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IMPULSE Drum & Bugle Corps – Member &
Volunteer Guide (This is an overview
subject to change without notice) I. General Information Each summer, Impulse travels up to 7,000
miles, performing at close to 20 contests, concerts, and parades. This season
we are looking to travel less than 5,000 miles and mainly on weekends. The contests are part of the Drum Corps
International Summer Music Games, which culminate the second weekend of
August at the World Championships, which this year will be in Some Important Administrative People to Know Board President: Mike Lopez Board Secretary: Martha Baba (also volunteer
support) Executive Director: Orlando Ramos
Impulse Corps Director: Kendrick White Business Manager: John Cross Quarter Master: Mike Barbera
Rolling Stock / Driver Coordinator: Larry Ford Impulse Contact Information Message Line: (714) 239-4408 (responses within
48 hours) E-mail: info@impulseyoutharts.org Web site www.impulseyoutharts.org What If I Have Questions? Visit the Impulse Web site daily. We update
the site several times each month, and as the season approaches, new
information may be posted two or more times per week. Performers should
direct questions to a veteran performer or drum major before going to an
instructor, volunteer, or Director. For parents, we encourage you start with your
son or daughter. They can often get your answer most quickly. If you can’t
find the answer on our Web site or by asking your son or daughter, feel free
to send an e-mail, or in the case of an emergency, call Orlando Ramos or Kendrick
White (see above).
II. Rehearsal Weekends (Rehearsal Camps) Each month, Impulse holds rehearsal weekends.
They “may” begin as early as Friday evening, and end Sunday evening, or
Monday, e.g. Memorial Day. Depending on availability, the rehearsal weekends
may provide the performers with sleeping and showering facilities. The sample
schedules below should help you understand how the rehearsal weekends work. Stay-Over Rehearsal Weekend At stay-over rehearsal weekends, performers
sleep in the gym – ladies on one side and gentlemen on the other. Some of the
parent volunteers and staff stay on campus through the night, as well. Information Sheets Information sheets for the performers and parents will be
posted on the home page of the Web site one or two weeks prior. Leaving the Rehearsal Site Performers may only leave the site in the case of a school
activity or a family emergency. If a member must leave early or arrive late,
others in the section must be notified. An e-mail or phone call must also be
made to the Director. Knowing everyone’s whereabouts is critical to ensure
safety. III. How Meals Work At designated rehearsals, rehearsal weekends, and when on
tour, meals are prepared for performers by volunteers, many of whom are
parents. It takes approximately two hours to prepare each meal, which means
that the cooks wake up before the members and work non-stop until the last
snack is served. In one day, up to 400 meals are prepared by these
dedicated volunteers. Much thought goes into the menus for each meal. Each
consists of differing amounts of calories and distribution of proteins,
carbohydrates, and fats, all dependent upon the objectives for the day. Meal Etiquette • Performers eat together. Members are not allowed to eat off-site when the corps provides
meals. • Seconds are almost always available, but wait
until everyone has had firsts. • Peanut butter and jelly is served every meal, and
you may have as many PB&J sandwiches as you like. • Between meals, drink water. Drinks may also be
provided at the rehearsal field during breaks. • You have 45 minutes to get through the meal line.
You may choose to shower first, and you may have other duties. Regardless,
get your food within 45 minutes. The kitchen crew’s schedule is tighter than
yours. Respect their time. • If you have special dietary needs, we will do
what we can to accommodate you, within reason. • If you don’t like something, grab a PB&J,
don’t complain, and eat what you can. It is likely the next meal will be one
you enjoy. • Be sincerely appreciative of the work and effort
of the volunteers. Our volunteers work very hard to make your meals pleasing,
and a thank-you and a compliment go a long way towards showing appreciation
to the volunteers. Kitchen Duty Performers, at each meal, are assigned to help with heavy
lifting, cleaning, and taking trash to dumpsters. Performers selected for
kitchen duty are allowed to eat first. Fifteen minutes prior to the end of
the meal, they report to the chief cook for instructions. Closing the Kitchen A designated section of the corps is responsible for
closing the kitchen. The kitchen closes one hour prior to the corps’ departure. IV. Medical Emergency A first-aid kit is always available. Performers are
assigned to make sure it is unloaded from the truck and brought to the
rehearsal site. In addition, many of our instructors are trained in CPR and
first aid, and a volunteer nurse or physician is usually available for
treatment. Emergency medical forms for performers are readily available to
volunteers and staff in the case of illness or emergency. If any information
has changed since completing this form, please notify the Director as soon as
possible.
If you need first aid, see an instructor, Director, or the
cook team. If necessary, an adult will take you for medical treatment, but
the cost is your responsibility. Be sure you have medical insurance
information on your medical form and have a medical insurance card with
you on tour. Any cash needed will be asked from you first, but if necessary, the corps will
pay the bill and will bill you or your parents. We are not able to file
insurance claims. Repay Impulse right away and seek reimbursement from your
insurance carrier.
