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2010-2011 Byrnes Colorguard Program
2011 Byrnes Colorguard * 2012 Byrnes “Indigo” Winter Guard
2012 Byrnes “JV” Winter Guard * 2012 Byrnes Spin Club
Thank you for your interest in the Byrnes Colorguard Program. Our Colorguard is made up of some of the finest students at Byrnes and represents our school, district, and community throughout South Carolina and across the country. The Byrnes Colorguard is made up of 50 students, grades 8-12, who perform alongside our percussionists and wind players as part of the James F. Byrnes Rebel Regiment Marching Band. The James F. Byrnes Rebel Regiment Marching Band is a ten time SC State Marching Band Champion and a fourteen time SC Upper-State Marching Band Champion. The Band has marched in three Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades, the 2000 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, and has performed on Pearl Harbor Day in Hawaii. The Band was also a Bands of America Regional Champion in 1999 and is a three time Semi-Finalist at the Bands of America Grand National Championships. This year, the marching band will be performing at all home football games as well as local marching band contests, culminating in the SC AAAAA State Marching Competition.
The Byrnes Winter Guards are part of the District Five Winter Guard Program which consists of the Byrnes Varsity “Indigo” Winter Guard, Byrnes “JV” Winter Guard, and Byrnes Spin Club. All three Guards are members of the Carolina Indoor Performance Association (CIPA) and perform and compete with groups from South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. The Byrnes Varsity “Indigo” Winter Guard, is made up mostly of upperclassmen and those with a great deal of Colorguard and Winter Guard experience. “Indigo” has been named the 2008 and 2009 CIPA National A Class Circuit Champions, was the 2009 WGI Atlanta Power Regional Scholastic A Champions, and was a finalist at the 2009 WGI World Championships, placing 5th in the Scholastic A Class. In 2010 and 2011, Indigo was named CIPA Scholastic Open Class Circuit Champions and was a Scholastic Open finalist at the WGI World Championships. The Byrnes “JV” Winter Guard is made up mostly of 9th and 10th graders and is for members who would like to one day be on “Indigo.” The “JV” Guard was promoted up two classes during the 2006 season and was named the 2006 CIPA “A” Intermediate Circuit Champions. The Guard has experienced similar success in the past three seasons while competing against everyone else’s varsity Winter Guards. Over the past three years the guard has medaled at CIPA Circuit Championships three times, including the 2011 Scholastic A CIPA Circuit Championship, and was named both a WGI Regional Finalist and a WGI Power Regional Finalist. Three years ago we added a third Winter Guard at Byrnes, the Byrnes Spin Club, which is open to all Byrnes, Florence Chapel, and D.R. Hill students. The Guard was the 2009 CIPA Circuit Championships Novice Class Bronze Medalist and after being promoted during the season was named the 2010 CIPA Circuit Championships High School A Intermediate class Bronze Medalist.
Membership in these ensembles is a year-long commitment. Only in rare cases will members be able to either just do marching band or just do Winter Guard. The success of our program is built on year-round involvement and training. For many students, one season is not long enough to even decide if they like Colorguard. The skills that we work on in marching band are the same skills that insure our success in the winter and vice versa. Prospective members should check to make sure that they are willing to commit to these ensembles through April before auditioning for a spot.
Auditions
Auditions will be held each day over the week of May 2rd through 5th, Monday through Friday, 4:00PM to 6:30PM. These rehearsals will give the students the opportunity to experience all that we do, from stretch block and dance class to equipment basics and routine. This is as much an opportunity for the students to audition the ensembles as the ensembles to audition the students. Colorguard is not for everyone. We work hard and work often. It is this commitment to training and rehearsal that our success is built upon. We would certainly rather a student learn that he or she wants to try other things during auditions rather than during the season. This is why we structure our audition process to closely mimic our rehearsal schedule. Please take these audition clinics as opportunities to test out Colorguard and make sure this is the activity for you.
Once the audition process is completed on Friday, we will post the results by summer classes. All those that make the Guard will perform with the marching band and compete with our Winter Guards, but we will split the Guard up into Advanced and Beginning classes so as to provide a more skill-based training regimen in the summer and to provide more individual instruction.
Summer Rehearsals
The Byrnes Colorguard has a long history of using the summer as an opportunity to get ahead in preparation for the fall and winter seasons. When rising 9th graders join the marching band, they have already been playing their instruments for four years; at most, Guard members have been marching for two. The summer is when we make up this difference. Summer Camps are for two weeks, Monday through Wednesday, 9AM to 4 PM. These camps alternate from Advanced to Beginning, though members are welcome to attend both if they desire. We certainly understand that there are many other commitments over the summer months, from family trips to summer camps. The time that members miss can easily be made up by attending the other class’s camp, and this will also let our members get to know one another, beginning to advanced and advanced to beginning. During the summer, each member’s health is very important. We will be doing quite a bit of physical training and spending time outside. Instructors and staff will be mindful of hazardous weather, but each member must take care of their bodies – eating well, sleeping, using sunscreen, and drinking a lot of fluids. Summer rehearsals and band camp are not helpful if half of the group is sitting on the sideline dehydrated!
