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Wow, I missed out on the beginnings of this thread as I have been in the throes of school meetings and preparations. So, I've spent a good 40 minutes plowing through a lot of great stuff. First, I'm feeling rather honored to be part of the Troopers - not that I wasn't proud before, as the alumni committee president. But the level of discourse in this thread is remarkable, really. Thank you to all participants. There is so much to this thread, and I'm not sure I can address it all without becoming a huge bore. In any case, here goes: 1. Hats: Cowboy hats, to be exact. They have a distinct image associated with them, and if Troopers were to go too far afield it would be difficult to pull off. It's just hard. For some reason I think drum corps fans can see helmets and shakos and Aussies (and plumes galore) and still not associate any particular style with them. But cowboy hats. Well, that's harder. So, there's that to contend with. 2. Uniforms: I like the new direction of the uniforms. Keep that going, IMO. Some say "Bring back the scarves!" Other says "Bring back the buckles and the longer jackets!" And that's cool. I say "do whatever it takes to sell your show and make your mark." That's what Jim Jones did. He did something very different - and it resonated with drum corps fans and performers because of the era it was born in. Which brings me to #3. 3. Era: Culture is an organic being with its own natural evolution. The origins of the Troopers happened at a time when Westerns were a HUGE film hit. TV shows followed suit and stayed relatively appreciated all the way through the entire Little House on the Prairie years. For the most part, that golden era is well played out - and the "hokiness" of those shows is definitely noticeable when viewing them with a more modern context. This is what plays into the "Troopers are stale" mentality. It's ok. I thought that, too - before I was urged to join in May of 1985. That brings me to membership, see #4. 4. Members of Troopers: This is actually pretty exciting to me. Troopers aged out 30 members this past season, many of whom were 3, 4, 5, and 6-year vets. That says something about how Troopers functions as a family and an entity. (Not that Troopers are any better than others at it - just that it bodes well for the future.) From what I've gathered over the last 2 years, our interest and audition rates are fairly high for a corps in our current competitive tier. Yet, as in every corps in this range, people do leave to go elsewhere. This is not new. It was happening in the early 80's and I don't see it changing any time soon. I certainly assume the thought to move on to a "secure" top 12 corps is out there among eligible Troopers. It's the nature of the beast in late August and early September. So that leads me to my next two points: programming and competitive edge. 5. Programming: here is where it gets tricky. I would LOVE to see Troopers try another steampunk show and really just rock it to death. I would love even more for them to bust out of the Americana/Western theme for a show and really do some crazy stuff. But the reality is that a great design very far outside of the traditional "Troopers" ethos will simply fall flat unless the performance talent is retained and improved over time. Yep, there's that tricky thing again: retention. Design goals for competitive success are big business now in DCI. You all know that. With the Van Doren/Smith/Rennick team in place musically, that could work extremely well for Troopers. I seriously don't have much technical knowledge about visual design. I just know that I think it needed a bit more oomph this year. However, it also needed more CLEAN. This leads me to my last point: competitive edge. 6. Competitive Edge: if you think the top of this game has some tricks to their success, you'd be right. Before you read on, this is all coming from someone who is NOT a movement specialist. These are my "layperson's" observations about the movement and color portion of this activity: First, It's not marching any more - it's full body choreography. Visual is the game right now - and while music often creates the visceral tug on the heart strings, movement and color and how it is used in tandem with music creates vast visual richness that pushes buttons on a whole new level. Every move at the top levels of drum corps are fully choreographed, and EVERY MEMBER is extremely well-versed and invested in that movement. "Work smarter, not harder" is real. You have to know how to project full body choreography in something as simple as 8 count warm ups, and you have to buy into its importance and master it at every moment - in rehearsals, in warm ups, in off-season training. This is where I think Troopers need the most improvement in order to gain competitive edge - which leads to retention, which leads to more experimental programming or pushing to new levels. As an example: Colts took a HUGE turn toward improved visual this year, and this nudged them constantly upward - along with their approach to material that was quite unique. As another example, I talked to a kid from BDB who said he has to take a ballet class in order to audition for the A corps. If you haven't figured this out yet from what I've already written: This is the era of full-body movement/choreography - and that isn't going away any time soon. Well, I hope I haven't gone too far. I usually avoid discussing the specifics of Troopers from a design perspective, so I'm a bit out of my public comfort zone. I guess the last thing I would say to anyone looking at Troopers - or any corps, really - as a potential place to march is to talk to people who have been there for at least 2 years. Get a feel for the internal workings. You won't even know what your show concept is until January, at best. But don't close down the idea of being a Trooper based on style alone. I, for one, wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. I came from a jazz-based little corps with a lot of quirky spunk that folded in 1984, so the Troopers style was nearly a 180 for me. But I LOVED my shows, and I'm proud to say I was, and am, a Trooper. (edited to add: I have no insider information to suggest that Troopers aren't already addressing any of the things I've mentioned. I'm posting from only a fan perspective. I support the corps in the realm of alumni work, and I have zero input or knowledge regarding their design agenda for 2015.)

