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Yes but we had to pull teeth and beat you over the head to get a lucid question so we knew how to answer. Lol

The 2013 Bushwackers season is in the books and we had a FANTASTIC FINISH! The Bushwackers got back into Finals after a 2 year absence and placed 8th in both Prelims and Finals at Annapolis this year. The faces of the members were beaming all weekend long. This was due in large part to our OUTSTANDING DONORS! Thanks to the 300+ Donors, the Corps was able to survive its hardship 2 years ago and still exist today. Without these Donors, The Bushwackers would not exist, nor would we be able to provide new uniforms and other equipment that the Corps needs. However, there are more people to thank for the Bushwacker Success. Thank you Admin and Volunteers, because of your help, the members only had to worry about their job: playing, spinning, marching. Thanks to the great Admin and Volunteers, we were able to settle all logistical issues before members even stepped foot onto the rehearsal sites. Thank you FANS! Because of your continued support throughout the years, the Bushwackers Admin, Staff, Volunteer, and Members always kept a positive mindset and pushed on forward. ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS OFF THE FIELD translated to our success ON THE FIELD, and for that we are forever grateful. We Are: The Bushwackers But more importantly, We Are: Forever Grateful

Closing this. Again.

I stopped reading after about 3 sentences.

Yowza. Animals poop a lot. Why not call the show "From Dada to Doodoo"?

I agree. Actually they should not allow people to judge for a long period of time with out going back and having involvement with a corps. There are people judging now some in postions overseeing judges who would not know or remember what to do if put in front of a guard, drill program or horn line.

Chops, Inc. Returns to the Field in 2014! Chops, Inc. Drum and Bugle Corps is excited to announce our return to DCA competition in 2014! Our Open House and first rehearsal is 6 PM on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at Harding High School in St. Paul, Minnesota. Interested prospective members should visit www.chopsinc.com/join. This is a unique opportunity to meet our instructional staff, get acquainted with Chops technique and expectations, and begin a new tradition of excellence with the 2005 DCA Class A Champions and perennial fan favorites! The Chops, Inc. Board of Directors has invested significant time, energy, and resources into a successful 2014 field competition season. This includes hiring new staff, purchasing new instruments, and working hard to guarantee the financial stability of the corps for many years. 2014 Chops Inc. Design Team The 2014 Program Coordinator is Sean Cunningham. Sean is the Director of Orange County Independent Percussion, a Winter Guard International Percussion Independent Open Class program and the reigning 2013 Silver Medalists. In addition, Sean has worked with The Velvet Knights and Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps. Also joining Sean on the Chops, Inc. design team are Vince Stewart (Brass and Visual) and Peter Crawford (Percussion). Vince has served as the Program Coordinator for Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps for the last several years and has managed to develop the crowd-favorite Impulse shows we all know and love, while maintaining a competitive edge in the DCI community. Peter Graduated from Cal State Bakersfield with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance and Composition, is the owner of Crawford Music Productions and has been writing and arranging for Sean on several projects. "We plan to develop the 2014 program to be competitive in the DCA community with just the right amount of demand and serve the Chops, Inc. style - quality entertainment with a touch of humor. We will serve the marching members by designing a show they will love to learn and perform, and - most importantly - give the DCA fans a highly entertaining show!" - Sean Cunningham The Southern California-based design team is seeking local staff (Brass, Percussion, Guard, Visual) and support personnel from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. If interested, please send resume and cover letter to sean@chopsinc.com Chops, Inc., founded in 1991, is an all-age music & performance organization based in Minneapolis, MN.

With THAT outfit, he could be the President of the Fran Haring Fan Club! Or the John Daly FC, for that matter.

Me thinks DCP should enact their new "spay and neuter" policy! :tongue:/> Nice piece of levity, Normy............now get back on that stool at the end of the bar at Cheers...where you belong!

I find this forum extremely fascinating. As I stated in an earlier post here, I am not all that familiar with how a DCA corps runs, but reading this forum, I keep seeing that DCA is a cheaper alternative to drum corps than DCI. It definitely is cheaper than DCI World Class. But, if you add Championship weekend costs (hotel, food, transportation-if you drive and not take the provided transportation) and add that to the fact that DCA corps do not provide meals during practice, along with your own food and transportation costs to local shows (as stated in replys to my earlier post), all of a sudden its not that cheap anymore. Its seems more on a level of fees for certain Open Class corps though. Is there also a separate winter per camp fee? So what is the real cost to join a DCA corps? I would think its closer to $1000 - $1300 for the season when all things are added in.

