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Excellent. Congratulations. You were the "prod which brought it to the surface." We've now been reading about this for pages and pages, long enough so that I feel we may all be able to reach our own decisions on whether or not to contribute. So tell me now, why do you still feel the self-aggrandizing need to continue on this epic crusade of pointing fingers coupled with oh-so-valuable perspective on the corps' lack of foresight and management? Do you feel so important as to think that your voice is helping anybody from either end of the spectrum, or do you just enjoy spitting vitriol on the interwebs any chance you get? This is coming from someone with no ties whatsoever to either side. I've never even seen the Bushwackers. I just don't understand the self-importance you're putting off in this thread when in reality, your dozens of posts contribute essentially as much as this lone post of mine: nothing. Team Stu, Drum Corps Police!

Here's some more background on Spirit's performance that night in Memphis: http://www.dci.org/news/view.cfm?news_id=269738c0-35cd-4d4f-9b0e-f5b4639e7c7f It was truly a day and night I'll never forget.

Many thanks for this. I'd like to suggest that this be permanently pinned at the top of the Historical Junior Corps board.

LOL +1. Meh, some of us made our marks on a DCI finals field, others need this discussion board.

I LOVE DRUM CORPS! 35 years since I watched my first DCI Finals and many DCI and DCA shows later, I still do! Just contributed.......

Indeed, I hear even alternates get them. Hey, per chance you looking for a Corvette or a new weave?

To all of you who have posted supportive comments, well wishes and donated to our fund, on behalf of the Bushwackers organization, we sincerely thank you.

Hopefully, The Cadets.

I honestly don't know, and I don't think any of them know, either. Having aged out in 1979, I was a volunteer driver that summer (and was driving the other of the two rental vans that fateful night). I still remember watching that exhibition from the front sideline, in tears from the moment the first member came through the back gate and onto the field.

Without their visual program they might not have been in finals.

So jes' checkin'.... you're around 30 and stuff like this is important enough to get you revved up? Wish my life at 55 was so simple.....

Yea, I was thinking the same thing. If the aforementioned parade doesn't have competing DCA corps in it, there is no draw. And let's be honest, no competing corps is going to want to do a parade that weekend. As Jeff asked, "What's the draw?" about a parade. Even the parade DCI has run on finals day the last two years was more of an extra, and not designed to bring in fans who otherwise might not go. And as much fun as alumni corps is for the performers and small but enthusiastic crowd that follows them is, it's not even close to what the competing corps put out. Alumni and mini corps are a nice diversion on DCA weekend. Neither are a major focus or draw, and likely never will be. If anything, alumni corps is going to experience a severe decline in popularity over the next few years. Minis, on the other hand, don't have the problems alumni corps face.

DA

Now we're talkin'!! I also propose that F# and Cb should no longer be used, as it's been done before and by the best. Chuck

Not sure everyone saw this. It was edited after the fact. Tapes or not, we have less groups coming for some reason. Getting rights and paying fees has changed the game significantly. Knowing that you are competing for second at best may also have something to do with it. I cry UNCLE....LOL

I thought that the Cavaliers were underrated. In the early season, they had some heros sticking out of the ensemble, and definitely you could hear their feet in their horns, but by the end of July, they had a much improved sound. Maybe not quite up to their usual championship level, but really good. I also was really impressed with Bluecoats, Madison and Santa Clara's brass lines. Each had a mature and powerful sound. But out of that group, I would give the edge to the Bluecoats.

The person who posted that comment lacks basic math skills.

Donny, Will you stop being the voice of reason...your starting to scare me. Rick was a great kid, great horn player, loved everything about Mini's. The fact that he willed himself to live until the day of the show, tells you everything you need to know. I guess in the big picture some things aren't as important as they may seem when it comes to real life. What can we do to get Mini going in the right direction? Mike

credit Scooter for this one: would you recommend everyone wears the same size shoes ???

I hate to burst your bubble, BUT the alumni show IS a major draw for the weekend. I have friends who come JUST for the alumni show as they are old school and prefer to see/hear the corps the way it WAS. We go to prelims and they join us but do not have a lot of enthusiasm for todays competing corps. The noticable exception this year was Cadets 2 and Kidsgrove. Everyone liked them!

""

agreed,...................the delivery on info is a matter of perception by the reader and their perspective on the same,..........sometimes people should consider matters from the points of view of others,..............

If anything, Donny, chime in more often. You're a guy that *gets it*.

thankfully Bush stopped running the annual Bad beer contest. some of that stuff made swill taste good

I was thinking other way.... Someone not knowing any better catches the "less complex" music played at parades and thinks "I ain't going to spend ... of money to watch THAT!". Thought that hit me... what goes on in downtown Annapolis Friday night of Labor Day Weekend? Definitely more of a "Shore Thing" place than Rochester.

In addition each year the corps crowns the top female and top male member of the corps. they get the title Miss Bush, & Mr. Wacker.

