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Showing content with the highest reputation on 07/22/2018 in all areas

  1. Performances in the previous century were programmed for crowd reactions. When Michael Cesario was program director with the Cadets in the mid-80's, he'd actually write on the show script and music book: "And the crowd goes Wild!!!" (Saw it myself several times.) This century, shows have become "art" and we don't interrupt the artist until the program is completed. Might miss those subtle electronic voice-overs thrown at us, the suicide that occurs on the back forty, the hanging on the lower front, or the stark silence the "artistic director" wants us to "experience" in isolation and solitary bleakness in his black clad doom-and-gloom dark shows that have become too common. Case of major depression at work if you ask me.
    14 points
  2. 'DId a a bit of extensive research tonite after the show earlier this evening... unless I missed a time or date, ( don't think so however ) going back to the beginning of DCI in 1972, the Boston Crusaders have never before topped the Blue Devils in any caption, in any DCI show before. Until tonite in the 2018 San Antonio DCI Regionals: Boston Crusaders 1st Place in Guard. ( Blue Devils 3rd in Guard ) Building A Champion... brick by brick... piece by piece.
    14 points
  3. That Crown will win if the beast kills the drum major?
    13 points
  4. you just won't stop Cadets are in 7th - that is 3 competitive places away from 4th It's not like they are 25th. Or at risk of not making finals... I'd say with smart moves etc they are 2-3 seasons from being competitive for gold again - in the long (& very proud) history of the Cadets that is a BLIP in time - not a "long" time With the off season "events" just 1 month prior to spring training (& days prior to their final camp) the corps / organization could have just folded and the Cadets could have vanished into thin air Instead they are fielding a highly competitive (and fun) show & the members are having a terrific summer This is the result of proud members & a VERY dedicated team of volunteers and other adults Instead of constantly poo-pooing them - perhaps they deserve our admiration and support As far as Jeff & Crown - he seems happy, but I have no way of knowing, and I doubt you do either. Jeff returning to Cadets would be interesting, but it in no way limits Cadets potential moving forward. Frankly he was there a long long time, and sometimes a change does everyone good. For the Cadets moving forward, the sky is quite literally the limit now that actual professionals and adults are in place
    10 points
  5. It is perhaps a testament to how good this show and this corps are that there are over 3x as many posts on the Boston Crusaders thread as there are on SCV's thread. I am an SCV alum and I couldn't be happier with how amazing their show is this year and how well their members are performing it. That said, I have often told my friends that Boston's show is my second favorite show this season. Perhaps it's because, as an arranger, I feel like this is the style I would write. Perhaps it's because I have a soft spot for the movie Castaway, particularly the music. Perhaps it's because Boston's members are performing it at a really high level. Whatever the reason, since I first saw this show early season I had hoped it would medal. A top 5 finish would be amazing as well, and I think it's possible with these performers and with this show. Good luck!
    10 points
  6. When you're typing on a little phone. a message online is not about correctness but to get the message out. Most know this BUT most don't live in their opinions from 30 years ago.. See I can throw the manure when necessary. Now carry on with your outdated, out of touch sexist, macho ridiculousness.
    9 points
  7. Is this not also their FIRST caption WIN as well at ANY REGIONAL in their history with DCI?
    9 points
  8. Congrats Boston guard!! How exciting!
    8 points
  9. Many of these productions don't translate or communicate well to the audience. It is unfortunate that the activity has become monkey see monkey do. Very few come up with a creative, original idea. My heart goes out to marching members - they're only a reflection of what was put in front of and/or on them. Truth be told, if I never see some of these productions again this season, I won't feel like I missed anything. For me it's about the music and marching and the quality of performance. I miss the high velocity intricate marching drills which are now replaced with jumping, hopping, skipping, running, posing, twirling, laying down, ballet, dancing, and now gymnastic tumbling, not to mention the pushing, pulling, dragging, lifting, climbing, standing and riding of props. Only a few corps have the prop thingie down - most props are horribly made and grossly underutilzed. My polite applause at the end of a performance is not always for the production but instead for the marching members trying to do the best with what they were given, and a reason to stretch my legs.
