ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Take one band. Add the flag team, mix in some majorettes, a weapons squad and music played by “Guns ‘n Roses,” and you have quite a half-time show on your hands. All the other bands will be on the run to catch up.

Add a crowd of band fans, parents and relatives, and you have quite a show on your hands. And you have the perfect opportunity for a fundraiser.

That was the scene Saturday as the members of the Robertsdale High School Golden Bears Band held its ninth annual “play-a-thon” at J.D. Sellers Stadium. The band, along with the flag team, majorettes, and weapons group drilled intensively all day to tune up for a season of competition against other bands and for the band’s appearance at the 75th McDonalds Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago. According to a Chicago Festival Association Web site (they are the people who put on the parade) some 400,000 people line the parade route, and it will be beamed to some 72 million cable households. The parade will be carried on the WGN America “Superstation,” which is Channel 307 on the Direct tV network, and channel 239 of the Dish TV network. On the Mediacom cable system in Robertsdale, WGN is found on channel 97. It’s best to check with your cable company directly so you don’t miss a moment of this band’s appearance

While elements of the band rehearsed, parents and members of the Band Boosters served fish dinners, while other parents staffed booths that housed a silent auction, sold band shirts, and some sold ice-cold sodas.

The total amount raised was not available by press time. It’s estimated that it will cost about $460 per student to get to the Chicago parade. While students have been raising money on their own, fundraisers like the play-a-thon are designed to make sure all can make the trip.

“We are doing it because it’s the right thing to do,” said Renee Bellomy. “We do it for our kids.”

Supporters who could not make the play-a-thon sent “Beargrams,” short “loving” messages to band members, that for a small fee, were announced over the stadium’s loudspeaker system.

“We love you, and don’t mess up,” was a typical message from former band members to a sibling now in the band.

For David Pacey, a band parent, watching from the sidelines, the play-a-thon was old hat. His daughter plays in the band.

“I was part of the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band in the 1970s,” he said, adding he played trombone. “I really like Mr. Sasser. He’s exceptional.”

But for Helen Pacey, there was only one thing to look for.

“Do you see Susie,” she asked as the show began.