You Know You've Been In Marching Band Too Long When...

1. You find yourself humming the show music without realizing it.

2. You find yourself humming the warm-ups without realizing it.

3. You find yourself humming the battery/pit warm-ups. And you're a woodwind.

4. It bothers you when you're not in step with the person in front of you when walking anywhere (between classes, at the mall, ect.)

5. You habitably roll your feet when walking.

6. You wake up on 11:00 Saturday morning in a panic convinced you have to be at the high school for a competition and then realize marching season's been over for two months.

7. You discover one day to your amazement that over half your tee-shirts are band related.

8. You've ever had a conversation that went something like this:
"What was last night's game's score?"
"I don't know."
"Who won?"
"No idea."
"Aren't you in the band; weren't you playing in the stands for the entire game?"
"Yeah."

9. You watch football games simply to see the marching band's half time show

10. You want to join the Marines simply so you can be in their band.

11. You think marching band should be considered a fall sport.

12. You collect quotes spoken by your band teachers and other band members.

13. You come to attention when anyone claps.

14. You see more of the band than your family.

15. You can actually put your uniform on, by yourself.

16. Over half your sentences have the word band in them.

17. You can hum the entire show - From the year before you joined.

18. Your locker is papered with "Good luck at" papers.

19. You can name every field commander from the last four years, and you're a freshman.

20. You go through marching band withdrawal.

21. More than half of your journal entries involve band.

22. You enjoy riding the band bus.

23. You've never missed a game but still don't get the rules.

24. You've never seen an episode of "Buffy" on Tuesday night.

25. You stand at attention when you hear the Star Spangled Banner (or you try to conduct it).

26. You wait five seconds when you're told you can leave.

27. You hide under a table when  you hear the phrase "Slide boxes."

28. You carry around reeds/lyres/cork grease/coordinate sheets in your pockets.

29. You amuse yourself by playing color guard with your clarinet or flute or trombone

30. You finger along with the "Hey" song whenever you hear it.

31. Your band teacher knows exactly who you have a crush on.

32. You have three pairs of Dinkles in your locker.

33. The word "Dinkles" means something to you.

34. You make lists about being in band too long.

35. You march the show closer down the hallway between classes.

36. Your instrument has a name, personality, and is referred to as a human being.

37. You walk around playing air woodwind.

38. "I'm in band" is an excuse for anything.

39. You think that A comes after G

40. You count things in fours (1 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4).

41. Section politics make sense.

42. You compulsively buy anything with your instrument on it.

43. Band Camp is the highlight of your August

44. Being able to do at least five things simultaneously no longer seams impossible

45. You've actually looked up marching band web sites on the Internet.

46. You read this list and think; "This is so true"

47. You know all of the brass instruments' proper names, although you don't use them.

48. You try to figure out the key/time signature of songs you hear on the radio.

49. You've contributed to and/or inspired this list.

50. The fact that this list has reached fifty doesn't scare/surprise you.

51. You've managed to recruit people.

52. Basketball games are really Pep band games.

53. You end up getting a school jacket just so you can put all of your band patches on it.

54. You save up money to buy things at band competitions.

55. Which are where you do a large portion of your clothing shopping

56. When you can do an 8 to 5 step without yard lines.

57. When yelling "and one" after someone says horns up is an involuntary response.

58. When you actually look forward to band camp.

59. When you have a rivalry with other bands

60. When you go to Drum Corps competitions.

61. When you can tell who won last year's summer music games.

62. When your band teacher has called you by your nickname.

63. When your band teacher has made up a nickname for you.

64. When you refuse to hug anyone at a football game.

65. When you want to be section leader.

66. When you participate in the power struggle in your section.

67. When you see more of the band than you see of your family.

68. When you've given an inspirational speech.

69. If you refer to your plume as alive.

70. You show up for the non-required events.

71. You know all the band moms, and their jobs.

72. People ban you from saying one more thing about band

73. You have dreams about band and/or band members

74. While singing the show, you include the drummers' dutting.

75. You can still play most of last years show. Bonus points if you're a freshman.

76. The concept of playing baseball music on a football field no longer seams odd.

77. You sporadically burst into singing "Hey Baby". Or "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

78. "Shako Carry," gets a response.

79. You can still play last years concert band music by memory.

80. You can drum the drum part with your fingers and you're a wind player

81. You can hum the wind part and you're a drummer.

82. You know the band director's wives.

83. You understand the band director's jokes.

84. You enjoy using the Lawn Ranger/Dr. Beat during class, or you consider them to be the ultimate of all evils and should dismantled and thrown into a volcano.

85. You can tune out the Lawn ranger/Dr. Beat.

86. You fall asleep ten feet away from the drumline, who're practicing.

87. You find yourself humming along with "Crazy Mary."

88. You find yourself playing along with "Crazy Mary," and you're a wind.

89. You can tune yourself without a tuner or another person.

90. You enjoy dancing around on a football field in front of 500 people.

91. The band mom's continuing fight against 'stripping' in the hallway strikes you as extremely amusing.

92. You play your instrument involuntarily on the table in Spanish class.

93. You randomly try to conduct things, even though you have no intention of trying out for field commander.

94. You've drawn pictures of you're band teachers.

95. You're in the movie "Bandies," voluntarily.

96. The moment someone mentions "yard line markers," you dash out the door.

97. You understand half the items on this list.

98. You have every piece of stand music memorized.

 

Have any to add? Mail me. KJScorpion@yahoo.com

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