If you have asthma or allergies, you must carry your
inhaler or Epi-Pen with you at all times. No one at
Impulse will carry or administer these for you. If your condition makes
participation problematic, we will withdraw you from the corps. Drum corps
is an athletic activity, and significant asthma or allergies may simply not
enable you to participate. Personal Medical Packages Due to the expense of over-the-counter medicines we ask
that performers carry their own basic medical supplies. A suggested medical
package should include: Ibuprofen, band-aids, pepto
tablets, cold medicine, cough drops, antibiotic cream and aloe-vera. These supplies will be in the Impulse First Aid Kit,
but are available on an emergency basis. V. Dehydration and Nutrition Dehydration can be a problem. Your body will need much
more fluid than normal, and your thirst reflex will go awry. You can satisfy
your thirst before you have actually replaced the fluids you have lost, so
drink as much water as you can, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Make sure
you are hydrated a full day prior to rehearsal. It is imperative you drink a large volume of water before
exercise. Your body will use 8-12 ounces of water every 20 minutes. Plan
to completely fill your jug in the morning and after each meal before heading
back to the field. If you begin to get a headache during rehearsal, you are
probably becoming dehydrated and you must immediately replace fluids. If your
urine is becoming darker than normal, you are dehydrated. Carbonated and caffeine beverages worsen dehydration, so
they are not allowed during rehearsal or in preparation for performance. This can be a
real shock to the system for you Mountain Dew and coffee addicts. Water and
juice are the things to drink. VI. What Do I Bring to Stay-Over Rehearsal Weekends and on
Tour? Do not bring valuables, e.g. electronic audio/visual equipment,
jewelry, etc. One medium suitcase, small “carry-on bag”, sleeping bag,
pillow, and blanket are all you need. Packing List: Closed shoes Gloves HAT for Sun protection Instrument and equipment Lip balm Music Pencil Sunglasses Sunscreen Water jug (half-gallon) Deodorant Gold Bond or baby powder Hairbrush/comb Shampoo Shower shoes Soap Toothbrush Toothpaste Towel Clothing Extra underwear and socks for
rehearsal Jacket Long pants Shorts Sweats Sweatshirt Sleeping Clothes to sleep in Pillow Sleeping bag What Do I Need At Rehearsals? • 30 minutes prior to rehearsal and at all appropriate
breaks, apply sunscreen and lip balm • Wear a baseball hat • Wear closed shoes and socks • Water (at least ½ gallon) – See V. Dehydration and
Nutrition • Bring your music, dot book, and a pencil or pen. • Book bag or small backpack for your supplies VII. How Much Spending Money Will I Need? When performing locally, the corps does not typically
provide meals. On these days, bring money for lunch and dinner ($20
should be more than enough per day). The same holds true for one-day
rehearsals and some commuter rehearsal weekends. During short tours, e.g. You won’t need more than that unless you wish to purchase
corps merchandise or concessions at the show. During the Championships Tour, bring $60 for meals. If you wish to purchase corps merchandise, you’ll need additional cash. VIII. The Equipment Truck Each instrument and piece of equipment has a defined
location on the truck, and every performer is responsible for loading his/her
instrument, uniform, and equipment. The designated section is generally
responsible for raising and lowering the stairs, and loading any items not
covered by another individual or section. Because we need to load and unload in a short amount of
time, safety is critical. There is a 4-foot drop from each door to the
ground. You can be badly hurt if you are not careful. After performing, performers may wish to practice up to
the moment of departure; however, the truck must be loaded, and the doors
shut and locked 15 minutes prior to departure. Plan accordingly. Uniforms Hang your uniform in its place. Do not place uniforms or
uniform parts in the bays, hang them on the doors, or tuck them behind
equipment. Do not hang garment bags in these areas either. Locks Locks are hung through the handle, not laid in the bay, on
the ground, or in your pocket. Garbage Do not store garbage in any part of the truck, e.g. empty
drink bottles, old stick tape, broken drumheads. If you see garbage or litter
on the truck, please discard it. IX. Buses Impulse contracts with coach companies for bus
transportation. On tour the buses will leave our housing site and not return
until we’re ready to leave for the show; therefore, make a habit of taking
all your belongings off the bus when we arrive at the housing site. When
we reach our destination, do not get off the bus until instructed to do so by
the drum majors, or an adult. Important announcements are often made before
we get off the buses. Trash Like the truck, do not store trash on the buses. Usually
trash bags are placed throughout the bus. If you’re not close to one and you
can’t pass your trash to someone close to the bag, i.e. when everyone’s
asleep, keep your trash with you and throw it away later. The Role of Adults on the Bus The adults who ride the bus serve important roles in the
events of illness or injury and should be treated as welcome guests. Although
performers are responsible for their own behavior on the bus, the adults have
the authority to intervene at any time. Sleeping on the Bus Most of our driving on tour takes place during the night.
