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Because if there is one thing Idaho is known for, it's ships.

Or, maybe it's just a really dumb idea.

Hello, what happened to the Cadets thread? Go to the DCA page if you want to talk about this. Allegedly, DCP has moderators? Evidently, they allow hijacking a thread, as long as it's a Cadets thread.

Well said, Jim. Obviously, not having a DCA gig in '17 didn't hurt CT at all. They have adapted to the reality of the world they live in.

After hearing about Storm Drum and Bugle emerging out of Indiana, I wondered if there were any other states that have only one drum corps in them and states that are getting a drum corps for the first time. Below is a list of drum corps and the states that they are from. Storm Drum and Bugle Corps - Indiana - Plans on joining DCI's open class in 2020 Arsenal Drum and Bugle Corps - New Mexico - Plans on joining DCI's open class in 2019 Appalachian Gold Drum and Bugle Corps - West Virginia - Plans on joining DCI's open class in 2019 Armada Drum and Bugle Corps - Idaho - Plans on joining DCI's open class in 2018 *Arsenal Drum and Bugle Corps believes that years into the future, there will be a new drum corps in the world class division from the southwest. :)

I saw Arsenal at DCI San Antonio last year, and I was impressed with both the look and sound. I don't know anything about the org itself, but they definitely had some smart minds on the educational staff side. Mike

Yes....,. Pringle's potato ships. The sea salt reportedly makes 'em go fast.

Almost all of the DCA corps I’ve been around are very professional. They treat DCA championships as they should: it’s a business trip and you can have fun on Sunday night.

Best wishes to all these new corps,been a while since new corps have entered the field.

Weather looks to be a nice balmy 60-70 degrees for those brass players auditioning for Cadets this weekend in Cypress, Texas.

CT has a solid relationship with other performance arts groups in Ohio. They do a great job of accepting kids with mixed levels of experience, some who were not offered a contact to a winter guard, percussion ensemble or World/Open corps. The staff helps them to learn, become better and mature. Come DCA finals weekend most would have never imagined the development. It’s a good model and it’s been working well.

Before DCI even started the Founders of what was to later become DCI asked the Office Holders of DCA if they would be willing to meet with a few of them to provide them advice, counsel, and suggestions on how to go about formulating their new Drum Corps Circuit. Without hesitation, the DCA Executive Director and his Board replied that they'd be more than happy to meet with these people to provide them guidance, suggestions, recommendations for their new start up Circuit. DCA had been in operation for a few years, at the time ( late 60's ) and the Founders of the potential new circuit were interested in learning what might work, what might not work and so forth. And so in 1971, they met. DCA was exceedingly helpful in sharing their knowledge and guidance, according to those I spoke too afterwards...and the Founders took those recommendations and suggestions to heart, and along with their own ideas, in 1972, they formulated what we know today as DCI.

The only corps I can think of stayed home.

Obviously CT got positive input from their DCI Panels to help them prepare and get ready for Championship weekend. I;d think it hads to be a plus for them. Competition reps matter. You get them when you can regardless of what vowel is at the end of the acronym when it's not easy to get to a DCA contest, period. Back in the 70's, many corps went to RCA competitions when it was difficult to get invites and into DCA shows when the corps wasn't a full member or geographically out of the loop. The Westshoremen used RCA to build their program and develop into a consistent finalist from 1977 to 1983. The same applies here in going where you can and performing for an audience and getting good commentary.

It is a real shame that I had that same NEGATIVE view of DCA when I was younger after aging out of DCI...I viewed DCA as a step-backward and that it was just for OLD people who were trying to HOLD-ON to their youth...I truly missed the mark and in retrospect realize how WRONG I was about DCA...The sad part is I only marched in a 14th and 16th place DCI corps at the time, but still perceived all groups in DCA as inferior...There even was some active recruiting (from folks that knew me) at the time from the Connecticut Hurricanes, but I declined their offer due to my unfounded perception as to what I thought DCA was all about...Honestly, I really didn't have any basis for my negative opinions towards DCA...I just didn't see DCA as being the COOL place to go...Perhaps if I started in DCA and moved to DCI...my perception at the time would have been quite different...I feel quite different today about DCA, but that took me a few decades to develop...

If you'd like, I can call you and announce the scores that I think the corps should have.

The Battalion also seems to be going about their growth in the right way.

But then their were the Senior Corps of the 60's. "How the hell did that piano get into the pool?"

