It's Opening Day! ...No, not baseball (who cares about that?)!
Tonight, Drum Corps International begins its 2013 season and I could not be more excited. Between now and August 20th, I will be following my two former drum corps as they travel across the United States to present yet another year of incredible shows for thousands of fans each night. For the first time since 1999, I won't be in the country to attend any shows live, but I will definitely be following the scores and watching streaming videos from every regional competition and throughout finals week.
Of course, drum corps is about more than just scores. When I was a member, the scores were just our reward for the hard work. We were completely removed from the world as we practiced all day, performed every evening, and traveled during the overnight hours. We needed updates from the staff just to hear about the big news stories. These days, I couldn't even imagine being disconnected for a single day, let alone two months. Yet, it was refreshing back then. I had only one thing in mind: perfecting the show.
My involvement in drum corps changed my life. Not only did drum corps provide me with amazing friendships, but it also taught me about pride, dedication, teamwork, and confidence. We woke up every morning as a team, rehearsed as a team in any weather condition, pushed each other to thrive, and pushed ourselves even when we didn't think we had any strength left. We relied on each other for field positioning, for harmonies in every chord, and for energy throughout the show.
To this day, people laugh when I tell them I spent 3 summers touring the country in a "professional marching band". Honestly, I don't even care anymore. There are so many adults without any real passions and I am so fortunate to have something that I am truly passionate about. Whenever I go to a show, it takes me right back to my years as a marching member - eating out of a food truck, sleeping on buses, showering in high school locker rooms, and practicing for hours in 100-degree heat.
Anyone who has seen drum corps on tv, in the movie theaters, or online can appreciate one dimension of the performances. Those who have been to a live show can experience even more excitement. But only those who have performed in a world-class drum corps truly understand what it's like to be on the field, surrounded by your best friends, and hearing tens of thousands of people cheering for you. That is something I will never forget.
At the end of the summer, the struggles fade quickly but the memory of the experience only gets stronger. If you ask me now, I spent 3 summers as a rock star, while my friends did boring office jobs. I can't wait to see what the rock stars have in store for us this year!
Tonight, Drum Corps International begins its 2013 season and I could not be more excited. Between now and August 20th, I will be following my two former drum corps as they travel across the United States to present yet another year of incredible shows for thousands of fans each night. For the first time since 1999, I won't be in the country to attend any shows live, but I will definitely be following the scores and watching streaming videos from every regional competition and throughout finals week.
Of course, drum corps is about more than just scores. When I was a member, the scores were just our reward for the hard work. We were completely removed from the world as we practiced all day, performed every evening, and traveled during the overnight hours. We needed updates from the staff just to hear about the big news stories. These days, I couldn't even imagine being disconnected for a single day, let alone two months. Yet, it was refreshing back then. I had only one thing in mind: perfecting the show.
My involvement in drum corps changed my life. Not only did drum corps provide me with amazing friendships, but it also taught me about pride, dedication, teamwork, and confidence. We woke up every morning as a team, rehearsed as a team in any weather condition, pushed each other to thrive, and pushed ourselves even when we didn't think we had any strength left. We relied on each other for field positioning, for harmonies in every chord, and for energy throughout the show.
To this day, people laugh when I tell them I spent 3 summers touring the country in a "professional marching band". Honestly, I don't even care anymore. There are so many adults without any real passions and I am so fortunate to have something that I am truly passionate about. Whenever I go to a show, it takes me right back to my years as a marching member - eating out of a food truck, sleeping on buses, showering in high school locker rooms, and practicing for hours in 100-degree heat.
Anyone who has seen drum corps on tv, in the movie theaters, or online can appreciate one dimension of the performances. Those who have been to a live show can experience even more excitement. But only those who have performed in a world-class drum corps truly understand what it's like to be on the field, surrounded by your best friends, and hearing tens of thousands of people cheering for you. That is something I will never forget.
At the end of the summer, the struggles fade quickly but the memory of the experience only gets stronger. If you ask me now, I spent 3 summers as a rock star, while my friends did boring office jobs. I can't wait to see what the rock stars have in store for us this year!
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