When did the 'STANDS' become more important than the 'FIELD'?


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RoyDisciple88

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I know my posts are long, but I have a lot to say!!
I try to stay away from some posts, but I read them to see how most band heads think. Between this board and MarchingSport, I have read some completely idiotic stuff. As I have read, two things boggle my mind. I?m only going to talk about one in this post. That would be how most people favor playing in the stands over a field show.
I can?t get over how BIG the so called ?STANDS? have become. I read cats talking about, "I like this band in the stands, or that band is better in the stands?" What the Hell is that???? See, for me, it?s always been about the field. There was never anything else. You waxed other bands with your halftime show!!! PERIOD!!!! The ?Stands? were just something you did during or after the game. Of course you have some songs that you couldn?t play on the field that you can only play in the stands. This has always been a bonus for band members. Every band has field tunes and stand tunes. You just played your stand tunes for the crowd and to maybe hype up your football team. You admired the echo that came back to you from the crowd of people across the field, but that was it!! I believe that this is also a reason bands have declined over the years. They are focusing more on the stands and less on halftime!! (Or so it seems) Band members go into a game with only blowing in the stands on their minds. You can tell by their halftime performances that they can?t wait to get back in the stands!! They aren?t ?Drivin?. They aren?t putting everything into the show. They come off the field looking the same way they went on. They talk about it on these websites!! All they want to do is go in the stands and try to blow loud!!! HELL, do it on the field where it counts.
Don?t get me wrong, I loved playing in the stands. ?Jammin? in Manhattan,? ?Skin I?m In,? and ?Reasons? use to make other bands get up and leave the stadium!!! (That was our favorite part??Keep walking chickens?..) But there was no comparison to the feeling of the crowd roaring after puttin? it down on the field. You knowing that there was NOTHING the other band could do about what just happened. They just had to deal with that hole in their A%$!!!
To me, it only counts on the field!!! The stands were, and to me, always will be dessert. The ?Field? was always the main course!!!:lecture:

And by the way, ALL BANDS ARE GUILTY AS CHARGED, based on the more than lame halftime shows we have seen over the years!!! And YOU know it!!!! Spare me your feelings and tell the Double TRUTH, RUTH!!! Let?s open this up for discussion!!!
 
RoyDisciple88 said:

I know my posts are long, but I have a lot to say!!
I try to stay away from some posts, but I read them to see how most band heads think. Between this board and MarchingSport, I have read some completely idiotic stuff. As I have read, two things boggle my mind. I?m only going to talk about one in this post. That would be how most people favor playing in the stands over a field show.
I can?t get over how BIG the so called ?STANDS? have become. I read cats talking about, "I like this band in the stands, or that band is better in the stands?" What the Hell is that???? See, for me, it?s always been about the field. There was never anything else. You waxed other bands with your halftime show!!! PERIOD!!!! The ?Stands? were just something you did during or after the game. Of course you have some songs that you couldn?t play on the field that you can only play in the stands. This has always been a bonus for band members. Every band has field tunes and stand tunes. You just played your stand tunes for the crowd and to maybe hype up your football team. You admired the echo that came back to you from the crowd of people across the field, but that was it!! I believe that this is also a reason bands have declined over the years. They are focusing more on the stands and less on halftime!! (Or so it seems) Band members go into a game with only blowing in the stands on their minds. You can tell by their halftime performances that they can?t wait to get back in the stands!! They aren?t ?Drivin?. They aren?t putting everything into the show. They come off the field looking the same way they went on. They talk about it on these websites!! All they want to do is go in the stands and try to blow loud!!! HELL, do it on the field where it counts.
Don?t get me wrong, I loved playing in the stands. ?Jammin? in Manhattan,? ?Skin I?m In,? and ?Reasons? use to make other bands get up and leave the stadium!!! (That was our favorite part??Keep walking chickens?..) But there was no comparison to the feeling of the crowd roaring after puttin? it down on the field. You knowing that there was NOTHING the other band could do about what just happened. They just had to deal with that hole in their A%$!!!
To me, it only counts on the field!!! The stands were, and to me, always will be dessert. The ?Field? was always the main course!!!:lecture:

And by the way, ALL BANDS ARE GUILTY AS CHARGED, based on the more than lame halftime shows we have seen over the years!!! And YOU know it!!!! Spare me your feelings and tell the Double TRUTH, RUTH!!! Let?s open this up for discussion!!!

