Parents Guide for Show Band Season

Parent's Guide for
Show Band Season

For some parents, autumn means back to school, crockpot cooking, and Friday night lights. For band parents, it means that band season has begun! If you are new to the joys and challenges of performance events (or just need a refresher), this band survival guide may come in handy!

Looking for Student's Prep Guide? Click HERE.

Before the
Season Begins

- Review the Calendar

- Put all rehearsals, football games, competition dates on your family calendar as early as possible.

- Review what students need for band camp/rehearsals HERE

Plan Around Commitments

- Attendance is essential. Every rehearsal builds on the last, and missing one affects the entire ensemble—not just your student.

PLEASE:

- Schedule appointments outside of rehearsals whenever possible.

- Communicate unavoidable conflicts as early as possible.

- Understand that frequent absences can impact individual and group performance.

Communication

Stay informed by:

- Reading emails, newsletters and checking ParentSquare

- Join the BAND app group for additional communication & to ask questions

- Following social media pages: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok & Threads.

- When in doubt, ask questions early.

Band/Color Guard Camp
What to Expect

Camp will be one of the most exciting and challenging weeks of the marching season. Students will spend long days learning foundational skills, conditioning their bodies, learning drill, choreography, and teamwork while building friendships and preparing for their first performances. Your support at home plays a huge role in their success.

What to Expect from Your Student

They will be tired and sore.
Long rehearsals in the sun/heat are physically and mentally demanding. Expect sore muscles. Remind them to drink water and use recovery tips given.

They may be hungry.
Students will burn a lot of calories during rehearsals and will need healthy meals and snacks to refuel. Please remind them to limit junk food.

They may feel overwhelmed.
Learning equipment/dance skills, marching, choreography, and routines all at once can be challenging. Give them space but encourage them to stick with it.

They’ll come home with stories or not.
They may come home wanting to tell you everything or not want to talk at all. Again, give them some space and time to decompress if they need it.

How Parents Can Help

Prioritize Rest
Encourage your student to get 8–10 hours of sleep each night. Recovery is just as important as rehearsal.

Keep Them Hydrated
Have them start drinking water the day before rehearsal - not just during it. Send a large, refillable water bottle every day.

Fuel Their Body
Provide a healthy breakfast, nutritious lunch, and protein-rich dinner. Pack snacks like fruit, granola bars, trail mix, cheese sticks, or peanut butter crackers.

Help Them Be Prepared
Before they go to bed, remind them to doublecheck that they have their “what to bring” items ready to go. All are posted HERE.

Encourage Commitment
Camp requires teamwork. Every student’s attendance and effort affect the entire group. Encourage your student to stay positive, work hard, and support their fellow performers.

Celebrate Progress
If they are up to conversation, instead of asking, “Did you get everything right today?” try asking:

- What did you learn today?”
- What’s something you’re proud of?”
- Who did you help today?”
- What’s one thing you’re excited about tomorrow?”

Thank you for supporting your student and our program. Your encouragement, flexibility, and involvement help make a successful season possible!

Marching band is a team sport, a performing art, and a leadership program. Success depends on students, families, and staff working together throughout the season. Your support behind the scenes helps create an unforgettable season for every student. Together, we can make this marching band season a success!

Volunteer

The band director will ultimately determine where help is needed but for those of us who have done this for a while, there are lots of ways to jump in!

Chaperones
Help supervise students during trips, competitions, and events while assisting directors with logistics.

Prop Builders
Use creative or construction skills to build, paint, repair, and maintain show props throughout the season.

Equipment & Prop Crew
Load, unload, transport, and move instruments, equipment, and show props before and after performances.

Fundraising Team
Support fundraising events, sponsorship drives, and campaigns that help offset program costs.

Photography & Media
Capture photos and videos at rehearsals and performances for social media, newsletters, and keepsakes.

Uniform Crew
Assist with fitting, distributing, organizing, and collecting uniforms to help students look performance-ready.

First Aid
A few caring parents willing to handle basic first aid is always appreciated.

Band Meals
Coordinate, prepare, serve, or help provide meals and snacks during band camp and long event days.

Show Day Helpers
Pitch in wherever needed on performance days, from checking students in to helping with last-minute tasks.

Booster Board & Committees
Help plan events, coordinate volunteers, manage communications, organize finances, and support the overall success of the band program.

Be a Good Spectator

If you will be supporting from the stands, there are things you should also do to prepare for a game/competition day.

Clothing
Weather in the fall can be tricky here in Washington. Days in the sun can be warm while nights can get cold quickly. And then there's the wind...

Dress in layers, throw hats and gloves into a backpack, and don’t forget the ponchos/rain jackets. Blankets are a great idea also and you may want to get a stadium seat!

Cash/Debit Cards
We attend home games only and there are concessions. Many competition venues also have concessions of some sort, so be sure to bring some pocket money for hot chocolate and nachos.

Many competition venues will also be selling gear like t-shirts, pins, patches, etc. Your band student may not have a chance to shop so be prepared to grab the goods for them.

If the competition is held at a host school, that school may use it as an opportunity to fundraise. Prepare for 50/50 tickets, basket raffles, and candy grams!

Team Spirit
Bands are doing the difficult work of performing but spectators should carry their weight by cheering them on! At home games, many parents gather close to the band section. When at competitions, consider sitting with others from your school to make your presence known. Wear Wildcat colors/attire to show your team spirit. Let out loud applauses & cheering when the performance ends so they’ll hear you on the field!

Etiquette
While we want to show support for our kids, remember that there are other students and their parents at the games/competitions, too. Refrain from negative comments in the stands. When at competitions, be considerate of moving only between performances, and give a hand to all the performers in recognition of their hard work.