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I have no idea who would red minus you for that, but apparently they have some issues. Not sure what's wrong with wishing a group success. *waits for the red minuses*

You've READ alot about Jim Ott. The people that made the decisions that night about how the corps would handle that performance KNEW Jim Ott. They lived and breathed the life of a drum corps season with him for several years. They all poured their soul into that organization for multiple years as a team to build one of the most incredible performing organizations of their era. I think I'll respect their decisions as to how it should have been handled based off their personal experiences over several years rather than your second guessing decisions 32 years later based off of your "reading" about him. AA

Billy Mays, is that you?

Judging by what I have read on the pages of DCP, with the new additions to the Troopers staff, I expect them to be very competitive in 2013. I wish the Trooper members and staff all the success in the world for next summer.

So 2012 saw some really awesome shows and really awesome shows come with awesome ballads as well! Who in your own personal opinions had the best ballad of 2012? No bashing please. Personal favorite and thought was the best from the start: Pacific Crest's version of "Yellow" by Cold Play. The arranging was so lush, thick, beautiful and filled with emotion! Loved it! Shout outs to Bluecoats using Bon Iver's "Flume" and Colts closing with "All By Myself."

Yeah? Well, I'm going to be 57 in just ten days. What are you going to say to me then? Huh?

Wait. Three posts and no one heard what I heard? Cadets. Do You Hear What I Hear? Best tune of the year. And don't tell me they should have rushed the sideline to blow straight at us. They tried something different and created a sublime moment. HH

Very well said Alan. Those of us that have been personally involved in loosing one before their time can attest to the fact that nobody, and I mean nobody has the right to judge the actions of those directly involved and effected by the loss. To make assumptions based on ones personal feelings by someone on the outside looking in are both immature and disrespectful. Being a member of the Spirit family, and being married to someone that was actually in the corps that year, I can say that the events that transpired that night had a lasting and devastating effect on those directly involved. Let's let them revel in their memories of Jim and the way they chose to pay tribute, not slap them in the face by trying to judge what transpired 30 years after the fact. Remember, there was serious consideration of packing up the corps and ending the summer right then and there. I am inspired by the resiliance and determination demonstrated by everyone in the organization that year. Proud to wear the deltas that I wear around my neck to this day. Dan

I can't imagine what Leon May was thinking when he came up with Crown's drill this past season. Listen to Dreams (Nightmare) and try to conjure up drill for it. I can't do it. It's too frantic, it's too all over the place, it's too chaotic. I look at Crown's drill and say "That's it!" The drill matches what is being played. I also can't conjure up how the hell the corps produced the quality sound they did marching that program. I really have no idea how Crown was able to pull off that program. A corps doesn't have to win to push the envelope and suffice to say, Crown pushed the envelope this past season.

I don't really agree with this. If you are talking about visual that is. While I agree Crown might have had cleaner technique at some points of their show, it was not always the most consistent. IN fact, the really hard sections, some members completely broke down. Lower body and upper body technique was non existent. They were sacrificing technique to attempt to make the form. Overall I believe that Cadets 2011 had cleaner drill and a more consistent marching technique throughout their program. Edited to add that I also wish Sully stayed at BK.

I understand all of the various opinions posted here on thistopic. I truly understand both sides of this issue. After my sister died, a trophy was named in her honor. Sixmonths later, I won the gold medal and the trophy. Interestingly enough, it wasfor ice dancing….and I was 10 years old. Fast forward 10 years, and now I am one of the performers inSpirit that fateful night. I think our youngest member was 15 or so….all theway to 21. For many, this was their first experience with death outside ofimmediate family, or their first experience at all. I can’t speak for anyone other than myself (having cookedhamburgers with Maggie and Jim at their home prior to tour) I can say that thecompetitive aspect was not a part of me that day and as far as I can tell noone else’s either. We must keep in mind that one of our members was involved inthe accident as well as other staff who were severely injured. That performance was between the member of the corps, JimOtt and the other members of the Spirit family who were injured that day. In other competitive instances, often the athletes are olderand often more experienced with the grief process than perhaps we were thatnight. I will always be proud of my performance that night, thereasons for the presentation as such, and most importantly, sharing my soulwith my corps family, the other corps assembled, and the wonderful audience in attendancethat evening. To everyone here my highest regards and respect, Bob Clark Spirit of Atlanta 79-81

Hey, dude...I'm 56; but I can still rock down with the kiddies. And, despite being a percussionist, I can hear that mosquito ringtone that no one over the age of Ryan Seacrest should be able to hear. Now get off my lawn!

yeah i was thinking that too as i was typing my last post

They'd be more complaints on DCP about the inexperienced replacement judges with their scores and placements ?

