Bands – Macy*s

Choose The Better Experience

As a Destination Management Company specializing in Arts-inspired group travel, some might say that Students On Broadway’s dynamic Red-Jacket team sets the standard for best practices for on-the-ground-management for Parade Bands and other large-scale student groups traveling to New York City, Orlando and beyond.

This sentiment rings especially true for those Bands selected to strut their stuff in the Nation’s most coveted and sought after performance opportunity, the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade, on our home turf in New York City!

The “home court advantage” enables Students On Broadway to fully implement its unique T.E.A.M. (Together, Each, Accomplishes, More) approach to ground management designed to balance risk & safety with a superior Thanksgiving Week NYC Experience for the entire Band Family.

The pulse of SBNYC consists of its Field Talent, Management and Support Teams working in sync, collectively understanding, acknowledging, and embracing that our city is front and center whenever there is a circumstance of significance, whatever that circumstance might be.

With years of combined experience, our team adapts, modifies, and operationally adjusts as needed to the ever-changing security landscape that is NYC. The entire SBNYC Team participates in an annual “all-hands-on-deck” pre-Thanksgiving safety awareness briefing conducted by the NYPD Community Affairs Times Square Division. This is the same unit that is tasked with the responsibility of overseeing large-scale events in Times Square including the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

New York is like no other city on the planet. TEAM SBNYC lives and breathes this city every day and is never far from the action. Our ability to remain current, relevant, and exercise timely vigilance uniquely positions Students On Broadway to provide the better experience.

Setting TEAM SBNYC apart from other Travel Companies

  • A $5M Professional Liability Insurance Policy (5x Industry / SYTA Standard)

  • Safety & Risk Management Procedures, dubbed “Set for Success”
    • Pre-Thanksgiving Safety Awareness briefing conducted by NYPD
    • Exclusive “Set for Success” App – designed for student group on-the-ground safety & accountability

  • NYC Licensed “Red-Jacket” Team
    • Dedicated on-site 24/7 Tour Guide/Manager
    • A Full-Time Tour Guide per 50-55 travelers except for Thanksgiving Day
    • Management Support Staff on-site at Hotels, Restaurants, Theatres, Airports and Pier for Band Family Thanksgiving Celebration Cruise

  • NYC Special Event Permits
    • Permits for multi-coach parking in restricted areas
    • Permits for Pre-Parade Jam Session opportunity in Central Park

  • Pre-Parade Rehearsal & Performance Opportunity (with our compliments)
    • Exclusive use of an Indoor “Football Field Size” Arena for Band’s pre-parade final rehearsal (3.0 hours)
    • Central Park Bandshell Jam Session/Performance opportunity (2.0 hours)

  • Band Family Thanksgiving Celebration Cruise on Private Yacht (7PM – 10PM)
    • Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet (prepared & cooked on-board)
    • DJ Entertainment throughout
    • Professional Photographers taking candid and staged family & friends’ photos on the red carpet in front of the step & repeat – all made available for free download

  • Friends, Family & Alumni Freestyle Program
    • Times Square Area Hotel & Taxes
    • Breakfast each morning at hotel
    • Band Family Thanksgiving Celebration Cruise
    • Additional Add-On Options – NYC Get Acquainted Guided Tour, Broadway Show(s), Radio City Christmas Spectacular, etc.

  • Site Inspection / Thanksgiving Week Shadow / October Director’s Meeting
    • Two (2) Trip Planners/Directors travel to NYC to meet suppliers at hotels, restaurants, rehearsal space, and Thanksgiving Cruise yacht (Late Spring)
    • Two (2) Directors travel to NYC Thanksgiving week (current year) to shadow our Macy*s Band(s) and to observe the NBC TV rehearsal
    • Two (2) Directors travel to NYC in October (1-month prior to parade) for the Mandatory Macy*s meeting and to confer with SBNYC Tour Manager

  • Confidence That Speaks for Itself, Satisfaction Guarantee
    • TEAM SBNYC’s hallmark is to exceed expectations and deliver exceptional 5* on-the-ground service
    • First Time SBNYC Partner Bands will have the option to withhold final payment (usually $10K) until the Band returns home and Trip Planners & Directors are completely satisfied with their Thanksgiving Week NYC on-the-ground experience – relating to matters that are within our control (weather & NYC traffic related issues, enroute transportation delays, etc. are except)

When Service Excellence, Experience and Attention to Detail Matters…

Students On Broadway