Purchasing The Right Equipment This is something you and your guard director must sit down and discuss. Many guard directors have different opinions on guard equipment. However, if you do not know anything about the equipment and you want to know more, or if you do not have an instructor and you don’t know what to purchase, then maybe the following information can help you. There are many companies that will sell you these products. My suggestion is to save all of your catalogues and pick the company that will offer you the cheapest price. Poles – Most color guards will use 6-foot poles, and we use silver aluminum 6-foot poles. Anything smaller is not used much anymore. Not many color guards will use 5 ft poles because the flags that are attached are too small to create the visual impact you need in a show. Poles are easy to get and are cheap. However you will need a lot of them, so the cost adds up. We purchase a set for practice flags and every show flag. Each student will receive a practice flag and three show flags. If you have 20 students, then that would be 80 poles. However, once you buy them, you will never have to purchase them again. (If your students take care of them) I also purchase silver only. This is a personal preference. If I want to have black poles, then I will tape them with black electrical tape. Rubber Tips, Weights, and Tape – Every pole that you purchase will come with plastic tips. They are no good and throw them away. The poles need to be weighted and a bolt will not fit in those plastic tips. You will need rubber tips for your poles. Many companies sell them, and some will give you two rubber tips for every pole you buy if you add $1 to the price of each pole. They come in black and white. I usually get black and if I want white, then I will tape the tips with white electrical tape. The weights I use are 2 ½ inch carriage bolts. You can buy these at Home Depot or Lowes. I put one on the top only and a few washers on the bottom. Again, this is my preference. Your guard director may want something different.  The extra weight on the top of the pole makes it easier to throw and cut through the wind. If you don’t weight your poles, then your flags will be caught in the wind outside and you will have a field full of flags on the ground during your halftime performance. The tape we use is black and white electrical tape. Again, you can find these at any hardware store, or you can get them in some catalogues. Hide your white tape though. It is expensive and my tape has a tendency to disappear due to guard girls and drummers who need to tape their sticks. Practice Flags – In the past I had to purchase fabric for my practice flags, because companies would only sell 30 x 40 practice flags. These flags are too small for 6ft poles. So I purchased fabric and had my parents sew them. Finally, two years ago I discovered a company that sold 36 x 56 practice flags. My thoughts were “Thank You Lord!” This size is perfect for 6ft poles and they are only $8. My parents can concentrate on making show flags and not practice flags. My suggestion is to use you school colors. They work great in parades and other events when you don’t have a show flag that matches the school colors. Get Practice Flags For Home – I can’t begin to tell you how beneficial this is. Because I have found a company who makes the right size practice flags, I can now have my students purchase a flag for themselves. For $25, we provide a student with a pole, rubber tips, weights, tape, and a flag. It is their own personal practice flag to take home and leave it there. The practice flags at school belong to the district. Now the students do not have to take a flag home everyday. Many of my students would not practice at home because they could not take a flag on the bus, could not get their flag after school, had students try to mess with their equipment, or they just forgot. Now they have no excuses anymore. It has improved the quality of the guard dramatically. We are also looking into doing this on rifle. Flag Storage – If you have a guard of 16 students and each student has a practice flag, three show flags, and a rifle than you need a place to put them when they are not using it. First find a room to store the equipment. Drummers with rifles are not a good thing. Also use something simple like a trash can to store flags and rifles and keep them locked up. The flag carts that most companies sell are big, bulky, and a waist of money. I had a parent donate flag storage containers. He built about ten 3- foot tall boxes out of wood for the students to store flags, rifles, and sabers. Also, you will need flag bags to transport all the equipment to football games and contests. The 6ft multi flag bags are great for this. They will store 15 to 20 flags easily. Some companies say they hold 30. They do, but when you stuff a bag that full, the straps have a tendency to break after awhile. You will also need equipment bags for weapons. Be sure to get the deluxe. These bags are stronger than the standard. Rifles – Many drum corps and some high schools will use 39inch rifles. We don’t use them at all. We have very small girls on our guard and we have found that 36inch rifles works best for our girls. A 39inch rifle is heavy, bulky, and hard to spin and throw for a 5ft freshman. Besides, no judge can tell the size rifle you are spinning nor do they care. Your score will always be based on what you can do with the rifle, not what you have. I purchase the 36inch Elite rifle with leather strap. I would suggest getting a leather strap. They last longer. You will also need tape to wrap the rifle. Each rifle needs to be wrapped for weight purposes and so the rifle will last. We wrap our rifles completely from tip to bottom twice. Again, this is all personal preference. Talk to your guard director to see what is best for your color guard. We also train every member on rifle, so we purchase a rifle for every student. I will discuss why we do this later in this article. Sabers – We use 39inch sabers. Sabers are not hard to spin or throw in regards to weight. So a 39inch saber is easy for any size student. The fundamental technique is what makes the saber so hard to master. We use a white padded 39inch saber with a Spanish hilt. However, I am looking to making the switch to the new Excalibur sabers. Do not purchase these unless you have someone who can train your girls on how to use them. I will talk about the