Leaderboard

I was at the show, and will have more thoughts tomorrow, but here are a few: Music City was fantastic. We loved them. A great deal of thought is obvious in all the detailing of their show, and the kids looked like they loved performing every minute of it. Fantastic World Class debut. I think they may scramble the eggs in the 13-20 basket even more. What was the difference between them and several other recent WC newbies? PERSONALITY. Their show oozed it. Jersey Surf had a good idea and then didn't max it out. You can't do a show about Mondrian and then have your entire drill be soft curves... Spirit seemed to have a modern version of the jazz sass they used to have in the 80's, and it was a treat to see. Another well-detailed show. Doors seemed to create a lot of clutter, but I had rather a low vantage point. Cadets: horns and drums quite good. Guard not at the same level. I was with Cadet alums and went to the pre-show tailgate where it was told to us that the 8 girls with the yellow rope on side one represent "the 8" women who came forward. The show still seems to have a lot of chaos and not much unity. I'll be glad when they are able to get a different uniform next year. This one is just, so, so busy. It reminds me of the dazzle painting that was applied to ships in World War I to fracture the mass and make them hard to distinguish as a ship from a distance. All the fracturing on the uniform weakens the readability of the forms, as good spacing and technique fuzzes when you can't clearly define individual legs. They are likely to end up on the Island of 7th Place, but it's a good start for the future. Boston was the surprise of the night. I absolutely hated this show in the theater, but they were fantastic this evening. Thankfully, they threw the neon green 70's rock musical headband back into the ocean, and while there are a lot of aesthetic choices I would not have made, the uniform is enormously better without it. Guard was absolutely fantastic. Horns absolutely fantastic. Drums absolutely fantastic. Marching and movement technique absolutely fantastic. They tied Crown and I expect them to be in Boston's rearview mirror at their next meeting. Also expect them to take out the Cavaliers. Higher than that? Likely not. Bluecoats is pure magic. It is a truly impeccable design. I teared up at one point because the detailing was so pure. The uniforms/suits are so expertly balanced with slight color variations and patterns that each individual has a unique look, but they completely hold together with a consistency that never comes off as busy. Same for the guard. Singer fantastic and the pacing is a joy. The drummers looked really happy with their performance, so perhaps that explains their scores. I'd be quite happy if this took the big prize. Crown: great corps saddled with an over-designed show. The visual is just so overbearing. Everything has so much extreme detail and texture on it that your eyes have nowhere to rest, even for an instant. If just the flags were brighter and simpler there would be some clarity, but no, dark colors, animal prints, teeth, texture, texture, texture. My goodness they play well and with such power. Guard very good, but it is all just buried. Teeter totter? Not needed. One of the more bizarre moments of the (very long) evening was the excellent Voices of Liberty-esque vocal group singing "Let's go fly a kite" from Mary Poppins....accompanied by musicians dressed to resemble cockroaches in evening gowns... They get credit for really going for it this year, but I hope they dial it back a bit in 2019.

After all the Cadets went thru this off season, theres been no quit in the 2018 version of the Cadets. How can anyone not admire and respect them all for this ? The 2018 summer competition season has been a huge success for the Cadets,. Some things transcend placements. They just do, imo.

on a list of thing i don't care about, this would be near the top very petty and stupid

I had a dream I was on tour with the Bluecoats. ...wait

I have two or three of these per season. That's my young'n finishing off the Cavaliers show in Minneapolis last night. Couldn't be prouder of all the work he's put in to be there. For the record, I wouldn't care if he was wearing a pink tutu and playing a C-natural kazoo ( he probably would, but you get my point). I'm just glad he's out there living a dream. I feel like the top 6 are going to really heat up as we roll towards August...and I'm also sentimentally keeping my eye on Spirit of Atlanta, a family favorite from way way back. Would love to see them back in Finals!

Congrats to all the members and staff! You are guys are (again) getting it done! Just like last year, but on an even higher level in ALL facets of design and performance. I am so proud of you guys....AND SO IS MAX!

As a person who favors strict regulation of the real thing, I have no more problem with rifles in drum corps than I do with violent video games and movies. I just don't see it as an issue.

This show has EVERYTHING: cockroaches in evening gowns, beetlehorns, vomit flags, giant toothpicks, and woozy predators -What are woozy predators? You know that thing where the guy from predator mixes his alcohol and prescription meds and lets little people ride on his belly like a seesaw?

Okay im leaving that there for everyone to laugh at

Nothing. Based on this one score on this one night, it's all over for them. They will be lucky to make finals. I would be surprised if they finish out the season.