OK... Review of clues so far... Jimbalaya: I know all 4 of them there Reilly Raiders Ken Newman: presently only two are with the Reilly Raiders nos' 1 & 4. 2 & 3 are in different corps Ken Newman: No.1 started with the "Belles of St. Mary's" in S. Jersey played with Reilly Alums went to Cabs alumni for a few years and now back with Reilly might be a stretch for anyone from far away places. *NanciD: 1. (Initials are C.D.W.) any guesses on her name? I'll "guess" who # 1 is. (OK, not really a guess. heh) 1, Chris Davis Wall (Reilly Raiders Sop) Hint, ALL four are horn players, two Sop and 2 Mello... Hunt for # 2 - she wears a long yellow jacket, black hat and her Corps is known to be having a lot of fun on the field....

so wait,...........can't this be said for all corps?,..............field, junior, senior,..............kinda like when my kids were little and played soccer, they didn't keep score, why have a goalie, right? this whole discussion is blown out of proportion, this same discussion has taken place years ago,...............MCA was started in a suggested effort to bring the discussion civillly forward, we met over the course of several years, sent Ponzo and DA to DCA meetings as our reps, only to be carelessly disregarded..............as Jeff and others have said, I know that the weekend is all about prelims and finals, and the mini corps, I&E, alumni, etc. is just a placated effort to get people to town and buy tickets to those events,..........many have said that drum corps is a dying artform, all of this is another way to help kill it off by shouting people down who are trying to partitpate in what is/was a facet of it,.............

Thats what was said before they went to the BLUE STARS. Aungst going to DCA. But where should they go ?? what is a good fit ?

There is a 2 bar quote of "Appalachian Spring" in Vanguards 98 ballad. I probably listened to it 100 times before noticing. I love that moment

As of yesterday, half way through!

The Crossmen placed 12th in 1989 and stayed in finals for another 16 years. Crossmen have competed in 37 DCI Championships They have made finals 23 times or 62% . I believe the CROSSMEN are the only NON DCI CHAMPIONS to have beaten every competing corps today. Not sure about BLUECOATS they might have also.

Saucedo as Brass Composer and Arranger. This can mean nothing but great news !! Prepare for some luscious sounds from the Blue Stars horn line !!

Well....maybe for Crown, Cadets, Regiment, SCV, Blue Stars, Boston, Madison, BK, or G-men (who all placed under 'Coats)

This is the best regarding how drum corps can reach out and affect people's lives. Wouldn't it be cool if BD could help establish perhaps community-based parade corps in Central America and help that spread?

here's my big question about tapes: it's finals. what are you going to fix? Unless you do the exact same show next year, what's to improve upon?

I find it difficult to respond to your post given the ridiculousness (in a good way) of your avatar. Here are some of the larger bands in the pacific northwest, all within driving distance of OC. I've included all bands over 100 members. They have a fairly competitive circuit up there (NWAPA) and some of the bands have also competed in BOA. Evergreen and Westview are great bands, and are quite literally in OC's backyard. Century is probably the best band in the northwest, and they're 30 minutes from Portland. All of the bands below (with the exception of Central Valley and Mead which are in Spokane) are a maximum of about 4 hours driving distance to Portland. Cascade High School - Leavenworth, WA (115 members) Central Valley High School - Spokane, WA (151 members) Century High School - Hillsboro, OR (146 members) Evergreen High School - Vancouver, WA (165 members) Grants Pass High School - Grants Pass, OR (145 members) Kamiak High School - Mukilteo, WA (150 members) Mead High School - Mead, WA (135+ members) Oregon City High School - Oregon City, OR (111 members) Roseburg High School - Roseburg, OR (117 members) Skyview High School - Vancouver, WA (81 members) Southridge High School - Beaverton, OR (96 members) Westview High School - Portland, OR (108 members) Sunset High School - Beaverton, OR (82 members) West Salem High School - Salem, OR (110 members) I suppose the same question could have been made in the recent past about the Spartans and East Coast Jazz, and specifically marching band in the Northeast. Competitive marching bands in New Hampshire are virtually non-existent (only a few I can think of, none are very competitive) and Massachusetts, even with a good number of bands, has been suffering in quality and participation. The largest marching band in the state is I believe about 115, with maybe only two others above 100. Somehow both of those corps seemed to thrive competitively AGAINST each other in the recent past.

Stu and everyone, PLEASE can we STOP this?? When I left the corps it was in desperate need of members. Bills were being payed BUT time was running out QUICKLY for the corps. The way I ooperated the corps and how I payed bills was feuld by a certain amount of membership each year. When the membership shrank from bad to worse I was planning on folding the corps, Selling all the equipment and paying ALL the remaining bills and staff bills and retire. A group of alums and staff approached me with a plan to take over the corps, Help pay a few personal bills in my name and try to salvage the corps for the 2011 season. We agreed on everything and the rest is history. The monthly payments on the brass loan was figured by a certain amount of tuition paying members to keep everything current. As many know the Bushwackers have fielded 2 season of smaller size corps, THIS is why things have turned out this way.PUT THE BLAME ON ME, PLEASE and lets move on. Let the corps to continue to ask for donations without all of this finger pointing, Its not fair to me, Dave Kapp and Bob Gupta to have to keep reading all of this "stuff" on DCP. I can tell you that the pledge drive has done wonderful so far and I urge EVERYONE to donate if they can. The alumni have steeped up HUGE for the corps to make sure Dave Kapp is payed asap and the Bushwackers can continue on for a very long time. PLEASE let the "conversation" END and let all the parties involved make it right. PLEASE Jay Morlot ps, I have retired from the corps and im enjoying the time with my wonderful wife and GREAT daughter and son. i have no interest in anything Bushwacker except to lend my advice and help the corps as any 31 year alumnus should.