advantageous to a saber line later. Flag Fabric – Some band directors will purchase flags pre-made. This is fine if you have the money. You can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars if you were to purchase the fabric and make them yourself. Find several parents in your guard and band that can sew and who would be willing sew flags for you. Flags do take time, but they are relatively easy to make. By doing this you can design your flags based upon your show, however if you do not have experience in designing flags, then look through some catalogues for some ideas. I will discuss picking colors later in this article. The fabric you want to use is Polly China Silk. Nylon is durable, but very heavy and very noisy when it’s spun. Polly China Silk is light and comes with many different varieties of colors. Other specialty fabrics can be used, however they are more expensive. The following is a list of fabrics that can be used with flags •        Polly China Silk – Very light and durable fabric with many colors. The most common used material in flags •        Tissue Lame – A shiny material that gives a little sparkle to the flag. The material is a little more expensive and a pain to sew, but can be effective in a show •        Shaded Chiffon – shaded chiffon fabric is pretty neat. It is a fabric that features a gradual change in color from dark to light across the width of the fabric •        Crepe - A lightweight, translucent and durable fabric with a twinkling effect that reflects light •        Specialty Fabrics – There are many different kinds. Different companies will sell you different types. Things like iridescent, twinkle, prints, holographic, and tie-dyed. •        Nylon – Don’t get this. The fabric is durable but heavy and very hard to spin. You be much better off with the fabric above. Most companies don’t sell this anymore, but some still do. Winter Guard Floors – When I was ready to purchase my first floor, I had to ask many questions and do much research on the subject. What size do I get, what color, and how heavy should it be? •        Weight - Every floor has a certain weight. You can get any where from 10 ounces to 18 ounces. The lower number, the lighter the weight and easier to transport, but the durability is not as good. A 10-ounce floor may last you a couple years. A higher number indicates a more durable and longer lasting floor, but it can become pretty heavy. The heavier the floor, the more students you will need to pull it during a contest. I get somewhere in between. I use a 13-ounce floor. •        Size  - There are three standard sizes, however you can get them in any size you want. The standard is 50x60, 50x70, or 55x80. Choose the floor that best suits your guard. If you have a small guard (8 to 12), then 50 x 60 maybe what is best for you. If you have a medium sized guard (13 to 22) then 50 x 70 may work for you. A larger guard (23 to 30) will need the 55 x 80 larger floor. The extra 15 feet makes a difference when all 28 girls are spinning on the floor at the same time. 50 x 70 is the most common purchased floor in winter guard. •        Color - The standard color is white, however companies will offer different colors. My suggestion is to go neutral. Lets say your winter guard show is based on water and you want a blue floor. You purchase the floor and have a great season. The floor was perfect. The next year you have a budget problem and you cant afford another floor. Well, now you are stuck with a blue floor. Now you are limited on your show selection and color choices. We have two floors with two colors on each side of the floor. Some companies offer floors with two different colors on each side. These are great. We have one floor that is white on one side and gray on the other, and a floor with black on one side and tan on the other. It is like having 4 different floors to choose from. If you cant afford a floor every year and you have to make it last for 3 to 5 years, than purchase neutral colors like white, black, gray, or tan. Or get a floor with two different colors. If you are going to paint your floor, than you need to purchase a white floor. This will make painting the floor easier. There are not many companies that sell floors, but if you ask the right people, they can point you in a direction that will give you the best deal. If you would like to know where I get my floors, please e-mail me and I will provide you with the company I use and some other companies that I know of. My e-mail is available at the end of this article. Floor Cart – You will need a cart to transport your floor. I have used many carts that I have bought from home depot or Lowes, however they have always busted on me by the middle or end of the season. Some companies will sell specialty made carts just for floors. They are expensive, but worth the money. The last thing you want is a floor cart falling apart right before a performance. (Don’t laugh, it has happened to me) Uniforms – When selecting a uniform for your guard, you need to think of several things. Before you go through your checklist, decide if you will have your uniforms designed or will you select from a catalogue. The cheapest and easiest way is to select from a catalogue. I have done both. I have designed my own uniforms based upon the show, however if I can find a uniform in a catalogue that fits my show, then I will do it. Many companies will let you alter the uniforms within reason. You can certainly change the colors of any uniform in a catalogue and not change the price. Some things to remember 1)        Choose the right colors – Make sure the uniform colors are going to enhance the quality of the show and will reflect what it is you are trying to say. Certain colors evoke a certain feeling or mood. 2)        Remember form and structure – A dress will probably not work for a very bound and heavy dark show. A tight pink, green, and orange uniform will probably not go with a pirate themed show. What kind of show are you doing? Does it have a theme? Or is it abstract? A simple example is say your show is based on squares, then you want straight lines in the uniform, or if the show is based on circles, then have curved lines in your uniform. It is that simple. If you have a themed show, you will probably have to get your uniforms custom made. A good example is the Cavaliers 007 show. You will never find guard uniforms like that in a catalogue. 