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I predict Boston is not going to announce their show this year.

Every time I play my trumpet... Something amazing happens.

Hey guys, I thought I'd throw out some information for you. A couple of points... first, I no longer draw a paycheck from DCI. It gives me a little more freedom to say what I want here, but it won't be a laundry airing. The Fan Network is something I'm proud of, and I've been involved with as a volunteer and employee going back 9 seasons. This will be my first as a non-involved observer. So let me throw a few things out there. Again, I am speaking as a "civilian". Things change, but here's how I see things: First, about the calendar... You can go back several years. and you'll see the same complaint about a "heads-up" and "what are they going to do". It's common because people here are excited. Most customers aren't. I moved the expiration date back to the last Thursday (or so) of May so we didn't tease people. I also am rather proud of making it one subscription level. It was quite a debate for years, and I finally got my way on that one. Expect the same thing this year. I'd be shocked if it wasn't within the 65-70 range. As for the pricing conspiracy, there's not much to it. The decision on how to price the product has been based on years of sales. It's simply set at what brings in the most revenue. If that was $20 a sub or $400, that's what it would be. Data says it's about 65. And unlike many subscriptions, it was a business decision to not auto-renew. That was mostly an ethical decision, but it also would have been more problem than it's worth. But for all the anxiety, you'll have between May 28 and Stanford to purchase and not lapse, so to speak. That's when the marketing is most effective, so I hear. I&E... I always loved I&E, all the way back to when I first marched in 1992. One of my highlights was being emcee on the main stage in San Antonio last year. I honestly believed that was going to be the last one, so I was sad, but I'd at least be able to say I helped. It was a well-spent day off. But the main problem with I&E on TFN was it was never organized well for "tv". We tried it one year... I want to say 2008. We put a camera on the main stage, but there were large gaps of time where no one performed. In order to make it work, they'd have to re-work how they schedule the event, which is done by having tour managers show up and stand in line, slot kids in any position, and that's that. If they take a "main stage" seriously, it could be a very cool event. And let's be honest; those drum solos belong on YouTube... that's all about whether the directors take it seriously, or if you have 8 wc corps participate. When it was a thing, it was cool. More kids would participate if it was broadcasted. As a fan, I'd love to see the number of ensembles that compete (not no shows) be the first tie-breaker. Some miscellaneous things... Emailing support at DCI is rarely going to move the needle... they'll answer you, but the odds are they don't have the answer either. The way most marketing goes, customer support finds out the same time customers do. HLS streaming, aka iPad compatibility, is something that isn't a technical barrier. I have eluded to it in the past. Last year, we could have done it technically, but it wasn't financially feasible at all. They will look at it again this year, and make a financial decision whether it makes sense. You might not like hearing that, but transcoding would have cost tens of thousands of dollars per season. The streams aren't 5 minutes; they're 5 hours long. As soon as there is a reasonable pricepoint, they'll do it. Oh, and about the new "can of paint" for the site... there isn't really a delicate way of putting this. Everyone agrees there should be one, but they can't find a company to take it over that makes financial sense, and they don't have the incentive to do it themselves again; sales won't drop because it looks dated. I hope this offers some insight and perspective. Whenever I was involved with these streams, I really did pay attention to your comments. Just remember that the team there has as much reason to make things work as you have reason to want the interwebs to work. Sometimes, the Series of Tubes doesn't cooperate, but the "hd"-ish (960-wide) broadcasting is only going to get better as technology develops. The level of quality is one of the highest you'll see for a live event, and I'm proud of having helped get to that level. The team will continue to get this medium better and better. Anything else I can answer?

SoCal Dream - We are still here and alive...:thumbup:/> May 11th Rehearsal Photos On the field next weekend for drill...

