Nine White Russians

Does anyone have any thoughts on Madison's new percussion head?

I hope Madison makes some major changes. Not the staff but at the top!!!

Indianapolis is much easier and cheaper to for rehearsals/camps, as they have direct flights in and out.

In 1989 at the beginning of Madison's show...."Hi Karen!" End of Phantom..."Judges are you watching" (I used to think he yelled "The judges aren't even watching!") 1999...Beginning of SCV...."Go Wonderbread!!" 1983 Garfield Cadets, at the end of the ballad, you can hear Zingalli giggling. 1986 right before Madison's Harlem Suite, some kid softly yells "Go for it Madison"...sounds like he's sort of afraid to yell. 1990 Madison in the beginning of Remembrance, some woman yells "Go Cubby" (it was Kevin Hochstetter's girlfriend)

This is a non-issue. First, for decades this was never a problem for the Scouts. And it has never been a problem for the Cavaliers. This decision is smpke and mirrors to distract from CK's and DP's poor management decisions over the years. I wish the 2020 young men and women coming into Madison, but unless the admin and BOD is voted out, I see no real change.

AMEN! Look at the Bluecoats. They are top level of competitive excellence and one of the most entertaining/crowd friendly corps out there.

Tantrums no. Firings quite possibly.

This! Comments about the Admin and BOD aside (let's worry about that in the off season), this show is such a blast to watch and listen to! Go Scouts!! Full throttle ahead Brothers!!!

Pre-season, Elvord was hyping how we're not only shooting to get back in the top 12, but high up into the top 12. Well, as of tonight, you're around 7 points back from that goal.

Yep. It was Mason who should get all the credit for 2010-2015. Komnick loves to act like he's been the mastermind of those years. He is not.

Wow. Just watched the show...it's cleaning up and it's looking and sounding amazing!! They may not make the top 12, but if they continue to work hard, clean, and keep selling this show, they could climb a couple spots at least. Some of the drill moves/transitions are incredible, and I LOVE the music. I wish I could convince Elvord or whoever is in charge of the overall program to add some cool props to give them more GE points...and I'd offer to buy them if I had the money!! But overall, this is a VERY entertaining package and you can tell the guys LOVE performing it. At the end, you can see the look of satisfaction on the guys' faces as the crowd lights up!! The intro/opener and Young Persons Guide are some of my favorite pieces Madison has done in a long time!

There's 3.

The timing of this is very suspicious. Why not wait 'till the end of the season?

On one hand, I still disagree with this move because it seems to be the leadership succumbing to legal, financial and competitive pressure......but trying to look at the positives....it could be good as a reset/reboot in the sense that, it pries the Corps out of traditions/image/identity. For decades, they have always had one foot in the past. There's always been a concern of "does this fit the image of the Scouts I've always known" or "is this show "masculine" like the Scouts need to be?". And like it or not, that hamstrings you as a designer. I did not like last year's show for that reason...it didn't look or feel "Madison". It was a decent show in general, but it was "off-brand". This move defintiley tears them away from any of those concerns. This is no longer the Madison of old. It will be a new Madison, like it or not.

Well then, let's just tear down all fraternities, sororities, all male colleges, all female colleges, any associations or clubs because they are chauvinistic ...let's make everyone and everything all inclusive, take away any and all distinctions, uniqueness, tear down the evil patriarchy!!!!!!!!!

Guessing they got a big donor or donors who basically said we'll give you a lot of money, but not if you remain all-male. Maybe a schrewd move, but as long as the current leadership remains in place, this will not help them competitively.

Nothing that is happening is the Alumni's fault. This is poor leadership in the adminiatration. Alumni do not sit in design meetings. And if the so called leadership are taking orders from Alumni in general or Alumni who sit on the BOD (and there are WAY too many alums on the BOD), then that is a severe lack of leadership!!

Pictures anyone? Pretty pleeeease!!!!

Is Madison going on about now? I heard they had uniform add-ons, like a red/white sash. How do they look?

Used to love hitting Parthenon after weekend camps and on trips back to Wisconsin. But last time back about 10 years ago, went there again and it just wasn't the same. But I will have to check out that new one up on hwy M next time I'm back. Wish I could've made it back for this weekend! Hope you all enjoy the show tonight!

A lot of great matchups tonight around the country! Meanwhile, the Madison Scouts have a nice leisurely day off!!

Lol.

"But we're creating such a great experience for the members....by teaching them how to have a losing mindset!!!!"

Yep. And Madison's BOD, since the Stewart era(and maybe before) is mostly Madison alumni. Not good.

I agree with everyting you just said, mostly the part about attracting the top staff. I believe if you do that, you can have it both ways....design something that wins and is "Madison" in spirit. The huge problem is, Madison has not been able to raise and maintain the finances necessary to attract andkeep said talent. They really need to observe and figure out what Corps like Boston and Mandarins did to build themselves up to where they could make those successful moves. I do not believe Chris Komnick is the person qualified to do that. We gave him ten years to try, and aside from the Mason years (which Komnick gets too much credit for), he has failed to achieve success. It's time for him to leave and let some new, more qualified blood to come in. My dream/fantasy is he leaves, and Jim Mason comes back....but this time as Executive Director. He knows how to run a successful Corps, build finances and get people who are professional fundraisers....and how to hire the right people under him like Donnie VanDoren.