Time of the Season

Repeat after me:
Drum corps is NOT marching band.

Again:
Drum corps is NOT marching band.

Alright, now that we've gotten that out of our systems, we can go onto bigger and better things. Tomorrow is the best, recurring Thursday of the summer: DCI Denton Day! Can't you just tell that I'm excited?! Several corps from all around come down and put on a really great show. And, thankfully, I'm within walking distance of a high school where one usually stays so I can go and hang out and watch them practice while working on some crochet projects.

So, what is drum corps you might ask? Well, as mentioned, it's NOT marching band. It is, according to the Drum Corps International (DCI) website, "marching's major league." It includes drums, brass, and colourguard. Sorry woodwinds.

November usually brings auditions for corps. You travel to the designated place, audition over the course of a weekend, then go home. There may be multiple auditions at different places depending on the corps. Me, my audition was in March in a band hall in Lewisville. My corps is in Milwaukee. Anyway. November is the first camp. You return, once a month, from December through April. Technically, May is a regular camp too, but it can be associated with move-ins too, which happens Memorial Day weekend. If I remember correctly.

So, from Memorial Day weekend until the early middle of August (around the 10th or so), you travel, perform, and practice elaborate shows. You'll also be competing against other corps in your class. Back in my day (which is very weird to say), there were three divisions- I, II, III. Div I were the "big" corps; II were smaller and generally local; III was pretty much local and only performed on weekends or not as much. Some organizations are big enough to house all three levels. Div III was the youngest kids at maybe 8-12; Div II was 12 -15 or 16; Div III was 16 to 21, which is the overall age limit. Then you teach or go to alumni corps. But, I digress. Now, there's just World Class (Div I) and Open Class (everybody else).

Days are long. You sleep in buses and gym floors. Everyone usually slept in the same room with a gender side. We always had the snare line right smack dab in the middle, their sleeping bags in the line they marched in, as the dividing line. Yeah, it's rough. We'd do a show, pack the truck up with instruments and uniforms, maybe have some down time with a snack as we waited on scores, then left on towards the next place, sleeping the miles away in the bus. We'd get a little floor time and then start the day over.

Mornings, we had a run and stretching. Then, breakfast and get ready for the day. Then practice. During early rehearsals, we'd have a marching block to learn the show, sectionals to learn the music, then more marching with instruments that may or may not include playing. As the season went on, it was more on perfecting the show. And never be surprised if the staff suddenly decided to change an entire number. On a show day. And you had to remember the new stuff that night.

But, in the end, it was really rather worth it. I"ve gotten to march some cool stadiums like in Indianapolis and Denver. I got to do something that most people probably never will. I know a girl from college who didn't get to though she had a spot. I'm glad I got my one season as a rook-out (someone who's both a rookie and age-out). I'd rather that than none or some other season. To this day, I mention that I"m happy I didn't have to do three parades on 4th of July.

I remember, many many moons ago, sitting in a dorm room watching drum corps videos. One of the guys said, "wouldn't it be cool if we all marched next year?" When we were at the San Antonio show, I was walking to put my uniform up when his drumline, all in formation, walked by to go and take the field. He gave me a head nod, and I returned it. Most of the guys who'd been sitting in his dorm room that night were on that line. The only other one was in a different corps and I'd seen him and another linemate then too.

So, in the future, you should go see a drum corps show. Dallas is coming up soon too.

Oh, and if you want extra brownie points from me, my birthday is in September and I REALLY want the world championship CD's for EACH year from 2002 to 2012. I'll want 2013 when it comes out too. And the videos would be nice. Blu-Ray is fine. But I REALLY want the CD's. Or, maybe, take me to the big screen show on August 8th. It's air conditioned and you can watch too!

Since I can't find a video of me marching (hey, it was 2002), I'll leave you with the Cavaliers from that year. This segment still gives me goosebumps (and why I'd like the videos too). Cavaliers 2002 Fight Club

And Carolina Crown performing Ben Folds' "Time" is here

Alright, so you don't see me in this, but trust me, I"m there. 2002 Milwaukee Circus Parade And, sadly, I had NO idea that was Custer's march until, oh, right now. And I played that song sooo much.

Well, off to listen to stuff.

So, as many of you know, my roommate's been out of town for a bit now. Her total absence will be 10 days. While, yes, it's been nice having the place to myself for an extended time, there are certain things that I've learned; or at least had reiterated.

I really shouldn't live alone.
Really, I shouldn't. Though I may lean towards introvert tendencies, I really need to be around people. I know a lot of that has to do with gas right now, but in the long run I just need to be around someone. Even for a few minutes.

While, yes, I can "enjoy the silence" (hey, I'm an only child, I do this well), I can't do this for too long a period.

I'm not a person to go out and seek company
I'm just not. I tried. I failed. I didn't try anymore. Not for feeling like a failure, but just not being the type to go out and try seeking people a lot. This is something I really need to work on. It just didn't work too well over the past few days.

On the other hand, I did get to go to a party, which was great since I got to see a lot of people I like there.

And puppies. Can't forget the puppies.

I'm not a talkative person in big groups
In the aforementioned party, I didn't say a lot when I was in a larger group. However, as the night wore on and I was sitting in a group of 3 or 4 around the dinner table, I opened up more. The group tended to change like the topics, but I still talked more then. Not something I can really explain other than I feel a little more comfortable. Or at least enough to talk more. And that's not to say I didn't feel comfortable around everyone else because, believe me, I feel WAY comfortable around them. I just work better in small groups. Someday, I'll do better in a bigger group. I just have to work up to that.