Pride of Acadiana

[SouthlandPride]

Ok I have a gripe here about the Band. What DO they do? I don't know about you guys but if I see another half time performance about Earth Wind and Fire I'll lose my mind.

When's the last time they learned a new song to play in the stands? "The Family Guy theme song"? Oooo that intimidating. Nothing says our Cajuns are bad ass on the field like THAT song. (love the song and show at times, just doesn't belong on the field) "Hey Baby" classic but umm Highschool anyone?

Have you ever watched an action movie without a musical score? It's not as stimulating without it. Imagine watching the TV series Cops. They don't play music when there's a car or foot chase. Animal planet even uses some kind of musical score/sound effects when the lion chases and catches a gazelle!

Can we get a little fan fare excitement on our field for when we get a 1st down/QB Sack/change of possession via INT-FUM Rec?

I guess that's all I want to get off my mind right now...

[AstroCajun]

I guess you weren't at homecoming. No earth wind or fire. Just Bond music.

I agree however with your criticism of their game management. Lots of dead air.

igeaux.mobi

[SouthlandPride]

No, I didnt make it to homecoming =(. But are you saying that they never done a Bond half time show.

[BrockMeaux]

If you don't like what they do, there are better ways to go about getting it changed than griping about it on RP. Shoot an email to Dr. Taylor ( btaylor@louisiana.edu ) and tell him what they should be playing, maybe ask him what they do. I'm not necessarily their biggest cheerleader or anything, but everybody involved with the POA puts in close to 20 hours a week of rehearsal on top of their other school schedule and any jobs they may have to learn shows and music and THEN they have to perform at the games which includes the pre-game march, playing numerous songs and a tag of the Fight Song for every first down (with the whole thing twice every time we score), a halftime performance, and then long after everyone's well into making message board posts about how terrible everything at the game was from the comfort of their home, the kids have to go back to Angelle Hall and unload the two or three full Ryder trucks that it takes to have the band and all their equipment transported to and from the games for you to not be happy with what they play.

By all means, you're well within reason to have issue with their playlist. And to fix that, get in touch with people in the music department and make requests. Or better yet, head over to a website like www.jwpepper.com , find music you like, buy it, and donate it to the band. But I take some issue with you questioning "what DO they do" as if they just show up 5 minutes before the game starts and make it up as they go.

[SouthlandPride]

I wouldn't call them kids by no means. I am not coming on here to shout off nonsense like I dont know what the band members do. I know very well the prep time that goes in and the break down.

The you feel I'm dissing the performers alone. This is mostly something to be directed to the director. I thank you for your response as it contained the info I was hoping to receive. And I'll post on this forum and any other forum my thoughts on it. Cause what's one persons thoughts going to do? Probably nothing, but should others agree and feel that a new material needs to be brought forth and they send their thoughts too then maybe something might get done.

Try not to get so emotional. I can tell you have a close relationship with the POA. I'm just trying to get opinions and answers. Not trying to offend.

Does the Marching band only get so much money out of the Musical funds allotted to the Music dept?

[RedTails]

Does the Marching band only get so much money out of the Musical funds allotted to the Music dept? _

I'm under the impression that they're so underfunded, that they're using old band uniforms from the USL days, and they just black marks-a-lot'd the 'S' in USL to comply with the name change. It looks like they've got some more tubas though, they sound a bit more powerful this year.

[Turbine]

Does the Marching band only get so much money out of the Musical funds allotted to the Music dept? _

There was a student body vote to provide supplement funding for the band and it passed. It was the same vote that approved the indoor practice facility which is a done deal.

I was told however with the increased student funding for the band some traditional funds dried up and by one account the cuts more than offset the student body contribution.

If you are going to approach the band director, it's better to hash it out here and get any inaccuracies out of the way so that when you approach the powers that be you have more credibility. Can you imagine walking into the office of any administrator with the intention of airing you frustrations and half your data is wrong? They will laugh you out the building before you finish your comments.

So for those who say don't bring it up here go straight to the administration, you have it backwards, but in the end you are 100% correct, this is not where the meat of a matter gets accomplished.

