Tactics for getting crowd to chant/jump

[LCB]

Originally Posted by FluSH

However if you say something like...

"who's not jumping is a cunt hey hey!"

you might get more people jumping.... hahahahaha

Well, that's the thing. It's not always "who's not jumping is no ultra", which if you want to be offended, or feel condescended to, fine. Maybe that's too divisive. But we've tried just about everything, "Who's not jumping IS from Kansas HEY HEY" if we're playing the Wiz, "Is from Jersey" for NYRB, etc.

It's supposed to be a chant that when you hear it, you turn to the guy beside you and laugh because "Nobody wants to be from Jersey!" or something, and then start jumping for a bit.

So to massage this into a practical suggestion, start a chant with a light-hearted jab indicating that if you're not jumping, you're obviously from the city of the team we're playing, or a Landon Donovan fan, or something. If that offends everyone's sensitivities and it doesn't work, fuck it. Failed experiment.

[MisterMacphisto]

Originally Posted by Blazer

^ Half our problem is that we are trying to be something we’re not because we look at other clubs.

That's not the problem. The entire problem is so many people trying to re-invent what a football supporter is, like its some new phenomenon.

What you get is a lot of individuals on a public forum each being a supporter "in their own unique way".

[BRed]

I know one thing, it's definately not like a baseball fan.

"Stand up! this ain't Skydome"

[FluSH]

Originally Posted by LCB

Well, that's the thing. It's not always "who's not jumping is no ultra", which if you want to be offended, or feel condescended to, fine. Maybe that's too divisive. But we've tried just about everything, "Who's not jumping IS from Kansas HEY HEY" if we're playing the Wiz, "Is from Jersey" for NYRB, etc.

It's supposed to be a chant that when you hear it, you turn to the guy beside you and laugh because "Nobody wants to be from Jersey!" or something, and then start jumping for a bit.

So to massage this into a practical suggestion, start a chant with a light-hearted jab indicating that if you're not jumping, you're obviously from the city of the team we're playing, or a Landon Donovan fan, or something. If that offends everyone's sensitivities and it doesn't work, fuck it. Failed experiment.

Exactly!!!! That is the key point... I don't really laugh when the chant says:

"Who's not jumping is no Ultra Hey! Hey!"

I'm jumping just for the support of jumping... but making it funny is the key!!

[Cambridge_Red]

Originally Posted by MisterMacphisto

That's not the problem. The entire problem is so many people trying to re-invent what a football supporter is, like its some new phenomenon.

What you get is a lot of individuals on a public forum each being a supporter "in their own unique way".

100% bang on

Hence why we have co-ordination problems, way too many opinions..

If you don't want to be part of the group and go along with everyone fine nobody should judge you, but in reality you're not following what your SG believes in. This is directed at the "supporters" and not the prawnies.

[Zeke_Jones]

We have to stick to the basics, keep the chants simple until "everybody" knows them. Its kinda shitty sitting around hearing everybody sing something you dont know and then having them call you out on it.

[FluSH]

Originally Posted by MisterMacphisto

That's not the problem. The entire problem is so many people trying to re-invent what a football supporter is, like its some new phenomenon.

What you get is a lot of individuals on a public forum each being a supporter "in their own unique way".

hahaha

kind of like little kids soccer league! Everyone is a winner! Everyone gets a prize...

[Blazer]

Originally Posted by marshall_law

i don't think looking to other clubs necessarily means that we're trying to copy them and be something we're not. i just means that we're seeing what works - from an organization point of view - which will allows us to be a more successful supporters group here.

just a thought: has anybody contacted any supporters clubs from europe, south america, etc... to see how they organize for matches? wonder if they'd be willing to share some tips...

Has nothing to do with copying them. Fact is, more than half of the chants sung around the world are unoriginal knock-offs anyway. What I’m saying is that we first need to learn what it means to sing and chant in harmony. Our problem now is that we are still in love with loud and ruckus noise. We’re not allowing ourselves to graduate beyond and actually turn this thing into a loud and ruckus thing of beauty where our chants are succinct and glorious – and the envy of the league.

