So, Bobby Denton...

[Aavoxx]

You really think that a survey could stop The Pride of the Southland band from performing at halftime? I'm appalled to even think that some fans would believe that a stupid survey could stop 140 years of tradition.

There is no truth to this. The band will play at halftime for every game this season.

You don't understand marketing.

Also DeerPark is solid. I'd rather see a solid halftime show from the band as well, but the people will speak me the majority will rule.

 

[NeylandTradition]

You don't understand marketing.

Also DeerPark is solid. I'd rather see a solid halftime show from the band as well, but the people will speak me the majority will rule.

You and DeerPark don't have a clue. The band will perform at every halftime show this year.

Also, full band will be traveling to the NC State game in ATL, at Georgia, and Vandy.

Band numbers are up this year by 50 members.

 

[UTvols#1]

The Ohio game a couple years ago was a microcosm the POTSMB the last several years. Ohio's band ran out, played newer music, did some goofy dance moves...and genuinely looked like they enjoyed themselves.

The Pride came out, and marched some stiff classical music show (iirc) and looked as if they feared being plugged by a sniper should they step out of line. Not to mention their in game stuff like DP12 mentioned.

I really hope they get the bug out of whoever's a$$ is running things.

I was at that game.One of the few ive been able to see.Ohio's band wad good and had fun. I thought it was just me who thought ours were boring.Even our fans stayed after the
Game to watch them.They were having Fun and thought it was great to be at our stadium. Our band was dull.Ohio kept interupting during rocky top.

 

[whocaresgobobcats]

go Bobcats

 

[Aavoxx]

You and DeerPark don't have a clue. The band will perform at every halftime show this year.

Also, full band will be traveling to the NC State game in ATL, at Georgia, and Vandy.

Band numbers are up this year by 50 members.

Okay, explain to me why you're so confident the band is going to appear in every game. Go ahead, I'll wait. It should be good.

Also, if you actually read what DP said, a decision has not been made yet. It is simply a topic of conversation in the AD.

 

[crusse10]

I won't miss his inability to pronounce Tauren Poole's name. First it was Torian, then it was Tare-in. If you have a pronunciation guide and are incapable of reading it, you are ill-equipped for your job as a public address announcer.

 

[NeylandTradition]

Okay, explain to me why you're so confident the band is going to appear in every game. Go ahead, I'll wait. It should be good.

Also, if you actually read what DP said, a decision has not been made yet. It is simply a topic of conversation in the AD.

I am a former member of 4 years with the Pride. I am still very close with the program because it was best experience of my life. The band has 7 halftime shows already planned for all 7 home games.

The AD would never keep the band from performing at halftime, ever. If there is not a visiting band, then after the Pride is done with their show, then there may be some kind of entertainment besides a Jumbotron feature. I personally think that would be fine. But get this straight: the band will perform a halftime show at every home game!

 

[crusse10]

If you're wondering why it looks like the band doesn't "have fun", it's because the mentality is that you get fun by doing your job properly. Is every show fun? No. Is opening the T fun? Hell yeah. Is the memory of marching Circle Drill giving me chills right now? Definitely.

When you do a different show every week, some shows will simply not be as intricate and impressive as others, that's just the nature of the beast. When you look at bands that "have fun", they also perform the same show 4-5 times and may only do 3 different shows. The band's philosophy has always been that a different show is performed for every home game, and that won't change.

 

[Aavoxx]

I am a former member of 4 years with the Pride. I am still very close with the program because it was best experience of my life. The band has 7 halftime shows already planned for all 7 home games.

The AD would never keep the band from performing at halftime, ever. If there is not a visiting band, then after the Pride is done with their show, then there may be some kind of entertainment besides a Jumbotron feature. I personally think that would be fine. But get this straight: the band will perform a halftime show at every home game!

I understand your attachment to the band, and as I said I would rather see the band do a solid halftime show, but you must understand if the AD thinks they're going to sell more tickets and enhance the game day experience by not trotting the band out at half time, they're going to do it.

 

[NeylandTradition]

If you're wondering why it looks like the band doesn't "have fun", it's because the mentality is that you get fun by doing your job properly. Is every show fun? No. Is opening the T fun? Hell yeah. Is the memory of marching Circle Drill giving me chills right now? Definitely.

When you do a different show every week, some shows will simply not be as intricate and impressive as others, that's just the nature of the beast. When you look at bands that "have fun", they also perform the same show 4-5 times and may only do 3 different shows. The band's philosophy has always been that a different show is performed for every home game, and that won't change.

Yes! Thank you!

Putting a halftime show on the field in 3 practices is no small task! I remember putting the UT sequence on the morning of the game! lol

 

[crusse10]

I understand your attachment to the band, and as I said I would rather see the band do a solid halftime show, but you must understand if the AD thinks they're going to sell more tickets and enhance the game day experience by not trotting the band out at half time, they're going to do it.

