1. ENSEMBLE ELIGIBILITY:                                                                          

1. Any school-based music program within the geographical footprint of Cavalcade can enter a jazz-based group into a Cavalcade Jazz Festival.

1. The director of the group should be the school-appointed jazz band director.

2. Groups should closely resemble the format of a marching band (winds, percussion, color guard, dance etc).  It is the director’s choice to supplement sections in and out of this format as they see fit to serve their student body.
3. Registration fees should be paid in accordance with the established fee structure.

2. CLASSIFICATION:                                                                                

1. Marching ensembles in Cavalcade are grouped into one of three classifications:

1. Open Class – Intended for marching ensembles that have a history in the competitive activity.
2. A Class – Intended for marching ensembles new to the competitive arena, limited access to the resources, or are in a growing/rebuilding phase of their program.
3. Freedom Class - Intended for marching ensembles that are traditionally non-competitive.

2. Within each classification, Cavalcade offers 5 (five) different conferences based on total number of performers (revised 2/2024)

3. Initial class and conference declarations must be submitted to Cavalcade by September 1st of each year.

1. Groups that experience a performer amount change after September 1st but before their first scheduled show will automatically be moved to the appropriate division.
2. Groups that experience a performer amount change after they have already performed at a show but before the 4th weekend of the season will need to schedule a meeting with the CEO & Board to discuss the situation.
3. Groups that experience a performer amount change on or after the 4th weekend of the season will not be allowed to move down in conferences.  

4. Promotions from the A class to the Open class will happen at the discretion of the judging community. The review committee will be convened by the Education Team to determine where a group should be placed on the competitive strata.  Weekly scores and review of recaps will lead the discussion and video request of any group being considered for promotion.
5. If a band is placed under review, they will be notified of the decision of the review committee at least 72 hours before their next scheduled performance.  

1. Groups that are moved to a new class must remain there for the duration of the season.

6. Bands can be reviewed for reclassification at any point during the season.
7. Any band may choose to move into a higher class of their own choosing of their own accord at any point in the season up to 11:59pm of the Sunday before championships.
8. Bands that are in the “Open” class may petition to be evaluated for movement down to the “A” class. This petition must be submitted within 24 hours after the last performance, and the director will need to provide a recent video. Caption heads will evaluate the video, and the director will be notified within 48 hours of the receipt of the video.

1. If approved, the change will take place start at the next show they are scheduled for.
2. No band can move down to the “A” class after the 4th weekend of the season.

3. ENTRY & WITHDRAWAL FROM A SHOW:                                                        

1. Registration is open to all member groups through Competition Suite.  Band directors may sign up / withdraw from any show through the platform up through August 1st.

1. After August 1st and up to two weeks before a scheduled performance directors can withdraw from a show provided they contact the MB Administrator directly.

2. Any group who withdraws from a show within two weeks of the show date will be assessed a $250.00 withdrawal fee.  This will be collected by Cavalcade of Bands and sent directly to the show host to compensate the show host for any awards purchased and minimal compensation for any concession sales lost.

1. The group will not be permitted to compete again until this fee is paid.  The CEO may waive this fee if there are extenuating circumstances.

4. WARMUPS & PERFORMANCE INTERVAL:                                                  

1. Bands will be given performance times and gate times.  It is the responsibility of the director to ensure their group arrives at the posted gate time.
2. Groups must complete their warmups in all designated areas.  Penalty: 2.0 pts if a group is out of the designated warmup areas and is impacting the performances in the stadium.
3. The maximum performance interval for each band is 15 minutes.  This includes entrance, (optional) warmup, the performance, and exit.

1. This interval will be reduced to 12 minutes for the first three weeks of the season.

4. Groups may enter the field up to (but not beyond) the 50-yard line as the previous group is clearing the field.

1. Stationary percussion ensembles and props do not need to wait at the 50-yard line and can begin setting up as the preceding band is exiting the field so long as they do not impede the exit of the previous group.

5. Timing and entrance to the field past the 50 yard line will begin on the signal of the Chief Judge.  Groups may incur a 1.0 penalty for failing to follow the chief judge’s directions.
6. The timing of the musical performance begins on the first note of music or the first step of the unit and must be a minimum of six (6) minutes in length. Rolling starts  should be declared to the Chief Judge so that there will be no confusion as to the timing of the presentation.  A penalty of 0.2 points for each six (6) seconds or fraction thereof that a group is under the minimum time.
7. Timing penalties will not be enforced during the first (3) three weekends of the season.
8. Performances may begin and end their performance at any point on the established performance surface, defined as the football field, end zones, and all grass/turf areas inside the track.
9. All of a group’s personnel, equipment and/or props must clear the vertical 50-yard line at the conclusion of the performance to stop the interval time.

