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Post by cadco25 on Sept 16, 2019 21:05:26 GMT -5
04-09 member here. I remember having issues trying to play in the stands when I was in the band. With as many people we had it took 3 drum majors to direct over 30 yards of band members. We had a few short songs to play but always had issues trying to get the whole band ready to play and stop in time. I think during my tenure we were warned 2 or 3 times for playing when we weren't supposed to. The team was never penalized though. It actually is a good point that it can be hard, at times, to play music. The band directors are, I think, in communication with people running the sound system for the game. The band is not allowed to be playing during times that the speakers are being used. This means that every time you hear an advertisement, the PA, or music, the band is literally not allowed to play. This can be sort of frustrating at times. Someone mentioned that the band played on 3rd down in the past? That can't easily happen now because they play that song on the speakers and tell everyone to stand up. It's possible that I was being a little too harsh because I honestly forgot about this component, but even with that knowledge I always felt like we could have been doing more to support the game day environment, and I think the sentiment I was expressing still stands.
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Sept 17, 2019 5:22:20 GMT -5
I was a band member from 2014-2016 and was greatly disappointed at how bad we were at being a "college football gameday" band. It was treated entirely like the point of the event was us, and everyone was there to see the band. That was really the sentiment I felt from everyone. We were one of the largest bands in the country, and at a small school. The band really has the opportunity to bring a lot to the atmosphere, both with the instruments and by just being an excited presence. Unfortunately, we rarely played any songs in the stands, and seemingly spent almost the entire second quarter standing behind the endzones waiting to take the field so that the real show could begin. The band is obviously a good one, but the comment that was given earlier about the pre-game show is true, and honestly could be stated about the halftime show, although people who aren't inclined to watch with a critical eye may not notice. The shows all have very similar formats. I've gone to games with other former band members the last couple of years and laughed at how similar the show structure was to the shows that we played. As for the pre-game show, it is almost literally the same show every year. The band is built for its own interest at this point, not for the football experience.... although one may argue that isn't the worst thing. They probably do a better job representing the school than the football team. The weather thing though, that's not their fault. Bottom line is this. We have a great marching band. No doubt. The fact is that the marching band would not exist if Western did not have a football team. There would be no reason or purpose to spend that kind of money for a marching band at a school that does not have a football team. I can't think of another school in America that does not play football that has a marching band. There are many people who come to just see the band and leave at halftime that are not only indifferent to the Western Carolina Football Team but actually loathe the football team and make disparaging remarks about how bad we are and throw a lot of shade on the entire concept of football at Western Carolina. I have heard the laughter and the derogatory remarks from some of that crowd. It is also not a symbiotic relationship between the Football Team and the band. The football team is pretty much the host in this situation and the band is the parasite because football can exist with or without the band but the band cannot exist without the football team. Of course the band crowd has convinced themselves over the years that they are the point of Saturdays in Cullowhee and that is OK but nothing could be further from the truth.
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Post by wcu77 on Sept 17, 2019 5:41:52 GMT -5
It's good to hear from former band members about their experience. It takes a lot of hard work to perform the music so proficiently and they are very good, without a doubt. However great of a show they put on at games, they really are supposed to be part of the overall game experience and support the team, not the other way around. A band can be very good at generating fan enthusiasm and involvement during the games but ours does seem to have the attitude that they are the reason for people being at the game and that attitude has been clearly supported by WCU. It doesn't help matters when they are kept from playing because of some stupid music, etc constantly coming over the loudspeakers.
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Post by bonsaiburke on Sept 17, 2019 13:13:29 GMT -5
I was a band member from 2014-2016 and was greatly disappointed at how bad we were at being a "college football gameday" band. It was treated entirely like the point of the event was us, and everyone was there to see the band. That was really the sentiment I felt from everyone. We were one of the largest bands in the country, and at a small school. The band really has the opportunity to bring a lot to the atmosphere, both with the instruments and by just being an excited presence. Unfortunately, we rarely played any songs in the stands, and seemingly spent almost the entire second quarter standing behind the endzones waiting to take the field so that the real show could begin. The band is obviously a good one, but the comment that was given earlier about the pre-game show is true, and honestly could be stated about the halftime show, although people who aren't inclined to watch with a critical eye may not notice. The shows all have very similar formats. I've gone to games with other former band members the last couple of years and laughed at how similar the show structure was to the shows that we played. As for the pre-game show, it is almost literally the same show every year. The band is built for its own interest at this point, not for the football experience.... although one may argue that isn't the worst thing. They probably do a better job representing the school than the football team. The weather thing though, that's not their fault. Bottom line is this. We have a great marching band. No doubt. The fact is that the marching band would not exist if Western did not have a football team. There would be no reason or purpose to spend that kind of money for a marching band at a school that does not have a football team. I can't think of another school in America that does not play football that has a marching band. There are many people who come to just see the band and leave at halftime that are not only indifferent to the Western Carolina Football Team but actually loathe the football team and make disparaging remarks about how bad we are and throw a lot of shade on the entire concept of football at Western Carolina. I have heard the laughter and the derogatory remarks from some of that crowd. It is also not a symbiotic relationship between the Football Team and the band. The football team is pretty much the host in this situation and the band is the parasite because football can exist with or without the band but the band cannot exist without the football team. Of course the band crowd has convinced themselves over the years that they are the point of Saturdays in Cullowhee and that is OK but nothing could be further from the truth. What is wrong with that? Put a better product on the field and outshine the band. It shouldn't be hard in the south east, I mean football is king after all.