Seriously, having a conversation one on one is far better than tossing it out there and letting all of us in the peanut gallery pipe in.

Keith how long have you been here? Moderation is not done out for the world to see. While I applaud your idea, you're better off pleading your case behind the scenes. I don't think I've ever seen a ban over turned

Well John, there is historical evidence showing that broken clock is right twice a day. And it always come down to historical evidence right? :tongue:/>

From reading all the 'official' postings it appears to me that: a) Kieth Hall of the Band Hall provided an initial investment of seed capital; b) After that initial investment, which built the foundation of the corps, they did not create a sustainable revenue source for operational costs apart from membership dues; c) this created a situation in which the corps membership numbers grew each year rather quickly, not really based on competitive grounds, but on the need for those dues as the main operational revenue source; then d) combine this with the many days in between secured shows out on tour in which the corps had to pay out a considerable amount for housing costs each night without a show being scheduled. So, to me, the lesson to be garnered is this: Even if you have enough seed investment to build the foundation of a full-corps, do not commit to touring that corps in the DCI Open Class unless you can sustain a hefty portion of operational costs from something other than membership dues. P.S. I am just glad that the folding happened after they got home and not out on the road like many other corps.

Who cares? Both circuits bring something to the table.

To answer the title question: Ego. Ego drives certain people to try, no matter what. Someone out there is thinking "if only *I* had the resources of MC, *I* would've done better. I know I can do better."

I know time will tell and my 2 cents mean nothing, but if you take a look at the drum corps situation here in Florida, you'd realize that there are ZERO junior corps anywhere even remotely close to here and not one single show to speak of. Meanwhile, on the all-age side we had two field corps, a mini corps, and an alumni corps. There was also a very successful DCA show held this past season. To be honest, my money would be on growing the all-age activity here into a viable region. Realize that TBT and Sun Devils are only 100 miles apart and are both located on the west side of the state. Not for nothing, there is a lot of fertile ground here to support another corps or two. Miami, Jacksonville, Daytona, Orlando? If Thunder stayed and just one more all-age corps were to get started, there would be enough corps to have relatively local shows whenever they wanted IN FLORIDA! I understand that there are some aspects of the DCA experience that make it difficult for Florida members, but DCI Open Class is probably the WORST place to operate a drum corps in terms of finances, support from the circuit, etc. I don't get it, but then again, I don't have to. And I still wish them success.

Can we trade someone currently here and get Tommy Allen and a banned poster to be named later back?

As a virtual outsider when it comes to details of DCA, I appreciate this pointed answer/articulation & comparison to DCI and DCA! I really appreciate the difference in the two circuits, and how each organizations serves their unique fan base's needs. I agree that the two organizations should not consider merging, though collaboration and cooperation seems to be key to both organizations' success.

I've seen people say "I'm sick of DCI ... I'll only support DCA corps from now on." Has anyone actually said "DCI should be like DCA?" Please, show me examples of this. This whole thread is based on one giant strawman argument.

And you, of all people, would appreciate our parade uniforms: But yes. I'm excited. So excited!

I think I gave all I had, competatively speaking, back in 1996. I was tired and eager to get in my car and drive home. Viewing the top Corps at DCA Finals, cemented that feeling! I didn't watch all of them. Of those that I did see, this is what caught my attention: Minnesota Brass was amazing to watch. The drill was frenetic! (The equivalent of running around the field at 90 miles an hour with a Volkswagen on your shoulder!) I didn't know what the show was about and trying to figure that out for myself, was difficult. Empire Statesmen: If there is a right way to retire a drumcorps, we all saw it Sunday night! That show had everything I consider to be what DCA was all about, during my competative days. It's one thing to have a top corps with a few "showmen" who know how to work a crowd. It's quite another, to have a top Corps where ALL the members know how to work a crowd! Cadets2: I saw a portion of thier competative show. They are a cut above, in style and content and most noticably, in decorum. (During the retreat) The drumline was the standout section of their corps, in my opinion. Bucs: The ladders caught my attention throughout the show, particularly when they were used "percussively" at one point. Guard uniforms were interesting. I see a WGI influence in todays corps. (It takes a while for an old guy like me to catch up with current trends) They seemed to manage their drill a bit better than the other corps. All of the Class A Corps have stepped up their game this season, particularly Excelsior. I like the Blues, so I enjoyed Shenendoah Sounds show. Govenairs are still the model for how to do small drumcorps. White Sabers paid attention to that fact and deservedly won. Not many Mini corps this year, but a good show regardless. Ghost Riders played the audience like a violin! I performed in my first Alumni Spectacular show with my "Home Corps" (Steel City Ambassadors). We went on first at 10 a.m. Music from the 1986, 87, 88 and 1989 competative seasons of the corps still resonate in my mind, to this day. Watching some of the Open Class corps on Sunday night, I realized that even if I had the notion of competing once more, I wouldn't last 30 seconds of the drill. I'd have a heart attack. You gotta know when to throw in the towel. I'm okay with that. So, what caught YOUR eye?