Good post!!!

I have long said that the field is the ONLY time the majority of the audience is actually focusing on the band.
 



problem now is that you look at the old tapes...bands almost always went over 10 minutes and gave you a full show. When they started enforcing the 10 minute rule, the little things to make a band stand out went by the wayside.
 
i marched from 99-03, and I can honestly say my tavorite times did come in the stands. I like playing songs during the game and getting the crowd hype along with the football team. Alot of it has to do with creativity also. Halftime shows have almost gone the was of the slam dunk. After so long you just get immune to it. How many different ways can u march on a field, drill, go to concert formation, let girls dance, go to block band, band dance and come off the field. In the stands you get to cut loose. No disrespect to the field, because when I went out there I gave it my all, but I preferred the stands.
 
Partly, cuz you have folks like me, who has watched the purities (sounding good, uniformity, execution, etc.) of halftime go straight down the toilet over the years for "cheap house". Now, I don't preach my views to others....but, I do give my reasons for my reasonings.

Im also the type that looks thru all the halftime gimmicks/BS...and, wants to HEAR a good sounding band. For me...there is no saving a whole Saturday while sounding bad, because a certain band is giving the crowd some decent show with a ground-hunching dance routine to get house and/or a "W" (which is pretty much what we're down to now-days).

ME, PERSONALLY....my thing is "If you sound like crap in the Stands....why would I wanna hear you while marching and moving around?... :retard: " Im in love with the music FIRST. And, the bands that, actually, sound and look good while marching are being drastically out-numbered, nowdays. And, you'd want me to base how I feel about a band off of that?...smh.

Quick Question...
Based off the kind of shows that have been brought before the public, the last few years...you'd want me to base how particular bands are, soley, on their halftime performances?




Now, true enough....Halftime is important (Ive never disputed that, never will. It's still a part of the Marching Band craft). Ive never taken anything away from being able to conjure up a good field show that has great sound, great content, great execution and is entertaining. But, how many band really sound GOOD while marching and doing all that?


So, you can devalue the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters if you want....but, the band is ultimately there for the football team and to SOUND good. Not to get house during a halftime. That's extra for the band members AND crowd.



*drops in 2 pennies and leaves*


:)
 
I marched 75-78,and the field shows were my favorite..The stands were ok ,but i loved our field shows..Getting house and making the other band look BAD did it for me.. :winkgrin: :winkgrin: :winkgrin: :saw: :saw: :saw: :saw: :saw:
 
When you are on the field, you are putting on a show to entertain the people and still outdue the other band in the process. But when in the stands, it's a whole different story. You care about what the people say but then again, it does not matter. Halftime is for the people, stands is for the band members. real music is played in the stands, that's where you find out what kind of band you are going up against. Just keep in mind, any band can juke on field but only some bands can play good quality music in the stands and make it sound good.:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
 
I understand the logic, but I don't understand it. Why save your best for when 3/4 of the stadium isn't paying you any attention?

Why half-arse on the field in front of everybody, only to sound like a million bucks for the 30 people who stay to watch the 5th? Bama St., you are guilty than a MOFO!!!
 
The reason people place so much emphasis on the stands is because now field shows are rushed. You don't get too much time to get the crowd to groove with what you're doing. Also, a lot band directors cut out the creativity with the halftime shows. Band members got tired of doing the same shows, although executed to a T, its out of the control of the students. See the difference between bands back then and bands now is that bands before had time to satisfy what the director and the students but with a shorter time limit on the filed who do you think will win the battle when it comes to deciding what a band does on the field. If bands had more time you would see the creativity level come back up for halftime.
 
westoverpats08 said:
When you are on the field, you are putting on a show to entertain the people and still outdue the other band in the process. But when in the stands, it's a whole different story. You care about what the people say but then again, it does not matter. Halftime is for the people, stands is for the band members. real music is played in the stands, that's where you find out what kind of band you are going up against. Just keep in mind, any band can juke on field but only some bands can play good quality music in the stands and make it sound good.:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
Im so glad you didn`t march in the jukebox..It takes skills to march and play,with a great sound..All bands should be able to stand still and play..
 
