Why is marching band so expensive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most schools have one, maybe two sports that actually generate revenue: football and/or boys’ basketball. The other sports/teams generally cost more money than they make. At some schools, the football program helps fund their athletics programs, so everyone benefits.

The football team should pay for marching band as they are there to support the team.

HAHAHA.No.

Why the laughter? Without the band, cheerleaders and dance team, the whole "Friday Night Lights" atmosphere would be very very different. There wouldn't be nearly as many spectators buying concessions.

Look, I’m a band parent and this assertion is downright laughable. The football team does not depend upon the band, I assure you. And they aren’t going to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most schools have one, maybe two sports that actually generate revenue: football and/or boys’ basketball. The other sports/teams generally cost more money than they make. At some schools, the football program helps fund their athletics programs, so everyone benefits.

The football team should pay for marching band as they are there to support the team.

HAHAHA.No.

Why the laughter? Without the band, cheerleaders and dance team, the whole "Friday Night Lights" atmosphere would be very very different. There wouldn't be nearly as many spectators buying concessions.

I think you're overestimating the appeal of the band and cheerleaders. Sure, their parents come to the game. But theyre not drawing anyone else.

I know lots of families (ourselves included) who don't have HS aged kids yet that often go to the Friday night games. We go to watch the football. Not the halftime show

And I think you're underestimating how much those things (band, cheerleaders etc) add to the ambience, excitement, and fun. I'm guessing you're not going f to the JV football games? Why not? Because it's not as exciting without the extras.

Mmkay. Football still isn’t paying fir it though.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My son is eligible for marching band next year and I got the school cash online email saying fee pay is available. Holy cow its expensive! Over $400!

Does the football team also have to pay $400 for uniforms and participation?

At our non-W, high FARMS High School, it's $600 for cheerleading! And no, football players don't pay that much. I get the feeling that the most loved teams aren't subject to those fees.

The most loved teams have boosters clubs footing the bill.

Our marching band fees were somewhere in between the two extremes, but bands can have booster clubs too. Ours make money by parents volunteering to run the concession stand at football games, selling t-shirts, doing partner nights with local restaurants, where they donate X percent of the proceeds for everyone who eats there that night and sapphires the band’s name, etc.

I don’t find the fees excessive. It’s a LOT of hours beginning in summer through the whole fall semester. There are a lot of expenses. They feed the kids regularly (usually just pizza or sandwiches, but it adds up) on the many very long rehearsal/competition days.

There are, of course, scholarships available for families who can’t afford the fees (not just those who don’t want to pay them) and the directors make that clear to kids at the beginning of the season — just like there are a limited number of school-owned instruments for families who can’t afford to buy/rent one.

MCPS Foundation has instruments available: https://www.mcpsfoundation.org/pages/our-programs/help-me-make-music-

It's very excessive.

It’s not excessive. Shrug. If you don’t want to pay, don’t do it. If you CAN’T pay, financial assistance is available.

For a public school activity it’s very expensive. Especially for what kids get.

[Anonymous]

A large factor in costs is also going to be the competitions. Depending on how many times a band competes (eg. one or two competitions vs. Every Saturday September - early November) and the circuit they compete in, those costs can majorly add up for the band budget, and these competitions aren’t MCPS based, which could be another factor.