A George Mason University basketball game is not complete without the school’s pep band.
The Green Machine, named the best collegiate pep band by the NCAA in 2015, often can be found behind the basketball team donned in green and gold and playing an array of instruments, everything from the tambourine to the electric guitar. What’s most appealing about the band is its school spirit. The students often wear costume pieces to complement their performance, such as tutus, funny hats and capes. And the band is led by director Dr. Michael Nickens, known by his stage name, “Doc Nix.” Nickens is always at the front, parading around in green and gold suits and a top hat.
The vibrant band recently collaborated with Enterprise Rent-A-Car to produce “Pick up the Pep,” a series of videos and stories profiling the band.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=cYMVXBwW-vc
“Filming with the Enterprise crew was an amazing experience. Everyone was pleasant, easy to work with and genuinely interested in working with the Green Machine. It was very cool to get to see everything from the production side, to the finished product,” says GMU senior and Green Machine member Ryan Carter.
Enterprise is one of the band’s many corporate sponsorships. “In order to continue in our academic environment, we can’t just rely on funds from the state or tuition. There are all types of fundraising efforts that go on,” Nickens says.
The band was established in 2006, after the GMU men’s basketball team made it to the NCAA Final Four tournament. Prior to the establishment of the Green Machine, the university only had a pep band led by students. Nickens, who was born and raised in Alexandria, was recruited as the director in 2006 on the merits of marching band experience he gained in high school and college. “The idea of having a professional faculty member leading made some things possible that just aren’t possible with a student leader. Most of these things are the things behind the scenes that you don’t see,” Nickens says.
Nickens says he makes sure that the Green Machine experience is a collaborative one between him and the students. Any student enrolled in the university can sign up for the Green Machine course if interested, regardless of experience. In fact, the Green Machine does not make any exceptions when it comes to type of instrument or talent level. There are also students who rap and sing to take performances to the next level.
In the future, Nickens hopes to expand Green Machine outreach efforts. He wants to open summer camps for high school students and build a facility strictly for the band on campus.
This weekend, the band will perform in the United Airlines Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon series in the District and lead a block party outside of the Capitol One Arena to cheer on the men’s basketball team at the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
