In addition to playing at the beginning or half-times of football games, the marching band competes on a weekly basis, with the marching bands of other schools in the chapter. At present Clearview is a Group II sized band (36-55 musicians and up to 55 auxiliary members) competing under the "Tournament of Bands" (TOB) organization, Chapter 1. Chapter One encompasses Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem Counties of Sourthern New Jersey. The TOB sets standards, oversees competitions, and provides judges versed in the standards of the organization to assign scores to each band's effort at each competition. The highest score thus obtained is used as the band's overall TOB ranking score. As the last competition of the season, the top 25 scoring bands in each group compete in the Atlantic Coast Championships in Dover, DE. Clearview's overall scores perennially place them in this competition. We often hire a bus so all parents who wish to, can attend this event. It is quite an experience watching your band compete with all of the best bands on the upper East Coast. View the TOB rules.

Parents' Contribution The first contribution a parent will make is in the form of money (surprise!). The band represents the school and the school provides for the band what it can from its budget such as uniforms and instruments as well as administration and leadership. Unfortunately, it takes more than that to make a successful program. It is necessary to augment the school's contribution with the purchase of additional uniform accessories such as shoes and gloves as well as a fund to feed the students before they depart for competitions at other schools. On competition days the band practices most all afternoon and then boards buses to the competition site. The time between practice and departure is usually right at dinner time. Left to fend for themselves, the band members will scatter to the four winds in search of dinner and some may not return in time. To ensure that they have a reasonably nutritious meal and keep them together, the band parents provide a meal for them before they leave. We ask all families to contribute $40.00 so we can provide this. The meals are supplemented with salads and dessets provided by volunteer parents.

Additionally, we hold fund raising events such as running the concession stand at football games and Clearview hosts one band competition a year where we sell advertising in the show program. We run the concession stand at all home events and use the proceeds to fund band activities. Also, we hold a craft show at the school in early December and rent out spaces to crafters. All of these exercises help us defray the additional expenses of running this program and they NEED THE HELP OF EVERYONE. Parents are asked to fund:

• One pair of shoes. The cost of replacement shoes in subsequent years are paid for by the parents.

• Accoutrements such as gloves, band jackets and bags.
  Click here to obtain the forms to order these items.

  Parents are asked to volunteer their time for at least two stints as:

  • Chaperone at an away competition or football game.

  • Worker in the concession stand for a football game or the home show competition as well as the craft show. This could include preparing food, manning the counter and receiving payment, and cleanup after the show or game is over.

  • Serve as a member of the crew that gets the "pit" (stationary musicians) onto and off the field. This could be as simple as giving a few minutes at the beginning and end of our band's routine.

    There are a number of functions requiring volunteers in manning and running the Home and Craft Shows.

    Home Show responsibilities include:

    • Selling 50/50 tickets and notifying the announcer of drawing results.

    • Ad Book - gather ads and booster input into book format, drop off and pick up from the printer.

    • Air Grams - complete message forms, receive payment, and deliver to announcer prior to the band's entry onto the field.

    • Announcer - announces bands, scoring results, and air gram messages.

    • Aqua Grams - complete tags and receive payment. Bag the water bottles and deliver to each band at the end of their performance.

    • Candy Grams - complete tags and receive payment. Bag the candies and deliver to each band at the end of their performance.

    • Flower Grams - complete tags and receive payment. Bag the flowers and deliver to each band at the end of their performance.

    • Craft and merchandise table - make crafts and/or sell band merchandise during shows and games.

    • Crowd control - control crowd at entrance to the stands to ensure people don't try to sit themselves while a band is playing.

    • Greeters - greet bands and their director(s) and assist them in finding their set-up areas, directing them to rest rooms, and being available to assist them as needed.

    • Judges' table - order and pick up trophies, set up the trophy table and help with the awards at the end of the show.

    • Judges'/bus drivers' refreshments - organize meal, set up judges' room and oversee their refreshments throughout the day. Menu and charges are available from the President.

    • Parking - direct spectator and bus parking.

    • Program sales - sell program books at the gate and throught the stands.

    • Runners - a) responsible youths (not band members), 10 years of age or older to run results from the field judges to the judges' room b) deliver bagged "grams" to the performing band as they leave the field.

    • Ticket sales - sell tickets at the front gate.

    Craft Show responsibilities include:

    • Publicity - Post signs and arrange news release. Permits are required for signs.

    • Accept crafter registration fees and assign spots. Coordinate with web manager for crafters wishing to publicize their web site.

    • "Date Night" - the night before the craft show we mark off crafters' spots in the school hallways. This usually only takes an hour or so then we adjourn to a local gathering spot and get a bite to eat and socialize so bring a "date".

    • Helpers - band members and interested students to help crafters unload, direct them to their spots, run food orders to the cafeteria, assist in helping crafters load up afterwards. This often brings them tips and National Honor Society hours can be earned by participating in this. Also help run the "Pictures with Santa".

  • As well, there are a few ONGOING volunteer jobs in addition to those of the President and Vice President of the parents' association:
    • Coordinating the assignment of chaperones.

    • Overseeing the operations of the concession stand.

    • Treasurer, accounting for checks and funds taken in to finance operations.

Summary All of these responsibilities must be borne by the parents of the band members. Everyone should try to volunteer for something otherwise the responsibilities tend to fall on the shoulders of just a few parents. You will find that you become more aware of the inner workings of the organization and how competitions work. This is more interesting than you might imagine and it lends more to a shared experience with your child.

As you can see there is more to having your child in the marching band than you first thought. It is more than just dropping them off at school and telling them to "Go and have a good time". The whole program will only be as successful as a combination of skill and perserverence by the band member as well as the contribution that the parents make. Please do all you can to contribute to the success of the marching band.