7 Forgotten Dangers of Band

Everybody who has done band in high school knows the perils of playing an instrument. From the deadly heat of summer to the razor edge of a reed knife, the dangers are definitely there. Here are some that we sometimes forget that we must encounter:

1. Reed Stick In - Anybody who plays a reed instrument has done this before. As you were playing, you accidentally push your oboe/clarinet/bassoon/saxophone into your mouth too hard, resulting in a horrible sensation deep within your mouth. Furthermore, your once perfect reed looks like it just reached the hospital after being in a fight with the Arnold.
   
   Scar Level: Injured Mouth... worse, loss of a reed.
   
   
2. Bus Ride - The bus rides aren't that brutal, but enough brutality in it to be mentioned. A long day at school usually means the brains are usually dead. So what do I do? I sensibly obey my body and go to sleep on the bus. But then, SOME people *cough* Lila *cough* just LOVE to draw on people who sleep or do weird things to them...
   
   Scar Level: None, except ugly stuff on your face.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Collision Course - The basic principals that govern the streets also govern the marching field. Example: if you were to choose to run into a sousaphone or a flute, which one would you choose (with the sousaphone equivalent of a Hummer and a flute a smart car)? Still, some drill designers LOVE to test the speed of the marchers by deliberately putting various people into a collision course with the largest instruments. Grrr....
   
   Scar Level: Depending on speed of collision, anywhere from bruises to broken legs due to fallen sousaphone on your legs.
   
   
4. The Flamingo Falldown - My balance isn't the greatest, nor I bet half the band members' balance is top notch either. But then to make the drills look more snazzy, the marchers sometimes will have to perform moves that make them look like flamingos, standing on one leg. I have to admit that one some of the times, I did trip.
   
   Scar Level: Hurt pride and scratches
   
   
   
   
   
5. Slip of Bleachers - Rain, the enemy of all marching bands.
   
   
   
   
   Rain + Grass = Bad.
   Rain + Bleachers = Worse.
   Rain + Marching a Show + Going Back to Slick Bleachers = Worse than worse.
   
   
   Basic math. (Oh, admit it, you did slip on the bleachers when it was dry too...)
   
   
   Scar Level: Minor scratches, and being the butt of a joke for a few days.
   
   
6. Baton Sticking - This happen more during concert season. You know when the conductor or drum major starts getting too excited from being able to wave a stick? Suddenly, that person will accidentally release the baton (or worse, the mace....), flinging it towards a group of band members at speeds approaching the speed of a fast strolling ostrich.
   
   Scar Level: Anywhere ranging from nothing to a poked eye. >.>
   
   
7. Flute/Trombone Smackdone - Flutes and Trombones sometimes forget that they have a huge extension of their body. So when they turn really fast, and you happen to be standing right beside them, you WILL get smacked in the face. The worst thing is when you're looking away and gets smacked by a flute turning around and the flautist didn't notice.
   
   Scar Level: Bruised head.
   

Got your own dangers? Post them in the comments!

-runiteking1

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