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That's not called for. This is a pretty congenial place, and while folks like LabMaster and Chief Guns certainly don't need me to ride to their defense, you should know they are great members of this community. Don't make this site into a Charles Foxtrot by getting personal.

Rookie doesn’t mean what it used to mean. They come in ready to roll nowadays.

A quick check of Reddit drumcorps reveals what she wants. This is from Kenzee - I do not want the activity eradicated. I want this activity corrected. People deserve safety. Performers are forking over thousands of dollars to experience abuse and mistreatment. It’s unacceptable. This is and always will be about making enough noise to make sure others are protected so this stuff stops happening. It’s about making sure the people who are supposed to protect performers, actually protect their performers. It’s about holding those accountable. This isn’t enjoyable for me. This isn’t fun. This is incredibly traumatic. This has taken me ample time to gain the courage to do. It’s disgusting no one followed their own policies or protected me when I was 16. It’s time to force a change. It’s disgusting how many people went unprotected. It’s shameful how many people are ostracized for speaking up. Prior performers, current performers, and future performers deserve more.

Today is May 1st. One month closer to getting real scores. I don’t do predictions besides an occasional “that’s not going to make finals” said privately or “I think they’ll win” and I’m usually notoriously bad at it. I had an amazing winning streak except for the top spot in 2012. But I digress… I just don’t care that much about who places where or what they score anymore.

I didn't know that, but it makes total sense that these two giants were born under the same star. The old saying among drum corps veterans of a certain era was that if you never got to play Kenny's "Auld Lang Syne" or Duffy's "Battle Hymn" you got cheated. Mike wrote for all the heavies in the early DCI days: Anaheim ('72 Champs), Blue Stars ('72 runner up), Troopers (perennial contenders), and dozens of the rest. He just about invented the "Sound of DCI". He's been in my personal Hall of Fame for 50+ years. Rest his remarkable soul. Mike Duffy is irreplaceable.

I have more fun spitballin’ about show themes than making predictions. I’m probably the only one who remembers but I was right about the Boston Giants show and Bloo’s first Beatles show.

I would be very surprised to see SCV outscore the Mandarins in anything other than percussion this summer. I have heard from multiple sources that SCV has a younger hornline this year, which is frankly to be expected. Glad they're back...just hope they're able to improve the dismal toxic culture that their alums talk about.

Blue Stars make an unexpected surge to 2nd place and Blue Devils don't even make finals. Bold.

Scott Chandler Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/C6jvaTCvsOE/?hl=en

I would enjoy seeing your prediction for Troopers ( 7th ) come true . I had to check the last time they finished in the Top 8 and it was in 1974 ( 5th ). They were the very first Drum Corps to annually go on a national tour that took them from out west ( Wyo) through the midwest all the way to the east coast and did so every season starting from the early 1960’s . They were one of the very best Drum Corps in the country in the decade prior to the formation of DCI in ‘72 . The last few seasons the Troopers have had very entertaining and creative shows demonstrating it’s possible to bridge the modern with the traditional when in the hands of capable design staff . It would be great to see them continue to make that placement climb they have been on recently .

Non placement prediction. Jersey Surf is gonna have us all talking about how fun their show is.

Ok, change of opinion...I think the Madison Scouts are going to take it all this year. That's right! My inner 80s/90s enthusiasm is showing today. Score prediction...100! 🙂 Looking forward to seeing all the corps...and yes I do love me some Madison Scouts.

I love the graphic. It looks like a silent movie actress.

What I do know is the Auditionees for Mandarins this year nearly doubled from 2022-23. While I don't know how many, I do know some of the 2023 members unfortunately didn't get contracted this season, due to the talent pool increasing. That I know for a fact. My son told me last weekend when they had camp that the talent this year is absolutely insane and the corps as a whole "leveled up." He also said this year's show is definitely harder than Sinnerman, and the brass line is so much better. I will see what I can find out, but I know we have some posters in the DCP family that can probably get these numbers, if it's available.

