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Then why even post?

I thought the mirrors from BD 2010 were very ineffective, the relied on the viewer be close to the field, almost level with the corps to get the effect in the mirrors. A few rows up, they might as well have been blank walls. Also they had the corps’ back to the audience a lot which was not the intended effect but the consequence - I felt that show was made for the DVD and not the attending audience Generally my impression of BD use of props the last few years has been that they are field marks to facilitate their high speed running drill, the props became giant dots (field markers) to run to in a specific count or to run from and yes, they still mark of the hashes too. They look to be extra points of reference on the field, there is a snare cam run through which makes this use of props apparent as you really notice how they mark and line up off the props for their sets. Smart programming but gone to the well too many times. I’ve heard they are not using props this years and will be interested in see their running drill which, they’ve have several years to prefect so I doubt they’ll need the props to execute otherwise, I thought the chairs 2009 cluttered the field and should have been gone after the opener 2008 - fit the theme, real mess on some runs, on the DVD you see them kicking them into place,re-setting them 2011 - were OK, a cool effect of spinning and building a circle around one and another effect of floating a marked form to it - the end pay off was a bit of a let down, and the sitting on them like a curb, yawn...the music was good enough that I didn't mind just didn't see it as a positive

OMG Do your Opera homework before you POST. No doubt the guard will be "Princess Turandot."

actually , Yes I do think it added to their score a bit...At least it helped tell the story they were trying to bring to life. Of course they could march a clean show with out them BUT thats not the point of the props. Imagine a broadway production minus sets or costumes. Would the actors sing as well, dance as well, of course, does it come together visually more to the eye with the props and costumes..of course it does....A good example was chorus line. Minus of everything till the end , which was the whole point of a visual dazzler putting it all together. Do corps need props? NO . Can they add a great deal visually ,YES they can..just more eye candy. Now if you want to ask, SHOULD a corps use props..well that can be a very sujbjective debate. JMO

Brainstorm/idea: What if DCI enacted a policy similar to NFL & other sports' network details: "black out" the live stream for a certain radius around Indy. If you live within, say, 100 miles (the NFL blackout rules apply for those within a 75 mile radius. of the Indianapolis zip code you can't live stream finals, but those folks who live further away and are not likely to be a walk-up ticket-buyer could live stream the event for the average price of a WC Finals ticket. Heck, maybe DCI can also incorporate a clause where no one can live stream the event unless DCI reaches a specific ticket-sales threshold (like, they have to sell at least 15,000 Finals tickets or no live stream: if they sell 15,000 or more tickets the 100 mile radius blackout applies). They could also add that as the Fan Network DVD/Blu-ray bundle. For example, this year's Fan Network would be $65 for live stream other than finals, and then an additional $120 gets you the Finals Blu-ray AND live-stream of Finals. I truly believe if they incorporated both of those policies DCI at worst would make no more/less money than current FN revenue, and at best they would make a significant increase in Finals revenue.

Drum Corps runs in our veins as my kids like to joke. My son marched ’97 –’01 with The Blue Knights then aged out with the Blue Devils ’02. HE couldn’t let go so he’s been traveling as a caption head tech for the Blue Knights the last seven years. Last year his dream came true, his little sister (12 years younger) started with the Blue Knights in Color Guard. A brother couldn’t have been any prouder watching his rookie sister excel. This year we are heartbroken, she will not be able to compete with BK. She became very ill in December and started Chemo. This has been a very hard blow for everyone but especially her. She’s getting better and will be alright but the hardest and most noble thing I have seen her do was keep her illness quiet. She went to the camps knowing there was a slim chance of going but her heart was so in it, she was in denial, as were the rest of us. She didn’t tell “any” of her non-drum corps friends because they couldn’t understand the devastation she was going through. She thought more of her drum corps family and wanted them to know first from her own mouth, not Face Book. We went to the Doctor the day of the first camp and were told two firm “No’s” not this year; the reality was overwhelming. I think we both felt like we got a punch in the stomach. That evening we went to the first camp so she could personally tell her instructors she loved so much and vice-a-versa she was not going to be able to perform this year. She felt a phone call, text, or email was too impersonal nor did it show the respect she had for the people she had given her all to last summer. Silly girl even made the Doc write a note saying he would not let her tour; as if they wouldn’t have believed her. A couple of them cried, I cried and she cried. What made matters worse were different people in the corps saw her and ran up for hugs, screaming her name, being so excited but had not yet been told she would not be going. Her energy drained we left and let the instructors tell the guard while her brother told other members of the corps. They announced it that night and the outpouring of support and friendship and love goes beyond anything I could have imagined. They are all a true family! They are in constant contact and are making her feel like she is still there, maybe not in body but definitely in heart. My son says he gets teary eyed when he sits in the scaffolding and looks over at the Color Guard knowing she’s not there. She already has plans for next summer. And as she says, she still has 3 more summers. From what I have been told the hardest obstacle regarding drum corps this year is watching and knowing with her heart and soul that is where she wants to be, it is going to be a long summer. I believe it takes people who have been around drum corps to know the special bond and family tie that these members experience. What a blessing Drum Corps has been to our family. Next year I’ll be out on the road again cheering both my kids and the Blue Knights on.

