General notes:
Any equipment loading on the van or on the bus will be coordinated by Al Sneller. You will be instructed where to leave whatever is being loaded so it can be efficiently placed on board.
There will be a message board posted in the lobby at the hotel. Check it for updates regularly.
All times noted are subject to change. This document is primarily intended as an overall guide for the trip.
August 19
All equipment and uniforms being transported by van to New Orleans at Post 370. Name tag on everything.
- Uniforms in real garment bags that close. No dry cleaning bags
- Instruments in sturdy cases. Gig bags are not suitable for transport.
- Note what is being transported on inventory manifest lists
August 23
12:30 p.m.
Arrive at KC Airport. Check in and report to gate.
2:40 p.m.
Group flight to New Orleans. Southwest Airlines. Expected arrival in NOLA: 4:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
On arrival, get bags from baggage claim, report to chartered bus for transport to hotel. (Hilton New Orleans, St. Charles Ave.)
5:30 p.m.
Arrival at hotel: Room keys will be gathered in advance and a band representative will distribute the keys as you depart the bus. If you are sharing a room with a band member, coordinate with your roommate to obtain the keys.
The equipment van will be on site as well. Get your instrument and uniform off the van.
There will be a band rehearsal. Anything going to the rehearsal can be placed on the bus.
Time TBD
Report to the bus to go to the Morial Convention Center (MCC).
On arrival at the MCC, equipment will be off-loaded from bus. Gather your belongings and follow the group to the rehearsal areas. (Scheduled for MCC 252 and MCC New Orleans Theater.)
Note: Some band members will have additional equipment responsibilities that will be assigned in advance. You are responsible for your own equipment and anything assigned to you at all times.
Following rehearsal
Report to bus. Leave equipment to be stowed outside and board.
August 24
Breakfast on your own. It’s a long day. Bring snacks if you like. Lunch is not provided.
9:45 a.m.
Assemble in specified hotel meeting room. Report in full uniform ready to go, with instrument in its case. (Report in full uniform ready to depart for contest. Instruments in cases.) Instructions will be given, uniforms will be checked for loose threads, lint, etc.
11:00 a.m.
Board bus for MCC
11:45 a.m.
Report to warm-up room, MCC 252
12:40 p.m.
Line up to exit warm-up room
12:50 p.m.
Arrive at MCC New Orleans Theater
1:00 p.m.
Contest begins
5:00 p.m. (approx.)
Report to bus for return to hotel. Evening time is on your own.
After Arrival at Hotel
Van loading will be available for about one hour after return to the hotel. This is the ONLY loading window. The van will leave very early on Aug 25. If you send it to NOLA on the van, it’s expected you will send it to KC on the van. If not, be sure this is noted on the manifest.
August 25
A group band activity may be planned. Details to come. There could be a group lunch or possibly some kind of bus tour of NOLA.
3:15 p.m.
Report to bus loading area for transport to airport.
5:40 p.m.
Southwest flight leaves for Kansas City. Arrive at 7:35 p.m.
Band Contest Details
Full rules for the band contest: https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/legion/documents/2024_Concert_Band_Rules.pdf
Highlights from the rules:
There is a meeting of band representatives the Friday before the contest. Heather and Mark will attend. Some final details will be determined at that meeting.
The judges are to rank and rate the unit participants using the subjective scoring system. In all classes, this system has been devised to reward and encourage the continuing development and quality achievement of excellence, taste, style, projection, and variety. Judges for the Competitive Concert Band Class will consist of one Chief Judge, one Inspection judge, three Music judges, Tabulation judge, and the Digital Technician. For the Exhibition Class, only the three Music judges will be provided to deliver constructive comments only.
The music judges will record comments while the band performs. Those recordings will be provided to the band at the end of the competition. The music judges are in the audience, usually on some kind of riser. The judges are separated and do not interact with each other while judging.
Music judges will consider the following aspects of the performance:
Tone (up to 20 points) – blend, balance, control
Intonation (up to 20 points) – chords, melodic line, tutti
Technique (up to 20 points) – articulation, facility, precision, pulse, tempo
Interpretation (up to 20 points) – expression, phrasing, style, tempo
Musical Effect (up to 15 points) – artistry, fluency, balance
Other Factors (up to 5 points) – stage presence, choice of music, instrumentation
Each competing band must have a minimum of 30 instruments. At least 20% of the “playing members” must be bona fide members of The American Legion, Sons of The American Legion and/or the American Legion Auxiliary in good standing and must bring their current year American Legion Family membership card to the contest site.
