Disclaimer:  this is generally what to expect. There may be deviations from this information 
in specific situations. Always watch the BAND app for the most up-to-date information.  
Also, ask your child – they might have received an update verbally from their directors, 
drum majors or LTs. 

 

When should my child arrive? 
• On game days, High School students stay after school. 
• Middle School students can stay after school and come to the High School as they normally do on practice days, or they can go home and come back.
• Everyone must be dressed and ready in the band room at 5:30 pm. 

 

How will my child get dinner? 
• There is always a meal served. The meal can be preordered on the BAND app 
each week. It will be a different meal each week (Chick-fil-A, Jersey Mike’s, 
etc). If it is not preordered on the BAND app, we will not have a meal for your 
child. Keep an eye on the BAND app for a post about the meal and order 
before 9 pm on Tuesday the week of the game.  
• Please make sure the student orders under THEIR BAND app profile and that 
their BAND app profile has their first AND last name so that meal orders can 
be verified when they come to pick them up. 
• The meal is paid for with $10 cash or card (cash preferred) at the time they 
pick it up. It is served in the hallway outside the band room 4:45-5:30 on 
game days. If you choose not to order the meal you can pack a dinner or 
bring something to your child.  

 

What uniform parts does my child need to bring and where will they put them? 
• When we are wearing full uniforms your child will bring the entire uniform 
(pants, crop top, jacket, gauntlets) inside the garment bag, including their 
long black socks and gloves, and their marching band shoes.  
• There will be racks for them to hang them near the band room in the morning 
when they arrive to school. For NWMS students, there will be a rack in Ms. Elliott’s room to put your uniform bags in the morning and they will be 
brought to the High School.   
• Long hair will be pulled up into a bun hear the top of the head (will end up 
inside the hat), so bring what they need to secure their hair. 
• They will put hats on just before walking down to the field. 
• After the meal your child will dress in their uniform and be ready to play in the 
band room at 5:30 pm.  

​

*NOTE:* When we are not wearing full uniforms your child will wear the black 
show t-shirt, black show shorts that you ordered on BSN at the beginning of 
the season, black socks and black marching shoes. Hair pulled back from 
the face. When we are not in full uniform they will not wear their hats. 

 

GUARD: Keep an eye on the Color Guard BAND page for instructions 
regarding uniform, hair and make-up for each performance.  

 

o When the band is in full uniform guard will also be in full uniform. This 
includes body tight, uniform, and jazz shoes. Hair and make-up per 
guard coach/LT.   
o Make sure to bring everything they need for hair and makeup to 
school.  
o They will change into uniforms and do hair/make-up in the choir room 
while the band is warming up at 5:30.  
o When it is cold they may want their wind suits to layer up in the 
stands.    
o NOTE: When the band is in the show shirt/black shorts, guard will 
most likely also be in show shirt/black shorts. They will need nude no-
reveal socks under their jazz shoes.  

 

What is the exact timeline of what they will be doing on a game day? 
• 4:45pm – 5:30pm they will eat dinner and change into their uniforms 
• 5:30pm they will warm up in the band room fully dressed 
• At approximately 6:15-6:30 they will assemble at the front of the school to 
march down to the football field.  
• Once they enter the stadium they will march onto the field and perform their 
“pregame” which consists of the National Anthem and the school’s fight 
song. This usually occurs about 15 minutes before the posted start time for 
the game (ie 6:45 for a 7:00 pm game).  
• After this they will enter the stands and play stand tunes. 
• Part of the way through 2nd quarter they leave the stands to warm up for their 
show.  
• The show is usually performed at halftime, but is occasionally performed 
after the game (such as with Homecoming or Senior Night).   
• They have the 3rd quarter off to get concessions.

- Concessions can be purchased at the concession stand with cash or card.

• At that point they go back to the band room to store their instruments and 
collect their belongings.  Most are picked up from the front of the New Gym 
(just like band camp) 

card.  
• After 3rd quarter they return to the stands and perform stand tunes until the 
end of the game.  
• After the game, they reassemble on the track and march back to the front of 
the school. They will be dismissed from there.  