So speaking of the BACCG...funny story. My rv was parked fairly close to the "practice gym" in Castleton during ST. Generally, ensemble would end at 9pm due to local noise ordinances...the kids would have an additional hour of visual from 9-10 with the snack 10. Then free time ti\ lights out at 1am. One night, after lending a quick hand to the volunteers for snack, I hauled my tired butt off to bed around 11. I was awoken at 12:30 by loud music...actually show music coming out of the fully lit gym. I needed to take the puppy out for a quick relief anyway so I thought I would investigate, wondering which kid was up at that hour doing show stuff. Guess what? That's right..the gym was full of guard members working on their show! There is a reason why they are this good.

During the weather delay, yesterday in Orlando.

I love that all the guys in the corps are not shaving to go with the stranded on an island look.

I've gotta say, some folks here do have short memories. At the end of my week with BAC in Vermont, I posted that the drums and guard could possibly win and 4th or 5th overall seemed doable to me. Yes, there WERE more than a few who said BAC 2017 WAS "fluke", they couldn't "catch lightning in a bottle" twice..oh and my personal favorite, "those costumes are or a 14th place corps". Now I get it...we are not in August yet, but seriously...? If and when the Boston Crusaders ever win, these same folks will probably say that was a fluke as well.

I agree, and would point to the Boston organization of the past 3-4 years that paved the way to have adequate resources in terms of money, staff, facilities to make success a real possibility. Other Corps who are struggling should look to Boston as a model of how to move from good to great.

Congratulations Boston MM's & Staff and all volunteers. You are all AMAZING!! Dedication and hard work are what is getting you what is deserved and are proving many doubters wrong once again. Lets see just how much more wrong you can make them. .././... ...---...

IT'S NOT BAND WIDTH. IT'S CORPS WIDTH. NOOB. Mike (have had no problems with Flo this season at all. Watched on phone, tablet, Apple TV 3rd Gen, phone to Apple TV, and tablet to Apple TV.)

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Congrats to BAC For their result out of Orlando Last night. I was in a group chat, and the reaction... was memorable at the scores. (and I can't repeat some of it) Keep working guys, I can't wait to see them in about a week.

Hopefully you weren't sitting in the bleachers all night. posted from the DrumScorps app

I see Giants.

Boston needs to be included now in the conversation for the Sanford. I’m a brass guy, and I was spellbound by the writing and technical prowess in Boston’s opener.

Just the losing my shoes dream. The rest of my dreams are really weird.

This surfaced a few years ago after Sandy Hook and I’m surprised it did not surface after Parkland. People are sensitive to the reality of gun violence, and one corps did stop using rifles at one point. Since my favorite years of drum corps fall between 1979-89, I appreciate good rifle maneuvering. This would have been about the time of great rifle lines, 27th, Phantom, Guardsmen, North Star, with Anaheim Kingsmen only a distant memory and Cavies strongest guard yet to come. We don’t have reliable videos of the time but BAC had a rifle line that packed a punch too. Because I am a traditionalist, I do not want to see rifles go. Now, regarding rifles used today. We don’t try and get into political or religious debates on this site, I know. That being said, when I was a teacher, I taught in an inner city school in one of Boston’s most challenging areas, one that when it was in its glory was home of the St. Kevin’s Emerald Knights. I lost a student to random gun violence. I witnessed a murder on a subway train and testified in court as a witness for the prosecution. As a priest I have celebrated funerals of gang members and people who have died due to gang violence. I have opinions on gun laws, but I will say as someone with some experience here, spinning rifles on a drum corps field does not condone gun violence any more than hanging a soldier boy Christmas ornament does.

1. The rifles and sabres with the flags are traditional, having to do with the military origins of the 'color guard.' So that current participants may understand history, each corps history night could include a historical reenactor, National Park Service worker or some such personage to teach the entire guard about the duties of the Civil War guard, and the frequent high casualties resulting from service in such a unit. 2. These are also historical links to drum corps guards of the past, who also used sabres and rifles. 3. The standardization of weapons units in the guard allows for shared fluency and an ability to evaluate a similar skill. 4. Although I have no evidence, I do not think that using non-functional representations of weapons which can be spun and tossed glorifies or induces violent behavior or attitudes. 5. I support retaining the traditional weapons units for the reasons above; however, any work done with traditional weapons can be replaced with show-specific equipment. This is a likely scenario, as corps continue to move away from military uniforms and linkages for the sake of a total artistic effect, which has been occurring for decades.

