How To Survive Your First Band Camp (Color Guard Edition) || July 15, 2019.

Hi, welcome to my very first post about Color Guard! If you're here, you've probably just been excepted and are ready to begin your very first season (congrats!!) and I'm here to tell you the ins and outs of how to deal with it all because it's a lot.

This upcoming season will be my third season (but also my first season as captain!) I think I know by now a few tips and tricks on how to survive color guard. A quick reminder though, every band program is run differently, so don't expect for yours to be exactly like mine. My cousin is on the color guard at her school and it's light years different from mine, so just make sure you keep that in mind :)

ESSENTIALS 

• gloves- I personally spun with these my freshman year although I wasn't spinning weapon, it helped so so much if you catch heavier like I do. It also makes your transition into weapon easier because your hands are already used to the gloves. But, gloves aren't for everyone, so if you have no desire to try them that's fine, although I do suggest that you buy a pair in case they come in handy for you or someone else in the future. 
• water jug- I'm sure you see those football players with those water jugs out at their games or practices, well guess what- get yourself one of those. You'll not make it through long rehearsals without them. 
• sunscreen- this one should go without saying, but here I am, saying it. Please don't forget your sunscreen. It becomes a hassle when half of the band is using one person's sunscreen. Don't rely on others to have it, it just makes it so much easier if you have your own. 
• bug spray- same goes for this. Just bring it. 
• sunglasses/hat- I personally bring both but usually only end up wearing my sunglasses. I hate spinning in hats because as soon as you toss it you have to tilt your head farther back, and I don't like that, although I do know girls who do. Bring both, and use what you want to. 
• pen and dotbook- every marching band does dotbooks differently, but no matter what, make sure you have a pen and maybe even an extra pencil and notebook just to be on the safe side. Check with your captains or coach to see how your school's dotbook system works. 
• band-aids- this is one of those things that save your ass if you have them. You don't need a big pack, but have a few on hand. 
• hair tie- you'll always need more of these than you think you will, but keep them in your guard back and you should be a-okay. 
• fanny pack- chances are pretty high that you'll need these. I spent my first two seasons with a really crappy one and just now got a decent one. Just go ahead and invest in a better one because it's so much less of a hassle to have a good one rather than a cheap one. 
• tennis shoes- this should be a given, but please, do NOT march in Vans or Converse. I'll link an article to an amazing marching band-centric run by a guy who used to be my school's PT, so I know he writes good stuff! ( https://www.marchinghealth.com/ )
• positive attitude!- this one is important for SO many reasons. If you're in a good mood or put yourself in a good mindset before going out there for long days, it can benefit you and your team tremendously, especially during the long band camp days. 

HOW TO SURVIVE HELL WEEK 

• take it one day at a time- or one block at a time, even. Block out from your mind that you have to get up and do it three more times. It will make it so incredibly miserable for you, and although it's not always fun, you don't need to make it unbearable. 
• find a group- find a few girls/guys that you enjoy talking to and sit with them during lunch, it'll help the day go by faster if you know some people who are on the same page as you. 
• pay attention- I know, I know, it can get tedious when you're setting drill, especially for the first time, but try really hard to pay attention to what your directors are saying, it'll help you in the long run, I promise. 
• drink water- drink more water than you think you need, but not so much your stomach hurts, does that make sense? I don't know. All I know is that I have a friend (who was a fourteen-year-old girl) who got kidney stones during the Winterguard season because she didn't drink enough water over the summer. KIDNEY STONES ARE NO FUN, drink water!
• have fun!- make sure that you're out there having fun because honestly, that's the whole goal of the program. If you aren't, make sure you address it with your captains and coaches. 

That's all I have for you right now! Hopefully, this is enough for you to survive your first hell week and then some. If you enjoyed this, let me know and I may do a competition version as well as a winter guard version. 

xx, Emalee