We have to always take that into effect with band camp, the season, performing and most importantly, keeping the kids safe and healthy. I totally agree, and since right now we have no idea how cold or what the weather will be like next Saturday at the Nationals, I can give you some information on where my philosophy lies in terms of dealing with the weather. Please read on.
My band director real weather story #1
In 1990, my first year at Mineola with 46 total in the band we drove all the way to the TOB Northeast Championships in Scranton, PA. Over a hundred family members drove down. It was raining, sleeting and 40 degrees out with the wind blowing. I asked a band director next to us in the warm up area if they were competing, with the sleet and soaking rain bouncing off the timpani drum next to him he said to me "of course!" That image of the drum with his reaction, a few feet away is seared in my mind. Yes, every single band was playing. I put my instincts into play, I thought that this was nuts! I made the call, Mineola left the venue, we all went to the Mall, and all our parents lost all the ticket money, registration fees, etc. Not one parent or kid complained, not one. It was obvious, crazy to perform in those conditions.
My band director real weather story #2
I am proud to state that I am one of the two band directors at Giants Stadium in 1996 that had our entire band of 250 members warm up on the busses, wear their coats into the stadium, make a big pile of outerwear just inside the stadium by the tunnel, play the show, then put their coats, gloves, and hats back on when exiting the stadium. Every other band warmed up for hours outside, in the wind, freezing, without coats, because "That's what you do." No way for our kids. Incidentally, Mineola got 3rd out of a bunch of bands, and Piscataway, the other band that also looked weird walking into the building with parkas, ski gloves, and winter hats over their uniforms like us, got 1st. None of the kids from either band got sick (I called that director after about a week) and today I believe that both of our scores were greatly impacted by their keeping warm.
My band director real weather story #3
St. Patrick's Day parade on Long Island, once again with Mineola. We had 250 band members, we got off the busses at the beginning of the parade route, the trombone and trumpet slides froze. We couldn't keep warm even with full winter attire over the band uniforms. I believe it was 1998 0r 1999. The temperature was 30 degrees and was about 22 with the wind chill. Pretty simple, we got on the busses, went back to Mineola and released everyone. I had my drum majors put their parkas on and walk to parade route to let everyone know. No twitter or texting back then. For this one I got a lot of backlash at first, parents standing in the cold were mad, yelling at me when they went to pick up their children, calls to the administration on Monday. It was bad publicity for about two days, until the stories came in of the little cheerleaders who got sick, the kids who were freezing, and the whole thing turned around to a backlash at the people running the parade and why they didn't cancel it. I knew I made the right call as we pulled out to go home, watching the little children, the same age as my kids at the time, freezing and crying in the lot, huddling together to stay warm. Another image seared in my memory, that I will never forget.
Please remember, I treat them as if they are my own children, winter coats on when it is 50 or below with the wind. We are a child centered program here and we will take care of the kids. Trust me, I will make the right call on this. If the weather is going to be warm, frigid, or simply cold, I will totally update the directions on roslynband.com and tell everyone exactly what needs to be packed. I have Directed bands at the old Giants Stadium 8 times. I’ve got this covered. We might lose some money, but we will not lose our health.
Please realize that playing the 8 minute show in uniform is feasible and safe. The kids’ adrenaline to perform and inner excitement protects them for that short time frame. They are moving and keeping warm.
We also have 320 hand warmers, 320 body warmers and 320 toe warmers donated but the Small family to help us keep warm.