[Blazer]

Originally Posted by MisterMacphisto

That's not the problem. The entire problem is so many people trying to re-invent what a football supporter is, like its some new phenomenon.

What you get is a lot of individuals on a public forum each being a supporter "in their own unique way".

Adamantly disagree. I don’t think collectively we are so arrogant to believe that we are innately better football supporters than those who have been at it for over a hundred years or that we are more unique in some sensationally different way. We are exactly like any other football supporter group - just going through some growing pains is all where help is desperately needed. I think the bulk of us understand that although we are good at what we do, we still have a lot of work and a lot to learn about doing this thing properly.

[FluSH]

Originally Posted by Blazer

Has nothing to do with copying them. Fact is, more than half of the chants sung around the world are unoriginal knock-offs anyway. What I’m saying is that we first need to learn what it means to sing and chant in harmony. Our problem now is that we are still in love with loud and ruckus noise. We’re not allowing ourselves to graduate beyond and actually turn this thing into a loud and ruckus thing of beauty where our chants are succinct and glorious – and the envy of the league.

Next few games solutions:

"Oh when teh Reds" - slow version sung properly

"The world's greatest" - sung properly

"La Donna DeRosario" - sung properly

[mighty_torontofc_2008]

Originally Posted by LCB

Honestly, I'll tell you what I would not be opposed to... and this is not going to be popular... MLSE or whoever raising the prices in the south end SIGNIFICANTLY. Even if only for a season.

I would pay quadruple to stay in 112, and I knew what I was getting into when I bought the seats. But I've got people adjacent to me in at least two directions who probably didn't, they love having the cool seats, they enjoy the game enough to at least show up to MOST games, and stay at least a half (I'm not fucking kidding here...)... and at the end of the season, they probably say "Ehhhhh, $280? Fuck it, why not."

No thats not the way to go....try getting corperate seats like BMO out of the supporters section, who just give the tickets away to their employees
of the week, and let the supporters groups (RPB, U Sector) get some real
supporters in there..in 114 the two seats to the left of me this couple came, and they talked for most of the first half, well she did anyways,
and they left for good in the early second half, and these are first row seats, not just old ones, just get rid of these tourists and the problem will be half solved.

[Sec115]

The biggest mistake you guys made and also U-sector is that you took the corner of the south end for your sections. It will always stay like this because we in the middle can't join to most of the chants that do not last long because we just to not hear them, and by the time they get to us, it dies at your end. You think that we do not want to sing and most of you have already given up on our section as supporters section but we do sing, and same as we can't hear you, well you can't hear us.

Once you guys start including the other sections and main thing is that all sections are united and not like this every section is its own group things will stay the same for next 5 years. Stands in front of corner sections need to be moved more to center and fans must unite into one for us to be example to everybody else. Refusing to sing other supporter group songs is just killing just kill the interest in others that would like to be included but are ignored when they see what is happening between groups. So nobody should be surprised that whole south section does not sing in sync for next 5 years.

[egoodwin]

Originally Posted by Sec115

The biggest mistake you guys made and also U-sector is that you took the corner of the south end for your sections. It will always stay like this because we in the middle can't join to most of the chants that do not last long because we just to not hear them, and by the time they get to us, it dies at your end. You think that we do not want to sing and most of you have already given up on our section as supporters section but we do sing, and same as we can't hear you, well you can't hear us.

Once you guys start including the other sections and main thing is that all sections are united and not like this every section is its own group things will stay the same for next 5 years. Stands in front of corner sections need to be moved more to center and fans must unite into one for us to be example to everybody else. Refusing to sing other supporter group songs is just killing just kill the interest in others that would like to be included but are ignored when they see what is happening between groups. So nobody should be surprised that whole south section does not sing in sync for next 5 years.

if the supporter sections were in the middle of the stadium, they'd be empty or next to empty... a lot of supporters are still young and just don't have the cash to pay like $2000 or whatever those 107 seats cost...

and I wouldn't expect FO to accomodate the SGs with affordable pricing there

[GeorgeB]

Originally Posted by egoodwin

if the supporter sections were in the middle of the stadium, they'd be empty or next to empty... a lot of supporters are still young and just don't have the cash to pay like $2000 or whatever those 107 seats cost...

and I wouldn't expect FO to accomodate the SGs with affordable pricing there

he is talking about the middle(115) of the southend.

