What is "bando"?

[It's Godzilla!]

(I'll try to say this with as little bias as possible, though I'm sure some will seep through. Either way, my intention is not to call out corps on their show design, but to call out the members on here that use the term. So, against my better judgement, here we go...)

I guess after a few years in the band scene and a few years of reading the dinosaurs' complaints, I got the idea that I knew what "bando" meant. I figured this meant tacky show designs, repeating well known music, lots of dancing/visuals, obscure themes, electronics... I also figured that in general, old school corps fans hate "bando" shows.

But then I saw some shows that exhibited these "bando" symptoms. How dare they! ...Except this time, they were adored by the fans and old schoolers alike. ....Wait, what? Where did the hatred go? Glassmen gets called out for an obscure show while Crown releases two shows in a row that I can't figure out even when explained to me and has 10+ threads singing their praises? Spirit is criticized for having an electric bass while Cadets, Crown, Cavies and Phantom (that I've heard so far) are using electronics? SCV gets praised for repeating Martha's Ballet/Appalacian Spring, while Cadets get torn to pieces for doing WSS again? Crown's dancing is virtuosic while Blue Knights' dancing is straight out of marching band? Multiple corps choose to narrate, few get called out... Some corps choose to play quieter, they're "bando"...

I don't get it. I understand that I'm homogenizing the views of this entire board into one general picture, but I just don't get it. Where's the line? Is it because we're becoming desensitized to "bando"? Is it because everything is bando? Is it because we have already decided to like or not like the corps exhibiting these symptoms?

So to help me understand, which recent shows do you think are bando, and which shows do you think are not? (Also, if you're of the type that thinks everything since 1973 is bando, you need not respond. I already know what you have to say.)

[Lance]

It's a pejorative term used by geeks to try to separate themselves from what they feel are lesser geeks.

[cmathis]

It's a pejorative term used by geeks to try to separate themselves from what they feel are lesser geeks.

Best definition I've ever heard. Period.

[luvs me sum mello!]

People are hypocrites. Everyone. Myself included. Are we this way all the time? On some issues, yes. But not all.

Hey, I created a thread comparing the BK and Crown body movement. I jst compared how BK has been doing it for over a decade and gets the "Boooooring" reaction while Crown gets the "So beautiful" reaction. A couple people made honest replies, but 90% just came in and honked.

Such is life. I've started to more and more take a "just sit back and enjoy the show" approach. Hell, I haven't looked at a score since 1st contest. Me thinks the next score I'll check out is San Antonio and then championships. I used to find tracking scores exciting, but so many shows out there I like, it's hard to "root" for just 1 or 2 groups.

[Dash Fieldpaint]

Someone needs to draft up a chart like this for musicians:

Geek Chart

Bando would fall somewhere near the bottom.

[Skylinersop16]

I always took it as someone who didn't know the difference between band and corps. But that line of certainty is becoming more and more of a grey area in terms of DCI as of the past few years...

[soccerguy315]

[Martybucs]

I believe a "bando" is someone that advocates turning drum corps into marching bands.

Kind of a moot point, now.

[Skylinersop16]

ah yes, and saxophones + checkered pants of course

[DCImonkey]

Bandos are large group of audience members you try desperately to avoid so you can enjoy the show without listening to random dumbness all evening.