Marching Band: How to fire up Students and Football Players

[Crawfish]

OK, as a former member of a university band (at another school) that was pretty good, let me give my prospective.

1. UL band does not need to try and emulate Southern, as some have mentioned. While the Southern band does this style of performance well, a lot of the imitators do not. Creating a style that fits the local culture is a big plus though.

2. It is better to try and create a unique style of performance that will engage the crowd in the game but will also showcase your professional grade musicians. Doing this will help recruit musician to your band that can enhance the performance level. IMO, at UL that might include playing Cajun and Zydeco music and having guest performers playing with the band like Wayne Toups or other popular local artists.

3. When I was in college in the 70s, and one of the things we did was play songs that were popular at the time. These songs were rock and roll hits, and we engaged professional musicians to perform with or who were members of the band. Two examples of the tunes we performed at halftime shows were "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder and "Shambala" by Three Dog Night. These were performed with the band in a stationary position and electric guitars and "trap drums" were brought onto the field for the performance. (the drums were on a platform with rollers) The musicians who played these instruments were professional level musicians.

I use this as an example of how we engaged the crowd. We used music that was contemporary at the time. We also threw in a few oldies that people liked such as the jazzy "Peter Gun" theme. Back then the band entertained the crowd without the distraction of the music on the intercom. We played frequently during the game. Our band was very large (250+), so we were also loud, but "blatting" was not permitted or desired. (blatting means brass players playing excessively loud and out of control, which makes a blaring noise)

I am not trying to second guess what the UL band is doing, only giving the prospective of someone who was in the game, albeit back in the day. We had fun and our band was even invited to perform at professional football games. We knew that our primary job was entertain the crowd at home games. IMO, we did that well, and we received a lot of complements from people who attended the games.

[KajunKrazy]

Its not just the music they play, but the fan interaction with the music. Listen to the whole stadium singing Rocky Top. Or, listen to the whole stadium spell out T-I-G-E-R-S after LSU's fight song. People want to be engaged not just listening. That is a huge reason why UL games are so boring and people don't care. They do not interact and are not invested.

Ive been doing UL games since the 70s they have tried different things to get fans involved but none ever caught on. I guess its not the same when your stadium is half full. The 2 examples you mentioned are good examples of history and tradition I would say both have been around since at least the 50s if not before.

We lack history and tradition because we are always wanting to change what we do.

[HoustonCajun]

Ive been doing UL games since the 70s they have tried different things to get fans involved but none ever caught on. I guess its not the same when your stadium is half full. The 2 examples you mentioned are good examples of history and tradition I would say both have been around since at least the 50s if not before.

We lack history and tradition because we are always wanting to change what we do.

What we do is NOT working. The band doesn't need to just entertain the crowd. It needs to engage the crowd. Watch a Michigan game or Florida State game. All you continuously hear are the bands playing Hail to the Victors and the FSU fight song that has the whole stadium doing the tomahawk. Florida has the Gator Chomp. That is the kind of thing we need at UL to get the fans engaged. Include spelling C-A-J-U-N-S at the end of each fight song that the fans can yell out. If we finally accept the Gator as our mascot, include a Gator Chomp as well. Who cares if Florida also has it. We would be the only 2 schools in the country doing that and we have tradition and history on our side. LSU, Memphis and Clemson all do the exact same thing with Hold That Tiger. Continue playing the same old songs is boring. The band needs to get creative and in a hurry.

[Ragin9221]

Ive been doing UL games since the 70s they have tried different things to get fans involved but none ever caught on. I guess its not the same when your stadium is half full. The 2 examples you mentioned are good examples of history and tradition I would say both have been around since at least the 50s if not before.

We lack history and tradition because we are always wanting to change what we do.

I have to go with Crawfish on this one .

We have our traditions we will never stop playing respect ever!

What we can do is read trends.

Okay Football team sung set it off after the TxSt game. Why wouldn’t you play that at a football game ? First off people will instantly recognize it. Second they will think this is very unusual to what they play. Third the people that saw the Twitter video of the football team would instantly tell there friends. Fourth they would say really and start singing along.

That’s why I like Narco it is played in almost every stadium over the PA. If you get the marching band to play it which I haven’t seen it done and would be unique. People will instantly say that is cool.

I guarantee it will sound so awesome in the stands specially with a band then the PA system.

We should do it because it is popular . I personally think it would be awesome doing it before kickoff .

People would get into it.

