Applique Banner or Digital: Which one's right for your group?

Parade season is officially under way! Is your group putting their best face forward?

Often photographed, parade banners help build recognition during parades and other events. Custom made just for you, Band Shoppe can help you decide which banner is right for your group. We have options for every budget. Our banners are always made in the USA and are made to last many years to come. Our free design service, including full color sketches and a quote packet, helps you visualize the end result. We can work from your design, designs shown on our website, or let our design team create one for you.

Plus! Get a free banner pole with your purchase of all 6 foot or 8 foot Parade Banners. No coupon code needed! Your free banner pole measures one inch in diameter and features a two-piece design made from anodized aluminum.

First, lets talk about sizes.

For a good, visible parade banner, we generally suggest 2.5 foot x 8 foot (it's by far our most popular size). It's a versatile choice for most groups, large enough to be seen from far away but not so big that students have trouble carrying them and it looks great on either a standard banner pole included with your purchase our a marching frame. If want the most impact, a 3 foot x 10 foot banner may be the way to go. Should you choose this size, we suggest upgrading to the Deluxe Banner Marching Frame to keep this big banner under control. For bands on a tighter budget, or younger groups (such as elementary schools) we recommend the smaller 2.5 foot x 6 foot banner. This banner is lightweight, easy to control, and still looks great on a standard banner pole (included with your purchase).

All three sizes are available in either appliqué or digital banner options.

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Traditional appliqué banners:

With the applique process, your details are sewn directly on to your banner, layering design elements in various colors of thread and nylon creating a handcrafted look. They’re more expensive, but are the gold standard in traditional marching banners.

• Band Shoppe's Elite Parade Banners are constructed of 200 denier nylon, which is durable yet lightweight
• Quilted with layers of Tyvek lining for maximum stability 
• All lettering and logos are made of the same 200 denier nylon and are applied to the banner using a solid satin stitch
• Reinforced seams prevent raveling
• Your finished banner includes two, 3 inch wide double layer pole sleeves to accommodate a deluxe marching frame
• Add fringe or leave it off, it’s up to you
• Metallic Gold and Metallic Silver color options available

A few things to consider before choosing this option:
Because of the handcrafted nature of these banners, expect to wait around 6 to 8 weeks for delivery. Check our manufacturing schedule for the current delivery forecast (banners are listed toward the bottom). Also, small or highly detailed logos, should be avoided with this process.

Washing Instructions: Appliqué banners can be fragile, so we recommend they be spot cleaned only as necessary.

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Digitally Printed banners:

The digital process uses a balanced combination of ink, heat, and pressure to embed your image into the surface of the banners. The sublimated image will be smooth to the touch and is fully machine washable. Digital banners are decidedly more resilient! Details remain bright and beautiful for years if it is cared for correctly.

Digitally printed banners are an ideal option for groups on a budget, groups wanting a more modern look or groups that want a traditional look without the hassle of caring for a traditional appliqué banner.

• Band Shoppe's Digital Parade Banners are made of 7.3 oz polyester canvas
• Printed with unlimited colors, unlimited logos, any letter style with no character limit
• Perfect for small or intricate logos
• Add photos, fades, and effects, not possible with appliqué banners
• Add stripes in your school colors for no additional cost
• Laser cutting lets you choose more creative silhouettes 
• Lined with the same high quality 7.3 oz poly canvas top for added stability
• Reinforced teams prevent raveling
• Your finished banner includes two, 3 inch wide double layer pole sleeves to accommodate a deluxe marching frame
• Add fringe or leave it off, it’s up to you

A few things to consider before choosing this option:
Production time is much faster for digital banners at 2 to 4 weeks. Again, check our manufacturing schedule for the current delivery forecast (banners are listed toward the bottom). When sending images for your banner, remember that higher quality images will make a better final product. Vector logos and images are ideal but not always available. Remember: the larger the file size, the better. We accept most image formats including JPG, PSD, TIF, and vector formats including AI, EPS, or PDF. Also, metallics are not available with this option.

Washing Instructions: Fully machine washable! Cold water on the gentle cycle using is detergent for delicates.

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You can check out some of our banner designs at bandshoppe.com.

Ready to get started? Contact us for pricing. If you have any problems with your banner, or any additional questions concerning care, contact us online or call us at 800.457.3501.

In the Know

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, you do better.”
-Maya Angelou

College graduations are just around the corner, and that means the job hunt has most likely commenced for many future music and performing arts educators around the country. Some of the lucky ones may have experience teaching a band camp or two, but it is important to remember that heading up your first band program is something that can be overwhelming at times. There are a plethora of resources out there, and a simple Google search will pull up at least a dozen links. There seems to be more and more media floating about than ever before, and we know it all can seem too much. Here are a few sites that might be of interest to our customers:

MARCHING.COM is a one-stop source of marching events, links, resources, news and photos. Find details of major parade and field competitions, links to marching bands on the net, and a directory of services and supplies for your marching band, color guard or drum line.

Halftime Magazine® is a bimonthly lifestyle magazine aimed at the marching arts. Halftime Magazine® connects high school and college musician-athletes through shared experiences about competitions, school spirit and band traditions.

Winter Guard International is the world's premier organization producing indoor color guard and percussion ensemble competitions. As a non-profit youth organization, WGI serves as the leading governing body of the winter guard and indoor percussion activities. The staff at WGI has written and produced some great articles and videos that cover a wide range of topics important to developing instructors. Color Guard people might want to look here, while Percussion people might want to check out this link.

ColorGuardEducators.com was started in January 2007 as a resource and community for color guard educators: designers, coaches, choreographers, directors, judges, parents, and student leaders who are dedicated to providing the best possible experiences for their performers.

Micro Marching League (MML) lets marching fans design their own shows and share them online. Our supportive community is a great place to try new ideas, collaborate, and generally share your passion for the marching arts.

Band Shoppe also carries a full selection of educational DVD videos, and later this spring/summer we will be adding several more titles to the collection.

Do you have any favorite resources?  Share them below in the comments section!