Dgoldnbaer said:

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You are 100% correct re; the Cal band & it's history. And their creative halftime shows were awesome. In 1968 they did a phenomenal halftime show - having 4 band members be the Beatles & playing 5-6 Beatles songs. Nearly the entire stadium crowd was singing along. Was really awesome - very creative. Has been along time since they've done anything comparable.

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While I cannot attest to their performances over the last 10 years, I can promise you that in the 10-15 years prior they have done quite a large number of shows as creative or more creative than that. Although, admittedly, some of the themes may have been more directed at the student section than the alumni section.

I think the best way to influence the direction of the band is to speak to the director. I was part of the student leadership in the band in the early 90s and like the current student leadership especially at the start of my year at the helm I was not interested in perspective from the alumni.

Robert O Briggs was the director while I was in the band and the thing he knew how to do was to inspire and influence the band without having any authoritarian control.

Even though structurally, the director of the band does not have the power that the directors of other bands enjoy, he is the one there year after year and is therefore the only one that can be relied on to guide the band in a positive direction for longer than one year.

Of course this conversation is probably best received with a sizable check to support ongoing efforts to endow and assure the financial security of the band going forward.

evanluck said:

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I think the best way to influence the direction of the band is to speak to the director. I was part of the student leadership in the band in the early 90s and like the current student leadership especially at the start of my year at the helm I was not interested in perspective from the alumni.

Robert O Briggs was the director while I was in the band and the thing he knew how to do was to inspire and influence the band without having any authoritarian control.

Even though structurally, the director of the band does not have the power that the directors of other bands enjoy, he is the one there year after year and is therefore the only one that can be relied on to guide the band in a positive direction for longer than one year.

Of course this conversation is probably best received with a sizable check to support ongoing efforts to endow and assure the financial security of the band going forward.

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$.

Robert O. Briggs was band's director for a long, long time. I remember him being there when I was a student in the mid '70's - maybe even when I was in high school and before that. His name was announced by Bill Glass (P.A.) when they took the field before every game. He was good... really good. Band was always in sync when he was the director.

evanluck said:

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I think the best way to influence the direction of the band is to speak to the director. I was part of the student leadership in the band in the early 90s and like the current student leadership especially at the start of my year at the helm I was not interested in perspective from the alumni.

Robert O Briggs was the director while I was in the band and the thing he knew how to do was to inspire and influence the band without having any authoritarian control.

Even though structurally, the director of the band does not have the power that the directors of other bands enjoy, he is the one there year after year and is therefore the only one that can be relied on to guide the band in a positive direction for longer than one year.

Of course this conversation is probably best received with a sizable check to support ongoing efforts to endow and assure the financial security of the band going forward.

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Perhaps you could elaborate a bit on the above (emboldened), for those who might not understand.

My feeling when I was student directing the band was that I had one year to make my mark. I had a clear idea what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it and I really didn't feel
Like I needed or was that interested in someone else's opinion about what they thought needed to be done.

Both my predecessor and myself had done certain things well enough that it could have created some kind of template going forward the problem was that just like me the person that followed me had no real interest it what worked for me. He had his ideas and so when about remaking the wheel in the way that he thought was best.

Of course this attitude could have been isolated to me but anecdotally, it would seem like it is more common.

Big C said:

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evanluck said:

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I think the best way to influence the direction of the band is to speak to the director. I was part of the student leadership in the band in the early 90s and like the current student leadership especially at the start of my year at the helm I was not interested in perspective from the alumni.

Robert O Briggs was the director while I was in the band and the thing he knew how to do was to inspire and influence the band without having any authoritarian control.

Even though structurally, the director of the band does not have the power that the directors of other bands enjoy, he is the one there year after year and is therefore the only one that can be relied on to guide the band in a positive direction for longer than one year.

Of course this conversation is probably best received with a sizable check to support ongoing efforts to endow and assure the financial security of the band going forward.

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Perhaps you could elaborate a bit on the above (emboldened), for those who might not understand.

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evanluck said:

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My feeling when I was student directing the band was that I had one year to make my mark. I had a clear idea what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it and I really didn't feel
Like I needed or was that interested in someone else's opinion about what they thought needed to be done.

Both my predecessor and myself had done certain things well enough that it could have created some kind of template going forward the problem was that just like me the person that followed me had no real interest it what worked for me. He had his ideas and so when about remaking the wheel in the way that he thought was best.

Of course this attitude could have been isolated to me but anecdotally, it would seem like it is more common.

Big C said:

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evanluck said:

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I think the best way to influence the direction of the band is to speak to the director. I was part of the student leadership in the band in the early 90s and like the current student leadership especially at the start of my year at the helm I was not interested in perspective from the alumni.

Robert O Briggs was the director while I was in the band and the thing he knew how to do was to inspire and influence the band without having any authoritarian control.