Band Camp
Band Camp is a crucial time in the development of our members and our fall production. These high-intensity rehearsals give us the training time we need to insure all of our members’ success in the fall show and the time to teach the work and drill before school starts. Attendance is mandatory at these rehearsals per marching band rules. Performance spots can not be guaranteed for those members that do not attend these camps.
Marching Band Season
The marching band season consists of after-school rehearsals, football games, Saturday rehearsals, and Saturday contests. After-school rehearsals are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 3:45-6:00. Attached, you will find the fall marching band schedule which has all of the Saturday commitments. Attendance is the single greatest factor contributing to the success of our members and our ensemble as a whole. The Byrnes Colorguard is a team and every time someone is absent from a rehearsal or especially a performance, the team as a whole suffers. The Attendance policy will be discussed later.
Winter Guard Season
The Winter Guard season overlaps slightly with the marching band season, as we begin working on the show in late October/early November. The season lasts until early April, and consists of two after-school rehearsals, some Saturday rehearsals, and Saturday contests. “Indigo” rehearses Mondays and Thursdays, 4pm-7pm; “JV” Guard rehearses Tuesdays and Fridays, 4pm-7pm; and Byrnes Spin Club rehearses on Wednesdays from 4-7 and some Fridays. “Indigo” may also rehearse some Friday nights, 6pm-8pm before major competitions. Saturday rehearsals are called as needed in order to prepare for a competition. Last year, “Indigo” participated in 3-4 local competitions, 2 WGI Regionals and WGI World Championships, while “JV” Guard participated in 3-4 local competitions and 2 WGI Regionals. The Spin Club attended the local circuit shows. Attendance is crucial to the success of these teams. We work every week to perfect each movement so the members are all moving and performing as a unit. The three Winter Guards are all teams and every time someone is absent from a rehearsal or especially a performance, the team as a whole suffers. More information about Winter Guard will be available once the season draws closer.
Attendance Policy
Attendance at all scheduled and announced rehearsals and performances is absolutely, strictly MANDATORY. Appointments, homework, and jobs are NOT acceptable excuses for missing rehearsals or performances. If there are any questions about a need to be absent, please refer to the District Five Attendance policy. If a member simply does not “feel well”, we encourage them to attend rehearsal and watch. Often, they feel better after some time and can accomplish something. Directors and staff must be notified of any necessary absences at least a WEEK ahead of time IN WRITING. Any emergency absences must be followed up with a doctor’s note or other form of documentation. In Winter Guard, any absence from rehearsal may result in being “written out” of a certain section – if you are not there, we will not write for your spot. You may catch up, but that is never a guarantee.
Equipment and Supplies
The Rebel Band Booster Club supplies flags, flag poles, tips, weights, tape, and sabres. Each member is REQUIRED to purchase a rifle (if he/she does not already own one) from Fred J Miller. The cost of the rifle is approximately $40 (not including shipping). Members must have their rifle in hand, taped, and ready to rehearse by their first summer camp (see attached schedule). Members that spin sabre will be assigned a sabre for the fall and/or winter. Each season a member is assigned a sabre, he/she will be charged a $25 rental fee. This fee helps us to maintain the sabres (clean, tighten, etc) and allows us to replace broken sabres. It is often a good idea for members to have a roll of white electrical tape and a roll of black electrical tape for their own personal use. Members are also REQUIRED to purchase a flag bag for $18. This bag keeps their equipment and other items organized and protected. Flag bags are each member’s personal responsibility. Staff, directors and other instructors are NOT responsible for ANY equipment.
Here is the information needed for ordering a rifle and flag bag:
Fred J. Miller
http://www.fjminc.com
1-800-444-FLAG
36” Elite 3 Rifle
Black Bolt
Black, wide, heavy leather strap with swivels
Constructed (as opposed to unconstructed)
6’ Black Flag Bag
Fees
In order to accomplish all of the goals we have discussed this far, takes a huge financial backing. The Rebel Band Booster Club is a tremendous asset for the Colorguard and band programs, providing an amazing amount of support for the staff and students to progress and achieve. As the Colorguard program grows to a national level of competition, we have to supplement the Booster Club more and more.