1. Once clearing the 50 yard line, they can either exit to the endzone or back sideline.
2. equipment and/or props must continue to make forward progress out of the competition area in a timely manner or receive a penalty at the discretion of the Chief Judge.

10. The Chief Judge will afford units’ field entrance/exit flexibility within the overall 15-minute timing framework in the event of unusual or confining physical circumstances.

5. STARTING PROCEDURE FOR PERFORMANCES                                                

11. All Cavalcade shows will follow a standard script for announcing groups:

As the band enters the field: “Please welcome to the field from [City, State], the  [High School] Marching Band”.

[There will be no other announcements from the announcer until the cue from the chief judge.  At that point, the announcer will state:

“Performing their show [Show Title], Cavalcade of Bands is proud to present [High School Marching Band Name]”.

12. If a group has a drum major, this should be timed to the chief judge signaling the announcer.  
13. The use of unique, themed, or prerecorded opening presentations is completely acceptable. Information about any unique starts must be communicated to the Chief Judge upon entering the field. Such recordings cannot begin until the Chief Judge has indicated approval to the band director or staff member to begin.

1. A director or staff member must communicate with the Chief Judge on when the actual judge’s portion of their show begins.  The Chief Judge will then signal all judges to begin judging.

14. At the conclusion of the performance, the host-supplied announcer will acknowledge the band one more time.  No additional announcements will be made.

6. PROPS & EFFECTS:                                                                                

1. Visual Effects are to be performed or created “live” at the contest by participants of the school (these members are included when making declarations for the purpose of classification). Penalty: 5.0 points per violation
2. The triggering of electronic music, sound effects, voiceovers, any/all lighting effects and/or visual items (e.g., “remote control”), is only permissible by a student performer who is within field boundaries. Penalty: 5.0 points per violation
3. Adults are permitted to transport props to and from the performance field and secure these props during the performance.
4. Props may only be moved during a performance by students to create an effect or multiple stagings on the field. Penalty: 5.0 points per violation
5. The use of the following is strictly prohibited at every Cavalcade of Bands event: balloon releases, pyrotechnics, fire extinguishers, bubble machines, water draining devices, fireworks, gun powder, flash paper and any other dangerous or flammable substance of any type, or any effect which may be considered harmful to persons and/or property.  Penalty: 5.0 points per violation and potential disqualification from future performances.
6. Flashcubes and ornamental lighting are not considered pyrotechnics.
7. Any questionable effect must be viewed, approved, and cleared by the Cavalcade Administrative Team.
8. Prop usage at any Cavalcade of Bands event is at the sole discretion of the band director. While the Judging Coordinator or Chief Judge on site may allow flexibility to prop usage due to weather considerations and safety, Cavalcade of Bands assumes no liability and or financial responsibility for the loss, or injury, due to prop usage.
9. Any use of electronic wireless transmitter/receiver units that utilize a radio frequency is limited to when the group is staging and the actual performance period. The use of this equipment in any other area is strictly prohibited. Penalty: 5.0 points per violation and potential disqualification from future performances.
10. Mixing and mastering of all electronically-produced sounds can either be done by a performer on the established performing surface or a staff member off the performing surface. If mixing and mastering is being controlled by a staff member, that can take place either on the front sideline (between the podium and stands) or from a designated area in the stands near the fifty (50) yard line.

1. This staff member must stay with the board for the duration of the group’s performance. An adult may operate a mixing board or wireless mixing device, ONLY for the purpose of managing volumes and balances. Allowing an adult to operate a soundboard does not grant permission for them to “contribute directly to the music or visual program.”

11. Cavalcade of Bands assumes no liability and/or financial responsibility for the loss of effects or related materials due to the delay, postponement, or cancellation of an event.

7. RULE INTERPRETATION & PENALTIES:                                                        

1. Any rule interpretation made during an event must be given by the Chief Judge to the Cavalcade Administrative Team for documentation purposes.  Depending on the situation, the results of the rule interpretation may be distributed to all active members.
2. Declarations of missing performers will not be considered. Directors may inform the judging panel via Competition Suite of special needs performers through the show information section that is submitted.
3. Penalties will be assessed by the Chief Judge at the contest. Penalties must be observed, audible or visual by the Chief Judge to be valid.
4. Freedom class bands must follow all established guidelines but will not be impacted numerically by penalties.

