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Not World Class, but as of today I have officially been hired on visual staff by the Battalion (open class). I'm stoked to be back in the game! Though this probably means I'll be spending less time around these parts.

A recent poll was conducted by DCI asking a simple question... 'Why Do You Like Drum Corps?' More specifically this question was analyzing the 'performance' aspect of drum corps...rather than other internal/external influences...I'm interested in hearing about all of these different aspects... For myself as a marcher...I liked drum corps because... 110 degree weather pain dehydration bus fumes throwing up from drinking too much water others can fear you or love you in a span of one week or less trying your best was never enough learned that I'm stronger and more capable than I'd imagined also learned that I was selfish, annoying, and bad-tempered As a fan...first and foremost I just love music...and talking with other like minded drumcorps 'geeks' as well...LOL I'm curious as to what you think or feel about this survey or other aspects you liked...

After 50 years of non-stop drum corps, I don't know what it would be like to not have drum corps in the summer. Not a good answer but the only one I have. It's part of my life, like waking up in the morning.

I have to admit that having DP return is kind of surprise to me. I get that he's a known product. But I expected to hear the name of some new writer. Honestly less than enthused about that choice.

ANYWAY... SO little discussion about Crown's new team! First. Joey Powell. A Crown alum who aged out in '09. So he "gets" the Crownguard legacy of excellence. He's gone on to teach in several corps and has recently taken his HS program to WGI SW Finals in 2016. One of the most talked about shows in Dayton this year. Really creative. Really challenging. Here's the vid:

prediction beta version. 1. Blue Devils 2. vanguard 3. bluecoats 4. crown 5. phantom regiment 6. blue knights 7. cavaliers 8. cadets 9. boston 10. academy 11. blue stars 12. troopers

here's a video of [some of] Cadets and Crossmen playing God Bless America in 2002 at Richmond International Raceway:

Congrats! Now get off DCP before you get in trouble

I think the current system is fine. However, I think three judges on finals week would be most ideal in a perfect world. 1 Field Battery, 1 Field Front Ensemble, and 1 Full Percussion Ensemble Box

Maybe this method...

1000 miles uphill in the snow, in both directions.

Good try but I still call shenanigans, because Star did their encore the year before in the same venue at the same time of night. It isn't Star United's fault they are that good. I have never had any problem coming second to them. Third by 5 points may be a different feeling though. We may be back, but I doubt that will occur in Rochester though.

For me, it's the whole package. Sometimes, music clearly wins out. Other times, music is okay, but the drill or overall design fascinates. Less often, there's a presence - maybe attitude is the right word - on top of music and drill and overall design that is thrilling and that makes me understand why I like drum corps. The 2016 Cavaliers had this presence (again, for me). Maybe, too, Carolina Crown.

I like this method.

I still think they would have benefited from a tarp in the staging area where the risers used to be. It would have let those who used the area stand out more visually.

This deserves a repost. LOLOL!

yeah because breaking bad was so void of artistic content and intelligent dialogue

As far as Townsend...The roles are a bit different for Townsend at each organization though... Previously at Crown - Guard director/choreographer. Currently at Boston - Production & color guard designer Currently at Academy - Artistic Director Whereas Keith Potter at Boston will be the Artistic Director...A better comparison IMO would be Keith Potter versus Michael Townsend...same roles in both organizations...

Leander High School. Easily the talk of Texas in 2014, really simple show but done absolutely brilliantly. 2015 was also pretty dang cool, rough end of season after having to pull out of BOA San Antonio due to some severe flooding. Going to Grand Nationals this year with a REALLY freakin cool show. Was talking to a friend that went there this morning and asked who wrote their music program, and low and behold it was Ryan George on winds and Collin McNutt on drums (Michael Zellers front ensemble). I'd say they compliment each other very well. To put it lightly I really really really really really love Leanders shows, musically especially, and I didn't know it was them two doing them. That makes me very excited to see what they can do at Boston Crusaders.

it really is the infamous John Cage piece :-) Set aside the technical demands of performing a program without no tempo support, the program design was centered on the artwork that inspired 4'33". In essence the 3 white panels become mirrors which reflect what the viewer (audience in this case) bring to the show. Also consider the creativity necessary to fashion all the work and choreography without the music to support and inspire the writing. Very cool. Very innovative. Excited to see what Joey brings (back) to Crown!

