I was wondering how different people handled the non-playing elements of their Solo & Ensemble, PASIC, I&E, etc. style solos. Please include anything or everything from outfit (head to toe) to warm-up (in front of judge or in practice area, parking lot, etc.) to your interaction and amount of interaction with the judge(s) (introductions, greetings, etc.) to the level of confidence/ cockiness that you display. Everyone discusses the solo and how you play it (which is definitely the biggest, most important, and most necessary part of your performance), but no one really thinks about, discusses, or practices the elements of your solo beyond preparation of the solo itself, which can also have and effect on the success of your performance.

Well my school band requires to wear our concert dress. Which is basically a white dress shirt, black dress pants, and a tie. We also wear black socks with black dress shoes (I don't have any dress shoes, but my marching shoes pass off hehe)

For warm-up, everyone crowds into one large auditorium and just does their own thing. I personally do some rudiments, and then run my solo over and over.

Interaction with the judges is minimal. We wait outside the room until he/she calls us in. It's not really our choice though, the judge just says,"Okay play when you're ready."

I don't usually give off a large cockiness level, but i keep my confidence to my self. I believe in me.

ThatDude basically hit it on the head. You are usually herded into one large room, for example, The highschool this past used the gym to warm up, the band room for percussion, and the class rooms for wind and string players.

Your going to want to dress in a dress shirt and pants, with dress shoes. I did'nt do a tie, But I did wear my sharpest clothes for solo and ensamble.

Unlike what you see in the DCI solo video's, you really don't talk to the judges. You come in, and hand them a clean copy of your solo. (usually the book, you play the photocopy) Depending on the rules, the judge may ask you to play a few rudiments, open to closed to open. And then they double check the solo, and tell you whenever you are ready.

Stay confident, If you mess up, don't show it, Keep your feelings confident, but Keep it in. Usually you see the judge scribble for about what seems like a year after your done. He will look at you, and he might ask a question, or he will tell you thank you. Then find the board, and your rating is posted on it. If you get a one, you can buy a medal or ribbon sometimes.

When I started this thread, I intended it to be used as a comparison between what others do and what I do and to adopt some of their ideas if I liked them. Therefore, I think that I should tell what I do so that others can have more to compare and choose from...

I usually wear black slacks and a button-down shirt. For my warm-up, I will play a few exercises/ warm-ups in the designated "warm-up area" on the drum and then run the solo (parts and whole) a few times. While waiting in the hall I may use a practice pad some depending on if the hall where I am waiting is far enough from any performance areas that I won't disturb anyone while they are performing. I usually don't say much, if anything, to the judge and don't act to confident/ cocky. Since the judge usually tells me to warm-up while he is writing about the previous performer, I usually play some isolated strokes to hear the acoustics in the room. While playing (and just before) I try to think mostly about the music (which keeps me from being nervous). Hope this is useful to someone.