Last year, I was just a father of a member, who accidently became a junior admin, because I would see things that needed to be done, and would do them. I was there for the struggles, and ultimately not qualifying for Finals last year, but still saw the desire, and the Bushwacker attitude bubbling underneath. November brought the addition of Minesh and his staff and a buzz started happening. Minesh was fully responsible for the theme of the show, celebrating Bush's past, while defining what Bush is all about. He pulled together a group of teachers that could bring Bush back to Finals. The 2 themes in part 5 of our show were "Believe" and "Sunday". We believed we would perform Sunday Night in Finals. I personally gave my full commitment to the corps to make sure they were fed, and that the little things were taken care of, so the members could concentrate on being great. Minesh and his staff did the rest. As the father of a member, I am so thankful that the members got the instruction and the inspiration to get where they did this year. As an admin of the corps I am so proud to have been a part of Bush coming back from the doom of a couple years ago and making the statement this year that "Bush is Back!" Even though my son now has hopes of DCI this coming year, and I may not be up to my neck in admin duties like this past season, I am still very excited for what the future holds for Bush, and very proud of all of my "kids" for what they have accomplished this year, and what lies ahead. Roger Frantzman Father of Richie Frantzman, Bush Quads '12 & '13

absolutely true. the vast majority of fans were able to ENJOY the show without explanation. because..it was just really good drum corps.

who cares..it was a great show..and had enough in it without explanation.....thats coming from many who stood up and I would bet anything most didnt know a darn thing about any of it. :tongue:/>/> and that's from being front and center 50 yrd line LOS :smile:/>

I would certainly not hesitate to give them an award for "most improved over the summer months" if there were such a thing! Nice job Bush!

I bet the author has a t-shirt on that says "i'm with stupid" and hat that says "who farted".

No, I just read something about spiders and moths. Then I realized I had better things to do thn trying to understand what the heck is going on.

I get where you are going, but maybe you should have substituted "100 plastic poles" for "wormholes". Crown's wormhole worked on a several levels. At the most basic, it was a nice magic trick, and everybody's happy when the guy gets the girl.

Being an old guy and very music focused (drill is secondary to my --hoped for--emotional response to music), I fell asleep during the quarter finals performances of several corps, Blue Knights being one of them. So many corps' designs are the same anymore that I was bored by all but 4 corps..."motivic fragment, drum/run, same motivic fragment up a 1/2 step and faster, drum/run, same motivic fragment up ANOTHER 1/2 step but now with a mellophone counter-melody...chord...pose to hide dirty drill set, fade into next motivic fragment section of show...". Yep, I'm a cynic. I miss emotional responses to the power of the performance in the moment by the kids in front of me instead of intellectual "appreciation" for the designers' purported "cleverness". Bah, time to go smoke a cigar and wonder where my gray hairs came from so fast...;-)

BUSH!

Freddie will have to be satisfied with his stint guarding the gate in Annapolis... I've done all the traveling I'm going to do for this year... oh and Freddie was in Germany too... Great seeing you and Freddie, Tony... and thanks for the compliments...

"Darth Silva said...."

Only this is a privately owned and run site

it's ok. my battery went dead anyway. good talking to ya my twin brother.

