1998-2018

I was trying to figure out the right way to work the cost into my comment but couldn't find the phrase to make it work. Yours made me laugh so hard I had two Pit Bulls and a Min Pin looking at me wondering what situation they needed to step into. Both breeds are definitely poractive problem solvers.

That's right! My Concession Stand support ($$$) just tripled.

I'm concerned they are just getting by based on their early history which seemed much stronger. They're still very good but other than being so big, do they really stand out anymore? So many others to consider now and I feel like they have slipped. But maybe it's just me. My daughter loves them.

I think it's BOA that prefers lots of options and UIL tends to focus on a couple things. If I'm correct it could work in Andy's favor this weekend.

Prosper was a larger part of the conversation earlier in the season. We haven't heard as much about them recently because, as whitewing09 pointed out, the general consensus after BOA DFW seems to be that Prosper is part of a fairly large group of very good bands who individually might warrant a spot in Finals but collectively they are all in a dog fight for the last couple spots. Whitewing09 laid out what they are up against and others are, and will probably continue, adding bands to the list. On the plus side Waxahachie will be at Area B on Saturday but I don't think they will be at BOA SA. They remain an issue for UIL but not BOA SA. On the other hand Timber Creek is on his list of possible Finalists but, as it pertains to answering your question, could have been featured more prominently as they finished right behind L.D. Bell (and ahead of Prosper) at BOA DFW. A lot has happened since then and I'm sure Prosper is better. Everyone is. Historically the last couple Finalist at DFW (and Austin, and Conroe/Houston, etc.) face significant challenges making Finals again at SA. But History isn't one of the judges this year. Prosper will be writing there own history just like all the bands. It comes down to who has improved the most and can put it all on the field when it counts. The judging system is significantly different but we can still learn more about who is ready at the UIL Area competitions this weekend. Additionally, I'm going to assume that most know whitewing09 was talking about Cedar Park. But just to be clear, there's more than one CP in the mix.

Somebody somewhere: "But we can't change the system, small bands can't afford Tender Rolls."

What a riot! Thank you, everyone. Our collective sense of humor and community has been restored. In keeping with the new theme I'd like to remind everyone the rankings have completely overlooked one group that always seems to be in the thick of the battle, so I did some research. They have advanced to the SMBC every year for as long as records have been kept. The Concession Stand! This is likely an important fundraiser for somebody's band program. Please spend some money there too. I know you will.

That's fair and the system works well enough that the best will be there. So it's accurate as far as it goes and it's a great thought for the kids to have in their head as they take the field. There will still be notable absences so the dream of a perfect system that could address the "Wild Card" issue still eludes us and the kids in those bands. It would be nice if someday the sign could accurately say some form of, "You are better than everyone who isn't here today."

The two most important life skills are knowing what you don't know and learning from the feedback life gives you. Develop these skills and unrealistic hype won't be a problem because you won't engage in it. Most other problems will diminish too.

Well, in general, yes...up to a point...and then it can sometimes get a little weird. Every time I tell a Texan I was born in Hawaii and grew up it California they get this strange look on their face. It doesn't seem to matter that I've lived in Texas longer. The look always makes me want to explain, "It's okay, I married a Texas girl many years ago." But I've learned that can create problems too. I suddenly began to get some heat from the guys a ran around with when I started dating my future wife. Finally a local girl I knew explained it by saying. "They were fine when you were just racing cars and drinking beer with them. But you already have that sweet '69 Mach1 they all want and now you're running with that fine filly with the long hair and even longer legs. They can see you caught her eye too, and they don't appreciate you tryin' to thin the herd." What?!? Oh, are you trying to tell me they're saying, "Hey, locals only! Don't try to surf this point break or there will be consequences." Ha! Bring it on guys. I realized I was marrying this girl as I drove away from that kiss on her doorstep after our first date. I found out later that was when she made the decision too. <3 So now that I think about it, Texans are welcoming. Especially if you find the right one.

Eddie Izzard: Welcome to Area B! Cake or death?

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera... While I wouldn't exactly call it empirical data that proves either theory, it's interesting to note that BOA SA currently has 28 pages of debate while Area B has 23. Area D? Yeah, they have 4... I encourage reading the Area B thread. (BandFriendzz already has.) Don't forget to put on your flame suit first because it gets intense and occasionally perhaps a bit too volatile over there. But everybody's still friends, I think. Along the way you will discover Danpod has already officially settled this debate.

Umm...I think you forgot "and biased by history". (Posted in the spirit of good natured fun, definitely not intended to poke the bear.)