Even though structurally, the director of the band does not have the power that the directors of other bands enjoy, he is the one there year after year and is therefore the only one that can be relied on to guide the band in a positive direction for longer than one year.

Of course this conversation is probably best received with a sizable check to support ongoing efforts to endow and assure the financial security of the band going forward.

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Perhaps you could elaborate a bit on the above (emboldened), for those who might not understand.

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Thanks. I'm sure your feelings were common -- spanning the generations -- and gives some insight for people wondering about how the Cal Band works.

Big C said:

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evanluck said:

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My feeling when I was student directing the band was that I had one year to make my mark. I had a clear idea what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it and I really didn't feel
Like I needed or was that interested in someone else's opinion about what they thought needed to be done.

Both my predecessor and myself had done certain things well enough that it could have created some kind of template going forward the problem was that just like me the person that followed me had no real interest it what worked for me. He had his ideas and so when about remaking the wheel in the way that he thought was best.

Of course this attitude could have been isolated to me but anecdotally, it would seem like it is more common.

Big C said:

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evanluck said:

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I think the best way to influence the direction of the band is to speak to the director. I was part of the student leadership in the band in the early 90s and like the current student leadership especially at the start of my year at the helm I was not interested in perspective from the alumni.

Robert O Briggs was the director while I was in the band and the thing he knew how to do was to inspire and influence the band without having any authoritarian control.

Even though structurally, the director of the band does not have the power that the directors of other bands enjoy, he is the one there year after year and is therefore the only one that can be relied on to guide the band in a positive direction for longer than one year.

Of course this conversation is probably best received with a sizable check to support ongoing efforts to endow and assure the financial security of the band going forward.

---

Perhaps you could elaborate a bit on the above (emboldened), for those who might not understand.

---

---

Thanks. I'm sure your feelings were common -- spanning the generations -- and gives some insight for people wondering about how the Cal Band works.

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I do a lot of work in volunteer organizations and the one thing that you find out is that it is hard to tell Volunteers what to do - especially when they are in charge.

Student run organizations should allow the students to be in charge and take care of things - within boundaries. So set some basics that are required, and let them go beyond that. Let them create the half-time shows, the calendar to a certain extent, etc. But at the same time traditions need to be adhered to.

And running what is basically a non-profit organization required oversight - for donations, for endowments, etc. That can't really be left to one and done student leaders. And budget is what ends up controlling the operation of the endeavor.

Oski87 said:

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Big C said:

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evanluck said:

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My feeling when I was student directing the band was that I had one year to make my mark. I had a clear idea what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it and I really didn't feel
Like I needed or was that interested in someone else's opinion about what they thought needed to be done.

Both my predecessor and myself had done certain things well enough that it could have created some kind of template going forward the problem was that just like me the person that followed me had no real interest it what worked for me. He had his ideas and so when about remaking the wheel in the way that he thought was best.

Of course this attitude could have been isolated to me but anecdotally, it would seem like it is more common.

Big C said:

---

evanluck said:

---

I think the best way to influence the direction of the band is to speak to the director. I was part of the student leadership in the band in the early 90s and like the current student leadership especially at the start of my year at the helm I was not interested in perspective from the alumni.

Robert O Briggs was the director while I was in the band and the thing he knew how to do was to inspire and influence the band without having any authoritarian control.

Even though structurally, the director of the band does not have the power that the directors of other bands enjoy, he is the one there year after year and is therefore the only one that can be relied on to guide the band in a positive direction for longer than one year.

Of course this conversation is probably best received with a sizable check to support ongoing efforts to endow and assure the financial security of the band going forward.

---

Perhaps you could elaborate a bit on the above (emboldened), for those who might not understand.

---

---

Thanks. I'm sure your feelings were common -- spanning the generations -- and gives some insight for people wondering about how the Cal Band works.

---

I do a lot of work in volunteer organizations and the one thing that you find out is that it is hard to tell Volunteers what to do - especially when they are in charge.

Student run organizations should allow the students to be in charge and take care of things - within boundaries. So set some basics that are required, and let them go beyond that. Let them create the half-time shows, the calendar to a certain extent, etc. But at the same time traditions need to be adhered to.

And running what is basically a non-profit organization required oversight - for donations, for endowments, etc. That can't really be left to one and done student leaders. And budget is what ends up controlling the operation of the endeavor.

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I've not worked for non-profits, but this sounds similar to employee run groups with volunteer leaders and members inside of companies (which I do have lots of experience with).

You set up some general goals, principles and guidelines, provide a budget or a process for requesting support (e.g. company-wide communications, extra funding or support, etc), and you let them run with it.

Then you encourage them, thank them, and visibly demonstrate that management supports them

Plus make sure they understand they can come to you for advice, problem-solving assistance, help with breaking down blockers, and generally available to them

F#$&@*g hippies.

My people.

Cal's band Director

https://twitter.com/MattSadowskiUCB