Mapping the Best Bands in America

[LostChoirGuy]

Like many of you, I am very familiar with the geographic location of most of the best Texas Marching bands, but do not know much about where other bands are, except for the state they are in. I decided to make a Google Map that shows the locations for these bands based on their recent performance at BOA events (only bands that have been successful at BOA events since 2010 are included). This map can be accessed by all at the following link:

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QSRwJawuvbUZC6vuYPo5HnfsqQG_EO1B&usp=sharing

 

I have divided the listed bands into 4 categories, and each band is only listed in the highest category they fall into. Those categories are as follows:

1. Yellow- Grand National Medalists and Super Regional Winners (since 2010)

2. Grey- Grand National Top Half Finalists and Super Regional Medalists (since 2010)

3. Brown- Grand National Finalists, Super Regional Top Half Finalists, and Regional Winners (since 2010)

4. Blue- Grand National Semifinalists (only top 30), Super Regional Finalists, and Regional Medalists (since 2010)

 

I tried to reduce bias as much as possible to get an accurate idea of which parts of the country have a higher concentration of great bands, but I was only as successful as was possible given where BOA holds events and which bands attend which events each year. Still, I think it provides some really cool information. Perhaps the biggest surprise for me is the prevalence of Atlanta area bands and the great bands in the midwest being much more spread out than the bands in Texas and Oklahoma, which are very centralized around big cities.

 

I took discretion in a few things, such as including Atlanta as a Super-Regional on a few of the years that I couldn't determine if it was or not. Also, Bands that changed names or combined with other bands (for instance Lawrence Central/ Lawrence Township) are only included once. Let me know if you find any mistakes, and maybe I will continue to add to this map in the near future!

 

 

Hope you all enjoy!

[LeanderMomma]

  On 11/16/2017 at 9:35 PM, LostChoirGuy said:

Like many of you, I am very familiar with the geographic location of most of the best Texas Marching bands, but do not know much about where other bands are, except for the state they are in. I decided to make a Google Map that shows the locations for these bands based on their recent performance at BOA events (only bands that have been successful at BOA events since 2010 are included). This map can be accessed by all at the following link:

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QSRwJawuvbUZC6vuYPo5HnfsqQG_EO1B&usp=sharing

 

I have divided the listed bands into 4 categories, and each band is only listed in the highest category they fall into. Those categories are as follows:

1. Yellow- Grand National Medalists and Super Regional Winners (since 2010)

2. Grey- Grand National Top Half Finalists and Super Regional Medalists (since 2010)

3. Brown- Grand National Finalists, Super Regional Top Half Finalists, and Regional Winners (since 2010)

4. Blue- Grand National Semifinalists (only top 30), Super Regional Finalists, and Regional Medalists (since 2010)

 

I tried to reduce bias as much as possible to get an accurate idea of which parts of the country have a higher concentration of great bands, but I was only as successful as was possible given where BOA holds events and which bands attend which events each year. Still, I think it provides some really cool information. Perhaps the biggest surprise for me is the prevalence of Atlanta area bands and the great bands in the midwest being much more spread out than the bands in Texas and Oklahoma, which are very centralized around big cities.

 

I took discretion in a few things, such as including Atlanta as a Super-Regional on a few of the years that I couldn't determine if it was or not. Also, Bands that changed names or combined with other bands (for instance Lawrence Central/ Lawrence Township) are only included once. Let me know if you find any mistakes, and maybe I will continue to add to this map in the near future!

 

 

Hope you all enjoy!

Very interesting! And colorful. And man, my current Austin traffic SUCKS!

[LostChoirGuy]

I updated the map again with information for this year.

 

Notable changes:

 

1) Blue Springs has joined the small elite group of yellow dots!

2) In Texas, Timber Creek, Wylie East, Prosper, John B Alexander, Seven Lakes, Weiss, and Vista Ridge either joined the map for the first time or moved up to a new level.

3) I combined Lincoln-Way into a single group to account for the schools combining into a single band.

[principalagent]

Yes!!! I love this map! I actually added it to my google maps on my phone, so when I was traveling for work, I found myself close to some bands when I didn't expect it!

[LostChoirGuy]

I'm glad you like it! It took me quite a while to make it last year, but I love doing this sort of thing.

[LeanderMomma]

  On 11/12/2018 at 10:31 PM, LostChoirGuy said:

I updated the map again with information for this year.

 

Notable changes:

 

1) Blue Springs has joined the small elite group of yellow dots!

2) In Texas, Timber Creek, Wylie East, Prosper, John B Alexander, Seven Lakes, Weiss, and Vista Ridge either joined the map for the first time or moved up to a new level.

3) I combined Lincoln-Way into a single group to account for the schools combining into a single band.

A tiny bit off subject, but I have to say again how much I loved Alexander’s show this year. A video of it popped up on YouTube last night and I watched it again. That show was fantastic. Good for them.