HCB INFORMATION GUIDE FOR BAND MEMBERS
I’ve tried to synthesize as much pertinent information as possible here for your reference. Please read through this short handbook carefully and if I missed anything or, if you have any questions whatsoever, please contact me. Thanks! Tom Gellert
REHEARSALS
The HCB rehearses Monday evenings from June 24 through July 29. Please make every effort to get to rehearsal AHEAD of our downbeat at 7:00 PM in order to unpack and get settled in for the long haul. We generally rehearse from 7:00PM to 9:30 PM with a short break in rehearsal scheduled at about 8:30 PM. *Please keep our rehearsal area neat and clean by removing water bottles and any trash around you. Also, please take all personally owned instruments, mutes, mouthpieces, sticks, mallets, etc. with you. We are guests in our rehearsal space and would like to stay in the good graces of our host. Thanks for your cooperation!
ATTENDANCE
I rely on the information on your band commitment form as a basis for keeping sections of the band BALANCED for the duration of the season. I do understand that sometimes conflicts arise at the last minute and that you must miss a rehearsal or concert.
Generally speaking, I am very understanding about one time emergency “last minute” change in your band commitment/participation however, I respectfully ask that you contact me immediately as soon as you know that you cannot attend a rehearsal or perform with us.
If you miss a rehearsal I generally do not allow folks to sit-in and “sight-read” that week’s concert EXCEPT in very, very rare situations. Please do not jeopardize the integrity of your band section or, the public performance of our band by being a surprise “no show” – talk to me in private and let’s make things work smoothly for everyone concerned. Each member of this band is a “key” performer.
BAND PARTY
Our season culminates in a band party immediately following our last concert. Every band member may bring ONE (1) guest and I will poll the band ahead of our final week in order to plan for the amount of food to order. Both meat and vegetarian offerings will be available. Please try to join us for this event as it gives us a chance to share each other's company before we go our separate ways until next season.
CONCERT DRESS / BAND SHIRTS
Our “official” concert dress is white HCB polo shirt, black pants/shoes. You do not have to purchase a band shirt (unless you’d like to) as a plain white polo shirt (no other logos, please) is perfectly acceptable. Please, no summer dresses, shorts, flipflops or sneakers.
A limited quantity of new HCB logo polo shirts are available for sale ($20 each) at rehearsal until they sell out. Most men’s sizes are available (XS, S, M, L, XL, etc.). You may pay for shirts by cash or check made payable to the Huntington Community Band.
CONCERT LOCATION / PARKING
Our concerts are held at the HARRY CHAPIN STAGE in Huntington’s Heckscher Park at the intersection of ROUTE 25A (Main Street) and PRIME AVENUE. Please do not confuse Huntington’s Heckscher Park with Heckscher State Park on the south shore in East Islip!
Parking at Heckscher Park in Huntington can be a challenge on the Wednesday evenings of our performances. There is handicap parking in the lot immediately adjacent to the Heckscher Museum (entrance on Prime Avenue). There is street parking on 25A by Old First Church and, also Prime Avenue paralleling the park (and on some side streets, too).
CONCERT CALL / START TIME / END TIME
The call for our concerts on Wednesday evenings is 7:00 PM SHARP, RAIN OR SHINE (unless otherwise notified – see cancellation policy below). Please unpack and leave your instrument case in the air conditioned green room backstage. DO NOT LEAVE ANY VALUABLES in this space. Arriving prior to our call at 8PM should (in most cases) allow you to secure a parking spot. At approximately 7:45PM I will give last minute performance notes and then we will tune carefully.
With the exception of the LAST 3 concerts when we have pre-concert entertainment by members of the band at 7:00PM, our concert downbeat occurs at 8:00PM often immediately preceded by public announcements.
The first 4 concerts conclude at approximately 9:30PM. Concert 5 (our last performance and grand finale) sometimes goes just a little later.
