I spent eight years immersed in the crazy world of show choir. Two years in elementary school, two years in middle school, and four years in high school. These eight years, especially my high school years, were some of the best years spent. Days were spent with sore legs from performing in three-inch heels, the scent of hairspray followed me everywhere I went, and my armpits were cut from sequins rubbing against my skin for an entire set. Now being a proud alumni of Northrop's show choirs in Fort Wayne, Indiana (Bruins represent!), I often find myself rewatching my shows, and wishing that I could perform one more time. Some of the memories and lessons I learned from these days effect my everyday life. Here are seventeen ways you can totally tell if you're a show choir kids.
1. You find glitter everywhere for weeks.
Glitter and sequins are our best and worst friends for two reasons - they look AMAZING on stage, but they get EVERYWHERE. Clothes, skin, especially in crevices where glitter does not belong... You name it, and glitter will appear.
2. You [try to] sing your part whenever a song comes on the radio.
Personally being an alto, I'm always trying to figure out harmonies for songs where a lower voice isn't necessarily needed but sounds good nonetheless. Especially if it's a song you've performed in a set, then you're belting out your notes.
3. You also try to perform your choreography, no matter where you are.
I mean, we're all guilty of this. Being in a store and hearing a song you've performed brings back flashbacks... and you definitely try to dance along. Don't deny it.
4. You get mad when another group performs a song you've done.
I remember one year, some group did three songs my choirs had done the previous year. We all sat there, jaws hanging open, whispering, "Oh my god I can't believe they're doing this." We all have that mentality of, "Well we're doing this song so nobody else can, and if they try, we do it better." It's pretty impractical when you think about it, but in the heat of the moment, we've all had thoughts along those lines.
5. You hold grudges against people from rival choirs.
When I first got to college, I met so many people who did show choir, and I often found myself holding a grudge against them because I found out what school they were from. Even if they're the sweetest people in the world, you can be set back because you were previously rivals.
6. You keep all of your old makeup, hair pieces, and costumes.
I have a special makeup bag that's filled with every eyeshadow, blush, lipstick, and eyelash (new and used) I've ever used for show choir. Even though they're mostly broken and I'll never use them again, I can't bring myself to throw them away. This also goes with every hair piece I've owned, which are at home in their own plastic bag. Every costume is in a huge vacuum-sealed bag and hung up. Memories live with those pieces, and I think we can all agree that we can't seem to give those up.
7. You can tease hair like no other.
A lot of great skills come out of show choir, but this one is probably a life saver for girls. Many have, most likely, done a bump before for a show. Doing one every single week for eight to ten weeks straight can make you an expert real quick.
8. Your workout routine is one of your shows.
I would be lying if I said I didn't put on my sports bra, leggings, and didn't perform an entire set in my dorm room. It's great cardio, and much better than running on a treadmill for an hour. It really works out your legs and upper arms, and if it kept me in shape throughout high school, then it'll keep me in some sort of shape now.
9. The ballad stance automatically becomes your go-to pose for photos.
Ahh, the beloved ballad stance. We've been trained on how it is properly done so many times that it just becomes natural. Feet in the third position, shoulders back, head held high... We all know and understand.
10. You can change into clothes like your life depended on it.
Quick costume changes were Satan in disguise, but they taught us to strip down in three seconds and have another outfit on in five seconds. This skill is great to know, though because whenever you're in a hurry for an event, or late to lunch, you can change in no time and be out the door.
11. You perfected a full face of makeup in a short amount of time.
We've all been there. You're eating lunch before you perform and suddenly you realize you're running out of time to get ready. Makeup can be tricky, especially if it's crazy, but this panic kicks us into gear. Being able to do a full face of makeup quickly is one of the best skills to take away from show choir - instead of spending an hour on it, you can easily look good in twenty minutes or less.
12. "Show choir hangovers" and "show choir withdrawals" are a real thing - and they suck.
We've all woken up the day after a competition and have just felt dead - we sleep for 12 hours and still feel groggy, we don't really do anything the entire day, and we're just drained. We have to have at least one day to recover from the madness and chaos we went through the previous day. Show choir withdrawals hit usually during the summer, where you can feel the need to perform aching through your bones. Even as alumni, I still get withdrawals - and end up down a rabbit hole of show choir performances on Youtube.
13. You have a "show choir playlist" on Spotify.
I know I'm not the only one who has a playlist filled with songs from previous sets. From my freshman year to my senior year, I have songs like "Call Me Maybe," and "Love Runs Out." And, I know I'm not the only one who dances to them, either...
14. Your road trips consist of said playlist, along with show tunes.
Some tunes that always seem to make their way into the mix are "King Of New York," from Newsies, "The Schuyler Sisters," from Hamilton, and "Rent," from RENT. From a plethora of broadcast recordings online, road trips are always filled with loud singing and aggressive arm movements.
15. You steal and hoard action shots.
"I don't have the money to pay for action shots. Who cares if there's a watermark? It's cute, so I'm going to screenshot it, crop it, and put it on Instagram!" If this isn't the thought process for most of us show choir kids, then sorry, but you're wrong. Parents are also a great source of action shots because they just take pictures of whoever they can.
16. Bus rides are the pre-vocal warmups.
Some good songs to sing (and by sing, I mean at-the-top-of-your-lungs sing) are Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and Afroman's "Colt 45." Doing this is a great way to bond with your choir members while also giving your vocal chords a pre-warmup stretch.
17. You claim you won't miss it when you graduate, but that's a lie.
I claimed I wouldn't miss show choir when I graduated - I told my friends that I did my time and I would move on when I got to college. That was the biggest lie I've ever told. I miss the bond with those people, I miss the adrenaline rush every time I stepped on stage, and I miss the happiness I felt. The withdrawals are stronger every day, and I definitely have cried while watching a performance. As much as I'm glad I ended on a positive note and an amazing show - Neverland is a pretty cool theme - I have days where I wish I could redo it all.
