Band question

[SMUPhil]

Abe,
I have thought about this subject many times and I think there is definitely some merit to it. I think for years, the band was afraid of being cheesy, but you don't have to be cheesy to be showy or entertaining. It wouldn't require an overhaul of the band, just add a current top 40 hit each week during the season.

Did you see the Rutgers/Louisville game? The Rutgers band was ALL over ESPN all night. Why? Because they had simple horn movement crap they were doing, and that was more flashy/interesting than just showing fans all night. The SMU game last week? Huge empty spaces in the stands, looked like random students just showed up with instruments.

BBall band, on the other hand, has no real "tradition" in my opinion and could totally be an all out pop-music band.

RGV, for the size issue, I too would love a mega band blasting pony battle cry, but doubling size is a lot more difficult than changing styles or playlists. With SMU's student demographic, it's not really the "I did marching band in high school" students roaming our campus. But, I think a band of 120 would not be impossible.

[couch 'em]

Why can't we increase the size of the band?

Nobody at SMU wants to be in the band, and they don't have the money to buy people with scholarship money. Either get more middle class at SMU (and teams worth watching) or get them some money.

[MustangTu]

If all of you want to get the band up to at least 99 guys, why not consider droping a check in the mail made out to the Diamond M Club to help there scholarship fund. That would give them more scholarship money and let them recruit some local student who might otherwise go to one of the state schools. Also write to Dr. Turner and request him to increase the bands budget. Just a thought. As we all know it all about the "money" anymore.

[abezontar]

I already do, but I think even with a ton of money you are going to have difficulty getting the numbers up, unless you are giving them full rides. I would love to see that happen again. I think what bugs me is that there just seems to be a lack of energy from the band lately and I wonder if changing it up would be something that might get what kids we do have a little more excited about it and that could then come through to the crowd.

[Diamond Girl]

The target number right now for the future is 150 band members. And it will take an increase in scholarship funding. Although the administration has started contributing more toward scholarships, the band needs a lot more (become a member of the Diamond M Club and help out in this endeavor). Another recruiting problem has been the band hall itself. We were supposed to be in the basement of Perkins Natatorium temporarily (1956), but it's been 50 years now and the band's still there. We've been promised space in the new Dedman Center, but we need to raise something like $1.2 million to fix up the space (see SMUBandpartnership.com for more info about making a donation toward the new Mustang Band Hall). When the new band hall is complete, recruiting shouldn't be a problem, expecially if there is an increase in scholarships.

[abezontar]

I wish I had skills like this guy.

Jackson State Twirler

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

I think what bugs me is that there just seems to be a
lack of energy from the band lately

I think it's just more than lack of energy but maybe it's just me.