An inspection will certify that the required number of participants are available for competition, and to ensure personal appearances and condition of uniforms are both professional and identical. A general inspection of the members entering the stage will take place and if an infraction is noticed, a penalty will be assessed.
Each Concert Band will be allowed to select three selections of their choosing using the following guidelines: 1. One selection must be a quickstep style march – (a spirited march tune usually accompanying a march in quick time). 2. Two songs of their choice that are of contrasting nature.
All selections will be judged. Each band will have 10 minutes for setup and teardown and up to 30 minutes for their performance. The overall time limit for each band entering the stage to exiting the stage shall not exceed 40 minutes.
All prize money will be allocated at the discretion of the Convention Commission as authorized by the National Executive Committee. The winner of Competitive Concert Band Class will receive a guidon and trophy. The current, approved monetary award is as follows:
1st Place – $5,000
2nd Place – $4,000
3rd Place – $3,000
Participation Fee – $1,000 will be distributed to all competing bands
Overall process during the contest day:
Band gathers at the hotel, in uniform, with instruments in cases, ready to go. If your instrument is already on the bus, that’s fine, it does not need to be at the gathering as long as it is ready to travel. Uniform inspection will be done at this time. Check loose threads, lint, etc.
When instructed, the band will report to the bus. Anything to be stowed is left curbside. Al Sneller will load the equipment. Small instruments can be taken on board (altos sax, trumpet, clarinet and smaller, typically). Take any soft bags on board the bus. All band members will ride the bus to the convention center. If there is room on the bus, band guests can ride along. Otherwise, band guests will need to find their own way to the convention center. It’s about 1 mile from the hotel to the MCC.
On arrival at the convention center, an equipment crew will disembark to begin unloading equipment. The band will disembark when instructed. Stay together. Report to the designated waiting area while everything and everyone gathers.
Band members will gather their instruments and any other equipment assignments and proceed to the green room/warm-up room. There is one green room/warm-up room for all the bands. We will claim an area for our cases. Keep everything in our area. While we perform, our cases will remain in this room. The room, while guarded, is not completely secure. Leave no valuables there.
When it is time for us to compete, the band will proceed to the theater. Stay together. The stage setup crew will prep everything to place on stage. Music, instrument stands and other items will likely be placed for you. This will be worked out in advance. There will likely be a band before and after us. Be courteous. Stay out of their way as best you can. Once the stage is set and ready, the setup crew will join the band in formation. The band will file in to our seats by row.
When you reach your seat, turn and face the audience. Do not face the dais. Your body will fully face the audience. Remain standing until instructed to sit by the concert master. Await the next instruction.
Once seated, the concert master will direct you to tune, move your stand, open your music, etc. Do not do anything unless and until instructed. If something is not right at your seat (folder swapped, instrument stand in the wrong place), there will be an opportunity to correct that.
Heather will take the stage. She has introductions for all three pieces. While she speaks, sit at your chair at attention. All instruments in a section are to be held the same. Your section leader will dictate that standard. If someone is not correct in a position, discretely inform that person to make the correction.
At the end of each piece, lower your instrument and face the audience during the applause. Smile. Acknowledge the appreciation. There’s no hurry to pull your next piece. Heather will introduce it. There’s plenty of time. Most importantly, DO NOT TALK.
At the end of the performance, the band will rise. Again, face the audience. The band will file off stage by rows. Gather backstage. The setup crew will return to retrieve music and other items. The band will return to the green room.
Put your instrument away. All our equipment may be moved, or it may stay in the green room. We’ll know on site. The band returns to the theater and sits in the audience. DO NOT CHANGE OUT OF YOUR UNIFORM. We will take a group band photo at the end at some point. While in uniform, you must present yourself properly at all times. If you are wearing your coat, keep it buttoned, with your tie on. If you remove your coat, also remove your tie. Keep your shirt tucked in. You are still representing the band. Do not wander too far from the theater.
If there is a reason for the audience to stand and render a salute (flags posted, presented or retrieved), stand and render the proper salute. We will not be wearing hats, so the civilian salute (hand over heart) is appropriate.
At the conclusion of the contest, there will be a period while scores are tabulated. Band representatives will be called to the stage for the presentation of awards. Again, be courteous regardless of the results.
When the awards are complete, the band will gather, collect any instruments and equipment and report to the bus. Be sure you are in the theater for the awards ceremony. Once complete, the band will move to the bus to depart for the hotel. Don’t make the band wait on you.
Upon arrival at the hotel, any instruments and equipment going on the van must be taken to the van within one hour of hotel arrival for loading. The van leaves early Sunday morning.