 

Where do I sit?  
• Traditionally the band family sits in the section of the stands that is the 
closest to the field house on the home side, and the band sits in the next 
section over. You can obviously sit wherever you want, but you’ll find a lot of 
us there.  
• Band family often wears the show shirt to the games if they have it, but of 
course that isn’t required.  

 

How do I get tickets for the football game? 
• To purchase tickets for games you can either pay at the gate (cash or card) or 
you can purchase your tickets online in advance and they scan your phone at 
the gate.  
• https://gofan.co/app/school/NC1733 is the website to purchase tickets. 
• A ticket purchased online is $11, or you can buy a season pass to all the 
games for $49.25. If you purchase online make sure you are purchasing for 
Varsity football, not JV.  

 

Where do I park for football games? 
• You can park anywhere that is not past the entrance to the Middle School car rider line (that will be blocked off).  
• If you park at the front of the school you will walk with the building on your 
right towards the stadium and enter through the gate closest to the school 
building.  
• If you park in the student parking lots you will enter through the gate on that 
side at the end of the stadium along the path going to the parking lot. 

 

Do I need to bring a clear bag? 
• GCS has a clear bag policy - you will not be allowed to enter with purses, 
backpacks, etc that are not made of clear material.  

 

This must take a ton of coordination, how can I volunteer to help with the band? 
• To volunteer for the band for a football game you will sign up on the 
SignUpGenius posted to the BAND app.  
• You can also find this on the band webpage by going to 
www.nwvikingband.org/volunteers and clicking on the “Volunteer” button, 
then the “Volunteer Opportunities” button. 
• There are many different jobs described below. Most of these (unless noted) 
meet up at the uniform room next to the band room at 6:00.  
• You will get a volunteer pass on a lanyard that gets you into the game for free. 
Please be sure to return the pass at the end of the game.  
• If you have questions about the volunteer jobs, the NWBB board has a 
volunteer coordinator who can help so be sure to reach out. 

​

What are the volunteer jobs? 

• Meals Before Game - set up, serve and then clean up meals ordered by the 
students prior to the football game.  Meal usually served 4:45-5:30. 

 

• Blockers - needed after pre-game, before/after halftime, and at the end of the 
game. You will block a path to the stands for the band as they exit the field and enter 
the stands.  You will keep the path and their section of the stands clear while they 
are moving to/from the stands.  At the end of the game you will block a path for the 
band to exit the stands. Come by the uniform room to pick up your blocking sticks 
by 6:15 pm.  

 

• Cover Bleachers- block off band section of the bleachers (the second to last 
section closest to the field house) by placing the bleacher blankets on the seats and 
roping off the sides with the barricade tape.  When the band has left the bleachers 
for the night roll up tape & fold up blankets and return them to the uniform 
room. Come by the uniform room to get the bleacher blankets and caution tape 
before the game.  

 

• Medical - 2 people - 1 goes with guard for practice & 1 walks down with the 
band.  Get the medical bag from the uniform closet and be available for medical 
emergencies.  Most emergencies consist of ice, Tylenol & Band-Aids. Occasionally 
students may need assistance with their inhalers etc. If anything is used please let 
Amy or Kara know to replace needed items.   

 

• Walkers - needed before & after football game. You will walk with the band to & 
from front of the HS to the football field.  There will be multiple walkers (people) 
used to block & stop traffic in the parking lots to keep our band members safe & 
ready to perform. You will be given a light up stick to assist when the sun goes down 
& visibility is low - meet at the uniform room to get this by 6:15 pm. 

 

• Water – Pick up the water cart from the uniform room. Get the cart with full water 
jugs, cups & cup trays down to the bleachers prior to the game.  Responsible for 
filling up cups of water on the trays & handing them to the band members when they 
come off the field & are walking up the bleachers. Then refilling those who need 
more water. 

• Pit/Prop Crew - constructing the props before halftime, transporting props, 
percussion equipment, and drum major stands to the field for performance, 
removing them from the field after the performance, and deconstructing 
props.  Meet at props shed, does not have a volunteer lanyard.  

 

• Hat Wrappers/Plumers - wrap the hats and insert the plumes into the marching 
hats before the marchers put them on.  This happens in the band hallway while the 
band is warming up, please arrive by 5:30 pm.