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Post by The Cats on Sept 7, 2014 9:38:33 GMT -5
During the halftime show, there was a good number of band members standing along the sideline. They never participated in the program, I kept waiting for that group to do something, but they just stood there.
What's the deal?
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Post by cadco25 on Sept 7, 2014 10:01:40 GMT -5
This season our band sort of outgrew itself. In total there are 505 marching band members, and while all of them are in the band and participate, not every one of them are doing the halftime show. This is the first year in program history that PotM has split wind players (anybody playing an instrument you blow into) into a gold and a purple band. Purple band members play in the pregame show, in the stands, travel with us, and play in any parades (including Macy's). Gold band members do all of that as well as the halftime show.
Early in band camp we auditioned to see who would be in gold band. The original hope was to get everybody on the field like in the past, but in reality it is too many people to put onto a field and still expect to have a good visual showing. Our drill writer, who creates the visual portion of our show, said that with our full number that we simply couldn't do much more that straight lines and small movements. We knew that this was going to be the case months before we started the band season and were given time to prepare. Most of the band is furnished high quality silver instruments in the band, and so the final numbers for most instrument groups were decided by how many instruments the school owned. It came to something like 44 trumpets, 24 trombones, 33 baritones and so on.
It is unfortunate that some people don't get the full performance experience, but the directors tried to make it as fair as possible. There are multiple freshman and upperclassman sitting out, because they took the best and put them on the field.
Having said all of this, the purple band members will have a major role in the halftime show that includes their presence on the field, marching and playing along with the rest of the band. That portion is going to be saved for the end of the show though, so it won't be until later performances that we see that. If anybody is concerned, those who did not make it into the gold band aren't treated any differently. They practice with us and get taught with the same care that everyone else does, and those who are in the gold band don't see purple band members in any bad way. We all work together and have a lot of fun.
It really is unfortunate that there are people who don't get the full halftime experience though, and I hope that more strides can be made to give it to them. A lot of people came to Western to experience performing with Pride of the Mountains and it is sad to see some of them let down. We aren't the only band in the nation to have an "A" and "B" band though. At other organizations that have to do it, those who don't make the band don't typically still get the same experience at all. I feel like the PotM staff has done all they can to make sure that the purple band members get to have the PotM experience.
I hope this cleared things up!
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Post by wcu4life on Sept 7, 2014 10:07:44 GMT -5
If this be the case, then why can't the purple band, or 'B' band travel as a pep band to 1 or 2 away games? I understand the cost, logistics of traveling the whole band... But at least send a smaller pep band to a Furman or when we play at Wofford.
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Post by cadco25 on Sept 7, 2014 10:21:31 GMT -5
The balance of instruments in the purple band wouldn't necessarily make a good independent band, and we will actually be using them when we have our entire show on the field. I can't pretend to know exactly what is said about traveling as a pep band though, I only know what we have been told.
We have been given the information that we DO in fact plan on traveling to the big money games in future years. We won't be going to Alabama, but names like Tennessee and NC State were thrown up. It might be more meaningful to fans if we were going to Socon games rather than money games like that, and I would agree, but at least it will give us a chance to show off some of what WCU has to offer.
I have a question though; do other Socon bands travel? Director Starnes told us early in band camp that none of the Socon bands travel, so I am curious as to whether or not that is actually the case.
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Post by catamountalum94 on Sept 7, 2014 11:38:55 GMT -5
I agree, no reason we can't have a pep band at Furman, Wofford or any other away game. The games are schedule ahead and members of the purple band could sign up during the summer months. Those that have relatives or family near a game site I believe would sign up for those games first. Limit it to 7-10. The balance of instruments in the purple band wouldn't necessarily make a good independent band, and we will actually be using them when we have our entire show on the field. I can't pretend to know exactly what is said about traveling as a pep band though, I only know what we have been told. A few horns, drummers, a 'pep' student' with a loud voice, and winds if they sign up. gather nearby the WCU tailgaters before the game (watch the tailgaters give you all food and drinks for playing) and then sit on the WCU side to play after WCU TDs, big plays, and take turns playing with the rival band before game and during breaks. A lot of fun for the away team fans and home team students. We have been given the information that we DO in fact plan on traveling to the big money games in future years. We won't be going to Alabama, but names like Tennessee and NC State were thrown up. It might be more meaningful to fans if we were going to Socon games rather than money games like that, and I would agree, but at least it will give us a chance to show off some of what WCU has to offer. Do it for school spirit not to show off. I have a question though; do other Socon bands travel? Director Starnes told us early in band camp that none of the Socon bands travel, so I am curious as to whether or not that is actually the case. What! other people do have an effect on your decisions on what you should do? How did you get to be a Catamount??  Yes, I have been at SoCon games where band members traveled. It shouldn't be a reason for your decision. Band members need more 'school spirit' than the selfish individual band view of showing off. |
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Post by catamountalum94 on Sept 7, 2014 11:40:56 GMT -5
