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I'll repeat what I said on a facebook post of the same link. This is Clay Travis. Professional troll. I refuse to feed the beast. Not clicking. Not sharing.

Autumn and Summer.

I agree - and it's easy to dismiss the article on that level and just move on However the "comments" are quite interesting - a large number of folks defending the value of bands, music education and the amount of work ethic, dedication and talent that goes into marching-music on all levels I personally found the article itself ridiculous, but the comments were quite uplifting. I think more people "get it" than we think. A positive!

I've been gratified that the main Cleveland newspaper has been conducting an online poll for the past six weeks asking readers to pick the best local marching band. Of course, it's not really about "best". It's about most popular--or maybe it would be better described as, "Which band can get their students, parents, and community most enthused?" But they've racked up several hundred thousand votes, and yes, that includes a lot of people voting more than once, but just getting people to read and comment on the "marching arts" is a good thing. I've certainly taken the opportunity to mention drum corps repeatedly in the comments section, including posting video of "The Wink". But let's be honest: this FoxSports editorial's real purpose is the same as that poll: to drive traffic to the website.

The producers probably don't think it's as interesting a detail as you do.

RIP to one of the greatest people ever to participate in drum corps

I predict that Boston will be very good. Maybe top 9 good. I predict Bluecoats will blow our doors off once again with something new, fresh, and really well performed. They will have killer brass and drums and they will be top 3 again. :) I predict Carolina Crown will again have a killer brass line and music that makes the crowd want more. Their guard will be fine despite staff loss. They will be of top-3 quality. I predict the Blue Devils will revamp their very successful formula of recent years and try some new staging, visual, and prop ideas. They will continue to bring top-3 quality to the competitive field and should make a run for another title...as they always seem to do. I predict SCV tops one of last year's top 3 at Finals to take 3rd. I predict Phantom Regiment will make a jump -> over Cavaliers -> and over Blue Knights. I believe they will bring back that killer brass line and develop a more seamless show that the members can dig into. I predict Cadets will be very good. Percussion should be fantastic! Guard and Brass will be a wait and see. I predict they will have a fan-friendly show with a classic Cadets look (Maroon & Gold) and a refined visual look that still harkens back to the old days but continues to push them into the world of staging. I predict that Academy will once again make finals. In many ways this will be the tougher task for them. Can they do it 2 years in a row? I predict Blue Knights will start the season with a full show :) and.............................I ALSO PREDICT A REPEAT CHAMPION IN WORLD CLASS :)

Every corps has members that have given there whole life to a corps and when they pass it's difficult. It's difficult to put into words what George Heyek was to the Caballeros. Yes he was a founding member in 1946 but to us who are older and in the alumni, he was truly a father figure at 90 years old and still marching. His knowledge of the corps history was unmatched. He was able to recall in detail shows and events from 60 years ago. His memory was impeccable. Rest in peace George. You will always be missed.

John's Rules for Effective Front Ensemble Logistics: 1. Everything rolls. Everything (and I mean *everything*) is mounted to a keyboard that rolls, a rack that rolls, or on a cart that rolls. No exceptions. 2. Avoid at all costs the use of a trailer pulled by a golf cart, gator, or atv. If the instrument isn't adhering to Rule #1 above, you don't need it. (Exception: Your vehicle pulls a "train" of carts, adhering to Rule #1). 3. Build or buy custom carts for drum sets, tympani, and other large instruments. The cart should require no additional movement or set-up of those instruments. Roll on, perform, roll off. 4. Building can be a lot cheaper than buying. Make friends with your school's shop teacher. 5. Parents (and other students) should be utilized for help, but the entire pit should be self-sufficient.

And some schools like Jacksonville State where the band often performs after the game (due to HS Band Day, Southerners Reunion, special guest bands, etc.). And still they play to packed stands. I love it that the Music and Athletic departments at JSU have a great relationship and mutual respect for each other.

There are some schools.... Ohio State and Texas A&M come to mind, among others.... where the football fans might riot if their bands could not perform at halftime!!!

Lol most of the hype was generated by fans and alum.

