"I Have a Conflict - What Do I Do?!?"

The question has come up a few times very recently about conflicts between Marching Band and (fill in the blank) activities. Sometimes the conflict is with rehearsal, and there is one particular event that some folks are very interested in that conflicts with a performance. Here's the lowdown:

• Rehearsals are essential to our overall success. If you are truly ill (raging sore throat, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, etc), we don't want you to infect the rest of us and you should probably stay home. If you are "ill" (tired, lethargic, bummed out, weary, ticked off, sore, etc), get off your behind and get to rehearsal! If you have relatives who are in town for this night only and you won't see them again until you get married in another 15 years, bring them to rehearsal with you and let them see from the stands this very cool thing you do. If your mom is missing you and wants to have dinner with you, take her out on a Tuesday, or a Thursday, or a Sunday, or any other day when you are not expected to be at Marching Band. Here's the deal: if you are gone, it affects everyone around you and the total sound and picture. UNLESS THERE ARE OVER-THE-TOP EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, COME TO ALL REHEARSALS. PERIOD.
• Performances are not optional. Period. I too would love to go with a group of my friends on a weekend trip to Ashland and see the fabulous Shakespearean theatre and watch plays, but I have made a commitment to the Tigard High Marching Band. And if I am gone, the entire group will suffer. That is not an exaggeration - the performance will not be successful and the scores will go down. Meanwhile, I'm off having fun and my bandmates are back with the MB doing their job. Not cool, not ok. You've made a decision to be part of a group - now be a person of integrity.

This should be the end of this conversation.