I agree, no reason we can't have a pep band at Furman, Wofford or any other away game. The games are schedule ahead and members of the purple band could sign up during the summer months. Those that have relatives or family near a game site I believe would sign up for those games first. Limit it to 7-10. The balance of instruments in the purple band wouldn't necessarily make a good independent band, and we will actually be using them when we have our entire show on the field. I can't pretend to know exactly what is said about traveling as a pep band though, I only know what we have been told. A few horns, drummers, a 'pep' student' with a loud voice, and winds if they sign up. gather nearby the WCU tailgaters before the game (watch the tailgaters give you all food and drinks for playing) and then sit on the WCU side to play after WCU TDs, big plays, and take turns playing with the rival band before game and during breaks. A lot of fun for the away team fans and home team students. We have been given the information that we DO in fact plan on traveling to the big money games in future years. We won't be going to Alabama, but names like Tennessee and NC State were thrown up. It might be more meaningful to fans if we were going to Socon games rather than money games like that, and I would agree, but at least it will give us a chance to show off some of what WCU has to offer. Do it for school spirit not to show off. I have a question though; do other Socon bands travel? Director Starnes told us early in band camp that none of the Socon bands travel, so I am curious as to whether or not that is actually the case. Other people have an effect on your decisions on what you should do? How did you get to be a Catamount?? Yes, I have been at SoCon games where band members traveled. It shouldn't be a reason for your decision. Band members need more 'school spirit' than the selfish individual band view of showing off. |
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Post by The Cats on Sept 7, 2014 14:33:40 GMT -5
Maybe some emails to the band director David Starnes (dstarnes@email.wcu.edu), to Randy Eaton (jreaton@email.wcu.edu) , and Chancellor Belcher (dbelcher@email.wcu.edu) would be helpful in letting them know how the fans feel about a pep band to some of the away football games.
If there will continue to be a semi-separation into a gold and purple band, I certainly think traveling to select away games would be a nice reward for those not actually performing in the early field shows, but still show their value to the program. Their presence at away games would also add value to the WCU fans enjoyment of away games and the band its self
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Post by The Cats on Sept 7, 2014 14:38:02 GMT -5
This season our band sort of outgrew itself. In total there are 505 marching band members, and while all of them are in the band and participate, not every one of them are doing the halftime show. This is the first year in program history that PotM has split wind players (anybody playing an instrument you blow into) into a gold and a purple band. Purple band members play in the pregame show, in the stands, travel with us, and play in any parades (including Macy's). Gold band members do all of that as well as the halftime show. Early in band camp we auditioned to see who would be in gold band. The original hope was to get everybody on the field like in the past, but in reality it is too many people to put onto a field and still expect to have a good visual showing. Our drill writer, who creates the visual portion of our show, said that with our full number that we simply couldn't do much more that straight lines and small movements. We knew that this was going to be the case months before we started the band season and were given time to prepare. Most of the band is furnished high quality silver instruments in the band, and so the final numbers for most instrument groups were decided by how many instruments the school owned. It came to something like 44 trumpets, 24 trombones, 33 baritones and so on. It is unfortunate that some people don't get the full performance experience, but the directors tried to make it as fair as possible. There are multiple freshman and upperclassman sitting out, because they took the best and put them on the field. Having said all of this, the purple band members will have a major role in the halftime show that includes their presence on the field, marching and playing along with the rest of the band. That portion is going to be saved for the end of the show though, so it won't be until later performances that we see that. If anybody is concerned, those who did not make it into the gold band aren't treated any differently. They practice with us and get taught with the same care that everyone else does, and those who are in the gold band don't see purple band members in any bad way. We all work together and have a lot of fun. It really is unfortunate that there are people who don't get the full halftime experience though, and I hope that more strides can be made to give it to them. A lot of people came to Western to experience performing with Pride of the Mountains and it is sad to see some of them let down. We aren't the only band in the nation to have an "A" and "B" band though. At other organizations that have to do it, those who don't make the band don't typically still get the same experience at all. I feel like the PotM staff has done all they can to make sure that the purple band members get to have the PotM experience. I hope this cleared things up! Thanks for the response, it helps a lot. Glad you're here to share this kind of information with us. Congratulations to the PoM for the continued growth and the excellent performances they provide prior to the game and at half time. I hope you're enjoying the experience, not only with the PoM, but also at Western Carolina. |
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Post by cadco25 on Sept 7, 2014 18:11:46 GMT -5
I'm happy to share information with you guys. And I don't want anybody to think that I actually have any say in what the band does, I simply play in it.
And catamountalum94,
I asked about what other Socon bands do just because I didn't know, not because it would somehow affect what the WCU band does.
When I say I want to show off what WCU has to offer, I am not trying to be selfish. I do have a ton of school pride, and I want to show that off. I do that by being in the band. Marching band is an organization of pride, and we serve a purpose, which is to entertain and excite the crowd. We do take a lot of pride in the fact that we do those things very well. I want to show that off because I do have school pride, and I find it somewhat offensive that anybody would think that wanting to show off what you do for your school isn't an example of pride, and that simply cheering for the football team is the only way to do that. We manage to both support our football team and to be another major source of WCU pride as an individual organization, and I think that is pretty fantastic.
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