Also, many items are required for Guard members to perform and practice at an appropriate level. We also have some items that are not required, but strongly encouraged to purchase. Many of the performance-related and/or required items are a one-time-only purchase, others are once a season.
Particularly with membership fees, we do all we can to help families make those payments happen and to keep the fees as low as we possibly can. Payment plans are available through the Booster Club Treasurer. Fundraising is a huge commitment for Guard members as well. Often, we will fundraise to purchase large items we need (two years ago, we raised money for flag poles and other equipment needs). We also fundraise to offset Winter Guard dues. As much as attendance is vital to the success of the Colorguard and Winter Guards, paying dues and other fees insure that our program will survive to another year. The three Winter Guards in the district are funded completely out of pocket, out of member dues, and fundraising activities. Failure to completely pay dues, particularly if it becomes habitual, puts each member at risk of not having a future program to participate in!
Every year we also ask all Colorguard families to join the Rebel Band Booster Club. Since the Booster Club is our sole source of outside funding, it is imperative that Colorguard and Winter Guard parents join and actively participate in this valuable organization. This membership will enable Guard parents to take part in the process that is fundraising for our activities and have more of a say in the direction and support the program strives for and needs.
Listed below are fee requirements as well as the items that are required or encouraged for participation in the RRCG and Winter Guards. The first category, yearly fees, includes dues for the marching band, Booster Club, and Winter Guards. The next group: one-time, seasonal, and optional fees, includes all of the fees that may or may not come up during the year. Many, if not most, students already have flag bags, rifles, gloves, rehearsal uniforms, tights, shoes, duffel bags, and rehearsal blacks. Students only need to get the things that they do not already have. If students are chosen to spin sabre, the rental fee is also listed and is collected by season (fall and winter).
With the budget being as tight as it is, it is imperative that all student’s fees are paid. Any student who has not paid fees or has not arranged for payment risks not being allowed to perform or expulsion from their ensemble.
Also note, once a student has been assigned to a Guard and their uniform or flags are purchased, they are responsible for their fees whether they march or not. If a student quits in the middle of the year without paying their fees, they will be turned in at the end of the school year to their school administration.
2011-2012 FEES
Yearly fees
Rebel Regiment Membership $240 (RR - $225: CG section shirt - $15)
Rebel Band Booster Club Membership $20(family)
Winter Guard Dues $250 Spin Club
$350 JV Winter Guard
$450 Indigo Winter Guard
One-time, Seasonal, and Optional Fees
Member Jacket $40 (buy from us)
Member Pants $24 (buy from us)
Sabre Rental $25/season
Rifle $35 (buy from Fred J Miller)
Flag Bag $22 (buy from us)
Gloves $12/pair (we recommend two pair, buy from us)
Rehearsal uniform $20 (buy from us)
Body Tights $20 (tights are REQUIRED)
Shoes $40 (buy from us, pay at registration
Makeup $20/show (many members pool together and share)
Hair supplies varies (gel, hair spray, etc)
Black rehearsal clothes varies (for Winter Guard)
Duffel Bag $30 (buy from us)
Winter Guard Show Shirt $15 (if you don't march in the fall)
Items in italics are required to purchase (if you haven’t purchased before)
Making Payments
All dues and items purchased through the Booster Club can be paid for with checks made out to the RBBC (Rebel Band Booster Club) and placed in the safe in the band room. All of these payments are taken care of by the Booster Club Treasurer and any questions can be directed to him. To ensure a performance spot and our uniforms and flags getting here in a timely fashion, we ask that everyone have half of required dues paid by December 19th with the rest being due by January 16th. Again, we cannot be successful at our first performances without uniforms and flags and we cannot purchase these items until we have collected everyone’s dues.
Fundraising
Unfortunately, the budget provided by the Booster Club and the member’s dues do not fully cover the various expenses the Guards encounter over the year. To make up this difference, all members and their parents are expected to participate in our fundraisers. This year we are planning a few fundraisers including but not limited to: Meet the District Five Winter Guards Night (we will need people to sell and take up tickets as well as people to work concessions); the 2010 Byrnes Winter Guard Dinner and Auction (we need the students to help serve food and the all member and parents to provide items to auction off); and the 2010 CIPA Show at Byrnes (we need volunteers to run the show and concessions). There may also be opportunities for members to fundraise to help offset their membership dues.
Final Thoughts
Please… if you ever have any questions, let us know. The entire guard staff wants everyone that is part of our team to be as informed and involved as they want to be. We love to hear your questions and concerns and will probably also take the opportunity to tell you how wonderful your student is. We are available before and after rehearsals and by e-mail and phone.
Chris Moss
Chris.Moss@spart5.net
Band Room: 949-1554
Cell: 216-3228
