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As we get closer to our summer tour, we give the members a “Tour Survival Guide” with more details on how members and their families should prepare for tour itself. The following is a FAQ for new (and old) Crusaders parents to supplement the Tour Survival Guide that your child will get at a later date.
UPDATE: To view or download the 2010 Tour Survival Guide, click here
This FAQ was compiled by two Crusader moms, and is in two parts; the first is a parent’s questions for the organization, answered by our administration, and the second is a parent’s questions for other parents, answered by our helpful moms.
Part 1 - Questions from a parent, answered by boston crusaders administration
How was my student chosen for the Boston Crusaders? Was it on musical talent alone?
When we select 'Boston Crusaders,' we look at the whole person. While musical talent and visual ability are crucial, the right attitude carries a great deal of weight as well. Work ethic can be just as important, if not more important than the best performance 'chops.'
Is my student guaranteed a spot in the corps year after year?
Only Drum Majors are guaranteed a spot from one year to the next. This gives everyone an equal chance at membership, and the responsibility to stay in shape for the following season.
What is an average day on tour like? From sun-up to sun-down?
On an average show day, we typically arrive at a housing site around 2 or 3 in the morning. We always try to give the members floor time (a few hours of sleep in the gym), even though we encourage sleeping on the bus. Starting there:
8:00 AM wake up/breakfast
9:00 AM Visual rehearsal
11:30 AM Lunch
12:30 PM Sectional rehearsal
2:30 PM Ensemble Rehearsal
4:30 PM Eat, shower, load equipment
6:00 PM Depart for show
8:30 PM Perform
11:00 PM Post-show snack, then depart show site for next housing facility
repeat
What kind of food does my child eat?
We feed our members 4 meals a day. Here is a sample menu:
Breakfast: (We prepare at least one warm breakfast a week.)
Cereal
Pastries/Bagels/Bread
Milk, OJ, Cranberry Juice
Lunch:
Macaroni and cheese with ham
Dinner:
Roast beef with scalloped potatoes
Post-show snack:
Leftovers from lunch and dinner
Cake, snack mix, etc
How much adult supervision is there on the buses and in the school locations?
On tour, a member's bus seat is like their room at home. We try to respect their privacy while on the buses and in the gym. We do have a Drum Major assigned to each bus. Most of the time on the bus is spent either rehearsing as a section or sleeping.
At the schools, again, respecting the member's boundaries, the staff sleep in a room adjacent to the gym, the volunteers in another, and the members usually sleep in the school gym itself, boys on one side, girls on another, with an empty 'demilitarized zone' of about 100 feet in between sides, where the Drum Majors sleep.
How often will my student be able to replenish their supplies?
We schedule a free day/laundry day every two weeks at the most, where in addition to being able to do laundry, the members usually have access to a mall or a Wal-Mart to re-supply anything they need. If it is an emergency supply issue, our support staff will be able to make a run to a local store.
Does my student have any responsibilities (other than taking care of themselves/instrument, etc) for the whole group while on tour?
Yes, EVERY member of the corps is assigned to a 'crew.' The responsibilities of these crews varies, from lining the fields we rehearse on, to cleaning the school, to loading the equipment, and many others.
Will my student be able to attend religious services, if they so choose?
Unfortunately, our tour schedule does not allow for the inclusion of services every week. We suggest you and your child meet with your spiritual adviser to decide on the best course of action.
Should my student bring any medical supplies or is that provided by the corps? Is so, what medical supplies should they bring? Is there a camp "medic" to take care of the kids?
We try to have a registered nurse on the road with us at all times. With or without a nurse, our support staff is always available to take a member to the nearest hospital or clinic. We suggest that each student bring the following as far as general 'medical' supplies:
Sun Block AND Aloe
Ace Bandage
Anti-histamine topical cream (Benadryl)
Ibuprofen
Band-Aids
Blister Pads
Maalox/Pepto Bismol/Immodium
What type of discipline is there for students who disrupt the tour due to illegal activities?
We have a zero-tolerance policy--if a member has broken the law while on tour with us, he or she may be sent home immediately, at their expense.
Are parents welcome in the camps along tour just to watch rehearsals? How do parents go about being part of the tour? What jobs are available?
Parents are definitely welcome to attend and observe rehearsals, at camps, and on tour. We always have a need for volunteers at camps and on tour. We particularly need help with food preparation and souvenir sales this summer. If you would like to volunteer for any amount of time, please contact the corps office at 617 268 4600.
How far in advance are parents able to know the housing site information to make their own reservations in close proximity to those sites?
Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of each show as to how far in advance we know the housing locations. When we can, they will be available on our website if you click on the individual show link.
Does my student have the option of taking the bus back to 'home base' after finals, either back to Boston area or Florida area?
No, we dismiss the buses after finals. We will depart from Lucas Oil and bring all of the members to the nearest airport (IND)
Part 2 - Questions from a parent, answered by a parent
Question: What should I do about exposure to the sun?
Strongly, strongly encourage your child to wear sunscreen; don't let up with them. This is a battle with my own child. This is one item where you have to buy the best product. Send them more at the announced mail drops. My child liked the spray on type; so he could easily reapply often when they were out on the field for long periods of time. It made it easier for them to apply onto their own backs and shoulders plus then their hands were not greasy. I know they wear gloves but he didn't want to chance the lotion messing with his horn. It is quite expensive and he went through it fast but at least then I knew he was using it. They definitely need a supply of the lip stuff that is recommended (DCT, made by Blistex—again no substitutes); my kid used a lot of this to protect his lips. I also sent with him some high powered lotion for sun on the face. He always wore a hat and sunglasses. As a parent the best you can do is encourage, encourage, encourage them to protect themselves; buy whatever they need and they will use; and resupply as often as you have a chance.
