SHS Marching Band Showcase

Parking is available at Stafford High School.  Spectators will have to walk from the High School up the path to the stadium.  This is a long walk. Handicap parking is available in the stadium lot.

Concessions will be available for purchase throughout the event.  The concessions menu and information is available here.

The 2026 performance schedule is located here.  There will be 14 bands competing and Stafford will be performing in exhibition.

Sponsors are appreciated and provide valuable support to our band programs.  Information on sponsorship is available here.

Registration forms should be submitted via form (please contact the band director for the link).

The registration fee ($200) can be paid via check (made out to SHS Band Boosters) or online.

Thank you to all that have signed up to volunteer and donate. We wouldn't be able to host a successful event without you.

Marching band students are required to be at the school by 1PM.

Adults and non-band students assisting with the set-up please arrive at 1:30PM.

All others please arrive 20 minutes before your positions start time.

Volunteer Check In: The Volunteer Check in Table for the “School Area” will be located near the band room on the left side of the school building. For those volunteering in the “Stadium” please check in at the volunteer tent located to the right of the home bleachers. Please be sure to check in at one of these locations when you arrive and get your name tag. When your shift is over, please make sure that your replacement has arrived before leaving. We will have attendants coming around making sure you have a replacement; they will also be checking in throughout your shift supplying water.

We will be feeding all our volunteers. Our Volunteer Café will be located just behind the concession stand, to the left, behind the women’s bathroom. Please work with the other volunteers in your area to take turns visiting the Café.

Parking: Volunteers will be parking in the front part of the student parking lot.  If you are working a later shift, please allow yourself plenty of time to park and get to your position. If you are working in the Stadium, you will need to park at the school and walk up to the stadium. The stadium parking lot is for handicap parking only. If someone is dropping you off, please enter through the school parking lot to the traffic circle and the parking attendant will give you directions.

Trailers/Haulers: If you are bringing one of these items, please drop it off before 12PM in our Pit Area, which will be in the back half of the student parking lot. This will give us the opportunity to check all the hitches and balls.

Pit Drivers: Please arrive by 1PM so we can go over the Pit plans for the day.

Volunteer Café/Directors Tent Donations: Food items can be dropped off at the Stadium from 1PM to 3PM (Volunteer Cafe) and 1:30PM to 3PM (Directors Tent). Non-perishables items can go to the Band room prior to Saturday. Please indicate if they should go to the Volunteer Café or Directors tent.

Tables/Tents: these can be dropped off by the Band Room as early as noon but no later than 1PM. Make sure that your name is on your item.

Thank you for volunteering your time and donating food and other items. We really appreciate all the support.

Maps/Parking

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jXZfb4M4Z4dLBIDCfo37veH61vAx_uB-?usp=drive_link

Buses will take the last "exit" off of the traffic circle after entering campus. See the Bus Arrival Route map in the link above.

Help prepare any spectators that they will be directed to park at the High School and will have to walk to the stadium.

Spectator Admission

Adults: $10

Kids 5-12 & Senior Citizens: $5

Under 5: Free

We provide free admission to all students/staff/chaperones traveling on the bus upon arrival. We also provide free admission to all active pit crew volunteers.  Directors are asked to manage their pit crew numbers and request the number of pit crew passes needed at check-in. I would ask that you avoid asking for more than 20 passes unless absolutely necessary.  After check-in, you can pass those along to your pit crew folks.  Your help keeping non-volunteers from requesting free admission is appreciated.

Shout Out Prepurchase

Shout Outs can be prepurchased at this link: https://stafford-band-boosters.square.site/product/shout-out-only-qty-1-/5?cs=true&cst=custom

Stadium Flow Logistics

An extension cord with active power will be provided on the front sideline 50 yard line. You are welcome to use your own power source as desired.

Bands & equipment will all enter & exit through one gate area on the Side 2 back sideline. See the Showcase Stadium map in the link above for clarification on that gate location. Bands should plan to exit the field toward the Side 2 endzone track area, where they will allow the next band to enter before exiting the stadium. It is vital that directors and staff understand that their group must fully enter onto the track area immediately after the preceding band begins to march off of the field. This is the only way our show can stay on-time with only one viable gate for both students & equipment. We will have staff present to help make sure you understand the sequence of activities between performances at the gate.

Warmup & Lot Logistics

Most front ensemble percussion groups choose to warm-up in the lot with their trailers. This allows for an easy transition loading onto trailers & moving gear to the stadium. You are certainly allowed to have your front ensemble push to the band's assigned warm-up site, but we only provide transportation from the trailer lot to the stadium & back. Battery Percussion MAY NOT warmup in the lot. Winds & Battery Percussion may only warmup in the two designated warmup areas.

Front Ensemble equipment travel assistance is available, but only if the necessary schedule is adhered to. All equipment/props must be at the stadium gate 15 minutes prior to your group's performance time. Please factor this requirement into your plans for front ensemble warmup. Front Ensembles can warmup in the parking lot as early as they'd like, but they must wrap up warmup and load trailers earlier than many people prefer. It's best to touch base with the trailer folks early & make sure everyone is on the same page about timing.  Consider your loading & transit time in order to arrive at the stadium gate on-time (15 minutes before performance time) for anything traveling via trailer. We can provide up to two trailers to help with transport. Please do not ask to use more as it will negatively impact another band who needs trailer help!  

With only one gate for both in AND out of the stadium, it is VERY important that we have folks in place at the right time in order for the transitions to work without causing delays, Front Ensemble equipment & Props must arrive to the stadium gate 15 minutes before your performance time. Students on foot (winds, drums, guard) should arrive to the stadium gate 10 minutes before your performance time.  Your equipment AND students on foot must enter onto the track area BEFORE the preceding band exits. This will keep everything flowing smoothly. Judges are NOT expecting bands to be at attention and march right onto the field at this time, so consider how you want to get your students onto the track, then organize and get set for your field entrance there. If we run ahead of schedule, we WILL WAIT for your official time before starting your announcement. We don't want parents missing performances because we start early!

Bands warming up at Warm Up 2 (tennis courts), please only use one of the two areas for your warmup. The next band at Warm Up 2 will use the other area so that nobody loses time during transitions in & out. Additionally, bands warming up in this area are asked to make sure brass instruments point away from the school/stadium. Point at the trees & you should be good!

Adjudication/Awards

Music Performance: 25%

Music Effect: 25%

Percussion: 5%

Visual Performance: 20%

Visual Effect: 20%

Guard/Auxiliary: 5%

The adjudication sheets we use can be found here for your convenience: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sbQc6B7UDateVaUlVlqsaCa3rE1fm_iD?usp=drive_link

Caption Awards (with the exception of Percussion & Guard/Auxiliary) are based on the combination of two adjudicator scores as detailed below.

Best Music: Music Performance + Music Effect

Best Visual: Visual Performance + Visual Effect

Best General Effect: Music Effect + Visual Effect

We will award "Best _______" for all five captions in each class. Trophies for 1st, 2nd & 3rd in each class are also awarded. Two Division Champion trophies will be awarded to the highest overall score within each division. A Grand Champion trophy will be awarded to the highest overall score of the day, regardless of class. There is also a Fan Favorite contest with a trophy presented during awards retreat.

Concessions/Hospitality

Please ask your students to support our concessions stand. We are averaging less than 30 seconds per transaction & the line moves very quickly. Director Hospitality is available on the other side of concessions, near the Side 1 back sideline corner of the stadium. See the stadium map above for clarification on that location.