8. STAFF PROTOCOL DURING A PERFORMANCE:                                                

1. All staff, instructors, assistants, parents, etc. are directed to stay as far back from the field as possible following the start of the performance.
2. Staff members or designated adults may enter the performance field during a group’s performance to attend to an issue affecting the safety of student performers or respond to “catastrophic” equipment failure (such as loss of power or total equipment failure) without penalty, by direction of the Chief Judge for the event. It is viewed that those aspects are the same as a musical contribution to the show and therefore should only be produced by students within field boundaries.

1. Adults may provide direction to student operators of such equipment, so long as they remain outside of the performance field.
2. In the event of catastrophic failure, an adult is allowed to enter the performance area to fix the sound board, so long as the individual is not coaching and/or directing students.  This applies to groups that have percussion ensembles stationed on the front sideline or anywhere on the field.

3. There will be no direction, coaching or conducting physically or verbally during the performance, except by student members of the participating unit.  Penalty: 2.0 points per violation
4. In the event of an emergency, (1) one staff member may be designated to direct the unit in lieu of a drum major. This person must be declared to the Chief Judge prior to the unit’s performance.

1. The Chief Judge at the event will report all such incidents to the Judging Coordinator immediately following the contest.
2. Repeated emergencies under this rule should be addressed directly with the Administration Team.

9. AWARDS:                                                                                          

1. Scores and placements will be announced for each class and divisions at all events.
2. Freedom bands will only have a rating announced. 
3. Specialty Awards:

1. Physical trophies will not be presented for guard/percussion awards.
2. Any type of specialty awards should be presented to all classes and divisions at a show.

10. JUDGING & COMMENTARY:                                                                 

1. Cavalcade will be responsible for scheduling judges for all events on the official schedule.
2. Payment to judges will be in accordance with the current judging pay scale approved by Cavalcade.
3. Commentary & scoring will be available only through Competition Suite.
4. Scoring will be in line with the current Cavalcade methodology for marching bands in the adjudication manual.
5. Directors are expected to provide a show synopsis via Competition Suite that can be accessed by the judging panel.

11. CRITIQUE & POST SHOW EVALUATIONS:                                                

1. Post contest meetings will start no later than thirty (30) minutes after the last judged band has finished performing and will end no later than 10:00pm.
2. Order for critique will be based on the order of performance. If a group is traveling a significant distance to a show, this may be adjusted by the Chief Judge onsite at the show.
3. Three stations will be available composed of the show’s adjudicators: Music, Visual, and Effect.  A maximum of four (4) staff members should be present at each table at any given time.

1. The Chief Judge has the ability to lower this amount if the physical space for critique is not conducive.

4. Critique for each group is limited to (4) minutes for Weeks 1-5, and (3) minutes during Weeks 6-8.  There is no critique at championships.
5. The Chief Judge has the final authority during critique in regards to matters of misconduct and/or unprofessional behavior and can dismiss any or all persons as a result.

1. If such behavior is noted, the Chief Judge will inform the band director or their designee.  The critique meeting will immediately cease.
2. A second occurrence by any member of the staff will result in only the director of the school being eligible to attend post contest meetings for the next two regular season Cavalcade of Bands events that the school attends.
3. If the director is the offending member, then no critique will be held for that school for the next two two regular season Cavalcade of Bands.
4. Unprofessional behavior at a critique may be reported to the school’s administration by the CEO of Cavalcade of Bands..

6. Directors have the opportunity to give feedback on the adjudication panel at a show through the weekly evaluation form.  This will be available from Sunday at 2:00pm through Monday at 5:00pm following each week’s performances.

12. MARCHING CHAMPIONSHIPS ELIGIBILITY:                                                

1. All bands participating in championships must have participated in at least two (2) official Cavalcade of Bands events by the championship contest date, one of which must be during the last four (4) weeks of the season prior to Championship weekend.

1. One (1) judged exhibition per season shall be sanctioned as one of the two official Cavalcade of Bands events.
2. The minimum requirement may be waived by the CEO in the event of a teacher strike, inclement weather, or cancellations. Any additional extenuating circumstances may be presented to the Board of Directors by the CEO for a special vote.

2. Bands may be excluded from performing in championships if they have any unpaid registration fees.
3. Groups joining the circuit after the 4th weekend may perform at championships in judged exhibition but not be eligible for awards or placements.

13. MARCHING SEASON TIMELINE SUMMARY: