AllenBandDad

It takes a village For home games, it's not too difficult, since the stadium is next to the school. We'll have about 20 Pit Bulls and 20 parent volunteers at those games. The Pit Bulls handle moving non-instrument equipment, water, snacks, and generally any other "grunt" work. The parent volunteers handle things more directly involving the kids (i.e. chaperones). With 700+ kids in the stands, the band directors need more eyes and ears. For away games and contests, we have more Pit Bulls and volunteers. There are two parent volunteers on each of the 15-16 buses, and 30 or so Pit Bulls. Up to this year, we've used 4 27-foot trucks to carry instruments and props, plus a 10-foot truck for water, snacks, plume cases, and other miscellaneous stuff. We should have 2 new semi trailers starting this year. We also send a couple of advance scouts early in the day to wherever we are going. They work with the facility to block off space for all of the buses and truck unloading, and to rope off the band area in the stands before the Allen fan crowd arrives. They direct the bus and truck caravan in and out, so we avoid having 20+ vehicle drivers trying to guess where to go.

AllenBandDad - real name is Chris. I'm father to an Allen alum son (tuba and drum major) who is now a music major at Texas Tech and in the Goin' Band, and a junior daughter (bass clarinet). I'm a part of the "Pit Bulls" team (loaders, unloaders, builders, etc.), and my wife is the uniform coordinator. She and I are both alums of the Crowley High band in the 80s.

Yeah, now that TMEA 2018 is only a few weeks away, I'm bummed that I don't have a have a kid in the All-State band anymore to justify the trip down to San Antonio. The "Wine-Dark Sea" performance was my absolute favorite (though, "Pictures at an Exhibition" in 2015 is a close second).

Second this comment. Right now, I'm the one rushing into the stands just as our band is entering the field, for the one chance I've had all season to watch the show from anywhere but the sideline. Then rushing out as soon as the last note fades to help push equipment. I wouldn't miss it for the world, but I'm ALSO looking forward to the days when I'll go a contest, watch and cheer for all of the bands, and have the conversations with parents/fans in the stands. That is, until my oldest, who is majoring in Music Ed, sucks me in as a volunteer wherever he ends up as a director.

5A is what was 4A. So, outside of the few schools that changed classifications because of enrollment numbers, everyone who was 4A will be 5A next year. It's just a name change.