Director's Handbook

Updated October 2024

Aims and Objectives

We have established an excellence-oriented performance contest for high school bands with these aims and objectives: 

  1. The Tournament of Bands is a competition that will foster the development of marching bands in the state of New Mexico and the Southwestern United States. The Tournament of Bands shall serve to enrich the culture of marching bands while offering educational feedback from quality adjudicators that helps strengthen and build better band programs in the area. 
  2. The competition will, through an impartial system of evaluation, seek to recognize and reward excellence.
  3. Through competition, we seek to recognize and reward those bands and student musicians who have demonstrated the highest level of musicianship, ability, achievement, and poise. At the same time, our purpose is to sponsor a competition that will act as an incentive to all band members to strive for self-improvement and excellence.
  4. The New Mexico State University Pride Marching Band, sponsor of the New Mexico Tournament of Bands, believes competition exists in almost every aspect of human endeavor, and is a vital part of the fabric of the American way of life. We also believe that carefully designed and supervised competition at the high school level serves as one of the best-known methods of preparing the students for the challenges they will encounter every day of their lives.

Definitions

Tournament of Bands – may also be referred to TOB throughout the handbook

Tournament – refers to the entire tournament including preliminary and finals performances and all rules and regulations around the competition; may also be referred to as “competition”

Competition Director – The director of the competition/tournament is the director of the Pride of New Mexico unless otherwise stated.

Draw -The establishment of the order of performance in each class by a randomized selection based on the bands that are registered by the specific date outlined in this handbook. The first band drawn will perform last in their class, second drawn will perform second to last, etc.

Tournament Staff – individuals designated by the competition director to implement and execute the various day of plans, typically Pride of New Mexico pro-staff, Pride of New Mexico students, or NMSU Music Department faculty and/or staff.

Student Volunteers – Pride of New Mexico students registered in the course who are assigned to specific jobs to staff the tournament.

How to Enter

DEADLINE FOR ENTRY – Complete the Band Entry Form linked on the NM Tournament of Bands (TOB) website or distributed via email and submit to NMSU Bands office faxed/postmarked/emailed no later than September 30 of the year of the event. The first 32 bands will be accepted into the NMSU Tournament of Bands marching competition.

DRAWING FOR PLACEMENT – In order to be included in the drawing for the performances, the band must be entered into the competition on or before June 30th. See Performance Order for more information.

Please ensure the signature of your principal is on the entry form, verifying your entry and all information contained on the form.

The entry fee for all participating bands is $500.00. This is a nonrefundable entry fee.  Please have the check made payable to NM State Bands. Checks should be mailed within a week of your submitted entry to complete the entry process. Registering after September 30th will result in a $100 nonrefundable late fee added to the entry fee.

Tournament of Bands is limited to and will ONLY accept the first 32 bands. Others will be placed on a wait list or will only be added to the schedule at the discretion of the contest director.

NO PHONE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. ENTRIES WILL BE OFFICIAL WHEN YOU RECEIVE CONFIRMATION BY EMAIL OF RECEIPT FROM THE BAND OFFICE.

Location

All contest events will be at Aggie Memorial Stadium and the surrounding areas. All performances for the competition will take place inside Aggie Memorial Stadium. Unlimited parking is available and special accommodation may be made for changing of uniforms as required. This means your only transportation needs are to and from the competition.

All rules set forth by the managers of Aggie Memorial Stadium are to be followed. Any violation of these rules may result in elimination from the contest or removal from the facility.

Competition Classification

The New Mexico Tournament of Bands will be divided into four classes that are determined by school enrollment.

         Class C – 800 or below

         Class B – 801-1500

         Class A – 1501-2200

         Class AA – 2201 or above

A band may elect to move into a higher classification but may not move from a higher class to a lower class. All bands will compete in preliminary competition. The ten highest scoring bands, regardless of class, will return for the Finals competition in the evening. Finals performances are not done by class.