[JDG]

Originally Posted by FluSH

Exactly!!!! That is the key point... I don't really laugh when the chant says:

"Who's not jumping is no Ultra Hey! Hey!"

I'm jumping just for the support of jumping... but making it funny is the key!!

When I hear that chant I plant my feet. If I was jumping, I stop.
I'm no wannabe knockoff of some far away euro tradition that has no place here.
If you want to get me into it, that's the exact wrong thing to be taunting me with.

[FluSH]

Originally Posted by Sec115

The biggest mistake you guys made and also U-sector is that you took the corner of the south end for your sections. It will always stay like this because we in the middle can't join to most of the chants that do not last long because we just to not hear them, and by the time they get to us, it dies at your end. You think that we do not want to sing and most of you have already given up on our section as supporters section but we do sing, and same as we can't hear you, well you can't hear us.

Once you guys start including the other sections and main thing is that all sections are united and not like this every section is its own group things will stay the same for next 5 years. Stands in front of corner sections need to be moved more to center and fans must unite into one for us to be example to everybody else. Refusing to sing other supporter group songs is just killing just kill the interest in others that would like to be included but are ignored when they see what is happening between groups. So nobody should be surprised that whole south section does not sing in sync for next 5 years.

First, I am pretty sure that we didn't have a say unto what section of BMO Field we would like to be at... at least I don't recall a deep discussion within our group about it...

anyhow...

Usector is pretty close to the center... and can in essence control the middle. The thing is that it is a myth to think that by beign in the middle we can unite the south end... why?

Well unless we have a roof to propel the sound and/or we get rid of the scalper seats it will be nearly impossible to do this. See Columbus roadtrip '09... everyone that made that COlumbus trip was in essence a fanatic or a supporter... and we controlled the middle but we still failed at getting everyone in unison... granted it was only one game but we still failed.

In my opinion the best solution would be something like this:

Notice where the point of focus is? and you could have up to 3 capos relatively close together and directing the masses. also notice how difficult it would be to manage a supporter area in the South End without a roof on a horizontal line.... in the above picture section 119 would not be able to see the capo in 116, and even if there were other section capos it would be difficult for them to communicate.

Without a roof... this is by far the best Supporters designed area... if they close the gap between 111 & 112 and have supporters there we would be X10 better.

[J .]

the only way would be if they were able for supporters to move into the expansion and move the tickets ourselves. then we would have to on a case by case basis move people in who are proven vocal supporters and get us all into one area so we can have a super mega crazy section, let the fans and families have their own.

[FluSH]

Originally Posted by J .

the only way would be if they were able for supporters to move into the expansion and move the tickets ourselves. then we would have to on a case by case basis move people in who are proven vocal supporters and get us all into one area so we can have a super mega crazy section, let the fans and families have their own.

If there is an expansion... I pray to God it is between 111 and 112. Another option would be to get rid of the beer garden and replicate what Columbus has done in the North End. In a Cone shaped supporters area... now if I was NEE I wouldn't like this too much as they have their own paradise up there... kinda of like how we feel with Americans soon flooding Cuba! =P

[Bdking2]

I know I'm not the first to say this.

I sit in 109. We take a lot of flack but there are many of us that sing and chant along with whatever comes out of the southend. What I feel could help is simple and been said by a few people already.

1. The simple chants, that have been around for awhile.

2. Repeating them back to back or keeping them going longer.

The simpler the chant and the longer it goes on just means it is going to spread further. Just my 2 cents.

[koryo]

Put heating coils under the floors across the stadium. Turn them up very high. You'll have a stadium full of people jumping in no time.

[Cambridge_Red]

Originally Posted by koryo

Put heating coils under the floors across the stadium. Turn them up very high. You'll have a stadium full of people jumping in no time.

HAHA good call!

[Redpunkfiddle]

Originally Posted by Cambridge_Red

HAHA good call!

Yas.... 'Who's not jumping has 3rd degree burns... hey hey.... ho ho!"