Honestly - I didn't think Crown's drumline was bad. They were 6th behind some fantastic lines. No shame in that.

My ears are ringing from all the shouting.

I think one of the more infamous ones was BD 2000, where there was supposed to be a hole in the bass line at Finals, but the bass player was snuck onto the field by his other drum line members. After they had re-written the drum book and drill.... Probably responsible for their 5th place finish, and possible reason they didn't win.

Spirit did the right thing. Even if they had marched the entire performance drill and all, performing as an exhibition was the ONLY choice. How cruel would it have been for the staff to add to the enormous emotional strain they were under by asking them to perform in competition as well? Competing is an emotional strain by itself, without having to play and perform through your own tears and pain. Then, to ask the judges to give a score to a corps that had just suffered enormous loss? Again...cruel. If they didn't give a score that was high enough, the crowd would be mad and the corps would be doubly hurt. There was no winning on that night and scores were useless...at least for Spirit. And what if judges did give them a perfect 100? Everyone would know that it was a false and meaningless score. Was the corps given a gift of a perfect score simply because of the tragedy? Of course that would have been the case, and I'm sure Spirit wouldn't want to have been the recipient of an unearned score. Come on...Spirit pulled out a miracle on that night just taking the field and playing a single note. As a multi year member of Spirit, I've heard stories of this night over and over, and am so glad that this is now available for all to share. I never knew Jim Ott, but I've played his music, and I've cried like a baby every time I watch this video. Thanks to everyone responsible for bringing this to us.

To question the decisions that had to be made that night, to me, is something we have no right to do. Those of us that were not there have no place judging the decisions of those who had to live it, and share it with those kids. ...just sayin Dan

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.

My vote for best ballad of 2012 would go to the Colts. It was beautifully arranged and performed..... and it was just the right amount of old school dramatics for us dinos, but I think it also wowed the more modernist drum corps fans.

The Kidsgrove Scouts were crowned 2012 DCUK Champs over this past weekend by .15 over The Company. Finals was the first time they have beaten The Company all season. Taking home the awards for High Guard, High Brass, and High effect! To say that I am proud of them is an understatement. I just wish I could have been there to see it live. I had such a great experience working with this group both in UK and in US. Congrats team, now its time for DCE. Good skill, Teddy

Why not ask DCI instead of posting your idea here? This is not DCI.

Vanguard: Hymn to a Blue Hour They also played my favourtie ballad of 2011: The Eternal Knot

Jersey Surf - Pure Imagination When I heard them play this in San Antonio, I fell in love with Jersey Surf.

SCV did a SWEET ballad!

Hi Ch1k3n, Let me answer you with some insider info. :) I make my living by working with DCI. I don't hang out with kids. I used to instruct at the high school and college level, and I even judged WGI at the circuit level for a while. Once I started drawing a paycheck, you have to have the understanding that your work affects the kids indirectly. Others have mentioned that the seasonal nature of the job means you can't get a full-time gig instructing. Mostly, that's true. Even the best instructors make a good portion of their salaries in academic environments. There are three approaches, as there is in all entertainment. There's Administration, which is removed. There's instruction, which is a high-demand, low-pay gig that must be supplemented. Or there's volunteering, which is often the most rewarding, but doesn't pay. My best advice is to do what you're really good at, and apply that where you can at the drum corps level. Don't try to be something you don't like just to be involved in a different way; it's a quick way to financial ruin. Be yourself, be involved, and make yourself valuable. It'll "pay off", in some way. I was involved as a performer, admin, and volunteer for 16 years before someone paid me, and like I said, it is for what I know from outside the activity that is why I'm paid, not for being a "drum corps dude". Good luck, and let me strongly suggest the DCI intern program so you can get an inside view first.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oops, sorry Boo. There's no such thing.

Congrats to OC!

Brigs plan on it. Haven't seen anykind of info from Sky in a while. Cru pretty much filed bankruptcy and sold everything off if I remember right

Personally, I think a change in drill writer would be a decent move. And I really could see Sully stepping in there. I've explained why Leon May's drill has hurt them in more than just visual captions. Sylvester takes risks, but not with the spread like May does. Sully uses the whole field, but I feel like at more appropriate times. And I just loved what he did with BK last year. Granted I didn't like the show. But I loved his drill design. If they stick with Leon May they can still do it. But he can't write drill that you can't clean anymore. The whiplash sections had some impossible stuff.