3)        Keep in mind the body shape – All girls are different heights and sizes. Please keep your girls in mind before you pick a very tight spandex uniform that shows every inch of their bodies from head to toe. 4)        Think about the community – Think about what the community might think before you select it. If you are in a very conservative community, you might want to think twice before you pick a uniform that will show a lot of skin. The best thing is if the uniform has a chance of being “controversial” then your better off not picking it. I have seen some very questionable and suggestive uniforms in my time that would only get me hung by the parents of my community. If your not sure, then ask a parent or let your administration look at it. They will be your be your best judge of what the community reaction may be. 5)        Keep the cost down – This is a general rule I keep no matter how wealthy the girls on my guard may be. The really cool $150 uniform that matches your show may be what you want, but it may not be what your students can afford. Do the research. There are plenty of companies that have uniforms under $100. Also, if you don’t have a big budget, then keep it simple. Black dance pants and a neat looking $30 top you find at woman’s clothing store in the mall can work. Even the most simplistic uniform can be the best fit for your show. 6)        Get your students in the decision process – I am not saying let your guard pick the uniform, but do get their opinion. I select several uniforms that I like and I show them to my guard to get their reactions and opinions. If they really like a particular uniform and I like it as well, I will usually go with it. You want your guard to be happy wearing the uniform; otherwise you will get a season full of complaints at every game. This also gets the girls in on the process and lets them know that their opinion matters. It gives them ownership in the program and they will love you for it. Some band programs will purchase the uniforms for their guard members, but most will have their students purchase the uniforms. We have our guard members purchase the uniforms every semester. We make it very clear to every student before they join the guard that they must purchase two uniforms per year. That is one per semester. Our budget is too small for us to purchase uniforms for every student. Guard Shoes – We have the students purchase this as well. During the winter guard season I have the students bare foot, however during the football season, they wear guard shoes. We use the Kulerswift guard shoe. They are not the best looking shoes, however they are more durable and provide the split toe feel that I am looking for. The silhouette, impulse, and mirage dance shoes are all right, however they are not very flexible and they are a bit uncomfortable. The chicago, starlite, or legato dance shoes are great for indoors if you want a shoe for winter guard, however they don’t last long and they are not very durable for the marching season. The kulerswift, freestyle, and capizio shoes I find are the best for outdoors. They are comfortable for the students, pretty flexible for dance, and durable. Do not get the lyrical shoe. They can fall apart the moment you get them. (It has happened to me) Some guards will have students bare foot during the marching season. My own personal opinion is that is extremely dangerous. I do not agree with students going out on a marching field with no shoes. Anything can be out on that field including rocks, mud, or tiny pieces of football equipment. Not to mention the weather concerns. I feel VERY strongly about it and I think it is wrong. That is my opinion though and you can take it or leave it. You have to do what is best for your students. Gloves – Some guards wear gloves and some do not. I have my guard wear them. We use them to get a better grip on the equipment. Also, rifles are easier to catch and I don’t use sabers without gloves. You can purchase fingerless weight lifting gloves through various companies, however I tell my students to take a trip to Wal-Mart or Target and buy all-black weight lifting gloves themselves. If there is one thing they will forget or loose the most, it is their gloves. If they get them at Wal-Mart the first time, they will know where to get them the second, third, and fourth time when they loose them. Make-Up – The make-up is chosen by the officers and myself. I let the officers help in the decision. The general rule I keep is the make up should match or help enhance the uniform. Eye shadow, eyeliner, lipstick, blush, and glitter (if your want it) is all you really need. I keep the make-up very simple, however they do wear a lot of it. I tell my officers the colors I would like to see and they do the research. They look for the best deal. Companies like Mary Kay and Avon will usually give you some really great deals. Last year I was able to get eye shadow, eyeliner, lipstick, blush, glitter, and a make-up bag all for $20. There are deals out there; you just have to find them. If you cant do it, have your officers do it. My girls love shopping for make-up. Bags, Jackets, and Polo Shirts – These are other items my guard students must purchase. Bags are great to keep the many various items they need in a performance and for practice. Things like gloves, tape, make-up, and a change of clothes. We get maroon bags with a logo and the school name on the side. Jackets are neat but not necessary. My first year doing winter guard was riddled with comments like “Why does that guard have cool jackets and we don’t” I got tired of hearing it and said if you are willing to pay for it, then I will get them. It has become such a big deal, that now it is considered a rite of passage. You are not a true member until you can walk the halls of the school with a jacket. The girls think it is a big deal and it creates a sense of pride in the program. The entire band purchases polo shirts. Most schools do this now as a secondary uniform for hot games and pep rallies. Again, these items are what works best for me. There are so many products to choose from and many guard instructors have their opinions on what works best for them. Hopefully I have given you an idea of what to purchase and where to start. If you would like to have a list of companies that I use, I would be happy to e-mail you a list of the companies I purchase these items from. Please find my e-mail below and I will get the list to you as soon as I can.