[tcp-ip]

There are supporters scattered throughout the stadium, we need to get those supporters (myself included) seated in supporter sections so that we can combine our forces.

MLSE has to weed out the scalper tickets as it causing the South end to look and sound sad. No offense, but I see alot of Black jackets (and other colors that are not red) in the South Stands - mostly people who purchased from scalpers, standing and watching the game without chanting. The South Stands was a lot louder last year. From where I am sitting in 107 the NEE which is smaller group the the South, has been louder.(But that may have been becuase of the wind).

I wish MLSE weeded out the scalpers and let all true supporters sit in the supporter sections. My son wants to bring a drum and his horn with him to the games but is not allowed to in 107.

Other then myself there is only one other dude, who sits infront of me, who is trying his best to get 107 to chant and sing, but most people just stare at him, but he keeps trying game after game. He wears the RPB scarf and deserves to wear it. Props to him.

Also section 105/104 should be deamed a supporters section just like 127, I sat there last year and miss it. They are always chanting during the game as well and deserve some props too.

[Blazer]

Originally Posted by FluSH

Next few games solutions:

"Oh when teh Reds" - slow version sung properly

"The world's greatest" - sung properly

"La Donna DeRosario" - sung properly

Yeah, "sung properly" being the operative words I agree.

[Brooker]

hmm... if we get more scores like 0-2 and 1-1.... it's gonna be tough to get more people jumping....

now... score a couple goals and they'll be a hell of a lot more joining in. thats just the way it is.

[Heathen]

Originally Posted by koryo

Put heating coils under the floors across the stadium. Turn them up very high. You'll have a stadium full of people jumping in no time.

nah too expensive and not very green, I think snakes or tarantulas would be better

[BRed]

How about a chant that makes people feel like one and it's not complicated.
*When chanting this drag "paradise" and "BMO"

"we made it to paaaaradiseeee
chant-with-me we're in paaaaradiseee
B-M-OOoooOOooOOO!

If we keep this chant nice and slow and keep it going for a while people will joing in.

[greatwhitenorf]

Originally Posted by Bdking2

I know I'm not the first to say this.

I sit in 109. We take a lot of flack but there are many of us that sing and chant along with whatever comes out of the southend. What I feel could help is simple and been said by a few people already.

1. The simple chants, that have been around for awhile.

2. Repeating them back to back or keeping them going longer.

The simpler the chant and the longer it goes on just means it is going to spread further. Just my 2 cents.

I agree.

In year one, the best chant to get things started, for a lot of people on the west side, was 'We're All Together, All Together, Hey! Hey!' It started slow, built up nicely and we all had time to catch the rythym and join in. Spread right into the south end of the upper deck and seemed to help get the south end working in unison as well.

'West Side, Stand Up' was another effective chant. It got a lot of newbs into the spirit of the event because the clap-clap, clap-clap-clap rythym betweeen chants could also be stamped out on the metal floors.

I also like the effect of:

T-F-C! clap-clap-clap T-F-C! clap-clap-clap (gets people clapping AND stamping)

T O R - O N T - OHHHohohhh TFC

Le Massif

The Dicihio Song and

The LaLaLa-LaLaLa LaLa Lah OhOhOh... song

I realize it's only natural for hardcore supporters to want to incorporate more and more sophisticated chants into the game-day repertoire. Some of that just goes over Joe Average's head. Maybe run the simple stuff early on and graduate to The Horta or Flight of the Valkyries or whatever later on.

What's changing with the everyday crowd is that in year one, everyone who had season's showed up for almost every game. It was new, novel and a treat to see soccer again. Now that everyone is more clear about how the league works and TFC's role in it, a certain blase attitude has set in and people, myself included, are dishing out tickets to friends.

That's not to say these people aren't soccer fans, just not as fanatical as those who dove in early for seats. They need to be cultivated to join in, just as we were back in year one.

[Ratven]

So much of it has to do with the product on the pitch guys. When we have a brief (and I mean brief) moment of good play, the crowd erupts and everyone's singing and it's awesome. The desire is there, but as long as there's no consistency on the pitch, there won't be consistency in the stands.