Not true. Nobody is going to not buy a ticket to the game because of a 10 minute show at halftime. People don't buy tickets because the 60 minute athletic competition has become bad.

 

[NeylandTradition]

I understand your attachment to the band, and as I said I would rather see the band do a solid halftime show, but you must understand if the AD thinks they're going to sell more tickets and enhance the game day experience by not trotting the band out at half time, they're going to do it.

That will never happen. If the band caught wind that they wouldn't be performing at the game, the Pride of the Southland wouldn't even show up. Our 4000+ member alumni group would go ballistic.

If you need more proof that I am close to the program: At the NC State game in Atlanta, the band will be performing at Classical Show consisting of : Night on Bald Mountain and the Firebird Suite.

At the GA State game (first home game) the band is doing a Bagpipe show.

 

[WallyBalls]

If you're wondering why it looks like the band doesn't "have fun", it's because the mentality is that you get fun by doing your job properly. Is every show fun? No. Is opening the T fun? Hell yeah. Is the memory of marching Circle Drill giving me chills right now? Definitely.

When you do a different show every week, some shows will simply not be as intricate and impressive as others, that's just the nature of the beast. When you look at bands that "have fun", they also perform the same show 4-5 times and may only do 3 different shows. The band's philosophy has always been that a different show is performed for every home game, and that won't change.

Fair enough.

I guess that mentality is where they lose me and a lot of other people. Its a bit condescending to be honest. To me, the Classical Show is an example of that.

Frankly, I get the impression that the band and some of those in charge have gotten buried in the intricacies of being a Marching Band, and forgot some of the more enjoyable/entertaining aspects. I base that on the two 4-year members I know, and the 3 who left after 1 or 2 years.

I appreciate the Pride and the hard work they put in. Hopefully things can gradually shift towards a better middle ground for everybody...

 

[WallyBalls]

That will never happen. If the band caught wind that they wouldn't be performing at the game, the Pride of the Southland wouldn't even show up. Our 4000+ member alumni group would go ballistic.

If you need more proof that I am close to the program: At the NC State game in Atlanta, the band will be performing at Classical Show consisting of : Night on Bald Mountain and the Firebird Suite.

At the GA State game (first home game) the band is doing a Bagpipe show.

I don't think anyone is doubting that you are close to the band.

However, DeerPark is one of the few on here who actually is what he says he is.

 

[NeylandTradition]

Fair enough.

I guess that mentality is where they lose me and a lot of other people. Its a bit condescending to be honest. To me, the Classical Show is an example of that.

Frankly, I get the impression that the band and some of those in charge have gotten buried in the intricacies of being a Marching Band, and forgot some of the more enjoyable/entertaining aspects. I base that on the two 4-year members I know, and the 3 who left after 1 or 2 years.

I appreciate the Pride and the hard work they put in. Hopefully things can gradually shift towards a better middle ground for everybody...

The good news is that the band is trying to plan shows that excite the crowd, more than they used to. The directors still have the band to perform classical shows and patriotic shows just because it is in the heritage of the band to do so. The classical show always consist of music that is impressively tough for a marching band to play and we always had major respect from other college bands because we did that.

I would love to see the band perform more shows that have more current music, while keeping some of the traditional shows. I agree with you there, I would love to see the band entertain more.

 

[NeylandTradition]

I don't think anyone is doubting that you are close to the band.

However, DeerPark is one of the few on here who actually is what he says he is.

Wasn't doubting DeerPark's credentials, but thinking that a survey could keep the band from performing halftime is just not right.

 

[WallyBalls]

The good news is that the band is trying to plan shows that excite the crowd, more than they used to. The directors still have the band to perform classical shows and patriotic shows just because it is in the heritage of the band to do so. The classical show always consist of music that is impressively tough for a marching band to play and we always had major respect from other college bands because we did that.

I would love to see the band perform more shows that have more current music, while keeping some of the traditional shows. I agree with you there, I would love to see the band entertain more.

I can dig that.

I haven't really paid close attention the last couple seasons, but have they let them take their coats off in September while in the stands? I know they've got caps now, but I didn't know if they could shed the coats...

Wasn't doubting DeerPark's credentials, but thinking that a survey could keep the band from performing halftime is just not right.

I see... I think DP's point was that it was kicked around at some point. Could have been serious, could have been some marketing/events underling bringing it up in a staff meeting.

 

[whocaresgobobcats]

If you're wondering why it looks like the band doesn't "have fun", it's because the mentality is that you get fun by doing your job properly. Is every show fun? No. Is opening the T fun? Hell yeah. Is the memory of marching Circle Drill giving me chills right now? Definitely.

When you do a different show every week, some shows will simply not be as intricate and impressive as others, that's just the nature of the beast. When you look at bands that "have fun", they also perform the same show 4-5 times and may only do 3 different shows. The band's philosophy has always been that a different show is performed for every home game, and that won't change.

