The Marching 110 has six band managers who work behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly for the band.
When trying out for the Ohio University Marching 110 drumline a second time, Maggie Fields wasn’t able to finish auditions because of a back problem.
Now Fields is in her seventh season of being involved with the 110 as a band manager.
The band's six managers are responsible for making sure the band has everything it needs to learn a show and to perform it at the end of the week, which Fields said includes arriving early, getting everything needed from the equipment room and marking the field for rehearsals.
“It’s pretty convenient to be able to still be involved with something that I basically came to college to do,” Fields said.
After visiting OU in eighth grade, Fields said she knew immediately that she wanted to go the university. She said she didn’t apply anywhere else because she wanted to be a part of the Marching 110.
“Anything the band does, we do too,” Meghan Dickerson, a third-year band manager, said. “It’s all exciting and fun.”
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Similar to the band, Dickerson said gameday is a big day for the managers, too. Aside from setting the field for the gameday rehearsal, she said the mangers meet with the band to make sure everything is going smoothly before the 110 starts its parade to the stadium.
Dickerson was a percussionist in band for eight years prior to coming to college. Her siblings, who were in the band, told her about the position of band manager.
“I knew that I probably couldn’t make it (in the band) so I thought, ‘What can I do to help this band out in any way?’ because band has been such a big part of my life,” she said.
Dickerson said being able to work behind the scenes with the other managers is a "neat" way to still be a part of the 110.
Ryan Kemper, another band manager, played mellophone in the band during the 2014-15 season, but with scheduling concerns, he said he didn’t have as much availability this time around.
During each pregame and halftime show, Kemper said he is able to record the band and take pictures of the performance. Although it’s only his first year as a manager, he said he enjoys it.
“It’s just the fact I’m able to continue helping and continue enabling the band to be what they are — being able to stay a part of that tradition,” he said.
Band managers began playing a role in the 110 during the mid-2000s, according to Josh Boyer, the assistant director of the Marching 110. Having dependable band managers makes the rehearsal process more efficient and easier, he said.
“They don’t get any kind of compensation for it, but they do it because they love the band or were members of the band,” Boyer said. “ It’s really nice to have those managers, and it’s a luxury that we didn’t used to always have.”
And where the 110 goes, band managers are also able to go. Because of the band, Fields has gone to the New Orleans Bowl game, as well as to Ireland and Italy, which she said has been a highlight of the last seven seasons.
“I’ve been to places I probably wouldn’t have gone if I hadn’t worked with the band,” Fields said.
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