This is the part of the season that starts to get really exciting. Just when we are all getting tired and dreading the colder weather, our biggest and best competitions are on the horizon. Saturday is our State Finals Competition. It is an action packed day with a lot of energy. If this is your first time attending, there are some things you need to know about this particular competition. It is not like any other local competition. This is a whole new level. Ford Field is the home to the Lions, and frankly, I have only ever been in the stadium to watch marching bands perform. This post will review the different parts of the day and I hope this information helps you navigate your time and ease your tensions.

Flight II Performance Times
The official schedule states that Flight II competition begins at 11:00 am. Ten bands will perform, organized by order of scores from lowest to highest. Jenison will perform at 1:06 pm. Awards will begin at 1:20 pm. Here is a link to MCBA information: 
https://www.themcba.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=120

Student Report Time
Jension High School will be open for students at 5:45 am. Warm-up rehearsal will begin at 6:15, so make sure your student is up and ready to go on time. The band will leave Jenison at 7:00. Parents will not see them again until after the awards ceremony. Here is a link to the Jenison Bands Itinerary:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/501bc84fc4aa651f100e4fff/t/5db6155dd615063f70a28118/1572214110048/State+Championships+2019.pdf

Travel Time and Directions
Google says it will take 2 hours 32 minutes to get the Ford Field. I suggest picking your parking lot location and using that address as your target destination. The Ford Field parking garage is only $6 but may be full due to earlier competitions. There are plenty of other parking areas nearby, but costs will vary. I would also suggest looking at the area on Google Maps to become a little more familiar with the landmarks.

Tickets and Security
If you did not purchase tickets ahead of time, they will cost $20 at the door. CASH ONLY. No credit/debit or checks will be accepted. Senior Citizens and Students will cost $15. Children under 5 will be admitted with no charge. Even though the crowd measures thousands, as opposed to tens of thousands, Ford Field will still impose their strict rules for items carried in. ALL bags will be checked. Here is a link to the restricted items list:
https://www.themcba.org/images/PDFs/Ford_Field_-_items-prohibited-events.pdf

Merchandise
All merchandise can be found immediately after entering the stadium. Here is a list of the different items and links to their advertisements and costs. Programs will be sold for about $8.00.
Apparel   https://trophyhousebrands.chipply.com/mcba/
Video Recordings   https://www.themcba.org/images/Events/Mr_Video_2019_MCBA_Flyer.pdf
Photography (sorry, no prices)   https://www.themcba.org/images/Events/Jolesch_2019_MCBA_Flyer.pdf
Patches   https://www.themcba.org/images/Events/Patch_Order_Form_2019.pdf
Pins   https://www.themcba.org/images/Events/2019_MCBA_Pin_Order_Flyer.pdf

Seating
Only the lower level, home side of the field will be used for spectators. It should hold something like 10,000 people, but finding good seats is still a major challenge. Due to the amount of people moving up and down the stairs between every band performance, coupled with the size of the stadium, and you may find yourself getting a little stressed while looking for a seat. Please resist the urge to save more than 1-2 seats for someone else. Everyone's nerves are on edge already, and this just adds to everyone's stress level. If you really want to sit with specific friends then I suggest car pooling to the stadium.

During Competition
The same etiquette guidelines used everywhere else apply here. Be considerate of everyone. Applaud everyone. No mean spirited or demeaning comments, please. 

Food
There are some concessions open during the competition. I have not purchased food from them, other than a soda, so I have no information to share or recommendations to give.

Post Competition Celebration
It's like pandemonium between flights. You have 5,000-7,000 people trying to leave the stadium and another 3,000-4,000 trying to get in and find seats during this period. There are bands leaving the stadium, parents looking for their students, excited people, upset people, and everything in between. Just remember that you do not need to exit quickly in fear of missing an opportunity to congratulate your student. Let me explain how this works.

Because Jenison performs last in our flight, how they have to do things works a little different than other bands. When you leave your seat and work your way to the stadium exit, you will pass the merchandise tables. This is where you need to move yourself to the right. You will find other Jenison parents congregating between the tables and the exterior wall. They are waiting for our band to approach from the hallway you will see extending to the right. It usually takes quite a while before they appear. When they do, don't be surprised if the parents spread out, forming a long line on both sides of the aisle. As the band marches by, they receive a loud ovation for all of us. It's a long processional but keep applauding all the way to the end. The students at the beginning couldn't do it without the students coming up in the back of the line - and vice versa.