To get as much sleep as possible, bring a pillow and blanket for the bus. The
bus air conditioning gets chilly, and a blanket will keep you warm and
comfortable. There is no sleeping on the aisle floor unless it is approved by
the bus drivers. If it is approved… Performers may not walk on armrests or seats to avoid
those sleeping on the floor. Videos While modern buses have video systems, we generally do not
allow the showing of videos on the bus unless approved by a supervising
adult. During night driving, sleeping is the priority. During other times, we
want performers to interact with one another. Restrooms While each bus is equipped with a functional restroom, we
ask that performers use them only in an emergency. On long drives, we stop
every 3 – 4 hours, so plan accordingly. Do not use the restrooms for storage
or trash. Property Impulse is not responsible for lost,
stolen or damaged property of any member or staff member. We do not always control public access to
our areas, especially in housing sites. Travel Stops While traveling, we stop about every 3 –
4 hours for bathroom breaks, driver stretches and gas. You may get off to use
the restrooms at these stops. Most stops will only last 20 to 30 minutes. Unless otherwise permitted, performers
will refrain from purchasing snacks and drinks from markets where we stop. We
cannot depart these stops on time if we are buying candy and chips 135 times. Parents and staff may buy things at stops
because we can handle this number of purchases in the time we have. X. Uniforms Like the instrument or color guard equipment we issue, you
are responsible for your uniform’s care. When you’re wearing it, on or off the field, you are
performing. Please follow these guidelines: Uniform Information • Undergarments: plain gray or black biking-style
shorts under the pants; yellow Impulse tee-shirt under coat, full length
plain black socks (no stripes). • Use clear deodorant or antiperspirant. • Do not apply hairspray or perfume. The chemicals
will ruin the fabric • Have black shoe polish and a polish rag in a
sealable plastic bag. • Brass players wear performance gloves for
performances only; practice gloves during practice. • Hair should be worn off the collar and under the
hat or in the designated style when in uniform. Uniform Etiquette • Never run in uniform. Even the most graceful
athlete looks incompetent and unprofessional while running in uniform. • After a performance, we remain in full uniform
unless otherwise instructed. Wearing the “uniform cap” after a performance is not
permitted. Wearing the “practice cap” is. • There is no eating in uniform except in rare
instances when you are instructed to do so. • Drink only water while in uniform. • Smoking is not permitted EVER. • Restrain yourself from emotional outbursts and public
displays of affection while in uniform. • Never engage in negative conversation about
another corps, your corps or any facet of the drum corps activity while in
public, and especially while in uniform. Hanging Your Uniform • Let your uniform ‘breath’ as long as possible
before you place it in your garment bag. • Hang the pants over the bar of the hanger. • Place the jacket over the hanger so the back of
the jacket is over the outward curve of the hanger. Zip up the jacket. If your uniform must be re-fit during the season, please
notify the Uniform Manager or Director. Clean shoes and uniform parts are your responsibility, but
only Impulse cleans the uniforms, unless otherwise specified. Do not take
your uniform home without permission. If you inadvertently stain or rip
your uniform, notify the Drum Majors or Uniform Manager immediately so
repairs can be made in time for the next performance. Personal Uniform Parts Each member will purchase personal uniform parts. Brass
and percussion performers may be able to purchase their personal items
directly from Impulse. These items may include practice T-Shirts, gloves to hold
horns with, uniform shoes and other varied items. Additional cost never exceeds $50. The uniform and practice baseball cap is provided “once”
to the corps member. Additional caps are $15.00 each. The uniform cap is for
performances only and must always be kept in the best condition. XI. Adults The adult volunteers who travel with us provide meals, sew
uniforms and flags, transport equipment, and provide medical support. They
also serve in a supervisory role, so please respond to their direction. XII. Other Important Stuff • All public schools are tobacco-free campuses • Impulse has a zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal
and dangerous behavior. This applies to alcohol use, as well. (See Performing
Member Contract for more information.) • Sexual harassment is not tolerated. • No hazing allowed • Everybody has a job, and the Drum Major will assign
these by section. If you see something that needs to be done, however, we
expect you to volunteer. Nothing at Impulse
is “someone else’s job.” §
We always leave the facilities we use, cleaner and looking
better than when we arrived. §
We never walk by any trash without picking it up and
throwing it away. §
We always offer our gratitude and respect for every adult
working for Impulse, as they are all unpaid volunteers here to help make the
members experience the best. XIII.
Legal Trouble If any member of the corps breaks the law
while with the corps, their membership is immediately terminated, and Impulse
Drum & Bugle corps will no longer be responsible for that individuals
care. The family of the incarcerated member will be notified by
administrative or supervising adult so they can make plans to interact with
local authorities. In the event any adult breaks the law,
their involvement with the corps will also be terminated immediately. Additional policies and procedures are
currently under legal review and will be offered at a later date. |