I really believe that it will this year. I CAN'T WAIT either! I've got a good feeling that this will be a very good season!

Nice report from the kid at spring training. Apparently the guard was in block while the horn line was working the ballad (with choreography of course) and it was so amazing (musically and visually) that the entire guard and staff just stopped , watched, and applauded when they finished Show is going to be amazing....CAN'T WAIT !!

IF you consider the 'Phantom Regiment' sound as being sections of loud, blow your face off sound.......then you probably will be disappointed to some extent. BUT if you remember the sweet (sometimes loud sometimes so soft and distinct) sound of sections paying together as part of a team, rather than in competition with other sections.....this year will be a treat. This group has a lot of growing to do and a good program chosen to do that. I feel, in the few times I have gotten to listen to this year's team, that they are playing first to each other, supporting each other's program parts, and then to us. We benefit from this. I have felt that the in the past few years the sections have been competing and thus the weakest of sections stood out even more. All in all this year's sound will be a total Phantom team sound, IMO. It will be different yet very familiar.

So does the horn line still have the Regiment sound? That’s what I’ll be listening for…JD was good are picking that up from Wren and a lot of it was through the arranging

Don't think I made any "obvious attacks," and I certainly wasn't attempting to incite anything other than discussion. The words ignorant and naive are not attacks: I'm naive when it comes to law; I'm ignorant when it comes to medicine. Heck, I wouldn't have a problem if someone labeled me ignorant about upper-level high school math (my teacher's in HS certainly thought so)! Ignorance and naivety = someone doesn't know something: that's all. It's not that same as calling someone stupid, it's just pointing out that someone doesn't know something: in your case, if you honestly can't comprehend how Blue Devils' props in 2009 (chairs), 2010 (mirrors), and 2011 (house parts) then you are either naive when it comes to the intricacies of effect, or you are ignorant about what exactly Blue Devils were trying to achieve. That's not a bad thing, it's just seemingly a fact (or at least that's my conclusion) I think unequivocally BD's props in 2009, 2010, 2011 raised their GE scores (and visual scores): especially in 2009 and 2010. They way they used the mirrors to both obviously and subtly convey their visual theme was pretty brilliant. They way BD explored visual design on a vertical plane in 2009, as well as body sculpting, was very effective. In 2011 I personally was not a huge fan of that show, but there were some VERY cool moments with the props, and the way they "built" the house throughout the show to convey their theme was very effective. Do I think what they did with the props was more visually effective than a good drill or guard moment: generally I think that, especially in 2010 with the mirrors. I think the chair stuff had some brilliant moments, but also some 'meh' moments, with the highlights making them worth-while: same with the house stuff last year. It's hard to "commit" to props for a full show, and I think BD more than anyone else recently has been effective in putting the props front/center when most beneficial, while effectively 'blending' the props when the props are the focal point. I think 2011 is the most "questionable" use of props from them lately, as I think the 'lowlights' of prop use were more than the 'highlights.' Now, I think instead of complaining about BD's props, you could have a FAR more interesting conversation about other corps: * Cadets 2011 - the "ketchup & mustard" effect was a cute gimmick that I think was neat but unnecessary. It worked for them, and judges disagreed with me, but that's kind of how I felt. * Crown 2011 - I thought the towers were unnecessary, but they were far less obtrusive than other props (like Blue Stars stuff last year). * Phantom 2008 - their use of "GE" is what I would call 'clown hands GE.' It's obvious and works on the most basic aesthetic/level, but I've stepped in deeper puddles. It appealed to the masses on just a basic level, and IMO paled in comparison to BD's use of props in 2009, 2010, and 2011 (and even Cadets last year, IMO). I honestly think Blue Devils have most effectively used props over the last several years, though Cadets were kinda cool last year: at least they found a gimmick that worked for them. Most designer use props in a fairly basic way: it's like they figure out one or two cool ideas, but then are stuck with the props for a 13 minute show. BD more than everyone else has continually figured out a way to integrate the props into their show without the props being obtrusive, or cluttering the field. Now, that doesn't mean I actually was a big fan of those BD shows (I really didn't like their show last year, and I wasn't a huge fan of the 1930 show either). But I do understand what their design intent was, and appreciate how well they designed/performed those programs (conversely, the 'ketchup & mustard' Cadets thing annoyed me on a basic level of "they're utilizing a gimmick that TOTALLY hinders their visual design and works on such a basic level it almost drives me nuts that it worked; yet I REALLY liked their show last year)

