Leaderboard

Since this thread seems to be lacking substance: 2019 Cadets Design Team

Sage is a huge get. IMO Also Darcie is a terrific addition as her WGI work is always terrific and amazingly successful - she is more of an unknown in the DCI realm whereas Sage was with SCV 2017 and 2018 I think it's terrific they also have a female in that role - I'm not much for "checking boxes" but given the recent past at Cadets WOMEN in strong leadership positions is a smart and just move IIMO

lol - some upgrades but one surprise (for me) as I heard Jeff was returning as the drill guy that said - I didn't dislike last year's drill - and it was heavily driven by GH in the winter months prior to his termination - and then a bit "hamstrung" but the diagonal props on the field Sage is a massive upgrade for guard design - I hope the Caption Head remains the same. That will help recruitment and (honestly) the scores - DCI judges love his design approach, very lyrical and thoughtful Very interested in hearing the brass team? I guess instructional staff is next

hey everybody'd know your name

So much for Jeff returning as drill designer. I didn't really have many problems with the staff until I saw drill. I have been incredibly underwhelmed by the drill writing the last few years. I really hope he steps up his game in a massive way this year.

Darcie is very creative and methodical if one uses her programs with Dartmouth percussion, guard, and in some way their marching band as a yardstick. Her imaginative use of talent and concept for the indoor programs engages both audience and adjudicators. Kudos for the add.

Yup. Hopefully top 5. I want to see the corps caption wise take steps forward so next year you see captions in 3 through 6 spots Tough sledding as all the corps are so strong - so real growth across the captions at Cadets is really the measure of success in 2019

I don't think it is Sam's curves that attract the viewer's attention.

Scouts have updated audition information on the site, for those interested.

I guess no one in your local music program marches colorguard in the fall. Okay, then, what about cost vs. value? A cymbal line, even with its own tech, is more economical than most other positions in the corps. Other sections still have their own techs, and their instruments are more expensive. This is especially true of the front ensemble, where we now have multiple instruments per performer, plus additional A&E equipment, additional staff for A&E design and running the sound board, and a truck to carry it all with associated costs for fuel and another qualified driver. (And do not even start me on the cost/value of props.) But it is not about educational value, or even entertainment value. It is about what the judging system values. Apparently, judges value "intellectual effect" and "3-dimensional design" so much that corps are adding yet another truck to the fleet just to transport all the associated props on tour. If the DCI judging system valued cymbal lines, every corps would have one.

There have been a lot of those elder statesmen over the years in just about every DCA corps, Tim. They provide an invaluable bridge between the new folks and the past.

I can remember back in the late 70’s the Connecticut Hurricanes had a member of the color guard who marched well into his 80’s. I can’t remember the first name, it was either Harry or Harvey, but the last name was Olderman which as a high school kid I found amusing that the oldest member had the last name Olderman. Back then, I probably thought all of DCA was pushing 80 even though they were much younger. Now that I’m a few days shy of 56, even the members of the alumni corps look younger!

Interesting that the DCI '18 World Class champion SCV marched no trombones and still won the Ott. They also marched their traditional Cymbal line and won the Sanford.

Its true.. regarding Gaines. When he came back to SCV he " evolved " from the Cavs 2000 years, and was not about to write/ recommend any more those types of Visual shows for the SCV.. Likewise, I believe ALL of the guys still in the activity from back in the 70's " evolved " in their designs too... even in Brass/ Percussion. Scott Johnson isn't writing Percussive parts like the ones in the 80's either. And he's never left BD in decades. DCI has a couple of judges that judged DCI shows in the 70's. 80's too. They're not judging the same way they did back then either. The Madison Scouts can be good again, and entertaining again in the coming years. SCV 2018 show this season was chock full of little flashes of SCV iconic moments.. and they won it all here in 2018. BD in 2017, lest we forget, did a quasi throw back, historical tribute show in 2017.. with LOTS of earmarks of past BD iconic moments found throughout their show of BD's past... and they TOO won it all. So this notion we sometimes hear around the office water coolers, and school band rooms, that Drum Corps have to be thoroughly and completely avard gard and " modern " to place well, and thrill fans, is certainly not supported by the last 2 recent DCI Champions shows themselves, imo

