Students should arrive at TDHS by 8:00 A.M. on the designated Saturday morning.

• Typically, our designated Saturday is in early September -- it's still summer. 

  • • Students should dress in shorts and show shirt or Thomas Dale t-shirt 

• Bring or wear their marching shoes.

• Bring or wear long, black socks.

• Guard members will be instructed on what to wear -- typically it is the show shirt and shorts.

• When they get to TDHS, they will put on their uniforms. If this is their first time wearing their uniform, section leaders will be walking them through putting it on. They will also learn how to put it away properly.  

• In the week or so before tag day, students will sign themselves up in groups according to car size -- that's why we need drivers ahead of time! 

  • • If a car can hold 6 students, then a group of 6 will be formed

    • If a car can hold 4, then a group of 4 will be formed. 

    • Kiddos will be assigned to cars by Mrs. Ramsey. 

Students bring their instruments and can play 🎶 a little something for the folks answering their door.  Guard members can spin their sabres and rifles to show their skills!

They can also play as they walk down the street to drum up some interest. 

Students will get a slip of paper the morning of Tag Day with a short spiel of what to say to potential patrons. It goes something like this:

Hello, we are Thomas Dale Marching Knights, and we are going door-to-door asking for donations to help us this season. Your donation will help us with transportation, uniforms, instrument repair, and other equipment. If you would like to help us, you can write a check or give us cash. Also, we can leave you this tag with our upcoming events which also has our Venmo, CashApp, and address if you prefer to send a donation. We hope to see you at a performance!

Volunteer to be a driver! Click on our Volunteer Opportunities page to sign up to be a driver.

We need parents to chaperone student through neighborhoods and hold any money collected.

First of all, thank you!

On or before Tag Day, you will receive a packet that contains the following:

• a map of a neighborhood you will drive through

• guidelines for driving

• an envelope to keep money in

• a sheet to keep track of sales

• tags to give to residents

• You will be responsible for 4-6 band students.

  • • • Students sighed up during class or marching band rehearsal to divide themselves into groups according to car size.

      • Students will divide themselves into groups of 2 or 3 (depending on car size) to cover more houses more quickly. 

        • • • For example,  one set of students will go door-to-door on one side of the street, while the other set walks down the other side of the street. 

• Once you get your neighborhood packet on the morning of Tag Day, you will follow a prescribed route.

  • • • Students will walk from door-to-door asking for donations.

      • You will mark on the neighborhood map, the homes you were able to visit  (map provided).

      • You will also record the money you collect from each household (paper provided).

• Required items to bring:

  • • • Fun, positive attitude -- this is hard work, but it is fun and rewarding!

      • First Aid Kit with 

        • • • gloves (for you)

            • bandages and antibiotic ointment

            • ice pack

            • You cannot give students any medications

• Nice, but not required: 

  • • • Students are walking for roughly 4 hours in their band uniforms when summer weather is still prominent. You may consider bringing

        • • • Waters/Sports Drinks in a cooler

            • Light breakfast / salty snacks

Possibly. 

Our goal is to make sure groups of students are paired with drivers. 

If your child signed up with a group of 6 students (because there was a group of 6 available), but your car holds 4, then you will be driving a group of 4. 

Whatever group of kids you get are pretty awesome, and will appreciate having someone who will be chauffeuring them around the neighborhood. 

You would think so; however, we earn roughly $10,000.00 after 4 hours of ~100 students genuinely stating that we benefit from our community investing in an incredible group of kids who work hard learning and playing music to perform for that same amazing community!