Imagine going to a football game without the smell of popcorn and hot dogs in the air. The next time you attend a Marietta College football game, listen carefully, and you'll notice something missing for a different sense. There's nothing like a school band to add excitement to an athletic event. It shows school spirit, and pep band tunes can help get the crowd involved in the occasion. Considering the low visibility of the band, it's no wonder this mistake is made.
Football games offer an easy venue and ready-made audience for additional band performances.
The MC band is small right now, but if people don't realize the band exists and wants to perform, they're not going to be interested in joining it. On the other hand, if students who used to play with their high school bands see an MC band performing well and having fun, they'll be that much more likely to get involved themselves. Pep band at football games is an effective way to get people interested in the band, whether they want to play in it or just come to a concert once in awhile. And greater interest is something MC's small, under-noticed music department definitely needs. People may come for the popular music and stick around for the classical works.