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Alright, enough personal attacks and non-staff-changes-related stuff. Let's get this thread back on track. Like I said in the OP, I don't want this thread to become "Staff Merry-Go-Round 2018 Part 2, This Time With Even More Dumb Posts."

why arguing about Pete's life? he chose to move on! wish him the best

Or in the case of most DCP posters, not-having-any-first-hand-knowledge-of-the-reality-going-in-design-meetings is still-grounds-for-complaining-that-every-bad-thing-is-Hop's-fault

Wow! SCV's just went from Awesome to a different kind of Awesome!

Chill, I read it. Doesn't mean he can't design for a corps. JD Shaw resigned from phantom "to spend more time with family" before it was announced he's going to vanguard. And another case was the same, although I forget who it was.

I thought they would deconstruct them.

I am really sorry to see Weber leaving SCV. Over recent years, I've found his to be some of the most musical on the field. Not that SCV isn't in great hands with Gaines, but I certainly hope Pete pops back up somewhere else, maybe after taking a bit of a break.

Everyone seems to hate on DCP yet everyone reads it and being the off season, yeah, it’s down to about 20 of us to maintain the mantle of DCP whack jobs. So of course I’m horribly offended by Flo Marching’s statement. I pour my heart and soul into each and every one of my artfully crafted, historically accurate, logically driven posts. My posts are my very being, my children, my gift to the greater drum corps community and therefor, the ENTIRE WORLD. And to have Flo Marching mock them? To have Flo Marching Godzilla stomp my creations? Clearly, Flo Marching is George Hopkins in another guise trying to destroy all that is good in Drum Corps. Many of you DCP lurkers will be blissfully ignorant of all the artist references and allusions buried within the above post, not unlike BD 2012. And to explain them would only confuse and frustrate you so just accept that the judges got it correct when they award me with all those GE-Posting points that earns me the Lone Wolf vote.

Really? Cadets design lacking so? Compared with the corps finishing above them? I didn't see it. What was the genius in the top 5 (or 6)? It's not as if Boston wasn't literal with the witches. Or Bluecoats who delivered a reprise, only this time with a giant, static black hole in the concept. Or Cavies with all that visual and vocal clutter allegedly aggregating to a manly theme. Or Crown who gave us a level of stridency in the closer we're at pains to forget. Or SCV who used - wait for it - CIRCLES to represent snakes consuming themselves while a tiny fraction of the corps covered the vast majority of the notes. Even BD, the lone show in the top six worth another watch - what was that? By the time the One-Eye Sailor rhythm passed, the metamorphosis was lost on all but the most knowledgeable fans. Not to worry in BD's case - an exception in the top 6 - the product was still good. My view? It wasn't design that held back Cadets. Boston's raid on Gino and Colin cost the Cadets talent, which cost them in the standings. Only a handful of vets return to the brass line for 2017, and you could hear it. The Cadets brass just didn't present the mature sound that the lines above them did. That deficit resounded across the sheets. Percussion suffered similarly, though maybe not as deeply. One final note. Many of you who are criticizing the Cadets design, and in particular the chorus, never saw the show live - or at least didn't see it live in August. It was a different experience live. It was a gorgeous blend of musical textures deserving of more credit than the closed minds of the acoustic past are willing to allow. HH

Mr. Hopkins also mentioned last night something he told insiders a few days ago: Mr. Gwaltney will be the Design Director, while Mr. Hopkins will be retreating into an "Executive Producer" type role.

followed by jose feliciano's version, just in case the audience didn't understand jimmy's

Exciting to see that Gaines was named drill writer for 2018. I like Pete Weber's drills, and wish him well with focusing on his family, but I do like a Gaines drill. The post linked below shows - Michael Gaines, Creative Director & Drill Designer *NEW ROLE IN 2018*Scott Koter, Program CoordinatorDenise Bonfiglio, AdvisorAndy Toth, Visual Program CoordinatorAdam Sage, ConsultantPaul Rennick, Percussion ArrangerSandi Rennick, Percussion ArrangerJD Shaw, Brass ArrangerBart Woodley, Consultant *NEW ADDITION IN 2018*Michael Rosales, Lead Choreographer *NEW ADDITION IN 2018* https://www.scvanguard.org/2018-scv-design-staff/

Definitely not a lack of talent, but there were 53 rookies in the brassline. That’s a LOT of rookies. One reason why I think they will fare better is that the extremely young corps had a great experience, hopefully that combined with the Dallas auditions, low camp fees, and West Coast tour will draw the members they need. And the entirely new design team will now have had a year under their belts, and ornaments anyone knows how to incorporate vocalists it’s them. Maybe a little less of them would be good, but the original score was good and if judge’s react positively from the beginning, they hopefull won’t have to add the unnecessary cheese. I’m not thinking medals, but a placement or two up could happen.

This just in: They did laundry and packed up the 2017 uniforms.

I kept on seeing Snarky Puppy thinking it was Skinny Puppy. That Collier kid is a modern Brian Wilson.

It definitely did. After having Mass explained to me by many helpful DCPers, I didn’t feel the Cadets captured it much at all. It could’ve been a generic show about Christianity as far as anyone is concerned

Probably was a good night for you too - sounds like a great concert.

