Let the band play on!

Band nerd question to all of you fans...we've been asked - by Pilot fans, Gonzaga fans, and other fans why we're not playing time outs. We'd like to know ourselves, but do you guys notice?

I've noticed a few times where there is just "dead air" so to speak... I don't get that. I understand if they are doing a Hall Stars thing or the cheerleaders are out there or whatever during the timeout, but otherwise I'd much prefer the band to play rather than having music piped in. I mean... where else am I going to hear "25 or 6 to 4" or Jesus Christ Cuperstar played by a horn section???

Stonehouse wrote:I've noticed a few times where there is just "dead air" so to speak... I don't get that. I understand if they are doing a Hall Stars thing or the cheerleaders are out there or whatever during the timeout, but otherwise I'd much prefer the band to play rather than having music piped in. I mean... where else am I going to hear "25 or 6 to 4" or Jesus Christ Cuperstar played by a horn section???

Superstar is "banned". Has been ever since David Tyson left. It's too bad, that's a fun piece to play. I am a big fan of the Chicago road trip (25 or 6 to 4, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, and Make Me Smile).

Our game scripts say that regardless of who calls time outs, we don't play. Have a problem with that? We do, we've brought it up. I think fans have a bigger impact on the decision at this point than we do. :/ Hell, the Gonzaga fans were wondering why weren't playing.

Hmmm... that surprises me. Call me old-fashioned, but I love having the Purple Pride Pep Band play - makes it feel more like a college atmosphere and there's a certain charm to it that can't be replicated by Top 40 music from the sound system. Would be interested to know why that ban is in place... now that you mention it, I have definitely noticed it and even remember asking the people around me why the band wasn't playing when there was dead time during timeouts.

Oh, and BRING BACK JC SUPERSTAR!!!

I will go on record, as well, saying I am for the band, but against the ban!

Bring back the band!!! Make Dr. C proud!

Someone start an e-mail to Larry...

Glad you guys like hearing us as much as we like playing. Can't beat the seats, either.

Hey PilotNut... how about splicing off these band posts and making it a new thread. Can you do that? I feel like this deserves its own subject line.

They told you not to play at ANY of the time-outs? What about media time-outs? Good thing I couldn't make it; I would have been ticked. I wouldn't call it as much a ban as an (ill-conceived) idea from the marketing and promotions people who plan out the events at games.

I was going to say something after the season to all of you fans about letting Larry Williams know if you like having us around. Every year we get compliments from the visiting fans. As for Superstar, you'll have to talk to Beauchamp as he apparently doesn't like it.

Background for everyone wondering what's happening (this started in the Zags Post-Game thread)...thanks to the admins for breaking it out into it's own thread.

People (visiting fans, Pilot fans, even referees on occasion) have been wondering why the band isn't playing much this year. If you look at the game "script", we are getting two media timeouts per half. We share time with PA announcements and the cheerleaders (which makes sense) - 4 media timeouts out of 8 per game is fairly normal - occasionally we've gotten a few more in the past, but nothing bad.

Where everyone is surprised (band and fans alike) is during called timeouts - the script calls for the sound booth to play, regardless of UP or the visitors calling a TO. This is where things get weird. Besides, if, say, Gonzaga calls a timeout because UP has shifted the momentum, don't you want 35 instruments BLASTING into their ears for the entire timeout? We've asked, we haven't really heard anything as to "why."

Obviously this has been noticed if a few of you are chiming in. I mean, after the women's Gonzaga game, more than one GU fan (I spoke personally with three as I was moving the drums and whatnot) told us that we're the best band out there (so it's not like we're out of tune or something terrible like that!). Want us to play more? Talk to Athletics. We're probably getting into trouble every time we make the choice to jump in and play (often the fight song).

I tell you this, though...I've never had more fun in the last six years than beating the hell out of the drumset/cowbell/whatever we have back there behind the basket.

You guys seriously get complaints every year??? That seems just so bizarre to me. Why? Because it's too loud or something?

I can definitely understand if they don't want you guys to play during every single timeout, but it's perfect for the 30 second time-outs that the cheerleaders don't do a dance for and for the ends of the media timeouts when whatever promotion thing or whatever is over with.

But like I said, I'm sure there's a reason for it, and it may even be a good reason. I'm just curious what it is.

Complements. I think the only complaints we hear are from teams that can't hear their coach. Isn't that the point?

