Best dang halftime show by a band, EVER!!!

[HoustonCajun]

_

WOW the dang fans!!! _

We fans and alumni just want the same kind of game environment that we see at BCS schools and it all starts with the band. It is sorely lacking and has been for years. As our football fortunes rise, it is time for the band issues to be addressed by the university in not only playing the right kind of music at the right time, but increasing the size of the band, new uniforms, etc. Lets return pride to the Pride.

[BeauCajun]

_ I was almost shot by a HS Band Director, in case that gives me credibility :-)

I signed up for the marching band in 9th grade which practiced on Saturdays. A few days prior to the first game I decided that I should probably ask the band director how things worked for football players, since I would be playing in it. I asked him if I needed to keep my band uniform in the locker room to change into it at halftime when I came off the field? He turned 7 shades of red in 3 seconds...

To add to your story. In the early 70's our high school was playing Plaisance High School(which no longer exists) one Friday night and wouldn't you know it, about 10 football players still in uniform along with several cheerleaders picked up instruments and joined the rest of their band mates and put on a great performance at halftime. A much better performance than their football team did that night. But boy could they play basketball.

[CajunAmos]

I'm a former first chair trumpet player at AHS (when we dominated). I only mention that so that it gives a little credibility to my opinion on the UL band. Otherwise, I can tell you what happens. If you have no background in band, you get dismissed by band people. I think this is an incredibly unintelligent move. It isn't so much the band members... except for the geeks... it's the band directors. They take great pride in being different. They are notorious for playing for the few that appreciate the eclectic nature of their abilities... instead of any mass appeal.

What you see in Southern is a fun-loving mass appeal showband. When groups that attempt this that do not have the talent... they are the laughing stock of the music world. When someone actually pulls it off, even a band geek envies the audience appeal. But, you can count on 97% of the local band directors to smirk and take pride in the audience's ignorance of music and musicianship. I take a different view of the whole thing.

We know UL is not going to adopt anything close to the Southern style of play and performance. For the halftime show, UL needs to continue on the track of drum and bugle corps style, hoping someday to grow large enough to produce the sound that you get from the larger drum and bugle corps. If Phantom Regiment performed in front of the UL crowd at halftime, regardless of the lack of connection most audience members have to the style and music... they would roundly approve. When Troy performed the last time at Cajun Field, I think everyone was very impressed with their level of DCI-based volume, sound and show. (UL needs to go all brass on the field... as soon as possible... it sucks for the woodwind band geek members... but if they are halfway decent musicians... pick up a horn and start figuring out 4th part).

The problem I see with the current situation with the UL band is what they do (or don't do) in the stands. The band directors at major highschools are cut of the same band geekness as band directors at most universities. If they had any sense whatsoever as to how you grow a healthy band, they would do whatever it took to try to make the band a little bit "cool" for the band members. This involes being entertaining. UL does not have the luxury of turning down 1000 band members like LSU. It needs to be a bigger draw and with todays youth... there better be something cool in it besides having another band geek giggle with you.

The UL band is missing out on a huge number of musicians that attend UL but won't join the band. The UL band director needs to take a lesson in Marketing. Some band geeks are happy being buddies with only their band geek friends. But, band geeks along do not make a good (big) band. You have to have some characters and some people who you might not agree with... but that have the balls to take it over the top.

The UL band director is the only one that should be hearing this thread discussion. He needs to go on a mission to play "stand tunes" during the game, that allow the band members to have some fun and seriously cut up with the crowd. THAT is how you bridge the road to more members and a much more sizeable and capable band. If he is offended by the criticism or just thinks everyone in the stands at the football game is a slobbering football idiot, then he is the idiot.

To UL band members, sorry about how this thread came off. You all know what Southern does and how they entertain. Don't just blow off the subject because so many people on here and in the stands are believed to be simple-minded about musicianship. Talk with some attitude to your band director and tell him that he better figure out how to bridge the gap between the band and the Saturday football audience. It matters... and if he does not get it... he is going to take some heat from T Joe. It will be "T Joe" heat... but he should not take it lightly. There are options out there.

