January Dubuque Rehearsal & Audition Weekend

January 10, 2018

The January rehearsal and audition for the 2018 Colts will be held January 19 - 21, at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa. Click here for a Google map to the facility. The address is 405 Main St, Dubuque, IA 52001. This camp is for all students in percussion and brass who are contracted, on recall, or are auditioning for the first time.

If this is your second camp, the cost is $60. You are encouraged to pay this fee early on the Colts Mall. The cost for your first rehearsal is $175 (or $125 for returning members) which includes all audition and application fees. Pay the fees online for your first camp in advance and SAVE $25. Deadline for advance payment discount for the camps is the Monday immediately before a camp at 11:00 p.m. This fee covers the cost of your audition and the event and does not apply toward your summer tuition.


Registration and unloading will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Rehearsal begins at 8:00 p.m., and will conclude at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Plan on arriving at 6:00 p.m. to register and unload equipment. Always check colts.org within a few hours of leaving for Dubuque for any last-minute updates!


TRAVEL PLANS
We provide ground transportation anytime to and from the Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ) for Dubuque camps. We can also accommodate flights into surrounding airports (Quad Cities, Madison, Rockford, or Cedar Rapids) but you MUST notify us prior to booking. MLI (Moline) and CID (Cedar Rapids) are very close to Dubuque and reasonable in fare. ORD (O'Hare) travel MUST land prior to 3:30 p.m. on Friday and depart no earlier than 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Midway (MDW) travel MUST land prior to 2:30 p.m. on Friday and depart no earlier than 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. If you plan on using either of these airports, please let colts@colts.org know prior to booking flights.

If you need help finding a ride to camp, or to arrange rides from an airport or bus station, please notify us ASAP by email at colts@colts.org. You can also help fellow members by offering a ride in your vehicle. You can let us know if you have extra room or if need a ride on your RSVP. All flight details should also be listed on your RSVP.


PARKING
Parking is available after 6:00 p.m. on Friday in the city lot next to the Five Flags at the corner of 5th and Main Streets. Parking is also available behind the Holiday Inn, as well as in the Five Flags Center Ramp on the corner of 4th and Iowa Streets. As most of this parking is metered on Saturday, all should be sensitive and aware of where you park to avoid getting ticketed.


CAMP PAPERWORK
Prior to camp, all students will be expected to:

  • RSVP. Regardless of your plans, submit an RSVP so we can keep you up to date. Be sure to include all necessary flight and travel information in the RSVP. If you need a ride from the airport, you will be notified on the Wednesday immediately before the camp who will be picking you up. The RSVP should be submitted each month by interested students.

Prior to camp, first time attendees will need to:

  • Submit a Member Application. Submit your application in advance to save time at check in. All auditioning students must submit a member application. The application only needs to be submitted once per year, unless your information changes
  • Email a headshot of yourself to jason@colts.org. Include your name (first and last), section, and which audition camp you are attending. This picture is placed on your audition form so our instructional team can quickly learn your name and face. This pictures must be submitted before the camp starts and are required of all attending. Make sure the image is clear, well lit, and contains your whole face. And, as great as your sunglasses or Snapchat filters may look, they don't belong in your headshot. This headshot only needs to be submitted once per season.
  • Print and complete the Colts Medical History Form. This form is required in order to audition. The medical form also provides permission to participate in our activities. Students 18 or older may sign their own medical form. Any student 17 or younger must have a parent or guardian signature to participate. Medical forms only need to be submitted once per year, unless your information changes. Be sure to complete both sides!

If this is your second or more camp, you do not need to submit an application, medical history form, or headshot (unless your information has changed!). However, you will still need to submit an RSVP for this camp.


WHAT TO BRING
Students stay overnight in the arena on the floor, as you will all summer. Bring changes of clothes, shower supplies, towel, sleeping bag and pillow, comfortable clothes for rehearsal (no jeans), and tennis shoes (no high tops). Many students will bring an inflatable mattress with a battery-powered air pump. Bring a binder with plastic sleeves for your music and any hand-outs. You will receive an audition t-shirt at check in to write your name on that you will wear for all rehearsal segments of the weekend. If this is your second camp, do not forget to bring your audition t-shirt! Replacement t-shirts can be purchased at check-in for $10.00.

Brass: Bring your own mouthpiece, marching instrument, music stand, binder for music, and gloves. If you do not have access to an instrument and will need one provided, contact colts@colts.org. Be prepared to play the exercises and excerpts provided in the brass packet that best fits your area of interest. You may also demonstrate your abilities with any piece, etude, or excerpt you feel comfortable with.