Seriously, my biggest problem. All the stupid unnecessary crap pits do. All close ups look awkward. The pit shouldn't be distracting visually at all. You want the focus out on the field. But then what the #### do I know... when a show that has absolutely no focus ANYWHERE wins the championship. But back to the pit. I understand movement to keep time together and line things up easier. But all the dancing and crap. Just kock it off! And if you are playing potato notes on the synth you should be ashamed of yourself if you look like you are enjoying yourself. Because the low brass hates you, because they are running around while trying to play what you are, while your smiling like a ###### and looking like a d######. I want to call out a specific person from a corps, but I'm probably already pushing the mods right now. Just play your notes. You're not adding anything with your awkward facial expressions and choreography.

Ok; after reading postings by Jay Morlot and David Kapp: a) the corps ran smoothly and all finances were managed well for close to 25 years by Jay Morlot who retired on May 1, 2011; this included keeping the payments to David for a 2009 loan up to date. b) Payments on the loan to David then ceased after a 1/2 payment in Sept 2011 and they never resumed which lead to legal action. c) Within 5 months after the retirement of Jay the corps was placed in a situation in which Jay kept it out of for close to 25 years. Conclusion: Unless there was a huge catastrophe within those 5 months which rippled all the way to today, which I am still open to reading about, the corps was therefore mismanaged after May 1, 2012 until the present where they pleaded for money.

I cannot believe some of y'all; if you can afford the car payments drive it all you want; if you can afford the payments and can afford to go to Disney World by all means drive it to Disney World. However, if you cannot afford the car payments stay home, do not go to Disney World, even on another persons dime, and especially do not ask others to bail you out after going to Disney World if the creditor wants to repo the car for non-payments on the loan.

Change the words trust/not trust over to evaluate/not evaluate and I will agree with your statement.

And the problem with holding corps accountable in poor business practices is.....? This apparently is not a situation of what you called, "under any circumstances" such as a catastrophe from unknown acts of nature in which insurance will not cover (which I stated from the onset if that was the case I would be more than happy to help out); but this is apparently once again shear mismanagement, just like the thousands of other mismanaged corps, in which this corps should be held accountable. I am tired of the people in the world of drum corps having these issues because they are ran by "Love, oh sweet Love" and not by financial accountability standards.

Was there an emergency situation (fire, theft, truck rolled over) which placed them in this financial situation? If Yes then I will be more than happy to send some financial assistance. If, however, it was administrative mismanagement like Teal, Forte, etc..., and they went to DCA Championships which placed them in this situation, then No, I will not help and they reap what they sow. So, which is it? Emergency cause or mismanagement?

We were speaking generically, I thought. I in no way intended to signify you personally. I was discussing the "crotchety old people" as a group. There is waaaay too much (IMO) negative commentary by people who should knwo better...who went through some of it themselves when they were the cutting edge members...though of course, with no internet, it was at a much lower level...localized griping and complaining was about it back then, outside of some letters-to-the-editor of outlets like DCN.

Just as we were, current members are invested in THEIR corps. Trashing what they do, and how they do it, even if not directly aimed at the members, will have an impact on how they look at the "crotchety old people"...it would have in our day as well. It is not DCI's job to do any such thing. Where do the corps come from for such a circuit? Go ahead and start up 6 or 7 corps in a small geographic area if you want something like that. DCI is made up of the corps that participate...it does not get involved in starting them. The competitive scholastic bands have taken over the slot that used to be filled by the small corps. I'd look there if I were interested in such an endeavor. It make more logistical and financial sense. When it comes to the shows...in general I'll take today's shows over any earlier era, understanding that there were some marvelous shows back then too.

Yea, but it will probably be a while because most aren't this pro-active.

not sure you changed anything BUT at least you can see many of us from BITD can appreciate what we did and see the extreme quality in every aspect corps do today....different isnt always a bad thing....drum corps is still drum corps just a little different. as most things are

yeah many people,,,,here too....think what we did was our drum corps back in the day and how we stayed true to that ...welll I have 3 decades of drum corps people just in my family that said what I did BITD wasnt drum corps....Its like when I talk to some alumni friends fighting to maintain what they think the tradition was..I always ask them ...well what decade was that? and who decided that was the decade that should dictate history..they soon shut up..........for a while.....