Good Evening A.I. Band Family,
The Thanksgiving Day Parade is going to be could…period! PLEASE BE PREPARED! It hasn’t been this could since 1901!!!
I had two conference calls with the ABC parade producer today. I also communicated with Jessica Burton (Band Front Advisor), Heidi Sarver (UD Band Director), and Chris Hewlett (Band Booster President). We are all concerned about the weather and here is what we want to do.
All students should bring their complete uniforms for the parade. I cannot stress that enough. Complete band uniform, band front uniforms, warm-ups, under-garments, etc.
Here is the current plan:
I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH! BRING YOUR COMPLETE UNIFORMS AND WARM UPS WITH YOU IN CASE SOMETHING CHANGES! This parade is going to be 20 degrees colder than last week’s playoff game!
Base layers of Under Armour, thermal garments, etc. should be worn by EVERY band member!
The parade officials have stated that we can stay on our motorcoaches until 20 minutes prior to our step-off time…which means we will have to be set in our ready area by 8:00-8:15 am. We will not be in the staging area for an hour (which is the usual case).
Band Fronts will march the entire parade, including the TV area, with warm-ups. So, please make sure that you bring warm clothes to dress underneath the warm-ups! The plan now is to keep the warm ups on the entire parade.
The playing members should still bring their entire uniform. They should also bring their warmest winter jacket (or borrow one from a family member if they don’t have a true winter coat). Our current plan is to wear our band “raincoats.” We should wear our bibbers (pants) and shoes, as we normally would. Band member will wear their winter coats (with layers underneath) and the “raincoats” will serve as our uniform top instead of the regular band jacket.
Mrs. Hewlett bought hand and foot warmers for all of the band members. Thank you!
Students should also wear any ear warmers that they may have. The cloth ear warmers are preferred, but anything they have will work (including knit hats that fit under their band hats). They should also bring any gloves that will still allow them to play their instrument. When in doubt, bring whatever you have. We will take it off in the TV area if we need to do so.
Do not forget to wear two pairs of socks. Everyone will need that for this parade!
Rich Weaver – Band Director