Ohio has a new show each home game.

 

[NeylandTradition]

I can dig that.

I haven't really paid close attention the last couple seasons, but have they let them take their coats off in September while in the stands? I know they've got caps now, but I didn't know if they could shed the coats...



I see... I think DP's point was that it was kicked around at some point. Could have been serious, could have been some marketing/events underling bringing it up in a staff meeting.

Yes they let them take off their coats during day games that are warmer than 80 degrees, never at night though. They started doing that in 2008.

And DeerPark always has good info. He posted some very true things about the band's travel situation earlier in the thread. I was just tore up over the survey thing. Being an alum of the band, I would hate to see all of the kids reaction if they found out that they wouldn't be performing halftime.

 

[WallyBalls]

Yes they let them take off their coats during day games that are warmer than 80 degrees, never at night though. They started doing that in 2008.

And DeerPark always has good info. He posted some very true things about the band's travel situation earlier in the thread. I was just tore up over the survey thing. Being an alum of the band, I would hate to see all of the kids reaction if they found out that they wouldn't be performing halftime.

Good. I have to wear plastic suits where I work (that big glowing place west of Knoxville) and I have a lot of sympathy for those kids in wool coats.

 

[Aavoxx]

We'll see what happens this year one way or another.

12 days

 

[DeerPark12]

You really think that a survey could stop The Pride of the Southland band from performing at halftime? I'm appalled to even think that some fans would believe that a stupid survey could stop 140 years of tradition.

Yes, I do. That's why the survey was commissioned in the first place, to find out the attitudes that our fans had toward many aspects of gameday at Tennessee.

I am a former member of 4 years with the Pride. I am still very close with the program because it was best experience of my life. The band has 7 halftime shows already planned for all 7 home games.

The AD would never keep the band from performing at halftime, ever. If there is not a visiting band, then after the Pride is done with their show, then there may be some kind of entertainment besides a Jumbotron feature. I personally think that would be fine. But get this straight: the band will perform a halftime show at every home game!

If they have planned 7 shows, then I assume the AD elected not to go in the direction of alternate entertainment at a game. But if you think that wasn't discussed, then I will respectfully say that you were misinformed.

It could be that the possibility of having the band not perform at a halftime (the Troy game was what they were focusing on, by the way), was never actually presented as a possibility to the band, but I am certain that it was seriously considered by the marketing department. I, for one, am very glad that they elected not to do that.

I agree that there would have been a lot of backlash and am glad that won't have to be dealt with. But you have to keep in mind that there is a growing segment of the fanbase that has no attachment to the band outside of the T. The survey found that a segment of fans preferred "canned" music and videos during timeouts instead of the band. It also found that some fans would be more likely to come to a non-conference game if there was a halftime concert or similar event.

Again, I am not one of those people, but they're out there, and the number of responses they gave in the survey was very surprising.

 

[P.O.T.S. VOL]

We had cool rainsuits in '98. I only rmember wearing them for the Arky game. But I am glad to hear that they are letting them take their coats off....they can get hot.

I hope POTS marching band directors can inject some fun into it for everyone.

Does anyone know if the trombone section is still doing the traditional hokey pokey before each game?

 

[P.O.T.S. VOL]

If they have planned 7 shows, then I assume the AD elected not to go in the direction of alternate entertainment at a game. But if you think that wasn't discussed, then I will respectfully say that you were misinformed.

It could be that the possibility of having the band not perform at a halftime (the Troy game was what they were focusing on, by the way), was never actually presented as a possibility to the band, but I am certain that it was seriously considered by the marketing department. I, for one, am very glad that they elected not to do that.

I agree that there would have been a lot of backlash and am glad that won't have to be dealt with. But you have to keep in mind that there is a growing segment of the fanbase that has no attachment to the band outside of the T. The survey found that a segment of fans preferred "canned" music and videos during timeouts instead of the band. It also found that some fans would be more likely to come to a non-conference game if there was a halftime concert or similar event.

Again, I am not one of those people, but they're out there, and the number of responses they gave in the survey was very surprising.

Is this a national trend or something that has resulted in a perception of less then exciting half-time shows?

 

[DeerPark12]

Is this a national trend or something that has resulted in a perseptuin of less then exciting half-time shows?

National trend.

Pay attention to games around the country as you watch this year, you hear bands a LOT less during timeouts. There are also a lot of B-list singers doing halftime concerts that do not involve the school's band.

The SEC still requires that a visiting team's band be allowed to play during halftime if they wish to do so (for conference opponents). The Pac12, Big East, ACC and Big XII no longer have that requirement. I know of at least one ACC school that didn't travel the full band to a game they had planned to last season after finding out they couldn't perform at halftime due to a concert.