DCP wisdom. Pics don't matter. Neither does seeing it in a horn arc, in the lot, on facebook or (insert other places you see the uniform). If it works visually at 50 yds under the lights, it's a good uniform design. I too am waiting to see it live (although I have a sneaking suspicion it's going to work really well). Crown made a pretty radical turn in their last two designs (first the colored panels then the vests that looked entirely different each year). It should be no surprise to anyone if their next iteration goes in an entirely new direction.

It seems like they're just respecting the corps' wishes to keep quiet until they're ready to show the public. I get what you're saying, but it's totally uncool to leak anything a corps doesn't want out there yet.

Unless you're in one of their "secret" societies?

This original equipment truck, probably housed by Steve Vickers in some museum somewhere, is rumored to be used still by Hopkins to transport the bodies from all the bridges he has burnt. Most of those bodies went with Jimmy Hoffa under the endzone of Giants Stadium, or that's at least what the show coordinator would tell the rookie USSBA DMs at the Yamaha Cup shows. (Fact, not kidding.) But now that Hopkins doesn't have the Meadowlands this summer, where will they go? He has scouts out looking now: Oh how many hours till Spring Training is over and the seaon begins????

Hop says his Cadets " often gets criticized for their show endings ". Who are, and where are, these critics of the Cadets show endings ? I don't swim in the same waters as these alleged people. I've never met'em down by my end of the pool anyway.

I was just reminiscing with some old friends last night about drum corps tours in FL. We all agreed it was absolutely awful in every way. Poor venues for the shows, poor rehearsal facilities, really poor housing, crappy weather, really low attendance of the multiple DCI Championships, etc. There seem to be a plethora of reasons to not have a stand-alone show in FL, or even a big regional. Sorry Floridians; my grandparents lived in FL, and I spent my summers there every year growing up and had a blast. But FL as a drum corps stop seems to pretty much suck.

Cadets finished music very early this year so Visual team had a nice head start on drill, guard book etc. All the captions are reported as extremely strong so up to design. It's fun to predict but silly until everything is on the field but this type of music (dark, aggressive) tends to be a better vehicle for them vs ( fun and cute). Looking forward to Cadets and Crown this year, my two personal favorites...

It's not so much doing the laundry that is tedious in real life, but the folding of the clothes after they are clean!

From past experience of doing tour administration I know first hand that housing situations for the corps in Florida is quite difficult, the long travel drives between shows before and after, and the stormy, hot, and humid Florida summer weather, particularly with the daily rain shower and frequent lightening makes show cancellations and postponements inevitable. Cost outlay does not come back to the corps.

This is a nice slotting thread.

I have given my earlier prediction much thought, (Boston 4th-8th), and have to revise said prediction. I am now projecting BAC to finish 4th-6th.

Slow down. That wasn't at all my point. I was responding to someone who accused me of not listening to pop music or having any clue about it. That's all. But if you want to read more into what I wrote than exactly what I wrote, I can't stop you from doing that, I suppose.

we've lived on 80's and 90's stuff exclusively at Westshore since 2002. Now we aren't as big as we were 3/4 years ago, but moving our only gig down the road 45 minutes scared some people off. and do NOT want to do drill or parades. One show a year is enough

SPOILERS BELOW Yeah, having seen pictures of the uniforms (it so pays to have inside sources on these corps), I can officially say that picture is NOT exactly how the uniform will be. Expect slight purple on one (?!) leg, black (what looks like) long sleeve fuzzy shirts, and a WHOLE lot of tacky. No brown. Guard uni's are a variation of this. Feel free to quote me on this come show time.

Let me go about this another way. Most of today's music critics have the exact same things to say about today's pop music as most of today's drum corps critics. That being, melody is nothing more than a girl we knew in high school, variety is non-existant and most of today's top hits (or top corps) sound the same. It's a fact, there is a huge parallel between the two. Now, are there exceptions? Yes, but the fact still remains that most of today's pop hits follow a formula. And yes, it's generally to get radio play. And that formula causes artists to have to conform to the formula to be accepted among the elite and have true success (sound famillar?)! Son, if you only knew who you were talking to, and how involved in the industry I really am...