Let me make this clear to you: Just because you, a lone user, are having issues with Flo because you are going against their recommended web browser (Google Chrome) for some dumb, petty reason DOES NOT mean that Flo’s service is subpar. In fact, saying that the streaming from The Fan Network by DCI was BETTER than Flo is pretty insulting to Flo. The Fan Network experienced many issues (audio related and stutters) that were SYSTEMWIDE and not related to just one or two select few users. The biggest advantage of the TFN was the ability to playback shows after the fact (which is a good thing because TFN really did have a lot of streaming issues). I think too many people see TFN with rose colored glasses because of the ability to go back to shows any time you wanted, but that is Tresona’s fault, not Flo’s. I am sorry I am disturbing your safe space to whine about something that is very much in your control, but you are currently living in some weird coo coo version of reality.

That's what happens when you are one of the top. Have you not read Devils or Cadets threads and CC in recent years? Even going back a very long time. It comes with the territory. Thick skin is needed. Personally, I see less of that in BAC thread over the years Maybe because some don't want to get into a back and forth with a few who post. Either way, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks just what BAC does. The rest is subjective opinion a lot based on nothing somethings based on personal taste and a little fact. Just enjoy the place in time you are in being a loyal BAC past staff person and supporter. ENJOY! Well earned and earning

Unless you saw them in Florida in February...

Yep, the most important task at hand is to clean. The show is fine. It’s a colossal improvement over the garbage foisted upon the members the past two seasons. It’s a good beginning to a new era.

Be proud dad! My almost 9 year old daughter started competitive Winter guard after I took her to her first live drum corps show a few years ago. She has her first fall guard practice of the season tonight where they perform at half time for the peewee football games and march in local parades. After that she'll be starting her 3rd year of winter guard at only 9 years old and she loves it. I couldn't be prouder of the hard work she and all of the other kids put into it at such a young age! She says she wants to march with Crown or Boston when she gets older. Keep being a proud dad! Keep supporting your son! It's the greatest gift to watch your kids having fun and living their dreams!

My kiddo is in Open Class, but I'm no less proud - enjoy the season! Mike

This thread does not sound like a commentary on the state of drum corps today as much as trying to bring the tensions that divide our nation into drum corps. First, the Bridgemen did not attempt to have “fun” with the Civil War. Yes Bridgemen performed enjoyable shows, but they were tough, fierce competitors. They aimed for shows that had impact as GE was becoming more important. The Civil War medley showed off their horn line more than anything else and employed a great deal of passion to show off the power of their brass. Given that the show ended with everyone coming together under an American flag with the peace symbol, I’d be willing to bet the show designers did not think the Civil War was a laughing matter. Sure it was funny at the time to have the South win at a finals held in Birmingham, but the tensions today are different. Regarding Velvet Knights, did I object in the 80’s? Probably not. Other corps were more on my radar screen. I remember them, and I know I saw them live on occasion, but they were not a corps I was devoted to following. At 55, I could still be the age of some parents of kids marching today, but edging closer to the grandfather category. I know when I watch the Velvet Knight cymbals, I think “I’d never let my daughter wear that.” Double standard, maybe, seeing things differently over time, definitely. However, given how many people were uncomfortable with Phantom’s show last year, and the revelations that a former director was preying on young women the age of those cymbal players at the appropriate time they were marching, a certain creep factor does set in, at least for me.

Colin told the Corps at rehearsal last week a lot corps punt and take a day off. We don’t, we spend every day getting better. The results were on the field at Orlando last night.

I’ve been lucky enough to spend multiple days at BAC rehearsals over the last month. The work ethic of this corps is incredible. They don’t waste time and they are on a mission. The results were evident on the field at Orlando last night.

