Contests - THE PERFORMANCE goal!

So, other than at football games, the Cadets perform at three contests each year: 

*Owasso (9/29)
*Broken Arrow (10/6)
*OBA (Oklahoma Bandmasters Association) - otherwise known as state contest (10/27)  

Attendance is mandatory at all!

OBA is usually held in Yukon but is rotated every few years - and this year, it is in Broken Arrow!!! 

The kids work so hard to be ready for these - parents are ENCOURAGED, if possible, to attend the contests.  This is when all their early morning practices pay off!! Last year we had several FIRST place finishes!  The performances are by bands from all over the state.

These contests are all day ordeals - Mr. Mackey has the cadets practice in the morning at the field before leaving, practice after arrival, then they have their prelim performance, and if they make finals, they have finals performance.  We flex lunch and dinner around the times of performances.

So, here are some inside tips for parents who are first-timers: 

**BRING - Have your Cadet bring a refillable water bottle to use at the contest.  The boosters provide a large thermos of water the cadets can refill from.  They will need it!

HAIR - any cadet with hair that needs to be pinned up:  BRING extra BOBBIE PINS and extra hair bands!!! Hair must be kept up pinned under the hat for performance!

The CCC food committee is amazing and gathers donations throughout the year - so the kids are fed for all contests.  
*Breakfast
*Lunch
*Dinner
are all provided.  In the past, it has been Sonic breakfast burritos or McDonalds sausage biscuits.   
I believe this year we have Panera on board!  Thanks to all who make this happen!  Any parent who goes to the contest and would like to help set up the tents for shade, the tables, and serve food is more than welcome!  You are free to watch the other bands performances in between meals.  (If you know of any other local companies that are willing to sponsor food for the band, get in touch with someone from the Food Committee.) 

ALLERGIES: If your kiddo has any allergies, please inform someone on the committee so that we can provide alternate foods. 

COSTS:  there is a gate entry fee for each contest (OBA is more than Owasso and BA) - average cost for prelims is $10-$15 at the door and prelims + finals is more $$.  Collinsville has always made finals!  The host school does not allow any movement while a band is performing on the field, so be sure to get to the location - to park and walk - in plenty of time because they will stop anyone from climbing up and down the stadium stairs during performances.  Suggested amount of time is one hour before!

SUPPLIES: cadets travel on buses in black shorts worn under bibbers and show shirts, black socks, black shoes.  **RECOMMENDED - purchase a strong hanger that jackets and bibbers can be hung on - the plastic ones will break easily and cause the uniform to easily get damaged or dirty.  The uniforms are kept in garment bags (part of your supply cost) - Cadets should label these as soon as they get them - or take them to get their name embroidered.  

LABEL ALL HATBOXES!!! A cool way to keep them separate is to find a unique patterned tape that can be taken off the box at the end of the year.  (be sure to clean off any sticky residue) All the hatboxes are identical and they can be easily mixed up with 80+ hatboxes all in a pile at contest.  Be careful to close the lid carefully - if it breaks - the hat falls out - there are not any spares. 

Plumes: We have unique plumes that are only given to the Cadet right before performance. 

Gauntlets - Are passed out right before contest - worn around wrists - are white - and need to be cleaned!  (volunteers?)  

Hat wraps - given out soon.  Cadets will keep these in hat boxes for the year. 

All uniforms, gauntlets, hat wraps, hats and boxes must be turned in at the end of the year.  Cadets get to keep their garmet bag.

(**another topic for later will be individual photos - which will be taken right before the uniforms are turned in...)

Randomness - kids will sleep or visit in between breaks of performances.  There is not a lot of extra room on the buses (three buses driven by parent volunteers) other than instruments and uniforms so they cannot bring much other than a pillow with them... slide (sandals) are acceptable in between performances if they want to take shoes off - they walk around on a parking lot.

Please pass along to freshmen parents whom you feel might need this info!