Weekly Update (and BOA information): 9/3-9/9

Hello everyone! Please see our weekly update, as well as some initial information regarding the Bands of America Regional on September 23rd. More information on this trip will be sent out in the weeks to come. As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

1. Tuesday/Wednesday-Full rehearsal from 6pm-9pm @MHS. At the conclusion of Wednesday’s rehearsal, the truck will need loaded. 
2. Friday-Football Game at home. Students will need to arrive at 5:30 to unload the truck and build props. 
3. Saturday-It is finally our first show day Saturday! Please read all information on this as it is our first one.
   1. Rehearsal-9am-12pm at the MAC. At the conclusion of rehearsal, students will load the truck and tear down props in preparation for the evenings performance. 
   2. After rehearsal, students will be at the Mars Middle School. Students should bring a lunch with them for this day. After lunch, students will change and get ready to depart for Kiski. Prior to leaving Kiski, all students will get an opportunity to watch a brief videos of previous shows in the Mars Marching Band. 
   3. Students will board busses and depart for Kiski High School at 3:45pm. Our anticipated arrival time is 4:30pm
   4. Mars will warmup at 6:00pm and will PERFORM at 7:10. Please come out and support these amazing students! At the conclusion of the performance, we will head back to the busses/truck. Students will quickly change and load equipment. Once loaded/changed, students may have an opportunity to visit the concession stand and watch the last remaining band or two. 
   5. We will be departing from Kiski at roughly 9:15pm, with an anticipated arrival back in Mars of 10:00pm. At the conclusion of the show, the truck will need unloaded. 
4. BOA Information-Please take a minute to read the information regarding the Bands of America Obetz Regional. Over the next two weeks, more information will become available.
   1. General Schedule-Attached are two schedules. First if the Daily schedule which outlines all the events of the day at Bands of America. The second one is the prelimnary schedule with performance times. A more detailed itinerary will be sent out in next week’s email. We will be departing from Mars between 9:00am and 9:30am. We will arrive in Obetz, Ohio at roughly 1:30pm. The Mars High School Marching Band will perform at 4:15pm. Regardless of placement, it is anticipated that we will be departing Obetz, Ohio between 11pm-11:30pm Saturday night, and will arrive back in Mars roughly around 3:00am Sunday Morning. 
   2. Cashless Venue-New to BOA this year is that most venues are now cashless. Please make sure if your child would like to purchase additional food(lunch and dinner is provided) or souvenirs, that they would have proper forms of payment.
   3. Clear Bag Policy-Most BOA venues are now implementing a clear back policy. It states that only clear bags or emergency bags will be permitted into the stadiums. Again, please begin to plan accordingly. 

Enjoy the remainder of your Labor Day Weekend!

-Mr. Soose