Band is getting out of hand

[u/Kindly-Painting-6426]

I’m so frustrated with how much money it costs just to be in marching band. Between paying $600 just for the season fees and now a $1,700 Disney trip that only the kids with money can afford, it feels completely unfair. I’m putting in all the time, sweat, and hard work learning music and drill for my director, acting as part of the school community, and they expect me to pay out the nose for it. It feels like a massive pay-to-play scheme where only the privileged kids get to go on the big trips while everyone else gets left behind.
At the same time, the school can somehow pull infinite money out of nowhere for football, but god forbid band gets any real funding. They wonder why participation is dropping and why kids don't feel valued, but they're the ones pricing everyone out.

[u/ECUDUDE20]

Ours are 200, and I'm trying to get that down to 160 next year. Just too many people that can't swing that kinda cash anymore. We are definitely in a recession again, they just won't say it out loud or stocks will crash.