tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post4350316805943715272..comments2023-12-21T10:20:43.344-05:00Comments on The Hoover Street Rag: MMB and the stadium atmosphereGeoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461267960136260783noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-52235537796518620682007-08-17T18:26:00.000-04:002007-08-17T18:26:00.000-04:00I realize this is a very old post, and I am not a ...I realize this is a very old post, and I am not a Michigan fan, but I am an alumna of the Indiana Marching Hundred and can sympathize with the band in the face of complaints. I have this to offer up: the Hundred used to be located in the middle of the Student Section, located on the East stands just to the side and behind the visiting team's benches. However, we got pegged for breaking a Big Ten bylaw that states that bands can not be situated between the 25 yard lines behind the visiting team. We were moved to the South endzone bleachers, far away from the student section. We miss them so much. My advice: tell your drumline (or anyone else creative) to get ideas for cheers, teach the band, and teach the student section as best you can. A good student section feeds off the band's energy and vice versa (snide comments along the lines of "Indiana has a student section?" are unnecessary and trite; we've heard it all before, and frankly, it's true, and that's just sad. Don't kick a fanbase when they're down. Just sayin'.) Great blog, I love your work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-62748165447045218492007-08-09T16:36:00.000-04:002007-08-09T16:36:00.000-04:00I think another thing the average fan doesn't real...I think another thing the average fan doesn't realize is that there is an incredible amount of scripting that happens with college football games. Yeah, it would be nice to play at every stoppage, but there's announcements that have to be made, PSA's to be shown on the scoreboard, etc. etc. <BR/><BR/>You want us to play more? Maybe ask the Athletic Department to pimp less crap on the scoreboard.Aramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06485364695469343249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-31036016956977508802007-08-09T01:27:00.000-04:002007-08-09T01:27:00.000-04:00You mentioned that the band should play more music...You mentioned that the band should play more music. I absolutley agree. Having something to fill dead time will get people more involved and improve the athmosphere. <BR/><BR/>Although it goes against your next point, "Hawaiian War Chant" it PERFECT for this. As VB demonstrated, even serious fans don't even know the song even though it's a great piece, a good pick-me-up and an MMB tradition. Make it into the anti-'Hang on Sloopy'.<BR/><BR/>With the band under new management, now is the perfect time for this to happen. Someone in the band Please, push this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-42974254237442689362007-08-08T15:27:00.000-04:002007-08-08T15:27:00.000-04:00(Matthew)I guess the Jackson/Thriller comment is p...(Matthew)<BR/><BR/>I guess the Jackson/Thriller comment is pointing to the tip of my iceberg. Playing those MJ mid-80's songs has gotten old, to my ear. Additionally, I'll grant you that the MMB has played the occasional recently introduced song. (Wait for it!) HOWEVER, I've found myself wondering, "how did they choose THAT song?" <BR/><BR/>And remember, all you MMB aficionados and defenders...MMB is there to entertain the masses (the great unwashed crowd, who, among other things, watch American Idol, purchase Justin Timberlake and Kelly Clarkson CDs, and listen to Rhianna). It's not an insult to play those songs.<BR/><BR/>Don't be an Athletic Department administrator wannabe, and act as if you know what music is best for me, when I'm TELLING you, play a broad range, and ditch MJ! (I would go so far to suggest sharing what the dealio is for a season, inside the gameday programs, showing what the theme was, by game, and the songs played. I think a decade-by-decade, or genre-by-genre tribute could be interesting...without MJ for the 80's! HA!)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for reading...you've been a wonderful crowd!Lexushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07749466733052254670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-78632216165154011062007-08-08T14:49:00.000-04:002007-08-08T14:49:00.000-04:00First, do you really not see anything wrong with a...First, do you really not see anything wrong with a Kelly Clarkson or Justin Timberlake show? I suppose if you take raw musical artistry, appealing to a wide audience, a need for something more musically and intellecutally challenging than "Mary Had a Little Lamb", and general acceptance by the public at large out of the equation for what shows might work, then there's absolutely no problem. Put in your application for the Dean of The School of Music, Theatre and Dance, please.<BR/><BR/>And if you want music from the last five years, and you haven't heard the MMB play it, then you missed at least three of the shows from last year. Is your problem simply with Thriller, or Jackson?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17155922612033948089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-63989994910500837772007-08-08T13:56:00.000-04:002007-08-08T13:56:00.000-04:00I'd bet few people in the band wish the MMB would ...I'd bet few people in the band wish the MMB would "keep up with current trends in music" -- at least not more than once per year. That's just not how (Big Ten) marching bands work.<BR/><BR/>I think you're talking to the wrong guy. I would actually love to do a year's worth of shows from 1927.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09117896432653125563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-79567655839208889252007-08-08T13:48:00.000-04:002007-08-08T13:48:00.000-04:00So let me get this straight. Because some people ...So let me get this straight. Because some people said a Michael Jackson themed presentation was great, we must live in 1985? (And playing this ossified music doesn't pander to anyone, does it?)<BR/><BR/>I don't see what would be wrong with a Kelly Clarkson or Justin Timberlake themed show. It just might indicate the band is willing to keep up with current tastes in music, rather than some timeworn, threadbare tunes from 20 odd years ago.<BR/><BR/>And to the point that the music isn't for the students, then why not just play what was played back in 1927, and never update the shows?Lexushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07749466733052254670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-23794798121232059962007-08-08T09:51:00.000-04:002007-08-08T09:51:00.000-04:00The Thriller dance was a highlight of the season b...The Thriller dance was a highlight of the season by all accounts.<BR/><BR/>Would you really want a Sexyback show? A Kelly Clarkson show? The band won't pander to the students like that. By pointing out that other, less notable bands have done it, I think that actually weakens the argument.<BR/><BR/>At least one show a year has played music "from the last 5 years," and that's really all they need.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09117896432653125563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-20688178880391021172007-08-08T09:39:00.000-04:002007-08-08T09:39:00.000-04:00While "piping in German Techno" will never happen,...While "piping in German Techno" will never happen, how about never again to Michael Jackson? That molester hasn't had a hit this millenium, yet there are songs of his in halftime shows? Why is that? Because the band knows the notes? Because the band director came of age in the 80's? Why CAN'T we have music that has actually been introduced in the past 5 years? Other, less notable collegiate marching bands have done it...Lexushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07749466733052254670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-29938151076673832502007-08-07T20:13:00.000-04:002007-08-07T20:13:00.000-04:00Andrew, as a sound engineer, putting up mics in th...Andrew, as a sound engineer, putting up mics in the stands around the band would not do much to improve the sound in the stadium - at least, not without spending a fortune on microphones and crew to make it happen. Sure, you could pick up some of the band and send it to the other end of the stadium, but area mics like this sort of application would require would pick up so much of everything else that I'm not sure it would help much. Just my $0.02.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14956760316478775514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-42218334285082987702007-08-06T17:30:00.000-04:002007-08-06T17:30:00.000-04:00it wouldn't be piping in techno or other "popular"...it wouldn't be piping in techno or other "popular" tunes, but what about just miking the band (although not so loudly that it's overpowering)? i wouldn't think that would be "selling out" and it would give a broader section of the stadium an opportunity to actually hear the band.susieandrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10063926729366897989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-47061804412197902092007-08-04T03:26:00.000-04:002007-08-04T03:26:00.000-04:00Response to the response will eventually be up on ...Response to the response will eventually be up on Varsity Blue by the other poster... the one who spent 4 yrs in a high school marching band and really considered doing the MMB...Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12608139510756379550noreply@blogger.com