School. Load vehicles and go back to AHS.  We will need an RA to wait at the end of the parade route until all the students are picked up. (No child left behind.)

2:00 P.M. Attend the awards ceremony at the Main Stage behind the Community Center to support your Drum Majors & Color Guard Captain. Sit together. (Attending the awards ceremony is optional, but highly recommended. It is mandatory for DM/ADM/CG Captain.)

Reminders:

  1. While in public, you are performing. Have pride in the band and in your school.
  2. Represent your school and yourselves in the best possible way. Keep your uniform on.
  3. If you have to ask if an action is appropriate or not, it probably is not, so don't do it!!
  4. NO PDA (public displays of affection)!!
  5. If you must eat (not recommended), choose uniform-safe foods/liquids (i.e. non-staining!).
  6. No "pecking" at drums or "doodling" on your horn. Play together when directed as a group.
  7. No trading of instruments or uniform parts (or allowing non-band members to try them out).
  8. All school rules remain in effect at all performances.
  9. Remember to hang up your uniform and let it air out for 24 hours after each performance.