Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

...but it just crossed my mind as I was reading through this forum, and I haven't seen anyone else mention it.

If any of you have any pull in FMB, please make sure that no one ever, ever allows the halftime show from the Western Michigan game to be performed again. I have never heard a band play classical pieces and Fantasia selections and expect that to get the crowd fired up.

I respect the fact that it took a great deal of talent to do that as a marching band, but as a lamen in the stands it is boring and perplexing. I was saddened to hear all of the people around me saying that we had gotten 'punked' by Western's band (who I have to admit put on a pretty good halftime show). Carol has done a fantastic job over the past couple of years, but I think that show was a major error in judgement.

You guys are a great band, and in my opnion, the best damn band in OHIO. Just please, please don't ever do that again.

Now, I know how defensive some of you bandies can get (and understandably so with all of the work you guys put in), but please do not take offense to this criticism. Everyone knows you all are a great band, and no one will ever question that!

Can't wait to see you all at the bowl game!

It wasn't our most favorite show either. But because we only had one week between games, there was no way we could have come up with a new show for the WMU game... so our directors had to come up with a show that would work for both Halloween and family weekend.

Not every show can be a Frontiers or a Bohemian Rhapsody or an I Hear America Singing.

(If it makes you feel any better, WMU's band was good, but even though their show may have been more entertaining, ours was "harder." Not something the average fan would know, or even care about, but true nonetheless. *sigh* )

Not to sound rude, but if you have a problem with the shows that we are performing, you should speak directly with the directors, not with the people IN the band. There is absolutely nothing we can do about it. It was a repeat show because it was Family weekend, and it was directed toward the kids that were there. Furthermore, we had only a week between games, which means there was no way that we could either A)Learn a new show, or B)Bring out a show from earlier in the season. There just wasn't time. I'm sorry that you feel this way, and appreciate that you feel we are still the best band in Ohio, but I still think you should talk to the top-dogs rather than trying to put it off on the people IN the band to do it for you. Thank you for your time, and my apologies if you feel offended. *steps off soapbox*

Personally, as a "bandie", I both agree and disagree with Dr. H's decision to make a repeat for family weekend. Once for Halloween weekend was cool, but also pushing it. I honestly didn't expect the crowd to really enjoy that show twice in as many weeks.

Those who have only been around for two years or less don't remember one week wonders. I think both my feshmen and sophomore years we had to pull of a one week wonder. However, the music we played was less complex, as was the drill we marched back then. When we did pull off one week wonders they were little more than "Glorified Park and Blows". Now with Hayward on the tower, the band expects more of itself, and won't settle for what the one week wonders were. True, not every show can be Frontiers, but I feel that the band wants every show we perform to be as impressive and well exicuted as that show was. I think we could pull off a one week wonder, but I'm not sure we'd be as happy with the result.

I do agree with the others in the FMB who have already chimed in. We can't do much about what show we march what week. All we can really do about the shows is put our best effort on the field and hope you like it. You would be better off talkin to Doc H. All we can do here is b*tch about it, and try to defend our actions.

This is what I was afraid of.

I do respect the fact that it was a very hard show to play musically, and the FMB does rule. You guys make OSUMB look like a bunch of cadets these days.

I did not realize that there was only a week in which to create a new show, and that does change my outlook a bit. And, I may speak with the directors at some point, but for now, I just remembered this and thought that I would get feedback from everyone in here while I was thinking of it.

I don't take offense to any of your comments, I just don't want you guys to take any offense to mine. You guys ROCK and I am proud to have a group of talented people like you guys representing my school.

March on!

Orange,

I for one, don't take offense. I realize what you said was meant in good spirit, as well as about an event that you just remembered about that happened a month ago. I am very proud to have alumni that not only laid down a very good tradition, but also are very active and interested in the direction of the band. Without the alumni and fans, there would be no marching band.

No offense here either, and I do understand what you're saying; I was just trying to explain why it was done the way it was. That doesn't mean I'm arguing with you. *hopeful smile* It's so easy to accidentally give and take offense on the internet, but it wasn't intended that way.


(--Oh I do remember one-week wonders. *GAG* Wasn't the 2002 carry on my wayward son, every little thing she does is magic, livin on a prayer show a one-week wonder? KILL ME NOW. Believe me, oh ye-of-short-FMB-memories... repeating even a somewhat-mediocre show would be better than a piece-of-crap one-week wonder. )

FliccGirl wrote:
(--Oh I do remember one-week wonders. *GAG* Wasn't the 2002 carry on my wayward son, every little thing she does is magic, livin on a prayer show a one-week wonder? KILL ME NOW. Believe me, oh ye-of-short-FMB-memories... repeating even a somewhat-mediocre show would be better than a piece-of-crap one-week wonder. )

Umm...yeah, that sounds fimilar. Ahh, the Hu To days. Oh well, those are over. Better director, better band, better shows (even if they are repeat).

Fliccgirl and Goofyeuph, you are two of the reasons I love our band and university so much!

I'm glad you can see where I'm coming from. I am a musician, so I can understand the skill that it takes to pull off what you guys and gals do week in and week out (although I don't read music, which still makes me a lamen in your terms!).