OnlySU said:
Im so glad you didn`t march in the jukebox..It takes skills to march and play,with a great sound..All bands should be able to stand still and play..
You really didn't read what I wrote. i did not say that it did not take skills to march and play. I'm in a marching band, I know what it takes. the point i'm trying to get at is that when peforming a field show, you want a positive feed back from the crowd, you don't want to get booed. But when you in the stands you care about what the crowd say but at the same time you don't because a lot of songs that the band plays is a old song most young people didn't know existed. In a way you are right, any band can play in the stand. But many bands don't sound good playing in the stands.:winkgrin: :winkgrin: :winkgrin:
 
westoverpats08 said:
You really didn't read what I wrote. i did not say that it did not take skills to march and play. I'm in a marching band, I know what it takes. the point i'm trying to get at is that when peforming a field show, you want a positive feed back from the crowd, you don't want to get booed. But when you in the stands you care about what the crowd say but at the same time you don't because a lot of songs that the band plays is a old song most young people didn't know existed. In a way you are right, any band can play in the stand. But many bands don't sound good playing in the stands.:winkgrin: :winkgrin: :winkgrin:
Now that i see what band you marched,no no played in,i see your point..:tup: keep up the good work.
 
O'Bladerunner said:
Now, true enough....Halftime is important (Ive never disputed that, never will. It's still a part of the Marching Band craft). Ive never taken anything away from being able to conjure up a good field show that has great sound, great content, great execution and is entertaining. But, how many band really sound GOOD while marching and doing all that?


So, you can devalue the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters if you want....but, the band is ultimately there for the football team and to SOUND good. Not to get house during a halftime. That's extra for the band members AND crowd.



*drops in 2 pennies and leaves*


:)

I agree with some things you said. I agree that the band is there for three reasons. I'm a band director and I teach my students that the band is there to support the football team #1, halftime is #2, and #3is to have fun doing 1 and 2. I also agree with you on the all the extra long dance routines. I can't call most of them dance routines. I tell my students when they make up dance routines, we will not try to get the ground pregnant.
But part of the reason the band is there is to get house from the crowd at halftime. You may not always get house, but if you are a good band, you try your best to get it!! I personally don't sacrafice integrity for house!! I will not have my students doin' stuff they couldn't do in front of an 'Old School' Grandmother!! Where I'm from I was taught 'CLASS' will always set you apart from everyone else. But everytime you step on that field, you should be looking to bring the house down!! And you can still do everything you need to do in 10 minutes or less!!! Just don't try to play every rap tune that's on the radio, in a dance routine!!!
:lecture:
 



O'Bladerunner said:
Partly, cuz you have folks like me, who has watched the purities (sounding good, uniformity, execution, etc.) of halftime go straight down the toilet over the years for "cheap house". Now, I don't preach my views to others....but, I do give my reasons for my reasonings.

Im also the type that looks thru all the halftime gimmicks/BS...and, wants to HEAR a good sounding band. For me...there is no saving a whole Saturday while sounding bad, because a certain band is giving the crowd some decent show with a ground-hunching dance routine to get house and/or a "W" (which is pretty much what we're down to now-days).

ME, PERSONALLY....my thing is "If you sound like crap in the Stands....why would I wanna hear you while marching and moving around?... :retard: " Im in love with the music FIRST. And, the bands that, actually, sound and look good while marching are being drastically out-numbered, nowdays. And, you'd want me to base how I feel about a band off of that?...smh.

Quick Question...
Based off the kind of shows that have been brought before the public, the last few years...you'd want me to base how particular bands are, soley, on their halftime performances?




Now, true enough....Halftime is important (Ive never disputed that, never will. It's still a part of the Marching Band craft). Ive never taken anything away from being able to conjure up a good field show that has great sound, great content, great execution and is entertaining. But, how many band really sound GOOD while marching and doing all that?


So, you can devalue the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters if you want....but, the band is ultimately there for the football team and to SOUND good. Not to get house during a halftime. That's extra for the band members AND crowd.