CONCERT CANCELLATION POLICY
It never fails that we may have one or more Wednesday evening concerts where the weather is threatening to cancel our performance. The decision to cancel is based NOT on the rain as much as it is based on lightning action. We have a very loyal audience who come prepared with rain ponchos and umbrellas so, do not assume that even if it is raining heavily by you that it is the same at Heckscher Park. Despite the threat of rain and occasional light drizzle, we try our best to get our concerts in for the benefit of our audiences.
The ultimate call to cancel a performance is made by the HAC, Huntington Parks Public Safety and me sometimes at the very last minute. On the day of each scheduled Wednesday evening performance I remain in close contact with the arts council regarding weather concerns throughout the day AND, I will post updates and get them out to you, as warranted. Therefore, unless you receive an email from me or, you see an advance cancellation notice on our website (www.huntingtoncommunityband.org), on our Facebook page or, on the Huntington Arts Council website (www.huntingtonarts.org) - PLEASE plan to show up for the concert at 8PM (our normal call time).
CONCERTS - CLEAN-UP
I will rotate weekly concert clean-up responsibilities at the end of each concert. Any additional help is greatly appreciated. At the end of each concert please make certain that your folder is returned to the folder crate so that the last concerts music may be removed and new music placed in the folder.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: HCBwebmaster@gmail.com
FOLDERS & MUSIC / SIGN-OUT
Concert folders are normally shared 2 on a folder. In general, concert folders will have 2 complete concert’s worth of music pre-stuffed each week. This gives stand partners an opportunity to sign out the folder to take home for practice. Some important requests:
- ALL MUSIC FOLDERS MUST BE SIGNED OUT AND ONLY COMPLETE FOLDERS MAY BE SIGNED OUT – Please DO NOT take individual parts home where they may be lost or separated from the folder. Please keep concerts SEPARATE in your folder, i.e., do not mix concert 1 music with concert 2.
- PLEASE use clear tape to join together multiple pages of music whenever you take the folder home. This will: (1) help to keep multiple pages together in sequence; help to keep multiple pages from blowing off your stand; and, (2) help to keep individual pages from blowing off your stand.
- ALL FOLDERS MUST BE RETURNED AFTER SIGN OUT! If you are going to be absent and have a folder in your possession YOU assume complete responsibility and must make arrangements to get the folder to the rehearsal/concert! Thanks for your cooperation.
- Fill red folder, found in your band folder, with music from previous concert. We will collect that right after the concert.
HCB “BIG BAND”
The “HCB BIG BAND” (jazz band) performs week 4 (July at 7:30PM PRIOR to our full band concert at 8:00PM. The band is under the direction of HCB Assistant Director Dan Bilawsky and will rehearse at our 4th rehearsal at 6PM. Further details and personnel assignments will be forthcoming.
LIBRARIAN / MUSIC
Requests for copies/missing music should be directed to the Band Librarian's attention. Please see him at a rehearsal if you are missing any music or need an additional copy.
MARKING MUSIC
Please bring a pencil for marking music to every rehearsal. Thanks!
“NOTES TO TOM”
Please make use of the “NOTES TO TOM” pad at rehearsals to get a message to me. You are also welcome to call me at home or, on my cell. Email works, too!
SPONSORSHIPS
The HCB relies on Town of Huntington / Huntington Arts Council funding in additional to band sponsorships for our year-end party, purchase of band music, tee shirts, supplies, equipment, application and membership and borrowing fees to professional band lending libraries, Huntington Arts Council, postage and shipping fees, fees associated with our domain name/website, honorariums, guest soloist/conductor honorariums and more.
Any band or member or family wishing to contribute to our annual cost of running the band is welcome to contribute to sponsoring the band. Sponsors will be listed in our concert program. Checks may be made payable to the HUNTINGTON COMMUNITY BAND. Thank you.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Huntington Arts Council
www.huntingtonarts.org
Huntington Community Band
www.HCBand.org
HCB Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/Huntington-Community-Band-Huntington-NY-93878881286/