Last practice on Oct 23

Just a note - today I took some time to go over what is and what isn't appropriate to wear during the last practice run through of our show, commonly referred to as 'the naked run though'.  It is not naked.  Never was, never will be. 

This weird tradition started when many of today's band parents were actually band members (so it's YOUR fault...lol).  Back when marching seasons used to go into November, it started snowing toward the end of our last practice.  The drumline (of course) yells out "let's do the run through naked!" and several boys took off their shirts and marched it in the snow.  

The next year, the same thing happened and a weird tradition was born.  But even then, I told the students that if they were going to do a dumb thing like take off their shirts or shoes or whatever that it still had to be appropriate.  Some girls once tried to march in bras only but I put a stop to that on the spot.  Silly  stuff.

So I tell students this simple rule:  If it is a Trenton HS sports uniform worn in public (swando girls like to wear their team swimsuits sometimes), it's fine with one exception.  Boys swim team who wear speedos have to do something else - speedos on the internet look like skimpy underwear and we do not need that kind of rep.  

Over time, it's become more of a costume thing anyway.  Bunny costumes, horse head masks, fun stuff like that.   I figured that it's a team building thing and harmless - if not taken too far.  

Only about a third of the band members actually participate anyway and most of those just kick off their shoes and march barefoot just to see what that's like.  

SO.....I need your help, parents, to keep this a happy and appropriate little weird tradition.  Please make sure that I don't have to go up to your son or daughter and tell them that they have to cover up and be appropriate.  Bunny suits - yes.  Birthday suits -  no.   

I think the worst thing about this whole dumb thing is the name because the actuality of it all is that it's pretty "Disney" clean and I make sure that it stays that way.  "Naked run through".  *sigh*  But as I said, it was circa 1990-92 that it got started so it's all your fault, parents.  Lol.