The students will not stop, but continue moving outside and across the street. Some years they are able to congregate at the Comerica Park gates, but other years they keep going until they get back to their buses. Just follow along with the other parents. There will be opportunities to take pictures and talk with them at their final stop. Before this can happen, though, they will get a pep talk from the director(s) and medals will be distributed. A group photo will be organized. Parents are allowed to take these shots as well. Then, finally, they will have the opportunity to seek you out and spend a few minutes with you.

Remember that their job isn't done yet. They have to change, pack up the trailer, and reboard the buses. The parking lot will be taken over by another school, so we must leave by 2:30 pm.

The Road Home
Once the buses leave, they will be stopping for the students to get something to eat. Usually, this is in Brighton. You can meet them there, but it gets very busy. Time is limited here, too. They usually park behind Starbucks in the outer part of the Marshall's parking lot. Food options nearby includes McDonalds, Panera, Pot Belly, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Firehouse Subs, Panda, and Chipotle. Those last few are getting to be a bit of a walk, though.

Stay Connected
In the past, when Jenison has won the state title, our very supportive administration has quickly organized a warm welcome with a police escort and rally at the school. This does not occur every year. There are various reasons for this, but if it is a possibility, it is important to stay connected to your email and text messages. Word will be spread using these methods of communication. It is usually intended to be kept secret from the students, so please, do not ask your student if they have heard anything.

Arrive at Jenison
The buses will arrive back home around 6:30 pm. Do not park along the curb to the school. The buses need to pull in there. They get the right-of-way. If you park there, you will be asked to move or will be boxed in until the buses leave.

The Michigan Competing Band Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting music education in Michigan. It was started in 1974 as the Michigan Competing Band Director's Association (MCBDA) to allow state bands to compete in Drum & Bugle Corps style competitions. It was rebranded MCBA in 1992 and has really grown and matured over the years. It now boasts the only statewide marching band championship in Michigan. Over the years, these championships have been held at various facilities, such as Plymouth-Canton Educational Park Varsity Stadium, Eastern Michigan University's Rynearson Stadium, Pontiac Silverdome, and Ford Field. The path to get there is competitive and intense.

Our first invitational is almost here! If this is your first year involved in band, then you probably have a lot of questions. It’s good to understand that any MCBA competition (invitational) occurs on a Saturday. Competitions are a lot of fun and very well attended. The schedule below will be generally true for all of them but the times will change depending on when Jenison performs.
 
MORNING
It’s business as usual with Saturday practice beginning at 9:00 am.
 
LUNCH
Lunch break is typically the same as other practice Saturdays, around 12 noon. Lunch is not provided to the students for local competition days so they will need to pack one or have one dropped off to them. Students with vehicles can leave campus to get their lunch.
 
AFTERNOON
Depending on when they are scheduled to perform combined with the distance to the location and the weather conditions, rehearsal may continue for a bit of time following lunch. However, some of the afternoon will be spent packing up the equipment, loading the trailers, changing into their uniforms, and getting ready to board the buses. For local competitions, school buses are regularly used. The more comfortable coach buses are saved for BOA competitions and State Finals.
 
DINNER
The entire band will be fed the evening meal through the Feed the Band committee. Sign-Up Genius has lists of what food items are needed for each meal provided. Please consider helping fill these needs.
 
COMPETITION
Once the buses arrive at the competition, they will be given instructions on what to do regarding equipment, instruments, etc. They will warm up, perform, and then go to their assigned area for awards. After the ceremony is finished, they will head back to their buses and return to Jenison high school. There is no opportunity for interaction between you and your student.
 
COLOR GUARD
If you have a member of the guard, it is important to note a few extra things. First, when the band is fed as a whole, there are still responsibilities the guard has and often they miss the opportunity to eat due to the tight timeline for the meal. Please be sure to pack some quick snacks like protein bars or fruit snacks to keep these performers energized. Second, their costumes are not often very warm. Be prepared to provide something hot for them to drink when they get home. They may also be extra hungry if they miss dinner.
 
FOR THE SPECTATORS…
 
WHEN TO ARRIVE
If you are going to watch the competition, be sure to arrive a minimum of a half hour before Jenison performs so there is time to find parking, walk to the stadium, and find a seat. Jenison is usually one of the last two or three bands to perform before the awards ceremony, but you are going to want to watch more than this. Stadium seating fills up pretty fast. If you have cushioned seats to sit on, they have been allowed into these events in the past, so I would assume this will continue.
 