Concise and to the point. Take a note from the "pep" band at the Cajun basketball games. They play a variety of upbeat tunes (along with the classics to interact with the cheerleaders), but go in costumes and have a great time. They paricipate in the event, and have come up with a few cheers on their own (Cajun Ball..........................). I know if you have a halftime show you have a uniform that has to be maintained, but in the stands you can look like to actually want to be there.

[Turbine]

_ Concise and to the point. Take a note from the "pep" band at the Cajun basketball games. They play a variety of upbeat tunes (along with the classics to interact with the cheerleaders), but go in costumes and have a great time. They paricipate in the event, and have come up with a few cheers on their own (Cajun Ball..........................). I know if you have a halftime show you have a uniform that has to be maintained, but in the stands you can look like to actually want to be there. _

I was thinking that also, how the " Ragin Brass " really got into basketball games.

[RedBug58]

_ I'm a former first chair trumpet player at AHS (when we dominated). I only mention that so that it gives a little credibility to my opinion on the UL band. Otherwise, I can tell you what happens. If you have no background in band, you get dismissed by band people. I think this is an incredibly unintelligent move. It isn't so much the band members... except for the geeks... it's the band directors. They take great pride in being different. They are notorious for playing for the few that appreciate the eclectic nature of their abilities... instead of any mass appeal.

What you see in Southern is a fun-loving mass appeal showband. When groups that attempt this that do not have the talent... they are the laughing stock of the music world. When someone actually pulls it off, even a band geek envies the audience appeal. But, you can count on 97% of the local band directors to smirk and take pride in the audience's ignorance of music and musicianship. I take a different view of the whole thing.

We know UL is not going to adopt anything close to the Southern style of play and performance. For the halftime show, UL needs to continue on the track of drum and bugle corps style, hoping someday to grow large enough to produce the sound that you get from the larger drum and bugle corps. If Phantom Regiment performed in front of the UL crowd at halftime, regardless of the lack of connection most audience members have to the style and music... they would roundly approve. When Troy performed the last time at Cajun Field, I think everyone was very impressed with their level of DCI-based volume, sound and show. (UL needs to go all brass on the field... as soon as possible... it sucks for the woodwind band geek members... but if they are halfway decent musicians... pick up a horn and start figuring out 4th part).

The problem I see with the current situation with the UL band is what they do (or don't do) in the stands. The band directors at major highschools are cut of the same band geekness as band directors at most universities. If they had any sense whatsoever as to how you grow a healthy band, they would do whatever it took to try to make the band a little bit "cool" for the band members. This involes being entertaining. UL does not have the luxury of turning down 1000 band members like LSU. It needs to be a bigger draw and with todays youth... there better be something cool in it besides having another band geek giggle with you.

The UL band is missing out on a huge number of musicians that attend UL but won't join the band. The UL band director needs to take a lesson in Marketing. Some band geeks are happy being buddies with only their band geek friends. But, band geeks along do not make a good (big) band. You have to have some characters and some people who you might not agree with... but that have the balls to take it over the top.

The UL band director is the only one that should be hearing this thread discussion. He needs to go on a mission to play "stand tunes" during the game, that allow the band members to have some fun and seriously cut up with the crowd. THAT is how you bridge the road to more members and a much more sizeable and capable band. If he is offended by the criticism or just thinks everyone in the stands at the football game is a slobbering football idiot, then he is the idiot.

To UL band members, sorry about how this thread came off. You all know what Southern does and how they entertain. Don't just blow off the subject because so many people on here and in the stands are believed to be simple-minded about musicianship. Talk with some attitude to your band director and tell him that he better figure out how to bridge the gap between the band and the Saturday football audience. It matters... and if he does not get it... he is going to take some heat from T Joe. It will be "T Joe" heat... but he should not take it lightly. There are options out there. _

Man.................You are so "right on the money"!!! Sounds like nothing has changed since I was in the band.