Percussion: Bring your own sticks or mallets and your practice pad. Prospective members should be familiar with the exercise packet that best fits your area of interest. Front ensemble students may, but are not required to, perform a short segment from a personal selection. Cymbal students should prepare a short musical and visual phrase of your choice. We will provide all instruments for camps. We will evaluate you individually, and as a part of the group.


MEMBERSHIP CONTRACTS
Positions are open in all sections of the corps. Following the weekend, you will receive 1) an offer of membership, 2) a recall for a second audition, or 3) a suggestion to come back again next year, or to consider Colt Cadets. Most will receive a recall to a second rehearsal, so please plan accordingly.

If this is your second rehearsal, we are specifically looking for the growth you have made in the past month. Your audition will be very similar to the prior month, so be prepared in the same manner as which was asked for your first audition. A decision will be made regarding your membership after this camp. If you cannot attend this camp, make sure you are communicating with the office and your caption head about when you will be here.

Individuals offered a contract should begin making payments on your fees immediately when you submit your contract. If you cannot attend this rehearsal, you must be in touch in advance to preserve your position in the corps. Initial contract offerings are valid until noon on Saturday of this rehearsal. We must have a signed contract with initial payment by that time, or the spot will be released to someone else. You can pay your fees by cash or check, or by card online at the Colts Mall.


SCHEDULE CONFLICTS
Camp attendance is critical to our and your success. If you cannot attend this rehearsal but are planning to attend an upcoming rehearsal, you must be in touch with colts@colts.org and your caption head as well. Too much communication is better than not enough.

If you have schedule conflicts with our preseason rehearsals, talk with us. Attending part of the weekend is better than not attending at all. Do not lose your opportunity to perform with the Colts over a lack of communication.


PARENTS
An informational meeting for parents will be held Friday evening at 8:45 p.m. in the Bijou Room in the basement of Five Flags. Bring all of your questions! Schedules will be available at the check in table with locations for everything going on throughout the weekend.

Parents are strongly encouraged to attend the weekend. Parental support is what makes the Colts successful, and you are needed to give the kids the incredible Colts experience we are known for. Also, this is the best way for you to find out about our program, meet other parents, and get comfortable with what this is all about. You will find a very welcoming and exciting opportunity here!

Parents will cook and serve the meals throughout the weekend, coordinate sewing projects, and assist with some repair work or construction projects at the corps warehouse. We always have things to do for anyone willing to lend a hand!

Parents are welcome to stay overnight in designated rooms at the Five Flags Center with sleeping bags and air mattresses. If parents are interested in hotel accommodations, we recommend the Holiday Inn for this rehearsal, as it is attached to the Five Flags Center. Please call 563.556.2000 and ask for the Colts Drum Corps rate for $76 per night. For all events, we recommend the Hampton Inn for your stay in Dubuque. Please call the hotel directly at 563.690.2005, select the front desk, and ask for the Colts Drum Corps rate. Auditioning students are expected to stay with the group overnight in the arena. As always, email or call us with any questions you may have.

Parents are encouraged to sign onto the email distribution list to receive Colts information via email.

All parents and volunteers are Colts Boosters! Plan on joining us Saturday morning, before or after breakfast (approximately 8:30 am), to divide for Saturday projects. If you arrive at a random time, the kitchen or check in table are great places to start with questions about where you can help.


SOUVENIRS
Throughout the weekend, all items in the Colts Mall will be available for sale! Anyone is able to purchase souvenirs - students, parents, friends, family, etc. The souvenir racks will be set up by the check in table, and you can purchase your items there.


SUNDAY AFTERNOON PERFORMANCE
A performance including all participants of the weekend is held Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the Five Flags Center. You will be amazed at the progress we make in just one short weekend!


REMAINING REHEARSALS
February 16 - 18, 2018 | Dubuque, IA Area (Brass Only)
April 27 - 29, 2018 | Dubuque, IA (All Sections)
Move In Dates
May 20, 2018 | Dubuque, IA | Guard and Percussion Move In
May 25, 2018 | Dubuque, IA | Brass Move In


EMAIL AND WEBSITE
Please make sure you have received audition information in your area of interest! These materials are emailed to you after requesting information for the current season. Join our facebook groups for your area of interest! These pages will help you meet other members prior to auditions and clarify questions you may have.
General Interest Group
Percussion Interest Group
Brass Interest Group
Guard Interest Group
Make sure you have signed onto the email distribution list with your current email address, and check your email frequently! Encourage your parents to sign up for the membership emailings too.

Welcome! We are excited to have you as a part of the Colts family!

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