SeanMcSean

Where are you guys rehearsing leading into Reading?

Well, I know we'll miss your reviews, W. Makes me bummed Bush won't be in Williamsburg this year. We're in PA a lot, but not that one.

As a staff member/performer, I liked having it as an exhibition. Every sport has a Spring training where they play exhibition games (actually does basketball? Not sure about them.) Anyway, I think its great for newer performers to have a weekend where its a show situation where they get a feel for how DCA works, with a bit less pressure because it isn't scored, but the staff can still get some early feedback from the judging community. I think it may have had something to do with everyone being done with the show, too. In past years many groups haven't had the full show out at Wildwood, this year I can imagine they were more willing to just get it out there, knowing they still had another day or two to clean before they get a score.

Sure, I don't mind an overhaul every 4 or 5 years. I just prefer that in those blocks of time there's a semblance of continuity. And, while unrealistic, I think that when there's a complete redesign, that should be announced early, maybe even with preliminary sketches. I know members who marched a corps in a year there were uniform changes, and they were majorly disappointed. I guess with the more frequent changes it becomes less of an issue, but the uniform is part of a corps' image, and part of why people want to march in a specific place. Of course they grin and bear it, but if you grow up idolizing Maroon and Gold, then show up and get handed an all black uniform, it's certainly a bummer

Yeah, that was my point. I knew immediately that this was Bones. Same with the changes Crown makes every year. I like when a corps has an identifiable template, and fit the show theme from there. Kinda like it was an organized activity with rules about membership, timing and instrumentation, and then you make your creative vision fit within those parameters.

*Double post

That's really my issue. An earlier post said "you can tell Crown, from, Boston, from Devs, etc. And sure, you can. But to me, I feel like a uniform should identify the organization on sight. Modifications for the show are ok, as is a major overhaul on occasion. My worry is when we get to the point that I won't recognize a corps on sight, because of how frequently the uniform changes

Bush at South Ave Rec center

Top 5 is all about scheduling for next season. Except for when hosting a show, 6-10 will always be on before 1-5. Same for non-finalists, they're always on before the finalists.

Thanks for the review Kyle, good points all around. And I agree on the Metheney License :)

Excellent Review, Thanks Chris!

Thanks, I thought that reverse order sounded wonky

Is it wrong that I hope you end up not jumping in with anyone, because I'm looking forward to your review? :) Seriously, good stuff. Thanks, I hope youkeep it up.

Was there an exhibition last year? I remember in 2011, when Bush didn't get in, we played, likely because there were on 11 corps in open, so why not. Last year we were 11th again, but there were 12 corps in open, so I don't think anyone played. I do agree though, there didnt seem to be any logical reason for the 11th place corps to do an exhibition

http://bushwackers.org/2013/08/22/pennsauken-invitational-is-back-on/

http://bushwackers.org/2013/08/22/pennsauken-invitational-is-back-on/

2 more. Anyone feel like sewing?

Yeah, that's what I meant. Corps have moved up, but it's been rare for a corps to go Class A during lean years, regroup and get back in competition with the larger groups. No idea why your post got downvoted. Odd.

Yeah, I'm along the same lines of thinking as Liz. While Sky did transition between the two, the fact that they are currently inactive, while possibly unrelated, makes it seem like it wasn't a huge success. Basically, I was saying there isnt a great track record for groups who have moved from Open to A successfully getting back into Open, and it looks like Sun and Gold are both doing that this year. I think thats an impressive feat and wanted to give them credit.

Did they? I guess I don't remember Gold being in Open (Probably because we only see them once or twice a year) and since Sky isn't around right now, they're off my radar. Sounds like they're on the way back though, which is good. EDIT: OK, I looked at some recent years, and I see I missed that Sky came back to Open for a year or two. And I see that Gold was Open for a few years, switched to A, but this is the first year they've gone back to Open, right?

Just wanted to say congrats to the Sunrisers. I THINK that they are the first corps that has dropped to class A, and then successfully moved back to open... but I could be wrong. Either way, nice job, that's no easy feat

As we were waiting to go on, we could hear Fran loud and clear. Mostly asking if anyone could hear him. I guess only the back speakers were working

Nice review Kyle, thanks. Hopefully you'll make a good number of shows this year, our theme should become clearer as we add the bells and whistles. And I think some of the issues with the props come from the low vantage point in Wildwood. PS, thanks for the nice comments about the plateline, and I totally agree that "Gypsodic Cabs" would be fun to watch

Not from the first show, Its sometime in august that they do a count for the 10% rule. If they even still do it, Im not sure

Jeff, I agree with that. Thats why in one of my earlier posts I said that you should use some quick fix so at least the show appears to be a finished product. The diehards will likely notice, but you could fool the casual fan. They wont be timing the show, or might not notice a lack of drill or body in the middle of the show somewhere. I could be wrong, but I think SCV may learn their drill back to front so they are more comfortable with the closer and finish strong, and if they arent ready, its a standstill for the intro not the finale. I could be wrong, but even if I am, it seems like a good idea. Ed, I also agree with you, which is why of the options I gave above, I think the best bet is to put out a decent 9 minutes rather than a sloppy 10.