I heard a rumor that band members got an email that the band will not be there for football games for the entire season.

Not sure what all the issues are. Questions I have:

Does this decision have to be made now for the entire season?

They can't figure out a Straw Hat Band configuration, comfortably spaced out at an empty stadium? It would seem they could do something completely low risk. Why be so drastic?

Is there some consideration I'm missing?

If we can do something low-risk, and yet we don't do it, it saddens me. The CMB is part of Cal football, It is Cal football. It's part of the whole college football experience. I was hoping even with fans at least we would hear Fight for California, Big C and others during home game telecasts. I suppose we will hear it piped in. Heck maybe they should pipe it in live from Zoom. I hope the school reconsiders this decision. Let the band play.

It would be very problematic for the Cal Band to hold indoor rehearsals this fall. Indoor anything. It's a cramped rehearsal hall and a cramped locker room. Lots of shared breath by a large group. The best they could do is dress on their own, and have all rehearsals and performances outside, with social distance.

This just isn't a normal year.

Big C said:

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It would be very problematic for the Cal Band to hold indoor rehearsals this fall. Indoor anything. It's a cramped rehearsal hall and a cramped locker room. Lots of shared breath by a large group. The best they could do is dress on their own, and have all rehearsals and performances outside, with social distance.

This just isn't a normal year.

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Sorry I don't know all the band logistics and how it works. Couldn't a smaller unit practice at Maxwell Field or somewhere else outside?

No such email has been sent to band members (as of right now). Band activities so far include some musical practice sessions and socialization meetings by instrument section (conducted virtually). Uniforms have not been distributed and no marching practice has been held. Moreover many band members are not physically in Berkeley. This alone makes any band performance problematic. That having been said, it wouldn't take much time to get the band up to speed. It's more of a question of what conditions would allow them to congregate? Do you really expect to see a substantial improvement in epidemic conditions before 2021?

Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I just don't see the point of having the band at the game if there are no fans?!?

Cal84 said:

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No such email has been sent to band members (as of right now). Band activities so far include some musical practice sessions and socialization meetings by instrument section (conducted virtually). Uniforms have not been distributed and no marching practice has been held. Moreover many band members are not physically in Berkeley. This alone makes any band performance problematic. That having been said, it wouldn't take much time to get the band up to speed. It's more of a question of what conditions would allow them to congregate? Do you really expect to see a substantial improvement in epidemic conditions before 2021?

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That's exactly why I think we should go ahead have a taxi squad Straw Hat Band.

I believe it will incrementally improve as we go towards 2021, with not only hopes for a vaccine(s), but a proliferation of rapid test kits and better treatment options.

Because Covid will be with us for the near future, we have to live with it in a reasonable way. I'm in favor of following the science, but not in an all or nothing sort of way, and even the science doesn't say that. There is a case by case calculus we need to make on certain activities.

I know you know better about the logistics, but couldn't the practices be done in a way that they sufficiently social distance on a field, just like they would at CMS. Sure there is risk, but I would think it's relatively low if done right (that's of course key). There is enough information now (compared to March) to implement best practices we've seen for these kinds of activities -- rooted in science, public health as well as anecdotal experience (such as what is working and what is not working for other college football programs currently in-season).

GoBears89 said:

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Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I just don't see the point of having the band at the game if there are no fans?!?

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I do not see the point of having college football if there are no students in the stands, no band to play, no spirit team, no sentimental alumni in our beloved California Memorial Stadium.

>I know you know better about the logistics, but couldn't the practices be done in a way that they sufficiently social distance

For a small grouping, I don't think practices are an obstacle. They aren't going to march, so that doesn't need to be practiced. The musical pieces themselves are trivial for someone who can pass band audition. But if you had only say 12 instruments, and they were spread across s seating section, would the sound produced even be audible on the field?

I think the bigger issue is what will the band do once we make the Rose Bowl this season....just thinking ahead....

Cal84 said:

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>I know you know better about the logistics, but couldn't the practices be done in a way that they sufficiently social distance

For a small grouping, I don't think practices are an obstacle. They aren't going to march, so that doesn't need to be practiced. The musical pieces themselves are trivial for someone who can pass band audition. But if you had only say 12 instruments, and they were spread across s seating section, would the sound produced even be audible on the field?

I think the bigger issue is what will the band do once we make the Rose Bowl this season....just thinking ahead....

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Maybe our chance to finally mic up the band?

KoreAmBear said:

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Big C said:

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It would be very problematic for the Cal Band to hold indoor rehearsals this fall. Indoor anything. It's a cramped rehearsal hall and a cramped locker room. Lots of shared breath by a large group. The best they could do is dress on their own, and have all rehearsals and performances outside, with social distance.

This just isn't a normal year.

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Sorry I don't know all the band logistics and how it works. Couldn't a smaller unit practice at Maxwell Field or somewhere else outside?

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Outdoor rehearsals with 6' of distancing would be viable for rehearsing, but some people might still be a little reluctant, what with people sitting in a group (even outdoors at that distance) doing a lot of exhaling, not wearing masks and remaining in the same spot for awhile.

