No matter how long after you've graduated from high school and left your marching band, you'll always be a band kid. Band is a part of who you are; you wouldn't be the same person without it. Here are some signs that you might be a forever band geek.
1. You always begin on your left foot.
It doesn't matter where you are. You could be in the grocery store, on campus, or at the doctors office, you always begin on your left foot.
2. You can occasionally still hear a snare keeping time in your head.
3. You still carry multiple pairs of socks in your car.
Because you never know when someone will be in need of a pair of long black socks.
4. You listen for the beat in every song and use your steering wheel as a drum.
5. The horror of band tans.
6. You still use your chest as a drum.
After all, old habits die hard.
7. When you hear a stand tune, you automatically play your part in your head and sing at the top of your lungs.
8. "One more time."
Okay.....sounds fake but okay.
9. You can still remember your shows years after you've done your last performance.
We'll always remember our shows. After all, this is where we made some of our most treasured.
10. You've mastered the art of doing make-up in a moving vehicle.
It's not a skill, it's a gift. You know you're going to have a good run when you don't poke your eyes out on the bus ride there.
11. It makes you angry to hear people clap off beat.
Stop. Just stop for the love of God.
12. The phrase "This one time at band camp..." will forever haunt you.
Because all of your greatest stories start with that phrase and no one can take you seriously.
13. When you hear someone yell "attention", you automatically go to attention.
But then you remember that you're no longer in band and don't have to stand at attention.
14. You have no shame changing in front of people.
Because when you've changed on a bus in front of the entire drumline, you really have no shame.
15. You still remember the jokes you got for being a female drummer.
Yes, I'm a girl and I play the bass drum. No, I don't need your help putting on my carrier.
16. You have insanely good time management skills.
"To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late. And to be late....well, you better not be late." Band directors everywhere.
Marching band was in no way an easy thing. You had to march, play your part, watch the drum major, and make sure you did't get hit by flags all at the same time. While in band, we all had one thought, Why am I even doing this? I hate band. But here's the kicker: once we're out of band, we wish for nothing more than to march one more time. Marching band has forever changed my life, I wouldn't be the same person without it.
This is to all of us forever band geeks. Once a band geek, always a band geek.