ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — It takes hours of drill to get a band ready for the few minutes you see them at a half-time show or a parade. Hours of marching and musicianship go into each and every performance.

There’s something else that goes into that performance. Money. Money for instruments, uniforms, trailers to haul the instruments, and all the other miscellaneous things a band needs to present an award-winning performance.

And because of the budget crunch with the Baldwin County Public Schools, there’s no money for any of that.

“The school board cut the funding,” said Timmy Wilson, president of the RHS Band Boosters organization in a telephone interview. The group of 35 parents and friends of the band work, according to its Web site, to, “assist the band and band directors in securing financial and material resources necessary for a contemporary, competitive band program.”

“We will use the money to buy more instruments, trailers, and repair uniforms,” said Wilson. “We need more tubas. We sent several for repair last year, but some need to get replaced. We hope to buy some next year.”

So, the money the Band Boosters can raise is more important than ever. That’s one of the reasons the band and the Boosters will be holding a “Play-A-Thon” at J.D. Sellers Stadium from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19.

Last year, Wilson says, the Boosters used the money from the “Play-A-Thon to buy new drums for the band, Wilson said.

Admission is free, and it’s a good chance to see some of the work the band puts in to each performance. The band will be drilling its routines and will cap the evening with a full dress run-through of its current half-time show.

And there will be plenty of opportunities to support the Robertsdale High School Golden Bear Band.

“We are going to have a fish dinner, and we have a lot of things in our silent auction,” said Wilson. He added that the band will be selling t-shirts and calendars and chances for a raffle, with the prize being a five-day cruise to Cozumel. It’s scheduled for Spring Break 2010.”

Wilson added that the raffle was for people 18 years of age and older.

And there will be lots of chances for family and friends of the band to have messages to the band broadcast over the stadium’s PA system for just $1. The messages range from mildly teasing to loving (all messages have to be “G” rated) and earn more money for the band. If you go, listen for the messages sent by former band members to the current band. They are sure to amuse.

“The idea is to keep the band program going,” said Wilson. “We are there for the kids.”