[Blue & Gold]

We haven't visited this topic in a while, but, to anyone in the marching band, and everyone part of the ZipsNation, what pregame plans is the university putting together? We'll be opening the Info before we know it, so I'm assuming our athletic department has spent countless hours, and many sleepless nights, researching, brainstorming and planning the entire game day experience, right?

Pregame band session in the JAR? Military-style, drum-cadence-driven parade from the JAR to the Info?

Anything?

Again, I haven't heard a peep on this subject in a very long time and the silence has me more than a bit concerned.

[bandzip]

I know at the very least we will be marching over in that direction starting at Guzzetta Hall. The march through campus is something a lot of schools have gotten to do, but it was obviously impossible with the Rubber Bowl. I haven't heard anything about an OSUesque skull session. It's kind of hard to get details since Mr. Karriker will be coming back next year. I'll see what I can find out for you.

[Captain Kangaroo]

We haven't visited this topic in a while, but, to anyone in the marching band, and everyone part of the ZipsNation, what pregame plans is the university putting together? We'll be opening the Info before we know it, so I'm assuming our athletic department has spent countless hours, and many sleepless nights, researching, brainstorming and planning the entire game day experience, right?

Pregame band session in the JAR? Military-style, drum-cadence-driven parade from the JAR to the Info?

Anything?

Again, I haven't heard a peep on this subject in a very long time and the silence has me more than a bit concerned.

If I can get jalapenos with my nachos @ Infocision I will consider the University's planning to have been a major success.

[Blue & Gold]

For football games fans love the military-style marching band. We should definitely change our style to be more military. Save the more artistic pieces for the band concerts. For football games, naturally, go military.

The kick-a$$ drum cadences are possibly the greatest thing that marching bands can pull off to get the crowd jacked. Check out Columbus State's drum cadence during the band entrance:

OSU skull session ramp entrance

I hope our administrators note how jacked the crowd is. It's due to the drum cadence (which is difficult to hear in this clip). It's because they are there to see a bone-crushing football game - they want to be jacked up. Military style. The crowd is absolutely NOT jacked up to hear OSU's band play Pachelbel's Canon in D Major. The skull session consists of the band entering to the drum cadence and then, following the band making their way to their seats, the playing of the OSU fight song. After that the band plays about 20 minutes of whatever. It should be duly noted that the drum-cadence-led entrance and the playing of the fight song is FAR AND AWAY the only exciting part of the show. After the playing of the fight song, many people start to file out of the skull session, or just kinda sit there and look at their watches. The rest of the show is BORING. Sorry, we're not there to hear a band concert, we're there to watch some smash-mouthed football!

I am assuming we are going to do a skull session in the JAR, or in Memorial Hall, before the games at the Info. I REALLY HOPE I'M NOT ASSUMING TOO MUCH. The skull session musical selections should be very adolescent-friendly (fight song, alma matter, popular movie scores?). In the clip above, check out all the blue-uniform-clad kids sitting in the front rows of the bleachers as OSU's band comes marching in. That's a visiting high school band. OSU brings in a few different high school bands each week to sit in on the skull session and to play with their band. WHAT A RECRUITING TOOL!!! Lord have mercy. I guarantee almost every pimply-faced high school band nerd that participates in an OSU skull session now dreams of being a part of that band over the next few years. We need to do the same.

[bandzip]

In the clip above, check out all the blue-uniform-clad kids sitting in the front rows of the bleachers as OSU's band comes marching in. That's a visiting high school band. OSU brings in a few different high school bands each week to sit in on the skull session and to play with their band. WHAT A RECRUITING TOOL!!! Lord have mercy. I guarantee almost every pimply-faced high school band nerd that participates in an OSU skull session now dreams of being a part of that band over the next few years. We need to do the same.

Ever heard of Bands in the Bowl?

[Blue & Gold]

I know at the very least we will be marching over in that direction starting at Guzzetta Hall. The march through campus is something a lot of schools have gotten to do, but it was obviously impossible with the Rubber Bowl. I haven't heard anything about an OSUesque skull session. It's kind of hard to get details since Mr. Karriker will be coming back next year. I'll see what I can find out for you.

Thanks! Guzzetta hall would be a good venue for our own skull session! I'm afraid if we'd start out in the JAR it would be waaaaay too empty. An empty venue would have the opposite effect of what we're looking for. Guzzetta would fill up much more quickly and possibly be a hot ticket. If we'd ever out grow Guzzetta, we could possibly move to Memorial Hall, or E.J. If we outgrow those venues (and it might take a number of years to do that, but these are brand new traditions we're starting) then we could make a move to the JAR.

Could you guys march into Guzzetta like OSU marches into St. John Arena? I've seen that in person a number of times and, I'll tell you what, I am NO OSU fan, but when you're there watching it, even a Wolverine would get jacked for OSU football. It is that emotive! (Hyperbole)

Also, man, I think it's so important to have room for those high schoolers in there. They're soooo impressionable that if they get goosebumps watching the crowd cheer for you guys in a skull session, they're going to want to come to UA and be a part of that!!

[Blue & Gold]

In the clip above, check out all the blue-uniform-clad kids sitting in the front rows of the bleachers as OSU's band comes marching in. That's a visiting high school band. OSU brings in a few different high school bands each week to sit in on the skull session and to play with their band. WHAT A RECRUITING TOOL!!! Lord have mercy. I guarantee almost every pimply-faced high school band nerd that participates in an OSU skull session now dreams of being a part of that band over the next few years. We need to do the same.

Ever heard of Bands in the Bowl?

Oh, absolutely! And that is awesome when you guys do that! But if we could work those high schoolers into a skull session it would blow their minds! During the band's entrance in those skull sessions you honestly just wanna go hit something (or someone )! They're insane. Usually during high school games everyone takes a restroom break during the halftime show. Too bad, because those band kids put a TON of work into what they do. However, at the skull session, they are the center of attention. It's great stuff.