[ljr3721]

_ I guess you weren't at homecoming. No earth wind or fire. Just Bond music.

igeaux.mobi _

That is correct. Also, I've been to all of the home games this year and don't recall Family Guy being played at all. Last year when they played it, it was a stands tune and was never performed on the field.

[RaisingCajun08]

I think the Pride of Acadiana is the least of our worries right now.

[HelmutVII]

They are seriously underfunded. The added student fees were indeed offset but cuts in other funding sources. The uniforms are indeed so old that they have blacked out the "S" in USL. Yesterday (11/6/10) they performed for the Louisiana Showcase for Marching Bands and gave an excellent performance that was enjoyed by everybody. Lafayette Music is one of the sponsors of the event and all profits go to the band and it's scholarship fund. Admittance was $15.00. I guess they had about 15,000 to 18,000 people there throughout the day. If you are in Lafayette, stop by Lafayette Music and speak to Jamie Cappel or Wil Green and thank them for their support of the band. Just think how much worse the situation would be without it. I'm sure they would appreciate your comments.

The band does appear to have more members this year and I would suspect that it can't get much bigger because of the lack of uniforms.

The band has to get into the stands after the pregame show which takes about 15 minutes. So for a good portion of the first quarter they cannot do anything. They have to get on the field for half time then return to the stands after halftime (another 15 minutes each time). So they cannot do anything right before or after half time. That time could be cut almost in half if they had another gate to get on the field.

The other problem I see is they sell advertisement on the score board that takes from band playing time while they are in the stands. (I understand they are prohibited from playing during those times, I also understand they need the money from the ads). It appears to be a game management and communication problem more than anything else. I have noticed on the TV games I have seen this year that bands are playing less then they used to and most of them are playing they same thing.

[California Cajun]

_ Ok I have a gripe here about the Band. What DO they do? I don't know about you guys but if I see another half time performance about Earth Wind and Fire I'll lose my mind.

When's the last time they learned a new song to play in the stands? "The Family Guy theme song"? Oooo that intimidating. Nothing says our Cajuns are bad ass on the field like THAT song. (love the song and show at times, just doesn't belong on the field) "Hey Baby" classic but umm Highschool anyone?

Have you ever watched an action movie without a musical score? It's not as stimulating without it. Imagine watching the TV series Cops. They don't play music when there's a car or foot chase. Animal planet even uses some kind of musical score/sound effects when the lion chases and catches a gazelle!

Can we get a little fan fare excitement on our field for when we get a 1st down/QB Sack/change of possession via INT-FUM Rec?

I guess that's all I want to get off my mind right now... _

I have some very strong feelings about this.

The games are choreographed from start to finish and there's no spontaneity.

You watch games on TV and the band plays all the time, accentuating what's going on in the game.

I exchanged e-mails with the current band director a couple of years and I could sense frustration in his replies with the inability to perform in that capacity.

It is insulting to have a live band and all that canned music playing. It's embarrassing. When time is so limited, there aren't many opportunities to pay more than the standard fare.

[Lafitte the Pirate]

_ Ok I have a gripe here about the Band. What DO they do? I don't know about you guys but if I see another half time performance about Earth Wind and Fire I'll lose my mind.

When's the last time they learned a new song to play in the stands? "The Family Guy theme song"? Oooo that intimidating. Nothing says our Cajuns are bad ass on the field like THAT song. (love the song and show at times, just doesn't belong on the field) "Hey Baby" classic but umm Highschool anyone?

Have you ever watched an action movie without a musical score? It's not as stimulating without it. Imagine watching the TV series Cops. They don't play music when there's a car or foot chase. Animal planet even uses some kind of musical score/sound effects when the lion chases and catches a gazelle!

Can we get a little fan fare excitement on our field for when we get a 1st down/QB Sack/change of possession via INT-FUM Rec?

I guess that's all I want to get off my mind right now... _

In my opinion, the Band will not that much support until it changes its name to the "Pride of Louisiana"!!!!