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I think “so called” may be the most accurate description. I have been amazed at some of what I have seen in Facebook this summer, both the DCP FB page and FB Drum Corps page. Absolutely clueless. Threads such as when did amplification come to play? Why are “xylophones and tympanis no longer carried? Yesterday there was a question about when the number of corps decreased as if it happened last summer. Where have these people been? They complain about all sorts of crazy things. Where they have not been would be shows. This is why I say what I have been saying for years. Before you complain, show ticket stubs, credit card receipts or cancelled checks to prove you support drum corps, prove you marched or volunteered recently or helped a young person march, and then make critiques.

How about just letting the corps decide what’s too expensive for them.

Mine? The moment my daughter walked on the field in semifinals, looked up into the stands and recognized that her brother was in the stadium. Connor had never seen her march corps in all of her 4 years ... and he flew from Boston to see her age-out and surprised her that night in the stadium. As you can see, she was quite surprised ... and it really made a great ending to her four year career.

As the Chosen One, I hereby order everyone to attend DCA Finals. OK, let's see if that works for me any better than it did for that other guy today.

Me, too! No one can accuse us of being honks. 😂

I chose Wicked Games. This was the show that propelled Boston into the top six, and is still my favorite BAC show of the the revitalized era.

Definitely good examples I would agree. I thought 2016 was a masterpiece in some ways. That show, IMHO, is still a showcase of design and easy to understand music that translates very well. If someone who had never seen DCI asked me what the difference between it and marching band is, I would probably pull that show out as one of the top 3 from a showcase perspective. There are certain shows that represent the best of what drum corps CAN be and for my part, they are spread out across several corps. For instance, 2010 PR for me captures emotion better than any show I've seen in 20 years. But that's just my opinion.

While not wanting to open a can of worms, but I think you (we) can look at Bluecoats 2014, 2015 and 2016 as changing how the DCI activities looked at the USE of Props and the USE of electronics.

I seem to remember the president of one drum corps circuit complaining last year in public at championships about comments on the internet.

Or don’t take it all so seriously and ignore the rumors. Like you said, in nine days the bell will toll. And in ten days, nobody will even care anymore about all this rumor crap.

Wicked Games and Because are easily my top 2. But they’re oh so different. Wicked Games was angry, intense, energetic, in your face, and bold. Because was understated, refreshing, subtle, and just beautiful. Polar opposites but both are favorites of the last decade for me.

uh totally not what I'm saying. I'm saying people who "dedicate" $25 a year to drum corps and bash and complain 365 days are not a "positive" and I don't care if it "looks good" - it's a fact and everyone running these drum corps and DCI knows it - the most "vocal" (to put it kindly) fans are the least supportive of all this isn't going to get "turned around on me" - I stand by my viewpoint. The posts IN THIS THREAD prove what I'm saying is true. Trolls who literally hate certain corps on here spreading rumors - this isn't "fandom" as it should be or COULD be. staff announcements are made public following labor day - it's literally 9 days out - let the organizations release their announcements as they see fit in the manner they wish

Wicked Games ***HONK! HONK!***

To all the age outs that marched Corps that were not finalist, I would just like to say thank you !! Their were so many 13th + Corps that I enjoyed this year, and your commitment to these Corps allowed for so many in this activity to march finals in the future, because of the experience they gained marching with the likes of you.

easy Anakin. my seats are in front of the press box> i have the high ground

I find this a real revelation: " An interesting twist to this thread: those who are intrigued by this idea vs. those who are totally confused as to why anyone would put a Babs (or even worse, "who's that?") show on the field is a clear litmus test for who's gay and who's straight on DCP. " Nobody told me about this litmus test when I arranged the 27th Lancers show in '86. It was based in it's entirety on Streisand's covers of Sondheim on the "Broadway" album: Putting it Together, Ladies Who Lunch, Being Alive, Not While I'm Around...etc. Who knew that sexual orientation was tied to a liking for great melodies? Live and learn.

