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Maybe it's you? I have been a drum corps fan since the 70s. I've been to every DCI since 1990. I don't remember a time when people weren't complaining about the Cadets' design choices. Pick your problem. Props? Voice? Pop music? Obscure music? Add to your list too many gimmicks, too literal and too cerebral. The situation the past eight years was no different than the eight before that and all the eights before. Maybe yo'u're cheering for the wrong team? I know a long-time drum corps fan - a BD fan - who for a lot of reasons only made it to one show in 2016: Finals. His favorite of the 12 from two years ago? Stoned. Statues. Awakening. Cadets. He's a sophisticated fan, someone who's been to dozens of DCI finals, Allentown and others. And not a Cadets fan. So why did he pick Cadets 2016? I've thought a lot about that. And the answer I think is he wasn't part of the endless, breathless discussion that summer. He didn't see the developing program dissected down to the last detail. All he saw was what the Cadets put on the field. He credited all they accomplished and only what he saw that night. Different from here and the judges sheets, he didn't attempt to reconcile what he saw and heard against criteria assembled by themselves and others in the weeks before. I don't like every design choice the Cadets have made. I do recognize, however, the Cadets aren't unique in that respect. There have been lots of bad design choice along with some good ones across the spectrum of corps. We just never cut the Cadets a break around here. HH

it's February. who knows where it'll go. Plus here's the thing...the days of Cadets/Cavies/BD then everyone else is over. Crown and Bloo entered the fray, Boston is making moves, SCV is back in the game....the competition at the top has never been better.

Well, if you're gonna play the person's valves TWO dots away.................

I don't know about that - I've found many designs over the last 8 years by many finalist corps to be cringe-worthy. So maybe he's perfectly in touch. Too many musicians with an inflated sense of their own cleverness, and an unwillingness to trust the music.

I don't know about the "tear jerker of 2018," but the odds of it being the "grimace of 2018" are rising. I don't know why their design team needs to make everything so awkwardly complicated. For example, last year's show would have been miles better without the singing/screeching. The plagal cadence at the end was a thing of beauty--WAS a thing of beauty--until it was ruined by the "choir." The year before that, Stoned (or whatever), was a neat concept: statutes coming to life. But why the need to turn it into a Melo-drama about the depths of human emotions? Cadets: you are not the Blue Devils. Your trying to be is not wearing well. You have succeeded when you kept it simple and let the kids shine. Angels & Demons--amazing. 12.25--amazing (a show that has gotten more love over the years). Side x Side--amazing (despite the questionable color palette, but I get it). Being esoteric is not your thing. And that's ok. We want to be entertained, not lectured, and certainly not lectured through a mess of a design.

you don't need to name names, sadly I know exactly which corps you're referring too - and yes - they performed the heck out of it. But it was a horrific design and the "amplification" didn't help matters either. But it did help their scores so there is that.

I fear that we are in for a deluge of "Sound of Silence" similar to "Kaleidoscope of Mathematics"

This season will be the 34th year my wife and I have been following the Cadets. There have been ups and downs along the way for sure. I always defended the corps and ignored the critics because I was so amazed and captivated by the Cadets. It's mind boggling to think of all the good people who have walked away from the corps...and not in a good way. The Cadets brand has been diminished over the years and many don't even consider them a contender anymore. The Cadets have clearly lost their magic and they seem to be unable to regain their mojo. I do agree that the Cadets seem to be judged by different standards than other corps...partly because they set the bar so freaking high.

Ya mean like combining that narration with something with a modern groove?

the Fran Haring collection!!

Thanks for the civil response MikeD.

My favorite year as a member (Cavaliers) was 95, not just because we won, but because it was such a fun show to rehearse and perform. We got our butts kicked competitively multiple times but we just kept pushing. We had an amazing staff as well. Every other corps that summer was just brilliant, too. A great year for the activity.

So, you're saying ... everyone's talking, but nobody's listening?

This was the point I was half expecting to read, "...and she actually THREW it!"

Bye!

Welp I think this year they will either bounce back and find a modern groove, or fade into the vast number of corps that are kinda generic, make “okay” shows and chase trends

Just to give you guys a look into what the youth of the activity thinks about the uniforms...we all think they look great and definitely a win

We're just starting to get things ready for the 2018 season. The tour map (and DrumScorps) will be updated before the season to include this information.

The Cadets have set that bar very high for sure BUT that bar was set long before 34 years ago and has nothing to do with a medal or top 5. Funny how for some dropping out of top 5 means the falling into the abyss yet for others making it to top 5 or 6 or 7 or even making finals is a dream come true and celebrated. Guess it's all perspective.

I appreciate your thoughts; however, I'm rooting for the Cadets to regain their greatness. I'm not a Cadet hater...actually, quite the opposite. My wife and I will be at their camp this weekend...full of hope. And I don't really care about stats and placements, I just want to be wowed by the Cadets again. And yes, I honestly don't believe Hopkins is in tune with modern drum corps. Thanks again for your thoughts

Bump... GO CAVIES!

Bingo. The difference is other corps' design challenges aren't scrutinized the way Cadets' are. HH

if it goes Cavies the last two years I'll be ok with it

I bought a hat from them with Stoned emblazoned across the front. I'm embarrassed to wear it out of the house.

Haha I was actually thinking that! But maybe with the powerful emotions of BK 14. If the Cadets want to put on a show like that for 2018 I am all in. This concept has the potential to deliver a powerful message that I haven't found in any other Cadets show. Can it be the tear jerker of 2018? Although sound of silence is so 2017.

