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I'm really looking forward to all the "dark" shows, personally.

His point still stands. Not everyone on DCP limits their "investment" in the activity to words....and none of us knows the extent to which every other DCP poster contributes to the activity via their patronage, donations, volunteerism, or roles of greater responsibility.

Imagine Bruce McConnell sitting down to try and do a video like that. "We're going to play a Jazzophonic sound. It may be miraculous, it may be disastrous."

http://www.facebook.com/bluestars

QFT

And not a single F*** was given that day. Go get a hot dog.

I love this music, but not on the field. There is a reason that most of this stuff has been unsuccessful in the marching activity, when it has even been attempted. Some pieces should stay in the concert band setting... All of these fall in that category :(

Oh, and "intense" obviously isn't the name of the show, just my reaction to it.

Blue Stars show trailer

If he buys a ticket to a show, he's not the guy I'm talking about. The guy I've been talking about - even if Brasso won't admit it - is the guy who doesn't buy a ticket, doesn't volunteer, doesn't donate. All he does is complain. And there are plenty of them around here. That by their own admission. Even that is beside the point. The Cadets are putting genuine resources into this. They have real risk. Risk to their finances. Risk to their reputation. Their stake does rate higher status in the hierarchy than those who invest less and risk less. Doesn't mean this is communist Russia all of a sudden so Ivan the Idiot can't chime in out of tune. What it means is we should give the Cadets their due for mounting a new corps and for actually building that future most of us just talk about. The Cadets plan isn't perfect. None are. Genuflection isn't required. A little respect is deserved. Too little respect has been forthcoming from too many doing too little to build for tomorrow. Forty years of drum corps experience is admirable. But tomorrow follows today, not yesterday. HH

So unnecessary. Just play some ####### music.

You say "quadrophonic," I remember "jazzophonic." (Oy) '92-'93 vets know what I am talking about

That's because it's a myth. In fact, a hornline all in the key of G has an advantage over a mixed line of Bb/F instruments, where intonation trends are sometimes in opposition. Some contend that G bugles are more out of tune because players accustomed to Bb/F need time to adjust. Of course, players need time to adjust to any new instrument (and I don't see kids using their own instruments with the corps), so that is a moot point. It takes time to develop good intonation. Put that time in on either G or Bb/F, and you can get good results. Until then, your results will suffer no matter what key your horns are in.

For me, drum corps was about pushing the boundaries of my true potential. Before drum corps, I was a stick-skinny 15-year-old clarinet player. I never could have imagined that I was physically or mentally capable of marching DCI until I actually did it. Since drum corps, I have been in a constant process of challenging my paradigm of "what is possible for me?" Had I never marched, I would not be the same person I am today. I would not have jumped from California to Texas for college or even dreamed of joining a fraternity, both of which are among the best decisions I've ever made. I never would have discovered the joy of low brass playing or begun to come out of my shell socially because I wouldn't have thought it possible. I also learned the value of not giving up - when I hit my own personal "wall", I could either give up or keep going at it. Through DCI, I learned how to keep fighting through it all, best known as "fake it until you make it". The power of a false smile is not to be understated.

Bold-ish Predictions: Blue Stars will not finish in the top 8, and get kicked out of the G8 Teal will make finals At least one corps (could be World or Open, or both!) will have to have an immediate, urgent fundraising campaign DURING the season - if the announced goal is not met, the corps will stop touring mid-season 1st and 2nd place will be separated by less than 0.04 points

Don't give up hope yet, I have a feeling you might be pleasantly surprised. :]

Since Blue Stars love props perhaps more than any other active Corps, I wonder if they will drive Mini Coopers on the field? That would be awesome.

Over-produced video underwhelms. Oh well, it's just a trailer. Hope they take this concept and run with it.

you could definitely call that a tease

Drum corps made me a muuuuuch more patient person. Clean your own house first, worry only about what you can control, what can I do to make myself better, etc. Before marching I'd say I was much more prone to hissy fits and moping over external factors. And I guess it made me more humble: everyone has something they can improve on, and if there isn't someone already better than you, they're someone who is busting their ### to become better than you. Besides that, I guess it was cool to have audiences treat you like a rock star (not a lot of people can say they've experienced that), and it was cool to escape the real world for three months where I can worry only about keeping my feet in time and not bills or school or anything like that (some people can only dream of such an escape), and it's pretty cool to be part of a group where everyone is passionate about and so driven toward one goal (this is rare in real life).