well then here's my thoughts, which may be wordy. I watched every World Class corps at Allentown, and I watched every DCA corps that came to Annapolis. I didn't see any DCI Open Class corps live, as nothing was within 4 hours of me, but I watched several online. Both have their niche. I do not expect DCA corps to be DCI clean because of the schedule. While DCA corps pop scores in the high 90's, it's known by the judging community it's not DCi clean, and if you look at the recaps, you see people judge in both circuits. DCA has a new communication caption, handled by the effect judges. It seems a little vague, but it does seem to go more into how the performers communicate the show to the crowd beyond the usual GE sheet stuff. Now do both circuits have some shows that are more weighted to the intellectual side of things? yes. But then again, both circuits have corps that program for the emotional.I think the DCA philosophy of entertainment being publicized is where you get the impression from some posters DCI is in need of guidance from DCA. I can tell you this year I enjoyed far more of the DCA shows I saw live than the DCI ones. In other years it's been the other way around.But in DCA, there does seem to be more of an emotional connection between the crowd and the corps than in DCI. I think one advantage for DCA with that is smaller venues ( and no domes). It comes off as more initimate. DCA at this point is still an older crowd, but the tide is changing and it was eivdent not just on the field, but in the stands. As DCA continues its slow but steady growth plan, I expect the fanbase to continue to change and morph. DCi continues to go after the young, while slowly bleeding off the older crowd. It happens..old folks die. But the arms race in DCi continues to raise the cost for people to participate, and as such, corps keep going away. There's many reasons for it, the G7 stuff, the way OC has set themselves up to fail with their pay structure and governance, etc, but thats threads for a different day. There are peoplein the world that think DCI is the only show in town, and still believe DCA is full of old drunks. There are people in the world that think DCA is it, and DCI is driven by ego maniac designers and their art. And there are people that like both, and see pros and cons to each. Count me here. No one needs to follow anyone else's lead...BOA, WGI, DCI DCA. they all have their own thing. But the cooperation that has been building between all of the groups is a huge plus that only strengthens all. Imagine 5 years ago seeing an article about DCA on the DCI webpage. get the #### outta here....yet now you do. I went to WGi percussion week 2 years ago and saw DCI and DCA with booths there for recruiting and info. Unheard of 5 years ago. The key players in both have realized they need to work together. Sure some don't like it. But they need it.

You only liked it because you were "up close and personal" with the skunk that got into the stadium!!! LOL I didn't mind Syracuse, personally. I'll pass on Allentown, thanks...the lighting was terrible, the wooden seats were falling apart and filled with yellow jackets and there was no parking...and THE HILL. I know that Lackawanna County Stadium in Scranton is no longer drum corps friendly...but what about the facility that currently hosts the single-night show? Would it be able to accommodate the championships? As for Annapolis, if you were sitting under the overhang, the PA system was super terrible-we couldn't hear/understand ANYTHING. Nearly missed the 50/50 winning number on Saturday, missed all announcements of prelim scores (what happened to the "good old days" when scores were announced as we went along, so that we were only "held hostage" to the last three or so scores?) and pretty much anything else that was announced. I never flew to Rochester, only drove so not sure what the airport experience is like...but I could certainly do without BWI. Every time I've flown into/out of there, there are ALWAYS delays. We actually left yesterday, sticking around for an extra day to sight see in DC...and were rewarded for travelling on a non-holiday with a three plus hour delay. It had nothing to do with weather in either Baltimore or our destination, both were calm and clear. I also had the same complaint this year that I had last year-there were NO ushers available to help people find their seats-so people would end up coming all the way up the aisle only to realize they needed to be on the opposite side of the section. With all the cadets available, couldn't we have a couple at the exit of each tunnel to help direct people? The big problem we are bound to have no matter where we end up, is the fact that football teams play on drum corps fields-and there are a lot more of THEM than there are of US. It isn't as big of an issue with DCI because their season ends before football season starts. As long as DCA holds their championships on Labor Day weekend, it will be an issue. While Rochester is not the most beautiful city to host the championships, it really has most everything that we need-a great venue for I&E/mini corps, tons of restaurants and hotels, lots of parking close to the stadium, a decent stadium with a great concession variety and plenty of them, and no restrictions on corps getting to play their championship encores. The only drawback to the Rochester stadium is that the seats don't fold-so when someone is entering/leaving a row, it's always an adventure. No matter where they're held, there will be some who will be ecstatic and others who will swear there's no way they're going there and they'll watch on FN, and others who will reluctantly attend live anyway. And there'll be some guy announcing it all wearing an extremely wild shirt.

well..one person's opinion...FWIW...I've done Scranton, Rochester and Annapolis..(and Allentown if you count performing) I can do without Scranton..it was ok, but not great.. Rochester...love the stadium, hate the town..I have never had an easy time driving to or from the stadium...roads always closed off,,,detours.,..just not likin' it, and will not go back ...I've already planned to purchase the stream instead. Plus I've run out of enjoyable things do during the down time. Annapolis...LOVED it...the town, the stadium, the people...nothing I didn't like about it..except the handicapped parking is most definitely NOT in the right place in reference to the stadium. I would go every year if Finals were there...My wife and I make it a mini vacation and we love it...

