Hoops

Turn off the damn music during NBL game play

"koberulz, that rationale would mean you feel like something's missing or not quite right whenever you're watching an AFL game, an NRL game, an A-League game or a Test match."
The only one of those I watch with any regularity is AFL. I went to the grand final in 2012, and remember the music going on before the game, followed by that countdown they were doing, with the crowd counting along and a sound effect accompanying each number, then the ball bounced, and a massive cheer...and then dead silence.

Compare that to the 2014 NBL grand final, where the Wildcats had "We Will Rock You" playing throughout the arena, and the entire crowd was standing and clapping along. I know which I prefer.

Friday night in Wollongong was horrible.

Guy Sebastian was pumping out for about 3/4 straight possessions.

Not a fan of music during games at all, but if you're going to play something, pay some DVBBS Tsunami or Freaks - Timmy Trumpet. Now that will make people lose their minds.

But don't play a Guy Sebastian song about love midway through the game..it's so embarrassing.

Volume is an issue, although some of that is how TV mics it up as much as how it is in the arena. Appropriate song choice is an issue. Playing songs for too long is an issue.

I don't, however, think a blanket "no music during play" or even "no music with lyrics during play" rule is the way to go. It's possible to violate the hell out of both those rules and still do it well.

I thought Melbourne had the perfect mix of failure tonight. Large periods of the game with no music, to turn off the casuals who like that sort of thing, followed by "Happy" playing for three straight possessions to turn off everyone else.

@Geoff, you have a point (several in fcat), but other sports vying for airtime with the NBL do use music at strategic times to increase their entertainment value.

One sport (cricket) with their Big Bash competition is going further and further with this concept than most. If you care to have a look at what they are doing you will see what I mean.

Maybe the Big Bash concept of in your face music and dancers. fireworks and pazzaz is a distraction to some cricket purists, but they are not the target audience, the kids and families at their games are.

The NRL has cheerleaders and fireworks when a try is scored, they have plenty of music and atmosphere at key moments in thier games and some AFL venues are increasingly employing these tactics during strategic moments during football matches (or between actual game play moments) to enhance the ambiance.

Look at what Port Adelaide are doing to enhance crowd participation (yes I know the crowd itself is singing like they do in the soccer, but basketball isn't there yet)!

I am not totally against your complaint Geoff, but I don't agree that basketball is the only sport doing this, we may be getting it wrong because we are an indoor event and we are not taking into consideration the factors associated with this, however we are not Robinson Caruso here either.

I still stand by my earlier comment and would no like to see the music cut off, rather the NBL take a more serious look at how it is being done and working to get it right perhaps...

Hoopie - It wasnt overly loud, just more obnoxious. I know the Perth Arena is real loud and it's an issue for some people.. Adelaide just had no idea and Melbourne were spastics. I'd say the Mics were just in a bad position.

Solid Moves, it seemed really loud on TV but I assumed it was just microphone positioning. Was it really that bad?

Great stuff! Deep down I agree with Geoff, but accept that there is a role for some music. However, it needs to be 'right' ... right tempo/tone, short 'stings' relevant to the action and game situation. Playing full numbers [particularly songs (with vocals!)] remorselessly over the top of the action 'squashes the game' and blocks interaction, rather than encouraging it.

And sleptOn's observation about the cultural relevance/suitability is spot on. Despite our apparent 'Americanisation' a lot of American attitudes and approaches don't work well in Australia.

One of the issues, I believe, is the affinity with and understanding of the game by the 'music man' or woman. If s/he has no feeling for the game it's going to be messy no matter what.

We can still have a satisfying, even exciting, 'game-night experience' with the game, rather than the music, as the centre-piece, which is actually is. And perhaps that's the key. The league, the club organisers/decision makers and the 'music man' whoever that might be, needs to put the game first and build the rest around it, rather than treating the game action as secondary - as they so often seem to.

My concern is that it doesn't appear to be dynamic, as in the DJ just seems to have a set script of songs to play throughout and sticks with it. I'd like to see a DJ who actually understands the flow of the game and can adjust their music accordingly.
But I am definitely all for removing or reducing the in-gameplay music, I could hear it on the TV broadcast yesterday and that was annoying, let alone hearing it at the game.

Another important rule with playing music at games is... If u cut a song because of a stoppage in play. U don't continue playing it.

Live basketball doesn't need a constant backing track. It can be enhanced by a well designed and times soundtrack.

Like a movie. U use certain songs and effects at certain times to enhance the emotion and connection to the game.

