I hate to admit it, but I've basically given up on all region.

I teach in a fairly low income school in a high income region. The all-region auditions are dominated by a few schools where nearly everyone takes private lessons. From talking with those band directors, they spend hardly any time on all region prep, private lesson teachers handle that. Even if I spent a significant class time on all region, I would be spread so thin that I might hear each student for a couple of minutes once a week. It wouldn't be nearly enough to make a difference.

We spend most of our fall class time on marching band and start concert music a few days a week by the end of September. The kids who are interested in all region practice on their own and we find time outside of class to coach them. I usually have a handful of kids make the band.

I see the potential value in all region and I wish I had more kids participate, I simply don't have time.