download the policies (Adobe PDF 83K) >>

RMPA Membership

Active Membership will be provided upon online registration, membership activation and acceptance by the Board of Directors.

Membership Fees

Class	Fee
Novice	$200
All Other Classes	$750 for the first ensemble $300 for additional ensembles from the same school/organization

Privileges of Active Membership

• Ability to participate in all RMPA Competitions during the 2012 competition season.
• Seven (7) Passes for Staff, Parents or Assistants.
• Two (2) Parking Passes for truck/trailer parking at each RMPA competition.
• Reimbursement of $200 entry fee for the Denver WGI Regional competition.
• Electronic copy of 2012 WGI Adjudication Manual & Rules.

• Online registration will be available beginning December 1, 2011.
• Prelims schedule, by class, for RMPA Championships will be determined by completion date/time of activated online registrations.
• To activate your registration, full payment must be received by January 20, 2012.
• Show participation confirmations will be distributed by February 6, 2012. Any adjustments will be due from the ensemble director by February 18, 2012.
• Registrations received after January 20, 2012 will be assessed a $100 late registration fee.

Evaluation Clinic

All ensembles registered to compete in the A or Open classes are required to attend the Evaluation Clinic.  Attendance by World Class groups is optional, but encouraged.

Contest Dates / Locations / Ticket Prices

• Active Member Ensembles may apply to host competitions. See Hosting an Event for more information.
• Host applications will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis - beginning September 27, 2011 - with priority given to those locations which have previously hosted RMPA shows successfully.
• RMPA competition host fee will be $1,300 for a Single Performance (Finals Only) Show.
• Hosts may request to host a prelims/finals show, for which the total fee will be $2,000.
• The host fee for the Evaluation Clinic will be $250.
• As with WGI Championships, indoor warm-up areas are not guaranteed at any competition, but will be equally offered, if available.

Out of State Ensembles

Video tapes or DVDs must be submitted to the Executive Director or Judge Coordinator at least 14 days prior to the competition. Tapes will be reviewed by the Judge Commissioner for classification purposes.

Contest Time / Lineup

• Timeline for each specific contest will be published on the website at least 10 days prior to the competition date.
• Ensembles will be scheduled by Class (Novice, A, Open, and World). Concert ensembles will perform first within their class, followed by marching ensembles. This schedule will be implemented for all RMPA competitions. For judging purposes, at RMPA Championships ensembles will be scheduled by Class, with concert groups scheduled in a concert block.
• As contest schedules are developed, there will be a one minute interval scheduled between each marching ensemble, where time permits. Ensembles will not be allowed additional time for set-up/performance/exit.
• An RMPA representative will be in the pre-staging area to enforce Article 5.8, "For the protection of the wooden competition floors, all equipment must be properly taped or otherwise be prepared to assure that damage to the floors will not occur. Damage to the floor such a may occur by dragging the tympani; wheels on carts locking, etc. will be the responsibility of the units and is subject to penalty." To comply with Article 5.8, all metal surfaces must be taped so that no metal surfaces will come in contact with the floor. This includes music stands, cart handles and pieces of equipment where the "rubber feet" are excessively worn or are missing. (WGI will conduct inspection at Regionals.)

Participant Cancellations

Ensembles cancelling their participation in an RMPA competition less than 14 days prior to a competition are subject to a penalty of $100 to be paid prior to the ensemble competing in their next scheduled competition. Non-payment will result in the ensemble being ineligible for participation in subsequent contests. This fee applies to cancellations by any ensemble for any reason. This cancellation fee will be paid to the host school to compensate them for lost revenues.

