Marching Band Competition

Alabama State Marching Championship (see attached full schedule) next Saturday, November 2nd.  Further information about the venue, ticket prices, etc. should be provided soon but I wanted to go ahead and get this out.  Last year was the first ever State Championship for marching bands.  The coordinators are seeking ABA endorsement and the event has more than doubled from last year to this year.  Therefore there are two venues to host all competing bands on the same day.  Our venue is hosting 3A, 5A, and 6A bands only.
*Depending on temperatures (high temp is projected near 60 in B’ham but we perform at 7) students should plan on wearing white or light gray long johns under their uniform which they’ll want next Friday night and for Athens too…  They’ll want to have these on before and after they change anyway.  This is very important.  At this point of the season, it’s better to be a little too warm than to be really cold.
**I am aware that we have some students who have AP study sessions (or SAT testing) next Saturday.  Based on the itinerary times, these students may have to leave the study session a little early to ride with us -OR- carpool to Galleria/Pelham after completing the study session.  I will speak with our AP teachers to confirm, and also speak with these students next week to determine how it’ll work out.  I will need to know exactly who is doing what to be sure we don’t leave anyone.
11:30 – Call time @ band room, triple checks (have everything needed, one meal or $$ for food court and souvenir/competition shirt as desired, blanket + pillow for ride, change-out clothes for after performance – plan real cold with band jacket on top!).  We will not have time for everyone to go to concessions after our performance, so eat a good late breakfast/early lunch before call time, then eat late lunch at Galleria, and we’ll provide snack bags for the ride home.
12:00 – Load buses
12:10 – Depart Buckhorn HS
2:30 – Late lunch at Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, AL
3:30 – Load buses + take roll
3:40 – Head to Pelham HS
4:00 – Arrive @ Pelham HS, sign-in, park
4:15 – Unload and dress
5:00 – Unofficial warm-up (water, bathroom breaks, final checks, think, breathe, stay warm)
5:45 – Depart for official warm-up
6:00 – Official Warm-Up
6:30 – Pit departs warm-up
6:40 – Rest of band departs warm-up
6:50 – Ready at gate
7:00 – BHSMB has fantastic final competition performance!
7:15 – Return to trailer, dress out and load
7:45 – Back to stadium for quick bathroom breaks, purchase shirt (if desired), sit in designated area of stands to get ready for awards ceremony
8:30 – Awards Ceremony
~9:30 – Head to buses
~10:00 – Depart Hoover
~12:15 – Arrive @ Buckhorn HS, unload
~12:45 – Dismissal / pick-up
 **As per usual, I will send Remind text notifications to inform everyone with more accurate times – when we’re on the road headed home and when we’re close to arriving back at Buckhorn with very accurate pick-up time.  Please be sure your student has arranged a ride home by dismissal time.
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