Eleran

Not to mention, isn't this just a rehash of the very same topic that was started by another "brand new" poster just two weeks ago?

There are no "national holidays" in the United States. There are holidays during which the federal and/or state governments elect to cease operations, but they do not enforce a national holiday upon its citizens. And with respect to the federal holidays, Memorial Days are often spent with corps, and sometimes winter camps occur over Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or Washington's Birthday, so I suppose you are recommending that those holidays be equally respected and all corps cease operating on such days? Edit: and of course Independence Day as well - no more Drum Corps on parade.

If conflict, or dark themes, were to appear at all, I would expect them to appear initially, before being overcome. I would imagine, and probably choose myself if I were planning, a show that brings to mind the sense of triumph, or exultation.

I tend to agree ... of all years, this is one where it would have been good to have a detailed schedule of all the major events, including start of registration, and planned rollout times, together with a coordinated social-media schedule. (As it stands, although they haven't opened corpsdata registration on their own website, you can still sign-up for BC using the form on another corps' sites )

I agree, Liahona, and I hope they open their registration information soon and start the momentum.

I just hope they spend the majority of the show looking forward, not backwards. As pleasing as the latter might be (to fans, that is) I would be concerned how it would affect their scores. Coming off 10th in 2014, they certainly don't want to risk falling out of Finals in their anniversary year.

This is where he's supposed to be! This is where Scott M. Boerma is supposed to be!

Do you know something we don't know, jumping Raiders from 31st to 25th? Over Pacific Crest, Mandarins, Spartans, Gold, Legends and Pioneer?

"It's bloody Brigadoon!"

Perhaps, but the emblem on the shako is crooked.

Tons of for-profit businesses start up and fail each year as well. Having business acumen doesn't guaranty success when your industry doesn't necessarily command the appropriate economic return needed to stay afloat. There is no magic panacea to keep drum corps in the black. Though having good business background will help you face the challenges, there is no guaranty of success so long as the product doesn't sell itself, which drum corps simply does not.

I personally thought SCV should have gone all out with the new uniform, and gone with these:

No ... I mean that there are about 17 more off-seasons to plan until 2032 rolls around.

In addition, while I quite like the new jacket, it seemed way too short on some marchers, and rode up too high on most when horns and arms were up. I'd prefer it all the way down to the waist, with regular black bibs underneath - lose the sparkly undershirt and the sash. And it would look nicer from the back if it were a real-button up in front, not a zip-up in back. Still, over all really liked Boston. Waldo on the shako especially. Didn't see anyone mention Surf's return to classical uniform for their more traditional show this year. I think they looked sharp.

True, and I think over the last several years, they have actually incorporated a number of non-traditional pieces. I just think they may have undermined those efforts a bit with some of their other shows. And if I am fighting a reputation of over-reliance on a composer or theme, I would avoid that composer for a long while, even if it is an a-typical piece (eg. I don't believe any drum corps has ever performed an arrangement of Copland's Danzon Cubano, but I would still suggest Troopers avoid it playing it until they've gone at least 10 seasons without any Copland). Copland is so ultra-saturated within DCI that it's even made its way into certain avatars of DCP posters!

I don't pretend to have near the experience of others, and I know you will all correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there a slightly different focus among the junior corps and the all-age corps, both membership and audience (I couldn't say about judges)? It seems to me that the youth corps include an underlying thrust for something new and different because youth are always trying to rebel from what was done before, whereas the older performers/audiences, moreso the alumni corps perhaps, have a much greater toleration, and even desire, to hear their old favorites? I know the DCA show I attended this season had a lot more grey hair in the audience than the DCI shows I attended. For example, Malaguena has been played just 5 times in the last decade by Junior Corps, only 1 of which was by a DCI World Class corps, as opposed to 12 times by Senior/Alumni corps, including twice by Cabs. Troopers run the danger, as American's darling corps, of designing shows that may appeal more to senior/alumni corps audiences.

And let's not forget, even when Troopers don't do Old West/Copland themes themselves, so many other corps do Copland, or a one-off western show (see Music City this season), that the niche Trooper's enjoy gets further saturated. Which frankly makes it even more imperative that they broaden their scope (eg. Copland three years running from 2010-2012).

And PPS ... regarding that one person's post about the show sounding like it would be at home in 1977 ... it is interesting to note that Trooper's 1977 show ALSO included "Shenandoah" and music by Copland. I think this is more to the point of that poster's critique - not the age of the composition, but perhaps the over-reliance on repeated themes, selections and composers.

Troopers really want to shake things up? how about .... August 9, 2015, the voice of Brandt Crocker: "From Caspar, Wyoming, presenting their 2015 show, "Service guarantees citizenship!" .... the STARSHIP Troopers!!!" Would you like to know more?

I think your second interpretation of the critique is much more accurate than your first. When evaluating and comparing the musical merit of Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov to Samuel Augustus Ward, I think the discussion has very little to do with the date of composition. There is a time and place for music perceived as "quaint", but in today's age it probably has to be used a little more sparingly to be accepted (eg. - Boston was able to effectively quote Old MacDonald and Darling Clementine because they fit an otherwise untraditional show). Throw in one such song a year instead of 4-5. And regarding your comparison to Cadets, and pointing out that Cadets medalled with similar music, (a) from the fans point of view Cadets were heavily criticized (at least here in DCP) throughout the season for musical selections that seemed at best a little too well-trodden, and (b) from the judges point of view, Troopers' score this season was better than 3 out of the last 4 seasons. I do think Troopers (who remain on my son's long list of corps to potentially join) would benefit by expanding their view of music that remains solidly American (eg. they've never touched Hanson or Hovhaness), and not be so willing to repeat prior selections and composers (eg. 8 of the last 20 shows have included Copland)

The good news is, corps have 17 years to plan their Carmina Burana breakout season, for when the copyright protection expires.

why no busbies in DCI?

I was hoping to find a supplier of white kepis, with sun shades, but no luck.

Forgot to ask you by the deadline, but borrowed your idea/style and tried my own hand.

I'm guessing .... harlequin!