When a marching band travels for a major performance, there’s no room for error.
Rehearsals have been happening for months. Students, families, and administrators are invested. Performances may be judged, ranked, or represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students. For directors, the pressure is real, and travel logistics shouldn’t be the thing that adds stress.
That’s why so many marching band directors choose Educational Travel Adventures (ETA) when planning high-stakes performance tours.
We’re Here to Help
If you have ever taken a marching band on the road for a major performance, you already know the truth: this kind of trip is not just travel.
It is the final chapter of an entire season’s worth of rehearsals, fundraising, late nights, early mornings, and constant pressure to deliver when it matters most.
That is exactly why Educational Travel Adventures (ETA) approaches marching band performance tours differently.
Recently, our team had the opportunity to support Wando High School from South Carolina on their trip to Bands of America (BOA) Grand Nationals in Indianapolis, the biggest marching band competition in the country. And what happened on that tour perfectly captures why so many directors trust Educational Travel Adventures when everything is on the line.
A BOA Grand Nationals Tour Is High-Stakes Travel
The Bands of America Grand Nationals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is massive. More than one hundred of the top programs from across the country come together to perform, compete, and chase the dream of making finals.
For Wando, this was not just another trip. Their program is nationally respected, and they had been rebuilding in recent years after changes that impacted their numbers and momentum. When a band travels that far to compete at that level, the expectations are high.
At Grand Nationals, only the **top 12 bands** make finals. If you are a director bringing your band to Indianapolis, you want the trip to run smoothly, but more importantly, you need your students to be able to focus and perform their best.
That is the real challenge of performance travel.
The Unexpected Challenge Before They Even Arrived
Wando’s students had already been going nonstop since summer band camp. By the time November arrived, they were exhausted in the way only marching band kids can be: still showing up, still working hard, and somehow still pushing forward.
Then, just two days before their planned flight, the group made a major last-minute decision. Because of concerns around the government shutdown at the time, they pivoted to traveling by bus instead.
That meant a long ride from South Carolina to Indianapolis, with almost no time to mentally reset.
Still, the students showed up with focus, professionalism, and grit.
Late nights. Early mornings. A packed schedule. And yet, they kept going.
A Thousand Things Have to Happen at Once
If you have ever been backstage at a performance venue, you know what it feels like. Every minute matters. Every transition matters. Every decision impacts the next one.
At BOA Grand Nationals, that intensity is multiplied.
As Jason Dimiceli, one of ETA’s Performance Tour Specialists (and former band director), described it:
“There are moments where a band has ‘a thousand things that have to happen,’ all at once, and in different locations.“
That is where ETA’s on-site expertise makes the difference.
For Wando’s trip, ETA had a unique advantage: three band experts on-site supporting the group, plus a tour manager focused on the larger logistics.
That meant:
- Someone could be guiding drum majors through Lucas Oil Stadium
- Someone could be with the full band as they moved through warm-ups and performance logistics
- Someone else could be in line, securing rehearsal schedules for the next day
- Everyone stayed in constant communication, so nothing was missed
Instead of one director trying to be everywhere at once, the load was shared by a team that truly understood the performance environment.
Directors Should Only Have One Job on Performance Day
The truth is simple: the band director’s job on performance day is not to worry about buses, schedules, timing, or “where do we go next.”
Their job is to lead.
Performance travel is already stressful, but BOA Grand Nationals is the culmination of:
- Thousands of hours of rehearsal
- Months of planning
- Significant financial investment
- Endless emotional energy from staff and students
When the stakes are that high, even one small logistical issue can become a distraction that throws everything off.
ETA’s goal is to remove distractions before they ever reach the director.
Jason explained it best: “The ETA team can anticipate issues, solve them quickly, and even read situations without needing to be told. Sometimes it is non-verbal. A look on a director’s face is enough to know what needs to happen next.”
That kind of support only comes from real experience in the band world.
The Student Energy was Exhausted but Incredible
Even with the intense schedule and long travel days, Wando’s students kept their spirits up.
Yes, they were tired.
The kind of tired that comes from 2:00 a.m. nights and 5:00 a.m. call times.
But they were also fully in it. They worked hard, stayed positive, and supported each other through every rehearsal and performance.
Even in the high-pressure environment of Grand Nationals, the program culture stood out. Everyone stayed calm. Everyone got along. Everyone treated the experience with professionalism and respect.
That atmosphere matters more than people realize, especially on a trip like this.
The Moment Every Band Dreams Of
Wando performed, advanced to semi-finals, performed again, and then the announcement came: They made finals. Top 12.
The emotional payoff was huge. Cloud nine. Tears. Pure joy.
Under the stadium lights at Lucas Oil, they delivered a beautiful performance and became one of the standout stories of the entire competition.
For the staff at ETA, it was an unforgettable reminder of why we love what we do. When you get to walk alongside a band during moments like that, you are not just operating a tour.
ETA Offers More Than Travel Support
Many student tour operators can book hotels and buses. Some may even have staff who understand band travel. aBut ETA’s difference is deeper than that.
Our team includes people like Mark and Ryan, who are **Bands of America judges**, including Grand Nationals judging experience. Jason himself comes from a successful band directing background (and is on the BOA event staff). That means directors and students are not just supported by travel staff.
They are supported by people who understand:
- What the performance demands
- How BOA events flow
- How to move a band efficiently through a stadium setting
- What matters musically and visually in the moment
And when a BOA judge tells your students, “That sounded really good,” it hits differently.
- It carries weight.
- It builds confidence.
- It becomes part of the story your students remember forever.
A Smooth Tour Lets the Band Focus on What Matters
The best compliment a performance tour can receive is this: “It went so smooth.”
Jason shared that Wando had traveled to Grand Nationals before and used other companies, but this time the experience felt easier, calmer, and more supported.
That matters because a smooth tour does not just make adults happy. It helps students perform better. When travel logistics fade into the background, students stay focused. Staff stays calm. Directors can lead. And the performance becomes what everyone remembers, not the stress.
Ready to Plan Your Marching Band Performance Tour?
Ready to Plan Your Marching Band Performance Tour?
If you are planning a BOA Grand Nationals trip, a festival performance, a parade, or any high-level band travel experience, ETA is ready to help you create a tour that feels:
- Organized
- Calm
- Supportive
- Expertly run
- And unforgettable for your students
Because at the end of the day, your band deserves more than transportation and hotels.
They deserve a team that understands what this moment means.
Educational Travel Adventures is here to help your students shine when it counts.
Want to read more about Performance Tours with ETA?
