craiga

LabMaster is correct. I am frankly surprised that any corps still has bus drivers sleeping on classroom floors and using the school showers. I admit that I am not well versed on the Safesport/DCI rules, but it seems to me that having the drivers do this is outdated and simply not best practice. Boston does not do this.

Most drum corps members slather on SPF 50 sunscreen and hats are required. It is an outdoor summer activity.

If the brain trust at BD actually writes, teaches, and cleans real drill this year, that could be a game changer. The arrogance they have shown lately related to the "our members are too sophisticated to need written drill" has been the cause of their decreasing placements.* There are at least five corps whose visual programs are superior to theirs. Going back to actual drill would solve this. Let their performers actually perform! *Podcast interview with Scott and Jay winter of 2025

The bus drivers come with the buses from the company. The corps do have to hire the drivers for the trucks.

So, Boston is at full strength and moved into Castleton. There is only one question remaining. What time is the run-through?

Today is the day! BAC moves in to the beautiful University of Vermont in Castleton. It is a beautiful campus, surrounded by the Green Mountains and the weather forecast this upcoming week looks terrific. Clear skies, 40s and 50s at night and daytime highs in the upper 70s and low 80s. Eat 'em up, Boston!

I think I had used my debit card so that would make sense. Thanks!

Hey folks, I opened up my banking app this morning (a local credit union here in Maine) and discovered seven separate credits from FLO each for $1.65. Does anyone know what this is about? For the record, I cancelled my FLO last September and haven't renewed yet. Thanks, Craig

Every summer, the Texas kids are shocked by two things: cold nights in Vermont and Fluffernutters!

I'm personally not qualified to make a judgement on sound integration, but I will say this. For two years in a row, the judging community has put the Blue Devils on notice they can no longer get away with their pedantic lack of visual design. Eleven minutes of follow the leader at a medium swing tempo broken up by random scatters into amorphous blobs is neither creative nor musical. If BD doesn't reinvent itself, they could well end up behind a surging Phantom Regiment and a Keith Potter reinvigorated Crown. That would be sixth place.

Agreed, but as a fellow alum in my 60s, I also recall that many if not most drum corps in the 70s and even up to the mid 80s also repeated some tunes year after year. It was admittedly easier to get away with because these were generally "variety show" repertoires as opposed to the theme shows, which didn't really kick in in a big way until in the late 80s.

I understand your point, and I would suggest this: even though many people criticize our activity for abandoning our traditions, in many ways it still is a very traditional activity. We use the 9-5-5 battery set up (or close to it) because that is a traditional approach, leaving the front ensemble to experiment with all manner of more eclectic instrumentation. It is very similar to color guard. Unless you're doing a war rememberance show of some kind, there is no artistic reason to have rifles and sabres on the field. But, these are considered traditional drum corps staples and are legitimate to be used whether you're doing the 1812 or Dave Brubeck. I know you're at coming at this as a serious percussionist, and you're not wrong. For me, as an overall fan, I still enjoy the "traditional" aspects of our activity. And, by keeping the snare/tenor/bass strategy as well as rifles and sabres, this approach has allowed these members to achieve levels of performance that are now mind boggling, imo. Enjoy 2026!

Can't wait for the season to begin! I plan on visiting on the second weekend in June, even though I moved an hour further away last winter. Road trip for Max and me!

I was not suggesting that these local programs existed to fund the Drum Corps tour. My point was that the fundraising happens in part due to the visibility of these very important local programs.

I don't know. I've never had the privilege of serving on the BOD. But I will say the board has been this size for more than ten years and it would seem to be effective.