Friday night lights aren’t just on the football team, they’re also focused on the highly anticipated halftime marching band show.

As each show seems to increase with level of intensity, the pressure to keep up impressive shows and good competition scores makes participating students uneasy.

“I play into a microphone,” said junior Maria Fitzgerald. “So I’m scared I’ll screw up.”

But the spotlight isn’t just shining on those who have solos throughout the show; it’s also on the drum majors who are responsible for conducting throughout the performance.

“The drum majors are accountable for what goes on in the band and for what happens during a performance,” said senior drum major Grace Olsen.

However, the pressure to do a good job isn’t just felt by those in the spotlight.  Each participating student constantly feels the pressure from the directors to make sure things flow smoothly throughout the show so they’re able to get the highest possible scores at competitions.

Freshman Elanorre Bester believes there is pressure from the band directors because they want their students to do their best.

The Marching Band competes in competitions every Saturday from the beginning of September to the end of October.  This means there’s at least one show per weekend, bringing lots of stress to students.

“I rehearse the show in my head (before each performance),” Fitzgerald said. “I hum through the show and practice my steps.”

Despite the restlessness that comes before shows, the band students wouldn’t want to trade the experience for anything else.

Olsen speaks for the band when she says the satisfaction of completing a show outweighs the pre-show nerves.