You Are a Member of the Pride/Signs You've Been In It Too Long
The newest (2004):
-This must be the place. What other band gives a whole new meaning to Burnin' Down the House! (fire batons, fireworks and fire shooters oh my!)
-Where else can wisdom come from the tuba section: Listen to the tubas, they say good.
-This is a place where your instrument can have a number of nicknames. Apparently I play the painful death stick (piccolo for the uninformed).
-Let's play their eyes out!
-Playing tests: Its like reciting the Bible in front of God.
-We're all kickin awesome; best freakin can!
-You look forward to the bouncing pod of love.
-Jumping pork, what will he think of next?
-Singing your heart out to Bear Down Arizona in the rain when your instrument is hiding in what is hopefully a dry spot.
-You can bribe your director with licorice. (It makes him happy).
The new (2003):
-Where else can the brass shine like the sun, saxophones squack like seagulls and the woodwinds are top of the world?
-Kneeling in puddles is nothing new anymore. Nor is running through puddles like a herd of wild gazelles.
-You now know from experience that not rain, nor storms, nor wind, nor puddles the size of the Great Lakes will ever stop the Pride of Arizona!
-OI, OI, OI
-There's nothing wrong with sprinkles, GRRR!
-Knowing and remembering all randomized cheers and quotes from band take no effort.
-No matter what you may think, kneel downs will never be easy.
-11/8 is now as fundamental as 8 to 5 in your marching ability.
The original:
-Its hailing out and all you care about is your poor instrument. Come on, everyone knows that people heal but instruments don't!
-Your friends complain that it’s too hot outside at 100 degrees. You tell them, “Try marching in 110 degree weather during monsoon season.”
-Your band director screaming like a mad man doesn’t frighten you anymore.
-You look forward to seeing a fire truck!
-Who’s ever heard of 8 to 5 steps? Isn’t it 1 to 5?
-Musically induced lightning is the best show you’ve seen all season.
-You know why everyone avoids the tuba section (and not just during a thunderstorm).
-Dirt is a delicacy.
-Your favorite saying is “Is this thing on?” and you quote it as much as possible.
-You model your band-ware after a camel; you carry water with you on your back.
-Everyone knows the band director’s famous lie, “One more time.” You add, “rehearsal ends at 5:30” to that list.
-1-minute water breaks are pure luxury.
-Your marching show’s songs become your new favorite style of music.
-Exercise becomes fun and entertaining.
-You believe that a marching show is not complete without covering every inch of the field at least once in every part.
-You finally accept that you’ll never stop humming songs from your marching show.
-One person starts to hum their part to the show and all other band people join in.
-You manage to get everyone else around you (non-band members) humming too. Or at least get the song stuck in their heads.
-Hell freezes over when your band director cancels a rehearsal.
-You think that airplanes should be incorporated into the marching show since they practically are anyway.
-The band finally figures out which way the team should be going when they do their cheers.
-You decorate your drill book so that you can tell it apart from the others when you throw it on the side line.
-You still can’t tell your drill book apart from others even with a picture of your own cat on it.
-You graduate from a shoestring to real string to tie your drill book to your shoulder.
-Highlighters and pencils are your friends.
-The only people you know are those in your squad and your section.
-You finally remember the names of those in the number above.
-Not only does your instrument have a name, but your lyre as well.
-You become proficient in music memorization.
-You also learn to memorize drill positions rapidly (and retain them the entire season).
-When you watch another marching band, you feel sorry for them because they don’t move around very much. You also feel sorry for the yard lines because they only get to meet a small portion of the band.
-Chips are not meant for poker anymore.
-You find joy in waking up everyone else on Saturday mornings.
-2 hour rehearsals are too short, you enjoy the Friday 6 hour rehearsals.
-You finally learn how to put your vest on all by yourself.
-You can finally put your gauntlets on right the first time (buttons up!).
-Football games are only interesting during the 1st, 2nd and 4th quarters. Do not expect us to be paying attention on our break.
-You don’t know what to do with you 10 hours of time that you gain back after marching season is over.
-Your calendar is used only to mark down which marching field you are on.
-Yes it is a marching field not a football field.
-You joke about what would happen if you left your chips on the field on a football game night.
-You never do the above because you know that you’d be hunted down by your band director if you did.
-Day games should be labeled inhumane and banned.
-A certain stadium of a certain band should install elevators for use of the visiting band.
-A deck of cards is all you need to keep band members happy on long trips.
-You can fall asleep at the drop of a hat on a bus. (Oh how I wish this was true for me)
-You have your practice marching shoes, your performance marching shoes, and our other non-band shoes.
-You dream about marching band. Your non-band friends dream about marching band.
-Free time and a life don’t exist during marching season.
-Brass players that name themselves after a food product are no longer scary to you.
-You prefer sarcasm rather than the flat out truth. (This has been proven!)
-You accept the fact that the drumline can never be found when you need them.
-You like standing in a dark, quiet stadium, and can actually feel the pent up energy.
-Nothing gives you energy than hearing your voice echo off of an empty stadium. Unless it is a crowded stadium of cheering fans there to see you perform!
-Nothing saps that energy like a fast-paced drill move that requires you to go to the opposite side of the field in 32 counts.
-You no longer question where this extra energy after doing a move like above comes from.
-Gatorade and All-Sport are as sacred as water.
-The way to make friends is to carry a supply of donuts.
-You never question any free food; you just eat it.
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