jmahone

I know the head-to-head tells a different story, but it is interesting how SoA's push this past week put them in the middle of PR and Bones based on last score. I think SoA stands a shot if they have a clean show and perhaps have a reveal of some sort that pulls the crowd in even more. I think PR may have 11th wrapped up, but I do think 12th is in play.

huh. never had issues when DCA was there I think that may be because the DCA shows here were Nats for them, so a bigger presence, more concession stands open. Only one open last night. Also, I must clarify, I was speaking as an Annapolitan when I referred to "we", not a service member, at NMCMS. I'm on post as a contractor, working with our military. I appreciate everyone's thoughts, but I do not want anyone to be misled! posted from the DrumScorps app

So, to answer the anticipating question, we could not hear the Anthem. I knew when it was supposed to start, I know where the flag court is in the west end of the stadium, and it was sufficiently loud in the concourse under the stands that neither of us heard the Anthem. No one that I saw stopped for the Anthem, but I don't blame anyone since I don't think anyone could have heard it played. I have no idea who or what group played it. I stand for the Anthem, always. I stop and stand in place for To the Colors at 5pm when I'm at a post. This is Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, and more than a few Navy folks were there. We know how to respect the Flag. posted from the DrumScorps app

We were there live and just got home. Cavies are awesome this year. I really like their show and they just exude strength! Seeing Spirit live was amazing. Cadets start strong, but I feel their show just loses power and GE along the way. Don't get me wrong, all of the corps are looking sharper and sounding crisper as the tour continues, but you can really see and hear why the scores are what they are. I'm pulling for Spirit to make finals, and they have a chance, but PR and Crossmen are looking great, too. I love Navy's stadium, but the concessions are always a disaster for any thing other than Navy games. We sat in line for 45 minutes, missing the opening and the anthem. posted from the DrumScorps app

Spirit and Mandarins looked and sounded awesome! posted from the DrumScorps app

Spirit is winning, right? posted from the DrumScorps app

And 4th in 1980, with .8 separating BD and Spirit.

My bad. I thought his comment related to the NMCMS in Annapolis. Instead, he was referring to the Chester ToC show. I should have followed back a bit further in the thread, my bad. Anyway, for future Annapolis shows, my comment might serve one well when ordering tickets and wanting seats vs bleachers. Carry on.

This is not strictly true. Facing the field, at least two sections on the left of the 50 have bleachers as this is where the Brigade of Midshipmen stand during Navy games.

Looks like the latest rundown missed Cadets' Annapolis score of 87.825, which slots them into 7th behind Cavies.

Folks, Because someone else asked this very important question after I purchased tickets for them for tonight's event, does anyone know if alcohol, or even simply beer, will be served at tonight's event in Annapolis, MD? I know that during Navy games, the answer is no. I know that during the Military Bowl, and more to the point, the DCA finals and prelims a few years ago, the answer is yes. So, for tonight, does anyone have a definitive answer? Thanks, Jerry

I agree with you that it may not have impacted this year's scenario. I was referring back to the previous poster, and I'm too lazy to do it now, too. My point is that there are many areas I'm comfortable with being the difference maker between two corps' scores, and narration is not one of them. I hope it never comes down to Corps A's narrator/script being just a little bit better than Corps B's, and therefore, Corps A squeaks by for the win. Actually, just to make sure I didn't make anything up, here's the quote from the earlier poster (perc2100) that led to my reply: I don't have a bone to pick with perc2100, though I don't agree with the statement, and I hope it doesn't come down to better script writing and oratory skills. I hope finals spots are decided by things like better horn charts and performances, cleaner drumlines, and more exciting guard interpretation and other such aspects of the performances, to name a few. I mean, what happens if the Cadets had been placing slightly higher than BD during finals week, and then the narrator(s) choked up and forgot their lines, or the amplification went down, or they simply mistimed their delivery? Do we really want that to even count? A solo splats a note or a featured snare phrase is muddy or there are three equipment drops on a guard trick, sure, that counts. But how do you score problems with narration? Anyway, I didn't say this before, but I loved all the performances, and thought that all of the corps were very strong this year, all the way through. My kids (age 7 and 4) are really getting into drum corps and are always asking for "DCI, DCI, DCI" on the iPod when we're in the car, and I think there is an overwhelming amount of positive energy to take away from the performances this year! Cheers, Jerry

I have read various narration threads on several different sites over the past several years, and my thoughts are not particularly unique enough to add to the thread except in summary. Narration probably has a place, but you have to ask yourself these two questions: 1) When is it too much? How will you know? Why isn't it reasonable to think that the line may have been crossed by Cadets this year. Disclaimer: I loved their show while there wasn't any speaking, and was hoping that the narration would be missing at finals. On the other hand, I liked the irony of the Bluecoats much-quoted line: "You have the right to remain silent..." I did not prefer BD's narration last year, but it had its place given the show (except for the phrase Yawza, which has been etched into my brain for eternity). I personally like the idea of open interpretation on these shows. Why can't a show mean different things to different people, much like poetry. Why does there have to be a theme dictated to us, literally? 2) An earlier poster alluded to the idea that a bit more/less narration would have put Cadets over BD. It's not important which direction the poster said, and I forget, but my takeaway from this is: Do you really want the DCI World Championship decided over narration? "Oooh, just a bit more narration would just put them over the others..." "Man, I think if they had just gotten rid of that one line about blah blah blah, it would have made the difference." Me? I would like to think horn, drum, and guard lines make the difference. My .02 worth. Jerry

I liked the production of the broadcast except the flashy segment just prior to each corps' actual performance clip. For those new to DCI and drum corps, I think most of the segments were at the right frequency, so to speak. Would I have liked more performance? Yep. I'm an old timer now (41) and remember the days of PBS broadcasting all 12 performances, in their entireity, live, and oh yeah, they were 13 minutes long each. I never did understand reducing the amount of time for the performance, especially because many folks who follow the activity usually can make only one or two shows a year. Reducing the show by that 1.5 minutes represented a pretty healthy reduction in a person's live drum corps intake. On the other hand, the shows are much better in so many qualitative ways, from arrangements, music selection, musicianship, performance, and athleticism. I drifted away from the scene in the mid- to late-eighties, and would periodically revisit the activity, and there is no question that the corps are producing much better shows with better talent. I have seen finals in Birmingham, Atlanta, Madison, and College Park (DC), and I really miss the full finals broadcast for all the other years that they haven't had them. In summary, I think DCI should continue with this ESPN2 (hey, maybe ESPN next year?) angle for the summary show, but still pursue a pay-per-view do it like they used to broadcast over digital cable/DirecTV (live) as well. My .02 worth. Later, Jerry