    8 points
  10. I agree, I was thinking at the Denton show that corps should get dinged if you can see the props being moved. Am I just supposed to avert my gaze or something? If you can't hide it, that's poor design, and corps should be penalized for it. After San Antonio last night I put on Cavaliers 2006 just to show my wife how MM's used to be exposed for the entire 11 minutes without any breaks. No props to hide behind for minutes at a time. No perma-soloists who only come out 3 or 4 times to play and spend the rest of the show pushing props. The entire corps is on the field for 11 and a half minutes and is judged accordingly. I definitely miss that.
    8 points
  11. And I'll venture a guess and say that all years except for 2008, the 4th place finisher at a mid-season regional did not end up winning it all. History often repeats itself indeed!
    8 points
  12. Props are now a very large (pun intended) part of DCI productions. They can create all kinds of interesting and engaging stages. Cool. What annoys me is that for large portions of a show, members ( who spent countless hours becoming the most talented musicians and performers and spend a lot of money for the privilege of joining a corps) are now relegated to being prop pushers. They don’t get to perform; they get to push monstrously heavy props all over the field and they break character to do it. Used to be you’d get dinged for breaking character. Now we see people putting their backs into it all over the field I know these things are cyclic but I sure wish performers got to perform for the whole show. You know — march well, play well, spin well? God bless all those stagehands out on tour.
    7 points
  13. Congratulations BAC guard! You’re terrific and so is the rest of the corps! Keep up the great work!
    7 points
  14. Congrats ladies and gents! "It's About Time".
    7 points
  15. That is cool. So glad to see the cadets doing well this year despite all the challenges. I’m from the west coast so SCV and BD are the corps I follow most. But I’ve always loved The Cadets. Every time I watch them they ozze disciple and drive. They have a unique aura that is different from my west coast corps. When they walk on the field you see focus and determination in everything they do. You’ve got to be extra proud of this years group making through all transitions and still performing really well. The show is great this year. I encourage everyone to keep supporting them. You’ve got great corps members and the right staff in place now. Hopefully next year they can make that trip out west.
    6 points
  16. To some degree, it might be because of difficulty to connect with the theme of a show. It's getting harder and harder on some of these to understand the theme. Blue Knights are a prime example. If you don't understand the ancient Egyptian mythology behind it, you won't get the show. Mandarins to some degree, Genesis, Phantom, and Colts as well. On the other end of the spectrum, Boston, Music City, Crown, Academy, and Blue Stars are all easily engaging. I like every show out of World Class this year, but I've studied them all and get them in a way a one time spectator who hasn't studied them won't be able to.
    6 points
  17. It depends on the audience. Usually at Indy the standing ovations begin before the end of a closer
    6 points
  18. This war against millennials is so stupid. Each generation brings something great to the table and each generation has it's flaws. Really wish people would stop with all that ridiculousness.
    6 points
  19. We’re nuts. Booked a hotel for next year today.
    5 points
  20. BD What works: The ballad. Holy moly. What doesn’t: Smooth criminal. Doesn’t fit. SCV What works: The baritone duet, horn snap. Peels your face off. What doesn’t: Picking nits, but the EDM dance off. This is drum corps, not Bring it On. Bloo What works: God bless “God Bless the Child.” What doesn’t: Highlighter yellow chairs. Blinding to look at under the lights. Crown What works: The drumline, exciting book, featured throughout. What doesn’t: The beast face. Doesn’t move. Awkwardly stares. Cavies What works: The best they have sounded in a decade. Kudos, Kevin and the Martins. What doesn’t: The tarps. It’s too much. Covers up the lack of drill demand. BAC What works: Overall arc of the show. A solid theme that takes you on a journey. What doesn’t: “Amazing Grace” singing. It’s out of place. Replace it with a mello solo. That’s it .... overall, TONS of entertaining moments in all the top 6 corps this year. It will be extremely close in three weeks.
    5 points
  21. At the very end, they change the "LOST" in the trees to "BAC." Then the guard spells out "WAS HERE" as the corps goes into the sea to be rescued.
    5 points
  22. There have been many great people at Madison. There are underlying issues that drive people off. This also includes people on staff or in the Admin. who have been part of the Scouts history. Find that ( some know it ) and find the answer. By the way, Show design. uniforms, females being let in, spats or no spats, the facade of some macho image, none of this is the reason. Peel this away, get over the excuses and one might find the issues. Maybe ask those who fled. There have been 2 corps with quite the reputation among staff people. Scouts are 1 the other seems to have got their act together. I can tell you though, both were oblivious for a long time, One seems to have solved it.
