Get Involved - University Bands

We'd like to invite all BUMB parents and marching band alumni to tailgate at the BU home football games.  The football schedule and tailgating policies are available on www.butlersports.com. There's a form for football season tickets under the football tab, which makes it easy to have everything you need before the season starts. You can get the special tailgating pass with your season tickets.  BUMB members can get 2 free general admission tickets for each game, and the route to those tickets is through your son or daughter. Matt Harris, ticket manager, advises that you pick up your will call tickets 1 hour before the game when the will call tables open. You'll avoid the long lines at game time.

Here are some tailgating tips and advice:

• You can arrive at 8 a.m. and stay in the parking lot up to 2 hours after the game ends.
• There is an $8 parking fee per space you'd like to occupy. We always bought 2 parking passes per game - one for our car and one to set up our canopy, chairs, table, cooking gear etc. If you have a lot of gear, you may want more.
• Do not bring anything in glass, a staked tent/canopy, nor a keg. They are not allowed.
• Be creative. The football parents sometimes have themed events - chilli, Mexican etc. Just plan to bring whatever you want to eat or drink for yourselves and maybe some to share. Be ready to have fun and mingle with the other parents. 
• We found that if we got there between 8 and 9 a.m., set up, and then cook lunch, everything would be ready for our son, Geoff, to eat lunch with us before he has to report back to the field for the game.  Then after the game ends, you can start round 2 of the cooking and eating. It's nice to be there early, and sometimes watch the band rehearse on the field before the game starts.
• When it gets cold out: dress warm, bring sides for your canopy, maybe a portable heater, and weights for your canopy so it doesn't move around. Bring lots of hot chocolate or coffee.
• You might want to make a poster or banner for your tailgating set-up featuring your son or daughter as a member of the BUMB. Our poster said "Geoff is a BUMB", and it was a great conversation starter with the other fans.
• We're eager to meet the other BUMB parents, and we hope to see you. We'll be under the gold canopy next to the gold Saturn Vue. Please stop by and let us get to know you.

-- Greg and Marcia Schoeneck, unofficial co-presidents of the unofficial BUMB PO. g.schoeneck@comcast.net

Each fall past members of the Butler University Marching Band host a picnic for new members on a late-August Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of the 2-day Sat/Sun "Band Camp." Band alumni are needed to plan, shop, setup, cook and tear down this event. This is also a wonderful opportunity for the new members of the band to meet those who have preceded them in the creation of the BUMB, and hear stories of past exploits and performances. If you would like to help in any way contact the band's alumni chair for this event - Jen Huber at (317) 788-2136, jhuber@uindy.edu.

Collegiate bands do not enjoy the amazing armies of high school band parents that assist with the set ups of equipment for marching band field performances, but that does not mean there is not a need. With drum major podiums, a front ensemble of 10 performers on marimbas, xylophones and electronic instruments and a sizable colorguard there is much to do to get a BUMB performance set up and ready to go. If you would like to help in the creation of this new "BUMB Parents Pit-Crew" contact David McCullough, Director of Athletic Bands at (317) 940-9876, dmccullo@Butler.edu.

One of the best ways to stay informed of the activities of Butler's marching and basketball bands is to enroll in the band-alumni listserv. Here is how. Simply send an email to: listmanager@listserv.butler.edu with the following in the message body - subscribe band-alumni "your name" (put your first and last name in quotes)

If you need any assistance subscribing, or if you would like to assist with the management of the band-alumni database please contact Craig Stanley, current band-alumni listserv manager at (317) 940-9668, cstanley@Butler.edu.

For many years, extending back in to the 40's, Butler has made video and audio recordings of its marching and basketball bands. Photographs of the bands are used in campus publications, and for recruiting pieces. Current alumni like photographer Tom Fischer (BU '75) and DVD editor Jonathan McCullough (BU '04) are already involved, but they could use assistance. If you would like to videotape or photograph any of our bands, or assist in the conversion of VHS taped performances into DVDs please contact Jonathan McCullough, chair of the Athletic Bands DVD Project at (317) 840-8488, jdmccull@gmail.com.

Students with music, marching and colorguard experience need to be identified and contacted so that they are well informed as to the advantages of band participation. We are asking you, depending on your comfort level, to speak with prospective students who live hear you, author letters to prospective students or supply quotations about your experiences in the Butler band program that can be used on the web sites and in recruiting pieces. Contact David McCullough, Director of Athletic Bands at (317) 940-9876, dmccullo@Butler.edu.

Come back and play your instrument for basketball "break games" Each year Butler's basketball teams play games that occur during university breaks, and many of the current band members use these opportunities to go home. Providing music when school is not is session would be very difficult if it weren't for the number of alumni who come to help us. We provide music, simply rehearse for a short time before the game, and then "have at it!" Once the basketball schedules are created, and the "break games" identified, anyone who still loves to play their instrument is welcome to come. And for helping the band and the teams, alumni who come to play are admitted free to the games. Contact David McCullough, Director of Athletic Bands at (317) 940-9876, dmccullo@Butler.edu.

The Athletic Bands Office, 316 Atherton Union, is open and working year round. Alumni are invited to donate hours, either on a scheduled-weekly or as-available status, to assist in operation and work of the band office or with the supervision and maintenance of the uniforms and instrument inventory. The marching and basketball bands are the largest portion of Butler's six-ensemble band program and assistance is both needed and appreciated. Contact David McCullough, Director of Athletic Bands at (317) 940-9876, dmccullo@Butler.edu.