Bandtober Has Arrived.

Oct 7, 2018
5 min read

First of all, sorry for the major delay... my job keeps me busy and so does my husbands!

Second.. October isn't just about changing leaves, pumpkin spice and sweater weather.. If you are a band director, band parent, band director spouse, or band student you know what that word means. Bandtober is a word that symbolizes the month of October, and in the month of October is when most marching bands travel and compete every weekend. If you haven't been to a marching competition, you have not experienced what "Bandtober" really is!

Now, for me, Bandtober means Friday nights and Saturdays are all about band, which I have absolutely no problem with! We all know I live for it! This month can make or break a marching band, it can bring a lot of sweat, tears, and cheers of accomplishment. I have experienced it firsthand every year since we joined the Bridge City clan in 2016. There have been really good years and really tough ones.

My first year experience of Bandtober and the competitions every weekend was in 2016 when it was a state year for Bridge City. The show was called Dichotomy & it was one of my favorites (probably my only since it was the first year to be apart of something like this!) But nonetheless, it was a beautiful show and it was a really good one. Bridge City goes through the state year every other year, and we happened to join this crew on a state year. If you aren't familiar with a state year, it's where the band has the opportunity to advance to the State Marching Contest in San Antonio, TX at the Alamodome. It's a big deal! We were in Nacogdoches, TX at SFA, and we had made it to the finals, the kids had an extremely good run of both performances of the show. The kids were extremely proud of their performances as well as the band directors and it was time to find out the results. We did not make it to state by just a few points and when they found it out, you could feel the disappointment. When Connor and I got in the box truck to drive back to Bridge City, we saw the kids coming back to the buses slowly.. I had to get out and just give as many hugs as I could as well as cry with them, it was so heartbreaking! But, they knew in their hearts they had given their all and that they did their best. That was a tough but rewarding year regardless of the outcome, but they got through it and knew to work even harder for the next time they went to state.

The next year, 2017, was really tough but they did so well! It may not have been a state year, but they still worked just as hard on their show, which was "Pure Imagination". 2017 was not easy for anyone, if you don't know why I have two words for you: Hurricane Harvey. It destroyed so much, but it didn't destroy the hearts and drive within this band program. Even though it was a BOA year (Band of America), they still put in the effort to make the show look amazing! Even though they didn't get to compete the show until the end of October due to the conditions Harvey left behind, they still worked really hard as a group and were rewarded greatly for it! They ended up getting straight one's.

Here we are in 2018, a state year once again! The show this year: Outside the Bachs.

This band has had some tough times with rehearsing the last three weeks. With them not having a paved practice lot, or a football field with turf, they have had some trying rehearsals. (Thanks to the unnecessary amount of rain being dumped on the area) But, that didn't keep them from practicing together, and thanks to some very generous bands in the area for letting them practice on their fields, they were able to get some good rehearsals in before competing. Not only did they get in some good rehearsal time, but... THEIR NEW UNIFORMS CAME IN! I feel as if I am more excited than most people about new band uniforms, but I can already feel the adrenaline rush the kids are going to get when they debut them this coming week! Number one, it's Homecoming week -- that is the PERFECT time to debut brand new uniforms! Number two, they have worked really hard on their show, it's going to be so cool seeing them march in brand new uniforms. It will be a truly amazing and rewarding moment for sure. I certainly CANNOT WAIT to see this performance and see the looks on peoples faces when they march out!

Here are some pictures from marching season so far.. and some from their rehearsals.. no competition pictures yet, those will come forth very soon!

The hubs doing his thing before halftime!

Drumlime doing a stand tune at the WO-S vs BC game

Practicing before halftime at the Jasper vs BC game!

Me and my best buddy Trent (he's student teaching at BC this semester!)

Rehearsing at East Chambers High School's stadium 10.6.18

The seniors playing during third quarter at the first home game against Anahuac!

Me and the Hubs at the BC vs Silsbee game, we had a late start because of, you guessed it, rain!

It's definitely been a busy year for this band, but I feel like it will be a good one! They have been working hard since before school started on this show and I have seen it is definitely paying off! As "Momma B-Ross" I am extremely proud of them so far, they are doing an amazing job regardless of the trials they have been presented with so far!

Bandtober has only just begun, things are just now really starting to get chaotic and the husband is TIRED already, but that's a good thing when you're working tirelessly to get the band in the best shape for their first competition!

And...

I am praying for all the band directors and techs who are working so so hard to get their shows to perfection for marching competitions, they are the real MVPs during these times, and they deserve all the recognition, ibuprofen and sleep after it is all over! If you know one, pray for them and thank them for their hard work and dedication to these kids!

& in conclusion... I LOVE BANDTOBER! I can't wait to see what it brings to the Bridge City High School Marching Band and their directors! Stay tuned for an update of the new uniforms and the Battle of the Bridges competition next Saturday!

Until next time,