Band camp is not the worst thing in the world. The worst thing in the world is to come to band camp unprepared. The following guide should help you arrive at band camp prepared, and more importantly, survive.  

 

There are two essentials that you must have:
 
Socks and tennis shoes
Your instrument
 
These items are required by Mr. Rogers and the Farragut Band program and are quite essential to surviving the two weeks:
 
Sunscreen
To have eaten breakfast
A water bottle
 
Omit any of the above and there is a strong likelihood you will get sick at band camp. The truth is, there is no excuse to get sick at band camp (unless you truly have a disease). 95% of all vomiting at camp can be avoided just by the above three items. Now, on to the less-essential-but-still-important checklist:
 
Check Weather

Shorts
Chapstick
Sunglasses
Hat
Lunch or money for lunch
Deodorant

 
I know most of you don't really eat breakfast that much anymore just because your body can't, I mean I don't unless it's late in the morning.  During camp though, even if you don't feel like it in the morning, you need to eat a healthy meal. You'll thank yourself later.  The afternoon portion of camp is indoors and is much less strenuous, so if your stomach is queasy you may not eat. In the next chapter I will discuss why the essentials are essential. 

 

Check the Weather:  Please check the weather forecast before you come to band so you know what to expect.  Just watch the weather forecast on WBIR or whatever outlet you prefer the evening before or in the morning.  Weather forecast from The Weather Channel are available on the band website, for your use.  Please thank The Weather Channel for generous access to their weather resources.

 

Sunscreen: sun poisoning, although rare at camp, is not fun. Sunburn, guaranteed from camp, is not exactly pleasant either. Yes, you will get a "band tan" even if you use sunscreen, but imagine this: You go to two weeks band camp, sunscreenless.  Consequently you spend the next week at home resting in bed, daring not to move. Believe me, even if you never wear sunscreen, YOU NEED IT at band camp.
 

Shoes:  Wear comfortable shoes.  Not sandals, not flip flops, not boots.  A lot of rapid exhaustion is caused by stress on the bones and muscles caused by uncomfortable, stressed feet.  If you really want to reduce discomfort, buy some shoe inserts.  You can get them almost anywhere, even the grocery store.
 

Breakfast: I have seen far too many freshmen throw up and have to sit out the first day of band camp because they did not eat breakfast. During camp you must eat. It will not sit like a lump in your stomach or make you feel sick while you are marching. As a matter of fact, I would forget my instrument before I forgot breakfast (I mean that, too).  *(Note from the editor: don't eat your instrument though)
 
Water: This one is almost so obvious that I didn't write anything about it. I did, however, and you will sweat profusely at band camp. If you are not soaked by 9:15 each morning, see a doctor soon, because you are very sick. During juice breaks, drink some of the Boosters' juice, provided by the wonderful volunteer parents of our band students free of charge, but also perhaps some water from your bottle. It's just enough to make you feel like you CAN go on.
 
Shorts: Even if you're Alfie with extremely white legs, wear shorts every day to band camp! (Although he won't wear shorts anyway) It helps you develop (and others observe) your technique, and although you might not realize it, it WILL vent a lot of heat from your body.

Chapstick: Many people develop chapped lips from the combination of wind, sun, and water breaks. You can make it without if your lips aren't prone to chapping, but many people will want some kind of protection.
 
Sunglasses: These definitely keep the UV light from your eyes and make the glare bearable, since you have to look up, sometimes into the sun. (It is acceptable to close your eyes at attention if you are standing still, facing into the sun, but that's impractical if you are moving.)
 
Hat: Many people (especially upperclassmen, who presumably have more experience with band camp) do wear them. They too help keep the sun out of your eyes and face (preventing "Rocky Raccoon" tan lines around your eyes, which look silly in your school pictures, which are conveniently taken near the end of band camp).
 
Lunch: As I said, I don't eat lunch 100% of the time at band camp, but mostly I do. All the fast food restaurants are popular, Taco Bell (on the cheaper end, if you order beef tacos and such), and Subway (good for the health conscious; good value too). Some people prefer to stay in the band room and eat a packed lunch (no stigma there--some of the best social time is lunch hour at the band room). If you have a car, you can venture a little farther (assuming mom and dad allow) such as Monterrey's (yes, you have time if you hurry) or Stefano's (some people dig whole wheat crusts). Freshmen and others without cars: make sure it's cool with your parents, but you can usually find a ride down to the bottom of the hill with an upperclassman (so you don't have to walk in the heat). For those of you who haven't quite figured it out, Mr. Gatti's is no longer with us. (Extremely bad health ratings. I won't go into detail.)

 

Deodorant: This is utterly important!  You can help decrease the smell of a jam packed bandroom in the afternoon.  I have been crammed next to I don't know how many people in a bandroom after morning practice who didn't use deodorant that day.  The smell can become unbearable. So please, for the sake of everyone, wear deodorant!!!

 

Expect to work, and work really hard, especially this season. Expect a suntan or sunburn, with lines for your shirt and socks. Expect to lose the feeling in your feet.  Expect to be able to ring out a gallon worth of sweat out of your clothes by the end of the day.  Expect to get bossed around by the directors, bossed around by upperclassmen, and bossed around by underclassmen. Expect to get yelled at. Expect surprises.  Oh, and for the health nuts, expect to get fit. I know I did!

  

 

There are several things you can do to make band camp a little easier on yourself.
 
Show up: There have been a few cases of people who completely messed up and didn't realize that there was a band camp, or that band camp was required.  This season, if you don't show up, ready to go, on time, you will become an alternate.
 
Be on time: Mr. Rogers hates nothing more than people who are late. (I've seen plenty of rage come from him for that reason.) You cannot blame this on traffic, on car trouble, or on your parents. You take full responsibility for it. The only exception is if you call the band room BEFORE the time you are supposed to arrive and explain the situation (ie car trouble, parents overslept, etc). The band room phone number is 671-7135.  Mr Rogers is usually reasonable IF YOU CALL AHEAD OF TIME!!!
 
Behave: Just get in line, stay in step, do whatever is asked of you. Mr. Rogers is not a slave driver, contrary to popular opinion, and if you work hard he will take note and make sure that he rewards you in some small way. Also, behaving tends to get things done a lot quicker (nothing worse than rerunning a drill until Mr. Rogers gets so angry that he puts us in block band).
 
Keep cool: Both literally and physically. First make sure you are not overheating (the intent is not to make anyone sick), but also keep a calm mind. So you can't hit the line the first time you try it? As long as you keep trying, and listen graciously to advice (which is not always graciously dispensed), you WILL eventually get it.  

 

 

Most important things: Respect the directors, staff, and upperclassmen, and no one will get hurt. Eat breakfast EVERY DAY.  Mr. Rogers will not eat you if you are respectful.  Wear sunscreen and sunglasses. Get to know people (freshman, go out of your way to meet upperclassmen, and upperclassmen, freshmen are people too.)  And get ready to make memories that'll last forever.

 

Good luck.

 

-Matt