It's pretty simple if u know what u are doing. Unfortunately a lot of clubs just don't pay enough attention to the little details that have big effects on game night experience.

"They received a complaint about the use of rock and roll part 2 by Gary glitter and so that isn't used any more."
Seriously? That's ridiculous.

Music is a must on game days / nights but seriously, playing a song for the first three minutes of a game, having music over the refs calls and so forth is not on! Adelaide was poor Friday night and Melbourne was shocking Sunday.. Poor United announcer was drowned out by his sound team many times!

yeah turn off the music so we can hear all the swearing and trash talk..

My suggestion I for everyone to stop posting here and actually send your thoughts and suggestions to the head office of your home team. That's the only way things will change.

I know for a fact the Wildcats are very 'family focused' and this in addition to their sponsor 'alcohol think again' hinders there ability to improve music use at game.

They do not play any songs referencing sex, drugs or alcohol and will not play any songs with swear words..., even if they are censored. They received a complaint about the use of rock and roll part 2 by Gary glitter and so that isn't used any more.

They don't want to offend anyone and they don't sant kids coming to a game and picking up a song and then a parent asking where they heard it and then it getting associated with the club.

I believe this is extremely over the top.

Current team 'DJs' also have no sense of when and what to play.

The NBL is unique in that u can play songs with lyrics. But they need to be used at the right times and should be played all the time.

To the person that mentioned finding a niche. The wildcats have done this and this is why the on court product is what it is. Their niche is families with young kids. The 18-5 year old males aren't part of their plan. Hence the cheerleaders not exposing mid-rift or featuring hip shaking moves.

If u want this changed u MUST email ur clubs with ideas and complaints. It's the only way to change things.

Also mean to add (must have overlooked), Bear, right on!

I had season tickets to Sixers in the early to mid '00s for a few seasons running. The music back then, at the Powerhouse (as you older cats will remember) was right on point in my opinion. Maybe I'm just yearning for nostalgia. Man, I miss that city, can't wait to return as a resident. But I don't miss that water! Dang, what do they put in that stuff? One of life's questions! And that heat, goddamn, that heat is a killer.

Anon@16:02,

In my opinion, exactly right regarding the rhythmic. Yet in the broader scope of what you say, it is starting to confirm my suspicions of wholesale import, without necessarily understanding cultural underpinnings, why it works(!)

Consider the following excerpt, which needs to be treated carefully as it comes from Wikipedia, nevertheless:


“The use of music at sporting events is a practice that is thousands of years old, but has recently had a resurgence as a noted phenomenon. Some sports have specific traditions with respect to pieces of music played at particular intervals. Others have made the presentation of music very specific to the team—even to particular players. Music may be used to build the energy of the fans, and music may also be introduced in ways that are less directly connected with the action in a sporting event”


If any of that holds true, then it is very telling. What is important to note in my opinion are the themes of “tradition”, “particular intervals”, “specificity”, “tempo & energy”.

Here's the full piece, a paltry read nonetheless:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_at_sporting_events

Best.

Lyrics aren't the problem, it's the lack of crowd engagement. It needs to be something people can clap/chant to, whether it has lyrics or not isn't an issue.

Lots of great points all round.

I'm leaning in RMQ's direction at the moment, although I somewhat deplore marketing jargon like "game night entertainment package". I suspect this may be RMQ's position aswell hence the inverted.

What's more annoying though, in line with the above is probably this:

“At this moment in time, to sell basketball you need to sell a night of entertainment”

Grits teeth.

On the NBL--the talent, I'll stick my neck out and say the preferred league for a lot of folks is the NBA, NCAA, possibly then followed by Euro and the other various assortment of leagues with NBL placing somewhere in that assortment. If you grew up playing ball though, still play some on a competitive basis, or have now retired to armchair afficionado, and now live in Australia, you really DON'T care what type or league it is, as long you can some, ANY basketball. My real gripe is with the NBL, or the powers that be (Basketball Australia?) for the lack of promotion, lack of coverage.

If it's a question of attracting sponspors, well marketers should know sometimes you gotta' spend money to make money.

Maybe the NBL needs to accept a niche demographic as it seems that's what basketball folks are in Aus, and target us instead of trying to spread too thin, diluting the product, or possibly introducing gimmicky sh*t like what seems to have rubbed my man Geoff up there the wrong way :).

Can someone tell me, who's running marketing for the NBL? Makes me wonder sometimes whether they aren't out of touch?

Kobe24, concur with both points.

What people need to realise is that although many "basketball" fans can sit and watch a full length game with no added entertainment... the masses - unfortunately - can not.

