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Showing content with the highest reputation on 09/09/2019 in all areas
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Each generation must get on the same old merry-go-round, only disguised in a fresh coat of paint. American journalist, essayist, short story writer, novelist, and political activist, Katherine Anne Porter, had the best-selling novel of 1962. It pertains here: "Ship of Fools." And I am not talking about staff changes. I expect the top six corps, stable or with "lifts and tucks," to amaze. Nothing less than jaw-dropping (it is amazing when they do not, and more often than anyone wants to admit, they do not) will be acceptable. I hope for shows to challenge the top six who bewilder. From the Blue Knights and Stars, from the revival corps Cadets and Phantom. I look forward to innovations that delight from Mandarins and Crossmen. What I am excited about: the rest of the field that amazed this season in ways that we often don't witness from non-finalists and at least the top of the Open Class. Staff changes here matter the most. Annual fresh coats of paint help no corps, but that is often the route taken -- by choice, by circumstance -- among 13-25th place units. It's the rite of passage here. But think of it: last year's off-season musical chairs yielded Pacific Crest's triangulated triumph, the Trooper's gorgeous musical relaunch, Jersey Surf's water wonderland, and the Spartans' goosebump/smile inducing championship. Among others. So don't *yawn*, please, when I am excited about a recent James Logan High School alum taking over as guard caption head; nor *dismiss* a percussion section that will be lead by an up-and-coming indoor group's designers and educators. This roster; found, recruited, hired, and given space to grow will shape the activity's future. (Bless your hearts when long-time, top six staff begin to retire. It's coming, likely sooner than you can imagine.) Oh, and the single thing I am most excited about: the prospect of a 2020 summer season as scintillating, as sizzling, as this one! Amaze us: one and all.7 points
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A subject which I can speak on with a little authority. Generally speaking, issues MCL had in staying afloat included money, recruiting (warm bodies aren't enough; bodies committed to the corps and willing/able to meet their obligations were needed), lack of a cohesive long-term vision among the leadership and several broken backs among those who carried the corps for many years. Eventually other things in life become more enjoyable and important. One other point. The way DCA was set up back in the day, if you didn't come to Championships, you essentially had no voice in the organization. And when MCL briefly got a voice it proved too threatening for some and the rules were changed.4 points
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IMO it would be a tough fit. Weekdays are never a good deal for all-age corps. Saturday AM is SoundSport. And the Sunday the day after the DCI title show... who will stick around to watch DCA? Sorry to sound so cynical here. The Labor Day weekend thing will continue to be an issue, especially for any corps outside the "traditional" Northeast. But there's no easy answer as to when a DCA title show could be held. Unless DCA, and its corps, are entirely comfortable with the circuit being comprised only of corps from that traditional region... then, perhaps, Labor Day weekend will remain in play. That is entirely up to them, I would suppose. I will say... the midwestern, southern, and western corps certainly added a nice spark (and several championships for the Minnesota corps) to the title-show weekend in years past, IMO of course. Whatever. I have no dog in any drum corps fight anymore... other than I wish all my friends involved with DCA well. They're great folks.3 points
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Blue Devils won by less than a tenth of a point. Both corps performed their azzes off. It was a coin flip win. Add or subtract a tenth in any sub-caption and we are singing a different song. I saw a lot of great drum corp that night and a few Championship level shows. The numbers 0.087 favored BD.3 points
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corps will be rewarded for whatever is designed and performed well, regardless of who composed it. People have been saying original music is the wave of the future since Robert W Smith and Suncoast, and yet here we are 34 years later3 points
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I know hating on BD is a surefire way to get likes on this forum, but dang dude........3 points
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One potential issue with that...the members of DCA corps these days are far younger than in the past. A good percentage are most likely unavailable due to scholastic commitments, be they HS or college, much as with DCI corps.3 points
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The Four Tops are my favorite from the era. Levi Stubbs was the MAN!!! Circa 1983... fairly late in their recording career... they did a beautiful ballad called "I Believe in You and Me." Levi absolutely sings the bejesus out of it:2 points
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I’m happy to switch from “Hey Jude” to Aretha! Can you imagine opening tour in Detroit with a Motown show?2 points
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I don’t want a B1G band to be like a high school marching band. There. I said it.2 points
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Boston and Cavies. Pretty easily, truth be told. Cavies haven't had a great show since 2010, and some of them have been quite bad (looking at you, 2012, 2015, and 2017). And Boston's best output over that timeframe (2018) doesn't come up to the standards of the other two.2 points
