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Yes. Hop was upset that he heard a few members before the regional talking about being caught (competitively) by corps that were behind us. After our performance, he lectured us on keeping our focus on the groups ahead of us, and said that we needed to see what they were doing. (I’m paraphrasing) There were many of us vets who were NOT about to sit and watch other corps in uniform (at the time, watching another corps while we were in uniform was a big no-no). Many of us refused to sit in the stands, and instead stayed “under the stands” (in the walkway) at parade rest for the full length of time. My memory is a little fuzzy as to what happened after the corps was finally allowed to leave the stadium, but I remember Hop being absolutely irate that we would disobey him. There was almost a coup among the membership that night, from what I remember. 2006 was one of the roughest summers of my time with the corps for a multitude of reasons. -MT Cadets baritone 2000-2007

Based on the clip provided, it also could be "Happy Birthday" or the album cut of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."

Totally agree last year and the year before were compromised at best. Cadets need the best drill on planet earth. That’s the expectation

I missed you. Don’t leave me like this again.

If this is the benchmark determination of whether or not drum corps are fulfilling their "charitable mission", I'm convinced they'll avoid being in the target. I'm not addressing the Parkette's level of charitable contribution to their members' experience. But, in drum corps, it's widely accepted that MM's get a terrific value for their dollar, and I'm among those who make the claim. But, simple math shows clearly that that contention is well-justified. In World Class, it's common for even below-top-12-placement corps to spend $1million or more producing a show and putting it on the road. Average tuition is approximately $3,750 per season among all corps. $3,750 times 150 members is only a little over $562,000 so, approximately, 44% of the "member's experience" is paid for by charitable contributions, in-kind gifting, and public support. Heck of a value, indeed. When taken to its extreme, it appears that corps who field shows built only from member dues are, arguably, less charitable that those who are spending a million or more to be competitive.

right now, if there is one thing that can kill them, it's trying to live up to expectations, which in some cases are un ####### achievable. Given everything the organization has gone thru in the last 11...ok lets say last 3 years, right now, worry about just making the product better, hope for competitive success...which lets face it, the 6 above them are a ###### far sight better than they were the last time the Cadets medaled....and go from there. if everyone and their brother keeps expecting a return to 82-87 level success instantly, they're out of their ####### minds. the game has totally changed in the last 10 years, and if people expect instant contention, you'll soon see Madison like wars internally. Just be patient and allow everything to grow.

Drew alluded to this in the video, saying the Cadets must be instantly recognizable as THE Cadets both in look and movement

Exactly. But it appears the city is capable of succeeding here. At least, selectively. There is no doubt Allentown has created its own financial hole after at least a decade of bad decision-making. If you recall, the Mayor during the “YEA” years downtown now sits in Federal Prison serving a 12 year sentence for funny business in office. Numerous other bad decisions too. They just passed a 23% tax increase on residents! For this particular tax, they are going back 10 years. It’s a desperate municipality that will seek new revenue sources under every rock. Certainly a situation to consider going forward. Both for YEA and DCI.

Yes, they need to be aware. That said... Cadets marchers do not pay for their services. Their payments probably only cover 25%-30% of the cost. At that level, we cannot even speculate as to whether marchers could "afford to pay" the full cost of those services. If this nebulous "afford to pay" standard were to become valid legal precedent, colleges would have to pay tax on their donations. Hospitals too - after all, they primarily serve people who can afford to pay (copayments) for their services. This is just an attempted end run around the non-profit designation by a municipality that cannot balance their own budget.

I can’t name that tune in three notes.

