DESIGNER'S TOOLBOX - SETUPS

[mingusmonk]

Just because he used the Bluecoats as an example doesn't make his commentary any less valid. Not taking his post seriously over that, rather than simply taking issue with the overall point itself, is silly.

Agreed that in and of itself, using Bluecoats as an example is fine. But given his or her posting history, there is a fairly consistent underlying message. Buzz-killing the recent climb of the Bluecoats because of a failure to meet his/her repeated diatribes on theater, storytelling and narrative techniques. These rubrics are nice and all. And while there is some overlap, they aren't entirely grounded on things DCI's back end. They come across as somebody pitching their theatrical design knowledge for a potential client. Which seems like an odd thing to be doing on DCP.

[drumcorpsfever]

Reply error. Removed.

Edited May 23, 2016 by drumcorpsfever

[Stu]

Whether an old-timer or a newbie to the DCI activity, which following scenario would likely increase ticket sales at large stadium venues and bring DCI an ever-increasing fan base?

In order to enjoy and appreciate the presentations audience members only need to see/hear tremendous performances of live music and motion presented by some of the best young performers in the world within a high-quality competitive environment and nothing more is required for that enjoyment, or…

In order to enjoy and appreciate the presentations audience members are required to first engage with academic contextual lessons concerning obscure titles, listen to spiels delivered by each design team prior to the performances explaining the nuances, along with costumes props symbols and narration being injected in order to convey the underlying message, and moreover, the potential audience members must also watch ancillary videos as well as web promotions to help clarify the design team’s exposition and point of view; and then and only then the audience members who actually do all that are the only ones who will likely garner real enjoyment from the tremendous performances by some of the best young performers in the world within a high-quality competitive environment.

[Cappybara]

Agreed that in and of itself, using Bluecoats as an example is fine. But given his or her posting history, there is a fairly consistent underlying message. Buzz-killing the recent climb of the Bluecoats because of a failure to meet his/her repeated diatribes on theater, storytelling and narrative techniques. These rubrics are nice and all. And while there is some overlap, they aren't entirely grounded on things DCI's back end. They come across as somebody pitching their theatrical design knowledge for a potential client. Which seems like an odd thing to be doing on DCP.

I wasn't too aware of his history of bashing the Bluecoats, I'm well aware of it now. While I do disagree with him on his take on the Bluecoats (2015 is one of my all time favorites by Bloo), I agree with his overall point that shows should be cohesive and focused, and that it should be complex to a point in which the nuances of the show can be noticed on multiple viewings. Shows that try to take on a super abstract idea but end up being disjointed are not my favorite. However, disjointed is not a way I would describe BC 2014 & 2015 or any BD show for that matter.

[Stu]

... However, disjointed is not a way I would describe BC 2014 & 2015 or any BD show for that matter.

And.... because the 2012 BD show was not disjointed, but instead it clearly had organizational structure, it subsequently completely and totally misrepresented Cabaret Voltaire DADA Performance Art!

[Channel3]

And.... because the 2012 BD show was not disjointed, but instead it clearly had organizational structure, it subsequently completely and totally misrepresented Cabaret Voltaire DADA Performance Art!

Abstraction should be used as a potent spice. Cleary this over-regimented medium is deliciously wrong for dada. That made the show look like one of those massively over-mechanized art installations at airports. A fluid bird made of rust belt parts. Computer generated poetry. It was one more nail in the coffin of military bearing in this art form, soon to be replaced with a sleeker non-military unison.

Rewrite of Spring was too abstract for this medium, with no tie to the performers themselves. Why were these performers doing this ballet? Voltaire at least had avante guard artists in common at its thematic core.

[drumcorpsfever]

Whether an old-timer or a newbie to the DCI activity, which following scenario would likely increase ticket sales at large stadium venues and bring DCI an ever-increasing fan base?