I would seriously be fine with a season without props. From everyone.

No doubt that BD will have a very visually ineffective prop set up, but get tons of credit for it. Ala, the last few years. The thing is, They probably would have done JUST as well without all that trash. They marched well, played well, drummed well, and spun well!

I will totally miss the mellophone rips and mello writing in general, and melodic writing/musicality. I will not miss the awkward transitions, and randomly thrown in un-effective soli's ... but mostly i'll miss it

My bias towards whom? And I got into drum corps first through DCA so to say "go back to DCI" is oh so wrong.

I posted that youtube video and works for me

The Forward Dynamics music organization from Oregon, Wisconsin, is pleased to announce the DCP-I Season XVIII program for their Open Class corps... the Oregon Marauders! PROGRAM: “The Masque of the Red Death” -- Roses from the South by Johann Strauss, Jr. -- Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens -- Waltz from “Masquerade” by Aram Khachaturian -- Dream Waltz from “The Tale of the Priest and His Worker, Balda” by Dmitri Shostakovich -- Witches’ Sabbath from “Symphonie Fantastique” by Hector Berlioz -- La Valse by Maurice Ravel "...and Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all." --Edgar Allen Poe MEMBERSHIP: 117 60 Brass (20 trumpets, 12 mellophones, 18 baritones/euphoniums, 10 contras) 30 Percussion (8 snares, 4 tenors, 5 basses, 13 front ensemble) 25 Color Guard 2 Drum Majors STAFF: Corps Director: Anorei Hendricks Program Coordinator: Kevin Pogue Musical Arrangements: Glenn Eichhorn (brass), Patrick Karns (percussion) Visual Design: Matthew Seidel Brass Caption Head: Scott Buckner Brass Staff: Jordan Bako, Jack Brant, Kevin MacKinnon, Jose Morales Percussion Caption Head: John Walley Percussion Staff: Edward Burnside, Brian Davies, Aaron Mixon, Tony Rendon Visual Caption Head: Manuel Tanner Visual Staff: Antonio Botelho, Clifford Handley, Scott Lawton, Russell Poole Guard Caption Head: Samantha Slaughter Guard Staff: Miranda Ahlers, Katrina Moss, Chris Zito UNIFORMS: Uniform design by Hostrauser Uniform rendering by StarOrg, based on a template by PRsop2000 CORPS HISTORY: Season X - "Paradise Found" - 2nd place, 91.500 Season XI - "Martian War Academy" - 4th place, 91.191 Season XII - "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" - 18th place, 89.850 Season XIII - "THE ZONE: Nightmares in Four Parts, with No Exit" - 1st place, 91.630 - DCPI CHAMPIONS! Season XIV - "The Hummingbird" - 3rd place, 92.450 Season XV - "The Domovoi" - 2nd place, 92.420 Season XVI - "Cirque du Folie" - 7th place, 91.700 Season XVII - "A Second Before Awakening" - 4th place, 92.100 Forward Dynamics: 5100 West Netherwood Road, Oregon, WI 53575 Forward Dynamics performs on King Brass, Pearl Marching Percussion, and Yahama Concert Percussion. Forward Dynamics is a proud member of the superior FANFARE organization.

