From: rha@ralph.lafayette.la.us (Ruth Alleman)
Subject: Re: The Television Ate Our Show...
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 05:05:42 GMT
Organization: Home Sweet Home, Lafayette, LA

In article <jgladu-050193124042@128.249.27.63> jgladu@bcm.tmc.edu (grungy (John F. Gladu)) writes:
>After reading about what the Blockbuster people did to both bands at
>"their" bowl game, it seems like time to ask: what use is television?

>A regular season game may be televised, but how many seconds of coverage
>will the bands get during halftime?  The TV producers thing that halftime
>is for p(L)aying commercials and highlights from someone else's game.

>Television? NO THANK YOU!
>Any other tales of woe out there?  Any GOOD experiences?

Well we had a pretty good experience back in 1979 (or was that
1980).  USL (Univ. of Southwestern Louisiana) played at Arkansas
State University in an afternoon game that was televised.  We
were doing a "Superman" show that included the asteriod with a
boy emerging, all the major themes and finally Superman raised up
from the circle of flags.  Well during the 1/2 time the
announcers were going about their business reading off other
scores when the crowd got so loud that they turned to see what
that band was doing (the camera was on us the whole time but the
guys in the booth weren't watching).  So they started watching as
the paper maiche' (you know paper and glue used to form things)
asteriod was pulled on the field.  They were saying stuff like
what is that, look there's a baby (ok, he was really about 5)
inside, and finally they shut up and listened to hear the theme
music to put it all together.  They never could go back to the
scores because we were so loud and the crowd was incredible!  We
got a 3 minute standing ovation from the other band's crowd!
When they finished their show, the crowd gave a polite but short
applause.  We found out why they were enthuseastic about us,
their band was down-right boring!  Sorry if there are any ASU Alumni
or students out there, but I just report them as I see 'em.

Another time (I can't even remember what show we did), we were
invited to perform halftime for a Saints game.  They showed us
but you couldn't hear anything.  They even were nice enough to
used a full field shot (we covered the field from 10 to 10 so it
was nice).

I can't recall how big the band was then, but we traveled in 5
Greyhounds, plus a U-Haul truck!  Ever try to pack an asteriod on
a bus??

Now how about we relate our best experiences while performing in
college?

Ours was when USL got invited to perform exhibition at
Choctawhatchie HS in Fort Walton, Florida.  We put on a killer
show and did it TWICE once to the paying crowd and once to the HS
kids in the stands on the other side.  Those people were fabulous
to us.  The band parents made a pot-luck dinner for us that was
great (but then starving college kids love anything home made).
They even gave us a 4 FOOT tall trophy to remember them by!
Nothing like performing for a couple thousand band members and
their fans to make you feel appreciated!!!  Not that the home
crowd didn't love us, we were the only winners on the football
field!!!  Plus it was Halloween weekend so we had a mega-costume
party at the hotel %*9 !

I just love this group!  I finally have "someone" to talk to
about band that understands (the hubby is musically illerate).

Ruth Howe Alleman
rha@ralph.lafayette.la.us