Popular Post Paul Milano Posted June 14, 2011 Popular Post Share Posted June 14, 2011 My first performance as a member of a "big time" corps was in the small town of Kenosha, Wisconsin - 1970. I was a rookie carrying the marching tympani and I had the seemingly terrifying role of playing the first four beats of the show (to set the tempo). My teeth and knees were shaking - either because of fear or the cold wind whipping off Lake Michigan that night during Memorial Day weekend. It was undoubtedly the fear. In fact as I sit here and type this recollection I can absolutely feel the wind on my face - just as I did that night . . . There's a low murmur from the crowd. The stadium lights are angled just enough to slightly blur my vision. I can see the crowd, but I can't really make out any one individual. I can, however, hear Mrs. Jackson, a corps mom, yell very clearly in response to the announcer's question asking if the corps is ready. "THEY'RE ALWAYS READY!!" was her booming reply, in that matriarchial, yet reassuring voice. Next to me stands one of my best friends in the world, still to this day, Skip Swoverland. He's already sweating buckets, even in the cold. He's another rookie with a tympani. All four of us tymps are rookies that year. Who else would carry them?! I remember glancing at Skip, hoping for some reassurance. He can read music. I can't. He knows the show better than I do. Hell, all the other tymps do. Why do I have to play the first four notes? Why can't one of them? Crap! I'm gonna' start too fast and the snares are going to beat the slop outta' me after the show. Jezus, why me? WHAM!!!!!! An ice cold, wet towel whacked across the back of my neck. What the heck was that for?! Now my drum head is all wet! Da*% it. Now I don't even know if I'm in tune anymore! This is a frickin' nightmare. Oh . . . it was just Monk, the equipment manager, making sure the nerves weren't causing me and the other rookies to be light-headed. Not to worry Monk. I don't think I'll be sleeping for about a week now! Another glance at Skip. Now he looks nervous. Just what I need. I look over at the snares. They all look like they've just eaten raw meat. I'm definitely gonna' die tonight. It's all over. Why didn't I stay in the little "B" corps where I was a star? Something's happening! Whoa. The drum major is saluting. IT'S TIME! Lots of voices are talking behind me now. Sounds like some of the vets in the corps. "Let's show 'em!" "DO IT!" "Undefeated season!" "This is it!" Now I mainly want to get this over with. I'm about to bust. Years of waiting for this day, but now I'm feeling every bit the 16-year old kid who is more than just a bit out of his league. Last glance at Skip. He's looking straight ahead - but he's smiling. I glance at the snares. One smiles back, and then casually looks away. "Mark time, march!" "Boom, boom, boom, boom." Perfect -- 128 beats per minute. There . . . I'm a Cavalier . . . 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexL Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 (edited) To the rookies on DCP: Just log out for the summer. Do your thing on tour. Chances are this site will just bring you frustration. People, myself included, will have their opinions, but better to just keep working and prove them (us?) wrong, please resist the temptation to jump in and get defensive. Edited June 14, 2011 by AlexL 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihatechewis08 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 To the rookies on DCP: Just log out for the summer. Do your thing on tour. Chances are this site will just bring you frustration. People, myself included, will have their opinions, but better to just keep working and prove them (us?) wrong, please resist the temptation to jump in and get defensive. We were specifically instructed to stay off the boards lol.. Needless to say, we did it anyways. And some of the predictions did frustrate us, but at the same time we knew some of them were silly, and had no chance of happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrillmanSop06 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 (edited) To the rookies... Get off DCP. EDIT: Unless you're laughing at the multitude of comments from has-beens who take the 1n73w3bz vry srsly. Edited June 14, 2011 by DrillmanSop06 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rifuarian Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 (edited) To the rookies: Stay on DCP. There are a few goofballs, but it's mostly good. You'll hear things on tour much uglier than anything you'll ever read on this site. And remember that anyone telling you not to look, on or offline, almost certainly checks DCP obsessively. You might as well too. Oh, and get ready for the big time. There's nothing like that feeling all that hard work pay off, having all your doubts relieved, and getting the first taste of the exhilaration you'll taste night after night. It only happens once, so enjoy it! Edited June 14, 2011 by Rifuarian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fsubone Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 (edited) To the rookies, try and find a moment this summer to sit back and take stock of everything. I know during my rookie season, it felt like a whirlwind all summer, and I feel like I missed out on a lot. Just take a minute to sit back, and realize what it is that you're doing. You'd be amazed to see the amount of work you're actually putting in unless you look at it from the outside. And about the DCP thing, if you decide to come on here, be prepared, and come on with a very thick skin. You'll hear everything about your corps, your leadership, and your show, both good and bad. So just be prepared for anything, and learn to filter out the stuff that doesn't affect you. But most of all, DON"T BE THAT GUY! Biggest lesson you can ever get, just keep your head down and handle your job. Set an example through your actions, not by talking. Be the example of what to do on the field, not what not to do. It's way better to be remembered as the rookie everyone could count on to know his stuff, than the kid who messed up every set and got yelled at by everyone. Edited June 14, 2011 by fsubone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoyWonder1911 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I guess I would suggest this - don't worry about the scores, scores will come and go, and 15-20 years from now you wont even remember what the scores were, you'll only remember your experience. And don't forget, you are performing for fans who care more about being entertained than who gets what score. Go out there and perform like professionals. Really, there are no better marching ensembles in the entire world outside of DCI. Most of all, have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euphman89 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 To the rookies: Stay on DCP. There are a few goofballs, but it's mostly good. You'll hear things on tour much uglier than anything you'll ever read on this site. Amen to that. I heard more ridiculous things on tour than I did ever on DCP. For instance, somewhere around the Michigan City show I heard a rumor that 8 of Madison's 20 contras had just up and left the corps. Always wondered where that came from... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimF-LowBari Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 (edited) To the rookies - enjoy but it ain't life or death.... The older you get the more you realize it was a big part of your life but the sun still came up no matter what happened on the field. s/ Guy who did 2 competitions and 1 (half field show) exhibition his rookie year. We were trying to get a disbanded corps back on the field..... Important part was it worked. Edited June 14, 2011 by JimF-LowBari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersop Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 To the rookies: Bob Barker is dead ..... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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