*drops in 2 pennies and leaves*


:)


True words from a 90's JUKE.. That about sums it up. The crowd don't give a dayum about REAL QUALITY shows no more... It was EASIER to win the crownd over with a QUALITY show.. I don't think it was because you all WORKED harder than us to put on a show the corwd would enjoy.. It was because QUALITY was ruling the INDUSTRY at the time...
Just look at the music industry.. that is dayum near identical to the route bands and the crowd has went...

But Blade said it all...:tup:
 
s phi s said:
I understand the logic, but I don't understand it. Why save your best for when 3/4 of the stadium isn't paying you any attention?

Why half-arse on the field in front of everybody, only to sound like a million bucks for the 30 people who stay to watch the 5th? Bama St., you are guilty than a MOFO!!!


Adran where did ANYBODY say HALF-ARSE your show?


H3ll the bands that is getting HOUSE AIN'T even doing drill... to me they are HALF-ARSING their shows nowadays just for the hope of some cheap house.
 
RoyDisciple88 said:
I agree with some things you said. I agree that the band is there for three reasons. I'm a band director and I teach my students that the band is there to support the football team #1, halftime is #2, and #3is to have fun doing 1 and 2. I also agree with you on the all the extra long dance routines. I can't call most of them dance routines. I tell my students when they make up dance routines, we will not try to get the ground pregnant.
But part of the reason the band is there is to get house from the crowd at halftime. You may not always get house, but if you are a good band, you try your best to get it!! I personally don't sacrafice integrity for house!! I will not have my students doin' stuff they couldn't do in front of an 'Old School' Grandmother!! Where I'm from I was taught 'CLASS' will always set you apart from everyone else. But everytime you step on that field, you should be looking to bring the house down!! And you can still do everything you need to do in 10 minutes or less!!! Just don't try to play every rap tune that's on the radio, in a dance routine!!!
:lecture:

Think about this juke..
If so many bands are out there getting cheap house from humping the ground and doing all these shake-its shake-it, do you know how hard it becomes for a QUALITY band to put on a show that the crowd will love..
You all are FORTUNATE to not have dealt with that back in the day. I still remember the FIRST SHOW we ever did a SHAKE-IT, after all the shows we consentrated on playing up to date quality music (old-school also) and executing it to a T, doing hard worked up dance steps in the dance routine and still get out- housed by a band that just went on the field and did a TUBA feature while their band did the BANK-HEAD!!!(for X sakes...smh)

Mr.J finally my Junior year I believe allowed us to do a shake-it (the band was not really feeling that at all) But guess what the crowd WENT CRAZY!!!! It's not the same any more.. I just wish SOME of you old school cat's would stop thinking the playing field is the same and the current QUALITY bands isn't working as hard as you all worked... The CROWD is the main factor, they have changed. Only if some of you cats were in the bandroom/games with us during OUR time to see our point.. We can see yall point but for some reason it is difficult for some of you to fantom ours...

~shrugs~

But anyway good topic...:tup:
 
None Sense, IF band A keeps more house and you think its cheap then band B should step their GAME UP.

I have witness field shows from 1993 - 2005 from a lot of bands not just SWAC bands.

some of you still thinking what you did in the 90's still compare with 00.
times have changed, times have changed, do you understand times have changed.

BAND-A STILL DOING THE SAME SHOWS FROM 80'S AND 90'S. some people do remember seeing the same show over and over and especially if it was a good show you will remember.

I know at JSU for HALFTIME SHOWS PEOPLE DONT GO TO THE CONCESSION STAND until after JSU perform. If your band has not been good in the past they will go to the concession stand during your performance so they will not see it.

HALFTIME IS WHAT COUNTS THE MOST thats why most announcers at the game keep saying during the game which band had the best performances for halftime.

Halftime is what most bands practice for? you can run your book down for an hour or two during rehearsal. Halftime shows takes at least 5 hours a day, at least 5 hours a day if you want to be GOOD.

with all this being said.

1.HALFTIME COUNTS THE MOST.
2.THE STANDS which includes the 5TH quarter.
 
Dr. Sweet NUPE said:
Yall really trying to bring Get Ready and SUGE over here....
Oh' I'd, definitely, wanna hear what GR has to say about the subject. Usually, his thoughts on the Boom are Golden.



:)
 
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