Tips for the Rookies of 2007

[Piper]

Keep your eyes open , there are some veteran members with incredibly huge heads that you may bang into.

This usually occurs around the 1st sopranos (lead trumpets??) and even more so near snare drummers.

Oh come on now. Snare drummers are the most humble and meek people in all of Drum Corps. (Boy what a lie I just told). :P

On a more serious note, just be on time, pay attention, and work like heck when you're told to.

[ducttapedgerbil]

Pain lets you know you are alive

[BryceH]

i must say, dont suck is a very good one but over the past couple of days i thought of a few.

if you smoke, quit. its difficult yes, but possible and will be more beneficial in the long run. (this is for everybody not just brass people)

get into shape. you cant really be prepared for "training camps" unless you have a plan to go above and beyond the physical expectations. this will also make you look like a bad*** when you add ankle weights to your horn, dont break, and people all around you are breaking without the weights.

socks and underwear are a must, i plan on bringing at least twice much underwear as ill need and three times as many socks.

this one is going to be controversial for some, but dont bring religion into rehearsal. i dont care if youre hindu, buddhist, christian, lds, jehovahs witness, and whatever else. Troopers of 2005 know what im talking about. to go along with this, know youre not perfet and dont march a perfect show. be open for criticism.

have fun. you dont pay x amount of dollars just to get an education unlike that of and school. heck, im in the activity to have fun, make friends, learn something new, and of course, live sleep deprived, out of a suitcase, and eating on the ground. nothing better than that.

[Morgoth Bauglir]

this one is going to be controversial for some, but dont bring religion into rehearsal. i dont care if youre hindu, buddhist, christian, lds, jehovahs witness, and whatever else. Troopers of 2005 know what im talking about. to go along with this, know youre not perfet and dont march a perfect show. be open for criticism.

I'm curious as to what "bringing religion into rehearsal" means exactly. Care to elaborate?

[Slow Adam]

i must say, dont suck is a very good one but over the past couple of days i thought of a few.

if you smoke, quit. its difficult yes, but possible and will be more beneficial in the long run. (this is for everybody not just brass people)

get into shape. you cant really be prepared for "training camps" unless you have a plan to go above and beyond the physical expectations. this will also make you look like a bad*** when you add ankle weights to your horn, dont break, and people all around you are breaking without the weights.

socks and underwear are a must, i plan on bringing at least twice much underwear as ill need and three times as many socks.

this one is going to be controversial for some, but dont bring religion into rehearsal. i dont care if youre hindu, buddhist, christian, lds, jehovahs witness, and whatever else. Troopers of 2005 know what im talking about. to go along with this, know youre not perfet and dont march a perfect show. be open for criticism.

have fun. you dont pay x amount of dollars just to get an education unlike that of and school. heck, im in the activity to have fun, make friends, learn something new, and of course, live sleep deprived, out of a suitcase, and eating on the ground. nothing better than that.

I think that not smoking, being in shape, keeping clean and leaving personal #### off the field is under the umbrella of not sucking. :)

[Walter]

Some other things that may make drum corps a pleasant experience:

1. Don't show up instructors in front of the line by proving that they may be WRONG !!

2. Don't show off even if you are better than some vets.

3. Sit about half way back of the bus.

4. Last but certainly not least, always sleep with one eye open on the bus.(Don't ask why! j/k)

Have fun and enjoy the crowds response to your show. If you have a suggestion that you think may improve the show,

talk to your instructor after practise and ask them what they think. If they like it they may give you credit but don't expect to get any. If they hate your suggestion you didn't embarass yourself in front of your corps mates.

This thread has a good list of things to do and not to do. Copy them down and don't forget to be yourself.

[susantaylor40]

If your corps wins, be a gracious winner... if you lose, be a gracious loser... nobody likes a bragard or a spoilsport.

[Slow Adam]

If you have a suggestion that you think may improve the show,

talk to your instructor after practise and ask them what they think.