Stonehouse wrote:I can definitely understand if they don't want you guys to play during every single timeout, but it's perfect for the 30 second time-outs that the cheerleaders don't do a dance for and for the ends of the media timeouts when whatever promotion thing or whatever is over with.

Exactly. That's how it used to be.

Ah ah ah... OK. Thanks for the clarification, Drummer. I was really scratching my head for a bit, because I knew that the band was still playing throughout the game and I was confused when I thought you weren't playing at any timeouts.

Here's what I'm guessing... some students and other people probably aren't as into the band as we older folks are, and they want a variety of music played throughout the game... seems like an OK compromise, though I do agree with you about having all the instruments blaring into the other teams ears!!!

Stonehouse wrote:Ah ah ah... OK. Thanks for the clarification, Drummer. I was really scratching my head for a bit, because I knew that the band was still playing throughout the game and I was confused when I thought you weren't playing at any timeouts.

Here's what I'm guessing... some students and other people probably aren't as into the band as we older folks are, and they want a variety of music played throughout the game... seems like an OK compromise, though I do agree with you about having all the instruments blaring into the other teams ears!!!

Very well could be...but you're only a wee bit older than I am, JK. Some of the Public Safety officers and I were talking Saturday and I asked them if people actually pay attention when we play timeouts or not. They said that people actually do get into the music (or at least appear to) when we play, as opposed to when the PA plays.

Most applause for the band in recent memory - against BYU. It's as if we were putting on a concert during pre-game. Their fans were very polite...

The odd thing is that this new script, where we don't play when a team calls a timeout, started about 3 weeks ago at some women's games. I can tell that I was asked to play with the Oregon Alumni Band at the Rose Garden doubleheader this year, we played all the timeouts except for 2 media timeouts. But that's just how a Pac-10 band does it...

As Drummer noted, many fans like listening to us. At the Gonzaga women's game one of their fans said, "I love a basketball game with a pep band!" Before Drummer came to UP, we probably did get complaints (due to our old drummer...who Pilot Drummer went to high school with)

FREE THE BAND!

Seriously, you guys are the class of the conference. Both Beauchamp and LW will be getting letters . . . once I get through midterms.

FREE THE BAND!

Would be interested in seeing it before you send it. Idle curiosity and all that.

If there can be a band version of Zombie nation included in the rotation I will most assuredly do what I can to raise some hell... I mean I like the original version too, but why not mix it up a bit, I mean that's not too much to ask, I mean I could ask for a little "Crank That" by Soulja Boy... Then again maybe I've watched Drumline one too many times

I'll be sure to post them here once I've finished writing them . . .

Once I'm finished with midterms.

I was paying attention last night, and it seemed like the band WAS playing during called time-outs. Did this thread make some changes happen?

Weigh in for us, Drummer...

I don't think this thread did much (yet). We've been talking with Buzz Stroud a lot - he wants us to play the called TOs (he's told us to play over the PA on occasion). The script showed up last night with the band playing Portland called timeouts. I think we jumped in on some SMC timeouts with the fight song because we could.

There was also a banana in the band. That wasn't me, but it was good for a laugh...

I thought it was the Santa Cruz Banana slug.

DaTruRochin wrote: I mean I could ask for a little "Crank That" by Soulja Boy... Then again maybe I've watched Drumline one too many times

And I'm sure there is a college somewhere in the South working up an arrangement for a halftime show this fall. And if you haven't before, watch the halftime show of the Bayou Classic every Saturday after Thanksgiving. Grambling and Southern are simply amazing.

Chavez' Flying Jacket wrote:Seriously, you guys are the class of the conference.

Hear! Hear!

PilotNut wrote:

Chavez' Flying Jacket wrote:Seriously, you guys are the class of the conference.

Hear! Hear!

And our fans aren't the only ones who say this.

Class of the conference? I'd say the embarrassment of the conference, what with old purple-hair strutting like a peacock; you should hear the comments from the commentators on the sidelines....the band is good, but the director is a joke

Romeaux, I know that Dr C wasn't everyone's favorite, but you might want to read this thread before you start trashing him:

http://pilotnation.net/men-s-basketball-f5/prayers-for-dr-c-t376.htm

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for not being familiar with the program, but I think all who have been loyal fans of this program through good times and bad times (more bad than good, sadly) have fond memories of Dr C doing his best to keep us entertained.