Well, it's late June now. and tension is high for everyone who has ever stepped onto a football field, instrument in hand, anticipating the rush and the bright Friday night lights. Even if they're not in marching band anymore, anyone who has ever marched before knows what time of year it is. Rehearsals and band camp are in the air! As this important and exciting time approaches, I can't help but feel nostalgic about my years in marching band. That being said, here are a few things that every "bandie" knows, remembers and loves:
1. "One more time!"
We all know that there is no such thing as "one more time." It's a ploy! Don't fall for it. If a director says these words, you may be going through the set one more time or you could be running it 15 more times. Long story short, if you hear "let's run it one more time," make it good or you'll be there for hours.
2. You get used to naked people.
Yes, everyone has heard stories about the band bus. Not all of it is true, but what is true is that there are a lot of people stripping. Everywhere. By the end of the season everyone is pretty used to it. Big happy family, right?
3. You've had a crush on at least one person in the band.
Between rehearsals, band camp, football games and competition, there are so many bonding opportunities. You spend so much time with these people, that it's hard not to develop some sort of crush on someone. Not to mention that band geeks are the most attractive creatures on the planet. Yes, it's a proven fact.
4. "Marching band is not a sport."
Slay them. Slay anyone who says this. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a sport is "an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature." Tell anyone who claims that marching band isn't a sport to pick up an instrument of their choice, stay in step, play the correct music (and play it well), watch the director/field commander and make a picture on the field with other band members, all at the same time. See how quickly they change their minds.
5. Practice? Cancelled? Excuse me?
6. The parents who only come to see the band.
My parents can be included in this. My high school marching band was lucky to have so many supporters. You could always tell who our band cheerleaders were because they would come to the football game before pregame, watch pregame, zone out and chat for the first two quarters, watch/cheer for the band and then leave. This always seemed very comical to me while I was in the marching band, but as I look back now, I see that the band was the only reason some of these people came to the football games.
7. Meeting people from other bands is dabomb.com.
Every band member knows this to be true. Even if you're shy and awkward, you come out of your shell by the end of the season. Meeting other bands was always the highlight of football games and competitions for me.
8. There's no other way you'd rather spend your time.
As stressful as band camp and practices can be, the bonds that are formed within bands, and really any musical groups are beyond compare. Band friends are forever friends. As much as our band mates can drive us crazy, we really are a big happy family in the end.
