Chapter 2-Audition Camp

The two hurried to the gate to catch their flight each holding on to their carry-on bags for dear life as if they were holding the crown jewels, at least in their case, their own crown jewels. Within their carry-ons were their bread and butter, their audition music, registration forms and everything they would need for their auditions as well as a pair of their favorite and supposedly lucky sticks. After clearing the boarding gate they both walked to the plane and took their seats next to each other. After what seemed like forever, they were on their way to Rockford. The two spoke but said very little and spent most of the time looking at their music and making sure they had all the material ready. Eventually Amanda asked Andrew who was reviewing the triplet rolls exercise, "What do you think it will be like, the audition, will it be scary?" Andrew responded by saying, I don't know, but we are about to find out, aren't we Mandy?" "Yea true" Amanda replied. After a two hour flight that seemed like forever, they landed in Rockford at its airport and were soon picking up their luggage at the baggage claim area, their luggage included everything they needed for camp, sleeping bags for the gym floor they would sleep on at night, extra sticks and mallets and practice pads. After securing their baggage, they walked off to the pickup area where soon they noticed signs for transportation to the Phantom Regiment audition camp.

"There it is" said Andrew, "let's go". The two walked towards the sign and soon enough came up to a man standing near the sign who worked for the corps as a volunteer. The man introduced himself as Jerry Halloran, and said he was on support staff with the corps as a driver and drove the busses the corps traveled on during the season and explained that he would be driving them to audition camp, more people eventually shoed up, some holding stick bags and mallet bags, others holding brass instruments, some others were holding flag bags with guard equipment and soon enough Mr. Halloran began to lead them out to the bus.

Andrew and Amanda after stowing their stuff beneath the bus climbed aboard the bus and took seats next to each other. A few minutes later they were on the road traveling to the school where the auditions were. Along the way they smiled at each other and both asked each other, "can you believe were really here?"

Both were excited as they pulled up the high school where the camp was taking place. They couldn't wait to get off the bus and into the camp. When the bus stopped they hurriedly got off and got their stuff and then made their way inside as fast as their feet could carry them. They first stopped at a table in the lobby where they handed in their registration forms, after that they headed to the gym to drop off their luggage and then within an hour, the entire corps from last year minus ageouts and prospective members were asked to gather in the auditorium of the school for orientation. Together they casually walked into the auditorium and found two seats together; they sat down and talked each clutching their audition music and exercise packets. Amanda spoke first and asked Andrew "are you excited?" to which Andrew responded, "I'm nervous but excited as well, I hope I'm good enough." "You are" Amanda replied and Andrew, moved by this statement she made gave her a pat on the back and she did the same to him and he replied by saying that she was sure to make the bassline. Amanda responded by saying that she certainly hoped so when suddenly a group of men and women stepped up on to the stage and the room that had about 400 people in it suddenly fell still and silent. One man stepped forward from the group and said, excitedly "good evening Phantom Regiment" to which a large group of people responded back by saying good evening back. He continued by saying, "for those of you who don't know me, my name is Rick Valenzuela and I am the executive the director of Phantom Regiment and I would like to welcome you all to auditions for the 2007 season, were really glad your here and excited to seeing and hearing all of you perform to the best of your abilities. We're really excited by the great turnout here tonight, unfortunately, we can not take all of you but whether you make it or not, we know you will learn a lot. He continued to talk and the auditorium listened when finally he announced, and now, it is time to announce our 2007 Program and to do it, let me introduce to you our Program Coordinator for 2007, Mr. Dan Farrell. Mr. Farrell stepped forward to a generous applause and soon the crowd hushed for the big news, Andrew and Amanda leaned forward a little to hear better in the hopes that the announcement of the program would boost their motivation to make it. The announcement hit Andrew and Amanda as if it was fired from a cannon, "our 2007 program is called On Air and features the pieces Vespertine Formations by Christopher Deane, 1000 Airplanes on the Roof by Phillip Glass, Flower Duet from Lakme by Leo Delibes, Suggestion Diaboliques by Prfokiev and Stravinsky's Firebird. Andrew and Amanda liked what they heard and liked even more the music that was played throughout the auditorium for them. At the end of Firebird, they got so excited that they couldn't wait to start rehearsal. A few minutes later, the moment finally came when all in attendance were dismissed for sectional rehearsal.