I also wanted to say that I didn't mean the term "Bandie" in a pejorative way. At my high school term "bandie" was endeering and the "bando" mean-spirited. Just wanted to clear that up.

Oh how I love my FMB!

baritonebandgeek wrote:Furthermore, we had only a week between games, which means there was no way that we could either A)Learn a new show, or B)Bring out a show from earlier in the season. There just wasn't time.

I'm going to be the outcast and say we could do a new show in a week. The FMB used to do it back in the day when they didn't have to memorize their music, and then we did it in the Dr. Toney day's where the drill wasn't as hard. I still think if the directors would crack down on certain people and sections that cause a lot of wasted time, we could pull out an entire new 30 page drill in a week. Music practice for half the day Monday, 5 pages or so the other half of the practice. Then 10 pages a day Tuesday-Thursday. Music checks on Friday along with complete run throughs and we would be golden. You never realize all the screwing around and wasted time that goes on until you have to sit on the sidelines and watch it. I hate to say it but out rehersal style sucks and needs to get better so we don't have to put out crappy shows 2 weeks in a row

Bleeding Orange wrote:
I also wanted to say that I didn't mean the term "Bandie" in a pejorative way. At my high school term "bandie" was endeering and the "bando" mean-spirited. Just wanted to clear that up.

No worries... we call ourselves such things. We even take "band geek" as a compliment.

I'll have to agree our rehearsal style blows. The idea that we can't even be a little critical of the peeps goofing off in sections is an idea that can afford to be scrapped. The people goofing off and wasting time need to have it, and it shouldn't be from a nice Dr. H going "oh you guys, please stop. No really please". It needs to be from the stern you're-gonna-change-or-you're-going-to-regret-it Dr. H.

Our band has gotten larger. Last year we couldn't cut anyone because Dr. H wanted to build up our numbers (so I heard) and honestly, some people NEEDED to be cut last year. Well, our numbers are up. We need to start checking up on the people that are struggling and try to help them out instead of leave them out to dry because it might be considered mean or hazing. Sometimes it takes a little sternness to get the point across.

I agree, Jess. I remember a lot of people (I don't remember anyone in particular, so nobody get offended if this happens to apply to you) complaining near the beginning of the season about people getting singled out. Well, I agree that it's embarrassing to be pointed out in front of 200+ of your best friends, but hey... if you're behaving and in the right spot... you won't get singled out! Besides, nobody really thinks the worse of you.

Marching band did stem from the military originally, after all. There's nothing wrong with a little discipline. *shrugs*

You guys seem to think that if people started "cracking" down on those goofing off, all of a sudden we're going to have this amazing band that can learn 30 charts a week that is musically sound and entertaining. Speaking from experience, all this does is make the person in question not want to be there even more and not make them not want to respect the director and their goals, which in turn only leads to more goofing off. In order to combat goofing off, you need to ask yourself an important question... why are they goofing off? I can guarantee you that the answer to this question more often than not, is that we as a band are doing nothing. Next time you see a lot off goofing off, take note of what the bigger picture is, this being that the band is waiting on orders and decisions from the director. It is in that time period that goofing off begins and it only becomes a factor when the directors decide it's time to do some work.

So cracking down on people may work in the short term, but eventually that gets old and becomes the norm. Then what do you do? Next logical step would be to kick them out, since they dont want to be there anymore. If all you do is get yelled at, it becomes your normal everyday situation and there is no longer any point of behaving. So in the end, you have lost all of the initiative.

The only way to legitmately stop goofing off is by not giving the members the opportunity to goof off. With a 200+ member marching band, two people standing on top of a tower does not bode well for quick and efficient rehersals.

If we want to pull off a successful band we need one important aspect that is being overlooked. More people in teaching roles outside of the FMB leadership who actually put in the work to make the band better. yeah, you may say ... oh we have jeff and justine ... who are extremely nice people. But I leave you with this one question. How many times have they come up to you and told you to get your toes up or to watch the angles of your horns as you pass by?

Chances are, zero.

When I go back and reread my post, it did sound a little harsh... but I didn't mean it to sound like Dr H would be saying, "Sally, that's the third time you've spoken out of turn, your name is going on the list with a check by it!" It is the leadership's job to keep their section in order... but there are extreme cases where people just don't listen to their leadership (or worse, leadership is involved in the irresponsible behavior). In cases like these, I think it's important that a "higher authority" get involved... not necessarily calling out names, per se, but "Hey, the circle of saxes in front, settle down," or "Flicc box in the back, quiet please."

In a large group like the FMB, people don't realize that their one little quiet conversation can make a big distraction... when it's added to ten other little quiet conversations! A "Less talking, please" often doesn't really make people realize that "this means YOU!"

I CERTAINLY agree that the ideal solution would be to keep so busy that there just isn't time to talk and goof off, but what are the euphoniums supposed to do when the directors are guiding the trumpets through a difficult move? It wouldn't really be feasible for their leadership to step out and have them start practicing their roll-step. It sucks sometimes, but they're just going to have to be patient... and that's something a lot of high-energy bandies have trouble with.

(Disclaimer which seems to be necessary in this forum : I'm not accusing anyone in this post... I'm just as guilty as everyone else a lot of the time.)