I only once didn't have my kids in uniform at concert UIL contest due to an 8am performance time and having to drive 100+ miles to get there. We wore band t-shirts and jeans. One judge commented that it was inappropriate and gave us a 2. Luckily we made ones with the other two judges and made our Sweepstakes. Never again did we risk it and always wore uniforms to contest. I had a conversation later about this iissue with another director who judged a lot. He said bands should wear uniforms at all contests including festivals where you are submitting recordings for Honor Band consideration. I don't see how TMEA could monitor this issue. Taking middle school bands to festivals and submitting recordings for Honor Band through the years at schools that had no uniforms for middle school band we would wear band t-shirts and jeans. Small schools don't always have the budgets to afford uniforms for middle school.