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

I am a fan of Old Chicago's which is located across the street (Mineral Point Rd.) from West Towne Mall. Of course pizza isn't all they have. But I think it's good pizza. And the beer choices are a bunch. Unfortunately, I'm not much of a beer drinker, so I can't really tell you much except for the fact they have beers from all over the world...and then the Wisconsin ones as well.

I'm looking forward to September Not as a fan, but as a member So we'll soon see who impresses me Out in Rochestember (brain turned off)

I kinda find this season a bore In Indy I fell asleep and started to snore I had no great cheer I had not in my eye a tear Watching the shows this year seems such a chore

On that note...expect when you're making out with someone right outside the bus door that the bus will still leave without you if you are not on it on time. Expect that if you get goodies from family/friends during tour that you will end up sharing it with the whole bus. Expect to see more cornfields that you believed there were in this world. If you are a female, expect to share soap, hair stuff and other stuff Expect to see some strange bugs in strange places.

While sleeping on shoulders...Expect to either drool on someone, or be drooled on by someone. Expect that even though the bus is unbearably hot in the day time, it can be freezing at night. Expect when actually calling floor space on the bus and getting it, to have some unknown substance drip on you, or roll down the floor on you. And expect to have people's feet laying on you. Expect to have at least one horrible bus driver that either wakes you up in the middle of the night by drifting onto the side of the road, hits something, or just having them be a complete idiot. Expect to see things you never thought you would see...or wanted to see. Expect to eat things you never thought you would eat...or wanted to eat. Expect that downtown on a gym floor..especially a full night... is one nice slice of heaven that doesn't happen very often Expect that if one person gets sick, 3/4 of the corps will get sick. Expect that if one person gets in trouble, everyone gets in trouble. Expect to learn a lot Expect to have fun Expect to meet people that will be lifelong friends.

Mainly Location. But I'm not complaining. I've had great times in all the corps I've been with. When I joined CapitolAires, my brother was with the Junior Scouts at the time. But besides being close by (considering my parents had to drive me to rehearsals since I was only 12), I wanted to be in a better group then him. At the time, that was true with Caps vs. Jr. Scouts. Sibling rivalry.. Gotta love it... Then Caps folded, or should I say..merged with Junior Scouts. It ad been 3 years, I wanted a change anyways. Next it woulda been off to Arizona Sun, which unfortunately wasn't able to field a corps. I was 14 or 15 at the time, so I still couldn't drive. So why Arizona? My instructor from my first 2 years in Caps was teching out there. I still think Mike Knudson was the best instructor I have ever had in corps. (no offence to the others). Somehow I got involved with Pioneer that same year after finding out the it was a no go for Arizona Sun. I (or probably my parents) talked to Pat Seidling and he told me to come on out to camp. So I did. All throughout my Caps years I loved Pioneer. We spent a lot of time at housing sights with them and whatnot. I idolized them...and got to know some of the members. Plus, Milwaukee's not too far from Madison. Both my parents got involved with the corps, so the hour/ hour 1/2 drive to rehearsals didn't bother them. After 4 years with Pioneer, it was time for another change. Pat Seidling was with Southwind. I went down and auditioned and marched with Southwind for a year. I was living near Chicago at the time (at first), and had some other people nearby that I carpooled with. Then I moved back to Madison, and had all the Madison people/instructors to go down with. Now, I'm having a great time in my 5th season with Kilties. Besides being only a 2 hour drive for me, these are some of the nicest, most helpful people I have ever met. They truly are my second family. All in all...like I said, it was mostly a location thing. But if there weren't any issues (money, lodging, travel etc.) I would have loved to go out to Blue Devils. The reason behind that was because I have always loved there shows. I'm a big jazz fan, and tear up almost every time that I see them perform.

2 hoursthere and 2 hours back. Only because I don't speed really. Madison bypassing Milwaukee to Racine.

I hope to be able to go to finals.....especially considering I live 3 blocks from Camp Randall

This may sound silly, but you can take a trip to the Vilas zoo which is only a few blocks away. Across from the zoo is a beach, and surrounding is a park. Or go a few blocks further, to Wingra park (5-6 blocks easily walkable--straight down from Camp Randall) and you can rent a boat-sailboat, windsurfer, paddle boat, canoe, row boat. Also, Monroe Street right there has a bunch of little shops to look at if you don't feel like leaving the area to go to State or anywhere else.

CapitolAires 1992...1st drum corps year. 1998 Pioneer. I'm bottom second to left.