I know this is the DCI side of DCP, and what I'm about to mention concerns a man who was involved with senior/all-age drum corps... and I know most of you here don't know of him. But his contributions to the activity were many, and transcended all levels... so please bear with me... George Hayek, one of the co-founders of the Hawthorne Caballeros organization, has passed away at the age of 90. George was one of a few young men returning from military service in World War II who decided to start a senior corps, representing American Legion Post 199 of Hawthorne, NJ. They soon adopted the name "Caballeros" and wore Latin-style uniforms... which was a radical departure from the "military dress" norm of those days. This was in 1946. 70 years ago. The competition corps, and the organization's alumni corps, are going strong to this day. George was a drummer for many years before retiring from marching. He then helped the corps in whatever capacity needed... including chairing the Caballeros' "Drum Corps Grand Prix" competition, which has been a fixture on the summer calendar for more than 50 years. Long story short... he remained active with the Caballeros organization... the competition corps, and then later as a marching member of the alumni corps' honor guard until some health issues required him to stop suiting up a year or two ago... from Day One in 1946 until his passing. He was the last surviving co-founder. 70 years. My opinion... we'll never see another like him. And I will never meet a finer gentleman, anywhere.

I suspect the shows will get better every show, but the pilot wasn't exactly click bait.

Spirit of Atlanta 1980. End of topic.

My history is weak, but as I understand it, despite being from the all-age side of the activity, the Caballeros have certainly influenced DCI and other junior corps through the years. Weren't the Muchachos, who placed 4th in DCI in 1974, an offshoot of the Caballeros? And just two or three years ago in one of the DCI cinema broadcasts, a Madison Scouts member mentioned during an interview that he had previously marched with the Cabs. The corps is indeed going strong, and I have enjoyed their shows each year since I started attending DCA finals five years ago. A toast to the memory of Mr. Hayek, and peace to his family.

"RIP George Hayak": A true drum corps legend and a fine gentleman. George, we hardly knew ye......... RIP Elphaba WWW

the one next week is meant to entice someone to audition. Who knows what numbers will be after the staff changes and after the Election. I agree that last year was over the top with insufficient product to match the hype. I prefer the approach to show announcements taken by Bluecoats and Crown. One never has to take back words never said.

Again.....they are up against all of the same licensing problems that have taken down the Fan Network, limited what is available for the end of season CD's and DVD's, made entire chunks of shows disappear off media forever, driven the cost of everything through the roof and dogged DCI over the past five years or so. It's not going to change for a low-budget, reality TV show (which I still like, by the way).

I'm not as big of a fan of their music as others, but I've always wondered what Twenty-One Pilots would sound like on the competitive field. I found that out today when I saw this clip on Twitter of a band from Oklahoma performing "Trees" as part of their show. Sounds like something the Blue Knights would play as a closer. https://twitter.com/stfudun/status/786397493269442560 Here's the original version of the song.

I would argue that in the final week of the season, when the design is not likely to change much (if at all) the motivation of the performers do in fact, carry the day. As evidence of this, I would offer the 2016 BAC. I remember talking to some friends who attended Allentown with me this year, and saying, "geez, they're 3 placements and about 3+ points away from 12th...." Now I wasn't at finals, but some DCPers who were there said that Boston was on fire performance wise...and that the members "really wanted it". It would seem more likely to me that their performance propelled them into 12th at the very end. Or, was it the design coming through? Like I said, I wasn't there.

I will miss his smile and his wonderful stories. I always looked forward to seeing him at parades , Clifton next month will be sad for me. Such a great person , last year a George Hayak passed away but he told me there were four other family members besides himself named George Hayak and not to worry , RIP to a wonderful human being , in this day and age a rare occurence.

This is the best visual reference I can find. Just make sure the one in front knows where to go.

Neither is giving a visual aid to help student development, or asking for it, for that matter. But great approach! Mock and criticize someone trying to obtain assistance. Stay classy!

40% of the USA population lives within a days drive of Cadets camps - one of the strengths they have built in

I had the opportunity to see this live recently and found so much of it representative of what had been Cadets' culture for so many decades past and the challenge the Cadets face at present. Easily the values expressed herein could also be attributed to the corps codes at Cavaliers, Crown, SCV, Troopers and perhaps a few others.This has the gift of being able to bridge the generation gap. https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/charlie-rose-interviews-michael-phelps-and-mike-krzyzewski/

or we watch real tv and not online streaming