The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-12-22
REFLECTIONS or
The BAND MANAGER

Editor telegram: The year 1913
will soon be a thing of the past and
Lakeland is preparing for great
celebration on Jan. 1, celebrating
her thirtieth birthday. Understand
ing that the different lodges, socie-
ties, etc. have been invited to parti.
cipate and help make this day one
long to be remembered by the people
OF Lakeland and surrounding cities,
would state that as yet the band
has not been spoken to in regard to
the part they hope to play on that
day. No doubt this matter has been
overlooked by those having arrange
ments in charge. Ever since our
band has been organized it has ever
been willing to come to the front,
giving its services to anything that
is being gotten up to keep Lakeland
in the lead in the march of progress,
helping to do their little in making
Lakeland one of the best towns in
Florida.
The band has had its ups and it's
downs, it's knocks and kicks but to-
day is still in good shape to do their
part on the day of Lakeland's cele-
bration. There was a time when
things look black for our band.
l refer to the time when like or
ganization started, made up mostly
of out-of-town musicians. They were
good for the time they lasted, but
that is where the trouble was; they
did not last long. AS there was no
money in it they soon fizzled out and
blew away.
There were those in town that
made the remark that the Lakeland
band had seen it's last days, but as
these remarks were made to certain
ones of the band, they stated that
our band had furnished music for
Lakeland before this new one came
and would still furnish it long after
they had gone. Well, here we are
still doing business regardless of
whether it pays financially or not,
which is mostly not. If we could
only pay expenses we would be
tickled.
Remarks have been passed compar
ing our band with every good band
that happens in town. The manager
was talking with man just the 9th
er day as they were listening to a
show band. He stated to the man
ager that the Lakeland band could
not begin to play like these men. Un-
derstand, these men were doing this
for their living and playing the same
pieces every day and did not even
have to look on their music. And it
was amusing to the manager to have
this man make these stale remarks
against our band when, ever since
this band has been organized he had
never given one cent to help it at
tain that high standard he expected
it to. Well, the Lakeland Military
band as the year draws to a close
takes this method of thanking the
people of Lakeland that have stood
by us not only financially but by
their kind words. For, If you re-
member, we have never claimed to be
first class musicians, only citizens of
Lakeland banded together in a musi-
cal way. Not professionals, only
trying to play professional music. If
the band Is allowed to furnish music
on the day of Lakeland's celebration
7, as manager, will guarantee that
Lakeland on that day will have plen,
ty of music and good music. Only
please remember that the members
of our band are not in it for the
money, for we all work at something
else. What little money we do make
goes to pay teachers salary, room
rent, buy music, etc. So, AGAR
thanking the old friends Of our bant
and assuring you we will always ap
Dreciate new ones we remain yOur