That actually drives me crazy. If you're reading this and you're in my drumline please don't do that. :)

[SopMom]

I replied to someone in another thread about air beds, and forgot which thread I was in.. here's some things I posted that may pertain more to rookies, so I'm pasting it in here...

Something that may be handy for rookies is some info about laundry day. If you can handle the weight of pre-measuring a cup of laundry powder into small ziplock baggies and packing some "bounce" dryer sheets, you can avoid the lines your fellow corps members create when buying theirs at the laundromats. You've never seen a laundromat in action, until you see it in Drum Corps action! Also, rolls of quarters, or 35mm film canisters filled with quarters are helpful, although heavy (but the load lightens as you use them up!) help eliminate the dilemma of what to do when the bill changer is out of quarters, or you're last in a line of 50 people to get change. The more quickly you can get to a washer, because you've already got your soap and quarters, the more quickly you get your laundry done.

Mark your clothes with your name or don't expect to come home with the same clothes you left for tour with. As much as you'd like to think you'll get a washer and dryer all to yourself, reality is that everyone ends up sharing, whites get washed with darks, and EVERYONE has the same underwear and socks that YOU do, so appearance alone isn't the way to keep track of your clothes.

Care packages don't get much better than when they contain brand new socks.

Bus windows can often become your friend, by attaching suction cup bins or hooks to keep track of your things. Most corps, I think, allow "decorating" of bus windows, but not all, so again, check with your corps.

EXPECT your expensive cell phone, iPod, digital camera or DVD player to get "lost" (stolen, not necessarily by another corps member, but sometimes too by passersby who explore any area they can while you're rehearsing on the field.) That's not to say those items aren't great things to take on tour, but just be cautious of leaving them out charging during the day when you aren't nearby. As much as possible, pack anything you don't want to be stolen into your backpack and take it with you to the field... keep it with you, and you're less likely to find it missing.

Small plastic boxes that fit under the seats of busses can hold your daily "needs", and if they have a handle, can be taken with you into a gym fairly easily, if you need the items they're holding. Some sort of plastic container that you can keep all your shower things inside is also helpful. Just grab it and go. Quick dry towels, available at camping places like REI are more expensive, but much less bulky, lighter in weight, absorb more water quickly and dry MUCH faster than regular towels... they don't get smelly as fast either.

Polishing cloths for brass instruments are handy to take along, too.

When you get home from tour, buy one of those plastic bins with the flip lids and mark it 'TOUR" and keep all the stuff you bought for tour in there so it's handy for the next year. Throw in things like sweat bands, gloves, under armor shirts, clothes you ONLY wear on tour, etc. Speaking of UnderArmor shirts, you can buy ones that work just as well for about $10 at WalMart. They should fit snugly.

Parents, don't be alarmed to hear that your son or daughter has lost a LOT of weight over the summer. Some people refer to Drum Corps as the best weight-loss program in existance! I personally know of kids who lost over 50 pounds!

Cool bands (those fabric bands filled with a small amount of water absorbing beads that you soak in cold water so they swell up and then you tie them around your neck or wrists) can be a blessing when rehearsing in 100 degree plus temperatures.

Sun screen, sun screen, sun screen! Another good thing to throw into a care package, as well as rubber bands (the fabric ones) or hair clips for those who use them.

I'll think of more things, I'm sure, plus, closer to the summer, people usually start up a thread of "things to pack for tour".

[AlexL]

1. Dont suck

2. Youll only need a few pairs of shorts and some tshirts... youll quickly realize that tshirts are for the food line, after shows, free days, etc, but you wont have much need during rehearsals

3. Lots of socks. When you think you have enough, pack more. Or just plan to buy some more at every walmart stop (i bought a new pack a few times on tour)

4. Bring a power strip. With everyone having cell phones and ipods, outlet space is at a premium. If you have a surge protector\power strip, you can plug the lone charger thats in the wall into your strip and still have enough outlets for your things and more peoples chargers.

5. Sunscreen for the first couple weeks, then you wont need it after oh... july 1.

6. Enjoy every minute you have. The end comes way too soon.