Texas A&M Football
Sponsored by

Pay College Bands

5,903 Views | 65 Replies | Last: 3 days ago by Vance Refrigeration
Charlie 31
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
12:30a, 9/10/26
AG
I was in the Texas Aggie Band from 1985-1989. I always hated that Texas A&M football players got paid to play (yes I know it was illegal, but it happened) and got full tuition, fees, room, and board, even though we Aggie Bandsmen and Corps of Cadets members got nothing monetarily for supporting these athletes and the Texas A&M Athletic Department income.

Texas Aggie Band members march to and during halftime of Texas A&M football games from which Texas A&M and the 12th Man Foundation make money. Oftentimes, Texas A&M, Inc., makes money directly and indirectly from halftime show videos. Aggie Band members also spend a great deal of their time and energy to march in parades that promote Texas A&M, Inc., and gain Texas A$M at least hundreds of thousands of dollars of advertising and donations.

Now that Texas A&M Football Team players are making at least thousands of dollars, if not millions of dollars, in Name Image and Likeness (NIL) deals, then why is Texas A&M, Inc., not also paying ALL Aggie Band members NIL income, as well?

This goes, as well, for other college marching bands at other U.S. colleges and universities, too. Why are their members not at least on full scholarships, if not also getting paid for their professional showmanship?
#paycollegebands
Reply Quote
7
Drum5343
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:07a, 9/10/26
AG
Huh.

What an interesting thread that is sure to have dozens of thoughtful and rational responses.
Reply Quote
36
jrgypsum
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:14a, 9/10/26
AG
No need. Band can start their own OF accounts. Problem solved.
Reply Quote
28
TheDecadeSapling
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to jrgypsum • 6:09a, 9/10/26
AG
Only Flutes?
Reply Quote
32
tk111
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to TheDecadeSapling • 6:51a, 9/10/26
AG
TheDecadeSapling said:
Only Flutes?

One time, at band camp...
Reply Quote
18
DeadPull
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:10a, 9/10/26
AG
Reply Quote
43
AgBandsman
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:26a, 9/10/26
AG
Former band member here. What is this AI slop trash?
Reply Quote
7
H0RNbyBIRTH
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Charlie 31 • 7:41a, 9/10/26
Charlie 31 said:
not also getting paid for their professional showmanship?


I think you can actually answer your own question when comparing band members to football players.

Consider this...how many fans are waiting outside the band hall to get your autograph?
Reply Quote
11
Tramp96
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:42a, 9/10/26
SMU pays their band. I think it's in the neighborhood of $6K a year maybe?
Reply Quote
Pizza
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:46a, 9/10/26
Paying out full tuition, room, board, and stipends ($30,000 to $50,000+ per student annually) for a 400-member band would cost around $12 million to $20 million per year.
Reply Quote
5
1 edit
fc2112
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Charlie 31 • 7:54a, 9/10/26
Charlie 31 said:
Texas Aggie Band members march to and during halftime of Texas A&M football games from which Texas A&M and the 12th Man Foundation make money.

Not really - we go to the concession stand during your show. I've seen it already - 30 years ago.
Reply Quote
14
twk
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:59a, 9/10/26
AG
Some schools do provide scholarship money to some band members. Usually, it's in the form of scholarships for music majors, a condition of which is that they do the marching band. I would not be surprised if a school like SMU essentially has to bribe kids to do the band in order to get sufficient numbers.
Reply Quote
1
fc2112
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to twk • 8:01a, 9/10/26
twk said:
Some schools do provide scholarship money to some band members. Usually, it's in the form of scholarships for music majors, a condition of which is that they do the marching band. I would not be surprised if a school like SMU essentially has to bribe kids to do the band in order to get sufficient numbers.

I believe SMU's stipend to music majors to participate in athletics bands is $7500 a semester.
Reply Quote
1
BarnacleBill
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:11a, 9/10/26
AG
Two of my kids were in marching bands at other universities, and they both received modest scholarships just for being in those bands. Neither were music majors.

It was far from a full ride, but it helped.
Reply Quote
5
1 edit
NoahAg
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:15a, 9/10/26
Over 100K showed up at Kyle Saturday. Without an Aggie band over 100K would have shown up.

hth
Reply Quote
25
ABattJudd
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:17a, 9/10/26
AG
This same thing was posted onto a BQ group on Facebook, so I'm going to post the same response I did there.

I got to go to every home game and tons of away games for free. I got to visit places like New York City, Washington, New Orleans, and (most importantly and impressively) Shreveport all on the university's dime. And my $1000/year Corps scholarship turned out to be closer to $15k/year because the university waived my out-of-state tuition.

I made friends for life and learned more about leadership and teamwork than I could have ever imagined.

