Information Guide for Routine Performances (such as Christmas Show)
General guidelines in first section (below).
Specific items to bring (listed in second section below).
Food notes in third section (below).
Please read and become familiar with all information (below and other pages).
The following is a RULE for West Houston Bluebonnettes: NO gifts.
COACHES AND/OR ASSISTANTS
SWIMMERS (your own child or her/his friends)
COACHES AND/OR ASSISTANTS
- If you want to thank Ms. Elise and/or other coaches and/or assistants, a simple spoken “Thank You” will do fine.
- Standard procedure also does not allow parents to give/receive “gas money” or money to cover or to reimburse other costs of coaches and/or assistants. When individuals are asked to assist, this policy is pre-arranged with them.
- There are two possible exceptions, (1) handmade cards from recycled materials or (2) a photograph. These are allowed as a “Thank You.” None of these are "expected." In fact, a simple spoken "Thank You" is quite adequate. Please don't ignore this rule. If you do, that puts us in an uncomfortable position.
SWIMMERS (your own child or her/his friends)
- If you want to give flowers or another gift to your own child (or if you have guests that want to gift your child), do not do that here, Instead, plan a follow-up event away from here and give/exchange gifts there.
- If your child wants to give a gift to another swimmer, plan a “play date” at your home, and exchange gifts at that time.
- If an unusual situation might allow an exception, please clear it with Ms. Elise first. (For this program — ask permission and honor the answer. Do not “break the rule” and then ask for "forgiveness.")
Supplies you bring (or wear) for Routines
- 1-piece swim suit (modest cut)
- Any color is acceptable; solid black is preferred if you have one or can borrow one. If you don’t have solid black suit and can't borrow one, and if you don’t “need” another suit, don’t buy one just for this. Elise has some solid black suits you may borrow.
- If swimmer will enter figure meet in the near future, a solid black suit is required for that meet, so you might want to go ahead and buy one now. If swimmer will not enter figure meets in the near future, a solid black suit is not required for Christmas. Swimmers who are not competing do not need a solid black suit.
- If you don’t have solid black, possibly choose closest to dark, solid color suit. (ONLY solid black is accepted for competition.)
- Possibly suit from summer swim team will work for synchro swimmers who will not be competing.
- Nose clips (1-2 or more)
- Goggles usually are not worn for performance. (Still, bring 1-2 pairs just in case.)
- For most of our water shows here, if there is a "costume," it is furnished by Ms. Elise. (If there is an exception, that information will be included in the specific instructions elsewhere.)
- Unless this is a figure demonstration, caps are not needed. Caps are not needed for Christmas show.
- Both hair pins and bobby pins (lots of each)
- Fine hair nets (one or several).
- Comb and brush with name on each one. Comb needs one section with fine tooth spacing.
- Water proof lipstick (can be used for blush, also) BRIGHT red color (not pink, not maroon, not orange)
- Lots of tissues (“Kleenex”) to work with make up
- Eyebrow pencil if you have it and decide to use it … NOT a liquid; not “required” to use eyebrow makeup.
- Extra towels (swimmers may be in and out of water several times. Towels help them keep warm.
- Warm shirt/jacket that opens all the way down the front, i.e. is NOT a “pull over” so girls won’t mess up hair.
- Girls may wear nail polish … color to match lipstick …only BRIGHT red; no pink, blue, black, or other colors. (Nail polish is okay for a show. On the other hand, nail polish is NOT allowed for a FIGURE meet.)
- Do not shampoo girl's hair a day or two before. It will stay up better if it is a little less clean.
- For the hair, 24-48 hours before a show = NO lotions, NO creams, NO rinses, NO hair spray, NO gel.
- Ponytail bands must be strong and tight and hard to remove. The average "scrunci" is NOT enough.
- Also, bring SEVERAL EXTRA ponytail bands.
- NO earrings. NO rings. NO jewelry. NO wrist bands. NO bracelets. NO arm bands. NO ankle bands.
- Drinking water for swimmers and for parents here to help with makeup, hair, costumes, etc. Please remember this. It is not reasonable that Elise should furnish this BECAUSE swimmers and parents should have water available any time they participate in similar activities.
- Bring clothes to change into so you leave all parts of your "borrowed" costumes here. (hair piece, t-shirt, belt, soldier top, black suit)
You also may want to bring
- Camera -- be sure the battery is FULLY CHARGED.
- IF you have them, you will want to bring folding chairs -- for yourself and your guests. . . . . NOTE: children in the audience will sit on the floor, in their parents laps, or in small, child-size chairs or benches brought from home. Adult-sized chairs will be used to seat adults. This includes folding chairs brought from home -- that is, adults in adult-sized chairs. No children in adult-sized chairs.
REMINDER: bags, purses, towels, etc. go in chairs marked with blue tape. Do not take up a seating chair for bags and purses.
RULES for food including snacks and finger-food meals. READ the labels on food packages. The following items are NOT welcome here. (Also, please don’t bring foods containing the listed items.)
Natural, nutritive sweeteners are allowed (sugar, honey, maple sugar, maple syrup, cane syrup, etc).
Non-nutritive “natural” sweeteners such as stevia are NOT preferred — possibly allowed in very small amounts.
- NO artificial sweeteners. NO artificial colors. NO artificial flavors. NO fragrances (in foods or other products)
- NO dextrose. NO corn sugar. NO high fructose corn syrup.
- NO monosodium glutamate (MSG).
- NO “sports drinks” or “enhanced water.”
Natural, nutritive sweeteners are allowed (sugar, honey, maple sugar, maple syrup, cane syrup, etc).
Non-nutritive “natural” sweeteners such as stevia are NOT preferred — possibly allowed in very small amounts.