Coda

Well that's about it except for the appendices and who bothers to read appendices? If you've read this far good for you! That's more than the editor did but then "brobdingnagian" had to be explained to him. You would think that an editor would have a proper dictionary at hand. You might even be excused for imagining that someone who is in the business of editing the written word would understand a reference to one of the towering achievements of English literature in the first place. What a yahoo.

Sorry. Irritation got the upper hand. A good band parent can't let that happen. Irritation goes with the job. The Band Parents' Institute has identified 143 types of irritations endemic to Band Parenting and many more no doubt remain undiscovered.

Space does not permit a detailed consideration of how to deal with every type of band parent irritation. OK. That's not true. There is plenty of space. It's laziness, pure and simple. Only the more interesting irritations will be covered. You will soon experience all the others anyway.

1-Band Member Behavior Irritation (BMBI)

Since Band Parents are parents of band members they live in a constant state of (at the best) near irritation with band member behavior. For some this acts like a vaccine which inoculates them from being further irritated by other band members. For most this acts as a sensitizer making them especially susceptible to BMBI. BMBI is insidious because it takes so many forms, almost as many forms as there are ways for band members to behave. Chaperone band parents are most affected because part of their duties is to pay attention to band member behavior and if necessary inspire the band member(s) to change it.

The most effective way to deal with BMBI is to get far away from band members to an environment of pleasant good cheer. There is a charming outdoor bistro in Salzburg, Austria that suits this purpose perfectly.

2-Contest Judging Irritation (CJI)

A not always rational but entirely understandable irritation caused by contest judges who score based on the performance they saw and stubbornly refuse to realize how hard the band members and directors have worked for the last four months. Deal with it by complaining for several hours to other band parents and then going out for a nice dinner. Repeat as needed.

3-Fellow Band Parent Irritation (FBPI)

This occurs when band parents do not exactly agree on purposes, plans, budget, schedules, etc. which is all of the time to a greater or lesser degree. But its not our fault. We have been negatively influenced by years of observing the behavior of the Congress from whom we learned how not to get along (and from whom we learned how to place the blame for this on someone else like the Congress).

Deal with this by realizing that if you complain too much they may elect you as the next BPO President (or worse, Treasurer). If that still does not calm you then you probably deserve what you get which will be to be elected the next BPO President (or worse, Treasurer). Just don't say you weren't warned. If you already are BPO President, (or worse, Treasurer) deal with it by finding some unwary soul or rather some public spirited individual to replace you in office.

4-Football Fan Behavior Irritation (FFBI)

A common chronic irritation caused by football fans who make a lot of noise during the bands' half-time performance. There is no known way to eliminate the cause of this irritation. Deal with it by hoping the team is eliminated as a play-off contender so that the season will be as short as possible.

Copyright 1996 by George Yenetchi

Copyright 1994. 1995, 1996 , 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 by George Yenetchi