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Frequently Asked Questions

What comes in my Custom Show Package?

You will receive, all electronically in .pdf format, all musical scores (full, winds, percussion, battery), and extracted parts, as well as all drill charts (director view and student view) and individual coordinate sheets. In addition, you will receive .mp3 recordings of the show, with and without a click track, as well as .mov files of the drill synched to the music, in both overhead view as well as perspective view, to use when learning the show. Color guard choreography with instruction will be catalogued by set on a DVD for quick reference.

How are shows customized?

We discuss with you first the short term and long term goals of your program along with past successes and difficulties you have experienced. We also use an Ability and Instrumentation profile that provides us information about each instrument section’s size and ability, and also about any specific members of your group that you would like to feature. It also gives us a better understanding of your amount of rehearsal time, and any additional staff that you may have. (Many times a director will send a video of their most recent year’s performance to give us a clearer picture of the group’s strengths and weaknesses.)

From there we discuss a concept. We can either work from an existing concept you have, or make suggestions based on information we received from your goals and profile. We write to the ability and instrumentation of each specific section. Drill is written for staging and effect. We pace the number of drill pages in the show to the desired marching level of your group. Color guard choreography is written from planned equipment changes, to the ability of your group, as well as to the drill, to eliminate ambiguity.

I already have a drill writer, choreographer, or arranger. Can I just order a portion to be custom written?

Yes. Even though our designers prefer to write in the team that they are most comfortable working with, there are times when other independent contractors are necessary for your program. Pricing is based on the individual services you are requesting from us, as well as our ability to coordinate a realistic timeline with your third party independent contractor. Before the collaboration can begin, the third party contractor must also agree with Pulse Productions to keep all creative property protected. In addition, it should be noted that when choosing the Pulse Productions design team, all staff coordination happens within the company and is off your plate. When choosing separate designers, the band director then resumes all the extra duties of program designer/staff coordinator.

My instrumentation has changed and you already wrote the drill. What do I do?

We do offer rewrites within reason. We can accommodate drill rewrites after September 1. This date enables us to complete our custom drill schedule with other clients and allow your band's numbers to become more stable. Depending on the disparity of your situation, an additional fee may be requested. A drastic instrumentation change may necessitate re-charting full sections, productions, or possibly the entire show. These cases will require an addendum to the contract, and they are priced on a case-by-case basis. Extreme drill rewrites could hold an additional amount, up to %66 of the initial drill design fee.

What if my instrumentation changes after I've given you numbers?

We will call a day or two before we actually start work on your show to verify the numbers that we have. Changes to the project before work has begun are not a problem.

What is Custom Adaptation?

A custom adaptation is done when you purchase a show that we have previously written for a past client. We take your instrumentation and ability levels and scale the show to meet your band’s needs. This process is less expensive than developing an original concept and allows you to still have a custom product for your band. If the show is comprised of arrangements, then the publisher’s permission to arrange licensing fees and charges should also be considered in the total cost of the show.

How soon do I need to make a show reservation?

Our show designers’ general philosophy is “first come, first serve”, although we do also take into consideration a client’s ‘need-by’ date (early summer camps, Freshman orientation, concert dates, etc.). As our design calendar fills up early, it is best to schedule a show before May, although we can often accommodate late reservations based on our workload. Late orders can affect pricing estimates.

How involved do I need to be in the overall design process?

At minimum, what we do need from the director before we can get started is our Ability and Instrumentation profile. However, the more information we have, the less guesswork we have to do for your band. The show is custom written to your specifications. You can be as involved or uninvolved as desired. Sometimes directors have great ideas, but have so much on their plate that they are never able to bring those ideas to fruition, and need our assistance in collaboration to create an effective show. Other directors choose to worry less about marching band and want to leave the show design strictly up to us to make their time more efficient. Both are acceptable.

I have a large staff that has great ideas. Can my staff members contact Pulse Productions to request design concepts to be incorporated into the show design?

As we aim to create a product that is accessible by both students and educators, we want to accommodate as many stakeholders as we can. However to eliminate confusion, we prefer to have requests channeled through the head marching band director only. The head director can submit requests in an email with attachments of all requests, or we can discuss them by phone. In some cases, a request can be made for a phone conference with the full staff in attendance including the head director. This can help sort out any contradictions that may slow down the design process, as well as decide how to best make each idea effective and clear.

I don't know my exact instrumentation or what music we're using for our concept. Should I make a reservation now?

Absolutely! Your reservation simply guarantees that a team of designers will be available and scheduled to design your show. Instrumentation and music can be decided at a later date, though it is recommended to do so as early as possible to ensure delivery by your band camp.

How late can I submit my reservation to receive a show?

For the best product possible, reservations must be submitted at least six weeks before your deadline. It is ideal for us to get your reservation, concept, contract, and Ability and Instrumentation profile before May. We complete shows in the order that we receive these materials. A six-week lead-time guarantees delivery by your deadline.

What is the turn-around time for a custom show?

If all materials are submitted before May, then you can expect show delivery in a minimum of six weeks from the time we receive all of your materials. After May 1st, it would be subject to our current design schedule, and may need to be negotiated based on your ‘need-by date’.

I own Finale, Sibelius, Pyware, etc. Could you send me the original files for me to make edits if needed?

No. Due to the copyright laws of our arrangements, all materials are for use during the current season only, for the school/organization that is purchasing the show only. Any composition or drill of Pulse Productions is intellectual property that is not to be altered without the permission of Pulse Productions. We take seriously the responsibility we hold to protect the composers and publishers. If only we control the original files, this limits your liability for said materials.

I won't know my exact instrumentation until band camp. How can I accommodate this in my planning?

There are a few things that we all can do that would aid this process, and hopefully alleviate some stress in your preparation. First, know the trends over the past few years of retention of your students as well as the typical numbers of students coming up through your feeder program. If you have been losing 5-10% of total students each year, then a good estimate would be 5-10% out of each section. Some students do move unexpectedly, or may have eligibility concerns, discipline, etc. From there, we could chart a mixed instrumentation line behind the form, allowing for students who may have initially been ruled out to be a part of football game performances, etc., while still strengthening their marching skills. This line could then be taken out for competition if you like. If a ‘hole’ develops in the drill during the season, then you will have the freedom to move in one of these alternates or ‘non-varsity’ members into that spot.

Why are custom shows so expensive?

Custom shows are more costly because of the value, effectiveness, and time put into the design of a show, written for your band only. What you are ordering is a contracted service by a team of successful seasoned designers who bring an array of experience in all areas. Your show is totally unique to any other shows. You are not ordering a packaged show that has already been designed and sold. You are not ordering from a company who is claiming ‘regional protection’ for a new product so other schools will not perform the same show at the same competition. You are ordering a product that is exclusive to your program that will highlight your program’s strengths. Both custom shows and custom adaptations are designed to meet your band’s specific talents, size, and instrumentation. Contracting the same services from competitors or individual designers usually holds a much higher price tag, without the same track record of success to back it up. Pulse Productions is a special company that eliminates the hassle of marching band preparation, but creates an environment of creativity, excitement, and enthusiasm within your marching program.