Robert W. Smith was integral to pulling the corps through some potentially dark times, as was Jim Mason. And now it's time to move forward again. As the person Scott asked to break the news about the departure of himself and others some years back, I'm delighted to see him back with Scouts...and Scouts back with him. A strong Madison Scouts is good for ALL of drum corps.

Welcome home, Scott!!!! http://www.madisonscouts.org/blog/?p=1258 He'll be serving as both music director and brass arranger. While I have enjoyed RW Smith's music, I can't wait to hear what Scott comes up with for the 2015 edition.

oh you mean like how DCI worked in 28 new faces this year onto judging panels. oops

This is where he's supposed to be! This is where Scott M. Boerma is supposed to be!

The alumni has already elevated 2014 to the level of 82, 86, and 94. That's some pretty high praise.

Drum Corps Fan's Dream: Part Tres

Long overdue. Boerma's 1990s Scouts charts are some of the most listenable, replay-able music ever to hit DCI.

I think the superb level of execution and quality of the arrangements lifts this show to the sharp end of DCI shows in my 40 years of enjoying drum corps.

Is your circle full of squares?

A 7-peat for the guard, the Ring, and a record high score kinda have a way of making the weird and bizarre irrelevant.

This is a very good point......the guard members are performers portraying a Character........many high school dance teams perform worse attire and to music with very questionable content.

This is the DCI equivalent of giving heavy arms to this fuzzy guy!

YES.....Since 1975 they have been the body of consistency. From 1994 they had 10 gold's, 6 silvers, 4 bronze. They are not one of the greats, they are the BEST in the business.

Scott Boerma is returning to Madison! http://www.madisonscouts.org/blog/?p=1258

Sometimes the stars align correctly. Thank goodness. Mike

I Loved Robert Smith's music. That said. Scott Boerma back with the Madison Scouts can only mean FUN for the Scouts and the activity.

Definitely not in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, this was a great show. But nowhere near the level of BD 94 or even BD 2000. It wasn't in the great level of SCV 89, or Cavies 02 or Cadets 05 in my opinion. I really like this show by BD, but am surprised how many people talk about how much more accessible they find this show. I don't really see any difference between this show, and most of what they have put out since 2008. That is not a bad thing, as I have enjoyed all of these shows, probably more than the average person from the comments I have seen on these boards. I have felt they got the raw end of the deal in 08, as the only other corps that year in their league of show design and performance was Cavaliers, and to get beat by such a weak show that year was kind of a shame. I don't know that they shouldn't have gotten 2nd, but definitely not the way it happened. But so many things about 14 are so similar to what they have done the past 6 seasons. Musical arrangements are similar, moving of props is similar, drill is similar, drill is similar, staging is similar. BD 14 was a very well designed show. I didn't agree with the 99.65 by any means, and thought Cadets probably should have taken guard, Crown probably should have taken horns, and percusiion from BD probably should have gotten 3rd or 4th. General Effect probably should have gone to Bluecoats. The funny thing is even though BD won with the highest score ever, I think more people are going to remember Coats show from this year.

Yes...I do, but I am also smart enough to know better than to speak on behalf of my organization, unless instructed to do so. There are some, actually many, that aren't!

There will be a special tribute to Red at the WDCHOF dinner next week. This has been a rough few weeks for the membership and DCA in general. It's gonna be very difficult not seeing him around, may he rest in peace.

i always look at him and try to calculate how many beverages a lawn chair joke will cost me

Especially with a shifty character like Frank. I always look at him with one eyebrow raised.

I admit to being pretty bummed about Chuck no longer writing for Crossmen. I loved his book this year. That said, they need to look no further than the fantastic arranger that lives right in town and teaches at UTSA, Ron Ellis. He'd write a fantastic book for them.

disclaimers stop no one from assuming the worst

There are times innovation wins shows: 1991 Star is a great example. There are times innovation does not win. 1980 SCV is an example. Innovation may help, but it is not the key. Now I agree with those who say BD's show this year was not necessarily innovative. We've seen tables, chairs, and coatracks before and we could see them again. What made this show memorable was the music and the near perfect execution. There was also passion involved. This is the key for so many winning shows. 2013 Crown, 2011 Cadets, 2008 Phantom, 1994 BD, 1989 SCV, 1988 and 1975 Madison...For me, whether BD has a show considered innovative or not, the show is fast paced, well executed, but also has enough space so you can digest what you just saw. This is their key to success and love'm or not, it works. Did BD deserve 99.65? Given the sheets used and what judges were looking for, yes. Is it the greatest show of all time or art least to date? I think we need to let the dust settle a bit, but no doubt it will be one of the all time greats regardless of whether it is considered best or not.

