Is it smart to...

[PitStar]

Enter competitions as a 5A band? Here's why I ask. I always feel like when we compete, we're viewed differently because we're 4A. I also think that once 5A bands play the judges get like a new mindset, like "Oh hey 5A, break out the high scores for these ones" or something. I'm wondering why we don't just compete 5A, because it seems like maybe that could help us be percieved (sp?) in a better way.

 

Merely thoughts

[HashBrownJM]

  PitStar said:

Enter competitions as a 5A band? Here's why I ask. I always feel like when we compete, we're viewed differently because we're 4A. I also think that once 5A bands play the judges get like a new mindset, like "Oh hey 5A, break out the high scores for these ones" or something. I'm wondering why we don't just compete 5A, because it seems like maybe that could help us be percieved (sp?) in a better way.

 

Merely thoughts

Honestly, I'm not sure. If I was a director (which I intend to be), I'd ask myself, "Are we ready to compete amongst 5A bands?" If you go just to try and make a statement and then get creamed, your statement is that you're just trying to look big by competing with the big.

[PitStar]

Yeah, it's just that sometimes I feel we get a lesser score because they think it would make them look bad for putting a band in 4A ( any band ) who had a really really good show among the top 3 in a finals setting.

[HashBrownJM]

  PitStar said:

Yeah, it's just that sometimes I feel we get a lesser score because they think it would make them look bad for putting a band in 4A ( any band ) who had a really really good show among the top 3 in a finals setting.

Like where?

[whitewing09]

i think judges are bias like that.

 

To me it seems like they think oh its a 5A so their music is automatically hard and theyre automatically cleaner, but then you have bands like CONNALLY and Dripping Springs who score way better then some of the 5As like at yesterday competition

so you can just never tell

[HashBrownJM]

  whitewing09 said:

i think judges are bias like that.

 

To me it seems like they think oh its a 5A so their music is automatically hard and theyre automatically cleaner, but then you have bands like conally and dripping springs who score way better then some of the 5As like at yesterday competition

so you can just never tell

Exactly.

[itsstephenyo]

It's not like you have a choice in what class you enter in... You make it sound like you choose. And besides, if the judges think that 5A bands are so much better, then perhaps when they see a really good 4A band, they'll be even more surprised. So just suck it up and perform.

[themainroo]

actually lower classified bands can choose to perform in a higher class

 

connally is a 4a but yesterday we performed in the 5a block

[Devon]

I think that it really isn't the class you are in that makes the judges think "Oh, their music is hard" or "They have hard drill." I think it is more what your school's reputation is than anything else. Like everyone knows that Reagan and LD Bell will have good, clean, hard drills. But who knows what to think of the less infamous bands...? Oh... they may have something good to pull off, they may not. Also, the 5A bands are usually the messiest, from what I saw. But then again this is my first year being in a band that goes to any competitions, so realize that everything I say is just rambling on from a noob's point of view. Don;t hurt me! [[crouches down in fetal position]]

[itsstephenyo]

Take a look at Mansfield, a relatively unknown band. They stirred up some big waves this year at BOA Arlington at a very dense regional.

 

Sure, some degree of performance is expected of certain groups, but, in general, I'm sure the judges don't sit there and say, "Oh, this is LD Bell. I should increase their score by this much because they're LD Bell."

[lol]

The whole 4A automaticly getting lower then 5A isn't always true. Look in the Cedar Park Festival Vista Ridge made the top five beating out Leander. Sure some might argue that the contest doesn't have the prestige as others but the judges were very professional and well known judges, this fact has been presented on the forums and many people agree. I do however agree that it is most of the time harder for a 4A to compete with 5A just because of stereotypical ideas.

[rsb3]

  PitStar said:

Yeah, it's just that sometimes I feel we get a lesser score because they think it would make them look bad for putting a band in 4A ( any band ) who had a really really good show among the top 3 in a finals setting.

You think that you're going to be judged down just because you're in a 4A! Haha! Try being in a 3A school or below. While I do believe that judges expect more from a 5A, versus a 4A, you upperclass schools have way more at your fingertips than a 3A school or smaller. But I don't feel like just because being a large school makes you "better" than your competition, be it larger or smaller.

 

For example, go look at the results from the marching festival in Mesquite... Canton, Texas, the 3A State Marching Champions absolutely kicked serious tail at that competition. They definitely held their own against those 4A's and 5A's. I'm sure that those judges were looking at that band from the beginning with a standpoint of "these guys are playing with the big boys today, let's see if they can step it up." It doesn't take sheer numbers, legendary staff, and pretty props to make your band score well at a competition. All you have to do is go out there, play and march a clean and enjoyable show, and you will be rewarded. Canton's scores at Mesquite Poteet's contest prove that.

 

So in th end, I wouldn't ever enter my school as a larger classification than what we actually are. Either way, it's dishonest and anyone with common sense would figure out your dishonesty. It also would probably hurt your band more than it would help it. Again, all it takes is a nice mixture of attitude, dedication, great musicality, and fine marching fundamentals to get your band to where you want to be. I trust that we have some of the greatest marching judges and educators in the nation, and that they're all willing to give you what you want as long as you give them the proper things in return!

[HashBrownJM]

  rsb3 said:

So in th end, I wouldn't ever enter my school as a larger classification than what we actually are. Either way, it's dishonest and anyone with common sense would figure out your dishonesty. It also would probably hurt your band more than it would help it. Again, all it takes is a nice mixture of attitude, dedication, great musicality, and fine marching fundamentals to get your band to where you want to be. I trust that we have some of the greatest marching judges and educators in the nation, and that they're all willing to give you what you want as long as you give them the proper things in return!

Well, we did it at Westlake, but it's an option. We had to because if we didn't, our students taking the SAT wouldn't be back and we'd have to march holes. We're not trying to cheat or anything, it just worked out better for our band at this competition.

[rsb3]

  HashBrownJM said:

Well, we did it at Westlake, but it's an option. We had to because if we didn't, our students taking the SAT wouldn't be back and we'd have to march holes. We're not trying to cheat or anything, it just worked out better for our band at this competition.

Oh, I never meant to imply that this is something that just shouldn't be done under any circumstances. In your band's case, I'm assuming that upon entering as a different classification than you actually are, it gave your SAT-taking students more time to get to the competition. That's a completely different story than just entering your band dishonestly for the sake of hoping to get a greater score. Sorry to confuse! Your band had a completely legit complication, and I'm glad it worked out for ya'll!

[Fortisimo]

  itsstephenyo said:

Take a look at Mansfield, a relatively unknown band. They stirred up some big waves this year at BOA Arlington at a very dense regional.

 

Sure, some degree of performance is expected of certain groups, but, in general, I'm sure the judges don't sit there and say, "Oh, this is LD Bell. I should increase their score by this much because they're LD Bell."

That's true, and in fact sometimes rep can have an opposite effect than what is expected. A story comes to mind of Bell getting straight 1st's except for one judge at (I believe) Area on year, and that one judge gave them like 25th. So, you just can't be sure how it will play out.