Fresh Perspectives

[DrinkinOuttaCups]

So, last weekend was my birthday, and one of the gifts I got was the 2007 DCI Finals DVD. Well, yesterday, I decided to try something - I wanted to show some of the corps to my parents, and see what they thought. I mean, here on DCP, we're always talking about stuff like shows being "artsy-fartsy" or "trying to impress the judges," so I thought it would be nice to get a fresh perspective on the shows. Unfortunately, only my mom was home, and she's already seen two shows ('99 Madison and '99 Vanguard). Still, I would have to work with what I had.

We sat down in our living room, and I managed to show her 5 shows. I decided to show them to her in random order. She would sometimes ask what placement they got during the show, and sometimes I would tell her after the show. The corps that I showed her, in this order, were: Spirit, Phantom Regiment, Bluecoats, Crown, and Cavaliers. I never showed her the 1st place corps. Well, when it was all done, I decided to ask her some questions. I was expecting her favorite corps to be either Bluecoats or Crown, since I thought those were the two most fan-friendly shows of the bunch, and they played somewhat familiar music (my mom at least knew William Tell). Well, she managed to surprised me by saying that her favorite corps of the night was Phantom Regiment. I asked her why, and she said that she really liked the uniforms. She thought the all-white uniforms contrasted so well with the field, and she thought that it made the drill flow easier. On the downside, though, she didn't like their choreography that much. However, she really liked the Cavie's choreography, because of how, and I quote "precise and militaristic" it was (imagine if I had showed her "Machine!").

Anyway, that brings up a few questions of my own: have any of you ever done anything like this? I know a few people have talked about it, but I can't remember anybody talking about their results (correct me if I'm wrong). I always think it's great to get opinions from someone who's not involved in the activity (yet...my mom's gonna volunteer with my corps for a few days over the summer). That's why I'm always trying to show shows to my friends - they're not drum corps fans by any means, but I always love hearing their thoughts. It's nice to get a fresh perspective every now and then.

I'm gonna try and show a few shows to my dad next week, which should be tough. He still doesn't really understand why I'm doing drum corps, he can't get our corps name right, and he keeps calling all-days "band camp." Ugh. Wish me luck.

[MikeN]

Hah - good luck with that. :)

Back in 2000, I showed my father-in-law the '96 and '99 ties to see what he thought, having never seen corps before. He thought Phantom should have clearly won in '96, and that BD should have clearly won in '99. He thought Phantom's emotional performance trumped BD's technical precision in '96, and that BD's technical precision and general "professional" carriage to their '99 show trumped SCV's more emotional, but slightly less focused performance.

Mike

[jjeffeory]

I did something like this for the 1987 finals highlights on two separate occasions. The first time was with my 'aunt'. The second time was with my father's construction worker buddy. I showed my aunt the beginning of the broadcast with Sky Ryders and she was intrigued and kept wanting to see the next show until we got to the end of the program. My aunt liked Phantom & VK the most. She really enjoyed the Magic Mystery Tour theme from VK. She loved the percussion feature & the kick line with goggles. As a matter of fact, she also like Star's Circus Show with all the crazy guard uniforms. What drove her over the top was Phantom's white uniforms, beautiful guard, and the Swan Lake/Nutcracker theme. She thought the music was both fun and extremely difficult with all the double tongue sections in the beginning. ( She asked to see the full show after watching the highlights)

My father's friend enjoyed the Cavaliers first, SCV second, and Bluecoats third. They both liked the drill of Cavies most. My father's friend liked Cavies 'Snake' drill, Bluecoats screaming hornline and drum-to-drum break & SCV percussion feature.

Overall, they both really loved the entire year.

What stories do other people around here have?

Edited May 16, 2008 by jjeffeory

[BigSnareline]

I got my mother hooked on drum corps when I marched but unfortunately she only got to see one show back then (Drums along the Rockies). I took her to San Antonio last year and she was really excited. Her favorites - in order were as follows:

1. Madison

2. Cavies

3. Glassmen

4. Phantom

5. SCV

6. BD

She kept complaining during the Cadets show about all the "yacking" but stood up and went nuts during that brief part of the show when they parked and blew our faces off. Good times.....

I'm taking her and my sister this year.

Edited May 16, 2008 by BigSnareline

[perc2100]

I used to "make" my parents watch drum corps VHS tapes and listen to audio tapes in the car when they drove me around. My mom always appreciated the talent from everyone, but was always partial to Madison Scouts (this was during the 90's).

[ouooga]

The best thing I've learned when showing new people drum corps is to show them the "playing to the crowd" moments. Most don't get the details we focus on, at least not immediately, and I'm always amazed the things they remember and pick up.

On that note, generally I show people Cavaliers 2000 (just the second half), Blue Devils 2003 (opener), Phantom Regiment 2003 (opener), Cadets 2000 (the "fun" section), SCV 89 (whole thing) and for the past few months Madison 07 (the first two minutes).

Usually with that combination over a few days, I can get about half of the people I show this stuff interested in watching more, and I'm really looking forward to taking about 6 friends to their first live shows this summer in Riverside and Walnut!

[glory]

No. 1 – Drum crops doesn’t translate to television, not even on the modern big screen, not even with quality home theater audio equipment. Asking people to appreciate drum corps by TV is like asking them how a meal tastes on the Food Network.

No. 2 – I ask folks to experience drum corps on television anyway because I’m such a drum corps evangelical I can’t help myself. Among my first experiments along these lines was in 1992 when I began my showing my then girlfriend Phantom’s 1991 opera show. Nessun Dorma, Pagliacci – can’t go wrong, right? She asked me to stop after not much more than 60 seconds. Said something about the uniforms and the music not making sense.

No. 3 – I’ve told this one here before. A friend joined me for semifinals in Boston in 2005. It was his first-ever drum corps show. He was impressed with the first six or eight corps to. Then SCV performed in the No. 9 position. When they were done, he turned to me with an amazed look in his eye and said: You mean there are eight corps better than that? He joined me subsequently in Madison and Pasadena for championships – a convert.

HH

Edited May 23, 2008 by MikeN

[afoster87]

i've thought about getting some friends to watch dvd's, but they just don't do dci justice. so this summer i'm bringing my 4 roommates from college to the show in murfreesboro. and honestly if anyone sees a show in person and doesn't like drum corps afterwards then they have problems.

[BigSnareline]

and honestly if anyone sees a show in person and doesn't like drum corps afterwards then they have problems.

You are completely right - the problem is usually getting them to go for the first time.

[cowtown]

i've thought about getting some friends to watch dvd's, but they just don't do dci justice. so this summer i'm bringing my 4 roommates from college to the show in murfreesboro. and honestly if anyone sees a show in person and doesn't like drum corps afterwards then they have problems.

I’ve taken many to shows that didn’t like them.

I’ll be directly responsible for 6 convert at finals this year but that out of dragging maybe 40 / 50 people to shows over the years

Generally, I don’t show my friends drum corps on TV, it’s uber-dorky. About the most I’ll do is put on a dvd, high cam, 2x speed, no sound, as background visual eye candy after a night of er um... socializing, its really the best way to watch most shows from the 00s