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Between that news and the design team adjustments, I think Spirit is on very solid ground for 2018. The possibility of them making the Prelims cinecast is definitely within reach.

I have read this thread pretty thoroughly and found it enlightening, even if overstated in many cases. But there is something that I don’t think I’ve seen addressed in the whole G7 issue. I, and others I know who are drum corps fans, aren’t that hung up on the top 12 corps, much less the top 8. We just like drum corps, and the more corps with that many more shows to take in, the merrier. I recently reconnected with a former student from my music teaching days and found out she’s a big drum corps fan. Immediately we became animated as we talked about our favorite shows from this season and our personal favorite corps through the ages – Phantom Regiment, Scouts, etc. I taught school in Delaware and Arizona and my student was born and raised in Delaware. She went on and on about some local Delaware corps that aren’t around anymore. What got her excited about a show – was getting her hair blown back with the great, big sound. Over in Open Class, quite a few of us who were watching the 2017 prelims and finals on Flo got very excited about Southwind – and their scores weren’t that impressive. But their sound was. It was awesome and they had some great solos and ensembles that rivaled the top 12 corps. But there they were, in Open Class, not even in the top 6 of OC, and yet they won our hearts and interest and future support with their music. So I have to say that the arrogance of a group of people in positions of power to pretty much disregard, spurn, stamp as of no value or little value – Southwind, Academy, Troopers, Vanguard Cadets, Music City – MERELY because they are not in the top 8 placing corps – is puzzling to me. I think they must hang out with people who have lost their pure love of music to think like that. I just don’t get it.

Stu, we love ya... we really do... But I'm convinced that if I came on here and said something very simple, completely innocuous, as "It's a nice sunny day here in Baltimore".... you'd consider replying with, "But you're not downtown, right??? How can you say it's sunny in Baltimore if it might be cloudy downtown??? What about all those folks who might have put on sunscreen to visit the Inner Harbor, and now don't need as much sun protection??? Which is it.... is it sunny or cloudy, and why would you say it's sunny if if it's not necessarily true???" Geez Louise.

I never said that the " Powerpoint Point " presentation was what the G7 Corps agreed too. As a matter of fact, the Powerpoint Presentation, was just that.... the initial PRESENTATION by Gibbs/ Hopkins to the other 5 Corps in the room. Your mistake was to assume the Powerpoint Presentation was what the G7 finally agreed too among themselves. Its not. I TOLD you what the agreement was for G7 status. I have no patience for whether or not you believe what I just told you. Your error is that you believe the G7 co- architects ( Hopkins & Gibbs ) were dumb enough to believe that the two would agree to carry another G7 Corps thru G7 status FOREVER, if they fell into placement slide, financial woes. Trust me Stu, George Hopkins ( nor David Gibbs ) were about to grant G7 Status PERMANENTLY to any other of the 5 Corps. We already know they have little to no sympathy for Corps that are struggling. Besides, I just TOLD you how Hopkins/ Gibbs envisioned how another Corps could replace a corps in the G7 that failed to finish in the top 7. But in the end, none of it mattered, as the other Non G7 Corps stuck together, and essentially scuttled 90% of most of what the G7 demanded from the other Corps, as well as from DCI itself. The other Corps threw them a bone... the TOC shows. But essentially, that format/ show is pretty much like every other show, as near as I can tell.

I have a completely different take. We adopted virtually none of the G7 ideas, and drum corps is far better off for it. There is no sensible reason to divide WC against itself. We already have three classes (WC, OC, and SoundSport), based on practical principles. Why would you even want to re-name OC "regional class"? Nearly all OC corps go to world championships annually, and the majority of them travel out of region to do so.

Not a 2018 item, but Pacific Crest has been selected to march in the 2019 Rose Bowl Parade. Congrats!!!

Well… If ya can’t dazzle them with Brilliance, I say baffle them with Bull****!!!

I just caught up on thread and all I can say is that I can't believe Stu thought it was a good idea to start it.

Heh... a guy I marched with in Sun in 1981, every time he'd take the train past Franklin Field, he'd give the place a one-finger salute. LOL.

There's some SoA chatter on the staff thread but I didn't want to hijack it. While so many people were busy singing the praises of BAC and Mandarins, I feel SoA flew under the radar. They were my surprise of the season. I think they took some big risks in modernizing and to me it paid off. Even though it was a new look and sound, I still got a Spirit vibe. Could have done withou the props, but ya can't have everything. Hope they continue in the same vein in 2018.

