Tag Day
Overview of Tag Day
Tag Day is our annual, district-wide fundraising event in which band students go door-to-door and simply ask for tax-deductible donations. We give everyone a tag which contains information about the band, our performances, and ways to support our bands.
At 8:00 AM on a Saturday morning toward the beginning of the school year, band members and volunteers meet at Thomas Dale. Students put on their uniforms while parent volunteers pick up their packet of neighborhood information.
From 9:00 AM to noon, TDHS Marching Knights visit neighborhoods that all feed into Thomas Dale High School, knocking on doors to ask for donations while parent chaperones keep an eye on them and keep track of the money they collect.
Marchers' Responsibilities
⏰ When do the kids arrive at TDHS?
Students should arrive at TDHS by 8:00 A.M. on the designated Saturday morning.
👕 What do the kids wear?
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.
🚗 Which cars do the kids go in?
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.
🥁 What about their instruments or equipment?
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.
🏠 What do the kids do when someone comes to the door?
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!
Ways To Support:
🧭 Parent Volunteer
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.
🚘 I signed up to be a driver; what does that mean?!
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
🚗 Guidelines for Driving
You will be responsible for 4-6 band students.
Students signed 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
🚙 Will I be driving my own child?
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 they will appreciate having someone who will be chauffeuring them around the neighborhood.
❓Ok. I'm pretty skeptical. Is going door-to-door effective? It seems invasive and antiquated.
You would think so; however, we earn roughly $8,000.00 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!
Kids in uniforms are unique and adorable -- the community appreciates earnest, legitimate requests.