Southeastern Virginia Music Games 2025 Event Guide

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Hickory High School, 1996 Hawk BLVD, Chesapeake, V A 23322

 

 

Part 1: Arrival & Campus Logistics

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• Arrival Time: Plan to arrive with enough time to unload and use restrooms before your scheduled warm-up begins. Please try to arrive close to your scheduled arrival time.

• Check-In: Upon arrival, check in at “Band Check In” located when you pull in along Hawk Blvd where a student guide will be assigned to your band.

• Band Drop Off (NEW THIS YEAR): Buses will drop off students in front of Hickory Middle School and then buses will relocate to park at Hickory High School. Please make appropriate plans to have your kids exit the bus with everything they need for the performance.

• Restrooms: Located inside the main entrance of Hickory Middle School (HMS).

• Truck and Trailer Parking (NEW THIS YEAR): Equipment vehicles will be parked behind Hickory Middle School, very close to the Warmup areas or in front of HMS. Please prepare for a bit of a push from trailers to the performance area (see map).

• Prop Staging: Props may be staged in the grassy area inside the stadium fence on the Hickory Middle School end of the stadium. See Map.

• Wristbands:

  • Complimentary: Provided for staff (per Competition Suite Numbers), bus/equipment drivers, and chaperones (1 per 10 students).

  • Purchase More: Additional wristbands can be purchased at Band Check In or at the ticket booth. Checks should be made payable to HBPA.

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Part 2: Warm-Up & Performance Flow

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• Warm-Up Location: Assigned areas (A, B, C) are located behind Hickory Middle School.

• Warm-Up Time: You have a strict 40-minute warm-up window. Please adhere to the schedule.

  • Note: No electricity is available in the warm-up areas.

• Travel to Stadium: The path from trailers, to warmup, to stadium is around Hickory MS. The path is paved. The Warmup Area is grass) Please do not use an audible metronome, snare drum tap or cadence as it can be heard by judges and spectators.

• Gate Procedure:​

  • Do NOT tune instruments at the gate. Bands may only play in the designated warmup area.

  • Front Ensemble and props must be at the North Gate (near HMS) at the designated time. The band will enter the field for performance from the same gate as the frontensemble/props. An on-field warm-up is permitted but must be within your 15 minute performance time slot.

• Exiting the Field: All performers, crew, and equipment will exit through the North Gate. Please keep to the right side of the gate to allow for two-way traffic. No “trouping” the stands is permitted.

 

Part 3: After Your Performance

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• Re-entering the Stadium: Bands may re-enter as a group through the Pit Entrance/Staging gate to watch other performances. Please be courteous to groups that are warming up, on-deck, off-deck or performing.

• Awards Retreat: Drum Majors and student leadership should gather on the track near the scoreboard 15 MINUTES BEFORE the scheduled Award Ceremony. NEW THIS YEAR: Group 1 and 2 Class Awards will be awarded at the 5:30pm Dinner Break.

Scores & Commentary: Scores and judge recordings will be available on Competition Suite

shortly after your performance. No paper sheets will be distributed.

 

Part 4: Information for Staff & Spectators

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• Director/Staff Hospitality: A hospitality tent for Directors, Staff, and Bus Drivers ONLY is located at the HMS side of the stadium.

• Video Recording: One person per band may video from the 50-yard line inside the taped-off

area.

• Staff Viewing Area: A designated, roped-off area near the press box is available for staff to watch their own band's performance. Please do not obstruct the judges' view.

• Spectator Tickets: Tickets are available at the gate or online via Zeffy.

  • Ages 13+: $15​

  • Ages 6-12: $10

  • Ages 5 & Under: Free

  • Pro-Tip for Spectators: When purchasing via Zeffy, you can avoid their platform fee by selecting "Other" and entering $0 when prompted for a donation.

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Part 5: Additional Services & Contingencies

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• Emergency Instrument Repair: Top Hat Music will be on-site near the main stadium entrance.

• "World's Fastest Drummer": Students can compete in a 30-second single-stroke roll challenge for $5 per try.

• Rain Plan: In case of inclement weather, directors will be contacted with alternate plans. A standstill performance in the stadium is a possibility. Please ensure your cell number is up-to-date in Competition Suite as this will be the primary method of communication.

• Email address: Directors@hickorybands.org

• Cell phones: Mitchell Reed - (804) 815-9035, Yvonne Daye - (757) 343-2110