NETEX Marching Invitational

Memorial Stadium, Texas A&M University-Commerce

October 4th, 2010

3:00 p.m.

We would like to welcome you to the NETEX Marching Invitational sponsored by the Commerce High School Band Boosters at the Texas A&M University-Commerce campus.   We hope you have an enjoyable experience and receive valuable information that will help your band achieve success at your UIL Marching Contest.

The competition will be held at Memorial Stadium which is located on Hwy. 50 at Live Oak on the Texas A&M-Commerce campus.

All buses, trucks and trailers will be directed to their parking areas.  This information with be sent to you prior to competition.  Recent construction on campus is near completion and may change up the parking areas so we will give you the parking information at a later date. 

Check In Area

The check in area is to be determined but will probably be near the stadium.  You will be notified as soon as the construction is completed and we set the location.  You will be directed to your parking areas when you pick up your packets.  Once your band reaches the ready area prior to your scheduled rehearsal time in the warm up areas, you will be assisted by a contest guide that will stay with you and lead you to the field at your designated times and direct you to specific areas until you have finished and re-loaded your trailers.

Warm-Up Areas

Warm up areas are also to be determined in the next few weeks.  One of them if not both will be in parking lot C near Gee Lake.  You will be assigned a specific area and warm up time.  Both areas will be clearly marked A or B and your contest guide will also help direct you to the proper area.  Please face your band to the south or West away from the stadium in order not to disturb other performances.  Speakers, bullhorns or metronomes must project away from the stadium.  Please make sure your band is quiet and that no instruments are played before entering the warm up area.  They also may not play their instruments as they walk back toward the stadium.

Each band will receive notification 5 minutes prior to moving from the ready area to the warm up area and from the warm up area to the stadium.  Please be ready to move at the designated time.

Drum line and pit percussion may practice if necessary behind the stadium on the south end near the trees in the 15 minutes prior to your designated performance time.

Entering and Exiting the Field

All bands, percussion, pit equipment and props will enter the stadium from the south gate.  (Please see stadium diagram.)  You may enter the gate in the time prior to your performance but you must remain just outside the tunnel area and not visible from the field.  Please send all equipment, percussion and props out first with the band to follow when your time begins.  Your contest guide and field workers will be there to direct you so please follow their instructions.  Water will be available at the south gate tunnel area.

The band will exit to the north end of the field and exit through the north gate.  All equipment, percussion and props will exit after the band.  You will load your trailer at that time and return it to the designated parking area.  Your guide and field workers will be there to assist you.

Performance Timing

To help prepare for U.I.L. competition, the clock will run as per a U.I.L. contest.  Please follow the following procedures.

As the band is released from the south gate and enters the field, the 5 minute pre-performance time will begin. 

At the end of 4 minutes, the band will be announced. 

Your performance MUST begin within one minute of this announcement.  

Your performance time will begin with the first step or first sound following this announcement or at the end of 5 minutes, whichever occurs first.  

Your time will stop when the music or drill stops but must not be longer than 8 minutes.

You will then have 2 minutes to clear the field.

Your performance time will be noted but there are no timing penalties in this competition.  However, we would appreciate your adherence to these rules so that we may keep the contest on schedule.

Dressing Rooms/Restrooms

There are no facilities for students to use in order to change into or out of their uniforms.  The rest rooms at the stadium may be used as changing facilities but please note that space is very limited.

Wristbands/Passes

Chaperone wristbands will be in your packet at the check in table upon arrival.  You will receive 1 wristband per 10 students in your band to be used for adult chaperones.  Your students should wear their band t-shirts for easy recognition by our gate workers.  All remaining parents must pay the $5.00 entry fee.  Please let them know that they cannot be admitted for free.

Admission/Programs

Admission to the contest is $5.00 and each person will be given a wristband that is good for the entire contest.  Preschool age children are admitted free.  Please announce to your parents that admission is by cash only.

Souvenir programs will be available for $3.00 each and we would like to have a picture of your band to put in this year’s program.  You may email the photo to info@netexmarching.com or mail a copy to NETEX Marching Invitational at 2012 Creekview Dr. Commerce, TX  75428

Concessions/Lunches

The CHS Band Boosters will be providing concessions at the stadium.  They are also providing a “Meal Deal” which consists of a ¼ lb. hamburger or ¼ lb. hotdog, chips and drink for $5.00 each.  If you would like to reserve lunches for your band students, please fill out the lunch reservation form found on the website.  If you will let the concessions manager know about 30-40 minutes prior to your band arriving to pick up their meals, they will have them ready and the wait will be much shorter.  Meal tickets will be in your packets when you arrive.

Awards Ceremony

The awards ceremony will take place with the Drum Majors on the sidelines of the field.  These representatives should be in uniform and meet back at the south tunnel just after the exhibition performance of the Texas A&M University-Commerce Marching Band.  They will line up and walk out on the field in line. 

After the awards ceremony, band directors should report to the hospitality area on the upper level of the press box to pick up their score sheets, recorded comments and DVD’s of their band’s performance.

Judges

To be announced

Hospitality Area

The hospitality area for participating directors will be located on the upper level of the press box.  The CHS Band Boosters will provide complimentary drinks and snacks for participating band directors during the contest.  No family members, students or friends are allowed in this area.

Contest Office

The contest office will be located on the upper level of the press box.  Only contest office personnel, and Band Directors are allowed in this area.

Area Restaurants

There are several restaurants within walking distance of the stadium and many others that are within a mile or two but will require a bus trip.  McDonald’s, Subway and Pizza Hut are all near the stadium.  Pizza Hut has very limited seating.  There is also a Taco Bell across the highway but we do not recommend that students walk across the highway.  Other restaurants that would require a bus ride are Braum’s, LuLu’s Burgers, Chicken Express, Mak’s Place, and Lone Star Eatery among others.

Inclement Weather

The stadium is equipped with a lightning detection system should a severe storm occur. Students and guests can take shelter beneath the stadium should the weather become severe.  Students in the warm up areas can take shelter in the Music Building or Performing Arts Center.  The schedule may be altered if this should occur but the contest will continue if at all possible.  There will be no refunds of admission fees should the contest be cancelled due to weather the day of the contest.

Questions

If you should have any questions, please email info@NETEXMarching.com

We appreciate you bringing your band to this contest and hope you will receive valuable help in preparing for this year’s U.I.L. competition.