Editorial ~ 2005 October

This month 4BRDU gives a sneak preview of the downunder ranking system, soon to be published, and discusses the hot topic of poaching.

Downunder Rankings

4BRDU is currently working on a ranking system for Australia and New Zealand, to be launched following the completion of the State Championships in South Australia and Tasmania, and when all information from New Zealand has been sourced.

No doubt there will be some controversy, as the bands are ranked according to competition results from the past five years. A key factor is the notion of "no show – no points", so the bands who haven't competed, or who have missed one or two competitions, will obviously be further down the scale.

Remember how the A Grade bands didn't compete in the Victorian State Championships? Well, unfortunately this will affect their ranking. And despite the fantastic performance of Gunnedah in New South Wales, they will also be towards the bottom of the ranking, because they have only just joined A Grade.

There will be cries that this isn't a true reflection of the standard of the bands, and perhaps it isn't a perfect formula.  A ranking system needs to be formulated on some basis, and we believe that this formula is fair and equitable.

The ranking system in the UK is also based on competition, and works quite well because the bands in the UK just love their competitions! And this may well be a positive aspect of the Downunder ranking system; quite possibly it will encourage bands to be more active and attend the competitions, even if they don't like the Test!

So – will the bands become more competitive? Will they strive for that elusive ranking of Number One?

This is the first time that a ranking system taking account Australian State and New Zealand District competitions has ever been used. So for the first time in history, bands will be able to lay claim to their rank in Australia and New Zealand.

What do you think?
Send an email to downunder@4barsrest.com

Poaching

A hot topic lately has been poaching. There are rules within our Associations to supposedly stop this happening, but do they have any effect really?

Poaching happens all the time, and it's even difficult at times to define what it really is. Is it poaching when another band member mentions that you ‘should come along sometime and have a blow'? If a player moves to another band, were they dissatisfied anyway and would have changed eventually?

There are a couple of circumstances when poaching really hits a nerve: the poaching of talented junior players from lower grade bands to A Grade, and the poaching of players from a band that's going through difficulties and struggling for players.

It's incredibly frustrating for the lower grade bands to lose their young players to ‘better' bands. It takes years of time and effort to grow young players, yet it seems inevitable that if they show any real talent, they're whisked off to greener pastures. So the A Grade bands remain A Grade and the D Grade bands remain D Grade. It's too hard to break the cycle – a good band attracts good players and a lower grade band struggles to get ahead because of the lure of the better bands.

The only real answer to the problem lies in the drive and enthusiasm of the conductor/s. Gunnedah is a fine example of a band that has managed to attract youngsters, train them to a high standard AND keep them. No one can deny that Jason and Laurie have a formula that works and they are shining examples of what's really possible.  Another example of similar success is Bruce Armstrong from Warragul in country Victoria. Twenty-five years ago when I was a junior in Traralgon Band, Warragul Municipal Band was the envy of all. They had an A Grade band, Junior A Grade band, and a constant stream of learners coming through. Youngsters were itching to be part of the vibrant and exciting organisation and the band was incredibly successful.

The key then for the lower grade bands is to consider the enthusiasm and drive of successful conductors and trainers. If the environment is lively, challenging and fun, the players won't leave; no one will be able to poach them, because the offer just won't be attractive.

The other type of poaching to really hit a nerve is when players are tempted away from a struggling band; a band that's going through one of those ‘stages'. A band in this position really can't afford to lose any players and it seems to be the lowest form of poaching when they are tempted to leave. Obviously when a band is in this situation they really need to stop and ‘take stock'. Something is very wrong and needs to be changed. Perhaps it's the conductor, or the committee, but to steal a player in this situation is really low. Yes, players will leave on their own accord, because they're frustrated and dissatisfied, but no decent bandsman should ever approach one of these players. An opposite approach should be happening; bandsmen should be offering to help. How sad is it when a band ‘folds'? Years of history, all the old photos and trophies, all finished with and no one left to carry on the tradition.

So, yes, poaching occurs all the time. Bandsmen are constantly on the move. The real issue is that we need to have a sense of what's right and wrong, and what's ultimately good for the banding movement in general.

So, a word of advice:

A Grade bands: grow your own! Go out and rehearse with lower grade bands and give them encouragement and assistance.

Low grade bands: don't whinge about it, do something about it! Make the environment such that the players won't want to leave.

Struggling bands – do something about it before it's too late. Ask for help from other bands. Don't let the years of history mean nothing.

What do you think?
Send an email to downunder@4barsrest.com

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