The Bluecoats taught me this year not to dismiss anything too quickly as not useful on the field. Blackbird is one of my favorite Beatles, tunes, but I didn't think of it at all as a drum corps ballad until I first heard Blooo playing it. Get together smart, creative drum corps folks - as the Bluecoats did - and I think they could make a lot of source material field worthy, including stuff from Babs.

I guess you lost your “Memories.” 😂

I respectfully disagree with you here. Plenty of people know who the Blue Devils are, and many other corps. I see what you are trying to say about DCI, but DCI was started by the corps...not the other way around. If the Blue Devils, Santa Clara Vanguard, Cadets, Bluecoats, Cavaliers, Boston Crusaders, Phantom Regiment, Madison Scouts, Carolina Crown, and others were to form a new circuit, I am quite confident that circuit would become popular. I'm not saying DCI would disappear. It just depends on how many corps left. I might think of this differently from others, but I feel the individual drum corps are the brand names that keep the popularity up, not DCI. Many of the corps in competition today built their brand before DCI even began, Like Holy Name/Garfield Cadets, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Troopers. The 1970 Troopers are considered legendary, even among the music education community of band directors. Another case-in-point to be made here is that even though Madison has had some internal issues and have struggled competitively, they are still a MAJOR brand name among DCI fans. It's a brand they have built over decades. Corps like BD and SCV built their brand in the early DCI period of the 70s. Same with corps like 27th Lancers and Bridgemen. The Bluecoats have been around since the early 70s, but did not really build their brand until 87/88. Since then, Bloo and Crown have become two of the more popular corps out there, especially from 2005 on. To your initial point (that these corps have no substantial market value) I would say every corps has some market value. Now, how substantial it is depends on your definition. If you saw all thing the Blue Devils organization does locally year around, then you'd realize they have substantial value to their community and to the drum corps universe. They are a highly revered corps all over the world. That didn't happen because of DCI. It happens because of their quality and the shows they produce. The Garfield Cadets (CBC, The Cadets) developed a brand and a popularity that was phenomenal up and down the Eastern seaboard, through the Midwest, and world wide as well. Until recent troubles, The Cadets/YEA were able to build one of the largest H.S. marching band competition circuits in the country. That doesn't happen because you have no brand or market value.

how dare you use common sense on DCp 2 weeks after finals! For shame!

wait? You're not announcing prelims and finals?

It's just band people....if it goes away tomorrow the world will continue to spin and no one will die. If you honestly think that the greater drum corps community gives a rip about what people post on DCP you are delusional. I know some of you on here like to pretend to "be in the know" and that you "have connections" whatever....its band, quit acting like this is so serious and acting like the world is going to end because someone posted that so and so's staff got axed.

How about a show called "Screech: The Music of Yoko Ono"?

Let's try it this way: He made public what he wanted public. Anyone other than Tommy or the BoD has no reason to know any more than that. In other words, anything other than what he chose to share is his business. It is not the function of any third party to make uneducated guesses, especially ones that could damage the reputation or image of either party involved. I will point out something I pointed out around this time last year when someone came after me on this forum, someone not involved, with no real information on the subject: These are real human beings you are talking about, with real lives. So the same respect you would want shown to you.

"Artistic Differences" was the name of my last band. In retrospect, not the world's best idea unless you love foreshadowing.

This one was a lot harder as will most of the rest of these I am sure. These were all enjoyable shows. 10. Triumphant Journey 9. Unmasqued (this will be the only time ever that I rank the Bluecoats 9/10 for any list. Funny it was in my personal top 5 for 2012). 8. On Madness and Creativity 7. Immortal 6. Awakening (can't ignore Pines of Rome with the Bones) 5. Goliath 4. The Devil's Staircase 3. Into the Light 2. Because 1. Wicked Games

Why not go to the primary source and ask the hard questions instead of yelling at the clouds because they're raining on you? I'm certain Rich and Larry would provide a well-worded and truthful response.

Into the Light. Such a well done show. Immortal holds a soft spot for me as well though.

