First Show of the Year

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This past weekend was interesting. We really didn't know what to expect on Saturday. I mean, think about it...before Saturday we had only done one full run-through of the show. We had 7 new people who knew the drill for parts of the songs, but not much. How much could we possibly get done in one day in order to put on a good showing at our first competition of the year in Bridgeport, CT?

Well...plenty. We ran a pretty efficient and highly effective rehearsal. We were able to get all of the new folks in the beginning of the show and the closer. The addition of those individuals made a huge difference visually. Forms and intent became more obvious and readable. When they were playing, the sound and volume of the line filled out. It's going to be something special when they're all in 100% after this coming weekend.

Anyway, the run through was a little rocky. It was emotional and energetic for sure, but the timing wasn't good between the horns, batter, and pit...especially in the closer, which flies by. We have some work to do there....it was definitely going to be a finger crossing moment.

Everyone was excited, though, and with rehearsal over we made our way to the stadium to prepare for the show. Dinner, shower, and dress...I ran through some of my pre-show superstitions, and was prepared (albeit somewhat nervous) for the show. There are only 2 parts that I was a little afraid of...the middle of part 3 with all the messed up counting (see an early entry of mine), and the end of the show.

The show, only our 3rd full run through of the show to date, was good! It wasn't as energetic, loud, or exciting as the run-through at the end of rehearsal, but it held together much better...which as a drum major pleases me. I was encouraged by the way the corps pushed through and got it done. We represented ourselves very well, and I think most people felt pretty good about the show.

The issues with the show are too obvious at this point, however. We didn't fare well competitively, but I'm not really sure what more we could have done...and I'm certainly not worried about being competitive over the long term. We have a championship caliber drum corps here, and I believe that our show and our members will rise to the occasion over time. It's just going to take some patience and some efficient rehearsals. We don't have a lot of time in senior corps to rehearse. Luckily, there is no show this weekend local enough for us to attend...so we're taking the entire weekend as a "death camp" type weekend and we're just going to beat the show to death. If we can come out of this weekend more comfortable, with more stamina, and with everyone plugged into the drill for the whole show...we'll be in good shape.

No one in the corps is worried. The show is very difficult, and we all know it...but we refuse to let it beat us. This corps, unlike last year's corps, is a fighter and is fighting very early in the season. The programming definitely took a step up this year, and our members are up to the task...it's just taking some time. We will get the scores we want and deserve. Hopefully that occurs sooner rather than later.

In the end it comes down to making good decisions. Every member individually is faced with small decisions to make all the time. Should I bag this rep because I'm tired and thirsty? Etc. It's little stuff, but all added up it's huge. Drum corps isn't easy and let's face it, we live in a society where easy is best...and hard work is too hard. The successful drum corps have staff, administration members, and corps members who make good decisions. I'm hoping that my corps makes the right decisions this week to prepare for a hard weekend of drum corps. Make no mistake about it, this will be an ass kicking weekend of drum corps. I can foresee us easily going 12 hours on Saturday just breaking everything down set by set. It would be easy to get upset about it, complain about lack of water breaks or how hot it is, etc. It's hard to stand there and take it and give it all up every rep knowing that, because you worked hard now, later you will be good...and that every time you bag a rep, you're affecting everyone around you as well. It's not fair, but it's through the shared experience of personally busting your own ass that you develop relationships with the people around you doing the same damn thing.

Drum corps is hard work. That's it. If you don't like that, do something else. It really is that simple.

The spread between us and the other corps is what bothers me...but there really isn't anything I can do about it, except make sure I have my crap together and help my fellow members get their crap together. Many years have we started with scores in the mid to high 60s with 5-10 point spreads between us and the next team...and we plug along and do our thing, and next thing you know we're climbing and climbing. Jump 5 points one week, 2 points the next, 7 points the next...and we're right in the hunt. We'll do that again, and I'm not worried about catching anyone. If we do what we need to do, with the show that we have this year and the heart and talent of our drum corps, I have no doubt that everything will take care of itself.

But we have to work. We can't lie down. We can't give up. We have to put our heads down and go. Ask questions later. GO!

So, we'll see what happens. We have rehearsal all weekend long, which is great...and I think that everyone is looking forward to the opportunity to lock this baby down and get ready to rock and/or roll in Clifton the following weekend. It's going to be fun...and we're going to learn a lot about ourselves by this experience. I definitely see this as a good thing...a motivator to push and achieve greater things. I don't know if I would enjoy it as much if success came easy to us. I kind of like the adversity a little. I don't like adversity that we cause for ourselves...and we're in the process of eliminating that sort of destructive decision making. It's hard, because so many people are new Bushwackers this year. They're just now figuring out how to be Bushwackers...and in the process they're making better decisions, working harder, and learning/retaining faster and faster.

If I were in one of the corps ahead of us, I wouldn't be content. Images in your rear view mirror are closer than they appear.