Performance Order

All COMPLETED entries received on or before June 30, will be placed in drawing or performance order by classification. The lower the number drawn, the later in the class the band will perform. For example, number 1 in the draw will go last in the band’s class. The drawing will be held at 9:00am on July 1, (unless otherwise noted) in the band office at NMSU. The results of the drawing will be sent by email that day.  

All entries received after 5:00pm on June 30 will be assigned an order of performance based on the postmark or fax date on your COMPLETED Entry form. The earlier the entry, the later your appearance will be in the competition.

Field Announcer and Program Information

The Performance Information Form that is included on the official tournament website or distributed via email must be completed by the indicated due date for guaranteed inclusion in the tournament program and announcer’s script. If the information is not received by the indicated date, it is at the discretion of the competition director and the announcer on what information will be announced during the competition. All show information will be provided to the judges as the competition director sees necessary.

Adjudication

Part of the mission of Tournament of Bands is to offer the highest degree of educational feedback and adjudication. The Tournament of Bands will utilize a system of scoring that offers clear and concise language provided in rubric form. This language should clearly define the rationale for scores and provide educators with appropriate feedback that will enrich the students’ musical experiences. Scoring will be tallied by adding the scores of each judge: Percussion, Color Guard/Auxiliary, Visual Performance-Individual, Visual Performance- Ensemble, Visual General Effect, Music Execution – Ensemble, music General Effect, and Drum Major (not included in total score). The overall score will then be formulated to fit a 100 scale (ex. 1000 = 100.0, 855 = 85.5)

All scoring will be done using Competition Suite. Recordings, scores, feedback, and videos will be provided to the competing Band Directors via Competition Suite. Learn more here. The recap of preliminary and finals performances will not be available until after 11:59pm of the day of the competition. All tabulation will be verified by the Competition Director or designated individual.

Your Adjudicators. The credibility of any contest is in direct proportion to the credibility of its judges. With this fact in mind, our policy in selection of judges is as follows: The New Mexico Tournament of Bands chooses judges that are willing to share in the satisfaction of “making a difference” in the development of bands and the students in those bands. TOB looks for judges who make the commitment to the marching activity and music education. Most of all, TOB looks for judges who have a commitment to excellence in music and can constructively convey the commitment to the bands they adjudicate. The decision of the judges is FINAL. The only possible error considered will be in tabulation

Preliminary Awards

An awards ceremony will take place following the preliminary competition. Prelim scores, from high to low, will be used to determine first, second, and third place in each class. The "Gregg Randall Award of Excellence" will be given to the highest scoring band from New Mexico regardless of classification. The ten bands selected for Finals competition will be announced at the end of the ceremony. Caption awards will be given to the band with the highest score in the following areas:

  • Music – Top Overall score in Music
  • Percussion – Top Percussion Score
  • Auxiliary – Top Auxiliary Score
  • Drum Major – Highest Scoring Drum Major(s) – separate scoring sheet used; not included in overall score. 

First, second, and third place awards will be given for each classification as well.

Finals Awards

The ten bands selected to perform in the Finals Competition will draw for performance order following the Preliminary Award Ceremony. The five bands with the lowest scores in preliminary competition will draw for positions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in Finals permanent order. The five bands with the highest scores in preliminary competition will draw for positions 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 in Finals performance order. In the event that the previous year’s champion qualifies for Finals, that director will have the option to perform last in Finals competition. The champions of Class C and B MAY ELECT to perform 1st in finals in exhibition if they do not place in the top ten. If they place in the top ten, the next highest scoring band will be select to perform in exhibition.

A retreat will take place after Finals competition. The retreat will be for the purpose of awarding the highest scoring band the Grand Champion trophy and all other finalists the award for placement from second to tenth place. Only Final competition scores will be used to determine the rank order of the ten finalist bands. Caption awards will be given to the band with the highest score in the following areas:

  • Music – Top Overall score in Music
  • Percussion – Top Percussion Score
  • Auxiliary – Top Auxiliary Score

The Retreat

After their final performance, each band will exit the field to the south and will be directed by Tournament Staff to their seats on the east side of the stadium (opposite the press box). After the final performance by the PRIDE of NEW MEXICO, all groups will be led back to the field for the final awards ceremony.

