Never Let ‘em See You Sweat! by Matt Forbis

Never by Matt Forbis Former Southeast District President, Kappa Kappa

Psi

Let ëem See You

After a quite enjoyable summer, you return to school for what promises to be another great year in the band and the fraternity or sorority. It’s late August or early September. The heat of late summer is in full effect as you start that daily marching band rehearsal routine. What happens even before you stretch one muscle or do one 8-to-5 drill? You’re a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi or a sister of Tau Beta Sigma, and you have to move out podiums, fill water jugs, set up line markers, carry interval poles, pass out drill charts, and take attendance. The list goes on and on. After all, you are a member of the band “service” organization. Everyone in the band knows who your organization is and what you are about. They may not be vocal about it, but they know the work you do for the band. They notice! Exactly what do they notice? Do they see a group of brothers and/or sisters working as a cohesive body toward a common goal as it should be? Do they see the anguish of the job, bitter faces, and arguing and complaining members, or do they see the joy of service to the band, the shared brotherhood and sisterhood, and the positive and enthusiastic participation? Let’s all hope they see the latter.

People know who we are and what we are about. Band members are aware that brothers and sisters of our organizations are dedicated and devoted to service to the band. We all want to represent ourselves and our organization with respect, honor, confidence, and pride. Let’s make sure our actions match the personal traits we hold so dear.

When you wear your letters, and even when you don’t, always, always engage in service for the band with an enthusiastic and enjoyable attitude. It is perfectly acceptable and more than encouraged to show pride in what you do and why. Make a little noise to let people see and make people think to themselves, “Hey, those people really do a lot for this band, they do it well, and they really love doing it.” Remember the phrases “enthusiastic participation” and “positive attitude” anywhere in your candidate or continuing education training?

To make the point a little stronger, here’s another example. You have just finished one of the most stressful days in your college career. You’ve taken three midterms and been going straight since 8 a.m. We’ve all had these days. Now what can possibly top off this perfect day? How about a late evening rehearsal or sectional for your upcoming concert band concert! Will you attend with the attitude of really wanting to be there to participate and help those fellow band members to a more effective participation? Will you make everyone quite aware of your hard day and bad mood?

As a member of the “honorary” band fraternity or sorority, you are a prime example of what every band member should strive to become. You are the “honored” within your band. If you engage in activities within your band with an optimistic attitude and enthusiastic manor, others will notice and, believe it or not, they will follow. Remember that we set the example and they do notice. By following the teachings of your organization, you have shown your peers that, as members of your organization, you care more, work more, and enjoy music more than the average band member. Not a bad reputation to have, huh?

So what is the moral of all of this story telling? We have an obligation to not only participate and serve within our bands, but to do so with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. We work (boy, do we ever work!), but we have fun doing so. That is why we are in this honorary band service organization after all. People will see and understand this and have more respect for who we are and what we are about.

One of the most effective and easiest ways to recruit for our organizations is this form of positive, respectful, enthusiastic, and confident participation and service to the bands we love. This is what will attract other band members to our organizations. The absence of this attitude will do nothing but harm. The presence of it will do for you, your chapter, your band, and our organizations a great and endless service. What does this all mean? In simple terms that we all can remember: