SMU Marching Band away games

[DiamondM]

was told as of now
Rice August 29th
Tulane Sept 25th

They had the budget to get to Orlando for the C-USA women's basketball tournament, but not to get to all football games? No offense to the women's basketball team - and congratulations on a fantastic season - but getting to every football game has to be priority No. 1.

A basketball pep band for a tournament is completely different from the "smaller" pep band that would be needed to make any kind of noise at an open air away football game.

Conference and NCAA tourney pep bands are limited in size by the conferences and the NCAA to about 30 people. But a 30 person pep band does not make for a good traveling group at a football game. The big state schools taking a "smaller" pep band are often taking about 1/4 of their regular 300-400 person, i.e. about the size of our regular band. Even so, many schools are not having even their "smaller" pep bands travel to away games as often as in the past. There was a huge stink on the Texas Tech boards last year criticizing the band for not traveling. I think they ONLY went to the Texas game -- no others. So the Mustang Band is not the only band suffering from budgetary problems. And at most of those schools, there is at least some attention paid to it in the school budget process due to their association with their music schools.

[giacfsp]

As I understand it, the athletic department footed the bill for the trip to Orlando.

And as I understand it, the band and cheerleaders are now run by the athletic department, too.

Pony Up, indeed. Get the band to all football games, and any and all postseason basketball games.

[couch 'em]

I also think the band should be saving it's pennies for the new Band Hall, which is an absolute necessity. Once new digs are paid for, then the band can focus on more trips, equipment, scholies, etc to make the Mustang band even more fantabulous. But it all has to start ith a new home.

If I were a student in the band I'd be pretty angry if I didn't get to go on a trip because the band was saving money for basic facilities the school should be providing.

[couch 'em]

You also have to balance things out there, chief.

Hehe..you said "Chief."

Please, no.

[RGV Pony]

was told as of now
Rice August 29th
Tulane Sept 25th

They had the budget to get to Orlando for the C-USA women's basketball tournament, but not to get to all football games? No offense to the women's basketball team - and congratulations on a fantastic season - but getting to every football game has to be priority No. 1.

A basketball pep band for a tournament is completely different from the "smaller" pep band that would be needed to make any kind of noise at an open air away football game.

Conference and NCAA tourney pep bands are limited in size by the conferences and the NCAA to about 30 people. But a 30 person pep band does not make for a good traveling group at a football game. The big state schools taking a "smaller" pep band are often taking about 1/4 of their regular 300-400 person, i.e. about the size of our regular band. Even so, many schools are not having even their "smaller" pep bands travel to away games as often as in the past. There was a huge stink on the Texas Tech boards last year criticizing the band for not traveling. I think they ONLY went to the Texas game -- no others. So the Mustang Band is not the only band suffering from budgetary problems. And at most of those schools, there is at least some attention paid to it in the school budget process due to their association with their music schools.

A few years ago when Tech played in the Citrus Bowl I remember them needing 750k donation for the band to go, or something along those lines. Ditto UGA to some bowl in Florida...it was like 600 grand that someone had to donate.

One place it works (and yes I'm biased) is LSU...you'll notice their band is everywhere. This is because their version of the Mustang Club, TAF, pays for the athletic department. This leaves $ from the general fund to pay things like the band, and the Golden Girls, and...well now I've gone and sidetracked myself. Did I mention the Golden Girls? (and no, I'm not talking Rue McClanahan here)

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

You also have to balance things out there, chief.

Hehe..you said "Chief."

Please, no.

Hey, don't look at me. I'm not the one who used it first.

[smu diamond m]

Like we have money to fly out to Orlando and stay for 4 nights. You can thank Rhonda and the athletic dept for that.

I'll bee at those other games, MB or not.

[Diamond Girl]

Orsini ponyed up for the band to go to the women's and men's tourneys. In fact, it's up to him where the band goes and how many away games the band attends each season. If you want the band to go to more away games, don't contact the band directors; contact Orsini.

RGV Pony, the Alumni Band plays at weddings. If you're interested in booking them for a gig, go to http://www.diamondmclub.organd choose the alumni band link and get further information there.[/url]

[ALEX LIFESON]

Orsini ponyed up for the band to go to the women's and men's tourneys.

Once again, thank the mob boss.


Fear the mob boss!

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

Orsini ponyed up for the band to go to the women's and men's tourneys.

Once again, thank the mob boss.


Fear the mob boss!

The band has always gone to the conference tourneys, even before Orsini got here. For the last 12 years since the end of the SWC, they've paid for them to go to Vegas(man, that was a fun trip), Fresno,Tulsa, Memphis and Orlando(just to name a few). It's nothing new. It would be nice, however, if the kids got to do more road games. The one thing I loved about the old SWC days was going on the road...whether it was Austin,College Station,Houston or Waco..it was nice to go to an opposing team's stadium and just play Peruna to no end. Someday, I hope the kids in the band can experience that.

[mr. pony]

How about a "Circle of Hubba-Hubbas" - a group of 20 band supporters who commit $5,000 a year for 5 five years to ensure the full band travels to every away game during Jones' tenure?

[Greenwich Pony]

"If I were a student in the band I'd be pretty angry if I didn't get to go on a trip because the band was saving money for basic facilities the school should be providing."

I whole-heartedly agree- the Mustang band is the core of our fan base and is one thing that is absolutely unique about SMU. The University should help the band get a new band hall and protect this tremendous asset, but sadly that does not appear to be the case.

[couch 'em]

"If I were a student in the band I'd be pretty angry if I didn't get to go on a trip because the band was saving money for basic facilities the school should be providing."

I whole-heartedly agree- the Mustang band is the core of our fan base and is one thing that is absolutely unique about SMU. The University should help the band get a new band hall and protect this tremendous asset, but sadly that does not appear to be the case.

I don't know how much the band needs to build a "top 25" style bandhall, but finishing out the Dedman basement to at least match the pathetic basement they are currently in couldn't be too expensive for the university unless they really el-cheapo'ed the design for Dedman when they built it.

[CalallenStang]

You'd be surprised...the price tag is around $2 Mil.

[couch 'em]

You'd be surprised...the price tag is around $2 Mil.

Well that's my question - is that $2 mil to put in a complete, ideal bandhall, with practice rooms, sounds insulation, a museum wall with fancy lighting, nice offices, sound and video systems, nice shelving with locking doors, a locker room, etc etc, or is that to put in the bare minimum habitable space, with air conditioning, a few basic shelves, and some el-cheapo walls to put in an office and a library?