I did drum corps for three seasons and I have to say, this is definitely some of the perks:

1. Being away from your other life for so long

Three solid months at spring training and on the road is a long time to be away from home. However you're going to your new home, and although you're away from your family you have this new family constructed of 150 other people from all over the world. I know I personally have brothers and sisters from Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Germany, and Canada after marching for three seasons. The friends I was away from back at home were soon replaced with the best friends I've ever had from Texas and Florida that I would have never known. The best mentors I had were from Arizona and Maryland, and even New Jersey where I'm from but would have never crossed paths with if I didn't join the organization. You form a new life in your small world of drum corps, and it's the best and worst thing. Best because they change you into someone better, and worst because after that summer you might never see them again.

2. Sock tans: permanent ones.

I still have a sock tan and it's December. When I come back from tour my body resembles velvety chocolate, but with vanilla dipped feet. So not sexy.

3. Musicianship

People knock drum corps all the time for making them worst players, but honestly, I came home every time with better playing chops than when I left. You also have a better sense for blending in a group and for intonation, too.

4. Traveling

You get to see ALL of America after doing it for long enough. I only did drum corps for three summers so I didn't get to see the southwest by Arizona and up to Washington. However, I've circulated every state in the south three times and finally got to experience the worst of Florida and Texas heat in July. It's pretty awful, by the way, so don't go during those months if you're curious. Trust me, I suffered for you.

5. Performance venues

Tangle wood, where the Boston Pops play. Disney Worlds Epcot, where millions of tourists from all over the world come to visit. These places and sooooo many famous football stadiums are where we got to step foot on and perform for people.

6. Not having to worry about real life

Bills; nope. Annoying roommates; yes, but there's 150 other people sharing the floor with you at a school gym so you can move wherever you want if you're having a problem with someone. School work; yes, but it's the fun kind, like memorizing music and filling in your drill cheat sheets or dot books. Not 12 paged papers on the visual cortex and how the plasticity of the brain helps failed sensory motors keep their functions of information processing. Parents telling you what to do; only if they come volunteer, otherwise they have no idea what you do. Stressful relationships; you can end those before you leave on tour or while you're on tour. Then you don't have to be around that person for three months. It's great.

7. You can look terrible and still pull it off as cute

You sweat constantly everyday for 14 hours. You smell awful most of the day. Your hair is a mess from the rain, humidity, and hat hair. Your body might break out from heat rashes or the everlasting oily sunscreen you put on every hour during Texas tour. If you're a percussionist you wear the same shorts every day that you have your drum shorts. Meanwhile, you still look manage to make it look cute and you better believe this helps you out during finals week of classes or when you just ran out of laundry. You can make ANY look good after doing drum corps look cute.

8. You feel like a rockstar

Every show you go to, people cheer for you. The loudest applause you'll ever hear is from an audience at finals night where there's 20,000 plus people in the stands waiting to see what you've been doing all summer. Babies wear shirts with your logo on it, people argue about you on the internet; it's crazy.

9. Food

So. Much. Food. All you do is eat all day long and as much as you want. I've never will eat a pint of ice cream by myself again. I'll never buy an ice cream cake from cold stone with my best friend and try to finish it in an hour. I'll probably never come across a Whataburger for another 3-10 years. However, on tour, anything is possible when it comes to food. And the best part is the next day you burn it all off during rehearsal.

10. You look great

The deep tan that makes you look so much more exotic than you actually are, the long hair that is only that length because you neglected to get it cut all summer, the chiseled body you earn after working SO hard every day: you look amazing after tour. But tour bod doesn't last for long, nothing good ever does right?

These are only 10 things I could list off the top of my head that are some of the best things (and worst in some cases) about going away to drum corps. Whether it be for one season or eight, if you're interested, go out there and do it! You'll never regret it because it's easily one of the best experiences of your life.