Some of the references in ‘18 were very subtle, others not so. The horn snap was one of the big ones but that dates back to the Tenderland years at least. It was used to huge effect in opener in ‘84 and again later in the same show. Percussion ‘18 feature: bass drum diagonal; just as they start their solo riff they cross their feet, a move that the snare line used to do back in the Rob Carson days. Side 1 pod of horns about 7 minutes in get up from their kneeling position, “grab” imaginary hat brims with their left hands and tilt their heads down and to the right in unison. It was so fast and cool, it had me cheering at the monitor when I saw it on Flo. “The Toast” in their victory concert run was a nice touch. The extended left arm & fist pose assumed after their very last note while on the stages is very reminicinent of the pose ‘85 SCV did at the very end of their show at ‘85 Finals when they tore off the green tunic fronts to reveal the white striped tunic and extra star underneath, thus “bookending” the pants change they did in opener. Super tight snare feature with really high pitched “rim gahks” (I still don’t know how they do that) to punctuate the end of the riff. An SCV staple. Decrescendo /crescendo and “wave” move (Boop buh dahhhhh....”) and quick pose after “bah-dah-boop” ending lick in opener; another hark back. Front ensemble...beautifully executed “cascading marimba riff” at the beginning of Body In a Cage— another SCV hallmark, modern or old era. Pretty sure I saw a “star polish” visual..it was odd seeing the star on the “wrong” side but it made sense with the “EKG Line/Square Root Symbol” V on the costume top. No trombones, and they won the Ott (I was in the 1st Ott Line so that was kinda neat to see them *not* switch instruments.)

I heard it from many different sources so I guess something changed personally nothing against Bobby, he’s solid and it will be very interesting to see how he does without a winter of GH micromanaging

Certainly a step up, imoIMO

Who knows what the exact situation was, but given Marriott reacted so quickly indicates this was not about a room here or there that did not pay - rather probably a very significant amount of $$$ was involved - walked out without paying - bounced check or whatever. The fact that several mgmt types plus a ban by DCA indicates this was no small thing. Bet one thing that comes out of this for sure - all local area Williamsport hotels will depend payment up front.

Yeah. Overwhelming majority of designers are back.

Cool-looking pets can definitely help move merchandise. LOL. I bought a T-shirt from a store in Plymouth, MA, one year mostly because the shop owner's dog was so cute.

I know, its true.. beer can have that level of appeal for some. (.. haha!)

I was reacting to this statement... "But its true, if the Corps do not want to use the cymbal even in the FE for their musical interpretation of a music piece..." However, in general yes, corps have dropped the marching cymbal sections in most cases. SCV remains, one who has not, of course. Corps have also dropped marching timpani and marching mallets (outside of a special use) in favor of the FE. Times change. Maybe some will add them back, and maybe not.

Sam Malone supposedly lost the velocity on his fastball in the Minors, but later developed an effective curve working behind the Bar at Cheers.

I nominate you as Norm.

#### them for staying stuck in the past

It is the corps,last checked directors, designers, instructors ARE the corps. why would marching members have an input on judging? There are adults who don't get judging even when it's put right in front of them in writing ( clearly ) and you want kids to have an input when their job is learning...

Bouncing a few ideas around in my empty head. CC on their FB was looking Friday for volunteers (before Florence) to fold 1500 tee shirts new to their warehouse. Here's the idea: what if DCPers and DCIers bought some of these shirts (already in Carolina) designating them to be donated to people in Carolina who have lost everything in the Florence floods?! Crown has Crown Cares already. Here's another chance. Buying the shirts from the corps helps the corps ($$$,) would help the flood victims, and would make drum corps look even greater. Just an idea as I search my wallet.

oh good, I was beginning this was a Madison or old Cadets thread, ha, ha.

The corps create the judging system. so at the end of the day, what is judged, and how, is based on what the corps want.

Borrma could be around, but just not arranging. You never know. 😇

Yep captain of the Honor Guard. Lol as one of our elder members (started in a pre WWII kiddie corps in Baltimore) stated “think he ages 15 years every decade”. Hurrcs field intro always seemed to end with “captain of the Honor Guard ... years young”. Rode with the drum truck and Bennie the driver was around 70. Paul Geiger and I visited one day and he wanted to show us something. It was the VFW national trophy from 1952 and huge. Gives you a sense of history.

