A question for fans attending home matches at Gallagher

[Old Number Nine]

I just want to know everyone’s opinion of what I call the “incepted” music and sounds they play during the matches at Gallagher.

I don’t mind the wrestler’s chosen intro songs at all. It’s the music they play between the matches, between periods and whenever there's a break in the action that I’m talking about. Sometimes this music is played right up to and even over the refs starting whistle so it is often inaudible to the crowed (I guess the wrestlers can always here the whistle). Then there is the hypnotically droning drum/rhythm track that is played while the action is ongoing. I, personally, find this music and noise distracting, annoying and worst of all, insulting. It’s as though they believe we don’t have enough brains to be entertained by the wrestling or, God forbid, have the ability to carry on a conversation with friends and fans around us and must be stimulated ever second or we’ll go to sleep or go away.

Who know, maybe there is some subliminal message in there that says, “Water – Bad, Coke – Good, Coke & Popcorn – Better, Beer – Best; Go Pokes”.

Don’t get me wrong, I like a little Ozzy and/or Black Sabbath and even AC/DC but this is not Arena Football. If we need music to increase our spirit during the Dual maybe they could hire a group of musicians to play up-lifting music that sounds like a school band. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Talk about insulting; I don’t know why the band director even makes them come.

 

[alex1fly]

I went to two duals last month and thought the atmosphere was great. Most of my dual attendance was in the 90s and 00s when things were more low-key. Different vibes. Seems like now they're trying to make duals more consistent with other sporting events in GIA. As far as the pep band, its optional as far as I know and the musicians have some choice over which events to attend - I don't think anybody is being forced.

 

[Okie_Pat]

I think the atmosphere has been much better this year compared to the last couple of years. Obviously Covid has played a roll in that, but my wife and I attended the Minn dual in December and thought they did a good job on the production etc. There's a lot going on but I think that's good for the kids who wont just sit there and watch the wrestling.

 

[Pokewood]

Actually, they played music the entire time, even during matches. They turned it down but it kept playing. My group was not a fan of that. Not at all.

 

[Toadvine]

I'm under 50 and enjoy the music.

 

[Old Number Nine]

As if someone had read my post, the music was much less last night and the Band actually played music during the breaks. The also drummed and chanted during the matches to raise the spirt of the large crowd.

Also, thanks for the input on my question. That damn noise from the PA during the match drives me crazy.

 

[pokestate1861]

I'm under 50 and enjoy the music.

ageist

 

[alex1fly]

ageist

The good 'ol days

 

[OKSTATE1]

Sports for a long time was all about the competition. Then big money hit sports and it was no longer for sport aficionados only, but about competing for the entertainment dollar.

Every sporting event has 2 things going on:

1. Managing the actual competition
2. Managing the event around the competition intended to entertain. The event is wrapped around and in the competition.

It takes 2 completely different skills sets to do the above, and it takes production meetings to get the two on the same page.

I can remember I went to an OSU basketball game when the Thunder first came to town and then a few days later saw a Thunder game. It was like night and day, they assault your senses constantly at a Thunder game to keep things from getting dead. It made the OSU basketball game look really boring frankly.

Colleges had to catch up to Pro sports or lose more entertainment dollars.

You do well to get college kids and young adults to stop looking at their cell phones during most sporting competitions.

 

[Old Number Nine]

I appreciate your input and it's all very interesting but what does the drum/percussion sound track played during the match have to do with making the people staying focused on the match. They could keep me just as alert by playing the sound of a person scratching a caulk board.

 

[OKSTATE1]

Why do Putnam North, West have DJs at basketball games? 'Just making it a fun vibe'​

James D. Jackson
Oklahoman

Josh “DJ Hold Up Baby” Shaw sat courtside nodding as the Putnam City West boys basketball team grabbed a steal and made another basket.

PC West had gone on a run and it led to a timeout from their opponent. Shaw quickly moved to his mixer, brought up his fader and blasted one of today’s top hits over the speakers that sat next to him courtside.

Many of the fans and students were gleefully singing along and swaying to the music as they celebrated another inevitable Putnam City West victory.

About eight miles up the road, Truea “DJ T.A.” Adams sat in the highest section of the Putnam City North gymnasium with his own setup. He was jamming tunes and yelling into the microphone to a cheerful crowd that was gearing up to celebrate a win of their team on senior night.

“It’s a fun time and good atmosphere,” Shaw said.

This season, Putnam City West and Putnam City North have made an effort to create the best atmosphere for their fans and players. The common goal has led each school to move away from the generic computerized playlists that most schools feature during a timeout and turn to crowd-controlling disc jockeys with microphone setups and the hottest songs of the year.


With each school featuring state champion hopefuls, fans have enjoyed the experience. Every timeout, halftime break and player introduction at both boys' and girls' games are accompanied by music, and the schools don’t plan on turning back.

“Just making it a fun vibe,” Shaw said of his goal when DJing for Putnam City West. “We got the kids, instead of being in the streets doing what they’re not supposed to be doing, they can come have a party in a good and safe atmosphere, rock out to some good music and watch some basketball. We just do it for the kids, that’s how it kind of all transpired.”
For five years, Shaw has run Hold Up Baby, which features an online radio show, holdupbaby.com, that gives Oklahoma independent artists and DJs a platform to perform at 6 p.m. Thursday. The show mixes independent artist with mainstream music.

Putnam City West assistant girls basketball coach Allen Russell had the idea for Shaw to perform at the high school games after Shaw performed at Russell’s Sick of Sickle Cell “S.O.S” foundation basketball tournament. The S.O.S foundation brings awareness to sickle cell, an inherited red blood cell disorder in which there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body.
Shaw began playing for PC West at the regional tournament last year and has since performed at nearly every Putnam City West home game this season.

“The school just picked it up from there and we just started rolling with that trend,” Shaw said. “We’ve only missed one game this year.”
Shaw’s live performances didn’t go unnoticed.

“After our PC West game,” Putnam North boys basketball coach and athletic director Ryan Wagner said, “everyone was talking about how that DJ atmosphere just takes it up to a notch. And it’s already one of the best atmospheres in the state because of the rivalry. So, we decided to do the same thing."

Wagner found Adams, DJ T.A., through Putnam North booster club president Elray Erving. Erving employed Adams before and was familiar with his work. When Adams got the call to perform at Putnam North, he stepped up.

"I told them I've got them. I'll take care of them," Adams said.

Adams has been DJing since he was 16 years old. Now at 34, he’s made a conscious effort to play at more events than just the typical clubs and bars. He now considers himself a corporate DJ, where he plays for restaurants, casinos, Red Bull events and others.

The fans in attendance haven’t been the only ones noticing the DJ performances. Even though the players are oftentimes engulfed in battle, they’ve grown fond of their DJs.

“When they found out we were doing that at our home games, they were super excited,” Wagner said of his players. “Those are things that not everybody does or is willing to do. We have a tremendous booster club and so does West. So, financially we’re able to do those things, and it benefits our kids, and I think it’s really neat.”