We are not starting this again. If you have any questions, I suggest contacting the corps directly.

I understand the sentiment. But on the modern judging sheets, a guard performer is much more valuable than a brass performer. (We have 80 brass, but 30 or so in Guard). So what is " better " is a relative term. A Corps can get by with 6 less brass players. I'm not so sure they won't get killed on the sheets with under 30 in the Guard however. What wins a DCI Title more than anything else these days is a VISUAL moment, not an auditory one. DCI Titles are won increasingly through the eyes of the judges, not the ears. Epecially on Finals Night, where judges way up high in the booth, can't hear much of the music playing above the crowd's noise below them anyway.... and especially in a domed stadium. Guards are HUGELY important to DCI placements come Championships. And the VISUAL is they key above all else.

I think there are 2 key words that Mr. Mason left out of his equations, and he SHOULD have said, "ON AVERAGE" If he would have used these 2 words, then I dont think this argument would even be happening, since this is what Mr. Mason is basing everything on. Either way.....as Jeff says.... The corps with the highest score at DCA will win. There.....F**K the F****in predictions. Lets get on with the F****** season already!! GOD........let it die already!!

I would just LOVE to see ANY open-class corps make finals!

Fixed.

So you want DCI to do away with their age limitations? I think this might have an impact on the legal side of the organization and the member corps, though I am no attorney. And you want DCA to permit, say, the Cadets or Blue Devils to show up at DCA champs and basically walk away with a title? This of course assumes that those corps are able to hang together for another three weeks after DCI champs. Given the age makeup of those corps (i.e. HS and college semesters starting), that might not be as viable an option as it would appear. Plus, what would those touring corps do for three weeks to fund the added costs of keeping the road show operational until Labor Day? DCA only has a couple of weekend shows in that timeframe, hardly enough income for the DCI corps. I don't see the DCA organization (and member corps) wanting to give up their control and freedom to be merged into DCI at this point. What would happen to scoring in a situation where a DCI top corps or two showed up and competed at DCA? At 2011 DCI champs, the Cadets and BD scored 98.35/97.80 respectively. At 2011 DCA champs MBI and the Bucs scored 98.35/97.45 respectively. Do you really think that on the same scoring scale the DCA scores would hold to those levels? Like a lot of things, the devil is in the details!

We always rode school buses - repainted in corps colors - although we didn't have the luggage compartment "upgrade" Figured it appropriate to have this posted adjacent to the GBV post...

We took school buses everywhere. I actually preferred them, b/c you could sleep in the luggage compartments above, under the seats, in the aisle, etc. The only bad thing was no port-o-pot!

So far NO! BD does not have any that I have seen yet. Their show is really interesting so far. This one will be a classic! (mark my words)

I have to admit I've often thought about this same scenario. How could you not? Any performer worth his or her salt has to think at some point, "I'm friggen good at this thing called 'drum corps' and I could march/play/spin/throw/drum circles around those kids/older folk." I think, too, if you've participated in DCA and then went to watch a DCI show, or if you've participated in both activities at some point in your life, it's hard not to try to compare the two, as dissimilar as they are, though they are more similar than not in this fan's opinion. Now, as to the question of where might a top DCA corps place at DCI quarterfinals, I don't know. I have no clue. However, I say we try it some time, and then we'll all know. Why not ask a top DCA corps to BRING IT? Invite Minnesota Brass, Inc., last year's DCA champ, to perform and be scored next to the DCI corps at prelims or something. What could it hurt? Wouldn't that be a huge rush to any member of that drum corps? If it were me holding a horn in that corps — and I soooo wish it were had that challenge come along — I would be jazzed beyond belief and telling, begging, pleading with the instructional staff to teach the snot out of me and rehearse the bajeepers out of me to the point where I was so good that we just might have a shot. And isn't this push for excellence, inspired by competition, the very hallmark of this great activity? (cue National Anthem) So what if they get stomped or elevated or placed 26th or 10th or fifth or whatever. I mean, their placement at DCI would have no bearing on their DCA status, would it? It's the drive to be awesome, not the final competitive placement result, that drives us, no? Annika Sorenstam and other ladies tried the PGA, didn't they? (and no, I'm not calling anyone a bunch of "girls") But they had to think, "man, I had better elevate my game. To that I say, "heck yeah!" I equate it to the movie (the original, not the remake), the Bad News Bears. The crowd chanted "Let them play," and the kids got to finish their ballgame on the field of the venerable Astrodome. In this case, what would be the harm in letting the senior circuit not only on the same field as "the Astros," but how about letting them have a game? After all, no matter what circuit, it's a game (yeah, yeah, different rules and restrictions and rehearsal schedule and all of that, whatever, I get it.). But, pure and simple it's a game. And you gotta love this game.