I guess you could also say...SCV marched no trombones and still won the Sanford. They also marched their traditional Cymbal line and won the Ott.

What came from the Designers mouths ? That the Music alone drives Boston's Themes the last 2 seasons and ( your words )" the Music is what ties the themes all together " ? Not sure what you are referring too here, Liahona. The show ended with the Visuals/ Guard leaving behind the Theme's final messaging on the Field " BAC WAS HERE ". The Music selected and played was certainly a major component to the theme's deliverance to both judges and audiences alike. But it was not ( imo ) the Music chosen that Karuna said above ( and you agreed with) that kicked off the show, nor drove the Theme. It was all 3 components working in unison in equal measure.. Guard/ Visuals/ Music... that appropriately conveyed the Theme and its central messaging to both judges and audiences alike, imo. Music did not start, nor kick off the show. Neither did Guard. Both Guard and the Singers humming started the show simultaneously, and " SOS " was conveyed visually by the marchers, before the Brass line played the musical opener " Breathless Allelulia " enmasse in the start too.. By the end, it seemed pretty clear to me that the Theme was not primarily " music driven " by Boston's Show Designers, but in the end was a holistic approach that utilized all 3 elements to convey last season's Boston Crusaders Theme of " S.O.S ".

Yup. And Gaines was designing scores of top BOA & WGI shows. Like literally the top individual marching arts designer in the world. And I totally agree with your overall take - Scouts CAN BE "THE SCOUTS" and do extremely well. Nothing in the "Modern" world precludes in your face & audience friendly High energy and visual excellence will sell/score just as well as ever Layer in effective, smart design and a modern approach to staging/transition and "THE SCOUTS" can leap right back into finals and beyond. IMHO

The number of trombones in a show cannot exceed the number of cymbals marched by the battery.

I agree the Scouts folks deserve our best wishes and our open-minds. I'm hoping for the very best - that they will bring back that famous Scouts performance energy and power. The big WOW - that is missed. Crowds used to throw babies just for the Scouts entering the field with their perfect toes and magical presence. We need that back. That said - Gaines had left DCI but not the activity. He had actually spent the gap designing WGI (and many other) championship programs around the world. His respect (and experience) in the marching arts design community literally GREW during the interim. You see his evolution in the design of the 2018 SCV program - the staging, the transitions, the entire process of crafting that design is far beyond (IMO) his work back with the Cavaliers. On another level - literally and figuratively!

Thanks for all of the informative responses, ladies and gentlemen. I'll reach out to a few corps and see who's interested in having me try out. Maybe you'll see me out on the field next summer!

This is true. It was the piece "Amazing Grace" that kicked off BAC's show last season...that piece was the thread that tied the whole show together...

Looks like Genesis took care of the problem with their old percussion caption head: http://www.genesisdbc.org/percussion-.html

That's an amazing moment. And her presence at the forefront of that was everything Troopers. She'll do just fine upholding the legacy.

I believe Boston's Design Staff had a meeting this past weekend out in Indy to go over some ideas for their show creation for next summer. Oh to be a fly on the wall there... haha!

On the DCP Facebook page, there is a post by a Scott Miller who stopped at his local Starbucks (Wesley Chapel). He noticed a sign featuring an employee and highlighted Brendan Serrata who wants to march with Boston Crusaders next summer. Thought people would enjoy and I hope Scott Miller does not mind his photo being used.

so... like a small colorguard? *ducks*

I'm one of the few, I think, that totally loved that show. It had a frenetic charm to it, and I think the voice guy was absolutely spot-on perfect. Mike

Yowza Yowza Yowza

I marched in ‘74 during his run.....he had incredible leadership skills, he was a motivator, he came down on us when we deserved it, lifted us when we needed it. I think his most outstanding quality is intelligence. I firmly believe he is a step ahead and will not accept mediocrity.

some judges are short sighted.

I agree with #2 but not with #1, particularly with the ages of the judges up in the box already. Will you be providing telescopes?

Wow! Big news out of Madison! http://www.madisonscouts.org/2018/09/madison-scouts-welcome-james-elvord-artistic-director/

Couchmen and Slothmen are merging.