Question: What happens when my child gets sick . . . or ends up in the hospital?
Please don't think that this is never going to happen . . . it did to us . . . but the tour director was awesome. Our child received great medical attention promptly. Don't worry--even if your health insurance is a HMO. Both times that our child was taken to the hospital, our insurance covered it. We had no problems getting his medication filled at the pharmacies either. MOST IMPORTANT: Make sure that the paperwork that you filled out with the corps is up to date and accurate. This information is placed in a folder and the tour director keeps it close at hand. It is definitely needed, used, looked at, and a must if your child gets sick and needs to see a doctor. I can not emphasize enough at how crucial this is. Make sure there is a copy of the insurance card in this file. I asked the insurance company to send me another copy of the actual card and had my child put it in his wallet. Even after the tour ended, we found the medical billing offices and our insurance company to be polite and helpful when settling the copays. Don't worry--well you probably will still worry, but everything worked out; and our child was fine. FYI: No matter what, they will not want to let any sickness keep them from performing. Our child performed with tonsillitis in Atlanta and went to the doctor they next day.
Question: What if they lose their wallet?
Don't worry, they won't starve. I would suggest that you take you child to your bank and get a separate debit card account/system set up, and use at home computer banking. One that you can monitor from your home; you can deposit more money into it as the tour proceeds or withdraw all of the cash immediately from if they lose it. Everyone tried to find our son's wallet, but they had been in a hurry at a truck stop in the middle of the night and one thing leads to another . . . But get a card they can use anywhere; even at gas stations for incidental items that maybe only totals five dollars. We did send him cash at the mail drops but never more than forty dollars at time. Also, I had the bank set up his account so that my account could never be accessed via his debit card. I did have to get a duplicate photo ID, insurance card, etc. But it all worked out.
Question: What if I don't get a call from my child?
They are very, very, very, busy and when they do have down time (which is limited) they are exhausted. We felt that our child called only when there was a problem, "I lost my wallet"; "I went to the hospital"; "I have tonsillitis" etc. I do know that his cell phone was not always fully charged--it is difficult to get to a power source sometimes. I have not tried those new cell phone rechargers that are battery operated, but I think they are worth looking into. I have also heard that text messaging does not require as much power. I recommend getting a text messaging plan for you child; they will love it for keeping up with their friends and family members. If you do get *really* worried and haven't heard from them in weeks, you have three choices:
1) Call the office (They can tell you if they are still alive!)
2) Get on the discussion part of the website and post a note to ask other parents to try to reach your child through their child, or
3) Get yourself to the next show! (I prefer the last choice!!!) When you go bring a bag of stuff for them: cash, suntan lotion, small junk food type items, any other Walgreens type things.
Question: What should they take with them?
They can never have enough socks and t shirts . . . have your child ask the vets in the corps. They do like seat buddy items, suction cup holders for bathrooms, bungee cords. These work great for the bus on tour and we found them at Linens and Things/Bed, Bath and Beyond type stores. Otherwise we went to Wal-Mart and followed our child around while he got what he wanted and then I had the big job --- pay the bill! Sorry! I do suggest disposable cameras; our child took a brand new digital camera, threw it into his backpack and smashed it one day. The disposables are cheaper and the ones out now take great pictures.
P.S. They need good shoes! Flip flops are a must ---- they have to take good care of their feet; the feet need to have air time!!!
Question: I was thinking about coming and volunteering . . . how do I do it?
Awesome . . . please come . . . your child will definitely appreciate having you there even if they don’t show it!!!! My child ignores me most of the time but he likes having me there just in case . . . and yours will too. Aero beds are the greatest invention. I have one that folds up into a bag and transports easily. Don’t worry about the shower situation . . . I usually go after lights out or when the kids are at rehearsal but even at that they are soooooo tired when they get to the showers; they don’t even know that you exist!!! But that one time when their stomach is upset, or their throat hurts a little, or they just want that band aid for that little blister ---- and you are there to provide that bit of comfort; the entire trip was worth it and you don’t feel that lack of sleep need anymore! The group of volunteers that I have been around always treat every child the same; as if it was their kid.
Question: What can I expect when my child returns home?
Your child will lose weight--without a doubt. Do not buy them new clothes until after tour. We had to buy new clothes for his post-tour figure. We were also advised to keep the old stuff--just in case he put the weight back on. Some kids do. My child put back on about ten pounds.
Give them time to “come down from their emotional/physical high” and give them time to tell you everything, if they chose. On our plane trip home, our child slept and then woke up and talked and talked and talked. He had so much to tell us and wanted to relive every moment possible. Your job is to listen, smile, laugh, and share.
They may have trouble readjusting to situations where sitting for a long period is required--like going to class at school. They will feel that they are “wasting their time” and “being useless”. It should go away within one to two weeks.
They will view things more as an adult--rationally and with integrity--but with little patience for those showing a lack of respect for hard work. This might be evident, if they are a part of a high school or college marching band. They may have trouble adjusting to a relaxed atmosphere, where starting times are not a major issue, being totally prepared is not a group goal, or paying absolute attention is no big deal.
Also, once a Crusader--always a Crusader--these kids become unbelievably close to each other and their instructors. Don’t feel left out; they may turn to them before you on certain issues. Don’t worry, they are getting excellent advice.
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