Band Economy




We hear much about bands and the alleged trouble they cause, in fact we have to accept that some people don’t want bands on the road, and for bands to be finished for good and no longer walked in this country.

However, do these same people ever stop to think just how much bands contribute to the Northern Ireland economy?

There is a strong business case for supporting bands in Northern Ireland that is continually overlokked, even by our own community. Many argue that band parades disrupt business trade in the evenings(when they don’t want a parade in the area), however the very obvious counter to this argument is that by bringing strangers to the area you have an amazing potential to gain new customers. Chip shop’s, confectioner’s and pubs always do good trade during band parade’s, as do the various burger stalls, ice cream vans etc....which accompany most band parade’s.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg when examining out movements contribution to the Northern Ireland economy.

Most band’s use buses to travel to parades so we our supporting the public and private bus companies in this country. Ulsterbus is one of the few public company’s to make a profit in this country. Have you ever wondered how much band’s give them over one period? If you have estimate 25 parades per season at £100 per parade, that’s £2500 times the number of bands, say 200, that’s £500.000 pumped into the economy, and that’s just a rough estimate! Many band’s attend more parade’s, and longer and more expensive journey’s mean alot more money for these companies.

Next, lets examine the cost of branding for band’s. Most try a unique style and image and this involves band uniforms usually being changed and updated every couple of years, t-shirts, fleeces, ties and badges not only for band members but also for supporters, in fact, almost anything which can have a band logo on it has been marketed. This branding is costly. We are directly financing many small company’s who rely on such business for survival.

No band could perform without instruments, be it, flute’s, drums, accordian’s, bagpipe’s and bass drums etc. All cost money and all are sold by someone in Northern Ireland. Then you also have maintenance and accessories of your instruments, which are all necessary if a band is to perform to it’s best. Every year money is pumped into to this sector of business, which is so uniquely strong in this country.

Other areas were bands contribute to our economy are by hiring halls, organising fundraising events, bouncy castle hire, insurance payments, hall rates, DJ hire and CD recordings. The list is almost endless.

So the next time you see a band marching the streets of Northern Ireland, just remember the amount of money, which is spent, directly or indirectly on keeping them on the road and the number of people who’s jobs rely on them for survival.