A band of even two dozen could sound fairly loud in a stadium w/o fans. Fifty would sound big: No need to mic up.

I know TBDBITL (Ohio State) is doing rehearsals at the stadium, social distanced, and sometimes by section only. Several bands across the country are playing at their team's games in the stands, highly spread out, and sounding good. To me, Cal football without Cal Band, will just not seem like Cal football. At least not at Memorial. At the very least they should pipe in the Big C on the PA system. Cal Rugby plays Cal Band over the PA after every score.

KoreAmBear said:

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Big C said:

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It would be very problematic for the Cal Band to hold indoor rehearsals this fall. Indoor anything. It's a cramped rehearsal hall and a cramped locker room. Lots of shared breath by a large group. The best they could do is dress on their own, and have all rehearsals and performances outside, with social distance.

This just isn't a normal year.

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Sorry I don't know all the band logistics and how it works. Couldn't a smaller unit practice at Maxwell Field or somewhere else outside?

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The band generally practices at Maxwell Field. Distancing is no problem. Guys, lots of other schools have their bands playing along with their cheer squads--in stadium. Unfortunately for our kids, Cal isn't going to be blazing any trails. The best we can do is follow other schools and copy their protocol methods, but only if the administration has the you-know-whats.

I watched one game a couple of weeks ago where the band (SMU?) may have been far enough apart to be socially distanced though it was close. However, the brass and woodwind players had cut holes in their masks so they could bring their instruments to the lips. I don't know what the best answer would be for those band members, but cutting a hole in the mask defeats the whole point of wearing a mask.

Eastern Oregon Bear said:

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I watched one game a couple of weeks ago where the band (SMU?) may have been far enough apart to be socially distanced though it was close. However, the brass and woodwind players had cut holes in their masks so they could bring their instruments to the lips. I don't know what the best answer would be for those band members, but cutting a hole in the mask defeats the whole point of wearing a mask.

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What do you expect from a school that hired Sonny Dykes? Uh... What's that? You mean.... Oh well, forget that I even brought it up...

Eastern Oregon Bear said:

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I watched one game a couple of weeks ago where the band (SMU?) may have been far enough apart to be socially distanced though it was close. However, the brass and woodwind players had cut holes in their masks so they could bring their instruments to the lips. I don't know what the best answer would be for those band members, but cutting a hole in the mask defeats the whole point of wearing a mask.

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Why would they need a mask if they are out of doors and social distancing and everybody had been tested in advance???

The Cal Band adopted their "full field spread" formation some 50-60 years ago to be ready for THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY!

NVBear78 said:

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Eastern Oregon Bear said:

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I watched one game a couple of weeks ago where the band (SMU?) may have been far enough apart to be socially distanced though it was close. However, the brass and woodwind players had cut holes in their masks so they could bring their instruments to the lips. I don't know what the best answer would be for those band members, but cutting a hole in the mask defeats the whole point of wearing a mask.

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Why would they need a mask if they are out of doors and social distancing and everybody had been tested in advance???

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I have no idea if the band had been tested or not.

I think the best we can do is hope that one of the Cal State bands plays in their stadium. San Jose State has shown a willingness to think outside the box in regards to football practices, so hopefully they'll follow up with loosening the reins on the band and cheer. That would make Cal more comfortable and increase the odds of CMB getting to play.

As much as the football players are dedicated and are student athletes that put in hard work to represent the University. They were out-spoken about wanting to play this year. I have to put the CMB and the Yell Leaders/Dance Squad in the same bucket. They are dedicated, work hard, and represent the University.

If they choose to practice and want to participate, then YES, they should have the same opportunities afforded to student athletes. A chance to do their thing and represent the University. If it can safely be done, then by all means....LET THEM PLAY!

2701RidgeRoad said:

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GoBears89 said:

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Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I just don't see the point of having the band at the game if there are no fans?!?

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I do not see the point of having college football if there are no students in the stands, no band to play, no spirit team, no sentimental alumni in our beloved California Memorial Stadium.

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Money.

LunchTime said:

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2701RidgeRoad said:

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GoBears89 said:

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Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I just don't see the point of having the band at the game if there are no fans?!?

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I do not see the point of having college football if there are no students in the stands, no band to play, no spirit team, no sentimental alumni in our beloved California Memorial Stadium.

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Money.

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More precisely, TV revenues, and a more defendable position in contract negotiations with UA and Learfield.

wifeisafurd said:

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LunchTime said:

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2701RidgeRoad said:

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GoBears89 said:

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Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I just don't see the point of having the band at the game if there are no fans?!?

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I do not see the point of having college football if there are no students in the stands, no band to play, no spirit team, no sentimental alumni in our beloved California Memorial Stadium.

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Money.

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More precisely, TV revenues, and a more defendable position in contract negotiations with UA and Learfield.

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Yup. Want to see the band next season? Gotta play or get bailed out this season.