I doubt the top 4 will change. Blue Devils will be either 1st or 2nd, with Bluecoats, Boston Crusaders, and Carolina Crown shifting around in any order. As much as I want to believe that Bloo can do it, I think the corps most likely to challenge BD is Crown. 5th-8th will be an interesting range with Cadets gone and SCV added back into the mix. Most likely we'll see Mandarins, Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, and Cavaliers occupying those spots, not necessarily in that order. I feel like any one of those corps could achieve that 5th place spot. 9th-12th is always the most difficult range to predict, but I'm gonna say Blue Stars, Colts, Troopers, and Pacific Crest, in any order. My personal wish list: Bluecoats in 1st. Mandarins in 5th. Blue Stars stage a comeback and break out of the 9th-12th range. Pacific Crest in finals.

I rest my case.

Let's be real here. The Mandarins were successful last year because they put on a ###### show and the MMs marched and played the crap out of it! They did something on that field that no other corps did and it resonated. That had ZERO to do with SCV. People just need to STFU already. There said it.

I have heard the same. Fun fact: one of SCV'S lead trumpets joined BAC last year when they pulled the plug. The guy will be heading to Vermont in a few weeks to prepare for his second (and I think, ageout) season with Boston. I wouldn't presume to speak for him, but the fact that he is returning probably speaks for itself.

Well, if you’re stirring the pot, Madison! 🤷‍♂️😂

Hey all, Mike here. Been learning about and processing what has transpired at Walmart Health. Basically Walmart has decided to close the entire Walmart Health division. This includes telehealth, on which I was the principal designer. I will be working on the details of this today. I don’t know about timelines yet.

I am struggling with the idea that SCV will be in the top half and possibly fighting for a medal. I understand they have most of the staff back from a couple years ago. However, they were in fifth before the 2023 season. There are many FMM that have found a new home or are apprehensive to take the risks associated with this comeback. I see them in the bottom half if not bottom quarter of the Top 12 as they start their comeback. Please understand, I have always been an SCV fan and wish them well. I just don't see them as a top 6 corps this year.

I can see Troopers topping both PR and SCV this year. They continue to build on their talent, the drumline is top 5 quality, hornline is improving yearly, the show design is stella, and for the love of God the guard should be better! Last year PR and Troopers were very close. And SCV returning after the one year hiatus could definitely impact them score wise since its basically a rebuilding year. Plus they'll have lower number of returning vets and earlier performance times to deal with. I actually think Troopers will be battling with Mandarins, Cavies and PR for the 5th spot.

So, I decided to act as travel planners need to know if this show will be canceled. I called HQ DCI & asked. They said that the show will happen; they are finalizing details with a new location. But try as I did no hints were given.

We have a spy! Excellent.

I foresee a battle of Mandarins, Cavies, and Phantom to prove they should be running with the top dogs.

I agree with you totally with 1-4 being a tier of its own. I was just basing it off his 1-5. But you are correct. And if we are being honest, until someone can step up and beat BD "CONSISTENTLY" they are in a tier of their own.

Mandarins. They have their s**t together, they have the resources, and they have the momentum for 5th this year.

It also occurs to me that if what Spirit is alleging is true and if she signed the member contract herself, as a minor, rather than her parents, that contract is null and void.

It was powderful!

Well, let's hope this year's staff doesn't gather in Indy for a group photo while flipping everyone off. That was 16 months ago, and had nothing to do with GR.

I may be wrong, but I think what @IllianaLancerContra is saying is that if you go to just about any corps thread, WE are the ones saying that they sound better, look better, etc than the previous season. Some of it may be true, some of it may just be fluff and false hype to get the fanbase of that corps excited. Majority of us are guilty of it, including myself. You said it yourself, we haven't seen anything from any of these corps. So we go off what we think we know. We haven't seen SCV in well over 600 days. But it doesn't stop you from thinking that they will be no lower than 6th. And there is nothing wrong with thinking that, even though some may disagree.

This activity is about 20 years behind the Catholic Church. It’s disgusting that people would continue to defend the likes of Spirit or Cadets or SCV. The rot is deep. No one dares mention the ex director of Cavies/SCV. Why? It sickens me. DCI has been negligent and cowardly. Oh, all we do is organize the tour. Well, how is that going. All the “TBD” contests. So sad.