This is why the Wildcats are successful in attracting large crowds. Their game night music isn't the best and they play too much of it, but music is necessary as it is part of the "game night entertainment package".

At this moment in time, to sell basketball you need to sell a night of entertainment.

This includes over the top intro's, cheerleaders, half time entertainment, competitions, give aways, crowd participation.

If it was up to basketball fans to fill arenas it just wouldn't happen... not because there aren't millions of us... there just aren't that many that care for the NBL. It's improving but the talent level is not quite there yet.

Fans should complain about the type, choice and amount of music at games. However to stop it all together would not be the correct option.

Get rid of the extended music during play phases, but more, get rid of the rudeness in making the opposition wait (game ready) while we go through our built up player intros after tip off time.
Obviously, Cairns were ready to play last night but we had'nt introduced our players.
Krept in last year, and is unfair on the opposition - beat them on court, not with a mind game.

I'm with Bear.

I largely stopped going to Tigers games after years and years because of the loud music and artificial lame attempts to get some buzz going, which really weren't needed. I loved to read the game and follow the strategy and feel the crowd's passion, but there was just too much distraction getting in the way.

Maybe it's because this great game is no longer viewed as a sport but just as another form of entertainment.
Maybe it's a generational thing - Personally, I hate sensory overload, but it seems to be quite standard for kids these days.

I'm with Bear.

I largely stopped going to Tigers games after years and years because of the loud music and artificial lame attempts to get some buzz going, which really weren't needed. I loved to read the game and follow the strategy and feel the crowd's passion, but there was just too much distraction getting in the way.

Maybe it's because this great game is no longer viewed as a sport but just as another form of entertainment.
Maybe it's a generational thing - Personally, I hate sensory overload, but it seems to be quite standard for kids these days.

Agree 100% that it is the balance of volume, tempo, timing and suitability. Get it right and the music is what sets hoops apart from most Aussie sports, get it wrong and people new to the game especially start wondering where the hell they are!

A sport or a concert?

No, don't get rid of it and no don't turn it off during play, just work on getting the balance right and enjoy the unique atmoshpere...

Maybe the NBL needs to define a more unique Australian experience?

For instance, the Emceeing if you will, and the necessary music and antics that come with that, these are all things that are largely imported from brand NBA and by extension, brand America. It works in the United States, not necessarily in other cultures.

That "lack of definition" could be one of the things that is precisely holding the NBL back from greater mind and market share in Aus. Who knows...

An excellent treatise Geoff. Many fine points.

Respectfully, is it mostly a demographic/cultural thing though?

Hear me out for a second.

It's no secret basketball and hip hop music (and culture) are largely intertwined. Anyone that disagrees on a serious level here may be being disingenous.

In fact the NBA even tries to erradicate, or remove, sanitize if you will much of this. An example you old cats wil remember was my man Iverson, the subsequent fashion changes etc. No Do-rags, overly hip hop clothing etc. Now I'm a grown man, a professional, as w/ these players so you'll find me dressing appropriately. Acting appropriately. Speaking appropriately. A question though, what is appropriate anyway? Who makes it appropriate?

Anyway, NBL, if it tries too import too many of these things will soon discover it is a failed experiment, especially in a market that is not bathed in hip hop culture. At least it has no strong cultural singnificance as in say Brooklyn, Bronx, Harlem ... much of the United States.

So my question is, is it a cultural thing? Granted nowadays the music you hear is every bit as pop as that cherry cream soda I was sipping on at my colleague's 10 year old son's grandfinal game but would it make any difference if the music played was say rock? Grasping at straws somewhat there. Too many assumptions in taste of music 'n whatnot. All I'm saying is, if the music was mostly what conformed to the "Australian mainstream ideal", would that make a difference?

Honest questions.

I love the game, been playing and following since the early 90s myself, since I was 7-8. I've seen the cultural changes in hip hop, and have definitely witnessed the growth, acceptance to a level and even emulation of hip hop in Australia over that time. This can be said of many predominantly European countries though.

But Geoff, whether you understand it or not, unwittingly or not, you bring up a lot of cultural issues in your post.

Fantastic post, great discussion and I'm interested to see where it will go.

Happy to elaborate further on my points. I wrote this in a rush so necessarily it is not as nuanced as it needs to be.

Alright y'all, now, to catch-up some reruns!

Best.

I like the music .

The Hawks did a great job tonight with music during game play. They had some music but more importantly is was the correct music played at key times when the crowd was in a lull. When the crowd was chanting the music stopped. When the crowd got loud the music stopped.