[HoustonCajun]

_ Concise and to the point. Take a note from the "pep" band at the Cajun basketball games. They play a variety of upbeat tunes (along with the classics to interact with the cheerleaders), but go in costumes and have a great time. They paricipate in the event, and have come up with a few cheers on their own (Cajun Ball..........................). I know if you have a halftime show you have a uniform that has to be maintained, but in the stands you can look like to actually want to be there. _

I sometimes wonder if the band shouldn't take on the look of the Stanford or Rice bands. Rice is called the MOB, the Marching Owl Band. They have no uniforms, as does Stanford, and have a ball with irreverant half-time shows and a great time at games. I know they are private schools, but if the UL band continues as it does, this would be preferable. I hope all of this changes and the UL administration takes a closer look at making significant and needed changes. It doesn't appear the band director will make changes unless directed to do so.

[Cajunbander]

_ It is NOT the new songs that you need to be learning. It is how to interact with the crowd DURING the game that is lacking. Learn WHEN to play the Fight Song and how to get the fans chanting UL and spelling C-A-J-U-N-S after we score or make a great play. THAT is what is missing more than anything. DON'T let rap music play on the intercom. The BAND should be playing. Get the fans in the game and our attitude towards the band will change. DON'T just focus on pre-game and half-time shows. FOCUS on what you play and when you play it DURING the game. I know all of that comes from your band director. If he doesn't GET IT, neither will the band members. Something MUST change in this regard. _

Like I said, we try to start chants and whatnot, but to no avail, the only people that ever participate in it with us are the rest of the band and maybe a few students. If the cheerleaders and jazz can't get things started, how do you expect the band to??

On that note, we've taken time out of our rehearsal yesterday, and are taking time out tomorrow (Fri.) to do nothing but learn new stands tunes that we will be adding into the game Saturday.

As for when to play, not only do we have to abide by the NCAA rules, but we also have to abide by our AD's rules. Now, last year when we played ULM, we did pretty much the same thing we do at our games, and we got a warning from the refs because we were playing TOO much!

[HoustonCajun]

_ Like I said, we try to start chants and whatnot, but to no avail, the only people that ever participate in it with us are the rest of the band and maybe a few students. If the cheerleaders and jazz can't get things started, how do you expect the band to??

On that note, we've taken time out of our rehearsal yesterday, and are taking time out tomorrow (Fri.) to do nothing but learn new stands tunes that we will be adding into the game Saturday.

As for when to play, not only do we have to abide by the NCAA rules, but we also have to abide by our AD's rules. Now, last year when we played ULM, we did pretty much the same thing we do at our games, and we got a warning from the refs because we were playing TOO much! _

Did anyone watch the GA Tech v. Clemson game last night? You got a chance to see what a band and students can do to get a stadium rockin. I didn't see a pre-game or half-time show, just shots of the band continually playing and the students jumping, singing and having a great time. I heard a couple of songs that we are starting to hear at all college games and the students, even the whole stadium seemed to sing along. It was a great atmosphere and a packed stadium in Atanta on a Thursday night. Why can't Lafayette do the same thing on Saturday?

[Turbine]

Tell me if this is a stupid idea.

Since there's piped in music (and until there ceases to be piped in music) what if the band added those songs to its repertoire and attempted to drown out the loud speakers.


igeaux.mobi

[HoustonCajun]

_ Tell me if this is a stupid idea.

Since there's piped in music (and until there ceases to be piped in music) what if the band added those songs to its repertoire and attempted to drown out the loud speakers.


igeaux.mobi _

I wonder why UL wouldn't simply address this as part of their Game Management committee meetings (assuming they have such a committe and if they don't they should). Cut out the piped in music TOTALLY, especially the rap crap they play. Not sure how the band would play rap music anyway to drown that out. Per the UL website, Sherry LeBas is in charge of game day management, which could be our problem. She has been on staff for about 35 years now.