Ok fine, I’ll participate my first three are the three peat in order so we get to relive that evolution 12. 1983 Garfield Cadets 11. 1984 Garfield Cadets 10. 1985 Garfield Cadets 9. 1989 Cadets of Bergen County - Le Miz 8. 2011 Cadets - Angels and Demons 7. 1992 - Perilous Skies! 6. 1993 Cadets - Kings 5. 1990 CBC - Undiscovered Bernstein 4. 1987 Cadets - Appalachian Spring 3. 1998 Cadets - Stonehenge 2. 2007 Cadets, semi finals performance please, the biggest rip off score in DCI history AND the rudest crowd ever 1. 2005 Cadets - in the zone! encore - I’m carried out of stadium due to hyperventilation

I've seen this done before but never on here so I thought why not have some fun this March to keep the off season a little interesting! Round 4 closes March 14 at 11:45pm ET! Modern Show Bracket: https://www.polltab.com/bracket-poll/V96USPVkv DCI Classics Bracket: https://www.polltab.com/bracket-poll/uPoVqwlJ5 High Scorers Bracket: https://www.polltab.com/bracket-poll/uilvs8_F7 Fan Favorites Bracket: https://www.polltab.com/bracket-poll/dxoho0GAg Final 4 Bracket: https://www.polltab.com/bracket-poll/3dFNXheaH

Howdy Gar!!! I personally think it is this simple. It is not what their $3,750 dues per year are covering, it is whether or not the Cadets are catering mainly to those who can afford the dues. Here is the main question: How many of the 150 can afford the $3,750 in dues per year compared to how many are indigent and dues are paid by scholarship or altruistic people? If the ratio leans extremely heavy toward the former the city could hit them with fines; if there are enough in the latter they will avoid the issue. Because that ratio is how the City, not the State or Federal, but the 'City' is defining charity. Again, I think it is that simple. Note on Hospitals and Schools: By U.S. law no hospital can turn away an indigent in an emergency situation. And as for schools, they have a multitude of ways to help under-privileged with scholarships, loans, work programs, ect. So it would be more difficult for the city to jusify going after them as opposed to non-profit competitive or arts activities.

2005 The Zone- That corps was Excellent. Aungst's drumline was so good, they sang their parts and still took percussion. I remember the percussion section cutting practice short for an ice cream break. ( the whole corps actually) That Brass line was impeccable, Gino had them believing they could do anything. I saw the guard and front ensemble working on the ballad together in Allentown a week before finals. I stood there mesmerized. Sully wrote a groundbreaking show that year. The only corps to sweep every caption and sub-caption. 1987 Appalachian spring -This is my favorite Cadet show of all time. I remember the chills I got seeing it live at finals, much like the chills I'm getting now thinking about it. Beautiful, Powerful music, Dissolving company front, Gold Medal and a perfect drum score to boot. Wow! 2000 We are the Future- Some people say this show was all about the ending. I say it was the awesome music and marching in the beginning and middle. The ending was the cherry on top of a delicious show. 2007 This I Believe- This show holds a special place in my heart. This Cadet corps was really good. A group of kids that had to be strong in the face critics that were adverse to change (vocals) in drum corps. This corps blazed a trail of wins through the west coast, performed great through the idiots that Boo'd during semi-finals and performed spectacularly during finals. This show should have won. 1993 In the Springtime When Kings go off to War- At the time I said 1993 was a battle of the best of what drum corps is and what drum corps will be in the future. I loved this show. Fast paced high energy, Powerful and guard that took visual interpretation to the next level. Oh, and that ballad! 2011 Between Angels and Demons- I never seen a bunch of young people enjoy a drum corps show in all my years of drum corps. Watching the show evolve, the joy of the performers, and the payoff at the end. What a ride. A side note: The corps did a west coast tour that year. I had a bad taste in my mouth from 2007 and was ready to beat the breaks off of the first sign of negativity. The folks on the West coast were as nice and welcoming as they could be. Knocked that chip right off my shoulder. 1991 ABC's of Modern American Music- I never thought The Cadets could pull off 'Short ride in a fast machine' but my hats off to the percussion arranger. They did! The ballad was a beautiful story well interpreted by the color guard which also cleansed your pallet for the wild Ballz to the Wallz ending. 1991 was an exceptional year for drum corps a year before or after this show would have placed higher. 2010 West Side Story- This arrangement of WSS was sick! The guard was incredible and if not for a weird 1 point drop in percussion from semi's to finals they would have placed higher. This was my favorite version of WSS in my years of drum corps sonically and visually. 1983 Rocky Point/Mass- A corps that would not be denied! The Cadets started the season clean and well prepared and ended with their first championship and a first for an east coast corps. That brass line was killing it! More later.