Videotaping/Recording

NO MEMBERS OF A COMPETING BANDS STAFF OR PARENT ASSOCIATION IS ALLOWED IN OR ON TOP OF THE PRESS BOX. Bands may record their performance from the stands.

General Rules & Regulations

  1. From the warmup area, all unites of the competing band will walk to a staging area in the stadium. From There, they may enter the Field for competition to “rim taps” when prompted by a member of the Tournament Staff. Bands may exit the competition area with percussion cadence until the last band member has left the lined field. See the TOB Routing Map for the full routing instructions.
  2. The competition area from "0" to "0" is 100 yards in length and a regulation size football field width with NCAA hash marks. With the field in Aggie Memorial being artificial turf, pending feasibility of identifying the New Mexico high school hashes will be determined. Sideline markers will be placed on the sideline.
  3. Once the Tournament Staff in Aggie Memorial Stadium permits the competing band to take the field, the band may enter and exit the field of competition from any point on the field. The band proper and band front units will be permitted to stage on the field. The band may conclude its performance at any point on or off the field and exit over any boundary line.
  4. Units waiting to go on will be positioned in the holding area by the Tournament Staff and will remain in that position until the preceding band has completed its show and taken the applause. All holding areas will be identified on the tournament’s Routing Map. Please be aware that holding areas may include the movement of bands on and off the field and to be aware of all surroundings. All Tournament Staff will communicate movement of bands through the holding areas. Bands may not move from the holding area until released by the Tournament staff.
  5. The Announcer will give each competing unit identical introductions. No other announcer may be used. As each band takes the field, the announcer will announce the band’s name, school, school’s location/town/city and state, director and supporting staff names, field music, featured soloists, drum majors and any other points of interest. When the group appears to be in their final starting position and all judges have identified as being ready, the announcer will ask “Is your band ready?” The drum major should render salute, indicating the band is ready to perform. Do not commence the show until the announcer announces, "YOU MAY NOW TAKE THE FIELD FOR COMPETITION".
  6. Bands will perform a minimum of six minutes and a maximum of eleven minutes. Timing will begin on the first NOTE of music or percussion sound following the introduction of the band by the announcer. Timing will stop at the logical conclusion of your show.  
  7. Due to many band directors not being familiar with, or not adhering to, standard flag etiquette, flag violations will be noted as seen but will not count for scoring.
  8. Equipment that is dropped on the field will not be assessed as a penalty. Equipment may be picked up by performers without penalty. All equipment that a competing band takes onto the field of competition must be removed from the field of competition. Storage of props following the competing band’s performance is done at the discretion of the Competition Director. No props or show equipment may be placed in the holding area early; it must move with the band from the initial holding area and through the entire competition flow.

Field Rehearsal

Tournament Staff is not responsible for arranging rehearsal space for participating groups. If a band chooses to have an additional rehearsal prior to their warm-up time, it is their responsibility to schedule/book the facility and space. Aggie Memorial Stadium will NOT be allowed to be used for additional rehearsals. All bands are required to warm-up on the designated warm-up field. If a band does not show up at the designated time for warm-up, they will be considered forfeiting their performance time slot for competition.

Warm-Up Area

All bands are required to warm-up at the designated warm-up field during their allotted time. Not showing up to your allotted warm-up time indicates to the Competition Director that the competing band is forfeiting their performance timeslot and will judge accordingly. Warm up on any other part of the NMSU campus will not be allowed and if done, the competing band may perform for adjudication, but no scores will be tallied. The band in violation will automatically be given last place with a score of zero (0).

Picnic Area

Under no circumstance should any band set up a camp or ppicnic area on the intramural fields located off Locust St., directlyy across from the NMSU Baseball Field. Any bands who do use this area are responsible for the costs for reserving the area, and/or any damage done. The Music Department CANNOT reserve this area for you; it is the competing band’s responsibility to get in contact with the university to reserve it and make all necessary payments.