AWESOME brass staff changes! But when is the design staff (minus Drew Shanefield) going to change? That's the real problem IMO.

Al Gore warned us in 2006 that ".....within 10 years you will see a decrease in the size of the polar cap, an increase in violent weather damage, and a drying up of percussionists available for the increasing brass........." We've got to stop the percussionists from drying up...... Joe

I don't think you had "less" mini-corps - I think you had fewer. That's a huge distinction. When it starts to become "less" I'll worry about it. My unsolicited prediction? Many minis will be back or out for the first time next year. And the quality will remain high. I fully expect Mass Brass to be back in it, if for no reason other than they're some of the most competitive ###### I've ever run into.

My participation in the Ghost Riders' false ending was planned in advance. An idea from the evil mind of Donny Allen. The Star United ones... uhhh... no planning on my part. LOL. It was my mistake... and it's the one I hate making. Stepping on a corps is not my forte'. So my apologies to the Star United folks for "enhancing" their ending. Sometimes, stuff happens in a live show.

I saw a picture on FB from a friend who is in GR and she said they won. I know nothing else. I'm just very happy for her and the other Bridgemen who participated with them this year.

Anyone who sticks around for a second year of drum corps after not liking drum corps is likely not telling the truth about not liking the activity or the experience. There are plenty of other ways to "bolster [a] professional resumé" without sweating one's buns off, bathing in sunscreen, sleeping on gym floors, relying on the soothing effects of Gold Bond, eating from a truck, taking ice cold showers and standing at attention in finales while feeling the dew creep up between one's toes.

Here is some words of wisdom, from someone that isn't very old (I'm just shy of my 25th birthday) 8th grade - I switched to french horn, fell in love with music, and decided I wanted to be a band director. High school, did everything imaginable I could to tailor my experience to help me to get into college for music. Went to a state University with a great music program, and one of the BEST marching bands in the country. Rooked-out with one of the top Open Class corps in DCI. I was on track for Music Ed, but with the requirements for the state of Massachusetts, I would of had to spend an extra three semesters to get my Ed certification. I was getting burned out - on top of the extra $$$$ for school. It was not worth it, to spend all my time as a teacher - FIGHTING for my job. I liked making music, I liked teaching kids, I liked seeing them grow and get excited about music. I did not like the political BS and everything else that comes with public schools. I decided to change my major to just a General BA in Music, and graduate on time. I spent the following summer working for the same corps I marched at. I then went on to Instrument repair school, and loved it. I thought I found a new passion, I was also pretty good at it. After coming home from the one year program, I got a job, MAKING french horns....by HAND. Literally my dream job. I made sacrifices, it wasn't a high paying job (almost one of the lowest I had) and was 3 hours away from "home" Three months into it, the company went under, and everyone was fired. Coming into christmas, I had two fresh degrees, and now no job. I applied to the Credit Union I worked at part time through college, and got a senior teller position. I have been here since February, I have a great job, with great benefits, and I just closed on my first condo. I teach drum corps on the weekend, and color guard/marching band two days a week. I have a shop in my garage where I fix and clean (primary) brass instruments and some day I will start building my own horns. I play in a community band in the summer, and music is still a huge part of my life. Moral of the story: You can pursue your passions, and it doesn't have to be YOUR DAY JOB. It's safe to say I still have an impact on kids lives, and get them excited about music, it's just after rehearsal I go home and don't have to deal with the school. If there is a will you will find a way, if there isn't, you'll find an excuse. Sorry for the long post.....

Look at what happened with MetLife stadium this year for the Cadets show. They have used that stadium for the Sunday drum corps show after DCI East (and the one that was there prior to 2010) for how long? That is a serious question, because I went to my 1st one in 1991, but I'm sure it was there prior to that. Soccer came in this year with an offer and bye-bye drum corps show. Whoever can bring in the most fans, more money to the area with booking rooms, foods sales, etc. is going to be the winner of the stadium, any stadium. Allentown prefers having the state fair over DCA's Labor Day weekend for the same reasoning from what I have been told. I'm one of the 'not going back to Rochester' next year crowd UNLESS I can work it into something like going to Niagra Falls for a couple of days. It's a year away and I'll start thinking about it when 2014 rolls around and the vacation schedule at work starts up (that seniority thing is a real pain). I hope that those who venture to Annapolis this weekend have a wonderful time, better weather than last year and lots of great food downtown!

BAC and Phantom here. Auditioning on mello

You left out '90 Sunrisers

Any takers?