What those guys said. You won't hear it from us, only DCI. We are playing by the rules. If you look around the web hard enough you may see us in a lineup or two....just sayin. We had a great camp weekend, learned a lot of tough drill, and got a lot better. I'm sure you will hear more in the very near future. Michael McGlothlin Visual designer, revolution drum and bugle corps.

I had to do a 5 minute presentation in my career connections class at business school in my brand new 500 dollar suit. Yep you guessed it I did a shpeal to a fictional woman's group for funding of a drum corps show and i used video of BD 95 in the background as I spoke. Then I turned and extended my hand right as the tenors started doing that amazing spock ride thingy and the snares were on the cymbal tree. I said how could you not support such a wonderful activity? I was the talk of the whole school after that! They freakin loved it...and I even had 3 people ask me how they could go see it live.

hmmmm maybe picture frames for Madison, Xmas decor for cadets, Spirit ( Please no fuzzy dice or big dice to dance on..many many bands a some DCA corps have been there and done that, and done that and done that. I see Glassmen maybe with some abstract glass or shiny thing, maybe like STAR I think it was 93...I have a feeling BD may go prop less just to bust those who do..Or they will go over the top with props..Its all cool as long as it works and adds not detracts from the show process....BUT NO DICE SPIRIT>>>>LOL>..

Isn't everyone trolling on Twitter? I LOVE the blow-up Santa doll idea! And make it really snow! And cover the entire field with white tarps. I don't know, of course, but I've got this feeling about this show... It's going to be good, and I can't wait.

There are a couple of (very) short clips on Hop's Facebook page. Both Cadets and C2.

Oh... I thought you were asking if Cadets were retelling "To Tame the Perilous Skies".

I can't speak to copyright reasons, but I can mention it to someone. I know that the early season stuff won't be put back, but I'll check on the Finals shows. My guess is that the disc material will be substituted, but don't hold me to that. As for Open, I'll see if that was a VOD omission. I can tell you that Open Class will be live streamed again this year, but I will check on the exact mix. There's a reason we call the planet our "instant feedback" site...

i prefer using euphs and baris both... but not when your Regiment

Absolutely! I think people should get out if they're able to get to a contest. This season will be a really strong one for DCA. On that we both can agree, I would think!

Blue Devils, as per Pearl's FB page.

Thank you all for your kind words. I want you to know she is okay and everything worked out no problems other than the drugs. She can't go this year because of the drugs; she has to stay out of the sun for most of the summer as her skin is still very sensitive. As everyone knows drum corps and sun are a given. We held out hope for her being able to go but her doc's said it was a "no way" for that reason alone. I think we knew all along but hearing it made it final. She's healthy and that's what is the most important thing of all. This has been a bump in the road, that is for sure, but she'll be spinning on the field next summer, no problem! As she said, "I have 3 summer's left before I age out." That's the drum corps spirit!

And in 2009 and 2008. But I'm referring more to the design philosophies, which have capitalized more on "intellectual" shows. I guess it works for the Blue Devils, but I wish they had stayed with what they did last year, with the crowd-friendly show.

SO turns out last year was a departure from the norm, instead of a change of style? Well, it was nice while it lasted.... I'm going to miss hearing full melodies out of their show.

Love Phantom. Just can't get into this Power Ranger look they've been leveraging lately. Please don't hurt me... HH

Prediction: 1. SCV 2. Cavaliers 3. Blue Devils 4. Crown 5. Bluecoats

New Jacket

Bluecoats have great openers, and have a really electric tone and aura about them. You can feel however you want about them though. Personally if I lived closer to Canton, I'd audition myself.

Perhaps this clip will shed some light on their show, check it out 2012 Santa Clara Vanguard Drumline Texas PAS Day of Percussion. May 19

or sharting

Lìu kills herself as well. Double the murders, double the fun!

Nope, even better: synth. (I deserve forty lashes for that...)