Competition Information: 

❖    Warm-Up: We will have three warm-up areas designated for playing/full band warm-up. Additionally, we have designated a large “non-playing” warm-up area if you wish to do any stretching and/or visual warm-up. As the label implies, you are not permitted to play in these areas. The area is large and can accommodate multiple groups. If these locations are full, contact me and I’ll let you know what spaces can be used. Please have your ensemble face away from the building toward Princess Anne Rd. Moving front ensemble equipment to your warm-up location should be easy and can be done by utilizing the sidewalk ramps.

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❖    Event Schedule: Band rotations are set up on 15 minute intervals. Each band will have 40 minutes at your full band warm-up location. Each band is allotted a 10 minute transit to the gate, but the transition walk is roughly 5 minutes. If your ensemble needs more than that, please let your guide know so that they may assist with maintaining the schedule. Each band receives a 15-minute performance time. Following your performance, guides will escort you from the stadium to your buses. 

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❖    Prop Staging: Your props may be pre-stage in EQ Parking Lot #2 as designated on the Logistics Map. This area is directly on the path to the stadium for performing ensembles. There should be plenty of room, but please be considerate of other ensembles and minimize the space your props take in this area.

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❖    Field Entry/Exit and On-Deck: Ensemble entry and exit from the field are on Side 1. To help minimize traffic jams, please follow the stadium flow map to the best of your ability. Winds, Battery, Guard, and any other performers not pushing equipment/props will access on-deck through the single gate/walkway noted on the map. Pit equipment and props will enter through the double-wide gates. To minimize distraction to the ensemble on the field, equipment will stop at the back corner of side 1. Immediately following the conclusion of the previous ensemble, pit and props will push to the front side 1 corner and then onto the field. Winds, battery, guard will enter through a double-wide gate in the front corner and go right on to the field. For field exit, front ensemble equipment will push off side 1 by hugging the sideline and then pushing behind the endzone. As soon as the on-deck band clears the sidewalk, feel free to push onto the sidewalk. Please have all other members exit the field through the back corner of side 1. They may have to wait briefly for any equipment from the following band to move. While this isn’t an ideal flow, this is the best plan we have for now and will work to make everything run very smoothly and most importantly, on time. For those that have requested use of LHS podiums, these will be placed on side 2 and taken on/off by my volunteers.

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❖    Timing and Band Announcement: We will utilize the following for show timing and announcements.

1. Each participating band will have 15 minutes to enter, set-up, warm-up, perform, and exit the performance area.

2. Bands will be given 4 minutes to set-up/ warm-up time. 

3. If your ensemble has a pre-show that begins prior to the announcement, please let me know so I can inform our announcer.

4. At three (3) minutes, thirty (30) seconds, the timing official will cue the introductory announcement. The announcement may be cued earlier if official is given direction by the Drum Major / Director. 

     a. “Joining us from [School City & State], please welcome the [School] Marching Band!” (Announcer pauses for             audience response.) 

     b. “[School]’s musical selections include the following:” (Announcer reads their selections.) 

     c. “VMBC and the Virginia Beach Festival of Bands is proud to present in competition performance, Drum Major(s)          [Drum Major(s) name(s)] and the [School] “nickname”. 

     d. *If the Band’s Drum Majors are going to salute, it should occur as the announcer is reading/announcing the              sentence in section “3” above.

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❖ Adjudication:

o      Judges for the event include:

     ▪       Kevin Fallon (Ensemble Music) - Dallas, TX

     ▪       Jordan Warfield (Ensemble Visual) - Minneapolis, MN

     ▪       Scott Litzenberg (GE Music) - Millsboro, DE

     ▪       Christopher Rutt (GE Visual) - Fredericksburg, VA

     ▪       Tony McCain (Color Guard) - Richmond, VA

     ▪       Tommy Doss (Percussion) - Louisa, VA

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❖Judges’ Comments: We will utilize Competition Suite for comments and recaps. 

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❖Awards/Ceremony:            

     o  We will do a drum major/leadership retreat following the exhibition performance by Landstown HS. We will            make an announcement prior to the exhibition for representatives to report to the on-deck/gate area.

     o  In each class: Best Music, Best Visual, Best General Effect, Best Color Guard, and Best Percussion.. There will           be an award for first, second, and third place band in each class.

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❖    Field Electricity: Power cords will be provided in the stadium during the show. However, it is highly recommended you use a generator as current from the stadium may vary.  

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❖    Electronic Event Program: We will utilize an electronic program. Be on the lookout for the submission link. 

 

❖    Classification: Classification is determined by VMBC

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❖    Facility: There will be two sets of bathrooms available to participating units. These will be indicated by signs. One set is at unit registration. The second set is accessible from the warm-up areas and will be marked. If your students need a location to change into uniform, please use the restrooms located at registration. Please ensure that students are monitored throughout the event, both inside and outside.

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❖    Tickets, Concessions, and Meals: Admission cost for the event is: $15 for 13 and over and $10 for children 5 - 12. Children 5 and under are free. We will honor the VHSL cards and staff badges for administration (principals, AD, etc.). Tickets can be purchased with cash, credit card, Square, and Venmo. Concessions will be available for purchase at the event (cash/credit accepted).   

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Directors, instructional staff, and bus drivers are welcome to eat at our hospitality area.

 

Staff Entrance Passes are only good for instructional staff. We ask that you do not use these for volunteers. They will have their own wristbands. We will give 1 volunteer per 10 students. If this is not enough to cover prop movers or pit crew, please let registration know and we will attempt to accommodate if possible.

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❖    Video: We will provide a videographer pass for one staff member or volunteer to record the show. Due to copyright law, we can not provide the recording for you. We will also make an announcement prior to the start of each class regarding copyrights and audience members recording your shows. The video area is the left side of the press box (if looking from the field)

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❖    Staff Viewing Area: An area on the 50 yard line will be reserved for you and your staff to observe your show. Location will be on the top row of bleachers, just under the press box. Be aware that there is not a gate to access the bleachers directly from the field. Bleachers can be accessed from the end of the fence between bleachers and the field. 

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❖    Band Re-Entry: All band members, chaperones, drivers, and staff will receive wristbands upon checking into the event. For entry into the stadium prior or following your performance, these wristbands will need to be worn. Band seating will be available on the front side, room permitting. Once these areas are full, band members should sit in the backfield bleachers. Please use the spectator entrance gate to bring your students back into the stadium

We are so glad that you have chosen to attend our event this year. We look forward to providing your students, staff, chaperones, and drivers with a quality experience that will help develop your show.

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