Annabelle79

You mentioned the Kilties pit!!! Thank you!!!

I had a similar problem in highschool. I was a viola player in orchestra all throughout middle school. My brother joined drum corps first, and I fell in love with the activity watching him. I joined myself in '92 (8th grade) and that year did both band and orchestra. When I transferred to highschool, I just stuck with band. I was first percussionist...at first. My corps had an opportunity to be extras in an opera that came to town. It was a blast. But my band from school got tickets to go see the opera. Now I knew from my older brother that the band director did not like drum corps and marching band (something about torn pants at a show once or something stupid like that). I did my best to keep it a secret. When my band director asked why I couldn't accompany them to see the opera, I had to tell him it was because I was in it. Then it came out how I got to be in this opera. The next day, I went from first percussionist, to second. The following year (my sophmore year), all the rest of the percussionists were asked to be in honors band. I wasn't. Not only was I not in honors band, I was dead last percussionist with a group of people who weren't as talented and younger than I. He always commented on my "drum corps" technique (which nothing had changed since my freshman year) and was just a jerk to me. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to work with another director, and he decided that he was going to retire with my class.

You can listen for it in the front ensemble as well. The chimes play the oh so famous Kilties song.

Not consecutive, but this is my 6th season with Kilties and 14th season in corps total. That's half my life, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Glad I made it into your review Stef!! Hahaha. I won't ever live that down I'm sure. But you're right, it is funny. I think we got it fixed now to where I won't trip again.

With any corps, like people are saying, you have to make a potential member feel like they are wanted there. Saying that a person is needed may put too much pressure on that individual if they are new. Having members to greet a potential member right as they walk through the door. Getting them introduced right away to staff and their section. Have them acknowledged to the whole corps so members (outside their section as well) know they should talk to them/introduce themselves. Even before camp, if they've marched in junior corps, let them know that senior corps is different. They either may be expecting something (month tours, living on a bus, etc,) or weary if they have not played in a while and think then they can't do it. The social events outside of rehearsals are very good. Make sure you let new members that you want them to come. Make sure they know of people in their area in case they want to carpool. And then places that they can stay if they are from out of town. Give a call, or send an email to potential new members in between camps (especially the first) to see how they're doing, how they enjoyed rehearsal, etc. But don't smother them.

I have to say that although I love Cavies, Phantom and BD....tonight Bluecoats won my heart. They had an awesome performance. Sitting 2 rows up on the 50, I could totally feel the energy. Way to go on your achievement this year! Congrats!

It would probably be ok if you can find the room. Since it's summer, Vilas can be pretty packed with park/beach/zoo/fishing goers. There is a man who parks there every summer....although I haven't seen him this year.

Blue Devs front ensemble.

It's funny...I live on Monroe St. where parts near Camp Randall I guess were totally flooded, and then further down on Monroe St, away from downtown a tree fell on an electric line and blocked the road. Now I work in Middleton which is about 15 minutes from here...and it just barely sprinkled there. I didn't know about any of the flooding until just now when I saw the news. Everything was cleared up on the street by the time I got off work at 7pm.

General Butler Vagabonds were all male from 1966 to 1969 when they allowed females in the color guard and then in 1970 the whole corps went co-ed. The Raiders, which was a group that was made from Phantom's hornline was all male. And Phantom Regiment was all male in 1963 but had mixed results about that so had a female guard again in 1964.

I'm staying at my home too 3 blocks away

My brother marched Scouts Bari in '93