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Post by scottbeach on Sept 21, 2019 8:58:30 GMT -5
play an opening show with the anthem and the team running out, which has been the same show with little variation for about 6 or 7 years now,
You've obviously never been to Knoxville then. Sometimes a familiar tradition is a good thing.
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Post by Catamount12grad on Sept 21, 2019 15:29:30 GMT -5
04-09 member here. I remember having issues trying to play in the stands when I was in the band. With as many people we had it took 3 drum majors to direct over 30 yards of band members. We had a few short songs to play but always had issues trying to get the whole band ready to play and stop in time. I think during my tenure we were warned 2 or 3 times for playing when we weren't supposed to. The team was never penalized though. You’re telling me it’s that much more difficult to direct 30 yds worth of stationary band members when during half time they can easily and seamlessly direct 100 yds worth moving in extremely intricate patterns? I get the halftime show is rehearsed and drilled to perfection where as playing in the stands takes some on the fly coordination but every other college team in the country seams to handle it with relative ease. Today in the Florida Tennessee game both teams had bands in the stands playing at different times and didn’t seem to have an issue. I can’t believe that the reason we don’t play stand music is because it is too difficult to coordinate. If the band is too big then have a portion of it on duty in the first half and a separate portion on duty in the second half so that you aren’t trying to coordinate the whole band at one time. At the end of the day, although it sounds like I’m blaming the band, I don’t know who this comes back to. If the band said they don’t want to play in the stands or if someone else within the game day production told them not to and thinks our current music selections are better. My overall point, regardless of whose fault it is, is that our band needs to be there to support the team and find a way participate in the game day environment just like every other college band does.
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Post by Catamount12grad on Sept 21, 2019 15:40:25 GMT -5
play an opening show with the anthem and the team running out, which has been the same show with little variation for about 6 or 7 years now,You've obviously never been to Knoxville then. Sometimes a familiar tradition is a good thing. I have been to Knoxville and have nothing against tradition but I don’t think you can compare our opening show with theirs. I actually preferred the one several iterations ago when they spelled cats in cursive and had the tubas cross the T.
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Post by bonsaiburke on Sept 21, 2019 17:24:17 GMT -5
04-09 member here. I remember having issues trying to play in the stands when I was in the band. With as many people we had it took 3 drum majors to direct over 30 yards of band members. We had a few short songs to play but always had issues trying to get the whole band ready to play and stop in time. I think during my tenure we were warned 2 or 3 times for playing when we weren't supposed to. The team was never penalized though. You’re telling me it’s that much more difficult to direct 30 yds worth of stationary band members when during half time they can easily and seamlessly direct 100 yds worth moving in extremely intricate patterns? I get the halftime show is rehearsed and drilled to perfection where as playing in the stands takes some on the fly coordination but every other college team in the country seams to handle it with relative ease. Today in the Florida Tennessee game both teams had bands in the stands playing at different times and didn’t seem to have an issue. I can’t believe that the reason we don’t play stand music is because it is too difficult to coordinate. If the band is too big then have a portion of it on duty in the first half and a separate portion on duty in the second half so that you aren’t trying to coordinate the whole band at one time. At the end of the day, although it sounds like I’m blaming the band, I don’t know who this comes back to. If the band said they don’t want to play in the stands or if someone else within the game day production told them not to and thinks our current music selections are better. My overall point, regardless of whose fault it is, is that our band needs to be there to support the team and find a way participate in the game day environment just like every other college band does. Yes, the huge difference being that everybody is at attention and watching the drum majors on the field. In the stands its a free for all for the most part. You have the die hard football fans, the people waiting for the next song, the gossipers, and those who are just waiting for the game to end to get back to their dorm. You also realistically you play songs for 15-20 seconds in the stands, you have to work to get 360 (at the time, probably bigger now) people in sync to fit it in that window. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. As for other college bands, I want to say they are more successful the way they stack the students in the stands. Western populates the stands horizontally while the major schools go vertical. If WCU had enough room to do that maybe it would be easier to play rocking robin. Of course this is all spit balling and may have nothing to do with it.
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Sept 21, 2019 18:06:42 GMT -5
So tired of hearing about the damn band. Who cares? I know I don't. Athletics and Football in particular is in the toilet and we get these band people on here debating the band. The band is great and football sucks. Now lets stop talking about the freaking band. The only reason I come back to campus is because of the football team like most alumni and Western does not deserve or have they done anything to merit my support. I am done. We suck in football and have for 35 years and will continue to suck for the next 35 years. That is what you should be worried about. The band does nothing to make your degree worth more. Winning sports team and recognition in athletics will make your degree worth more but the idiots that run the place can't find a clue with both hands.
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Post by bonsaiburke on Sept 21, 2019 18:16:14 GMT -5
So tired of hearing about the damn band. Who cares? I know I don't. Athletics and Football in particular is in the toilet and we get these band people on here debating the band. The band is great and football sucks. Now lets stop talking about the freaking band. The only reason I come back to campus is because of the football team like most alumni and Western does not deserve or have they done anything to merit my support. I am done. We suck in football and have for 35 years and will continue to suck for the next 35 years. That is what you should be worried about. The band does nothing to make your degree worth more. Winning sports team and recognition in athletics will make your degree worth more but the idiots that run the place can't find a clue with both hands. So if I went to App State with the same degree it is more valuable in the work place? Unless you belong to a P5 team, the success of a sports team doesn't mean anything for a degree. It just gives you a reason to wear that purple and gold shirt at the work place... As for the value of the band, you weren't in it so you don't see the value.
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