1. PR 2010 Into the Light 2. Cavies 2014 Immortal 3. Blue Knights 2015 Because 4. Bluecoats 2012 UnMasqued 5. PR 2013 Triumphant Journey 6. Cavies 2018 On Madness and Creativity 7. Cadets 2016 Awakening 8. BAC 2017 Wicked Games 9. SCV 2011 Devils Staircase 10. BAC 2019 Goliath

Or as The Bluecoats might say, ✌️

exactly. The biggest troll on here right now posting comments about Cadets staffing hearsay isn't even much of a Cadets "fan" - he's a DCA guy annoyed Cadets parted ways with Bobby Jones apparently. unfortunately a lot of these "fans" buy one show ticket a summer and then spend the other 364 days complaining

No flames from me. I’m kind of a march and let march kind of guy. I like all styles of movement.

Agree whole heartedly. I just think it’s unfortunate that the task of “bugling/horn playing” is being offloaded to electronics to free up marchers for dance/awkward body movements/pushing props around. Thankfully, there are a couple of corps that still manage to march and play at the same time. Is it time for Regiment to tap a successful WGI designer? I’m not sure nor do I think fans would like it to happen. Question is, if this is what’s needed to revive their competitive edge would the die hard fans accept it or ridicule it? Please, gimme a second to don my asbestos unitard before you flame me. Thanks in advance

I tend to agree. I still think the visual program needs the most work and wish Will Pitts would stick to arranging and relinquish his show coordinating duties, though I don’t have a good candidate for that position.

While the idea of Ward Miller @ Regiment is an interesting one, gotta give him credit for his great work w/Blue Stars, I think Brad Toth along with Will Pitts are starting to restore the Regiment’s signature sound. Now if we could please just get away from the synthesized bottom half and prerecorded stuff and replace it with honest to goodness horn playing. I for one would welcome that change.

Don’t forget electronics and props

As much as I hate to say it.....I agree lol. Reading the DCP Facebook comments and other social media’s makes me want to poke my eyes out. I’m dumbfounded by the lack of knowledge of some of the posters who think they know drum corps. It’s great for the new fans who honestly are just finding out about the activity, but the know-it-all’s kill me. The other thing that drives me crazy are the posters who say they haven’t been to a live show in 20 years but are continually armchair quarterbacking the activity. NEWS FLASH: Drum Corps is better live!!!!

There’s an old saying something like this . . . ” Sometimes you can’t appreciate the value of something until it’s gone.” All the best, Fran. You’ve been good for DCA !

The fans are the biggest issue with drum corps??? Wow...no...

Wait...you don’t do it anymore? Huh

Topic for another thread, I suppose... but I saw very little drum corps this summer. One DCI corps' rehearsal and two DCA shows, a couple of YouTube clips... that was it. Plus my emcee gig at the Bucs' indoor show in May. I've found that I don't miss it anywhere near as much as I thought I would. Same feeling I had when I made the 1982 season my last one marching, at age 24. I figured I'd get the itch again soon... but having weekends free, either to relax or work and and pick up some extra cash, cured that itch in a hurry. Then I started announcing shows in '83, and any thought of suiting up again full-time.... gone for good. I could keep my hand in without the huge time commitment. Next summer... we'll see. Maybe a bit more, maybe less. Lots of other stuff to do and see.

I'll be couple rows in front of you. gonna dig out shirts from corps that aren't there, MBI, Cru, whatever - some sort of statement, I guess

Sort of an un-sweet spot? More technical difficulty than the competition, which was content to lean on audience engagement?

And dumber yet...only two corps at the Southern “Showdown” (sic). But hey, who knows? Perhaps CV will use the last score of the season, to post the high score of the season!

how has this not come up yet

I am all for a salary cap on props...let's set it at $0.

I prefer “Sick Cats: The Music of Yoko Ono”.

Let’s try this though...he PUBLICLY posted what he did, which opens the possibility and likelihood of discussion, and that’s OK because people ARE free to discuss.

I know the director, fmr director...my former instructor 25 years ago. he will explain in due time. Meanwhile we should all just chill. He's a good dude, with a great heart

BK's ending, when they unveiled the dots and tears were rolling down members' faces. I've never felt so emotionally connected to a drum corps show in my life.