[bandzip]

Have you ever been in Guzzetta Hall? The music area is absolutely falling apart. We have music rehearsal either in the recital hall with all the band members standing in the seats and the director on the stage or in Room 09 where the director stands on the instrument lockers in the front of the room and no percussion because they don't fit. We don't have any kind of facilities to speak of. They can't even have large ensemble concerts in Guzzetta anymore because the groups don't fit on the recital hall stage. Go in there and take a look around. There are about 40 practice rooms for a couple hundred music majors plus who ever else wants to use them. Most of the sound systems in the classrooms either don't or barely work. The elevators never work. Our school owned instruments (especially tubas) are falling apart. They put a fresh coat of paint on the walls this year but that's about the only upgrade they've done in years. We out grew that building, and our funding a long time ago. I was kind of hoping they would put a new room for the band in the stadium like they did at Minnesota. Wishful thinking I guess.

[Blue & Gold]

Have you ever been in Guzzetta Hall? The music area is absolutely falling apart. We have music rehearsal either in the recital hall with all the band members standing in the seats and the director on the stage or in Room 09 where the director stands on the instrument lockers in the front of the room and no percussion because they don't fit. We don't have any kind of facilities to speak of. They can't even have large ensemble concerts in Guzzetta anymore because the groups don't fit on the recital hall stage. Go in there and take a look around. There are about 40 practice rooms for a couple hundred music majors plus who ever else wants to use them. Most of the sound systems in the classrooms either don't or barely work. The elevators never work. Our school owned instruments (especially tubas) are falling apart. They put a fresh coat of paint on the walls this year but that's about the only upgrade they've done in years. We out grew that building, and our funding a long time ago. I was kind of hoping they would put a new room for the band in the stadium like they did at Minnesota. Wishful thinking I guess.

Ha! No, I've never been in Guzzetta Hall. But, for some reason I thought they had just renovated Guzzetta, or added onto it, or something, within the last 2 or 3 years? Obviously, I was totally mistaken! Lol. E.J. Thomas then?

[bandzip]

Have you ever been in Guzzetta Hall? The music area is absolutely falling apart. We have music rehearsal either in the recital hall with all the band members standing in the seats and the director on the stage or in Room 09 where the director stands on the instrument lockers in the front of the room and no percussion because they don't fit. We don't have any kind of facilities to speak of. They can't even have large ensemble concerts in Guzzetta anymore because the groups don't fit on the recital hall stage. Go in there and take a look around. There are about 40 practice rooms for a couple hundred music majors plus who ever else wants to use them. Most of the sound systems in the classrooms either don't or barely work. The elevators never work. Our school owned instruments (especially tubas) are falling apart. They put a fresh coat of paint on the walls this year but that's about the only upgrade they've done in years. We out grew that building, and our funding a long time ago. I was kind of hoping they would put a new room for the band in the stadium like they did at Minnesota. Wishful thinking I guess.

Ha! No, I've never been in Guzzetta Hall. But, for some reason I thought they had just renovated Guzzetta, or added onto it, or something, within the last 2 or 3 years? Obviously, I was totally mistaken! Lol. E.J. Thomas then?

They built an addition for the dance studios. The music department was totally ignored when it came to necessary upgrades and it's falling apart.

[Zipmeister]

Have you ever been in Guzzetta Hall? The music area is absolutely falling apart. We have music rehearsal either in the recital hall with all the band members standing in the seats and the director on the stage or in Room 09 where the director stands on the instrument lockers in the front of the room and no percussion because they don't fit. We don't have any kind of facilities to speak of. They can't even have large ensemble concerts in Guzzetta anymore because the groups don't fit on the recital hall stage. Go in there and take a look around. There are about 40 practice rooms for a couple hundred music majors plus who ever else wants to use them. Most of the sound systems in the classrooms either don't or barely work. The elevators never work. Our school owned instruments (especially tubas) are falling apart. They put a fresh coat of paint on the walls this year but that's about the only upgrade they've done in years. We out grew that building, and our funding a long time ago. I was kind of hoping they would put a new room for the band in the stadium like they did at Minnesota. Wishful thinking I guess.

Ha! No, I've never been in Guzzetta Hall. But, for some reason I thought they had just renovated Guzzetta, or added onto it, or something, within the last 2 or 3 years? Obviously, I was totally mistaken! Lol. E.J. Thomas then?

They built an addition for the dance studios. The music department was totally ignored when it came to necessary upgrades and it's falling apart.

Well then maybe the band could run through a couple of pregame dance routines to get the crowd jacked.

[zipfan85]

hope you are not thinking about the students, because you know the majority of them will be tailgaiting. however, it would be nice to start a new tradition like that.

[WinZip]

I'd be cool to have the band march through campus and wake everyone up for the game. Really build up the excitement and make sure the whole day has a special feel to it. Would be almost like a UAkron parade.

[Blue & Gold]

I'd be cool to have the band march through campus and wake everyone up for the game. Really build up the excitement and make sure the whole day has a special feel to it. Would be almost like a UAkron parade.

You're absolutely right! I'm hoping that those in charge are busy planning the entire game day morning so that the entire day has, as you say, a special feel to it. I pray that those in charge are not simply sitting around just thinking the new stadium will suffice and do all the work for them. We need to make game day a truly eventful DAY. We don't just want to look forward to a football game. We want to look forward to the day. The football game should simply be the climax of a great day.

[vmd9]

i kind of hope they get rid of the big inflatable helmet they had at the rubber bowl...i always thought it was a bit cheesy. they gotta keep the fireworks tho, even use more!