One Step

Most corps have rules about keeping hair up if you've got it. At Crossmen the only rule was it has to look neat. I've never heard of a rule about glasses, and earrings vary from corps to corps. Here are some examples Jolesch caught: Hair: http://www.jolesch.com/userView.aspx?ID=15145328&ImageNum=111943-159-092&EventID=111943 http://www.jolesch.com/userView.aspx?ID=15152280&ImageNum=111943-234-079&EventID=111943 http://www.jolesch.com/userView.aspx?ID=15154883&ImageNum=111943-263-029&EventID=111943 http://www.jolesch.com/userView.aspx?ID=15178798&ImageNum=111943-058-046&EventID=111943 Glasses and earrings: http://www.jolesch.com/userView.aspx?ID=15154790&ImageNum=111943-262-036&EventID=111943

Already been done...these have been around for a couple years. A bit overpriced, but they seem to be good quality. http://www.crossmen.org/index.html?Action=Commerce.Product&ID=574436

Most WC corps such as Crossmen, especially those with a rich history, also rely on donations from Alumni and can expect a larger revenue from the Souvenir Booth. The larger, more popular, and more historical the corps is, the more places money pours in from. I would also assume that WC corps don't allow members to march without paying tour fees, as Revolution clearly did. I would guess the $2400 that Revolution is looking for is meant to help compensate for those who don't pay. Doesn't really sound fair. If I worked all year to scrounge up enough pennies in my piggy bank for myself, I would want them to pay for me--not for me AND someone else. The Blue Devils' website states "Your financial obligation to the Blue Devils for the 2012 season will be approximately $1,500.00 - $2,200.00." They certainly do an extensive tour as well, but I would bet they receive tons of funds from Alumni, family, fans, and souvenirs.

Sadly, I am not surprised by this situation. I have known many members who have marched in Revolution throughout the years. They often complain about being fed very little for meals, and sometimes not being fed at all. Year after year after year, the corps runs out of money at the end of the season and cannot feed their kids.

Diet and exercise my friend. I haven't found any kind of work out that helps like running does. I know, I know, we all hate it. Myself included. We all have bad knees, too. I was always the kid out on the field with both knees in braces while marching. If I went more than a block or two without them, I would be next to tears because of the pain. I hear you guys on the knees, I promise. But, I was talking to some friends of mine who recently got into running, and they suggested I look into what's called ChiRunning. I watched some videos on YouTube, but didn't really understand the concept until I borrowed the book from my friend. There is so much good stuff in there, including how to run if you have "bad knees." So long as I focus on the technique throughout my entire run, I have no issues with shin splints or knee pain. I suggest you look into it. http://www.chirunning.com/ Plan your meals. Eat breakfast everyday. Eating less and skipping meals doesn't necessarily result in losing weight. Here's the big toughie for me: Don't eat before bed. Your body doesn't need all those calories to sleep. The easiest way to make losing weight hard is going to sleep for the night on a full stomach. It's comforting, sure. But it's not necessary.

Been wearing Saucony for three seasons now, and never had a single problem with my feet. Good shoes combines with GOOD SOCKS has led me to never having a single blister or unusually achey feet. After a full day's rehearsal, your feet will ache no matter what you wear, but mine were never awful. I've worn NB and Asics for different things in high school, but they never felt so good on my feet as Saucony.

First year, staff. Second year, got cut from my "dream" so I went local and found it to be more comfortable anyhow. Third year, realized I loved my "local" corps and stayed there.

$1400 sounds much more reasonable. Of course, add on top of that camp feeds, uniform fees, equipment fees, registration fees, etc. Then purchasing all the essentials to take on tour. Sunscreen, dot books, shoes, and the like need to be replaced from year to year. Budgeting around $3000 is usually a pretty good amount for most corps. However, $14,000 is probably a good budget if you're on the 9-year degree plan.

Mine was $90, and has some very nice embroidery done on it.

I have to wear glasses when my contacts aren't in, so I find that keeping my standard contact case in my glasses case works just fine. I fill up the case with new solution when I shower, so I don't have to keep a big thing of solution around. It seems like something like that would pop off the solution bottle easily. Knowing me, I'd probably lose it the first week on the road.

You get lonely in the shower.

I really hope corps don't do this anymore...

Keyword, minute. Also, BD should have killed someone in the show. Their theme just didn't fit in the top 3 for this season!

I'm pretty sure these aren't "wrong." The artist appears to have merely taken a distinguishable piece of the uniform to be representative for the icon. They all look very classy and clean, IMO. I like!

This, but also maybe include a few dots on BK, as long as it doesn't make it appear too cluttered. And Madison 2 looks almost like a clock, but Madison 1 is snazzy!

Other. Crossmen embraces the influx of Hispanic interest in their corps and moves headquarters south of the border.

In 08, I auditioned for corps A and got cut. I auditioned for corps B, and got a spot. While corps A did beat crops B overall, my section came out on top. So that was pretty sweet. And I'm definitely going back to my new found home at corps B.

Oh man, those shorts are just like ASKING for trouble.

Short shorts and a sports bra. Thought I sometimes cycle through longer spandex shorts when the chub rub gets bad. How can you endure the heat wearing clothes so heavy? And how do you pack enough so that you're not smelling like complete #### (only half #### like the rest of us) every day and still have them fit nicely in a suitcase? I wouldn't dream of taking that many clothes with me.

Good for her! It's always nice when you see people with real disabilities out there doing what everyone else is. Almost makes you wonder how much the rest of us are really capable of. And the Troopers are a class act. Good luck to Natalie!

1. Cadets 2. Carolina Crown 3. Cavaliers 4. Blue Devils 5. Phantom Regiment 6. Bluecoats 7. Santa Clara Vanguard 8. Boston Crusaders 9. Crossmen 10. Blue Knights 11. Spirit 12. Glassmen 13. Blue Stars 14. Colts 15. Madison Scouts 16. Academy 17. Troopers 18. Pacific Crest 19. Mandarins 20. Cascades 21. Jersey Surf 22. Capital Regiment 23. Pioneer

Pssh. It's not the jacket that takes all the glory in that photo. It's totally the crooked glasses that make the look.

The trainer in my corps doubles as a brass tech. It seems to work pretty well, and he is super helpful to have around on tour.

I found that my GPA made significant leaps upward after a season of DCI... But yes. Drum corps hurts. It's not fun, and it makes no sense. You will sweat and bleed. You'll be more physically and emotionally drained than you ever have been before. And you'll make the best friends you'll ever have and learn a lot about yourself and about life. You'll grow and mature, and when you come home, you'll have a different outlook on things. When I got back from my first season (I was going into my junior year of high school), I no longer really enjoyed hanging out with my old friends because they all seemed so juvenile. High school band also seemed childish, but I stuck it out because while it bored me a lot of the time, I had a lot of respect for my band directors and wanted to encourage other kids to march. I didn't think quitting would set a very good example for them to follow. Drum corps isn't for everyone, but like others have said, the fact that you posted on DCP hints that you have the right desire. You just need a little more motivation and encouragement. You can get through it, so long as you tell yourself you can. I'm pretty sure we've all been in the situation when hearing it from someone else is what kept us on our feet. Give it a shot. I think you'll surprise yourself with what you're capable of doing.

Crazy.