Don't judge, the IIe was too big to lug to the top of my doghouse.

Tell your circle of friends to go watch Boston 2009's guard and then come back and talk about appropriate.

Jesus Christ, this guy's a Superstar!

But only if we watch figure skating.

I hear you, but none of us here even know that..... haha!

Most 8 year olds probably don't read too much into BD's guard girls smacking tambourines on their hips, as I've seen actual kids with actual tambourines do the exact same thing - just because it's fun to hit yourself with a tambourine, i guess.

I think the combination of Scott with James Sparling will bring a great show to the field!

YES!!!

Undeniably true, but it appears that you misunderstood the OP's question posed for us.

Yes. They went undefeated, and on Finals Nite they had an unprecedented point spread gap with those behind. Competitively, the 2014 Blue Devils have to be ranked right up there with some of the other all time great Drum Corps. Their 2014 BD Corps can be even be considered in the conversation for perhaps the best competitive single season DCI Drum Corps ever, imo. As for classic " entertainment " value, this is a personal determination question. Perhaps later, DCI will ask national fans where they would rank the 2014 BD in the all time classic entertainment category. Only then, will we have a sense of where national Drum Corps fans ( stiil involved in following DCI ) want to place this year's BD version.

Speaking only for myself, absolutely. It's already there for me, settled dust or not. Simply a fabulous all around production in a year of VERY good shows. Loved it!

I totally disagree, but your comments suggesting BD should not have even won one caption is a bit laughable.

On a lighter note, Happy Birthday to Tony White! Tony hasn't been around here lately. Hope he's doing well.

I'm not a Crossmen Homer, but I am a San Antonio native, and therefore root hard for the Crossmen. Now, with that said. I"m not too disappointed to see Mr. Naffier go. While I'm glad Crossmen made finals this year, I wish it was with a show I was more in love with (musically). Now I know this is just me, but since last year, I haven't played back "Protest" not once. I don't see myself doing so for "Alma Gitana"...and I've only done so a handful of times with 2012's "Fragile" and usually just the first half of the show. **I did however love everyting about "Renewal". So again, this is just me and I realize I have different tastes than everyone else, but I'm excited to see where Crossmen go from here.

Here's a different take. Listening and watching both Crossmen and Colts last year - Colts show design let his arrangements really shine, better than Bones'. Certainly from a creative standpoint, Colts (at least this year) seem to be interested in straying a little further from the middle than Crossmen. Maybe he was dating two girls, and found that being with one was more fun than being with the other. It wouldn't be the first time that's happened.

Cabs were something like seven tenths behind the Bucs at Prelims in 2007.

Yes...we are told to stay off DCP. I see no problem with that. Most of the people here are trying to egg us marching members on anyway! I'm not falling for it! I do not represent my corps. ONLY my corps admin represents my corps. Official statements from my corps comes from my admin. I am a member of my corps, and even though my comments or opinions do not reflect the general consensus of the admin of the corps, we are instructed to stay off. We are told that comments may be seen as disrespectful, even if we are defending our own corps. So we are told not to respond. Again...I see nothing wrong with that. But people would be lying if they don't come here to read the comments. I do! I read some of them and just laugh! I appreciate the reviews, and I appreciate the good and bad comments. Then I sign off, and keep my thoughts to myself. Then go on the field every weekend and do the best show possible. And I am having the time of my life doing it!

correct. and if anyone really, truly wants to see why corps say no to posting, go look at the RAMD summer of love in 97

1987 Vanguard 1984 Cadets 2000 BAC 1999 Gmen 1991 BD 2012 BD 2000 BD 1988 Cadets 1986 Suncoast 1993 BD

The fact that groups competing in different parts of the country on the same night with little or no head to head competition could be within mere tenths of one another, astounds me! It must be that these DCA judges are so well trained and the rubric for adjuticating shows so well defined, that any other outcome would be improbable if not impossible. #### I miss DCA!

Yeah, I'd really like to hear some heavier music next year, big stuff, dark stuff. Maybe we can hear Mahler 5? I bet the trumpets would like competing to play that solo.

My kid is busy memorizing his book for HS marching band, which for him starts Thursday. But in between, he's still noodling over his list of where to audition in November/December, re-watching prior years' shows, etc. Ah, the energy of youth!!!

I don't have an issue, but fitting the theme doesn't mean they are appropriate. Those are two separate things.

This isn't 1989. It's from 1988 and the first solo in Autumn Leaves.