Parade Day

     It's kind of interesting to think about all of the things that can go wrong on the day of a parade. Weird? Yes, definitely. As Saturday morning dawns on the people of the music, a sort of anxiety and lack of desire to participate is in the air. This is probably because they were asked to be there two hours prior to the start of the parade and getting up early on a Saturday morning is never an easy task for students that spend their Friday night's enjoying life into the wee hours of the morning. But back to the things that seemed to have gone wrong.
     Mr TA was left to run this morning's performance due to an unexpected emergency where Miss Director had to be absent this morning. This situation led the people of the band to believe that shenanigans such as showing up late and goofing off in warm-up was acceptable. As the fifteen minute warm-up and review wrapped up the band was beginning to understand that their early call time was well, uncalled for. People were standing around and trying to locate any hydration they could get their hands on as the sun was beginning to beat down into their woollen uniforms, they were sweaty, and they were already feeling the affects of last night's decisions. Trombone guy--who showed up late and missed warm-up--consequently looked a little pale.
     As girl and boy cymbal players (the last to show up to warm up) take their places in the parade block, Mr. TA was finishing up his pre-performance pep talk that is traditionally given by Miss Director: "Alright guys, I know it's early and I know it's a long parade but try to keep positive and remember to smile at the little kids who showed up to see you, you guys are like superheroes to them". And with that, Ms. Whistle and Mr. Whitegloves call the band to attention (which apparently means that they are about to start and they need everyone's eyes and ears up front) "*clap clap clap clap* BAND TEN HUT!!!!" And the entire band answers in unison "SET"...silence takes over the band...moments later Ms. Whistle blows into the whistle and the band begins to march up the street following countless floats, cars and horses.
     "Play something!" Yells a member of the crowd as the band passes by. "Johnny B. Goode is next! Pass it down!" Mr. TA promptly shouts towards the trombone section who is leading the band. "Johnny B. Goode is next!!!" They echo behind them. A few seconds later the drumline begins to tap the start of the fightsong...Mr. TA seems incredibly annoyed by the band's lack of skill to relay information. Despite the error, the band catches on quickly and the spectators clap along proudly to the well-known song. As the band passes the judges station the announcer proudly states the band's name. "Now passing the judges table we have THE BAAAAAAAND OF THAT ONE STATE!!!" the boom of the first note from a popular song off the Top 40's list begins to resonate up and down the street. Trumpet guy and saxophone girl were bobbing their instruments in time to the music and small children were dancing as best they could--people were excited, the band was excited. It was as if at that very moment they forgot they were tired, they forgot they were sweaty and instead realized why they show up to rehearsal those three times a week. This is why (I am beginning to understand) they do what they do.