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I haven't seen anyone start a "Crossmen 2013" topic yet. So, I thought I'd kick it off with this message from the Crossmen's website. Apologies if this has already been posted within other threads: http://www.crossmen.org/page26542244 Crossmen finish audition season with record numbers. Crossmen World Class Drum Corps wrapped up another successful camp this past weekend[note: several weekends ago] at Frank Tejeda Middle School in San Antonio, TX – the fourth audition camp in just five weeks for the organization. With a record turnout of potential members at this camp, the Crossmen have generated a great deal of excitement about their 2013 season. We have seen record numbers at each of the three Crossmen “eXperience Camp” weekends including: Dallas, San Antonio and Houston. In total, there have been over 600 young people that have auditioned so far this season. Each young person gave their best efforts in attempting to become a member of the 2013 Crossmen. Each caption experienced record growth. “In addition to the rigorous audition process, the corps began working on segments of their 2013 production, which will be officially announced in January,” said Fred Morrison, Executive Director of Crossmen, “we are truly excited about the turnout we have had so far at our camps in November and December. There seems to be a renewed interest for Texas’s ‘home team.” He continues, “But we also know that this is just the beginning – the staff, administration, volunteers, and most importantly the members, know we have a lot of work to do to make 2013 another remarkable season for Crossmen. We just can’t wait to see where this whole thing is headed – it’s exciting!” The Crossmen organization extends a special thank you to our hosts at Frank Tejeda Middle School, Tejeda Band Director, Bernard Rosenberg, and the record number of volunteers who made this weekend possible!

He's the greatest director that ever graced the face of the earth. If you don't believe that just ask him.

So I introduced my girlfriend to drum corps four years ago via a movie theater here in Chicago. Showing nothing but contempt for my former corps, she beheld the epic that was "Spartacus," lost her mind and promptly became the biggest Regiment fanboygirl since Cesario took his bath in melted Wonka bars. I say that with the utmost respect for all concerned, by the way. Kindly set aside the flamethrowers. For now, at least. Four years later, and the woman is as fully enmeshed in the activity as one who never had the opportunity to march (or parent a child who did) can be. She's attended more shows in the last four years than I had since aging out 26 years ago. Despite her Phandom, her growing collection of pictures of Dean, her knowledge of the names of Regiment age-outs and the farkakta teddy bear dressed up like a Buick at Finals Night, she follows just about every corps in the Top 18 via Twitter, FaceTube, YouBook, etc, etc, and has even donated to corps other than Regiment. For pete's sake, she even threw a few bucks to Crown once, even though they did that horse show that one year (instead of drum corps, she used to ride horses competitively, and that show just creeped her out, you see). The fact that she's even been retweeted by my former corps on occasion, while I apparently said something to Wayne or Scotty J once that ticked them off because I can't even get a simple, "Hi, bro!" is hardly germane to this discussion, but I say it nonetheless because it irks me to no end, and shows her unbiased (for the most part)love of this activity. In any event, through all of this, none of these corps, NOT A SINGLE ONE, has managed to do what the Gentleman Formerly of Garfield has managed to do: make her mad enough to refuse to donate money to a particular corps, by repeatedly asking for money. By "repeatedly," I mean every single day, 363 days per year (Thanksgiving and Christmas off, of course), ever since she gave him her email address to sign up for that live stream from "Angels & Demons" camp almost two years ago where they played the same five measures over and over and over again. Look, we realize this is a non-profit, high-dollar activity in an economy where grown men and women are back to eating Ramen noodles for the first time since college, and we also realize its importance as a uniquely American form of both cultural expression and competition. However, we're also both big believers in capitalism, so while we respect George for his persistence, we can't help but lump him in with those companies we refuse to do business with for one reason or another (we're looking at you, annoying Target Lady, and Taco Bell..."melty" is not, nor ever will be a word). We just never imagined we'd tell a drum corps to "take us off your lists." Please, George...dial it back. Just because you have someone's email doesn't mean they need to hear from you every single day.

Alumni and Friends of the Madison Scouts present Rockin’ For A Cure 2013 - April 20th – Live Music Benefit for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) in Madison, Wis. – Featuring new music line-up, including Jazz/Funk artists, TUESDAY NIGHT SQUAD, and The Boys and Girls Club’s BLACK STAR DRUM LINE of Madison, Wis. Both music groups are the creation of Scouts Alum, Joey Banks, and feature Banks on drums in Tuesday Night Squad. Returning to perform this year are THE KILTIES to play favorites and showcase their 2013 performance! $20 admission provides you live music, appetizers, silent auction, and an opportunity to reunite with other Madison Scouts Alumni while supporting the ALS cause started by Scouts Alum, Steve Weekes, who marched in the Scouts in ‘81-‘83 and instructed ‘84-‘88. In ‘99, Weekes was diagnosed with ALS, but quickly founded the Live Music Benefit - Rockin’ for A Cure, which debuted in 2000. Sadly, Steve died in 2005, but his spirit and efforts to cure ALS live on through the success of the benefit -- All proceeds benefit The ALS Association Wisconsin Chapter. For more information go to www.rockinforacure.org.