Crown Cubed!

Potential members may audition for corps close by if they so choose. Nothing to stop them. And no, drum corps does not "need more local membership" given that once a world class corps has their move-in camp, it makes no difference where they members lives. One example is the winking trumpet in Bluecoats...marched Cadets in 2015, Coats in 2016, but comes from Ireland.

No, Allentown is three hours away from New Jersey on Friday afternoons on the first weekend in August, when there is an accident and one of the EZ pass lanes is not working and everybody leaves work at the same time. At all other times, Allentown is about thirty minutes from New Jersey!

Cam Bruce went on to Crossmen and BD. Shade went and did Bridgemen. We also had DCI ageouts come on board. THere were more from my era but yeah- there was some cross-pollenation.

Much to remember- Packed with people who were into the performances. Smaller quartets/quintets/septets that all played at professional levels and were really exciting. Sun's proto-mini that was really good... Then on come the T-Birds playing a DCA's greatest Hits program and a field full of people going absolutely berserk and Bob Z's smile... priceless. Obviously something I'll always have in my heart.

So you're the one. I thought the stage added nothing. The field is a 100 yd. stage. If you would like to add depth to the 100 yd stage, put a stage backfield. I go to at least four musicals a year. I have never seen a stage put in front of the stage.

As shofmon says, the people designing the advertising artwork probably haven't even spoken to the people who were filming the corps. J.R.R. Tolkien complained vociferously about the covers of the 1965 Ballantine paperback editions of The Lord of the Rings, which have no relationship at all to his story. It turned out that the illustrator had been given no opportunity to read it before being given a very short deadline. I think she later sent Tolkien an actual olive branch by way of apology.

or a trombone. oh, wait ...

Hell, I went to HS in the late 80's and early 90's and we had to do that as well. I even had a staff shirt for 2 years instead of a MM one. Mike

I think this is a case of one hand not knowing what the other is doing. It's extremely common for the agency producing ads, trailers, or other promotional material to not be involved at all in the actual production of the product. They may not even know what it will be about. In the same way, the producers of the show may not be involved in the production of promotional material. For instance, most movie directors these days don't know what the trailers for their movie are like until they actually air. Gone are the days that directors are involved in that process.

Laughing hard! That's funny!

The Kilties still use the bagpipe effect in "Scotland the Brave", a signature tune still being performed by the corps in parades and concerts; along with performing another of Kenny's arrangements of a Kiltie signature tune--- "Auld Lang Syne". You could hear Auld Lang Syne interwoven into the closing tune of the Kilties 2016 show. And yes.......per Kenny, the bagpipe effect (to paraphrase)---good players play bad, bad players play loud = bagpipe effect.

One could do that, if they wanted to join Bialystock and Bloom in prison. If someone is getting something in exchange for their money, it's not a donation. It's why, when you donated to the local PBS station (as you should), the tote bag they send you technically knocks down the tax deductible value of your donation. College tuition, political donations, and other things that can be expected to provide a service or product of value are also not considered 'donations.'

Hell Jim we were a feeder corps. How many from your era and mine went on to march Crossmen, cadets, Boston, BD, and later add in Bluecoats?

oh and thank you Kevin and crew for your coverage all weekend!

THANKS again Kevin!! (and Brent!)

Suffer? I always liked retreat. Kinda cool saluting the winner as you paraded by. Made it unique. Now you only see it at finals. Shame.

Not only that, but there were several shows (mostly lower top-12) where this first impact is the loudest they play the entire show. They never quite match the volume level after that. Almost sounded intentional. Could be performance over design issues though.

It's time to get rid of all the unnecessary announcing. "Is your corps ready"? Have they ever said "no, we need more time"? Also, "DCI is proud to present The X" should be eliminated too after the corps is already performing.