Yeah, that was the first parallel i thought of too (im big fans of both series, actually saw the 3rd bourne at the theater near our 07 finals site), but Bond (the movie series) has a lot of recognizable things that scream Bond that you can take and people will go 'oh, its Bond!'. The tuxedo, the gun sight, the instantly recognizable themes, etc- Bond is a cultural icon spanning 50 years, there's a ton to pull from that people will instantly recognize. There's a lot less of that really recognizable stuff in the Bourne series. Im not saying it can't be done obviously, just that have a hard time picturing it. Obviously I'll be more than happy if they can pull it off. Only a bit over a month until we see this all anyways. Hopefully this can be the show that gets them over the 8th place hump

My point wasn't that they would be competing only against NE groups, but that there aren't very many Open Class NE groups at the DCI events listed, and not very many purely open class events listed. It seems there are more local opportunities to compete in DCA. Below is DCA's "sneak peek" schedule from their website (I pulled out the shows that were just to far from PA: FL, TX, MN, etc)...there are just more opportunities. 6/18/11 Wildwood NJ 7/2/11 Bridgeport CT 7/2/11 Manassas VA 7/9/11 Wayne NJ 7/9/11 Hornell NY 7/16/11 Rochester NY 7/23/11 Lawrence MA 7/30/11 Nashville TN 7/30/11 Lewisburg PA 8/6/11 Kingston NY 8/7/11 Troy NY 8/7/11 Allendale NJ 8/13/11 Cicero NY 8/13/11 Toms River NJ 8/20/11 Scranton PA 8/21/10 Secaucus NJ 8/27/11 Reading PA I have nothing against Open Class groups...the first corps I marched in wasn't even Open Class (Class A back then) I spent 5 years in what would today be Open Class corps. My point is though, that looking at what is available today in the region, I can understand the decision to go with DCA instead.

It's like I always said - a good musician can make any instrument sound good. Want proof? Google Pepe Notaro. Or simply watch Dick Pomerleau play a solo on a slip-slide bugle at DCA's I&E competition. Hell, even Lance Armstrong knew it's not all about the bike.

But it's not Field&Floor... and vice versa. This company is not affiliated with Field&Floor, the blog ... well, save for grabbing the name.

Not referring to me it doesn't. Neither he, nor you nor anyone can criticize me for something I didn't say. Lots of people on DCP have divorced themselves from this activity. They are not patrons, staff or volunteers. Many don't deign even to buy a ticket. All they have for drum corps is contempt. While the Cadets are taking actual risks, they sit home with nothing better to do than contribute nothing at all. The DCP posters who contribute to the activity via "their patronage, donations, volunteerism, or roles of greater responsibility" I welcome. They might not be as invested as the Cadets, but they are better than those who do nothing but complain. HH

I'm just curious (the name is not a coincidence :) ) is a corps that allows 18 and up a true all-age corps?

McConnell: Let's give this quadrophonic sound to the mellophones.

Yowza!

gotta drop the OC stuff. HE has made it very clear he doesnt think OC is viable....SOOOOOO if he didnt think so or it doesnt fit into what the grand plan is no need to speculate why we think OC is better for them OBVIOUSLY if the Cadets thought so they would be there. I totally understand you thoughts though.

I'm curious as to how YOU all think the violin will fit into the show. I know how it fts In the show now, and I think it adds a very cool effect and is not over the top... That's all I'll say for now :D

Write your own paper. Have you marched? If so then you know the answer to your own question. If not, no amount of text will really communicate "why". It's about family, adversity, challenge, growth, camaraderie, learning, excelling, failing, overcoming...etc...etc...etc...etc...

sebastienne blames his frequent bed wetting on WGI! wgi was especially hard on sebastienne this year. another year of his award seeking guard "convalescence modern movements ensemble" being DISQUALIFIED and mr. st. jacque being overlooked for the Hall of shame award! reason's for disqualification are known only to mr. st. jacque,the owners of an ill-tempered donkey named "consuela" and the wgi board of directors!

didn't BD do that last year?

of course, bloo originally inteneded to do the following show, but felt it would bet a bit too esoteric for joe drum corps fan: "Foucault's Panopticon: Unwilling Prisoners of Modernity Striving to Understand a Postmodern Paradigm"

Am I the only one who likes the version used in the trailer for the Social Network better than the original? I hope they base the arrangement off of that version.

wait what So this isn't a joke post? I mean, anyone can photoshop a show flyer and make a bad pun about the coats doing another "dark" science fiction classic.