Set up a "rule" in your email account that filters all emails from Cadets/YEA! into subfolder. That way they're not clogging up your inbox, but you're also not missing anything and can read or delete them at your leisure. If that doesn't work, start another thread on DCP.

Ah... first world, drum corps problems.

i think you misunderstand tom. he want's them all upstairs. but i don't. but who cares cause i'm done. and so are many, many others. enjoy what's left of YOUR activity.

No. A thousand times, no. Putting the brass judge back in the box is the single best decision made by DCA in years. Period. Nothing else comes even close.

I wouldn't mind it if the one up front was the DM and the other one was the corps proper.

Use his email address to register at www.Ineedviagra.com.... ok perhaps not. Just do what corpsband said and unsubscribe.

better yet -- click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email ?

Sure, you can use those instruments without amplification and have them heard. It's simply a personal preference that I don't like the sound quality. To me, it seems like those instruments have to be played up several dynamic levels in order to balance, and it sounds harsh to me. For example, I would much rather hear the amplified sound of a tambourine playing at piano than the sound of a tambourine being played at forte just to balance with an ensemble piano dynamic. They may achieve essentially the same volume, but with much different sound qualities. The same applies to every instrument up front. I'm 20 years old. I first learned of drum corps in 2006 and went to my first show in 2007. Until marching CorpsVets 2011, CV and Alliance were the only all-age corps I had ever seen. I say that just to admit that I have never enjoyed the harsh quality of un-amplified front ensembles, whether watching a high school band, a college band, or a drum corps. I never liked it in high school, and I didn't like it when I started watching DCI shows from before pit mics. Several of my favorite shows are from the '80's and '90's, so it's definitely not a bias against the entire era. I often wish I had a chance to witness a bottle dance, a sunburst, the original Z-pull, SCV making a whole corps disappear, Phantom's "Bacchanale," Star's cross-to-cross ending, Blue Devils seducing everyone in '92, Star '93, and countless other classic moments. DCI was already mic'd by the time I found it, and that's the sound I fell in love with. I'm certainly not trying to bastardize anything. Thanks for the well-wishes, and I'm sorry the activity isn't what you knew and loved. I imagine the day will come when drum corps becomes something I feel has passed me by, but I'm going to love every minute until then. To high notes and clean beats, Tyler

I feel like the people who call all of these changes "progress" need to take a hard look at what made the Drum Corps activity what it is (or was). It was never meant to be "Marching Band". It was very different from "Marching Band" in many ways. Yes they were similar activities but the differences in instrumentation and performance styles are what made "Drum Corps" special. It used to be that "Marching Bands" wanted to be more like "Drum Corps", not the other way around. I will agree that some changes have been for the better (i.e. number of valves on a horn, maybe....maybe instrument keys, Asymmetrical drill) but trying to make "Drum Corps" more like "Marching Band" has, IMHO, reduced the "draw" of the activity to new members. There is nothing special about the activity anymore. For everyones information I never marched DCI. Never had the opportunity. But I've marched DCA for almost 10 years. I have seen interest in the "Drum Corps" activity steadily decline in those 10 years. I'm sure it started long before then. I think we should be trying to generate uniqueness in the activity and try to sell that to today's youth (as well as some of us "old farts").

The brass judge is now upstairs, the percussion judge remains on the field.

in my day we used all the small instruments you talk about. and they could be heard. could it be they were used correctly in the drum corps environment? i think you all are trying to be an orchestra on the field in my opinion that is not what drum corps was all about. for over 30 years it has been basterdised into something else. so let me get this right you incorrectly used all the percussion in the pit so to solve it you want to use amps? well good luck with your activity. it aint what i or a lot of people want. in 7-8 years if you survive you will be doing a symphony on the field and it will be a cheap knock off at that. just my old timers opinion my friend.

Thanks for the info guys...I guess it is more a show sponsor issue than a DCA or DCI issue.

The Kilties have 3 DCI shows this year. Madison,Whitewater,Salem. In the past, sponsors of certain shows have requested the Kilties, Unfortunately we had to turn them down because they were during the week.

