pagentryfan

All joking and snarkiness aside, can't staff cheer anymore? The staff members are the one that see the program all the time and, just like the members...staff members get hyped at shows too. The product they have a hand in creating, in full uniform in front of a crowd...that will charge anyone!

I suppose it's about that time to start nit-picking over stupid little things. Here's a newsflash...these groups bust their butts practicing weekend after weekend to perform for a crowd. Having been a long time performer myself, the performing group does in fact hear, and respond to the crowd. Part of the problem is that we as an audience become so reserved as to applaud for what we think is an acceptable applause point. There are just horn line people in the stands, along with just drum line or color guard people watching and appreciating. We all have different opinions of WHAT to cheer for. Get over it...it is crowd response...so what if it is from the guard staff, they are apart of the crowd too. Instead of complaining about the guard staff responding to their show, why not start a thread about the show host educating and enforcing the "do not stand or leave during a corps performance." That has always been and will always be my #1 complaint about the Bridgeport show. I get it, the crowd is made up of inexperienced corps viewers, but still...can we make an announcement, maybe have ushers in the stands, a sign or two...something? That's all. stepping down off my soapbox.

At the end of the day---isn't there enough creativity and source material that we can just avoid doing a show where there is the possibility of offending someone? Okay, creativity...sure, freedom of speech...sure, taxpayer this, taxpayer that--but if the design staffs creativity brought them to the lynching of a slave over a tree, they could surely create a program that WOULD NOT lynch the slave. ESPECIALLY in the public school/marching band end of this discussion, with so much focus on lack of funding and school districts struggling to maintain the arts---why give them a reason? Choose your battles!!

I must commend the Hurcs guard for their opener flag, it gives the audience the look of the Union Jack with curved lines and the pastel color alternative . From what I recall, their closer flag is missing the white stripes from the red portion of the flag. So, like someone said earlier...just because it looks like a duck, doesn't necessarily mean it is a duck! In my experience of having to design a show depicting flags from different cultures--it put my mind at ease knowing that I eliminated elements of the actual design and altering the color scheme so that it was not a replica, but an inspired look.

agreed. I recall quite the stir on these forums last year with their guards poor decorum during finals retreat. I always hate to see a group getting the, "they had a wonderful performance...but" comments. Being a competitor means a whole hell of a lot more than getting more points than another corps. Let's also not forget that respect is earned not given!

Well, that 76.6 from MBi sure does throw a wrench into the prediction equation. Just goes to show us all, placing too much emphasis on a DCI read of a DCA show Is all in vain. Best of luck to all in Conn, and safe travels!

The experience of being completely removed from the outside world and having NOTHING to worry about except corps. Cell phones were just starting to pop up when I marched, but now...kids are on water breaks posting on facebook. I liked the fact that whatever current events news I got on tour was from the cook truck white board. I should rephrase...it's not that the experience is less fulfilling, just cheapened!

"Back in my day" (2000)--drum corps was NOT this expensive, so to me, it was amazingly worth it. To this day, I still look upon my time in DCI World Class with wonderful memories and an amazing experience. Now adays--kids are spending close to $5000 for the summer (if they choose to march with a not pseudo-local corps), have to "move in" in the beginning of May (who can do that?) and STILL don't get the experience that we got "back in the day." One of the obvious "draw ins" to marching World Class is the ability to do the activity everyday and totally remove themselves from real life. Another draw in is the ability and the chance to perform. With the "stay at home" model you provided...that student doesn't get the adreneline rush you get to perform to packed stadiums. There is also the advantage of making connections everywhere! (I got a well-paying teaching gig while on tour since the brass caption head was from the East Coast and the HS he taught needed a guard person.) I don't know--it's double edged. What I can say is that marching corps gives you an experience that you simply cannot replicate by taking privates and living an everday music ed life.

Have to agree with you on Black Watch--aside from the awful flag catastrophe up front (perfect example of why you shouldn't over perform) and the unfortunate saber double turn drop, it was a wonderful performance of This Bitter Earth. Very solid rifle line.

-Cheering for the non-baton moments in Aimachi. Those performers manuipulating rifle, saber and flag were perhaps the best trained people in WGI this year. Just a shame a lot of their moments got hidden by a baton trick (and no I am not anti-baton, but pro amazing perfomers who needed a little more love). Who saw that amazing ripple double turn around on gun--this fan! -Lawrence Central's box dominos -SCV's story teller getting a little choked up in finals -Logan's amazing performer who SOLD the toppling props at the end of finals -Pride got the award for "most memorable phrase stuck in your head all weekend"--"REPENT OF YOUR WICKED WAYS" -Seeing Fantasia and First Flight right next to each other in finals, was kind of like seeing a movie with a whole complete story, albeit backwards -Imbue's neck roll, hold it there moment in their feature -Alta Marea: just so fun! -Cicero-North Syracuse: simply designed, elegant and fierce all rolled into one -Apopka: such a WONDERFULLY performed and energetic show!! -Somerville: nothing can explain the love for this team except AMAZING! Oh yeah, and, GET IT HAIR!

So, who is everyone excited to see? The IW class has a nice little line up.

I'm really anxious to see Black Watch at a WGI event with other World Teams. I watched their Rochester Performance, and then looked at the number and felt that it was scored lower than they deserved! They are definitly a team capable of making waves this year at the big show!

My parents met through local drum corps in the 70's in New England, so I recall always KNOWING about drum corps, but my parents never pushed me to do it. Wasn't until high school when I got involved in color guard that a snare drummer friend of mine showed me Cadets 96 from the PBS broadcast. Being a HUGE guard nerd at the time, I geeked out over the amazing guard and WANTED to be them! So I say, to this day 16 years later that Cadets 96 turned me on to drum corps! Funny, I ended up marching Cavaliers--but never forget that the maroon and gold team got my spark ignited. The green team (SPLOOIE) just pushed it further.

It's just a shame that some of these "iconic" high school color guards aren't being funded in some part to attend their championships (in the case of Logan). These are teams that set the standard and are creating the trend. Yeah, money is tight, but the school that I am a director at with a growing guard of 40 members in 2 teams--our money stays the same no matter how big we grow. But we have noticed that the football team continues to get brand new uniforms every season...and they are not good! Ah well, Gloria Gaynor said it best...we will survive!

Agreed, judge what is presented. And agreed on the point where you have to do what you do well. BUT--looking at Hurcs and MBI and even Reading. They were the top 3 guards this year, all portraying a different theme and all portraying it in a different way and in different doses. Hurricanes come out with brief case props and flags, cityscape flags and a "suitlike" uniform has to compete against the viking ship, sheilds and paddles, viking character and the set up of valhalla--I'm sorry I have to give it to MBI for the continuity of theme. And it seems that most of the top DCI guard in the last year or two are also protraying a theme...hello, Cadets, Cavaliers, Crown, BD--all theme driven (as well as others). GUARDLING--trust me, I agree whole heartedly with your sentiments on the judging. And it sounds like you and I have the same taste levels (as I LOVED PR this year), it just doesn't seem to be the trend to reward color guard for color guard sake. Seems like the buzz phrase around the activity is how over the top you take it.