Posted by Pat Murphy on July 18, 2000 at 12:52:48:
In Reply to: Service Bands posted by Dustin Moburg on July 18, 2000 at 10:04:26:
I was in the 98th Army Band (Post Band) many years ago for 2 years during the Viet Nam era. Practiced some everyday. Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band etc. but not a whole lot. Most afternoons we pretty much did nothing. Played a lot for graduations, awards ceremonies, parades, officers club dances, concerts, etc. Never pulled KP or gaurd duty. Can't have a band without all members present all the time. Pretty easy duty, but still had to play a lot of the games that go alone with any service. Hair cut, shoes shined, bed made, salute, etc. No one gets away from this.
Overall it was a good experience. A lot of the glory disapears when you come draggin in from a gig at 5:00 am or your standing at attention in some ceremony when it's freezing outside. Eventually it all just becomes a job. Gotta play this stupid march 1 more time.
The more elite bands are very tough to get into. If you can play "very well", double on at least one more instrument, and sing and dance you probably have a better chance. That is if you can find an opening that 100 other people aren't after.