“Being in the band is the greatest thing you could ever do and don’t let anyone tell you differently” – George N. Parks
1. The realization that it’s over for the season
There is usually some kind of final banquet or event to celebrate a wonderful marching band season. You get to take pictures with your friends and reminisce about all the good times. Then you realize... there isn't going to be marching band for another eight months...
2. The extreme panic from not being at rehearsal
You have a mini heart attack when it's "band time", thinking you're late for rehearsal. Then you remember there is no rehearsal right now. It is perfectly normal to experience this multiple times a day until marching band season begins again.
3. Sadness
You really miss being out on those practice fields. Even if it was brutally hot or unbearably cold, you always had a blast running each set. You really miss all the fun times you had with your marching band friends or within your section. Strangely, all you want to do is get back in uniform and play the fight song.
4. Old habits resurface
You find that you walk in time to music. If that music is playing at 120 beats per minute, you may even find yourself roll stepping. You will often end up chanting the fight song with your band friends whenever something awesome happens (by the way, this is a great way to freak out non-band people). Sadly though, this will probably make you miss marching band even more.
5. You create a countdown to Band Camp
This means day dreaming about Band Camp instead of doing immediate work. You start a count down to how many days until you can start doing marching band again. And even though it makes you sad that band camp is so far away, you feel a little better!
6. You start re-watching old field shows
This is a great way to relive the glory days of the past season. Often it turns in to watching other school's field shows after a while. Three hours later, you're watching the Spongebob marching band episode for the fourth time and you can't really explain why.
7. You get nostalgic with your band friends
One of the best things about marching band is the wonderful people you meet during the season. A great way to relive the good times is to meet up with your section or friends from band and just talk about how awesome band is. You can relive the good times, and you have people who will be sympathetic to your marching band withdrawal.
8. You try to distract yourself with other work
Because let's be honest, there is a lot of things you need to do between now and Band Camp. And while marching band is so much more fun than that 15 page paper due next week, it is probably a good idea to start working on the paper.
9. You go a little crazy with recruitment
If someone even mutters the words, "You know, our school's marching band is pretty cool", they are basically inviting every band person within a 2 mile radius to jump on them about ways they can join the band. You miss marching band so much, so you try to convince all your non-band friends to join you next season. Not to mention, you try to contact every graduating senior from your high school and convince them to join marching band. You find yourself saying, "We're really cool, I swear"
10. You get pumped for this August!
So many good things are in store for this next season! If you are lucky enough to be returning to a marching band, just enjoy the fact that it will be here soon. You will get to make completely new memories, new friends, and will get to have the opportunity to positively impact people's lives!
