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Notes: Loading & Unloading Equipment Bus

source: Sean O'Donnell-Brown

maximum 4 individuals on bus during loading (otherwise, can't move around one another); can be mix of chaperones and band members; suggest at least one chaperone
maximum 2 individuals to load small instruments from and into front, maximum 2 individuals to load large instruments from and into back
loaders in front may want to use "bucket brigade" technique to load equipment
have students hand instruments to loaders on bus (keep extra band members off bus to keep things moving)
pack all equipment as compactly as possible (alternate like-shaped cases)
pack equipment in seats and on floor below seats, not in walkway
when possible, pack cases that squeeze between seats at inner edge of seat to minimize shifting
pack larger cases upright temporary while loading
lay larger cases down just before departure
"trap" flags between large cases and sides of bus; pack forward ends of flag bags below tops of seats to prevent them from becoming projectiles during a fast stop
pack all cases below tops of seats to prevent them from becoming projectiles during a fast stop

use bucket brigade technique to unload smaller equipment; draft necessary number of band members and/or chaperones to form a bucket brigade line from back of small equipment (ususally the middle of the bus) up to the front of the bus and out the front door
don't allow band members to come on bus and carry only their own equipment off the bus; this blocks up the walkway as others try to move past them
if a band member gets on the bus, draft them for the bucket brigade line
move all equipment off of the bus quickly and efficiently
line up all equipment along outside length of bus, one instrument deep to allow band members to easily pick up instruments
maximum 2 individuals to unload large equipment from back of bus
draft stronger band members to accept larger equipment from the ground at the outside of the back door ("back" door may also be in rear side of bus)