All of these experiences make band kids a family. We stick through thick and thin. Most people call it football season, but, for us band kids, it's marching band season. We're all excited to come back from our summer breaks to see our friends again, and, heck, we're even excited to get back on that marching field, but it all becomes too real, too soon, every single time.
1. No personal space
Whether you’re trapped on a bus, changing into your uniform for the next performance, or stuck in a hotel room with four to six people and trying to share a shower, you learn that you indeed have no personal space and the sooner you get used to it, the better.
2. The importance of deodorant
Someone has soiled the air. You realize the importance of deodorant after an away football game, after a performance when you’re on a bus with sweaty band kids on your way back home, or during band camp, when you have to go to an inside rehearsal after being outside all day.
3. H2O
The importance of staying hydrated for the entire football season is key, but especially during band camp. One by one, they fall. A moment of silence for all of our fellow band members that have fallen, due to dehydration.
4. Tan lines
Band camp is not the most flattering time for a band kid. How often we joke about melanoma is actually kind of scary. Girls, we all know the struggle of trying to re-match our make up for the fall semester, wearing a strapless dress to a party and then seeing your tan lines in the pictures, and, of course, this is the time of year when everyone wants to take yearbook pictures.
5. The end of band camp party
Cheers to making it to the end! After the intense week of beating your body down like no other, it's time to have a little fun with all of your sore bodies and sunburnt skin. Like they say, work hard, play hard. No one is stupid enough to get wasted during band camp and, if they are, they hit the pavement a long time ago.
6. AstroTurf, AstroTurf everywhere
You march on an AstroTurf field one time and you never get it all out of your shoes. More than once, and you will find AstroTurf literally everywhere. Just when you think you've found the last of it, you bring it home with you. You become one with AstroTurf, and you hate it.
7. Hearing "one more time"
You learn quickly what this phrase means. At first, you think you're seeing the light, but that's just the sun in your eyes. It's all a mirage. After a while, you're dead inside. "One more time" from the top of the tower means at least 10 more times.
8. When you get called out during rehearsal
The whole band feels for you, I promise. Getting yelled at by your band director sucks, but it sucks even more when it's in front of a 300-piece band and all you can do is wish you would disappear. Everyone's been there, and, if you haven't, congratulations, have a cookie.
9. When you go back to old drill after learning and performing a new drill
I still don't know why they do that to us. Sometimes, I think they just get a kick out of watching us run around, entirely confused out of our minds and praying to God that we remember the right steps, direction changes, and music.
10. Having a social life if you're in band: "I can't, I have band practice."
No social life during the week or on the weekends. Your friends are out for "Thirsty Thursdays" and you're struggling to get your homework done, practice, and study during the week. On the weekends, you better pray that there's not a football game because there goes your Saturday. Welcome to college.
11. Leg definition is nice
At least our legs look good... sometimes. What it feels like after a good week of band camp and football season is not bad, not bad at all.
12. When your friends ask you if band got cancelled after that flood came through
Rain or shine, heat wave or blizzard, your tush is still out on that marching field. That doesn't stop anyone from praying for a text or email that says band practice is canceled. Hope is always good, but, yes, we still have band practice.
13. When your football team isn't the most talented, strongest, or fastest
You know when you see everyone leave after the halftime show that you run this season. Support is always nice from the community and, at least, all of those hours in the sun when you were drying up like a cactus were worth something. Still, winning would be nice.
The list goes on, but a good laugh is always great while reminiscing about the classic struggles of every band kid's life. At the end of the day, it's the results that make everything worth it— ultimately, having something to be proud of.
