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jeffry fiedler to michael gaines on facebook. "Michael, Congratulations. While no one wants to believe you're actually retiring to do some other things in life (what's there to do besides drum corps, anyhow?) allow me to clarify that you're not going anywhere else, but a beach, a rainforest, the lunar surface and maybe the Great Barrier Reef! Send me a postcard from the Amazon, please! Best to you and let's do dinner soon, before the Michael Gaines World Tour begins!""

Madison Scouts is the new Madison Scouts.

I understand where your coming from as far as the climb, but Madison is just doing what it didn't do on a consistent basis in the 2000's, they're kicking ### and getting ready to take names.

here we go counting those chickens way before they are hatched....lol.....everyyyyyyyyyyyy year

Don't tell anyone you heard it from me.....but.....rumor has it that BD's design team and staff will be the same (again) next year! This type of reckless behavior is destroying drum corps......imagine the nerve of sticking around and working together, being loyal to your organization. It's appalling I tell you.......simply appalling!!

Knowing Andy, along with a few others already on staff at Madison, I'd say the Scouts are the winners in this deal.

i rest my case

I was just going to post the same thing. I think Gaines is great. Certainly one of the best ever, but I have felt like it has been visual first at The Cavaliers for quite some time now. I am eager to see what they look and sound like with a different drill writer. Richard Hinshaw is pretty different than Gaines, but the guys knows how to write drill and he stages well. This could end up being a great breath of fresh air for the green team.

I know that 'tis the season for rampant speculation, but is this thread any less non-substantiated rumor filled than other threads? I know the original intent of the OP was to confirm that Mr. Gaines has indeed left Cavaliers, but so much of this thread has crossed over into "dopey rumor-ville." Sad: in four pages of sometimes nonsense, I've read very little about Mr. Hinshaw's visual design style, what he will bring to Cavaliers, how Cavalier's visual look might be wildly different (or not at all), etc. Instead we revert to goofy rumors.

Definitely bananaphone. Only one that makes sense if you think about it.

Why do you have such a bee up your ### about this? Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. But what does it matter to you if he goes to Vanguard or some "lesser" group? This is not a good thread to embarrass your corps in.

2006 Cavaliers = Epic!

Madison is the new Crown is the new Star is the new Vanguard is the new Troopers.

Yeah- what they said. Crown has been good the last few years but Madison has a rich history and they're just coming home where they belong.

Yeah I would say that it's more like crown is the new Madison.... gotta respect your roots...

It may be true...I don't know; but you signed up to make a rumor your first post?

That's what they said when VK picked up the mantle. And for what it's worth, the St. Andrews's Bridgemen were pretty serious before they lost their CYO sponsorship, became the Bayonne Bridgmen, and Bobby came on board. Personally, I don't see why a drum corps can't be fun and kick some tail at the same time. More power to Surf, and I hope this show produces a full corps that can knock some socks off and move up the competitive ladder. BTW, there was a list for VK, too. It was compiled by Jim Brokke, Dan Zeilinger, Mike McCool and me. We all flew down to Birmingham for championships week, went to rehearsals and watched all of pre-lims and finals, then would retire to the hotel to compare notes and add to the list. Some of those things were used years later, but having the list, no matter how far fetched, at least led to outside-the-box thinking. My favorite idea, that was never used: VK had a garage full of old Olds V/R bugles, since we were Zig's corps and could field test them. I wanted to do a fanfare with V/R's, toss them over the back sideline, and continue with the King 2V's. We probably had enough to last a season. Garry in Vegas

You are exactly right. This move will just keep Crown from a championship. I've been talking about this issue since 2009 and been slammed for it, but the visual program is a real problem for crown.

There is more to life than drum corps. I'm sure he has no intention on coming back to work for anybody. BTW, i will need all of your paypal accounts to all those who doubted me.

Wow, truly the end of an era. I really don't want to see Mr. Gaines end up somewhere else. If he is leaving the Cavies I hope he is leaving the activity as the announcement suggests. His style is so distinctly Cavies that it just wouldn't seem right. I can't think of another designer I feel this way about (mean that as a compliment).

In my opinion... its the other way around. Personally it doesn't matter where they place... they will always have the more entertaining shows! I am a minority on this forum to say this... ( ) but Crown's show last season didn't entertain me. Horn line was WOW!! The show concept ehhhh... I really do hope they have something like 08 again. That is what I call an entertaining show! As for Madison... They have two championships under there belt. It doesn't matter when they got it, the point is they have them. Crown sadly doesn't have a championship, YET! You never know, Madison or Crown can make make a jump this upcoming season!