I wonder if the tax would only apply to businesses. Gov Phil "never saw a tax I don't like" Murphy here in NJ is proposing the same at the state level.

Well that's promising.

hopefully no concussions when she's dropped

To bad no one said 1972! Oh just did!

Also including another certain circuits Finals Weekend over Labor Day lol

No, I don't think they have Bingo at this point. Oh.....never mind.

Even though drum corps nowadays doesn't seem to be focused too much on drill anymore, I'm still hoping for SOME traditional Cadets whiplash drill moments.

Drill writer has lots of time with a newborn...tons of late nights!

Seems so an interesting interview with Drew, zero details about the program itself but you can hear brass playing Bridge over Troubles Waters in the background/ next room Drew essentially states that he’s is most excited about the improved communication among the design team and teaching staff, excited about where the brass program is for March, says them aim at increased competitiveness and mentions the focus at YEA at improving the core organization and all that goes in to supporting the corps. Sounds like the drill writing is underway and the design team continues to meet virtually each Monday

You make valid points, and I too thought about hospitals and colleges, but if you live in the Boston area like I do, the endowments of Harvard, M.I.T., Boston College, Boston University, Mass General, Brigham and Women’s, etc. are pretty substantial. Each also needs municipal services. To be fair, many nonprofits in Boston make donations to the city in lieu of taxes, and many of these institutions provide valuable services to the community, but as it gets more difficult to balance municipal budgets, difficult decisions have to be made. That being said, why did Allentown choose to target the Parkettes? When it comes to local politics, it could be to set an example. It could also be that City Official “Joe Jamoca’s” favorite niece Clarabelle was not accepted by the Parkettes and a loophole of a law was discovered.

Is the song going to be " Johnny One Note " ? If so, give the Cadets credit, as its triple the number of notes Johnny gave us.

You weren't kidding when you said "clip".

You took the words out of my mouth.

So the brassline played thru the whole book? A new website that looks like it is from this century? A drive down to the Carolinas to see the 2019 show props in person months before spring training? Repairs and the tweaks to all the volunteer vehicles including substantial items on the food truck? New tents and tables for food service? Drum corps back At Meadowlands? Zero rumors and drip drips about the show?? Zero need to change the theme mid winter after announcing it? Yes, yes, yes, yes and YES!! hard not to get excited watching the Cadets regroup and the organization grow!

I would've seconded this in 2013. It was getting tired at the time, but the shows were still generally well designed (aside from a large puppet in 2013). But now, I will take a well developed storybook show any day of the week over whatever it was that was given to us in 2018. I'm looking for some bare minima now - competent brass writing, competent visual design.

Fortunately, as we all know, there is a fire station across the street. 🏟️🚒🚨🚑

Thanks for throwing some love to 2006. It was really hard to follow 2005, and we suffered from the unfairly harsh criticism -- from fans and staff (mostly Hop). The 2005 corps was probably the most stacked ever. For example, in '05 the tubas were 7/10 vets; in 2006 it was 2/10. To quote Mike Fanning after finals: "70 rookies coming back as vets... that's scary." 2007 speaks for itself and the quality of the corps's, for lack of a better word, "process." My impression was that the Part II was largely Marc Sylvester's idea. A lot of things were tried and discussed throughout the winter and season, which later completely disappeared (that good ol' Hop design philosophy). Can't say we were set up for success. The original design was extremely ambitious, and a lot of those elements, especially the "History Repeating" opening, were scrapped by San Antonio. To quote one of our snares, "We unlock this door...because the design staff has run out of ideas. Next stop...fourth place." The explicit message of "History Repeating" was that we were both doing a sequel to The Zone, and re-inventing the drum corps idiom again, like 1983. Maybe that was Hop's idea...always the peak of humility... That video, and the Part 1 and somewhat truncated "full" video, were taken by my then-girlfriend. When I got home, she told me she had put it on YouTube--"What the heck is YouTube?" LOL!!! The "full" video is shortened because at the time there was a 10 min limit on videos. Catch me in the tuba soli near the sideline halfway through the closer. That ending, where we jumped from 192 to 204 on the "Medea chords" hit, was a hell of a cardio burn. TL;DR: I swallowed one of these about two hours ago

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