Plano Drumline Competition (PdlC)
Clark Stadium, Plano, TX
PLEASE READ ALL

Welcome!

Thank you for your participation in the PdlC. Your entry to the PdlC has been received. Detailed information, including current participant listing in the PdlC may be found here.

Among the information presented on the website is a drumline performance script template for you to download and use. The script template is in both Excel (spreadsheet) and PDF. If you prefer to have your script in another format, please feel free to do so. Our script template isn't required, we only offer it as a service to you.

The spreadsheet version is fully functional with fields and formulas set to help expedite script preparation; both for you and us. In working in Excel, please fill out all of the yellow highlighted areas. The end result will be the script in prose our PA person will read before your performance.

We ask that you email it back to: michael.hernandez@pisd.edu so that we can organize and prepare for your performance at the PdlC.

The pdf version is not functional and will need to be printed and either faxed or mailed back to us. The PSHS fax number is: 469.752.9301

We respectfully ask you email a script (our template or otherwise) back prior to the PdlC, however, you may wait to get a hard copy to us the day of the PdlC when you check in.

Each classification, A Standstill Div I & II, AA Standstill Div I & II, AAA Standstill, & Drumline Show, will award placement trophies. Each classification will award outstanding awards (snare, tenor, bass, cymbals, front ensemble) specific to that category.

In addition, we are continuing our Solo and Ensemble Competition. We hope your students get a chance to experience this unique opportunity.

The scheduling of performances will/was done through a "randomizer" website process. Only returning champions entered in their previous year classification will be guaranteed a performance time, that of performing last.

Solo competitors will be scheduled no closer than 1 hour to their drumline performance (if applicable) or no earlier than 30 minutes after their drumline performance. (if applicable) Selection, with aforementioned considerations, will also be randomly drawn.

Schedules will be finalized after the entry deadline and posted on the Plano Percussion website.

PdlC "Day of" Procedures

To help better plan for your day with us at the PdlC, please review the following information. Please read completely and carefully.

1. Participant Check-In (Drumline Instructor / Solo Performer)
The first order of business upon arrival at Clark Stadium is to visit our Participant Check-In Window located in the ticket booth next to the main entrance into the stadium. The drumline instructor/solo performer checks in, letting the PdlC know they are on the premises, ready to start their day with us. At this point, please turn in your drumline performance script if not done so already. In return, we will give you a manila envelope with your school's name on it. In the envelope you will find passes or wrist bands in the amount of that requested on the registration form. Please give these to your students, staff, and helpers (6). This will allow entry into the PdlC without having to pay the admission charge.

As most times it is common practice to let the students use the facilities before unloading, please distribute their passes for easy, unquestioned entry, avoiding confusion. Please instruct your students to show their wristbands at the gate. Entry will not be allowed without them. Thank you for your help with this.

Each group receives the maximum of 6 helper passes/wristbands. This does not mean that only 6 helpers can help with set up on the field. You can have as many helpers as you wish, however, only 6 of them are going to be allowed back in without charge. The others will need to pay admission if they wish to return to the PldC. Please convey this to your parent support group as there generally tends to be confusion among the helping parents wishing to re-enter Clark Stadium.

2. THE LOT EXPERIENCE
Our hope is that the PdlC serves as a great day of music, spirit, community, and camaraderie. Therefore, unlike the band contest side of things, we do not put warm-up time parameters on you. You know your group best and whatever you need to happen that day to allow them the highest odds of success is what should happen. Some groups make a day of it with support vehicles, grills, etc. The Clark Stadium lot is big and the excitement and energy in the air is unique to our event. We do ask the following to allow maximum enjoyment by all involved:

A. Warm Up Area
Please limit your warm-up zone to only your bus, truck, and one support vehicle. Please ask your traveling parent/community group to park away from the warm up areas to allow others ample space for their use. Claim your space, but please be considerate and respectful of others. Claiming of parking lot space for drumline warmup use will only occur when the drumline is on the premises. Please instruct your support community they are not allowed to claim any area of the lot without the drumline and drumline instructor on hand. Only drumline instructors or band directors, with their group in the Clark Stadium parking lot, are allowed to claim any warm-up space. Citing that the students are "down the street" or "on their way" will not suffice. The PdlC reserves the right to reclaim and redistribute any area reserved but unused or unoccupied by the performing drumline for which it is claimed. With everyone doing their part, we can avoid having to assign warm up areas and times, thus diminishing the camaraderie, spirit, and energy our activity offers. Thank you very much for your help with this aspect.