Acceptable Picnic Areas: Sisbarro Park is located directly East of Aggie Memorial Stadium and can be use on a first-come first-serve basis. The NMSU Duck Pond located in the middle of campus, West of the Pan American Center, may also be used. These are community areas and parks. Please be courteous of others in the area.

Inclement Weather Policy

There is no rain date for the New Mexico Tournament of Bands. Because of this, the Tournament Staff has established the following guidelines that will be implemented in the event of foul weather conditions:

  1. In the event of rain prior to beginning the Field Competition, the contest management will consult with the National Weather Service (radar) for the most up-to-date information on conditions. The contest management may delay the starting time or cancel the contest due to forecast weather conditions.
  2. If rain occurs following the start of the Field Competition, a meeting will be called of the band directors, and from this group consultation, the Competition Director (who has the final word) will determine the continuance of the event. It is our general feeling that as long as the bands are willing to perform, it is our obligation to keep the event running.
  3. It is the Competing Band Director’s responsibility to keep in touch with the Competition Director for the latest information.  

Shelter-in-place Instructions. If inclement weather, including a lightning strike within 8 miles of the stadium, occurs, the following plan will be put into action:

  1. The band performing will stop immediately, grab what they can and head towards their individual buses to shelter-in-place, leaving all other equipment behind.
  2. The bands in the staging areas will grab what they can and head to their individual buses to shelter-in-place, leaving all other equipment behind.
  3. Bands in the stands will be asked to leave and go to their school’s individual buses to shelter-in-place.
  4. ALL audience members will be asked to leave the stadium and shelter-in-place in their own vehicles.

All Las Cruces area high school members will head directly for the practice gym located on the southside of the Pan American Center – taking with them what equipment they can if they are performing or getting ready to perform.

ALL PRIDE OF NEW MEXICO staff and students will go to the Pan American practice gym to shelter-in-place.

If a lightning strike occurs within the 8-mile radius of the stadium, the announcer will inform all attendees that we are entering shelter-in-place. We are required to wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike within the radius. If a strike occurs during the 30-minute waiting period, it re-starts the 30 minutes.

Housing

While many of our bands can consider the Tournament as a one-day trip, others will be required to remain overnight or perhaps two nights in Las Cruces. Overnight accommodations and restaurant information for the Las Cruces area are available upon request.  If you would like this information, please call the band office at 575-646-2304.

Stadium Tickets and Passes

All stadium seating will be on a general admission basis: that is, first come - first served. Ticket prices are determined each year for all-day admission to Prelims AND Finals competition. Children six to twelve will be admitted for a lesser ticket amount, and under six are free. The competition will provide one free chaperone wristband for every ten students. Bus drivers may also receive a wristband. Additional wristbands may be purchased for chaperones or pit parents at the regular ticket price. Your complementary wristbands will be included in your director’s packet, which will be provided at check-in when you arrive at the warm-up field west of the stadium.

Only the band directors and their identified staff will have access to the field. Credentials will be verified by Tournament Staff. Director credentials do not permit entry to the press box or any area a competition judge may be located.

To the Directors: 

The adjudicators will receive a copy of the Tournament prospectus, and the Competition Director will carefully cover all rules and regulations prior to the first Tournament performance.

The rules have purposely been kept loose and few. We want you to do the thing you do best. The judges are selected from the widest possible cross section of experienced music educators. Your style is strictly, "Your Thing". However, you will be awarded a score only on the various captions that are on the score sheets in this book. The Tournament recognizes that you all have talented and successful bands and have won many awards, and the New Mexico Tournament of Bands is merely a measure of your group on a single occasion, against the stiffest available competition.

We hope this is a memorable and educational experience for your students. There can only be one winner, and the decision is up to a capable and dedicated panel of judges.

The New Mexico Tournament of Bands exists for you and your band. Our goal is to provide you with a Tournament of the highest caliber. To that end, our goals involve input by directors concerning the Tournament. We will send a packet a few days after the competition that will include a Post-Event Survey. We ask that you return this form so that we can continue to improve the New Mexico Tournament of Bands.

 

Director's handbook was updated on October 15, 2024.