[CajunSaint08]

I have a sure fire way to get the student section and football players to get fired up!


https://x.com/kreweallons/status/171...HBPxA4uxQp-oPQ

Here is a marching band playing in the stands

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tTTEHQ...YW5nZW1lbnQ%3D

I promise you the student section would go nuts!!

Time to do something unexpected!

But first you have to have a student section to get fired up!

[jaxmc1023]

But first you have to have a student section to get fired up!

Wrong.

They're not coming unless you give them a reason..

[bbhstiger5]

UL needs a classic fanfare that the crowd can participate in. I don’t think rap music is the answer if we want our band and institution to be respected as high-caliber.

We also need to retire RESPECT - that thing is old and dry, and way overdone. Time to make peace.

Not suggesting we copy TSAB, but just an example -“Hey Fightin Tigers” was based on an old Broadway tune that was sung by Lucille Ball in the 50’s. It’s melodic, upbeat, and catchy. UL could write their own or take melody from a lesser known tune and change the words.

[CajunSaint08]

Back in the 80's, the song that got the crowd going was Hi-De-Ho. They just played the first 8 frames of the song, but it was a great pick me up. But then, we had Mike Ritter, one of the best trumpet players ever. Not sure the horn line could play that today.

[CajunSaint08]

Wrong.

They're not coming unless you give them a reason..

Wrong. They have reason to come. I didn't go because of the band or the atmosphere, or the tailgating, I went to support my team, whether they were winning or losing. I'm tired of these whiny babies, "what's in it for me." That's BS.

Stop making excuses for this generation. They are babied way too much. I'm tired of worrying about hurting someone's feelings. This generation is so dang weak. Have to give them a participation trophy for just showing up at the game. Jeezus! Too many of our graduates give their time and money to that school across the basin. Eff em. If they don't want to support the school they are getting their education and degrees from, then eff em again.

I don't agree with the way the school administration is ostracizing the frats and the sororities, but that is no excuse why the kids aren't showing up. And I do agree the atmosphere could be more "user" friendly, but again, that is no excuse why the kids aren't showing up. Tailgating and Cajun field parking needs to be fixed. It wasn't that long ago that we would have close to 40k+ tailgating. Unfortunately we could only get half of that or less in the gates.

People who didn't go during the Napier years missed out on the best 4 years in UL football history. And the people that aren't going to watch this team with Zeon Chriss are missing out on the beginning of greatness. I'm so tired of excuses...that is all they are. I have only missed one home game since 78. I don't expect people to be that dedicated, but quit making excuses for why students and Acadiana are not showing up.

You go to the game to support the team and the university. That is your REASON!

[JMV JustMyView]

UL needs a classic fanfare that the crowd can participate in. I don’t think rap music is the answer if we want our band and institution to be respected as high-caliber.

We also need to retire RESPECT - that thing is old and dry, and way overdone. Time to make peace.

Not suggesting we copy TSAB, but just an example -“Hey Fightin Tigers” was based on an old Broadway tune that was sung by Lucille Ball in the 50’s. It’s melodic, upbeat, and catchy. UL could write their own or take melody from a lesser known tune and change the words.

What does bbhs use?

[jaxmc1023]

Wrong. They have reason to come. I didn't go because of the band or the atmosphere, or the tailgating, I went to support my team, whether they were winning or losing. I'm tired of these whiny babies, "what's in it for me." That's BS.

You're basically saying it's the students' job to get out and support the team...

It's not.

They spend thousands of dollars a year at this university. Football games are one of the fun things offered to them as a reward for their money and their choice to attend UL.

Except they're not fun. College students -- believe it or not -- want to party like college students, act crazy like college students, drink beer like college students, make questionable decisions like college students. Even if -- GASP -- they aren't 21 years old yet.

UL's offering is: stand around in this dog pen to tailgate while we keep a close eye on you, come into the stadium and sit in the sun for 3 hours, listen to the band play the same song 30 times from twenty feet away, and God help you if campus police sees you sneak a sip of alcohol while doing it.

and if you stay here 4 years, we'll call you a few weeks after graduation to ask for money to help the athletic program, which the university will more than likely steal from to support something else.

[roarman]

The marching band director is the associate director of bands. As far as it still sounding the same, he got to UL in late June. Didn’t have much time to make changes. He will have a more disciplined group in the future, it will just take him a bit of time

I'll believe it when I see and hear it. And, exactly what do you mean by disciplined? Are you saying the band members are undisciplined?