2024

It's MAY! It's move in month!

hi! quick point of order.... i'm the dominant ######## here. Please allow me to be that guy. i have 22 years of practice here at it. thanks! and to be technical, anymore, philly is Jersey West

No one shut down anything you’ve said. Questioned your contrived assertions certainly. It is obvious you know little of what you profess to know. But continue to be glib and insult other posters opinions, calling them toxic and emotionally feeble, because you’re “strong”. You can be tolerated or ignored easily enough. Ignored may be the consensus choice.

How does the money get dispersed? What percentage of funds goes directly to marching members? How are marching members chosen? What are the administrative cost percentages? What percentage goes to the student? Does the money go directly to the corps they are marching in, or to the student? What happens if the student decides not to march after funds have been dispersed to them? Is there a liaison from your group to the corps that have members receiving money? If the money goes directly to the student, how would donors know an impact is being made? If I were to donate, how do I as a stakeholder get updated? When I donate directly to a corps, I'm added to a communication list, does something similar exist for the 1934Foundation (see above question about administrative costs)? How do you distinguish between need-based support and support that might otherwise go to someone else in need? Who defines that? ^10 reasons to be hesitant, off the top of my head. I agree it's great in theory, but there's a lot of questions that are not addressed on the website (at least not that I could see).

You know you've hit the big time on DCP when Chief calls you brother. The season better start soon so some of this grumpiness on here goes away.

Terri, please predict Boston in 4th so they can win this year! 😀

I personally know 3 SCV 23 trumpets that ended up marching Phantom, Crown, and BD, last year and will all age out this year with those corps. SCV will be a less experienced group than the “top tier” groups but with design, they may be able to pull off a great upset. I’ll be rooting hard for them to come back strong in 24

“Ward, I’m worried about the Beaver.”

Criminal and Civil are two totally separate areas of law, penalties, and enforcement. Criminal activities and consequences are not decided in lawsuits with private attorneys. They are solely in the scope of governmental authorities to bring and prosecute, i.e., police & states/district attorney offices. No contract can protect against criminality. In criminal cases, the burden of the Plaintiff against the Defendant is to prove "beyond a reasonable doubt". This case and the subject matter is not a criminal matter. The case is a civil matter that is compensatory at heart, an attempt to "make the Plaintiff whole" (which can never happen of course, but that's the theory). The burden of proof is not as strict as criminal cases but still tough, Plaintiff has to prove based on a "preponderance of the evidence that it is more likely than not" that SoA or DCI was negligent. When it comes to civil liability and negligence, you CAN contract your way out of civil penalties. Example: go Bungie jumping. I guarantee you have to sign forms that basically say if something terrible happens you waive any right to come after them for civil compensation. That's what I'm referring to here and that's the sort of thing they are referring to in their filed Answer.

From the internets: NDAs cannot legally prevent reporting of criminal activities. So if Ms. Hales was reporting such activity, I’m not sure what SOA’s point is here.

I miss the excitement of the planning of getting everything ready for Spring Training, but I will never lose my excitement for this corps!! I just sit in my little corner of the country and cheer them on! 🙂 🙂

West Coast Inflation!!!!!

Glad to see/hear they are sticking with their most recent show roots, production rather - I stand corrected. Very exciting musical selections. Now that Cadets are no more, Bloo now gets my fandom and my financial support. I don't think Drum Corps has been pushed this far by anyone other than the Cadets back then. Just based on clips of their camps, the experiences they are creating for members/potential members, as they did in December with Dave Vives, blows my mind and I'm all about it! In case anyone missed this gem:

It's financial. It's a civil action. All civil actions are financial at the end of the day.

Diamond Bar and Charter Oak is about a 45-50min drive from the crib. And Canyon Springs in Moreno Valley is 25min away. Definitely going to go check them out next month!

Throws out insults and terms of emotionally feeble and then says to relax and enjoy. Power on man, but jeez you seem chatroom bipolar. There's always at least one in every topic!