When University of Florida Marching Band Director Jay Watkins received an invitation from the Mayor of London’s office in September 2011, he instantly realized the magnitude of the honor his band was being given.
The University of Florida’s band, the Pride of the Sunshine, was invited to perform for its largest audience yet. For a band that is comfortable playing in front of more than 90,000 people every weekend during the football season, it was hard to top. Yet the offer would take it to the world’s stage at the 2012 London Olympics.
“It was an opportunity that had been afforded to the Gator band that has never been afforded to a non-British band,” he said.
Throughout the spring, Watkins traveled to London to meet with the head of entertainment and artistic development for the Olympic committee inside Buckingham Palace. He also met with Barbara Stephenson, the minister of the Embassy of the United States of America and a UF alumna, to discuss performances in support of the U.S. contingent in the London Olympics.
“She started doing the Gator chomp and cheering ‘Go Gators!’” he said.
The Pride of the Sunshine is the only band from Florida invited to the Olympics, and it is the only college band performing. With 240 attendees, it is the largest contingent traveling to the Olympics as a group.
“When we found out we got invited, the band was certainly thrilled,” Watkins said. “And then we started looking into the costs of going, which were pretty staggering.”
Estimated to be more than $4,100 out-of-pocket, the cost of the trip has become the biggest obstacle for many band members. Taking other expenses into account, including transporting equipment, instruments and costumes, the band had to find a way to reduce the extreme price of the trip.
“One of the things that we promise the kids when they come here is that it’s going to be different from their high school band experiences where they had to sell things,” Watkins said.
While the band as a whole has not attempted large fundraising, smaller groups within it have reached out to their hometowns for support. The band has also contacted many major corporations in Florida, like Walmart, PepsiCo Inc. and Publix, to encourage statewide support. While roughly $150,000 has been donated by UF, the University Athletic Association and many others, Watkins estimates that the entire cost hovers at about $1 million, so more help is needed to keep the costs as low as possible for the students.
“The excitement level has still been very high, even though they’ve been making $500 every month. It’s great that that many people have donated money,” he said. “However, with a million-dollar goal it’s a tad frustrating; it’s tough with the economy being the way it is.”
To encourage donations from within the tightknit Gator community, the band started the fundraising campaign “$10 for ‘12,” which asks anyone who has ever heard the band perform to donate $10 toward its efforts.
Watkins also hopes that as the date of the Olympics draws closer and gets added publicity, more people will hear about the Gator band’s need for donations and will want to help.
The band, which is scheduled to visit London July 23 to July 31, has several performances lined up throughout the 2012 Games. Although London only allows British bands to play in the actual Opening Ceremonies, the Pride of the Sunshine will put on its first performance at Hyde Park nearby. There will also be a special intermission to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” when the American athletes walk out, followed by Great Britain’s national anthem.
“They’re certainly comfortable performing in front of large groups of people and on a national stage, for things like [BCS] Bowl games and National Championship games and things like that,” he said. “They know how to perform music, how to play music that keeps people involved and engaged. I guess the band has a very broad appeal.”
The mounting excitement is not only felt by Watkins, but particularly by members of the band. Sophomore drum major Freddy Masterson is eagerly anticipating the performances.
“This is most likely never going to happen again in our lifetimes,” Masterson said. “We’ve been given a lot of opportunities.”
Despite being well accustomed to playing for large crowds, everyone involved agrees these performances will be on a completely different level than the band is used to.
“I think I’m most excited about the events in support of the Embassy and the United States contingent,” Watkins said. “Because that’s really what this is about — us supporting the United States in the Olympics. And I think that’s what makes this a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the students.”
The Gator band members are not only excited to cheer on its fellow Americans during the Olympic Games, but also their fellow Gators.
“Between us, Ryan Lochte and Jeff Demps, the Gators will be well-represented at the Olympics,” Masterson said. “There’s a lot of pride.”
“I’m most proud of how the students have worked so hard to elevate this program to a national and institutional stature,” Watkins added. “It’s going to be hard to stay in the moment and keep it in perspective. It’s just going to be surreal.”
For more information on how to donate to the Gator Band, visit www.uff.ufl.edu/Appeals/GatorBandtoLondonOlympics