It\'s only a gala day! Andy\'s Blawg No 3
The summer months in Scotland are when our brass bands are most visible to the public with the majority taking part in one or more of the numerous gala days, fair days and other civic parades.
For some bands, taking part in these parades is something that has to be endured so that the band is seen to be ‘doing its bit' for the community and to raise funds. For others, they are seen as a genuinely enjoyable activity and are something which (weather permitting) are looked forward to.
Whatever your view, parades are the one time in the year when hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of people living in your local community will see and hear your band, including influential local politicians and potential business sponsors. Taking part in a parade also means that your band is usually guaranteed a picture in the local paper too.
Many column inches have been written (and often agonised over) about how brass bands are perceived by the public and how they are regarded in the wider musical world. One argument is that bands will never be taken ‘seriously' if the only time they are seen by the masses is marching in local parades. Accompanying this argument is the frustration that the only music played at these events are the old traditional street marches and not any of the more modern, varied repertoire that many of the players in the band enjoy more. In truth, bands often struggle to field their full complement of regular players for these engagements and many deps are usually required to fill the ranks.
Out of the 130+ member bands in the Scottish Brass Band Association the vast majority proudly have the name of their towns in their titles. This is because, in Scotland, brass bands are still firmly rooted in their local towns and communities.
Taking part in your local civic parade should be seen by your band as a hugely important engagement and a golden opportunity to demonstrate your worth to the community. Putting on a well-rehearsed, well turned out, fully manned display, enables your band to fully engage with the large crowds who are there to watch and listen to you. Perhaps some arrangements of pop tunes, TV or film themes could be included (as some bands are beginning to do) as well as the more traditional marches. If you have a youth band (and ALL senior bands should aspire to this) then taking part in a parade gives you the opportunity to display all of the bands in your organisation and demonstrate your strength, age range and relevance to your local community.
As the parade takes place and the band makes its way through the streets, a further opportunity presents itself for free publicity as flyers, giving information about the band's recruitment, future concerts, fundraising events and sponsorship ideas, could be handed out to the crowds.
Parades may not be the most loved engagements of the year for bands, but the public expect to see their local brass band (often leading the parade) on what is, after all, the proudest day of the year for the town. For any band that bears the name of its hometown in its title, surely it doesn't get any more important than taking a leading part in generating civic pride ... It's not only a gala day!
Andrew Duncan