Good luck to Storm! (And Indy Ignition was a *great* name for a group.) Mike

Not speaking from any inside information, just an educated guess. Guardians are on a slow and steady path - I don't see them in WC for a while yet. They're working their way up from what was essentially a regional tour last year to a semi-national tour this year. Smart and sustained. I was interested in Hub City - my son is just venturing into the DCI waters on contra - but honestly, I'm glad to see them take the extra time to get it right. HC is aimed for more "weekend" drum corps with a micro tour. If we still had D3, it'd probably be more aligned with it. But as for taking the extra year, again smart - in the long run it's better to provide a great experience from the get go than keep pushing the boulder uphill right out of the gate. Mike

Best of luck to Storm! I’m mostly here to note that the title of the thread is not correct —- Paul Warner started up Indianapolis Ignition, and they were Soundsport in 2015 & 2016, and even petitioned to join Open Class prior to the 2016 season. He has since moved on to other ventures and the corps is no more; but, they were a short-lived very real Indiana corps nonetheless.

Big Ben. Man, it was heavy too.

One of these years: The "Olympics" judging proposal: Every caption will have six judges with the lowest and highest scores thrown out. The others are averaged.

Judge with zero experience would do a bad job judging. Both surprising AND hilarious.

Warning.... its best to disable one's cookies in their cache before attempting to access this link.

My Dad took me to that 1st DCA Championship in '65...... Milford, Ct. Later, I bought the LP recording of the show.' Wore that sucker out.......lol!

If we're talking history, then "Crusader" has a very specific implication. That said, in a modern context I'd have no problem with it as a mascot name ... or a drum corps. Carry on. Mike (History / medieval studies major)

C'mon...exaggerating much? I wouldn't call ONE COMMENT hijacking a thread...or your words "hacking other corps' threads with their Dino proclamations"...

Since there is no prohibition concerning Youtube, why the "The Site That Shall Not Be Named"?

Not exactly. A biased or inexperienced judge can still affect the overall results just as much when their ordinal is that much higher/lower than those of the other judges.

Interesting to note that these are the two corps that were particularly rough in the early season of 2017.

Don't worry L, Tim K. will grant you absolution.

Probably for the best long term.

Now that would not leave room for conspiracies ..lol..or at very least a reason why a given favorite of a person did not achieve what an individual thinks they should have. No different from ever..

Good point. Seems the Blue Devils are quite often "slotted" in 1st or 2nd.

I agree... a great player. For my money, his "Pictures of Spain" solo in 1980 is right up there with the iconic Jeff Kievet Muchachos version.

this is Stu don't use logic or common sense, he'll argue those too

mountain, your molehill is calling Boston 16 did a better job attacking windmills

Translation: We are too wimpy to deal with ticking off any of the caption heads so we will just ask DCI for four more members to be added to the total.

My top 5 favorites..... 1. 1992 - without question. One of the best percussion books ever. It was hellacious! 2. 1991 3. 1980 - Gary Caffrey gets lost in the Jerry Noonan discussion. He could wail! 4. 1981 5. 2002 Top least favorites..... 1995, 1996 - could not handle the shakos

CT won DCA Class 'A' in 2017 without competing in a DCA show prior to prelims. In fact their highest DCI score was used for seeding in prelims (first corps on). CT provides DCA sheets to the contest director - judges understand the DCA sheets for evaluation. I have to disagree that DCI scores don't help DCA corps. CT embraces the opportunity to compete and perform in both DCI and DCA venues. CT will have four (4) DCI shows and two (2) DCA shows in 2018 prior to prelims. Summer Music Games 6/25, DCI Northern Kentucky 7/14, Legends Drum Corps Invitational 7/29, Soaring Sounds 39 7/30, and two DCA shows, Columbus Ohio and Atlanta Georgia with dates TBD. DCI venues provide CT members with the opportunity to perform with DCI's best World and Open Class corps, many are peers with CT members. In addition, excellent recruiting opportunities, large crowds of enthusiastic fans (very well attended), highest level of adjudication with remarkable feedback , and within reasonable geographic areas to Cincinnati at a minimum incurred cost to the CT organization. It's a win-win and the approach has paid-off in allowing CT to grow in talent and increased membership. IMO a good philosophy by a experienced administration. I'm looking forward to their staff and show announcement, and/or their plans for the up coming 2018 season. I believe we will all be surprised.

