Here is a link to the Ford Field website where you can find information about the MCBA Competition on Saturday, November 7.  
http://www.detroitlions.com/ford-field/mcba.html

A couple of tips/things to note:
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1.  There will be a uniform inspection the Monday (Seniors and Juniors) and Tuesday (Sophomores and Freshmen) before State competition, just like the week of the Bowling Green competition.  Shine up those shoes and whiten up those whites after the Jenison Invitational this weekend.  
 
2.  The Friday (Nov 6) before State competition the students have an evening practice at GVSU.  Families are encouraged to come to the end of the practice (or all of it if you'd like) to watch a full run through indoors at the fieldhouse.  Many people really enjoy this performance because it is much easier to find and follow your child while you stay toasty warm.   There will also be cookies...

3.  If you did not pre-buy tickets please note that you must have CASH to purchase them at Ford Field.  
      ($18 adults - $14 students/seniors - under 5 free)

4.  We are in Flight II which begins at 12:00pm.  The nice thing about State competition is that they present awards at the end of each flight, not at the end of the day.  We are in the perfect time slot this year as you don't have to get up crazy early and you still get home at a decent hour as we only perform once no matter how we score.  However, your tickets are good for the whole day.  You may come and go as early or late as you'd like.  
  

Check the Jenison Bands site early this week to get the students exact schedule for Saturday.  The Jenison Marching Band performs at 2:45 and 10:30.  I'm not sure on exact times, but I know the students will be required to report well before 2:45.  At some point after their first performance they will be allowed to leave and there will be another time to report back for the final performance of the evening.  No meals are served at the school for the students but if they happen to volunteer they do get free food from the concession stand (as do all volunteers).  The schedule is typically different for percussion students and color guard as they spend much more of the day practicing.  Please check the band website on Monday/Tuesday for the specifics...or ask your kiddos if they are in percussion or color guard.

Thank you in advance for volunteering your time to help us make this a successful invitational.  We know that it's an incredibly busy time of year and we truly appreciate you!

Jodi Rysko has a few show shirts left for anyone who still needs one, lost one, etc.  You may contact her @307.2464 or jcrysko@gmail.com.

So it's getting a bit chilly outside.  Only two more potentially COLD competitions left (the next two weekends) since the Ford Field and Lucas Oil Stadium are indoor venues.  We've already talked about long underwear/leggings and rainjackets.  One other option is those disposable hand warmers.  While they cannot use them while performing, they can use them while they are waiting in the cold, tuck them away, and reuse them after the performance.  

While the weather has actually stayed quite nice into October, it's bound to get cooler before the season ends.  The rain jacket is a part of the band uniform and should always be left in the garment bag and taken whenever there is a performance, whether at a football game or competition.  When it's cold and/or rainy the students can wear these to keep dry/warm.  However, if any student is without one, NO ONE can wear one.  I'm sure your student doesn't ever want to be THAT student who forgets the jacket...eek!

This question was brought up at the last Band Booster meeting so I asked the band directors about it...here is Mr. Kline's response:

We are offsetting the front ensemble this year for a few different reasons. We have several moments happening at the center of the field (ie. when Anna freezes the band at the end of part 2) and the front ensemble would have covered them up. Another reason is that it gives some exposure to the front ensemble, that they wouldn't normally get, because they are usually hidden behind the conductors podium. And probably the least important reason, is that it is away from the norm and will potentially get people talking and kind of a buzz going. 

Many bands are doing different set ups with the front ensembles. Last year, defending Flight IV State Champion Godwin Heights had the front ensemble at the back of the field, and BOA Grand Nationals Finalist Marion Catholic had their front ensemble on the field on Side 2 set up in "rock" props for their underwater show.

So my son had huge white marks on his MB shoes.  These will never make it through the next uniform inspections...and the black shoe polish actually laughed at me when I tried to apply it to the marks.  Don't worry, I showed them.  I used Goo Gone.  Those spots are history.  Does anyone else have tips/tricks for getting marks off the shoes?

We are offering advanced purchase tickets for the State Competition at Ford Field.  Please make sure you get your order in no later than 6pm on Tuesday, October 6.  (see link to order form below) You save $2 off the ticket prices at Ford Field.  Please note that if you choose to wait to purchase them at the field they accept CASH ONLY.  
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https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f4bffacd7e8dc5d30268902c9/files/Ford_Field_Ticket_Order_2015.pdf

In the past, a parent has volunteered to arrange a charter bus to take parents/siblings/fans to Ford Field.  So far no one has volunteered to take on this responsibility this year.  If you are interested, we can point you in the right direction and help generate interest.