I highly doubt a non-drum corps person is going to out march a drum corps person at super easy TBDBITL drill...

no. Stu was being Stu, I blasted him in multiple ways that violated the DCP guidelines and was given a 4 day DCP vacation. which sucked a little, because it was while I was at finals in Indy in 2010, and about 45% of the shows bored me to tears, so i could have posted from the stands.

A fight between Stu and Brasso is really just one step closer to the apocalypse which battering ram will prevail?

Yes and how many more times are you going to post this same thing? It's up to about ten times already. We get it.

visual velocity lost

Jeff Fiedler was Director of SCV at that time.

I think even Perry Mason wouldn't defend you. LOL.

I am looking at the official G7 proposal right now; no such provision for a G7 corps possibly to drop out of the AAA division exists; no such provision for a G7 corps to lose their double voting power exists. Where you are getting that 2-years out of the top seven equals removal is nowhere to be found in the PowerPoint proposal, at all, period.

to shut you up, yes. i'd take one for all of DCP for that. Nothing else, just solely to silence you

forget it, he's rolling ($1 to Boon)

Nah, I 'm too unmotivated to do it for you. Accept what I said, or don't accept what I said..... or look it up yourself to be SELF educated on it.

The good news is, your assessment I believe is the majority viewpoint in Drum Corps on the assessment of the G7. Once we get beyond the fans/ alums of the self absorbed few that DID support the actions, sentiments, plans of the orginal G7 Corps, there is virtually no support for their plan, nor for the clandestine manner in which they set out to essentially take over DCI for themselves. Ironically, one of the orIginal G7 Corps signators, if the original plan was followed, would have been booted out of the G7 last month for failure to place in the Top 7 in DCI for 2 consecutive years. Thankfully, such a plan was scuttled... but by the vote of DCI Member Corps themselves. Ironically then, such an orginal G7 Corps has been spared that plight status, saved by the other Corps from this, by the member Corps it once spurned.

Jeff claims that he has the real inside truth scoop; but yet he 'drastically' changed his story concerning the six and their knowledge of the information within the presentation. That not just something very simple an innocuous like your weather analogy.

Hah. Some years it's hard to disagree with that! Mike

For me it did, actually. Musically, the corps was a beast (and I think even underscored). Visually, the maroon/white had more oomph to it. It lost something when translated to monochrome... :( Mike

Wow. Great pickup for Spirit! (I know, I know, they already had him, but good that they could get him worked into more daily operations!) Mike

DCI, for all intents and purposes, really has four classes, imo... 1) The Blue Devils Class, 2) the rest of the World Class Corps, 3) the Open Class Corps, then 4) Soundsport Class.

i flipped it off mentally LOL

Not one bit. A beast of a show with a superb musical book and performance (that brass, WOW!!!) and excellent drill. Extended phrases whose development felt natural and not fragmented like so many other shows these days. Those complete musical and visual thoughts flowed very well from one to the other into a terrific total package. And people can call out the shallowness of the "concept," I can understand that (plus the color guard was not strong). But I never once felt any of that intruded on my ability to enjoy the show. One of my favorites from them ever.

And then there were the Glassmen. Yes, in Atlanta the fretted about the weather even indoors. Ask Carolina Crown and section 321. yesterday's NFL broadcast saw the game in the new Atlanta stadium with the roof open. Sight lines and distances from field to crowd are quite different from Georgia Dome. I imagine the acoustics are quite different, particularly if the roof is or is not open. Marching band contests there should let us observe a lot.

I know, right?? Contracts as in -- yeah we'll pay you some sort of sum eventually, but you'll probably have to wait until the fall when all the band money comes rolling in. What a joke.

Oh man... remember that? Thankfully that skunk was not wandering around the main seating area.

Syracuse... because of what Fran said. And because my corps won both years.

You originally and strongly said that they had no idea the additions were in there until they were shocked by reading them in a PowerPoint presentation they had not seen until 'after' it had leaked. That bilindsided discovery of those additions at the same moment the public found out was a major point on your position of defending the six. What you state now is completely different! Now you say that that had agreed to the talking points, that they did indeed have an idea of content, and the layout, which was leaked, was presented to them in a meeting 'prior' to the leak. That substantially weakens the defense of the six. So, which version do you subscribe to; or are you going to concoct a third?

Contracts. LOL!!!

of he course he thought it was great. Anything a certain director does is great. He'll even block you over it

It's an all-girl unit except for the one trombone wearing black pants and the three tubas wearing black pants. Some Cavies like moves there, but it will be Cavies using that multi drum rack next, ha, ha.

