Heard the band did Fiddler on the Roof Again

[regis]

Lazy? Are you stupid? Do you have an inkling of what it takes to get a show together, or even play an instrument? They released the schedule in February; did you want us to begin putting together field shows in between basketball games? Did you want us to take part-time positions at 7-11 instead of full-time jobs at firms? Putting on 2 field shows in under a week is absolutely impossible. You're ignorant and unreasonable if you do not realize that.

Did the show sound lackluster on Monday? Probably so. Ever played a cold horn covered in water? Didn't think so. It sounds bad. Next time, I guess you would prefer we sit in the stands with our panchos on, fearing wetness.

Before you get on here and talk crap about the Mustang Band, realize that we could be the TCU band, the UNT band, the LHB, or EVERY OTHER COLLEGE BAND IN THE NATION, and play the SAME SHOW at EVERY GAME for the WHOLE YEAR. You have no idea the amount of dedication, blood, and sweat goes into what we do for the University. We are THE HUB OF SMU SPIRIT for a reason, not because we thought it would be a pretty name. You disgruntled alumni need to quit complaining about how miserable you are because SMU did this, or the Mustang Band did that. Get over yourselves.

I'm sorry. I did not mean it like it sounded. The students in the band are not lazy. I know full well of what it means and what it takes to be in Mustang Band. I've done everything you mentioned and thensome. I should have chosen my words more carefully. I apologize to you and every one of the students that might have read this.

My intended point was that the PLANNING was lazy. Six months should be more than enough time to figure out how to put together two shows in three weeks. We've had home games in back to back weeks many times in recent years. Last year we had 4 home games in 6 weeks. Never do I remember the same show twice in a row. That's my disappointment.

But that is not the students fault. You guys do what you're told. And like I said, halftime sounded great on Saturday. Keep it up.

[DiamondM]

For all those that don't know.... There is a new sheriff in town. The M Band directors are told when to play. There actually is a person in front of the band who tells the band when they can play and when they can't play. Since the ads have to be played that cuts into the time that the band can play on time outs. Before an individual gets on this board and talks about things that they don't know, why don't you send an email to the band directors or call them. In fact, I have no respect for any ex-bandsperson who gets on this board and mouths off before they talk to the directors and find out what the real deal is. As far as the others cats who get on this board and open their .....never mind ...they are not worth it...

With respect to the in the stands issue, I (and other ex band members) have spoken directly with the "new sheriff" and Don the past couple of years, and honestly, I think there is "blame" -- miscommunication and misunderstanding -- to go around. Mostly, we get blown off, given excuses, ignored, or considered heretics for public (constructive) criticism. Private discussions have, for the most part, had no results. Honestly, it's not Orsini's fault that horns aren't up and the drum major/director is not ready for the downbeat immediately on completion of a play or other appropriate times to play.

Look, we love the band and want the band to be great, and it doesn't behoove anyone to have the attitude that the band is some sacred cow that no one can criticize. And I'm not talking the "old fart" attitude about making it just like we were in the band -- I'm talking about doing the little things that other college bands do during a game to make it sound like a college football game (in Mustang Band style of course).

As for repeating the show, it wasn't about putting on 2 shows in less than a week. It's 2 shows in about 3 weeks -- 1 week for training camp, one week of school before the first game (actually 1 week and a couple days of extra practice this year to actually perform the first show) and then Saturday's show. Regis knows exactly what it takes to put a show on the field, as he and I both experienced having to prepare for 2 different shows in back to back home games in the first 2 weeks of the season on several occasions (I went back and checked historical schedules). You don't wait for the in between week to start preparing a new show. You practice parts of 2 shows during those first two weeks, and the in between week is for polishing the 2nd show.

[Peruna2001]

With respect to the in the stands issue, I (and other ex band members) have spoken directly with the "new sheriff" and Don the past couple of years, and honestly, I think there is "blame" -- miscommunication and misunderstanding -- to go around. Mostly, we get blown off, given excuses, ignored, or considered heretics for public (constructive) criticism. Private discussions have, for the most part, had no results. Honestly, it's not Orsini's fault that horns aren't up and the drum major/director is not ready for the downbeat immediately on completion of a play or other appropriate times to play.

Look, we love the band and want the band to be great, and it doesn't behoove anyone to have the attitude that the band is some sacred cow that no one can criticize. And I'm not talking the "old fart" attitude about making it just like we were in the band -- I'm talking about doing the little things that other college bands do during a game to make it sound like a college football game (in Mustang Band style of course).