I had no reason to doubt it based on what I could remember. However, I have seen others post a few "alternative facts" on here lately. Trust but verify always made sense to me, particularly on the internet. As for Timber Creek, they are one of my candidates for most improved in the three previous years. Waxahachie is the other. Saturday night we'll find out if it's enough. I hear a couple more bands have improved enough to have their supporters excited and confident.

It's been a great life and it's available to us all. Anyone who serves their band community wins.

My user name tells part of our story. 1998 is the year our oldest was a Freshman and 2018 is our youngest's Senior year. 21 marching seasons. Want more commitment? Sure! 16 years ago my wife made the mistake of briefly getting distracted at a band booster meeting. I took the opportunity to volunteer her to run the concession stand during home football games. Her first year it made over four times as much profit for the band as it had the previous year and that continues to increase. 16 years later she's still running it even though for 9 of the 16 years we were between kids. Our daughter is much younger than her brothers and for all those years whenever our band Director saw her he would ask, "Next year you're in band, right?" She never stood a chance. My wife has no plans to give up running the concession stand when our daughter moves on to college. I will still be carrying truckloads of stuff for her and the band.

Yikes! Lesson learned: Next time go to Region 30 and when you get home after midnight, go straight to bed. Don't login to TxBands and spend the next four hours reading and commenting. Just wait for it to blow up the next day. No problem, your comment was entirely respectful. I just wanted to add some additional context. Yes, again I was trying to add context for those who need it. I'd like both of you to know my comments were primarily directed at a wider audience of hopeful fans, not so much you two specifically. I was, in part, trying to avoid the nuclear detonation that happened on the last couple pages. I utterly failed. (No more complex comments on sensitive topics after 2:00 AM for me.) I'm not going to beat that dead horse again. Well, at least not right now. Some difficult lessons may be learned the hard way Saturday night. Five bands...only five... This is so bittersweet.

Some of us have had an eye on Timber Creek for awhile but it's true they were still on the edge of the radar for many. I found this gem lurking in the 2016 Area B discussion. I haven't fact checked it yet but here you go... How's that for perspective on what it would mean to have one more band advance to the SMBC?!?

It's also important to remember the written word rarely conveys the nuance and subtlty of the spoken word. Tone and inflection are powerful tools missing from every font. William Shakespeare is a master author but reading his work is significantly different from hearing it performed by Sir Laurence Olivier or even Mel Gibson. The internet tends to feel more extreme, both harsh or glowing and optimistic, than was often intended. Getting in the habit of asking, "What else could this mean?", will serve you well.

Hmm, that's an interesting question. I hadn't really thought about it in quite that way but if you had asked I probably would have said that over the last 20+ years the number of truly enjoyable performances has been on the rise and the performances that make you cringe have sharply declined. It's just an anecdotal impression but would be consistent with more Division 1 ratings being warranted.

No, they haven't. That is an incomplete picture of what happened. It also ignores the fact that Prelims and Finals serve different purposes. Prosper was ahead after Prelims (for a variety of reasons) but Keller won that competition and Prosper placed 3rd. The gap widened a week later at BOA DFW. Yes, in Prelims Duncanville was 1st, Coppell was 3rd and Keller was 4th. But in Finals Keller won Area B, Duncanville was 2nd, and Coppell was 4th. Also keep in mind, Area B is really just an extension of Prelims for the State Marching Contest and there Keller finished 5th, Coppell was 11th and Duncanville, who was 1st in Prelims at the toughest Area in the State missed Finals and finished 16th. Two years ago... I'm not trying to make predictions, or say nice things about one band, or undermine past accomplishments of others. My point is different. For judges, Prelims and Finals serve different purposes. Prelims are for getting the right bands into Finals and Finals are for putting them into the correct order. If the Prelims order is already correct that's a bonus, but it's not really the highest priority. If you are getting your hopes up based on Prelims, from previous contests (especially from a different year), history tells us you're easily headed for disappointment. And on Saturday if you make travel plans after Prelims because you're too excited to wait for Finals results, make sure the reservations are refundable. This will be a battle to the end. As Dan said: Perform. (Twice would be a good plan.) P.S. I made my non-refundable reservations more than a month ago. But then I'm a fool who believes.

If you are considering Flower Mound as a contender you may want to add another band to your watch list. Don't forget Flower Mound's music score at BOA DFW was a tie with Keller. Not bad for a "slow starter". So many great bands? Yep, too many to choose from ahead of time.

Just a hint of drizzle starting at Region 30. Not enough to get wet and cause problems but it's enough that people started pulling out phones to check the radar. It continues to be that kind of year. Five bands to go...we can make...

At least some of the fees will still apply at the gate. The Alamodome is gonna get their facilities/event fees come help or high water.

Ha! That comment is a gender reveal if I ever saw one! Maybe we can get Santa Clara Vanguard to do it and feature Payden's gymnastics too.