Great stadium, lot's of choices for dining, lot's more to do (sightseeing). With all things considered it has to be Annapolis. I do agree with Fran that the concerts at the NYS fairgrounds were a benefit for DCA in exposing drum corps to hopefully new fans.

As far as the proposal... what? You agreed with throwing 8 - 22 under the bus and to their own league to make it as good as they can? Even as they acknowledged that they were "the draw" and suggesting that they O-13 wasn't able to carry it's own weight? "punctuated equilibrium"? Really? How about Creative Destruction? Better? Always lots to do. In the mind of the "creative" class, always much to do. "National Class"? Uh, no. Regional Class? Uh, no. No, one championship. KIds just want to know where they stack up. If they win OC, they'll want to know where they stack up against WC. It's human nature. "Stripes on a zebra" stuff. Where will we get? "#babysteps" is the same as "nudge". But now that people know, it's not effective. They won't willingly be manipulated. #TryAgain

What? This is a BRILLIANT thread! Stu was BRILLIANT to start it!

Deciding to remain in the Bernstein agreement (or not) isn't really "picking a show" now is it? I'm fine. Just been busy at work - very. #lifehappens I know they had meetings beginning over the weekend of September 10th to start defining/contracts for the techs and the last couple design folks for guard and visual - that much Hopkins made public My other understanding were meetings in NYC to determine is it Lenny or not for 2018 They have stated they hope it is / would love to be part of his 100th birthday celebration That would define some of the show since I believe a concert at some point next July was part of the vision for this 3 year alignment Regardless, Cadets will be (more than fine) - personally expect them to have a very solid 2018

Ballet for Martha was beautiful. Enjoyed Bartók in 2010 with a Vanguard view. Been a fan of SCV since 1973 YPG and every year since including 2018

"If it wasn't for my horse, I never would have spent that year in college." Ta-da.

Annapolis tops my list. And I would say that even if I lived five states away, instead of an hour or less as I do. The stadium is a major-league venue... and the city, and DC/Baltimore/Eastern Shore region, are great for dining and sightseeing. My sleeper pick for second: Syracuse. I wonder if I am literally the only person who feels this way....LOL... but I thought the two Syracuse years were great ones. IMO, the stadium and the OnCenter convention center were terrific venues for the field and I&E events. Plus, the Friday night parade and concert at the NYS fairgrounds were both great exposure for DCA. And I seem to remember a big crowd for finals, in particular. Few, if any, empty seats.

Milford and Annapolis have phenomenal seafood!

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS POST! And then they capped it off by hiring away the staff from the chief instigator of the effort to keep them out. Watching Hop suggest the G7 was an actual solution: Astounding. Watching BAC be blocked from the group: Disturbing Watching BAC's show stick a hot poker in the G7's eye: Entertaining, funny, and enjoyable Watching BAC hire away Cadets staff: PRICELESS

Did you see the part where the OP said OSU auditions were the same weekend as DCI Finals? How is a world class corps (or any corps for that matter) suppose to work around that? Let the person march an entire season and then leave for the final 2 or 3 shows and put someone else in? edited to add: You're correct most corps will work around school situations. And I agree with you, they should. However, I don't see how they could, in this particular scenario. My suggestion would be to see if the university would permit an earlier (like perhaps a week) audition date.

I performed and instructed in WC top 5, and to me that is reversed. Most WC corps work around University situations, so I would contact OSU first because the University should take priority over a WC corps.

They aren't out of debt totally yet I don't think (don't quote me on that, as I'm not privy to the specific financial end of things recently) but with that track record, I feel confident they will be soon. More importantly, they have established solid business relationships with vendors again which will serve the corps well moving forward. AA

the last time I had talked to any of the folks associated with the admin of the corps, they had paid off something approaching half a million dollars of the previous administrations debt AND run the corps in the black for two consecutive seasons. While they are not where they want to be financially, they are laying a very solid foundation for the long term future of the corps and they are doing just fine in securing the corps financial position in the short term. The administrative team in place now is made up of business people, not musicians who want to be involved in drum corps and have to do that pesky business stuff in order to do so. That is not to cast aspersion on musicians. I'm one of those musicians who loves to teach drum corps, but I am well aware that my strengths do not lie in the administrative side of running things. I have been asked on multiple occasions by multiple different organizations to take over administrative tasks and positions. I was quite flattered to even be offered a job as a corps director at one point. I turned all those opportunities down because I am self aware enough to know my strengths lie on the instructional side of things not administrative. As an alum of the corps, I'm proud of and thankful for all of the staff, members and volunteers who are moving the corps in a positive long term direction. Hope that eases any of your concerns. AA