As for repeating the show, it wasn't about putting on 2 shows in less than a week. It's 2 shows in about 3 weeks -- 1 week for training camp, one week of school before the first game (actually 1 week and a couple days of extra practice this year to actually perform the first show) and then Saturday's show. Regis knows exactly what it takes to put a show on the field, as he and I both experienced having to prepare for 2 different shows in back to back home games in the first 2 weeks of the season on several occasions (I went back and checked historical schedules). You don't wait for the in between week to start preparing a new show. You practice parts of 2 shows during those first two weeks, and the in between week is for polishing the 2nd show.

Amen! This says it all.

[mrydel]

Amen! This says it all.[/quote]

Promise.

[smuengr]

The recent alum posts have hit the nail on the head. Don't expect much out the discussion though: Don reads ponyfans and brings up what is posted in practice to the students and tells them to ignore it.

I agree that a lot of what has been posted about the band is unfair, but a lot of it is quite fair.

At the first game, I was in a crowded section and I overheard about ten seperate conversations that critcized the performance. While a lot of it I did not agree with, it got me thinking: If the performance isn't entertaining the fans, then what is the point?

[MustangStealth]

Don reads ponyfans and brings up what is posted in practice to the students and tells them to ignore it.

In that case, the band plays Peruna too much in the stands.

[BrianTinBigD]

Nothing like getting the band all worked up and defensive. The Fiddler on the Roof show is lame. Please kill it.

I laughed when our band was playing some drum thing and people yelled fight or go or something then the NTSU started singing Hey Baby! I just heard the same crap at the Allen-Rockwall game the night before but both bands were louder and actually more involved in the game than the 2 bands at Ford on Saturday. Nothing like 2 college bands sounding real high school bands.

[DiamondM]

Nothing like getting the band all worked up and defensive. The Fiddler on the Roof show is lame. Please kill it.

I laughed when our band was playing some drum thing and people yelled fight or go or something then the NTSU started singing Hey Baby! I just heard the same crap at the Allen-Rockwall game the night before but both bands were louder and actually more involved in the game than the 2 bands at Ford on Saturday. Nothing like 2 college bands sounding real high school bands.

Now that's the kind of crap Don should tell the kids to ignore.

[George S. Patton]

Nothing like getting the band all worked up and defensive. The Fiddler on the Roof show is lame. Please kill it.

I laughed when our band was playing some drum thing and people yelled fight or go or something then the NTSU started singing Hey Baby! I just heard the same crap at the Allen-Rockwall game the night before but both bands were louder and actually more involved in the game than the 2 bands at Ford on Saturday. Nothing like 2 college bands sounding real high school bands.

Now that's the kind of crap Don should tell the kids to ignore.

Maybe we should ignore Don because he obviously got the halftime shows off to a crappy start.

[smu diamond m]

The recent alum posts have hit the nail on the head. Don't expect much out the discussion though: Don reads ponyfans and brings up what is posted in practice to the students and tells them to ignore it.

I agree that a lot of what has been posted about the band is unfair, but a lot of it is quite fair.

At the first game, I was in a crowded section and I overheard about ten seperate conversations that critcized the performance. While a lot of it I did not agree with, it got me thinking: If the performance isn't entertaining the fans, then what is the point? Tradition? Maybe they should have added that song to the "Fiddler on the Roof" lineup.

Have you seen the field show in question? We played tradition, it was the opener. I love it when people complain about things they dont know.

[SmooBoy]

I know everyone has their own opinions on the band, and there are ups and downs each year. Let's give them a couple more games to see what the next show might be. Obviously, the music selection is not everyone's cup of tea, but most of the music in their book has been in there before most of the posters on PF were born.

Can we imagine what Ford would be like without the Hub? Pipe in the crowd noise and elevator music.

[Statler]

All this criticism about M Band is like the passengers on the Titanic concerned that the orchestra should have played "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" instead of "Nearer My God to Thee."

Oh well, nothing that a little Kool-Aid and a new deck chair won't solve!

[smu diamond m]

All this criticism about M Band is like the passengers on the Titanic concerned that the orchestra should have played "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" instead of "Nearer My God to Thee."

bahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[jtstang]

Again people, the band's job is to play some songs at halftime. The band played some songs at halftime. Therefore they did their job. This is a football board, and we've got a three page thread about a what's wrong with the fricking songs the band played. I am sure threads like this instill all kinds of fear in our opponents. Just get over it already. If you don't like the songs, go out to the concourse and harass the security people for twenty minutes.

[mrydel]

Clarinets scare me.