"When you join marching band and figure out that it's basically a cult"
Over the summer I started marching band camp at my school and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. At my school marching band isn't a class so if you're in band you don't have to be a part of marching band. So our band isn't super big but it's not super small either, we have about 60 people. And for those of you who have been in marching band or are in marching band right now you already know how this works. Running laps, rarely any water breaks, sun burn, a few people that had to sit out because they almost passed out (guilty) and a lot more. But for those of you who don't know I'm making lists showing the ups and downs of marching band.
Downs:
1. There is a pretty good chance a bug will land on you and you won't be able to move, I'm my case it was a giant brown dragonfly.
2. You will most likely go home one day with a ridiculous injury, sunburn included. I went home with a large cut on my leg from scraping it on wood.
3. You will have to stay at set for a long period of time and you are not allowed to drop your hands under any circumstances. NEVER DROP YOUR HANDS. If you drop them not only will the whole group have to hold it up longer, all captains, upperclassmen, and all freshman will come after you most likely holding a big stick. Luckily that didn't happen to me.
4. There is a really good chance that you will loose your drill sheet or book or whatever your band uses. And if you're a brass player it's even more likely because somehow most woodwinds just magically have theirs everyday no matter what happens. "Oh I left my back pack at home but luckily I left my drill sheet taped under the 4th chair in the third row in the band room heeheehee"
5. Water breaks will be scarce. Nuff said
6. Your muscles will ache and you really won't want to move but you're going to be expected to.
Ups:
1. You meet new people and make new friends.
2. You finally get to use the saying "remember that one time during band camp..."
3. You get into football games and basketball games for free
4. You get to wear and awesome uniform and rock some pretty sexy marching shoes
5. If you have a class with any marching band kids and you start humming your show they'll start humming with you and everyone will be annoyed but it'll be awesome for you.
6. Awesome stand tunes
7. If and when you have your marching band lock in you'll get to know a lot of things about people, you'll also see a lot of PDA and I mean A LOT of PDA.
Overall the experience will be worth it and you won't ever regret joining. After your first year you will wonder how you ever survived without marching band.
