Band Members? Please Answer this Quesiton...

[tmustangp]

I have been goin to smu games for years and years.. Due to my disgust at the marshall game, i looked around the coliseum for something interesting and noticed the band.

Then I thought to myself and asked my buddies..
Why is only half the band at the bball games? I know there are probably twice as many band members who come to the football games. Why doesn't the entire band show up to the bball games?
Hell the band is the only reason there is any cheering at all at the games anyways, so what If the entire band was there.. There is plenty of room for them on those wooden bleachers.

Can a band member or past band member please explain this to me?
Sometimes there is only one home game a week, just like football, So why isn't the entire band not at the bball games?

[Mickey]

Because the band has to play at the women's games in order to be politically correct. Equal treatment. Moody is even emptier for the women's games. This is all related to Title IX.

I remember the days when there was only one BB team and the whole band showed up and Moody was rocking.

[DiamondM75]

The band is actually split into two bands during BB season. Since they are requested to play at both men and women games, there is a hugh demand on their time. Some weeks there might be three BB games and to ask all band members to show for all home games (men and women), is just an unreasonable request. Remember, band members are students also. They attend classes, have homework, attend labs, write papers, take tests, and are trying to obtain a degree.

Being a Mustang Band member is pretty much a voluteer position. Yes, there is some scholarship money given, but not near enough to pay for tuition at SMU. They earn 1 hour of fine arts credit a year. They do this for the love of playing their instruments and being athletic fans. These students are our bigest student fans and I appreciate their hard work and what they contribute.

Next time you see a band member at an event, why don't you just say thank you and show your appreciation for what these kids contribute, instead of questioning why they don't do more?

[MustangIcon]

DiamondM75 if you got off your soapbox for a second and reread his post TP was actually commending the band. He said the band is the only reason there is any cheering at all at the games. He likes the band. He appreciates their contributions- as we all do.

He was asking why we cannot have the whole band at games bc they ARE the most spirited athletic fans we have. I am sure he did not think about the fact that the band attends women's games as well. Your post would have perfectly answered his question with great reasoning and humility without that last paragraph in there as a shot at him.

[BarbaraAnn]

One reason the band looks smaller is because only 2 out of 15 dummers are there. You don't need any more.

Actually, there's only one bball band; it's not divided. Lots of students have to put off certain courses during the fall semester because of football. Many students take those 3 hour night classes in the spring semester because there's hardly any time in the fall.

And then there are also some students who just don't show up. Some students can only handle football season, and then they either (1) quit or (2) don't paticipate until August rolls back around.

The whole situation is good and bad. Bad because we want as many people there as possible becausesometimes people just don't show up. For example, I got a call 30 minutes before the Marshall game asking if I could drive out there to play drums because no other drummers decidedto make an appearance.

But it's also good because we're already really loud in there. Just imagine what it'd be like if we had the whole band. Sheesh! How great would that be.

Just donate money. We'll take it.

[WildBillPony]

I'm wondering, if the band is half-ed for men & women games, would the rules allow for the rest of each band to be added onto with members of the alumni band? They could make it larger that way, and I know there are several alumns that would like to participate...

[Pony4Life]

I'd like to see the band double in size.
Maybe that's just me.

[bagice]

It was really great having the high school kids there and seeing the band fill up that whole section. That is a great idea, plus it brought a lot of their parents out. Made for a fun atmosphere.

[SMUPhil]

I'd like to see the band double in size.
Maybe that's just me.

I think we'd all like to see the band double in size. No one's arguing with you there.

BTW, how did the band experience thing go tonight?

[tmustangp]

DiamondM75, i accept your apology (even before you give it).. Thank you icon for actually reading my remark..

Too BarbaraAnn, you brought up a point i should have thought of.. the girls deserve to have the band at their games also..

Maybe we can get the alumni band to participate more..
I don't have any ties to the band, but they do deserve alot of credit.. the alumni band and the student band...

unfortunately i slept through the game today.. so someone please inform us on how this HS band idea worked..
Props to the marketing department for coming up w/ a new idea..lets build on it

[SMUPhil]

tmustangp,

I left a reply to your thread on the General board.

Also, I believe the "band experience day" thing was all the band's idea, to boost recruitment, I don't think it had anything to do with the marketing dept.

As far as the "more alumni" comments, I think there is a general effort to let the band have its own fun and make its own memories, without always having alumni around.

[DiamondM75]

I shall now post my most humble apology for tmustangp. You have already accepted one so I just thought one should be posted.

I totally misunderstood your original post. To me it read something like "why isn't the whole band always there?" As I reread the post, after being chastized both on this board and in person, I now understand what you were saying. You are actually being very thankfull for the band's participation at SMU athletic events and were just asking why the band is so small at the bb games.

BarbaraAnn gave a very acurate reply about the students having required evening classes that they can not attend in the fall because of marching rehearsal requirements. They have to take these classes in the spring, therefore, they can not attend the basketball games on week days.

OK I did it. I apologized and I hope my apology is accepted by all.

[solomouse]

it was great having a larger ,excited band at the game...whether it was high school students,fill ins,neighbors,alums and/or any others...it created a much better atmosphere...the band section looked occupied...they made noise and the crowd responded...i doubt the so called marketing department ,of the athletic dpartment ,had anything to do with the origination of the idea...the only things that seem to be presented are childish contests that may be mildly interesting to a few ...but it has been a long time since the maverick chicks,or whatever they are called ,appeared...now that would bring a crowd from the frat houses and alums as well.how about an alum or fill in "drill team"...

[DiamondM75]

it was great having a larger ,excited band at the game... i doubt the so called marketing department ,of the athletic dpartment ,had anything to do with the origination of the idea..

The Mustang Band Experience is an event that was created and is hosted and funded by The Diamond M Club. You can learn more at www.diamondmclub.org. This year was the second year of the event and because of the hard work of the director, Mr. Don Hopkins and the assistance director, Mr. Tommy Tucker was a huge success.

For a recap of the days events, see the post on the recruiting page.