Odem Bands Schedule – Week of 10/18/2021
First, I would like to offer congratulations to our students for earning the 16th Consecutive Superior Rating for Odem HS at UIL Region Marching Contest! This weekend they have advanced to the UIL Area Marching Contest for their 9th Consecutive time!!! As of this email I am still waiting an official schedule from UIL, but am making a pretty educated guess on the times below. Please note these times are tentative and until we receive the official UIL schedule it is just a close guess.
This week students will have their chance to advance to the UIL State Marching Contest. They must be in the top twelve bands to advance to the Area Finals, which will be held in the evening. That contest will then lead to the top 6 bands advancing to the UIL State Marching Contest. We ask that you help ensure students are at rehearsals throughout this week, and on time! Every rehearsal this week is going to matter for us as we prepare for Saturday.
This Saturday, admission to the UIL Area Contest will be $5 per person, with Children 5 and Under admitted Free. Finals will begin in the evening about an hour and a half after the announcement of bands that advance. I anticipate Announcements of advancing bands to State will take place around 11pm with a full band retreat taking place for those finalists.
Our trip payments/deposits need to be coming in at this time. As of this time I believe we have enough students to make the trip happen, but are at the point where more students attending will help the overall price for everyone. If you have been on the fence on whether or not to send a deposit in I hope you will! Our band trips have consistently been one of the most amazing experiences for our students over the years! We can take those payments in the band hall, but we do need ALL parents, even if you are paying us via check to Owl Band Boosters, to go to this website: https://www.toursandtravelpaytrip.com/Reservation/TripReservation/247 and create a ‘New Reservation’ if you have not already done so. You may make one reservation for multiple kids, or chaperone/kid, there. The Tour Company wants to track forms and other payment information there. You may make online payments directly to them for a surcharge, or even mail payments directly to them (they do not charge a fee there). This week will be a busy week around the Band Hall, but we’ll try and provide more information soon on Trip Insurance. We have one company we’ve identified that seems good, but I want to shop around for prices a bit more before we settle on it. In the case of the company we are looking at the insurance needs to be purchased at least 60 days out from the trip, so we have some time there.
Please be on the look out for additional information about the Area Marching Contest as the week progresses here.
UIL Area Marching Contest
At the contest we need at least the number of parent/student helpers we had this past weekend. Realistically we could use a few more to help with taking equipment onto the field and off. We also need some help with getting tarps laid out so students can quickly find theirs and line up in the end zone before we perform. If you can help Friday night we can use that as an evening to show everyone what to do.
For Spectators, Admission is $5/Person (Children Under 5 are Free). We recommend spectators arrive early to the stadium to find seats as no entrance is allowed to the stands while bands are performing. We hope that you will help us turn the stands ‘blue and gold’ on this day and help cheer on and support our students. Applause helps the students to perform so much better! Please make noise and support the students at the end of each movement. We’ve had some misconceptions in the past that you can’t – please do cheer appropriately! Cheering after solos is also considered appropriate! Please note that umbrellas must be closed in the stands during performances, and noisemakers such as air horns, cowbells, etc. are prohibited by UIL. Balloons are also not allowed at UIL events.
For students this is a mandatory graded event! Students must stay throughout the ENTIRE event!
(PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE ESTIMATED TIMES BELOW, A FULL OFFICIAL SCHEDULE WILL BE RELEASED ONCE UIL PROVIDES THAT!)
9:30am Warm-up/Walkthrough
10:30am Load Truck/Trailer
11:00am Lunch
11:45am Bibbers/Uniform Check
12:45pm Board Buses/Depart
2:00pm Arrive at Stadium
3:00pm Warm-Up Begins
3:30pm Leave Warm-Up Area
3:40pm Enter Field
3:45pm Perform
5:30pm Announcement of Advancing Groups to Finals
~10:45pm – Full Band Finals Retreat/Announcement of Bands Advancing to State
This Week’s Schedule:
| Day: | Event: | Time: |
| Monday: | Evening Marching Rehearsal | 6:30pm-8:30pm |
| Tuesday: | Band Hall Open for Sectionals | 3:30pm-4:30pm |
| Wednesday: | After School Marching Rehearsal | 4:00pm-6:00pm |
| Thursday: | Evening Marching Rehearsal | 6:30pm-8:30pm |
| Friday: | Odem vs. Skidmore-Tynan (Away) 4:45pm Students at Band Hall 5:15pm Board Buses/Depart 6:00pm Arrive at Skidmore-Tynan HS7:30pm Game Begins10:00pm Game Ends ~10:30pm Arrive home/students picked up | |
| Saturday: | UIL Area Marching Contest (PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE ESTIMATED TIMES BELOW, A FULL OFFICIAL SCHEDULE WILL BE RELEASED ONCE UIL PROVIDES THAT!) 9:30am Warm-up/Walkthrough 10:30am Load Truck/Trailer 11:00am Lunch 11:45am Bibbers/Uniform Check 12:45pm Board Buses/Depart 2:00pm Arrive at Stadium 3:00pm Warm-Up Begins 3:30pm Leave Warm-Up Area 3:40pm Enter Field 3:45pm Perform 5:30pm Announcement of Advancing Groups to Finals ~10:45pm – Full Band Finals Retreat/Announcement of Bands Advancing to State |
Upcoming Events:
| Day: | Event: | Time: |
| October 22nd | Odem vs. Skidmore (Skidmore) | 7:30pm |
| October 23rd | UIL Area Marching Contest (Beeville) | TBD |
| October 29th | Senior Band Night (Odem vs. Hebbronville) (This may shift time wise to closer to 7 with the team/cheer having their parent night now this night too) | 6:40pm |
| October 30th | Host UIL 2A Area E Marching Contest at Owl Stadium | 1pm-3pm |
| November 12th | Football Playoff Game Week 1 (TBD) | TBA |
| November 19th | Football Playoff Game Week 2 (TBD) Please Note: We support the Odem Owls throughout all of their post-season play. Playoff Games are mandatory graded performances! | TBA |
| December 2nd | Junior High All-Region Auditions for All Except Percussion | 4pm-Done |
| December 4th | HS All-Region and JH All-Region Percussion Auditions | 7am-4pm |
| December 9th | HS Winter Concert | 6:30pm |
| December 14th | JH Winter Concert | 6:30pm |
Thank you for your help and support of these amazing students! Please contact us if you have any questions!