Tips for New Color Guard Members

[Band Dad]

These Tips can also pertain to Veteran Members, as well as Marching Band Members:

Your first competition can be nerve-wracking, but nothing is more fun than getting to perform the show you've worked so hard to learn in front of an audience that is there specifically because they love to watch marching bands. Here are some tips to relieve the tension

Know Your Routines!
The number one piece of advice that anyone can give you is to make sure you are prepared on competition day. Know your routines & music inside and out! The better you know your routines & music, the more confident you will feel.

Get Plenty of Rest and Eat Healthy!
It’s very important that you get plenty of rest the night before your competition and make sure to eat healthy both the day before and the day of the competition. Eat a healthy breakfast, drink lots of water throughout the morning and avoid high sugar snacks which ZAP your energy shortly after you eat them! Trying to perform on an empty stomach or too little sleep can lead to injury or worse! No one wants to risk passing out or vomiting due to dehydration or lack of sleep.

Don't Leave Anything Behind!
Make sure to check, double-check and triple-check that you have everything you need and that it goes with you on either the bus or equipment trailer. Don't ask other people to help you load your equipment. The best way to make sure your flags make it on the bus is to put them there yourself. Nothing is worse than getting to a competition and realizing you don't have your equipment or a piece of your uniform! Use the checklist below as a starting point and use it every time you have a performance!

Equipment
Uniform
Gloves
Shoes
Socks
Hairpiece
Supplies to fix your hair
Make-up
Change of clothes for after performance
Show t-shirt (if you have one)
Jacket & sweats

Be Prepared to Change in Public
It is not uncommon at competitions for groups to have little or no space to change into uniforms. Often bands are forced to dress in the parking lot or on the buses - which means changing clothes in public. Talk with your staff about whether this might be a possibility. If so, come prepared! Purchase a leotard or a tank and biker shorts for underneath your uniform and wear it under your clothes for the day so that you can change into your uniform without any unwanted attention!

Make a Good First Impression
Before you even begin spinning on competition day you are making an impression on those people around you: judges, spectators, and your competitors. Keep in mind that the minute you step off the bus your competitors are watching and the minute you step into the stadium, the judges are watching. Be on your best behaviors at all times. Make sure to represent your school in a mature and responsible way. Pay close attention to your instructors and captains.

Carry yourself calmly and with poise as you run to set your flags. Make sure all of your flags are laid down properly, facing the right direction and with the fabric stripped so that they are hidden as much as possible. While you are standing in your opening set waiting for the show to start, stand still. Don't move or wiggle and definitely don't talk. These first impressions can make a huge difference in how both the audience AND the judges remember your show.

Keep Focused during Warm-Up
It is important that you are focused on your show and your instructional staff during this time. Try to avoid letting yourself be distracted by the other groups walking around. During warm-up, spin as if you are performing (which you really should be doing each time you practice...but especially now!). When you are marching to the stadium and entering the field use proper marching technique and carry yourself in a manner that shows you are proud of your group.

Don't Be Afraid of the Judges
Being judged at a competition can seem like a scary thing, but it is actually part of what makes competitions so much fun! The judges are there to help you. They are there to let you know what parts of your performance are working really well and to tell you areas where you could make improvements. If you look forward to the judges comments and handle them in a constructive manner then by the end of the season you will be able to create the best performance possible.

Enjoy Your Performance & Do Not be Afraid of Mistakes
Obviously, the most important part of your first competition will be making sure you have the best performance you can for that point in the season. This doesn't mean you will be perfect, especially early in the season. Even the most experienced performers make mistakes. So don't be afraid of making a mistake. So, when you get to the competition field, relax! Rely on your training to pull you through. Focus. Make sure to set all of your flags in the right spot. Look up at the judges' box. And if you make a mistake just recover as quickly as possible and keep going! Mistakes are never a big deal unless you make them a big deal!

Most of all...HAVE FUN! This is what you've been working for!