Competition Information and FAQ

Overview

KC Band participates in several marching band competitions each season. This guide will give an overview of the different competitions and what to expect.

Local Competitions - We often start off our season with a local marching competition like HEB (hosted by the Hurst/Euless/Bedford ISD) or Desoto Classic. Early competitions like these give the students a taste of what to expect at the later, more competitive events. It is not unusual for bands to compete with incomplete shows at early competitions.

UIL - University Interscholastic League competitions are major events for the band. Bands first compete at the Region level with other schools from our district and nearby area. Bands that score a I (one) at Region advance to the Area competition. Area is one of our more competitive events. The top few bands from our Area competition will advance to the State Marching Contest in central Texas (this year it’s in San Antonio, Oct 30-31).

Bands of America - BOA events are marching band festivals hosted by Bands of America, a music education advocacy organization. Bands of America hosts Regional, Super Regional, and Grand National Championships each year. KC Band typically performs in one Regional and one Super Regional competition per season. The San Antonio Super Regional Championship will be our final marching band competition in 2023. (Percussion will perform at PASIC in Indianapolis the following week.)

What to Expect: The Student’s Perspective

The flow of a competition day/weekend will vary, depending on the competition’s schedule of events and KC Band’s scheduled performance time.

Local competitions will take up an entire day, and competitions requiring traveling a long distance will require an overnight trip. The Directors will know the time for the band's preliminary performance ahead of time, which allows them to set a schedule for the morning (which usually includes a rehearsal at the school prior to the competition) and make travel arrangements. Parents will be notified ahead of time what the schedule for the day is through the week’s S’More. Be sure to make note of the meal times and whether students need to provide any of their own meals prior to leaving the school. Once the students have arrived at the competition site, meals and/or snacks will be provided by the Boosters.

The schedule for finals performance is not set until after the awards ceremony for the preliminary competition; therefore, the second half of the day’s schedule will be tentative until we know our finals performance time. For example, an earlier finals performance could mean we warm up and perform first and have dinner afterward, while a later finals time could mean we eat dinner first before our warm up and performance. If the band does not make it into the finals competition, the band typically will stay to watch the other bands perform. It is exciting and motivating to see other top bands perform.

Generally, the band will not return to the school until late at night after a local performance. Please keep in mind that the students must change out of their uniforms, unload the trailer, and clean up the band hall area before being released for the night, so they will not be released as soon as they arrive at the school.

Sample order of activities for the students for a local event:

• Arrive at school

• Rehearse on practice field

• Load trailer

• Change into uniform

• Inspection

• Take school busses to competition site

• Unload trailer

• Receive uniform extras like plumes, mirrors

• Warm-up

• Preliminary performance

• Watch preliminary awards ceremony

• (A meal is often served between prelims and finals, but timing is dependent on finals placement)

• Warm-up

• Finals performance

• Put instruments onto busses/trailer

• Sit in the stands as a group for finals award ceremony

• Finish loading trailer

• Take school busses back to school

• Unload trailer/change out of uniform

• Dismissal as a group

What to Expect: The Parent’s Perspective

Students are busy working hard on performance days, so do not expect to interact with your student while at the competition site.

Parents and other KC Band fans enjoy watching the performances together as a group. There will be KC Band fans at every performance, and you can find the group by looking for our pink show shirts. Generally, parents and fans wear the show shirt to competitions and a Charger Nation or KC Band shirt to football games. Remember to also wear sun protection like sunscreen and a hat.

Some stadiums have a clear bag policy in place. Check the event website to see if you will need to use a clear bag to carry your belongings.

Be sure to arrive early if you want to see our band perform. It takes time to park, scan your ticket, and find a seat in the stands. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to KC Band’s performance time. You may also want to see other bands performing at the competitions, as all the bands have worked very hard and have amazing shows. Some competitions will have separate tickets for prelims and finals, and other competitions will include both performances on one ticket. Be sure to check the website and performance times to see what works best for you.

Concessions and souvenirs are available for fans at competitions. Students are not always given an opportunity to visit souvenir tables, so if your student would like a competition shirt, sweatshirt, patch, etc., you will want to get it for them.

Competition etiquette is expected and appreciated.

• Do not enter or exit the stands while a band is performing. Wait until the band has completed their show and is leaving the field. We need to be respectful of all the hard-working students and their proud fans.

• Stadiums get very hot! It is common for spectators to use an umbrella in the stands when in direct sun; however, it should only be open between performances while bands are entering, exiting, or setting up for their show. We do not want to block anyone’s view of the field during a performance.

• Always be respectful of any band and their performance. Avoid speaking negatively about other groups. You never know who is sitting right behind you! Let’s show that KC Band fans are polite and considerate!