    5 points
  23. I do feel crowds have changed over the years. However, I am going back to the late 70s. I have witnessed audiences standing up and giving polite ovations at the shows that I have been to over the past few years, whereas standing ovations would be occurring several times throughout a corps performance. Perhaps expectations have changed. Rifles and sabres are now expected to toss quints. Arranging has changed since the earlier years, though I do see a trend going back to some degree. Corps used to play longer segments of songs instead of small snippets. This sometimes causes a disconnect between the performance and audience. Another thing that I noticed at shows recently. Several people in the audience were on their cell phones texting people and not paying attending to the performances. I wanted to ask them why they even bothered to attend the show.
    5 points
  24. Maybe it's because I'M OLD...but I don't consider 2000-2012 to be "older videos." Older videos, to me, come on VHS and reel-to-reel tape. :-) More on topic...the TEXAS crowd on Friday certainly seemed to be more excited by the shows. I'm wondering if it didn't have a lot to do with the fact there were only 8 corps vs over 25 at San Antonio? Same thing happens at Indy...the Thursday night crowd doesn't get as excited as the Saturday night crowd. People do get "tired"...especially OLD people.
    5 points
  25. It's simple really. Drum Corps has become far less entertaining than it used to be.
    5 points
  26. Their visual program is a bit of a bore honestly and the constant worshipping of the props throughout the show is part of it. They’ve mastered the art of staging but god is it boring to look at
    5 points
  27. I'm in this business. He is too snarky (as is the twitter user / quite typical of twitter "feedback" imo - mostly brats) - however it is advisable to take the high road and never engage the way the rep does honestly I hate engagement regarding customer service via twitter - they are taking their comment public prior to your first engagement with the customer - puts everyone on defensive out of the gate twitter in general is just nasty and immature - the social/political discourse is extremely mob mentality w/ low information - same with customer issues
    5 points
  28. Wow! Service with a smirk. It may be advisable to be more patient with the customers who are paying money for your product, which seems to be still in the learning stages. We are being as patient and lighthearted as we can be about some of the camera bloopers. There’s even a drinking game!
    5 points
  29. I don't understand the need for negativity/.
    5 points
  30. I think 777hornman's real name is M. Anderson.
    5 points
  31. I have a lot of respect for what drum corps put on nowadays. It seems more like a Broadway show (ala Bluecoats this year), and to me, they're relatively more enjoyable than when I marched. I love the great drill aspect that attracted me to drum corps in the first place, but I am more than happy with what drum corps do today.
    5 points
  32. I'm new here so I'm just genuinely curious if anyone agrees, but it seems like watching older videos ('00-'12) there are many instances when the corps would have audiences up and cheering maybe even before the last hit. Now I'm usually disappointed by the lack of excitement in audiences and feel like the standing ovations at the end are weaker and come out of obligation. Does anyone agree and maybe know what has changed? Am I crazy? (please feel free to tell me)
    4 points
  33. Especially since they lost at Clovis.
    4 points
  34. The past few years this thread has always been Madison Scouts-lite, the difference is that while Phantom had been stagnating, they had still been placing a bit near their average placement (6th). That, and the fact that this thread has way less overcompensating-macho-men dinos
    4 points
  35. For those attending, here’s an A to Z Guides & Policies link for Mercedes Benz Stadium http://mercedesbenzstadium.com/a-to-z-guide/ They also have a Mercedes Benz Stadium app available for iOS and Android.
    4 points
  36. Unless you were there to hear the music and see the performances, it would be hard to understand why the reactions are so different. The videos just do not do the older shows justice. The emotional builds were more effective. I’ll concede that today’s performances are technically superior, but the raw emotion from those vintage shows is hard to match. In some ways, today’s designers have lost sight of connecting to the audience rather than preaching to them.
    4 points
  37. It is a very long day at the regionals. I see everyone in Indy by seeing a lot of shows earlier on Thursday, take a break and return later. Friday, I switch it up where I see the middle group I missed on Thursday, take a break, then come in later. Saturday, I’m there for everyone. Spreading it out over three days works pretty well for us. Plus I’m older so I need to get up and take a walk.