TICKET PRICING
Ticket pricing will likely be $8-$10 per person. Programs will cost an additional $1-$3.
 
SEATING
During a competition, there are only certain times that you can go find a seat. Once a marching band is on the field, you may only have a couple of minutes to sneak in to find a seat. The entry to the seating area will be roped off to prevent unwanted distractions for the band on the field. If you do not allow enough time to get in there and find a seat, please do not take your frustration out on the volunteer parent blocking the entry. It is not their fault. After the band has concluded their performance and begin to clear the field, the ropes will open once again. There will probably be a line to get in and this line will run into a bunch of people trying to clear out of the stands to use the bathroom or get some concessions. Remember to be courteous as you are representing Jenison and our marching band. Other band parents notice when a school representative is not behaving complimentary. When you see the bleachers you will notice pockets of Jenison parents here and there because it’s nearly impossible to all sit together. If the stands look pretty full, then you may have to sit closer to the field and the fifty yard line. This is usually the least populated area since visibility is at its lowest. But, there is no rule that says you can’t move seats between band performances.
 
AWARDS
The awards ceremony is what we live for. Well, the scores are anyway. Each band will send representatives to the field while the remainder of the band stays in their designated area. These reps will accept any awards on behalf of the school they represent. The scores are always presented from the lowest to the highest per flight with caption awards spaced intermittently. You will notice a few interesting things if you haven’t been to a competition before. Each school has a routine salute that is performed. This is done before each performance begins and also each time a band receives an award. Examples can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2uCVL82Geo. Many people see these routines as a little out-of-control sometimes so if you are one of these people, please control your reactions because you never know if their parents are sitting nearby. In contrast, Jenison performs the traditionally respected salute, which is simple yet impressive. Another thing to know is that unless Jenison is the only school in our class, it is never a "sure thing" that we will win. It's always a nail-biting adventure. When we do get an award or are announced as the winner, Jenison band members will not break into applause and cheering for themselves, but do not be fooled, they are very excited. To show respect for their competitors they will not celebrate in front of them. Some audience members will understand and appreciate this because no one likes obnoxious winners. On the other hand, some audience members will see this lack of reaction as arrogant and obnoxious anyway. However, the good thing is, parents can cheer all they want!
 
RETURNING HOME
As you can imagine, getting out of any high school football stadium parking is a nightmare. There are lots of people and some of them have run out of patience. Be watchful while crossing any paved area. Pay attention to the parking lot attendants. They are there (hopefully) to help the pedestrian and vehicle traffic flow. They will stop all spectators to allow school buses unhindered access to the exit. Don’t panic. If the band makes it back before you do, they still have to do some things before they can leave. So, it’s not a big deal. You will be able to pick them up at the pool entrance.
 
Well, enjoy these competitions. Enjoy the variety of music and themes. Make sure to tell a volunteer parent thank you. They work hard to make it more enjoyable for us.

This season is proving to be a bit tumultuous. Thanks to the mosquito, a new health threat has taken hold of our attention. EEE has everyone deeply concerned about exposure to those pesky insects. This is a new disease being added to the list of potentially serious conditions brought about by being bit. Others on that list include West Nile, Zika, and two other Encephalitis viruses.
 
This concern has been impacting events throughout West Michigan. Keeping in line with this movement, and you have probably already heard this, the Jenison football game scheduled for tomorrow night, October 4, has been moved forward to a 5:00 kick-off. Although great for avoiding mosquitoes, it has considerable side effects for those involved and those wishing to attend. For the marching band, all members must be dressed and ready to go by 3:00. The final costume fitting for hornline and front ensemble will be moved to after the game.
 
Crowds will be a bit unpredictable since so many will be just getting off work when the game begins. If you are volunteering with any activity before or during the game, make sure you understand when you need to be there. The reporting times have all shifted and team leaders will be desperate for full staffing. Please report as soon as you are able.
 
Likewise, the Portage Northern Invitational has also been shifted for an earlier awards ceremony. Make sure you stay up-to-date by reviewing the itinerary by clicking this button:

​Students will report to school on Saturday at their usual morning time of o’dark thirty, which translates to 8:30. Rehearsal begins at 9:00 as usual. Jenison will perform that evening at 5:44 and awards will begin at 6:30. That is something like 4 hours early. Hopefully, you can make it. If you haven’t been to an Invitational before, make sure to read tomorrow’s post on what to expect.