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In twelve years, the number of corps at DCA Championships doubled from 13 (1993) to 26 (2005). Notably, the all-age activity in the Northeast hardly grew at all, going from 11 corps in 1993 to 12 in 2005. The growth was nearly all from other regions, who went from 2 to 14 in that same time period. So what happened? Jim, you are asking the wrong question. You should ask what did not happen. DCA is, and always has been, a NE circuit. When the all-age activity grew organically in the run-up to 2005, these corps from other areas came to DCA hoping that could change, and DCA could become something bigger. Turns out they could/would not. Anyone could see that the travel-to-NE-every-year model would kill precisely the same corps that generated this growth. The opportunities were there to create sustainable, regionally-focused participation models in the South, Midwest and California. Instead, the focus remained on get-to-NE-Labor-Day-weekend-or-die-trying.2 points
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when a lot of you membership is performing in said band show, it's tough to get the corps to preform there2 points
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honestly, DCP is the last place kids go. unless they come here for ammo to make fun of it on Reddit2 points
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Anyone else ever get the feeling they've been around these forums too long? Just me?2 points
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not a good premise since most people on here seem to ascribe "performing" to material they personally enjoy and dismiss what they don't personally enjoy as "competing" aka writing to the sheets. i think most show designers are trying to do both, and are successful more often than not.2 points
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The color guard design/show in 2005 PR was one of the most beautiful and interesting things about the show. Everything the color guard did was "wow" - art deco-style flags/umbrellas based on chevrons, multiple period-style costume changes (where every new costume was better than the one it replaced), equipment work that was cheeky and so much fun. And then that closer with that head dress and the incredible orange color. One of the best color guard programs ever put on a field.2 points
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putting DCA finals before DCI seems like a tragedy. While the season is indeed long, that seems like you're cutting time off of the season that is needed for other DCA show revenue. I guess the tough question is, is labor day needed to allow travel for all of the groups/fans/staff NOT in the Northeast? What are the pros/cons of removing DCA from labor day? Pros... an earlier weekend means more student members can still march. Less issue with college stadiums booking for finals Cons... it will likely limit abilities for those 25+. Which is what DCA was originally set up for. It may alienate the mature audience due to the lack of travel day. it will kill off those late season shows to be replaced with DCA finals.1 point
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That wasn’t meant to be contentious. It’s just what popped into my head. I was assuming it was due to my being around this too long. Not meant to be argumentative. And compared to the other stuff that’s in my head, pretty mild.1 point
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well, Williamsport has 2yrs now, with another 2yr option, so talk to me in '24, if I'm still around1 point
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That was U. of New Haven Chargers directed by Cadets alum and former staffer for Cadets, 7th Regt., and former drill writer for Crossmen, BAC and CT Hurrricanes, Jason DeGroff; he's grown the band from 19 members when he arrived several years back to the present 270+. His assistant director and percussion specialist, Dr. Alex Casimiro is also a Madison and Cadets' battery alum. The University's Admissions Office loves the band for that same marketing success the poster is inferring for marketing DCA.1 point
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My pleasure! (In my case, six of my twelve favorites won.)1 point
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I couldn't be happier about these changes. I DID feel like it was Christmas when I saw the announcement, too. Go Regiment! Reclaim your fierce, powerful, passionate identity. Harvey1 point
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That narration ruined the best performed show of the year and robbed a magnificent membership of a championship.1 point
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Well, since this activity is a competition that includes performance I would say that BD was better at BOTH. Being a good performer means doing it under pressure when it matters most and BD proves every year just about that they are the best at that. I get a little tired of the whole BD writes to the sheets and writes shows to win. EVERYONE DOES THAT!!!! That and you diminish the kids that perfect the show and bring it to life with a level performance and professionalism that isn't baked into the design. The kids make that happen. Lot's of people paint portraits but it took DaVinci (the performer) to make it a masterpiece.1 point
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Could not disagree with you more about Bluecoats performance level. They had performance issues all season long, up to and including finals night.1 point
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How religiously insensitive you are. Do you think that perhaps there might be those who celebrate Festivus who are currently spinning their aluminum polls? Moderators!!!!1 point
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Well PR fans, the announcement we’ve been waiting for posted from the DrumScorps app1 point
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Try the under 60s! Lol. I know of him performing at The First Avenue in Minneapolis in 1979 and I was late to the game.1 point
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So often being let go is not your fault. So much happens behind the scenes in any organization. Will loves PR and did his best, and clearly he is a good leader. Sometimes places just have to change things.1 point
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That would be sweet if it did. BD got robbed of the Ott in 2017. Can i use the word robbed? Well apparently BD robbed a bunch of corps in another active thread, so yea we will use the word here lol. But ultimately, someone else can be number one in brass. As long as the gold medal is consistently coming back to Concord. Shine bright like a diamond Devils.........shine bright.1 point
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This is what WILL happen: 1. Cavies 2. SCV 3. