1998-2018

This story just keeps getting more heartbreaking. This morning I learned that last night during warm-up, moments before taking the field in Finals performance, Keller broke a drum head. With no time to replace it and the UIL season on the line for both of them Timber Creek loaned Keller a drum.
 
This was the 5th time in a row Timber Creek finished one spot out of advancing to the Texas SMBC and they still loaned Keller a drum so they could advance.
 
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

This story just keeps getting more heartbreaking. This morning I learned that last night during warm-up, moments before taking the field in Finals performance, Keller broke a drum head. With no time to replace it and the UIL season on the line for both of them Timber Creek loaned Keller a drum.
 
This was the 5th time in a row Timber Creek finished one spot out of advancing to the Texas SMBC and they still loaned Keller a drum so they could advance.
 
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

Ha! Max Muncy hit the walk-off home run for the Dodgers. Your well intentioned attempt to distract me from Area B didn't work because one of my sons played baseball with Max...at Keller High School.
 
And we're back!

money helps, but it’s not the deciding factor between a good and a bad program. The wealthiest area in Dallas is arguably Highland Park. NOT Lewisville. To imply that money is what separates great programs from good ones is absurd and damaging to the activity as a whole. I understand you and your children are upset, but come on. You’re really gonna come on this forum and say FloMo is only better because they have more money?

This story just keeps getting more heartbreaking. This morning I learned that last night during warm-up, moments before taking the field in Finals performance, Keller broke a drum head. With no time to replace it and the UIL season on the line for both of them Timber Creek loaned Keller a drum.
 
This was the 5th time in a row Timber Creek finished one spot out of advancing to the Texas SMBC and they still loaned Keller a drum so they could advance.
 
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

I baked cookies for everyone, but I dropped them on the floor and still ate them.
 
GOODNIGHT, EVERYONE!!!!!!!

We had a kid who only marched their freshman year.  Just wasn't into it and wanted to do other things as the force wasn't strong with that one.  The following year we were still there helping and making flags as Avon used to make all their flags by hand.  Someone decided to go around the room, give your name, and what your kid played.  When it came to me I said "Show Choir" to a few strange looks as another one of ours was in that and we didn't currently have one in the band at that time.  We have worked band contests, helped with percussion contests, concession stands, uniforms, shoes, sitting on cold windy bleachers, pushing props, provided snacks and contributed to meals, bus chaperon, loaded and unloaded semi trailers in the dark, signs in the yard, stickers on the car, bought numerous t-shirts and hoodies and even traveled to Texas. Wouldn't have it any other way! 

The thing that stood out to me most tonight was when the Keller and Timber Creek drum majors stayed on the field to talk when everyone left. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Keller is such a respectable program and it shows that these results are irrelevant compared to the relationships that these kids have with another. Bravo Keller and Timber Creek for being great humans!

Come on, I thought we had agreed to stop this kind of thing. If you truly believe this then please give additional reasonable support for your comment since it is clearly so far outside the mainstream consensus. Otherwise we would appreciate it if you heeded the No Trolls signs that were recently posted under the Area B bridge.

Come on, I thought we had agreed to stop this kind of thing. If you truly believe this then please give additional reasonable support for your comment since it is clearly so far outside the mainstream consensus. Otherwise we would appreciate it if you heeded the No Trolls signs that were recently posted under the Area B bridge.

Come on, I thought we had agreed to stop this kind of thing. If you truly believe this then please give additional reasonable support for your comment since it is clearly so far outside the mainstream consensus. Otherwise we would appreciate it if you heeded the No Trolls signs that were recently posted under the Area B bridge.

No, there is mush more. Both organizations have judging guidelines on their websites but this video is a concise synopsis. 

 
It will probably help as much, or maybe even more, than anything anyone here will tell you.

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.

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.

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.

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

... but if you had to rank the restaurants in placement order, what would your predictions be?

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."

Area B would like to have a word with the sign in the thumbnail of that video.

Oh....some of us are still here.   Once a band nerd, pretty much always a band nerd.  And, yes, I am now hooked on Dan's Podcasts and eagerly await the NerdIns and Cherrys (that suck) on Top after the event. 

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

If I may interject......

The Area B schedule is now posted in the Area Schedules thread at the top of this forum board.  

You may now resume undermining each other's confidence

This 100%. 
I have seen most of these bands live, but it has been 2-3 weeks for most of them. I have seen some live as recently as a few days ago.
 
I have ZERO clue what is going to happen at this Area other than the fact that there will likely be perennial Finalists who don't make Finals (not because they are doing any worse) and/or perennial State Advancers that won't advance to State (again, not for doing any worse).
 
This area is just 245% nuts. I mean, look at that 2nd block of Prelims!!!
 
NOBODY is safe in this Area. You need to have your absolute best performance in Prelims just to have a shot at making Finals and you need to be perfect again in Finals just to have a shot at Advancing. This Area leaves absolutely zero margin for a slightly off run. You could go from 1st in Prelims to not advancing to State in a heartbeat.

oh wait...you weren't supposed to @ them.   
 
(BTW I find this new "don't @ me" trend to be ridiculous.  If you don't want people to comment on what you say, then DON'T SAY ANYTHING!).        

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.