An Ageout’s “First Camp” by Lauren Buzdygon

Jersey Surf 2015 Audition Camp #2
8:00am For the first time in five years, I pull up to the Camden County Technical School, affectionately known as “The Vokie” and joyously march into a Surf rehearsal site with no intention of touching a horn.  Today will be the easiest Surf rehearsal I have ever attended!

8:43  All members gather in the school’s cafetorium for the start of the day meeting.  The first portion consists of a short group nap block that would have made the Couchmen proud. A short warm-up dance block ensues.

I could have used the nap.

9:40  The wrap-up of a successful brass visual block, where I watched other people move across the floor while holding horns.

9:54  I wander over to see what the pit is doing, because as an ageout, I can come and go from rehearsal whenever I want.  They are rehearsing Pure Imagination.  It’s the corps song, and the same arrangement we played as our ballad in 2012.

10:14  Bathroom.  I didn’t have to hold it for four hours during a show, I don’t have to sprint there and I feel no pressure to leave as quickly as possible.

10:47  Following a lengthy warmup involving lots of holding up a horn, the hornline begins rehearsing Pure Imagination.  I sit on a table in front of the arc, feeling a faint familiar ache in my arms and a twinge of something.  Envy?  No, that ache is from yesterday’s winter drumline rehearsal.

After all, why would I ever want to hold up my horn and be tired and do work again?

11:15  Full percussion ensemble chugging along in the cafeteria. Show music now.  Reps on reps on reps.

11:42  Observing the rifle block is an interesting change from the rest of the camp.  Not sure if this is band or a demonic chant dance ritual weapon cult.  This colorguard is workin’ it.

11:50  Colorguard vacates the gym.   The battery, pit, and hornline enter, carrying and pushing their instruments.  They look tired.  I’m definitely not jealous.

12:33pm  The full ensemble blast of a show introduction.  What a statement.  Such a powerful push to the end of the phrase.

Plans to infiltrate the madness fly through my head.

I would have to run into the arc while everyone is doubled over flapping their lips and grab a kid’s horn when they’re not looking, because unless Surf recruits me for an all age Soundsport team, there is no longer and never will be another Jersey Surf instrument signed out to me.

1:02  The guard takes the floor to begin the monthly“show and tell” performance.  I’m sitting in the stands and can now see their wonderful, emotive faces.  As a member, I was used to sitting on the gym floor behind them in an arc and throwing myself in front of horns to protect them in case of thrown flags.

1:21  That immense ensemble power is back.  The second run of movement 1.  “Fight the good fight,” says brass caption Mark Figuroa, sensing the decisions of excellence the members are making in their heads. I can practically hear everyone’s muscles screaming.  Mine are screaming for a different reason.

I can’t go down there and play with that hornline anymore.  I did my time.  It was the best four years I had ever had.  The best four years of being tired, sore, and just completely whole inside and out that any person could ever have.

It’s over, I’m old.

It sucks.

It is a blessing to be able to move on and see the beauty from afar now.  To see how far the Surf has come with me and to see how far it will continue go without me..

No longer can I be a dot on the field or a voice in the ensemble.  I will define my own ways to support the Jersey Surf from the other side.

3:02  I’m leaving.

I don’t stop at the Wawa up the road, the safe haven for all Surfers who travel by car to get home.  Not this time.

Those kids need the piles of Gatorade on the shelves far more than I do now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lauren was a member of the Jersey Surf TubaTeam from 2011-2014, serving as section leader from ’12-’14. Lauren is currently a music education major at the University of Delaware and plans to graduate in Spring 2015. Any free time in Lauren’s busy schedule is spent frolicking and making friends with America’s largest untamed velociraptor population. You can visit Lauren’s personal writing blog here: http://surfingtheflowersong.wordpress.com/