I think I'm good.
"Well, if you can’t have a great season, at least ruin somebody else’s." - Olin Buchanan
Reply Quote
36
Hank the Grifter
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:33a, 9/10/26
For BQs NIL stands for "Never Ignore Lunch".
I'd pay for some of them to lose weight so they quit looking like 250 pounds of chewed bubble gum in a uniform.
Reply Quote
7
Milwaukees Best Light
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:43a, 9/10/26
AG
I was in the stands for many of the football games at Kyle while I was a student. The student, and fans in general, really help to make the atmosphere what it is. Can you imagine playing football in an empty stadium, or in just a bare field with no stands? Where would be all the excitement, the passion, the people buying expensive chicken? Fans are really what makes the football experience and I was a part of it. I want money too.
Reply Quote
11
TAMUallen
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:48a, 9/10/26
AG
Reply Quote
7
Aggie Joe 93
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:49a, 9/10/26
AG
I don't think the Aggie Band wants to encourage participation in halftime to become transactional. That's a gateway to competition, and others would PAY for the exposure to perform at halftime at an Aggie football game.

Getting in on a small portion of game revenue and YouTube or other audio / video revenue for band performances seems reasonable. However that seems more appropriate to be paid to the band, and not individuals. Then it would be up to the band to determine how that money is used.

NIL became a thing because individual athletes became significant in the earning model for college athletics. I don't think I've ever heard someone say they needed to see halftime because a famous Johnny Sousaphone was marching.
Reply Quote
1
JohnClark929
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:53a, 9/10/26
Anyone can make money on NIL. So go for it.

Just keep in mind supply and demand will dictate the amount.
Reply Quote
5
greg.w.h
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:56a, 9/10/26
AG
Feel free to fund it, op. I think you know what the answer is.
Reply Quote
3
Gigem_94
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:28a, 9/10/26
AG
We always win halftime anyway. We don't need to pay to recruit the best band members.
Reply Quote
1
phatbeast
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:31a, 9/10/26
AG
Haven't band members always been free to trade on their name, image, and likeness?
Reply Quote
3
ABattJudd
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Aggie Joe 93 • 9:35a, 9/10/26
AG
Aggie Joe 93 said:
NIL became a thing because individual athletes became significant in the earning model for college athletics. I don't think I've ever heard someone say they needed to see halftime because a famous Johnny Sousaphone was marching.

It's a f***in' bass!!
"Well, if you can’t have a great season, at least ruin somebody else’s." - Olin Buchanan
Reply Quote
agnerd
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:44a, 9/10/26
AG
If you take a contract, you CAN get paid to be in the band.

Or join the Hullaballoo band if you want to get paid. We got $20 per game and a free sports pass when I was in it. Those of us in the first band thought we were volunteering and didn't know we would get paid or have our sports pass reimbursed until the first game.

Hullabaloo band was started because the corps couldn't commit to all mens and womens basketball, all volleyball, and a few extra events per year. So athletics decided to start their own band so that everything would be covered.

HOWEVER, when athletics started to PAY the expenses of the band, they also started to choose some of the songs that were played and they controlled what was played when. If the band wants to get paid by athletics, they need to be willing to play the latest Ella Langley and Taylor Swift songs in the stands and at half time. They also probably need to be willing to swap their sideline seats for corner or end zone seats so that the extra revenue can help cover the costs.

If I were in the band, I'd probably prefer to keep things as they are.
Reply Quote
4
BkYdPitmaster
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:45a, 9/10/26
AG
I'm good with paying those tuba dudes.
Backyard Pitmaster
Reply Quote
5
Blonde Coffee Beans
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:06a, 9/10/26
"I don't care about your feelings OP. I'm not going to let fandom replace reason, thought, and history"
Reply Quote
milner79
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to TheDecadeSapling • 10:21a, 9/10/26
TheDecadeSapling said:
Only Flutes?

Sweet! Jethro Tull at halftime.
Reply Quote
2
AggieSocialWorker32
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:26a, 9/10/26
Let me stir the sh t pot.

Doesn't the DJ get paid? Wonder how much?
Next thing you'll hear is that they could pipe music in.
No need to pay a band.
Oh wait.
Reply Quote
1
Schall 02
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:58a, 9/10/26
AG
Why stop at the band? Lets just pay everyone $5,000!!
Reply Quote
13
Leggo My Elko
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Charlie 31 • 11:00a, 9/10/26
AG
With whose money? IF there's any extra money sloshing around I'd like to see it go a future left tackle.
Reply Quote
1
2 edits
SteveA
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to fc2112 • 11:01a, 9/10/26
AG
Quote:
I believe SMU's stipend to music majors to participate in athletics bands is $7500 a semester.

I mean, when a semester is $45k, you can do that.
Reply Quote
3
CoachLB
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
12:12p, 9/10/26
Since we are talking band is there any kind of rule that keeps the band and corp from wearing blue at the Red, White and Blue out Saturday. The photos of the 2001 game look great except for the band and corp breaking up the blue section.
Reply Quote
HillCountry15
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to CoachLB • 12:35p, 9/10/26
CoachLB said:
Since we are talking band is there any kind of rule that keeps the band and corp from wearing blue at the Red, White and Blue out Saturday. The photos of the 2001 game look great except for the band and corp breaking up the blue section.
it's a patriotic event, and you're upset that the cadet corps is going to wear their military style uniforms instead of a blue shirt?

Also, as a former bandsman, I was fine not getting paid. Got to see a lot of exciting football games for free, including Johnny's heisman season.
Reply Quote
4
Page 1 of 2 ▼
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.