Brian, yes they are! Thanks for your support! I will post pictures and a video from the March camp/Chicago Irish parade!

Well I guess we have to be thankful that GH didn't pick this designer who outfitted the Norwegian team for the Olympics.

From Cadets today, a photo of my last sponsoree to wear a true Cadet uniform (2015). He just hosted the Superbowl. All other costumes pale in comparison to what has set the standard for about 7 decades. Bright, clean, sharp, neat. Society today doesn't need more dark shows set against the dark black curtains of Lucas Oil Stadium. I am very disappointed in the color palette inflicted upon the mms for 2018. Last year's versions were more conducive to positive GE possibilities. .

It is ironic that the corps that will perform a show that is supposedly predicated on the perils of self-absorption and not listening to others is led by a director who . . . is self-absorbed and . . . doesn’t listen to others! The GE for this show is going to be off the charts!

It’s the working title, so it’s subject to change.

‘91. I was in awe the first time I saw them in CA when on tour with Sky.

Just because you say so doesn’t make it true. The uniform/costume IMO could be for any marching band corps. Nothing about it - again IMO said Cadets, and no I’m not lobbying for the return of the Cadet style uniforms from BITD. I always approach corps show design, music, costumes etc. with what makes this special in comparison to others. IMO there’s nothing special about the conceptual design, and colors of maroon and gold won’t change my opinion. However it is only one component of the overall design, so perhaps it fits well with the show concept. So there is the possibility I’ll warm up to it. Right now not so much.

Last year, I remember everyone laughing at the costume sketch for Spirit. The oversized gauntlets looked ridiculous. But, they ended up being fine in real life, imo. Maybe the sketch artists struggle with the hand/wrist area, idk. It's a stylized drawing meant to capture an idea or vision, not necessarily reality

The costume is fine, but the artist clearly is unaware we lead off on the RIGHT leg!

Having already gone over the top in my response to Eleran on this subject, might I just suggest that we be a little more welcoming and a little less dismissive (broad statement) of new voices - youth voices - on this topic? HH

that's been the issue for 30 some years now. Some can't separate the kids from the leadership. So if you blast the leadership you're hurting the kids in their eyes. Given the leadership makes the corps all about him, it's easy to see why many people dislike him/the organization. So like many, Jim, myself and other may not like the leadership, but will help the kids. I've donated to several MM's over the years, even if i wasn't a fan of the leadership.

I used to be a donor and helped some kids march. Jim drove for them for a couple years and pushed props around here in the Midwest when we were at shows. Whatever we did, we did for the members. Never once, did I think it was about me. Harming the organization? That seems a bit dramatic. I doubt we carry that big of a stick in the grand scheme of things. If The Cadets are harmed, it will be an implosion kind of harm.

I don't know. The Eagles won the Super Bowl. The players surely did. Didn't the coaches win too? And the front office? And the fans? It doesn't feel right at all not to be inclusive. The Cadets. Members are Cadets. But does it really stop there? The parents who fund them, cheer them and love them don't have a stake? The volunteers who feed them, drive them and dress them aren't crucial? The staff who prepare them and push them to excellence and growth, they're not included? Or maybe the point is, we know we're sometimes being hurtful, so we create an accurate, though artificial, construct: We support the members even if our words (perhaps deeds) undermine the foundation on which they're meant to build. Don't get me wrong. It's a free country and a open forum. We are entitled to our opinions and to share them. I just think it's silly to believe you aren't harming the members when you bring harm to the organization. Not the Scherrs, per se. Just in general, which is my point. HH

We already know your opinion on everything concerning Cadets

Actually, I was with you in wanting to see an update like JonWoody (I think) had as his avatar a while back. But yeah... the traditional uniform wouldn't lend itself to this theme. I'm not really sure I see that this one does, either. But the staff seemed a bit muddled in trying to convey exactly how the theme would be portrayed, so we'll see if this look ties things together more on the field when all is said and done. The Slenderman fingers are creepy af though.

Pioneer (like the Troopers) are Corps I always root for no matter our other connections. Glad to hear recruiting is going well!

1981 Madison Scouts. We were undefeated until we saw 27th Lancers about 5 weeks into the season. We shocked everyone, including ourselves when we won DCI Midwest finals in Whitewater, WI. Warhawk stadium went absolutely berserk when Blue Devils were announced in 2nd place. Every top drum corps was in this show, which will always be my single most favorite contest that I marched. This is the Madison show that is on the DCI Championship CD's because DCI finals in Montreal was not televised. We beat the eventual champion SCV in either our last or 2nd to last show before DCI Finals, I believe by more than 1 point. We went into Montreal championship week with a good shot to win it all. but fell short finishing in 3rd place. Fun fact... I can still play the entire Snare Drum book. I'll never forget it.

As was mentioned earlier today on another DCP thread, congratulations to Melissa " Mely " Salguero who was chosen as " Grammy Educator Of The Year " at the Grammy Awards last nite. She's an Educator Giant. She is also a Boston Crusaders Giant, having marched the Boston Crusaders ( mellophone ) in her youth. Here is another article on her below. This is not only an honor for her, her school, her students, and the Boston Crusaders. its also uplifting to see what can be in store for those who march today in Drum Corps and can dream of making this world a little bit better world when they become full fledged adults in their own right some day. She is truly inspiring for the entire Drum Corps community, imo. People such as her can and do make a difference in this world. http://www.grammyintheschools.com/features/meet-2018-music-educator-award-winner-melissa-salguero