Contests, festivals, and other adjudicated activities are important features of the Greer Band program. Through these activities we obtain valuable feedback about our progress as individuals and as a program. Although we never "live or die" by any one judge's or any panel's opinion of our performance, it is important that we learn the value of giving maximum effort and standing by the results as our best possible effort that day.
Competitive performances are packed with emotion. Because of the time, work and discipline required to produce award-winning performances, we develop great camaraderie within the organization. We share hardship, discomfort, tedium ad nauseam, fatigue, oppressive heat, chilling cold, long bus rides, disappointment, tears, success and joy.
Along with these emotions go high levels of tension, which often causes students to react immaturely. We learn to avoid these normal pitfalls and channel our energy and attention toward the goal of performance excellence and the ultimate success that will follow.
All members of the Greer Band stand with silent pride as scores are announced and graciously accept the results, regardless of outcome. We show our appreciation and respect for those who have earned the right to score ahead of us and gracefully accept our own successes. Many of our competitors will not understand that we are able to congratulate those who are ahead of us and appreciate their performance. Those are the people that will not ever know the true reason for participating in competition, but will mistakenly equate winning with coming in first. We will come in first when we deserve to based on our performance. Until then, we know "winning" is the state of every individual having endured the hardships, taken the chance of competing, and done their personal best in the pursuit of excellence.
The band's image is based on each individual. Our public reputation is based on our appearance, our actions, and our projection of pride and organization. It is the responsibility of each member to insure that we present the best possible image at all times.