B. Warm Up Time
Use your lot time wisely as we do not send a runner to move you from spot A to spot B. Manage your lot time and travel time so you perform at your scheduled time. We will let you know if the PdlC is running late, however, we pride ourselves on not letting that happen. To that end, we will assess penalty points for controlled instances of overtime. This is code for: "You didn't manage your time correctly and now our schedule is going to run late, affecting everyone after you." With your help, we can continue functioning without warm up time parameters, so let's work together on this.

C. Instrument Maintenance/Repair
Lonestar Percussion will have a booth at the PdlC. As a service to our groups, they are bringing emergency parts and spare heads, etc. should a need arise.

3. DRUMLINE STAGING
All performing groups are channeled through the home side "tunnel" onto the field. The magic term is "stay to your right."

When leading your group into performance, a gate keeper will help with crowd control and pathway. They will remind you to stay to your right as the exiting group is doing likewise, creating a flow of two way traffic.

Your group will be escorted along the home side wall up to a landmark we refer to as the "water spigot." This will allow your group to stage themselves close to the performance area without interfering with the "about-to-perform" group. The Drumline Staging Event Staff will help guide your group, minimizing the distance for set up.

Once the group before you finishes, we send you out right away. The exiting group leaves on the turf, while the entering group moves on the black top; again, two way traffic.

When given the cue to begin set up, your time does not officially start until the PA starts to read your script. THIS IS IMPORTANT, YOUR OFFICIAL TIME BEGINS WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR SCRIPT START. Until then, the time you spend setting up, warming up, etc. does not affect your time allotment until the PA begins your script.

What this means is that if the group before you only uses 9 of their allotted 12 minutes, then those extra 3 minutes are yours to use for your set up. We're not interested in seeing a NASCAR pit stop kind of set up. We want to see your students feeling good about themselves and having fun while performing. Again, your 12 minutes begin when the PA starts reading your script.

The process is repeated with the following group who is waiting relatively close at the water spigot! When exiting, post-performance, leave on the green turf. "Stay to your right!"

4. PERFORMANCE
Groups may enter the field as they see fit. Some drumlines march their battery from the endzone, others to a cadence, etc. Your choice, no problem. We will have three judges stationed at three distinct vantage points; field, mid stands, upper stands.

Judges' audio comments (digital), written sheets, and a single camera angle video capture of your group's performance will be provided to each school via a specific website dedicated to each performing group. Upload of each groups materials will be made as soon as they become available from the judges. In most cases, all materials will be available for download or perusal via computer, smart phone, etc. within an hour of your performance.

The judges are informed that the order of performance is based on a draw and does not reflect any opinions and weighing of by the PdlC. Returning champions of each classification perform last. This they also know, if applicable.

5. POST-PERFORMANCE - CLEAR YOUR WARM-UP AREA!
Once back in the lot, we ask that you pack up your equipment, pick up any trash, and move your bus, truck and support vehicle to the visitor's side parking lot to create room for other groups yet to show up and do their thing. Thank you for your help with this. Your students' wristbands will allow them entry back into the PdlC. Please share with your students the importance of good sportsmanship and quality citizenship. The amount of time we put in to our art form is supposed to bring respect and acknowledgement. As we teach our students, "Have fun, but don't find your worth at the expense of others." Simply put: KEEP IT CLASSY, PdlC.

7. INSTRUCTOR HOSPITALITY
Our Plano Percussion Parent Army is excited to welcome our drumline staff members and invite you to our hospitality area in the press box. We will have an attendant at the elevator leading to the press box. Simply let them know you're a drumline staff member and they'll send you up to the 2nd floor. Please help yourself to a wide assortment of food and drink, snacks and treats. Feel free to sit in the air conditioned areas, overlooking the performance venue. The windows are big and clean, so cheer on the beats to be the same!

8. AWARD CEREMONY
For the Award's Ceremony, we ask that a representative(s) from each performing group converge in the tunnel as the last group, prior to the awards ceremony, is performing. Each representative will parade in and get acknowledged by the PdlC and its audience.

Judges' Comments, audio and written, performance video, and recaps will be available on each group's dedicated website within 1 hour of performance, pending adequate WI-FI service. You know how that goes sometimes.

The award ceremony will announce results from all categories, including captions. Groups are invited to stay with us the whole day, however, we understand if you opt to leave. We wish you a safe journey back home.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

We are scrupulous about the details that go into a professional event and focused on offering you and your students the best possible experience.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact: Michael A. Hernandez, 972.345.0598 michael.hernandez@pisd.edu Thank you.

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