Contest Check-in

• Unit check-in at each RMPA competition will be at the RMPA souvenir table, or another designated location.
• Each ensemble will be issued 7 Passes for Staff, Parents or Assistants.
• Each ensemble that sent a representative to the previous summer’s General Meeting will receive one additional Staff Pass.
• Additional "Season Pit Passes" may be purchased for a cost of $5 per person. The maximum number of additional Pit Passes may total 50% of the number of competing members of the ensemble. These pit passes are not valid for watching the competition from the viewing area. Additional individuals assisting ensembles with equipment and instruments must purchase admission to be allowed into the performance area. Payment for Season Pit Passes must accompany your registration fee (due by January 20, 2012).
• Replacement of lost or destroyed Staff Passes and/or Parking Passes will cost $25 per pass.
• Two VIP passes to RMPA Championships will be provided, upon request, to each ensemble for use by school administrators or other VIPs as designated by the director of each ensemble. As RMPA does not have any affiliation with the Colorado High School Activities Association, CHSAA identification/passes will not be accepted for admission to RMPA events.

Digital Media Players

• RMPA will no longer be utilizing digital media players for judges’ commentary. WGI has introduced a new system that streamlines the entire tabulation and commentary system. RMPA will release more information about this system and the policies and procedures regarding it as the season nears.

Video Recording

• RMPA will designate a video recording area at or near the top of the seating area at each regular season contest. This area will be located as to provide a good view of the performance area, while staying out of the judges’ way. Only one person will be allowed in this area at any given time, and is for the use of the ensemble performing at that time ONLY. No other video recording, from any other location, will be allowed at RMPA contests.
• There is no video recording allowed by individuals at RMPA Championships. This event is professionally recorded and DVD’s are available at the RMPA merchandise table.

Staff Seating

• RMPA will designate an area of approximately seven seats for staff seating at RMPA events. This area will be located near the top of the seating area, but not directly in front of the judges. The area will be as close to center as possible, with direct access to and from an aisle. Staff seating is for the use of the ensemble performing at that time ONLY.

RMPA Adjudication

• For each RMPA competition, the Judge Coordinator will recruit and select judges of substantial caliber for each specific category.
• At all RMPA Competitions, the Judge Coordinator will select one of the judges to be Chief Judge.
• The Chief Judge will be responsible for approving all penalties at RMPA competitions.

Critique

• At RMPA competitions, critique will take place beginning 15 minutes after the last competing ensemble has completed their performance.  Critique will provide the staff of each ensemble approximately 3 minutes with each judge.  Ensembles will not be allowed to attend critique if the participating staff members have not listened to the judges' tapes.  Lineup for Critique will be similar to the contest lineup.
• At the RMPA Championships, only those ensembles participating in the WGI Championships will participate in critique.

RMPA Championships

• Prelims schedule, by class, for RMPA Championships will be determined by completion date/time of activated online registrations.
• Parking Passes – 2 per ensemble – will be provided for equipment parking. All other vehicles, including cars with participants, will be required to park in the spectator lot.
• RMPA Championships – proceeding to the Finals competition – Based on the WGI format used at regional competitions to focus on the highest audience draws, 100% of World class ensembles will progress to Finals / 75% of the Open class ensembles will progress to Finals / 50% of the A class ensembles will progress to Finals.
• At the RMPA Championships, only those ensembles participating in the WGI Championships will participate in critique.
• Two VIP passes to RMPA Championships will be provide to each ensemble for use by school administrators or other VIPs as designated by the director of each ensemble. Requests must be received by the Executive Director by March 31st.

RMPA Contest Ticket Prices

Excludes WGI Regionals, RMPA Championships and Evaluation Clinic.

Venue	Adult	Student / Senior
Prelims or Finals (Single Performance)	$10	$5
Combo / Prelims and Finals (Double Performance)	$15	$10
Evaluation Clinic	$3	$3

Ticket prices for the championship will be:

Venue	Adult	Student / Senior
Prelims Only	$14	$7
Finals Only	$19	$10
Combo	$24	$15

Miscellaneous

Medals and Drum Heads will be ordered on March 1st based upon the count of ensemble membership and outgoing seniors/age-outs noted on the registration forms, unless the Executive Director is advised otherwise prior to March 1st.