Blaming Cadets’ 7th place finish mainly on lack of talent is the most laughable thing in this thread, and that says something

They just released Michael Gaines' updated bio:

If you compare the Cadets design with those of the top 5 and can't see that it isn't in the same league, then I don't know what to tell you. If you think the top 5 didn't have better designed and more compelling shows than the Cadets (BAC and BK too) then I don't know what you're looking at/hearing. The Cadets show was musically beautiful (choir included), but the design staff was completely out of touch with what it takes, from a design standpoint, to compete with the top corps. It was way too literal (the benches, the robes, the bibles, the crosses, the narration - complete over kill. I'm surprised they didn't pass out collection plates through the stands at finals. The changes made that show worse as the season progressed, not better), the props were entirely useless and poorly designed themselves, and just old in it's design. It looked like a relic from the distant past next to SCV and BD. I loved the choir - that was the one thing they did brilliantly. But, if you cannot recognize the massive shortcomings and design issues of the 2017 show, then you either can't get past your bias or you do not understand how a championship show is designed. It's that simple. Cavies and Crowns shows both annoyed me to no end. So much so that I didn't even bother watching them during finals week. The Cadets staff is completely incapable of designing a good show, much less a championship one. SCV's show was the most brilliant thing I've ever seen on the field after 1993 Star. All elements of SCV's show were brilliantly integrated and executed. There was nothing done during their show that didn't need to be done. THAT's what makes a brilliant design - filling a show to the brim with stuff, but doing it in a way that isn't overkill. The Cadets show, by comparison was silly and embarrassing. I felt bad for those kids having to perform that show. 2017 SCV completely blew away the 2017 Cadets in every way, shape and form. Absolutely no contest in any facet of design or execution. I can say the same, with confidence, about the entire top 6 in comparison to the Cadets. It was a terrible season for them any way you slice it, and there is zero indication they will return to the top tier as long as GH remains in charge. You could see the signs of this starting in 2012, but it really kicked into high gear in 2016 and the downward trend continued in 2017. Not looking promising for their future, especially when one person, who's completely lost touch with reality, pulls all the strings.

It was a VERY strong 7th place finish.

Exactly. But you know how we are (you too) on DCP with announcements. Like when so and so (whom we all know) says he's never coming back to DCP... we just wait.

Camp fee only. No registration fee. Reason for reg fees originally, he says, was to cover cost of mailings pre-internet. Now, not needed.

I'm here to see all the horrendous classical music suggestions.

Seeing will be believing.

Happy to see Gaines back writing, but sad to see Pete go. Although his reasons are understandable.

With what's been going on in the country recently, imagine a corps playing HIS version of the national anthem!!!

with an all left handed horn line..lol

Confirmed by Mr. Hopkins this evening that Cadets will be in LA, Stanford and Denver. Other details of tour to be finalized.

Gonna miss Pete Webber's drill at SCV, he did a fantastic job over the past dozen seasons. Excited to see how Gaines will do at SCV, though. That being said, there's one prominent corps I know that, if Webber were to head that way, it would make me ecstatic.

I was not aware of the fall festival...guess this is their first annual for that...according to this flyer...sweet

That’s big time, but I’m gonna miss Weber

Gaines as drill writer for SCV: https://www.scvanguard.org/2018-scv-design-staff/

Looks like Kendall Stevenson taking a bigger role in 2018... "Kendall joined The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps as the Drum Major Technician and served as a part of their leadership development program as well. Kendall is excited to return to The Boston Crusaders in 2018 with the additional responsibly of working with the design team as the Production Manager." https://greateastmusicfestivals.org/2017-fall-festivals/additional-staff/

The Caballeros are proud to announce that their 72nd consecutive season starts on 11/26/17-11/27/17. The open house will be located, once again, at Passaic County Technical Institute. For full details on the open house, where you will get a glimpse of the 2018 program, please see below for full details: Date: 11/25/17 – 11/26/17 Location: […] View the full article

Cavaliers staff just posted that "big things are coming soon for 2018 for Cavaliers Brass". Expect an announcement soon.

i posted on their facebook page while i laughed, that it wasn't good business sense to poke angry bears that paid them for spotty service.

Still got the big show next week end in Holland .the European Drum Corps Championships .7 countrys competing for the tile ,Holland,UK,Germany,Beligum,Itlay Ireland and France Junior and All age Divs.Things can change in a week ,GO KIDS GROVE

When I think of Blue Knights brass as of late, I think raw power and volume. This could be some homerun hires for PR

Looks like Brad Toth will be leading the brass caption in 2018!

I think Phantom would have a dream team if they got Jamey back and got Toth. Theyd be this years BAC.

After their successful 2017, that, to me, is definitely a "no news is good news" scenario!!!

If they could just quit with the silly voice overs and amping the horn line I'd be a happy camper.

You could say that, but why? You are assuming those coming in worse than those that left or are leaving. Quite an assumption. Visual wasn't great but it also was not bad. Yet their guard did extremely well this year. They had plenty of talent this year but that show was just ok. Frankly Regiment needs to quit doing what other people are doing and get back to just marching, and playing well with a visual package that fits the music rather than music fitting the visual. Without a doubt they need to stop over using the amps and synth and start playing like a Regiment Hornline SHOULD be playing like. Perhaps be the first corps to stop using bug stomp swivel hips and do, I don't know something different like march into another drill subset rather than eating up visual time with nonsense? Play more than 5-6 minutes ensemble? Quit leaning on the percussion so heavily and start carrying your weight in the hornline? There is so much potential hopefully they can do something this next year.

For my two cents (if my opinion is actually worth that much), I just hope that no corps participant )be they performers, administrators, designers, or teaching staff) ever think about "if so-and-so isn't here, then we can get a place higher!" That is pretty much as antithetical to excellence and achievement as you can possibly get. Where do you get satisfaction from that? We're all fortunate to have Kidsgrove make all the "extra" efforts it takes to contribute to DCA in such an excellent way. Anyone that doesn't see that has a real personal issue. If all you want is a trophy, they don't cost much at stores . . .

Given their location in the southwestern desert and their recent trend of light-hearted shows, this would be a perfect show for the Academy. And dressing the front ensemble as Elvis would be the icing on the cake!

Still can't believe that happened. This will be the example used for years to come...