As you can see from the long list below, there are MANY jobs that need to be done to maintain North's award-winning band program. Family support is essential. We encourage EVERY parent to get involved!

Fundraising Activities

Volunteers are needed for all the fundraising activities listed on the Boosters - Fundraising page! This includes selling concessions, grocery cards, and spirit wear, and helping at Jazz Under the Stars and Mardi Gras.

For Jazz Under the Stars, volunteers are needed for set-up and clean-up, food and beverage service, car parking, ticket taking, and coordination of student volunteers. (JUTS volunteers do pay for entry into the event, since it is our largest fundraiser.)

Mardi Gras requires volunteers to decorate, serve food, recruit silent auction items, prepare the silent auction, coordinate the dessert bake sale, handle publicity, and more.

Other Band Booster Activities

Help is needed for Booster activities such as producing the Band Yearbook, assembling the Directory, and putting on the Parent Pitch-In.

Concert Ticket Sales

Volunteers are needed at each concert to sell tickets and other items as needed and pass out programs. Generally, two shifts cover each concert, beginning a half hour before the concert starts. You will always be allowed to watch your child perform, even if you are signed up to work for the concert.

Music Event Staffing

Each year the North hosts many special musical events, including the District-level ISSMA Solo and Ensemble contests, the Bloomington Jazz Festival (in alternate years), the All-District Honor Band, and others. Parent volunteers help these events run smoothly and staff the concession stand in the commons, whose revenue directly benefits the band program.

During the ISSMA Solo and Ensemble competition, volunteers are needed to monitor each performance room to keep performances and hallway traffic flowing in a timely manner, assist the judges as needed, and keep noise to a minimum for performers. ISSMA competition takes place on two consecutive Saturdays, typically the end of January and first of February. Shifts are scheduled each of those two days for morning and afternoon. You will always be allowed to watch your child perform, even if you are signed up to work during that time.

Chaperones

Chaperones are needed to ride the buses with the students during trips to out-of-town performances and competitions. Trip chaperones get into the competitions/performances free of charge.

Photographers

Photos of the band at performances, competitions, and at practice are needed for posting on the BHSN band web site and for the yearbook. Contact the webmaster or see instructions in the Albums section of the site about sharing that one great picture you took, becoming a regular contributor, or anything in between!

Band Website

Band Booster Leadership Positions

See the Boosters - Leadership page for all the leadership positions that need to be filled each year. Both officers and lead volunteers in many areas are needed.

Marching Band-Specific Opportunities

Pit Crew

Pit Crew parents load and unload the Marching Band trailer and help roll equipment onto and off the field for Marching Band competitions and performances. They need to arrive at school prior to the band leaving for a competition to help load, and can either travel to the competition with the band or separately. They sit on the sidelines during the performance, then help get equipment off the field within the time allotted. This is a great way to see everything up close, and get in free to the competitions! The Pit Crew can also eat with the band for free!

Chaperones

Chaperones accompany the band on competition and performance trips. They help take attendance before leaving school and before returning back to school, make sure that everyone has on their shorts, shirt, black socks and black shoes before boarding the buses, stay with kids at the competition site until they leave to perform (then they can go into the stands and watch), assist with uniforming (zipper help, hairdo help, etc.), and help after the performance with uniform changing as needed. Once the students are out of uniform, they may eat with them or go back to the stands to watch the other bands. After arrival back at school, the chaperones check the bus for left-behind items and do a general clean-up. Trip chaperones get into the competitions/performances free of charge. Duties will be similar for any overnight trips.

Marching Band Chow

Volunteers are needed to help prepare and/or serve meals for the students, staff, pit crew and chaperones on competition days. Sometimes food is prepared and eaten before the band leaves for a competition. Other times, preparation is done at the competition site and served there after the performance. Volunteers will still be able to see their children perform and will get into the competition free of charge. This is a job totally appreciated by the band members, because they love to eat!!

Uniform Fitting

Parent volunteers are needed to help find a uniform that will fit each student and coordinate the purchase of gloves and shoes at the start of the season. They also take care of the uniforms at the end of the season. People that know how to make alterations (e.g., shorten pants), are also usually needed to help those that request assistance.

Supplies

We periodically ask parents to donate needed supplies such as bottled water and desserts. Sign up at the pitch-in, and watch for other listserv emails!