While the Cadets average age is in the 20+ range, I bet 80% of the kids who participate in YEA! sponsored activities are under 18.

a mission statement is one thing doing it another.

Why is it a problem that not everybody can march in every corps? Some DCA corps have limited age on the bottom end by requiring 18 yrs and up, some DCI corps have limited themselves to gender (Madison, Cavies, and there once were all girl corps as well). These groups choosing to put limitations on their members hasn't meant that anyone else had to create the same limitations. Limiting membership in any way is always going to give some kind of advantage, but inevitably will come with some kind of disadvantage as well.

All I have to say is that I like that they're opening up the opportunity to kids who don't have the time or money to put into a DCI tour. And YEA stands for Youth Education in the Arts. So of course they're going to keep the DCI age parameters.

Actually, I wouldn't recommend using DCT anymore. Apparently they released a new version of it that has chemicals in it that make it bad for those of us who would use it during drum corps (apologies because I can't remember the specifics, but I've heard this from many people). Burt's Bees is the way to go now.

It's going to be a great year. Here's my silly prediction: 1/2. Blue Devils/Cavaliers - Together they've won 8 of the past 10 Championships, it can go either way. 3. Cadets - Their program has an incredible amount of promise this year. 4. Bluecoats - I've heard that they lost a lot of ageouts last year, but I don't see them stumbling much. 5. Crown 6. SCV - I'm very curious to see how their concept lays out on the field. 7. Bluestars 8/9. Madison/Blue Knights - Both corps have a lot of steam left over from last year that will propel them in 2011 (plus high vet retention rates). 10/11. Phantom/Boston - Staff changes and younger members might lead to a stumble for both corps. 12. Glassmen - As much flack as they get, with their consistency, I can't see anyone pushing them out of finals yet. 13. The Academy - I WANT to see them in Finals, but I don't know if this'll be the year... 14. Troopers 15. Crossmen - J-Buck knows what he's doing, and everyone seems really excited for them, so I'm curious how far they'll go. 16. Colts 17. Spirit 18. Pacific Crest 19. BDB 20. Mandarins 21. Oregon Crusaders 22. Teal Sound 23. Cascades 24. Jersey Surf 25. Pioneer

1) Bluecoats 2) Blue Devils 3) Cavaliers 4) Cadets 5) Santa Clara Vanguard 6) Crown 7) Madison Scouts 8) Blue Stars 9) Phantom Regiment 10) Boston Crusaders 11) Crossmen 12) The Academy 13) Troopers 14) Pacific Crest 15) Blue Knights 16) Spirit 17) Colts 18) Glassmen 19) Teal Sound 20) Mandarins 21) Blue Devils B 22) Pioneer 23) Forte I don't think anyone's really giving PC enough credit. They're having some trouble filling the ranks, but they sound amazing this year. Hopefully they can pull some better drill, though. Spirit, too. Really great corps. Imo it looks like people are just bickering over whether or not it'll be Bluecoats or BD taking gold and then just jumbling up the double digits for the lulz. People march in those corps too. :(

You need to add Jubal to the Open Class List. Their show is Back to the Future. It is their 100th anniversary show.

I am very proud of these kids and this organization

SFZFAN..... what exactly is wrong with this uni..? No-it doesnt have cross straps.... no doesnt have white bibs.... BUT ........ This corps is rockin' !!!!!!!!! They are hot !!! AND have a GREAT SHOW.... Just a note to yourself.... (open your mind...... a uniform DOESNT make a drum corps..... the members do.....) AND THIS CORPS HAS ITS HEAD ON.......and FOCUSED !!!! Look out to those above.......!

Uhm, rude much? Have respect, please.

From everything ive seen... it wont be simply because they placed higher last year.

Wow. Just wow. THIS is going to be epic.