Andrew and Amanda walked together to rehearsal each holding sticks and pads in their hands along with their music, they entered the cafeteria along with the rest of the percussionists, both veterans and rookies alike and were greeted by the percussion staff led by longtime Caption Head Paul Rennick. Andrew and Amanda took seats together at a table with a bunch of other drummers, a few of them veterans, and introduced themselves to everyone sitting with them. They had just gotten down to talking when Paul Rennick raised his hand and brought the room to quiet. He opened his mouth and said, "Alright, my name is Paul Rennick and I am the percussion caption head for Phantom Regiment, welcome to auditions, now obviously as you can see, there are more of you than there are spots open so we can only take so many of you and it will be very competitive but we guarantee you, whether you make it or not you will learn a lot from this experience, let me introduce to you our percussion staff for 2007," Rennick then went on to introduce each member of the instructional staff for the drumline and as each one's name was announced applause was given and Andrew and Amanda clapped especially for the snare and bass techs. Following the intro, it was the moment they had been waiting for, it was time to drum. Andrew and Amanda then walked over to their respective sections and set up and got ready to play. Andrew stood behind a shiny snare drum and got ready to play and Amanda did the same choosing the first bass drum in the line. When everyone was ready, Rennick said, "Alright, first exercise will be Legatos, remember, good full strokes and solid even beats. Set!" He then walked over to the snare line and began to tap it off. Andrew and Amanda held their sticks tightly and on count 3 of the second measure of the tap off, they sharply brought their sticks out as did the rest of the line and soon after that the room came to life with the sound of drums. It continued through the night and each time with a different exercise. At the end of the night, the corps went for a snack before bed and that was where Andrew and Amanda found each other. He asked her "so what do you think, do you think you have a chance?" "I don't think it's that bad" she said, "I think I have a chance. How is it for you?" she asked. "Not bad" said Andrew, "I think I have a shot at this drumline but we'll see at the end of the weekend." "Yea" she replied, "we'll soon find out"

Following snack the corps went to bed for the night and as Andrew and Amanda fell asleep in the gym that night; they realized that tomorrow was their big day. Tomorrow were their solo auditions, both for music and marching. As they fell they wondered if they would do well, they knew they were prepared.

They woke up the next morning ready for what seemed like a long day, it started off with sectionals and then their marching and playing auditions. As the drummers started through their warm-ups, Andrew and Amanda concentrated on one thing, their performances at auditions making sure to nail everything involved in making the line.

Andrew and Amanda found each other after rehearsal and stood together waiting for their turn to audition. "Well, this is it" said Amanda, "Our moment is now, are you ready?" "I think so," replied Andrew, "I think I'll do well."

Andrew walked into the room and sitting there was at a table near the front was Paul Rennick and the two snare techs, a single snare drum was placed on a stand in front of the table. Andrew walked forward to the drum and made sure the height was good for him and then got ready to play and quickly warmed up with an 8 on a hand. Mr. Rennick then asked him, alright Andrew, play our legatos for me. With that Andrew was given 8 counts and was playing and it continued for every exercise. Andrew was then asked to play a prepared solo, "My moment to shine" he thought, and he did totally acing his solo landing every note, attack and stroke there was in it. Rennick looked impressed at the end and then said, "Alright Mr. Hoffberg, relax." "You did very well, I was very impressed with you and I feel that if you keep up with your good attitude throughout the rest of the day and keep playing the way you played, there will be a spot waiting for you in this drumline, because you just showed me you've earned it, I'm gonna give you a 1.5, congratulations!!! Nail your marching audition and your as good as in so best of luck to you." "YES!!" Andrew said to himself before saying to Rennick, "thank you so much Mr. Rennick" and Mr. Rennick acknowledged him and sent him out with a message for the next man in.

Andrew and Amanda found each other at lunch and asked each other how they did. When Andrew said 1.5, Amanda with a shocked look on her face said, "OH MY GOD! ME TOO!!!" The two jumped into each other's arms as Amanda exclaimed "Oh man, we really have a shot of marching here, all we have to do is nail our marching auditions and we're in, "yea Amanda, this is awesome" replied Andrew as they walked through the local mall trying to find a place to eat.

After lunch it was on to marching auditions, done in groups of five people each. Amanda entered the gym of the school with her game face on ready, she watched Andrew from a distance go through his audition, he looked pretty confident and that gave her confidence as she watched him march throughout the gym at speeds of 180 beats a minute and looking like he was totally mastering his crab stepping technique. "Wow" she thought, "He's gonna make it, if he makes, I will make it too, I just have to be confident!"
With that thought, a member of the visual staff finally came forward and said, 'Alright, next 5 step forward." Though she didn't notice, sitting atop the bleachers a few feet away were the drill designer Jamey Thompson and visual caption head Jay Emmert. Normally, she'd go crazy for drum corps personalities like that, but for now she was too far focused to think of who was watching her. The visual tech called her to set, and with that she held her mallets out as if she was wearing her drum. The tech then said, first drill will be forward 8, back 8. With that the drill down began and Amanda put herself and her body to the test as she marched back and fourth, left and right across the gym sometime imagining herself doing drill while not loosing focus. After what seemed like forever, it was over. Amanda was tired but pleased and thought she did well. As she went to get water, she realized Andrew was waiting for her. Andrew immediately made his way up to her and said "hey, I watched you, you looked great and marched well" "thanks, replied Amanda, "you looked great too, and marched really well, you looked really confident" "Thanks!" said Andrew, "I hope we both did well," "yea, me too", said Amanda.

After a long day and even longer night, the last day of auditions came, the corps went through its normal routines as more people auditioned and then finally, the audition and critique sheets were handed back with their overall scores, Amanda and Andrew both got them and unfolded them together.

After glancing at them, the two of them suddenly smiled at each other and grabbed each other in their arms. "Oh my God!!!!" said Amanda, "We made it!!! Both of us!!!" "Tell me I'm dreaming" said Andrew. "What bass did you get?" he then asked, she said "I got bass 1!!! I'm so happy." "Sweet!!!" said Andrew. With that, the two of them had accomplished their reason for being there; they were members of Phantom Regiment. Andrew- a snare drummer and Amanda-top bass.