Name, hometown, corps: Euan Braidwood (better known as Verno, or big Vern), Brighton, U.K., 6th Hove Scouts
   
What is your role in the corps this summer? This summer I will be marching as bass drum captain of the 6th Hove Scouts for my ninth season. We have five guys on bass -- a BIG line in the UK!
   

Euan "Verno" Braidwood
In the UK corps members balance full time education and/or a job. What's your work/education situation and how do you balance it with corps life? I work full-time for an engineering firm in Brighton as an apprentice/trainee mechanical engineer. But to make ends meat I also work part time on the weekends as a nightclub doorman. As part of my ongoing apprenticeship, I study part time for a BTEC national certificate in mechanical engineering. Balancing my entire life for me is no easy task. Most of the time I get it right, but there are occasions that I don't. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background, and how each position prepared you for the leadership role you're in this summer. I started at the tender age of 10, when I joined our newly formed cadet corps back in 1994. I played bass drum there in '94 and '95. Then in '96 I moved up to our main corps to join the already established bass drum line. From there it was the lower end of the bass line, except for in 2002, where I played in the pit due to an injury. The rest is history.
   
The last good book I read: I'm not really a book person, I don't get much time to read. I can't remember the last book I read.
   
The last great film I saw: "Bad Boys 2." It's such a great film. Made me really laugh.
   
Three CDs I'd want on a deserted island: 1. Red Hot Chili Peppers -- " Californication"
2. System of a Down -- "Please Steal this Album"
3. Any real DCI CD, something by the Cadets, I'm not fussy.
   
My favourite TV show: "My Wife and Kids" Favourite performers: Would have to be the famous cast of "Blast" for me!1 How do you "blow off steam?" I either go practice away to take my mind off things or I go lift some weights.
   
Why I march with the corps I am in: This is a question I have often asked myself and other people have asked me too. For me personally I don't judge a season by if we win or not, but how successful I have been and how successful the line was. At 6th Hove I believe us to be different from many corps. We play to win like most drum corps, but it is not our ultimate goal. Our goal is to go out there have fun and yet be competitive. We have such a wide spectrum of people within the corps, yet we get on so well and have a real family feeling throughout the corps. And if I was to leave it would be like losing my family and a real big part of the real me.
   
Was it always your goal to be in a leadership role? It really has never been my goal to be in such a role. To be honest I have really just drifted into it as I got older and gained more experience. It's a role I really enjoy.
   
How will you go about balancing the roles of leader and corpsmate? To be both is rather difficult and a fine balance. Each role has its own time and place. I have to have it in me to know the time for each. There is a time for fun and mucking about and being everyone's best corpsmate, and there are times when I need to stick my leader's cap on and keep the line in check. But I am learning this as I go along.
   
What has been your formative drum corps moment? It's very hard to decide, there has been so many over the years. There are two moments that stick in my mind. Back in 1998 when we won our class with "Romeo and Juliet" was a rather dramatic moment it my life. And the other would be when last season we won our class after such a crazy pre-season. It would be the only occasion I have ever cried because of a show I had just marched. I put my all into that finals performance, for two sets of people -- myself and my fellow corps members. Yep, it was unusual to see this big man cry and those of you from the line would know it was just the onions. That's all!
   
Best drum corps show ever: A show that really touched me would have to be 2002 Boston Crusaders with "You are my Star." I felt it was such an emotional show and fitting dedication.
   
What are you most looking forward to about the summer? I'm really looking forward to hitting that field and marching, as that's what I live for. My feet are itching to go. Plus a nice tan is always good.
   
Best thing about being a drum corps leader: Having the respect and admiration of fellow corps members.
   
Worst thing about being a drum corps leader: Having to yell at people to get into line and stopping them from mucking around. During tour, the best part of the day is: Psyching myself to get ready for the day's performance.
   
During tour, the worst part of the day is: Would have to be the early mornings after the hard day before.
   
Favourite drum corps personality and why: There are many, but if I would have to choose one, it would be our percussion instructor, Sven Parris. I have known this man for over nine years now and he never fails to surprise me with his motivational speeches and catchphrases. He is the driving force behind our great line. If everyone has lost faith, he will always be there with a smile and some kind of a quirky talk. Plus I feel over the years he has been such a good friend too me.
   
What do you want to be when your drum corps career is over? Not sure really. I would have to keep within the drum corps circuit, possibly in an instruction role and/or back room staff. Who knows?