In order to enjoy and appreciate the presentations audience members only need to see/hear tremendous performances of live music and motion presented by some of the best young performers in the world within a high-quality competitive environment and nothing more is required for that enjoyment, or…

In order to enjoy and appreciate the presentations audience members are required to first engage with academic contextual lessons concerning obscure titles, listen to spiels delivered by each design team prior to the performances explaining the nuances, along with costumes props symbols and narration being injected in order to convey the underlying message, and moreover, the potential audience members must also watch ancillary videos as well as web promotions to help clarify the design team’s exposition and point of view; and then and only then the audience members who actually do all that are the only ones who will likely garner real enjoyment from the tremendous performances by some of the best young performers in the world within a high-quality competitive environment.

"Tilt" notwithstanding, I think shows that combine the best of both worlds are one's in which have the biggest upside potential. You shouldn't have to do a research project prior to viewing, but having some nuancel complexity adds an important layer to the show's presentation.

[Stu]

"Tilt" notwithstanding, I think shows that combine the best of both worlds are one's in which have the biggest upside potential. You shouldn't have to do a research project prior to viewing, but having some nuancel complexity adds an important layer to the show's presentation.

Cadets 'Angels and Demons': Easy to comprehend on a first viewing level; and also wonderful on the nuance level when a person realizes what the Demons do to the Doxology.

Edited May 24, 2016 by Stu

[Stu]

Abstraction should be used as a potent spice. Cleary this over-regimented medium is deliciously wrong for dada. That made the show look like one of those massively over-mechanized art installations at airports. A fluid bird made of rust belt parts. Computer generated poetry....

Rewrite of Spring was too abstract for this medium, with no tie to the performers themselves. Why were these performers doing this ballet? Voltaire at least had avante guard artists in common at its thematic core.

So, you admit that the BD Cabaret show did not contain DADA and was a massively over mechanized airport type art presentation, and that ReWrite of Spring was too abstract for this medium and had no connection to the performers; both of which fly in the face of your original posting of ‘what it takes’ in the Designer Toolbox Setups. Yet…. Cabaret Voltaire took first place with a score of 98.7 and ReWrite took second place with a score of 98.05. Hmmmmmm....

It was one more nail in the coffin of military bearing in this art form, soon to be replaced with a sleeker non-military unison.

By the way, you can make a valid statement that DCI is moving away from military roots, but it is completely and utterly erroneous to state that non-military motion is actually sleeker and more unison (see the Marine Silent Drill Team)

Edited May 24, 2016 by Stu

[Channel3]

Whether an old-timer or a newbie to the DCI activity, which following scenario would likely increase ticket sales at large stadium venues and bring DCI an ever-increasing fan base?

In order to enjoy and appreciate the presentations audience members only need to see/hear tremendous performances of live music and motion presented by some of the best young performers in the world within a high-quality competitive environment and nothing more is required for that enjoyment, or…

In order to enjoy and appreciate the presentations audience members are required to first engage with academic contextual lessons concerning obscure titles, listen to spiels delivered by each design team prior to the performances explaining the nuances, along with costumes props symbols and narration being injected in order to convey the underlying message, and moreover, the potential audience members must also watch ancillary videos as well as web promotions to help clarify the design team’s exposition and point of view; and then and only then the audience members who actually do all that are the only ones who will likely garner real enjoyment from the tremendous performances by some of the best young performers in the world within a high-quality competitive environment.

This is an example of the black and white binary thinking that prevails on here. Look at the language. "Old Timer. Newbie." "Scenario A or Scenario B." It's fun to see it on this message board-- it's mostly because musicians are more left brained and numeric than they let on. Notice how this post separates audiences into two camps: shows that completely stand alone and shows that don't at all. "Either a show will stand on its own with no background information or not." Black. White. For here. To go. Hot. Cold. Day. Night. All. Nothing. Win. Lose.

The best shows work on both levels- - instantly accessible, but deeper upon further viewing and research. A mixture of the two is best, and that's the designer's challenge.