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SLO Tiger Band

San Luis Obispo High School Tiger Band

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Uniform Guidelines & Care

SLOHS Band Uniform Care Policies

The Tiger Marching Band wears special uniforms that are provided for your use.  Students are responsible for the care of this uniform and will be asked to pay for the replacement of damaged items.  This might include stains, body odor, rips, or mildew.  The jacket, bibs, shoes, hat, hat box and garment bag together costs $550.  Please help to ensure the uniform looks good for many years.

Hemming Instructions

It is important to make sure the pants and jacket are all ready for marching season. The deadline for hemming to be completed this year is: Friday, August 27th. Your section leader will be checking to make sure your uniform is ready.

You are welcome to ask another parent or have a professional hem them, but they must follow these instructions!!! Please read over all the instructions carefully. First and foremost – DO NOT CUT ANY FABRIC when adjusting the hem!

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Pants

  • Determining the hem length:
    • Band members MUST have their band shoes on when being fitted.
    • Have the student stand straight, at attention, looking straight ahead. Before determining pant length, adjust the shoulder straps to achieve proper crotch position. Pants should not hang unreasonably low in the crotch area, and the straps should not fall off the shoulders.
    • Measure up 2” from the ground at the back of the uniform. The hem should hit mid-back of the shoe. The front should barely touch the top of the front of the shoe.
  • Sewing the hem:
    • Use sturdy, doubled, BLACK thread ONLY.
    • Safety pins and tape are NOT acceptable.
    • Iron-on hem tape or hem adhesives are NOT allowed.
    • Hem stitching SHOULD NOT BE VISIBLE on the top side of the garment. Please hem by hand. DO NOT use a sewing machine to hem the pants.

  • Pressing the hem:
    • Once you have finished hemming the pants, the new hems will need to be pressed. CAUTION!!!! AN IRON SHOULD NEVER TOUCH THE UNIFORM DIRECTLY, SO PLEASE USE A PRESSING CLOTH OR DISH TOWEL OVER THE FABRIC. If a hot iron directly touches the uniform, it will damage the fabric, causing it to take on a shiny appearance. We do not want that!!!

Coats

  • With your student wearing the coat and resting arms at sides, fold the sleeve ends under. Slide them up until the sleeves end at the wrist bone or slightly longer. Snap sleeves in place at that length. Secure the hem on the inside of each sleeve with 4-6 single secure stitches even if the snaps work well for a good sleeve length. The students tend to quickly shove their hands into the jackets and it’s easy for the snaps to come undone when they are dressing if the stitches aren’t in place.
  • If the snaps do not go as high as needed for the proper length, secure the hem on the inside of each sleeve side seam with a single secure stitch. Stitching should be minimal and easy to remove at the end of the season.

Please contact the Uniform Committee Chairs with any questions.

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Proper Care of Uniform (You will sweat at least 2 cups per event):

Hang jacket and pants correctly on the hanger.

  • Pants: Align the seams at the cuffs and fold over hanger.
  • Jacket: These hangers have a front and back.  If the jacket is hung backwards, damage can occur to the shoulders.  The curve of the hanger is like shoulders that point to where your chest is, to where the front of the jacket goes.  Zip and hook the clasp.
  • Stay wrinkle-free: If your uniform is hung correctly, you’ll never have to iron the pants. 

Air out your uniform for 24 hours after wearing.

  • Don’t Zip: Never place zippered garment bag/uniform in a car or airtight area for long.  Mildew will grow.  Get uniform out and hanging in a closet as soon as possible.
  • Let the sweat dry: Hang your uniform in a closet, outside of the garment bag, for at least a day.  Then return it to the garment bag and leave unzipped, to stay protected.
  • Hats: Open box, turn hat to expose hole.  Place up high, away from pets.
  • Shoes: Clean any dust and return to garment bag after airing.  Don’t ever seal the plastic bag.  The bag just keeps the garment bag clean and will be handy if we march in rain.
  • Repack: Place your black socks into your garment bag once they’ve been washed.

If rained on, ventilate garments if they become wet.

  • Hang the jacket on a chair in a well-ventilated area for at least 48 hours, until perfectly dry. If wet garments are not thoroughly dried, mildew will form and can permanently damage the uniform. 
  • Hang the pants correctly on the hanger and let them dry. Let mud dry before brushing it off.  If wet mud is rubbed into the pores of the fabric, it could leave a stain.
  • Contact Mrs. Surfleet about any mud that doesn’t come off and she’ll have it cleaned.

Take pride in your appearance in the uniform.

  • Take time to put your uniform on and off correctly, and wear it properly.
  • Try to remain standing or sit only on clean surfaces.
  • Never eat while in your uniform and drink only water, to avoid stains.
  • If you’ve taken off your jacket, but still have on your pants, you are still in uniform.

Some instruments will leave marks on your uniform.  If your uniform needs to be cleaned, show Mrs. Surfleet immediately and she may have you take it Village Cleaners.  Do not attempt to launder them yourself, as improper cleaning voids the warranty.   All uniforms are collected in December and professionally dry cleaned at Village Cleaners at 3212 Broad Street.

If you need any uniform changes, contact student Uniform Captain, Lindsay McKee, in class, or Jenni Lanier at sneakylanier@gmail.com.  

SLOHS Band Uniform Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines for every event, especially competitions.  Uniform inspections will be held.  Consider a marching season hair cut! 

  • Hair must not touch the collar of your uniform.  Wear it up and inside your hat.  We suggest a bun that’s formed at the top of your head, not the back.  Some students try multiple ponytails or braids.  Experiment before your first event.
  • Hats are worn low at ear-top and eyebrow level, not tilted back.  Chin straps are buckled and snug, so the hat does not move while marching.  Try tightening the shoestring inside the hat, if needed. 
  • No fingernail polish or jewelry.  No necklaces, rings, earrings, watches, or bracelets.
  • Wear deodorant and a t-shirt under a jacket to prevent armpit stains and smells.  Do not wear a tank top.  Jackets must be buttoned and zipped at all times, unless given permission by the band director.
  • Wear bike shorts, spandex or supportive underwear that make it easy to change in a public place.
  • Black calf-high socks are to be worn with your special marching shoes.
  • Pants are not to touch the top of the shoes.  They should hang straight down and just rest at the shoes.  If you grow during the season, please drop your hem and hand sew it in place. 
  • Do not eat while wearing your uniform, even if just in your pants.  Drink only water.