TaterTheTrooper

04 we watched the state funeral of Reagan during a meal break. 08 nobody believed that Bernie Mac had really died

I wasn't pointing a finger in any direction.

My problem with retreat was the fact that some people behaved in a way that cut a performance from my DVD. The last thing I played as a part of the 2008 season was not included on the DVD’s because some individuals decided to make a statement about their placement. I sure as shootin’ wasn’t happy about how things turned out for my corps, but I played the music that was being conducted. No wrong notes, no wrong rhythms, and I cut off when expected. But no matter what I did, a few people ruined it so that my last performance was cut from the DVD. I can only imagine how Phantom Regiment and Will Pitts feel about having their moment left off because of some immature individuals. It’s happened in the past too. Not the part being taken off DVD’s, but if you listen to the 07 recording you can hear a trumpet and tuba hold over for a significant amount of time. Sure I was bitter and the last thing I wanted to do was behave in a respectful manner. But I did, because as cliché as it sounds my experiences have taught me that the quality of a person is not shown when they win, as much as when they lose. I also have immense respect for my uniform, what it stands for, and the members who had worn it before me. Not that others don’t have respect for their corps, but their actions don’t always convey that respect. I have been personally insulted by individuals while both of us were in uniform. I have had my butt slapped after encore, sexually explicit comments said to my face right after leaving the field from my performance, not to mention the countless other times I have endured verbal abuse. At the time I was enraged that these things had happened, but now I’m just disappointed that individuals can’t seem to understand that respect is a basic part of humanity. Even if I personally do not agree with how a corps acts, I will still treat them with respect for the fact that it’s the right thing to do; no matter how many times members of the organization have insulted me. I can only hope that at some point in time those individuals will realize how disgusting their behavior was and try to change their approach. And as I'm sure you have probably realized I have stressed it is individuals that act disrespectfully. I understand that not everyone in a corps is rude, but when you are in uniform no Joe in the audience is going to recognize a difference between you and the guy next to you except that you play trumpet and he plays snare. You represent your organization when you are in uniform and if somone does something to get noticed, your organization will be subject to generalizations whether good or bad. If you don't like it, either get over it or do something to change the way members of your corps behave.

Since it only went down halfway it hid variations in technique. It wouldn't hide foot timing but if someone marched with a bit of bend in their knee it wouldn't be quite as obvious.

Cavies '99, '02 Madison '75, '95 Phantom '89, '05 SCV '88, '92, '00, '04 Honorable mention: Crown '08 Phanom '03, '08 SCV '99, '08 (musically I loved it)

hahahahaha!!!!! i love it!!

Scheherezade. Hands down the best story told in recent years.

I started marching DCI right after my freshman year. After hearing what I was doing my director was more concerned with me going on tour at the ripe old age of 15. Then after I got back marching band kind of turned into a clash of egos between the two of us. My musical (and marching) abilities improved 100 fold, which he did like. But corps turned me into a perfectionist and I became a sort of slave driver in my section making sure everything was right and refusing to move on until everything was perfect. And lots of times that meant my perfectionist ego getting in the way of his "well its good enough for Idaho" ego He'd only ever had maybe one other student march corps before me so he didn't have a rule as to people missing band camp for finals. In fact last year he even let my little brother miss band camp to come and watch me perform at finals, which I really appreciated. Come to think of it, he also let my brother and the entire hs drumline skip rehearsal and come watch us rehearse when we were in town during their drumline camp.

I've got one from this last summer (from a judge at San Antonio to boot): "This is my first time seeing your show, so I'm going to be conservative."

Favorite: -guard moment: Troopers '74 (Yellow Rose of Texas) -showers: Michigan City, IN (at either one of the schools we stayed at last season, both were Box 5 showers) -tour food: grilled cheese -town to stay in: Schuylkill Haven, PA -70's show: Madison '75 -80's show: SCV '88 or '89

I'm another Trooper that, due to recent events, has had to make plans to audition elsewhere. My name is Erin Holtz and I'm planing on auditioning for Santa Clara Vanguard and the Crossmen. Unfortunately both corps are a considerable distance away from Caldwell, ID and any help would be wonderful. Please help me to be able to afford to march somewhere in 2006. Thanks, Erin Holtz Troopers Mellophone 2004-2005 (soloist) E-mail: bass_babe@rmci.net