When I read this first statement I thought you were saying they should fold, not that your advice was Two Fold.

My how the mighty have fallen!!! Through most of the summer Crown seemed poised to win and critics claimed DCP was slanted in favor of Crown against Blue Devils. Things have changed a bit. I wanted to see Crown win last year, and I thought they should have won Allentown and semi's. It didn't happen and it's not as if they placed second to an unworthy corps. I have thought that Crown relies too heavily on its horn line in the past, though it was less so this past year. I thought the drum line was enjoyable to watch and they were heavily invested in the show, but percussion people I know seemed in agreement that while Crown used their percussion section well visually, this matters little as far as music is concerned. They also seemed in agreement that Crown had the talent and good staff people, but the pieces didn't quite come together. This is fixable and some off season planning should solve this problem. If I could give Crown some advice, I would suggest focusing on personal best and not focusing so much on winning. In East Rutherford, Crown did a scaled down version of their show--no judges just admiring fans and it was electric. A few days later in prelims they were great, but the show had moments that felt on edge. The same was true in finals. I can imagine the pressure of finals, combined with a desire to outdo Blue Devils with a late season Phantom ready to roar and a Cadets who could easily have learned there really is a Santa and taking home at least a medal must have been immense, but a few missteps and a few missed notes which did not happen just a week earlier seemed to be a case of jitters. This again is something that can be solved. Olympians often say they compete against themselves and from what I can see, the Blue Devils feel they compete against themselves, perhaps this would work for Crown as well. Also, Crown may have to wait until 2014 for a title. Blue Devils are great at repeats, but they have yet to "threepeat."

My advice to crown would be 2 fold.... drum better and make your drill just little easier so it can be cleaned to the nth degree in time for finals night. Do that and they might just take gold. PS. Don't ask me how they do that, that would be why I'm not a corps director.

1999 for SCV. Art Velarte was a bass drummer killed in a car accident following Memorial Day camp. They also spelled out his initial in the last form of the show. They also now have a scholarship or award named after him.

Bloo '09's hole is the piccolo trumpet soloist- he hurt his foot mid season and just played the solo from there on out. It was fun to watch early season, this little teeny bell marching with mellophones (the largest bell!). He even played all the mello parts when he was with them in the drill.

Spirit didn't take the field for you. They were there for themselves that night. I strongly feel it's not your place to apply your own personal values to a decision made by a corps. Furthermore, to assume that everyone would grieve the same way you do in a given situation is ignorant. that's all I'm going to say.

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.

How on earth did those kids make it through that in one piece? That is beyond awesome.

In my community, the school district is begging for more money, stating that without it, they will have to cut programs. Just months prior, they announced they were going to spend over a million dollars to replace a natural turf football field that was less than ten years old with one that is synthetic. Bottom line: For the most part, schools that have football programs are not going to eliminate them because the community would go ballistic. An occasional head trauma here and there isn't considered as big a threat to national security as no football on Friday nights. They might send schoolchildren around town with a photo of a puppy that is captioned, "If we don't get more money out of you, this puppy gets it," but they won't get rid of football. Music, art, drama, science fairs, home economics (or whatever it's called this week) and drivers ed can all go straight to Hades, but football will remain king. Not that I'm bitter.

Whatev. badayus if you ask me, not the drugs part, but the F.U. I'm marching anyways part.

Then what's the point. If a contract isn't specific and binding it is largely symbolic and unfortunately useless when it comes to enforcing an "agreement".

The only ones I can remember were basically anxiety based, show is starting and I'm in my underwear, you know.....

I've heard of hazing before, but this is ridiculous and just pisses me off to no end. Famed or not the whole band program should be discontinued, it just seems like the hazing is too engrained and too much potential for it to continue. http://lacrossetribune.com/news/national/police-famu-band-member-beaten-face-charges/article_a941fe47-7820-5b9a-83ae-18a1cc363115.html

It's just too much of a niche activity to ever be relevant for TV. Sucks but it's true.

Nobody can tell a story like Phantom can.

A ford Escort can run for hundreds of thousands of miles with a fraction of the upkeep costs. Analogy fail.

Ugh... I'd rather see a corps stand still and play nothing for 10 min than ever hear an amplified solo singer on the field again. It has NO place in this activity.

Just props in general. I really hope the props on a massive level are not something that continues to be a part of the Blue Stars shows.

Yes it is, and that's good to hear and bodes well for Madison IMO.