    4 points
  38. One other factor, both for me and my daughter, was fatigue/sensory overload. After nine hours of having it come at me, front and center, by the time the last grouping came around, I was almost becoming a little numb to it all. Despite the fact that the performances were getting more and more impressive.
    4 points
  39. Was watching old YouTube videos from early 1990s concerts I attended (Jane's Addiction, Nine Inch Nails) and in the comments people are awestruck at how much fun people seem to be having at concerts then compared to now. Dancing, mosh pits, etc. Someone commented on how now, everyone stands in the audience with their phones up recording the thing rather than enjoying the event.
    4 points
  40. It's harder to wow audiences when they can watch anything that has ever been created on their portable computer from any location. It's also harder to 1 up last year each year because it's harder to find something that hasn't been done. Watch any individual member and they're moving more than almost any other year. We just become numb to it. What used to be a halt is now choreography. What used to be marching is now running. If your only answer is "because drum corps has gotten worse," delete your account. Why are you still here?
    4 points
  41. Why does INT get to go on twice? Do they get the higher score?
    4 points
  42. I thought it was generally ok last night until BD, when for reasons unknown they switched to 80% extreme closeups of soloists, shot from belly button level. It was bizarre, like the high cam guy had to suddenly run to the can or something.
    4 points
  43. I think that may be a bit of an understatement. The ending of Ink caught many off guard, got a huge crowd response, and was a huge sentimental coup for a corps not usually known for its sentimentality.
    4 points
  44. I just wanted to quickly add that the SCV’s brother/sister corps torched the competition tonight at the West Coast OC Championships show in Pleasanton, CA, taking GE by over a point and Brass by 0.6 on their way to breaking a 73. The “Unified Brass Teaching” is certainly paying off! I’m just tickled pink (cream?) that both SCV corps are dominating their respective landscapes this year!
    4 points
  45. You never know. Boston went from 12th to 6th in a year. Sh#t happens.
    4 points
  46. 4 points
  47. I've waited till tonight to really give the corps a chance: I'll begin by saying I appreciate the group for what they're try to achieve; however, for me the brass writing sounds very much like a high school band, which if I'm not mistaken, it actually is?! If you've seen Hebron HS Band 2013 (I think) this show is a pretty obvious duplicate of material Pitts arranged for them?!? Now, I realize Will Pitts is a Phanmily favorite; however, I just don't think he's the quality this corps needs. (no insult intended, he IS talented). But the talent they really need in their writing, well...they let the talent slip away -- and SCV is LOVING it. But tonight's 12th place Music Analysis was kind. IMO. I can tell there's progress happening, but this corps from top to bottom is suffering because of staff & designers. Relying WAY too heavily on electronic "distractions" and props to try and bluff their way through insufficient captions. Frankly, I wouldn't be shocked if Mandarins overtook this group before Finals. I don't think this is the year Phantom falls out of Finals, but folks this is getting too close for comfort. As for the kids on the field -- y'all are kicking butt -- keep working hard -- you are champions regardless of the design you're given.
    4 points
  48. Feh, thread counts are for bedsheets!
    3 points
  49. FWIW, it was a great day of drum corps yesterday. Good performances, good suspense at different moments during the scores announcements. San Antonio is a fine place for this. The crowd around me was mostly good. (A lot of disruptions at starts because of staff members grabbing seats, but it wasn’t awful.) And there were good conversations. Plus, great food, drink, and more drum corps conversations afterward. Thanks to the Cadets, SCV, and Cavies travelers for making it a good evening. Biggest surprise: I liked Crown a lot after not so much the night before. Biggest disappointment: Madison. Not on the performance, which I thought was very good. The crowd liked it. But too bad on the scores.
    3 points
  50. Kind of missing my point. I’m not criticizing any performers. If you went to a Broadway show, would it be ok for the actors to stop acting, hold up their hand, change the set, and then pretend nothing happened? Audiences wouldn’t stand for it. Neither would the performers. I hate being taken “out of the moment “. All this prop pushing does that constantly. And im not sure it’s what these wonderful performers are paying a lot of money for either.
    3 points
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