Marysville Band Director Bill Thissen compares the high school’s standard band uniform, left, with that of the band’s drum major.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Will Channell)
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The Marysville High School Marching Monarchs’ uniforms are showing their age and band officials are hoping replace them soon.
According to band director Bill Thissen, the MHS Marching Band is in the market for new uniforms to replace its current, aging wardrobe.
“They should have been replaced about ten years ago,” Thissen said.
Typically, Thissen said, manufacturers say uniforms last for about a decade. Thissen said the school is now on its second set of the current design, which was first introduced around 1990 or 1991.
The band had those jackets, the top part of the uniform, for about a decade before they were replaced in the early 2000s.
“In this current set, there are probably some of the original ones in there too,” Thissen said.
Those original garments still in service are likely on the large or small end of the spectrum, since those are generally worn less and last longer.
Among the problems the older uniforms are experiencing are discoloration and tearing. Parts of the uniform jackets that were once pearly white are now turning to a more yellowish hue. Some of the jackets have damaged parts that manufacturers don’t offer anymore.
The band is hoping to completely replace its jackets. The company the band will use for the new uniforms is Fred J. Miller (FJM), Inc., of Miamisburg. Thissen said the band has used several different companies over the years, as some of them have gone out of business or been unable to make the same design for less money.
Thissen said between all the jackets the band has, there are likely “three or four” companies represented.
“Uniform designs have changed, and uniform materials have changed,” Thissen said.
Uniforms have become more inexpensive in both materials and cost.
“What bands wore 20, 30 years ago, they’re not wearing today,” Thissen said.
Thissen said if they were to replace their current jacket, using the same design and materials, it would cost the school $400 per jacket. He said there are about 220 students in marching band. Buying jackets for all those members, plus 30 extra, would come out to $100,000 total.
Thissen said he hasn’t yet decided on a design, but he knows he wants these new uniforms to follow those recent trends of less costly materials. He said according to the FJM, the jackets still have a lifespan of about a decade.
Despite that, Thissen said these new uniforms could potentially tear more easily. It’s a trade off, according to Thissen. With the newer materials the school wouldn’t “be out $400” anymore.
He used the band’s current drum major uniforms as examples. The band’s drum majors have worn them for several years now, and they’re made of thinner fabric.
“Something like that is half the cost of what we used to wear,” Thissen said.
Thissen said the band has raised about $39,500 of its $75,000 goal for both jackets and hats. Thissen said the school district kicked in about $13,000 to go toward the new hats.
According to Thissen, about $6,500 has been donated, while band members and families have raised about $20,000 through a yearly craft show and other fundraisers.
Those fundraising efforts come on top of the band’s yearly pay-to-play fees, which are $200, and additional fees that, depending on the year, run $200 to $350. Thissen said pay-to-play fees go toward, “whatever the school deems necessary,” while the band fees go toward feeding the students, band camp and uniform cleaning.
There’s no set timeline to complete the fund raising, according to Thissen. Whenever they raise the money is when the uniforms will be purchased.
Choosing a new design has also proven to be a challenge for Thissen. He said he’s wrestled with whether to go with a more modern design, or a more traditional style like the band sports now.
“If you buy a uniform, you’re stuck with it for 10, 15 years,” Thissen said. “What worked in 1988 isn’t necessarily going to work in 2020.”
Another problem stems from wanting to be different. He said there are a lot of bands that have the general color combination the MHS band has currently: red jackets with blue pants.
Deviating from that might be, “too much of a change” for fans.
He said he’s also considered a more pared down style, with baseball caps and a more athletic jacket with the school logo embroidered on the back.
“I think it’s a hard sell, though,” he said.