You can get a good look at a butcher by sticking a T-bone up a .......... wait. I'll take the bulls word for it.

Seconded Keep dreaming I'm sure that will be heard soon. I only have 2 concerns. If Gaines is not going to be involved daily ... I'm not sure he will turn out his best product Concern 2 ... I can't see JD SHaw rewriting a brass book to match what the drill writer needs to finish the visual phrase. Major Conflict right there.

Ask a dumb question and all that...

Next on DCI's headlines: "Vanguard would like to welcome Michael Gaines to their 2012 visual staff..." (take this lightly)

There is NO chance that Mr. Gaines will be at SCV. I'm just sayin

I'm betting the Vanguard will be making an announcement in the near future!

Loved School's Out. Felt fun without feeling forced - something not always easy to achieve. HH

I think if you look a few years back at their Vegas and School's Out shows (my personal favorite Surf show ever), they will create a great show next year!

That's awful! I hope that even though people were negatively affected by the flooding that everyone involved with the Spectrum organization is holding on and doing well! We're thinking of you and wishing you the best from here in Texas!

Way to go Boo.......Gotcha Journalism!

Love the former dictator (non-violent) position! Wouldn't it make it more interesting if they were violent?

Buffoonery Practitioners- For those of us who were around to enjoy Bridgemen Jr drum and Bugle Corps back in the day. Please do them justice! I can't wait!

Q. Why are soprano/trumpet players pirates? A. Because they're murder on high C's.

So you are saying that pirates are fans of the Santa Clara VangARRRRd?

Can't wait to see this production! Should be fun times this summer for the members and staff of Surf!! Good luck with Bridgemania!!!

Is a drumcorps finally going to pick up the good times ball and run with it? The ball has been sitting around for several years, since VK left the World Class field oh so many years ago in fact. Many corps have talked about it, a few corps have kicked it around a bit, a few have tried half heartedly and several have pulled off a stunt or two....but no one has really shown the audience a full-on good time full of hi-jinks in 20 some years. I know Bob Jacobs has the guts to go there, but can he be like Mo Howard and lead his pack of designers and staff off the deep end and into our hearts? Here is to going "all in". Best of luck Surf.

Key was in my baritone section back in 1983... Best #### 3rd baritone I ever met! I didn't understand why he wanted to play that part until I learned he had become an arranger. It all made sense to me after that. They guy was the exact same fun loving, engaged and interested guy he is now! So as far as Key being disengenuous... I do not think he has it in him!

this is awesome

Key left SCV for personal reasons. SCV moved forward and hired JD Shaw. Key is simply arranging Glassmen's show, seems less involved with Glassmen than he was with SCV. Give Key room as it seems he needs it.

Love this title..."Buffoonery Practitioners!"

Next time your boat starts to leak about fifteen miles off shore, call the Air Force or the Navy; the Air Force will send a half-dozen F-16s and the Navy will send a nuclear sub.

"LATE PRESIDENT Kennedy always showed a keen interest in drum corps. Here he is shown while still in the U.S. Senate in 1959 presenting the Sen. Kennedy Achievement Award to Elinor McCarthy, then drum major of the I.C. Reveries of Revere, Mass." From the 4 Dec 1963 DCN. From Duane C.

I have to agree! When you look at the weaknesses in Bluecoat's marching over the last few years, it's hard to say that this is a good move for Crown. Visual ensemble has always been Bluecoats downfall and these guys seemed to have every opportunity to fix that and still failed. Go back and read DCP reviews and while not everyone "got" the show design, EVERYONE commented on sloppy drill execution. Bluecoats with any new visual staff = HIT Crown with these guys = miss

You heard it first here. Why can't Open Class corps in Texas figure it out? Band Booster people can't run a drum corps anywhere but into the ground. Yeah, some good friends of mine including the founder of a corps was let go today and it sucks. Mark today and this post. This particular corps will never field a corps again. I don't believe the current CEO of this corps has any intention of fielding a corps any longer. Hey Crossmen...looks like you can recruit pretty easy in Texas just from the folding up of other Texas corps. Enough said for tonight. Over the coming days, all will be known. And, it just sucks.

Closed at author's request.

whats just as sad is that people believe its their business no matter what the reason a person leaves is...news flash...its not

In context, this is the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. This is exactly what dancing drummers look like to me. Please God, let it end.