MikeD

I had to leave Garfield after 72 due to family pressure and work needs...I as the first in the family to go to college, and I had to pay for books and spending money on my own...had another few years I could have marched, sad to say.

Hmmmm...I've seen the Scouts going back to 1970 and IMO 2005 was my all-time favorite show.

USSBA and Hershey have been working together...part of the all-states champs were held in Hershey this past fall, along with J Birney and Giant's Stadium. Also, each show (champs, anyway...not sure about regionals)...had a raffle of one of those huge 5-pound Hershey candy bars.

Agree...and I am with him....but IMO it will be a looong time before we see that, sad to say. How is it 'scary' to have an opinion that is not the status quo of those who post here?

Touring is touring, IMO. Just because the corps are driving around a smaller area...they are still driving and eating and sleeping on the road...hence the expenses are still high. I hardly think the cost of a few percussion toys will drive up the cost of anything.

I remember reading it as one possibility, but for MHO that is irrelevant. I personally like the pits and what they do, and to permit them to do even more is better yet. One small example is what I did with my band this year...I arranged "Ghost Train" for the band, wind and percussion charts. In order to make a train whistle part audible I had the gal playing it step up to a mic we had near the pit at the start of her spot...and in other portions had her stand back from the mic to decrease the sound. Worked VERY well for us. OT: Not to mention the very opening of the show was a micced flute solo! :)

Which doesn't answer the issue about current sponsors who have supported DCI all these years...and I don't think the current div I corps are all rolling in the long green, so their payments really can not be reduced, IMO. It sounds nice to be all warm and gooey about expanding the numbers and doing these sorts of things, but the logistics and details of the current structure might make it undoable.

That the idea of blaming DCI somehow because the same few corps seem to be at the top is, IMO, bogus.

But...as a certified Babe (looking at your avatar...) IMO you should remain!

Nor is is collapsing because now we DO have them.

I answered 1, 1, 2

Really? I am somehow the biggest problem with DCI today? How so? fyi...I like DCA too...and alumni corps.

:P

Aren't the bore sizes being increased now for the neweer Bb/F horns? Just curious...I am sure you know better than I on THAT one! I think there are so many things that can be done with both mallets and other percussion in the pit that the 10-12 is still a good idea. Amps have provided a lot of opportunity to explore the 'smaller sounding' percussion instruments. YES to both. I'd leave that up to the corps..especially useful for sound checks, I'd think, as opposed to pure 'warmups'. What would that do to the current show sponsors? Just curious... IMO there is plenty of room for the performers on the sheets, at least as I understand them as an outsider. Whether the interpretation of the sheets follows their design is open to question, I guess. Good post...good questions... Mike

What would it do to the payouts for the div I corps? Would they receive the same as they do now? What if the II/III show is not in a large venue? How can the sponsor of the show afford to have these div I corps appear? And..how about the sponsors of the div I shows that no longer have corps to perform?

I can not think of one single show that I saw in 2005 that fits your description.

You think that seeing a 10-year-old girl on the field, dressed up in costume as Alice, along with the all-guy Scouts, didn't draw people's attention and cause them to focus on her and not the rest of the corps? :)

Just so you know...the VFW Nats were the equivalent of DCI champs back in the 60's....and for the seven years from 64-70, of the 28 top-4 slots, 4 corps took up 21 of 28...and a total of six corps took up 27 of 28. 28 POSSIBLE TOP-4 SLOTS CAVIES: 7 TIMES TROOPERS: 6 TIMES KILTIES: 4 TIMES BAC: 4 TIMES DP VANGUARD: 3 TIMES ROYAL AIRS: 3 TIMES BS: 1 TIME

Except, if you read Hoppy's BLOG, the singing being used is not "cheesy" at all.

ONE corps picks ONE tune based on what the band did, and now the sky is falling? Corps have been using stuff from bands since long before DCI ever existed...witness the Bergenfield HS sunburst adopted by the Troopers as an early example.

Why not? Be a great move for the SCV to have a Phantom and Christine sing some of the music, IMO. A very neat way to go 'retro' for them and stay current all at the same time!

Being a dino is a state of mind....I'm 52...been around drum corps since 1964...and I love what some of the use of amps has done...esp Crown 2004, Cadets 2005 (once they got the sound right), and Cascades 2005. I also like what amps have done for the pits...esp thje marimba and vibe mallets..plus the ability to use 'softer' percussion instruments and have them heard.

Geez, I have to fix it again for you..... ...there....that's better (again!) :P

Nice points....it took over a DECADE for amps to pass. Hardly a whirlwind change.

I loved most of the shows and there were many very cool ones; some of which did use amped voice and props and also relied on drum corps long time draw: great brass and percussion playing. There...that's better. :)