That's exactly what Im thinking. His programs and ideas haven't been exactly stellar for a while now! Not sure this is great news for Vanguard or their guard program! Later, Mike

I’m sorry, wasn’t trying to be rude, just playful. I remember seeing Fiddler on the Roof on stage and saw SCV perform it on the field. I was beside myself. I saw Les Miserables on stage 20 years ago and looking forward to seeing it on the field. Here’s a playbill I kept for 40 years. I agree with you. SCV does musical well :smile:/>

Charioteers in '72 and '74.

This thread has very few comments about the choice of their show material...boo. Get back on task or start another thread. I would have LOVED to hear Moonlight Serenade, Begin the Beguine, or even the New Orleans or Sinatra show that won DCA.

Crossmen will start their show in the shape of Australia.

lol, bricks would be #### if phantom ever played anything by mackey and bryant (and not in a good way)

Well take your negative attitude and personal opinions off of here, we don't want to hear it...

What! 2007 is one of my top 5 favorite drum corps shows of ALL time!

me too ... :-)

Dave Glyde posted that BD will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Rite of Spring and doing a show about primitive art and music. Sounds very interesting! I'm not sure if it's an official announcement but it's sounds just like what I would expect them to do this year. I don't care what anyone says Right of Spring hasn't even been done correctly until the BD monster has done it! I love me some Stravinsky!

WOW! Colts get new uniforms and all the bashing starts. Great to see the support.

Kind of interesting how he sees the similarities in all these half art / half sport activities yet so many others often cling to the "we are unique -- keep the 'other' out of our activity" point of view.

See previous page for the other side...

Admission to the DCE certified contest in Quiberon on Saturday 20th August will be free to the audience. Marching Music France is hoping that this will draw a large number of people to the stadium. Large posters will soon be released by Marching Music France to promote the first French certified competition of the European [...] ... Read the rest of the article here - http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/2011/06/free-admission-to-quiberon-contest/

Sal was an extraordinary talent - in almost anything he pursued. Yes, he was a snare drummer in the corps but became a self-taught brass arranger extraordinaire! In his "real life" he held a Ph.D. in Economics, worked tirelessly for the cause of Civil Rights when it wasn't popular to do so, and countless other endeavors. See more at this link: http://preserveourcorpsmemories.com/SalFerreraObituary.htm

I am glad to see Madison immediately announce next years show. Drum Corp who make people swear to secrecy are just ridiculous. For God sakes, this isn't NASA or Homeland Security...its Drum & Bugle Corps.

Fran I'll have to dig out my "campaign medal" for winning the Cold War. When USSR/Russia "fell" the military created a pin for the occasion. IIRC it's a triangle with horizontal lines of different colors. Like a military members campaign ribbons (rectangle shaped) they wear on a dress uniform. Yeah... got one for working for Dept of Denfense during the Cold War.....

Not sure who will come in where. And I do not care anymore. After more than 45 years in the activity (most actively involved, not just a fan), I am no longer going to shows or caring. Just burned out on all of it. Plus I cannot stand indoor marching music.

Hyperbole doesn't become you.

The people who leaked the announcement are right here on DPC...and it wasn't anyone from BK.

What score?

I use Avast. I've never gotten a hit from DCP.

Funny that losing Sal means death and destruction for Glassmen, and that gaining him means death and destruction for SCV I think it is absolutely a pickup for the Vanguard; Sal's sophisticated programming will be a great fit with the corps' identity, and the talent that comes out of Santa Clara will do great things on the field with their brand.

One more step towards winning in 2013. Great announcement!

I believe the pre 05 shows also had Mike Cesario involved (which the Carmen Project ) did as well. Since Sal is not coordinator at SCV I think it will be OK, his guard ideas are better than his show ones by historical reference.

Like everybody else, just off-season speculation, but here goes... 1 Blue Devils: the staff, talent, and corps' relation to the judging community makes them unstoppable at this point. 2 Cadets: little staff turnover, Barber fits them perfectly, lots of members returning, leaning a few variety lessons 3 SCV: just a great team, show choice is choice and timely, hear talent is way up 4 PR: the visual package will hit its stride and the brass will get their due, finally, though the top 6 is a tough party 5 Crown: more of the same, really good, really really good, but the same 6 Bluecoats: same brass and percussion talent, show theme thin as has been the case the past several years, visually awkward 7 Cavies: working the show better, but with big member turn over and only an OK brass line 8 Madison: slowly working up, judges bought thin show design last year and thought awful arrangements were good, so what do you do? 9 Spirit of Atlanta: sticking to their own unique style, little to no staff turnover, more talent, getting the design gel happening after so many rough years 10 Boston: just too forgettable and more of the same in 2013 11 Crossmen: better talent, same show design level, odd drill 12 Blue Stars: get more things happening this season 13 Blue Knights: best designer is gone and last year's gift gives wrong impression that they are better than they are 14 Colts: better design

Who the heck would give this a minus??? Gee

that's a shame...