Name, age: Michael Madaio, 17 What corps are you in and what is your role this summer? Bluecoats bass 5 Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. Four years of High School Marching Band in the TOB circuit playing bass drum and one previous year playing bass five with the Bluecoats. How did you decide to be a member of your corps? After some friends I knew came back from the summer, they told me about drum corps, so I went to a few shows and was hooked. What first attracted you to the drum corps activity? Watching my brother's corps practicing in Hershey, Pa., and seeing their dedication, commitment, and hard work put together to achieve the best product they could. What advice would you give to young people who want to march? If this is something you want to do, don't let anything stop you, not the fear of long hours or the fear of mockery like "you're too short" or "you're too young" or the fear that you may get cut. If you want to do it, do it. Do you have any favorite road anecdotes? I realized just how much the staff was focused on fixing the show when, after a run-through in Dallas one day, I was changing in the locker room and the visual caption head looked over at me and started pointing out the things I missed in the run-through that day -- while totally naked. The last good book I read: "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams The last great film I saw: "I <3 Huckabees" Where I go to school: Calvert Hall College High School Three CDs I'd want on a deserted island: Tool, "Lateralus"; The Mars Volta, "Deloused in the Comatorium"; Rammstein, "Mutter" "My favorite TV show:" "Lost" Favorite performers: Danny Carey from Tool, Nicholas Barker from Dimmu Borgir, and Kevin Spacey. How do you "blow off steam?" Practicing, lifting weights, playing video games. What has been your formative drum corps moment? Sitting with the drum line after doing seven music run-throughs listening to Mike Macintosh. It was about three weeks before the end of the season, and we we're all mentally and physically drained. He spoke of how there were times in the season when the drum line carried him and the staff, and there were times when the staff had to carry us. That speech has stayed with me through the difficult times I've faced since last year. Best drum corps show ever: 2000 Cavaliers – "Niagara Falls" What are you most looking forward to about the summer? Working hard, sweating and bleeding with my friends again. That feeling of community that only comes after you've been mentally and physically broken together. And playing clean beats. Best thing about being in a drum corps: There's nothing else going on to distract you for three solid months, and everyone who's a part of it wants to be there more than anything else. Worst thing about being in a drum corps: There's nothing else going on to distract you for three solid months. During tour, the best part of the day is: Packing up and leaving the housing sites. Trying to do 10 things in an hour is such frantic fun. During tour, the worst part of the day is: Waking up. What I want to be when I "grow up": A high school English teacher Describe what you think a typical DCI show will look in 2015. About the same as in 2005. How much has drum corps changed since 1995? If anything, the music will be more exciting, and the drill more complex and difficult. The trends of the last few years are leading towards more and more physically demanding shows.