I'm glad this topic is already created, as I was going to start one. Was at the Moonlight Classic two weeks ago. Totally unaware of the new "rules/allowances". I noticed the mic-ing first with the Mandarins. We sat on the 35 side 1 (or A, depending on your upbringing). They were very loud, which is good, because I like loud. At one point I noticed the drum line was playing on the opposite 40...but it "sounded" like they were playing on my 40. That's when I noticed the mics picking up their sound and throwing it through a speaker. THEN I realized that's how my hometown kids had suddenly become so loud...cranked to 11! I chose to ignore the infraction, thinking that there's no way DCI was letting groups use mics to artificially enhance their volume. "Must have been a mistake at the ol' sound board," I thought. Then...the coveted Blue Devils. "Mics up!" I said to myself. And sure enough, there I am, sitting on the 35, hearing things I shouldn't. The brass was positioned on the other half of the field. I expected to hear the awesome BD brass out of my right ear, but oh no no. Here was the full sound, emitting from the stack of speakers squarely placed in front of me. You know what wasn't in front of me...the HORN LINE!!! It doesn't make sense. I asked my wife what she thought about the mic situation. The word cheating came to both our minds. Not just cheating by making sound louder, cheating the audience, giving the auditory appearance of things that are not. If a horn line is opposite field, it should sound like it is! If a drum line is parked right in front of me, it should sound like it is! If a drum corps is made up of 70 marching brass, 20 marching drums and an awesome pit...IT SHOULD SOUND LIKE IT IS!!! ...breath... That same night, The Academy came out and blew our face off. No additional mics. The show was questionable, but I'll be darned if they weren't every bit as loud as the Mandies and Devs. And it felt AUTHENTIC. This notion that an entire drum corps needs to be micd for the betterment of the crowd is ridiculous. Before reading this thread, I was seriously going to send a note to the DCI offices regarding what I and other "old folks" like me (38 btw) considered unfair...again, not unfair to the judges or corps members, but unfair to us paying customers. But come to find out DCI chose to make this ok. DCI is allowing this deception, rationalizing it as yet another "design element". Mic the pit, that makes sense. Mic the soloists...IF it's a "voice" that under normal circumstances would be drowned out (ex. BD french horn soloists, or actual voice)...NOT if you need one sop or mellow to be heard over all the others. Something like that should happen naturally, and if it doesn't, design drill that helps showcase who and what is supposed to be showcased. If live corps start sounding no better than Youtube corps, I'll save my money and watch at home. Gas is expensive. And If I think a corps should be louder...I guess I'll do what "modern" drum corps do now...turn the knob. --end rant--

The percussion scores were spot on. Crown plays a lot of unison parts in tight formations and that’s why they were cleaner. Little depth of content, little environmental and physical demands. It’s now time to face the music.

Does anyone else have recurring dreams regarding drum corps? I haven't had this one in a while now, but it involves either showing up for camp or being on tour and ends with me remembering that I am overage and either have to quit or get the corps dq'ed. What are yours?

The Academy!! posted from the DrumScorps app

This was a huge topic back in 2001, when George Hopkins, noted apostle of nonviolence, excised rifles from the 2001 show and stated that Drum Corps needed to move away from military traditions and imagery in order to remain viable, citing Rosie O'Donnell as a reference. Also known for being a model of consistent thought, Hopkins programmed a World War II military show the next year, as a patriotic response to 9/11. Feel free to search 'George Hopkins rifles' on rec.arts.marching.drumcorps, but don't wade in too deeply. The summer of 2001 on RAMD was more dangerous and violent than any DCI color guard armed with sabres and rifles.

I agree 100%.

Anyone that wants to board the Boston " Bandwagon " needs to get on board quick to get a guaranteed seat. Its leaving the station soon, and its travels are going to take it to exciting and wondrous places never seen before in a very, very, long time. Ticket purchasers now, get preferred seating on the Boston Bandwagon for the 2019 season too.

lol...actually the 1st project winner was a drumcorps/ colorguard person...hmmmmmmmmmm there ya go...lmao

I love my corps, but it is basically the halfway point of the season. Have no assumptions as to where the corps will finish... Just enjoy the magic.

There were very interesting pre season placement picks.

There were a few that didn't think Boston would/could improve on last year. One called last year a fluke. Some thought such a large jump from the previous year was all that was possible for them, and it would take much longer to get better. Many thought the reports of the corps improving over the winter was just Boston Alum/Fans hype. Boston got better and got more talent in the ranks and the staff bumped the program up a notch. These kids work incredibly hard. I know that a lot or folks will say their corps work hard but over the years I had seen many corps rehearsals and these kids work hard. And the staff runs very efficient rehearsals. An example of the kids working is; after the Lawrence show last week, after a long hot day in the sun, then a rock solid performance, Boston's guard came back out on the field as the stadium was emptying at 10:30 pm, and started running through some work.

I really hope not.

Just my personal opinion, but this is why I really don't like printed flags that almost everyone is using now. The printed designs are really hard to make out the details unless you are sitting in the first 10 rows, it all comes out drab from up top. I know that they are more expensive to make, but I miss the days of the sewn fabric flags with the pops of color and great designs.

IMHO I don’t think they can. Keith Potter who I feel was the top main driving force behind show theme, story boarding etc. decisions prior to 2017 is no longer there. He’s at Boston now of course and I think it’s quite obvious that the high energy, fan friendly type of show Crown was known for, Boston is doing now. And quite well I might add. IMHO

My thoughts after tonight in Orlando...haha Still first in guard and drums isn't that shabby either...