Name, age, hometown: Callie Martin, 20, New Brighton, Minn. What corps are you in and what is your role this summer? Southwind, I'm in the color guard. Where I go to school and what I'm studying: I go to University of Wisconsin-Stout and I'm majoring in hotel, restaurant, and tourism management and service management. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. I marched with Southwind in 2003 and then had to take a year off, but came back in 2005 and now marching my ageout year this year with Southwind.

Callie Martin
What's your practice schedule like? During the off-season, I try to do something guard-related every day -- either working out, running or spinning.    What does your ideal free day consist of? My ideal free day happened this year when we went to New York City. I'm a big fan of traveling and sight-seeing, so a free day in a big city is the best thing I think. Favorite pig-out food: Chicken patty sandwiches and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but I only like those on tour. In the shower you can hear me singing: "Phantom of the Opera," Kelly Clarkson (or anyone along those lines). The last good book I read: "Wicked" The last great film I saw: "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" Jobs I have/have had: I'm a waitress at the Green Mill and I am also the head color guard instructor at Menomonie High School. My favorite TV show: "Family Guy" or "The Simpsons" What has been your formative drum corps moment? Performing in semifinals for the first time last year or getting a standing ovation (both are great). What would you be doing next summer if you were not marching? I would either be working at my job now or I'd be doing an internship somewhere. How did you decide to be a member of your corps? I didn't really want to do drum corps at first, but then my brother Ross, who is a year older than me, convinced me that it was a fun thing to do. I instantly loved Southwind after audition camp. What first attracted you to the drum corps activity? Going to visit my brother in 2002 and just seeing the atmosphere of the behind the stage version of it. Plus I didn't want to stop spinning. What advice would you give to young people who want to march? If you are bouncing back and forth about marching or not, just do it. It is a great experience to meet a bunch of new people and learn a lot about yourself. What I want to be when I "grow up": An event planner. I eventually want to live in Chicago and work for the NRA (National Restaurant Association) convention. Best drum corps show ever and why: Madison '98, with the guard members dancing on the boxes. I'm not really sure why, the show is just so entertaining and would be a blast to perform. The year is 2030. What does a DCI show look like? If it keeps going in the direction it has been, I see huge props and a bunch of people just holding instruments and making formations because everything will be prerecorded and played while the corps marches. The color guard would be HUGE and really not do anything too difficult -- just something that is eye-appealing, with big flags and flashy uniforms. I also forsee many easily understandable show that don't take much thought to understand the point (kind of towards big BOA shows).