In the Northeast where there is a DCA show pretty much every weekend over the summer I am pretty sure no DCA corps will compete in an all age DCI category. C2 does exhibitions at yea shows and DCI East, and other corps do exhibitions. But a DCA corps on a tuesday night is usually not a good indication of what that corps is normallu like.They do have DCI/DCA shows but they are judged on different score sheets. Out of theNortheast it is different and for geography reasons . DCA corps compete in all age DCI on DCI scoresheets judged by DCI judges. However getting DCI scores does not help DCA corps since DCA looks for other things, though the judges comments may help a corps improve its performance for DCA. I know that in the south DCA corps joined with DCI open class for some shows and used DCI judges basically because it would cost a lot of money to bring in DCA judges. I know that Carolina GOld, CV, Alliance usually competed for a score at DCI south in all age catagory. I think that MBI and Kilties have competed and been scoredat DCI Minnesota.

the only place i would imagine seeing a corps turning down a DCA gig for a DCi gig would be C2 if it was a YEA run show

As a "Snow Bird", maybe you'll catch up with fellow SB BRASSO. I'm guessing he'll be there.

Just in case at camp this weekend the members are given any info or music for next summer, this may be my last chance to post while completely in the dark about the 2018 show. And no - don't even ask me for inside knowledge after this weekend. You'd think after all these years that you'd realize I'm not going to divulge info until the Cadets make it public! So that said, these are some of my hopes for next summer's show: summer of 2018 is the last opportunity for a WWI 100 year memorial show, though it doesn't look like any corps have been interested. No chance? I would love for a show ending with Ravel's "Le jardin féerique" from Ma mère l'Oye. For that matter, I'd love to hear his La Valse on the field finally - maybe in a show about a crazy person (and then they could use his Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Fauré as the ballad). Or maybe go old school with a collection of Alborada del Gracioso, Rhapsodie Espagnole and Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera. And of course, all of those works are public domain, so no Tresóna bills, or people looking over your shoulder if you have to change your arrangements. More meat in the Brass book, whatever they are playing. Brass should carry the show, not be backup. Get them down front more often in the drill. But don't interpolate Arban exercises just for the sake of demonstrating technical prowess - trust the original music which you chose BECAUSE it was so good to begin with. Never forget that it's the music that drives the emotional connection to the audience, and it's what they come for. Lose the 4 singers. The idea for a choir was justified last year given the source material, and in some sections was wonderful ("Almighty Father"). But as the season went along, the musical focus shifted more and more onto the singers than the brass, which did not better the show. If we want to hear a Broadway musical we will go to NYC, thank you very much. Lose all electronics for that matter. Yeah, I know it won't happen, but a guy can dream, can't he? I seriously believe that the amplification of anything lessens the overall acoustic product appreciated by our ears. #DCIUnplugged Bigger drill forms, and less scatter. The focus on small pods tends to look sloppy and is under-whelming to the audience. No concept is one thing, and would be ok. But if you have a concept or a story, it better be well thought-out and planned from day one, with a recognizable arc from beginning to end. Don't wing-it when it comes to visual moments, or fail to know the exact motivation or visual image you're trying to evoke from the members. in other words, if it's in the show design, there needs to be a reason for it being there, and the members have to know that reason so they can convey it. And then, of course, if it's still not clear to the audience, adjust it until it is. No overcrowding the field with props and gimmicks. They're musicians, not moving men. [I still feel sorry for some of the brass members at Santa Clara who seemed to spend the majority of the show pushing around those circular props] And if you do use any, make sure they are professionally designed and manufactured. Cf. the detailing of Crown's Helen Hess stagecoach with Cadet's statuary platforms (i.e. the wedding cakes). It's the same lessons you teach to the members: if you're going to do it, you cannot settle for less than your best effort. I'm not even sure what to wish for in uniforms. Every year DCI seems to go further and further down a path of over-design that only marginally ties to the show in any meaningful way outside of the minds of the designer/salesman. It's not that I want a return to the old wool coats. After all - why are Napoleonic hussar coats and shakos any more an ideal uniform for marching musicians in the 21st century than what the Troopers wear? or what the crew of the Enterprise wear, for that matter? I just think that there is a lot of crap being foisted onto the corps these days [my eyes still bleed over 2013 Oregon Crusaders], and I believe they need to rethink what image they want to project, and what an appropriate UNIFORM would be. But most importantly, I hope for the same thing that everyone wants from every show every year: that it makes me jump to my feet applauding and shouting for joy. Time for you to thrill us, Cadets.

Here is the humor in this chatter: When all judges come from the same academic/DCI/MB experiencial mold, have the same training, the same musical and artistic value sets, look at the sheets in the same way (which is what DCI desires), the adjudicating results will be consistent; but then they are looked upon as slotting corps and/or in collusion with one another...... On the other hand, when qualified judges come from different experiences outside of academic/DCI/MB (say the commercial side), are trained differently, have different musical and artistic value sets, look at the sheets differently, and score differently from the cookie-cutter crew, they are deemed incompetent. So much so that if Wynton was secured as a guest judge, but scored brass differently than all other DCI Brass judges, even he would likely be deemed incompetent. But such is life in the bubble called the marcing arts.