A select few go audition for numerous Drum Corps Organizations around the country, fighting for certain spots and giving everything they have to make it. Not everyone gets a chance and when you do, you feel a type of way that cannot be described. You made it, out of the hundreds that were fighting for the same spot, you rocked your auditions and you were the one that stood out! Congratulations. Rookies aka first year members, have no idea what they are getting themselves into when they sign their contract. But don’t worry, they have figured it out within the first HOUR of move-ins.

Members go through weeks of really hard physical and mental training, which is what we refer to as Move-ins. Everyone believes that they will never see the end of tour, and they feel like they won’t even make it through the end of the day. Rookies always seem to make it though, to the end of the day and to the end of the season. When they walk onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, all of the memories, all of the pain, injuries and new friendships you have formed come rushing back into your mind and all of the emotions are almost too much to handle. I remember when I walked onto the turf at Lucas Oil, the tears just automatically started flowing, I realized that I had made it; I had made it through my first drum corps season. That was surely an accomplishment to be proud of.

You go through the show in front of thousands, you hit the big company front and you hear the crowd go wild. The feeling is so surreal. The end of the show is coming soon and you just want to hold on to every second that is left in the show. But of course, all things must come to an end and songs have endings, sadly. The song has ended, and you hear the four clicks to get into formation to march off of the field. That’s it, the season is a wrap.

You go through the tunnel and you hear your last “end of the show, corps meeting. ” That’s all, you have completed your season. That was the last time you played those notes and that was the last time you hit that set twelve that you always dreaded. Everyone is in tears and the mood has suddenly changed. Before you entered Lucas Oil, everyone was hyped and ready to leave it all on the field and now as you are packing things up, you are thinking of ways to get that moment back.

There comes a time when you have to pack up your tour spread and leave your housing site, this is the weirdest feeling to ever experience. You no longer have to wake up at 6:30 A.M, you no longer eat off of a truck and you don’t have to set up your cot every morning. It’s weird, it’s almost uncomfortable. You finally get home and unpack your things and tour depression hits. This is a very real thing; you have missed people that you thought you would never miss. DCI is an amazing organization that will continue to change people’s lives and for those that have aged out, don’t be sad that it’s over, be happy that you got the experience and enjoy all of the photos and memories you have.

Sincerely,

Pioneer Member #2497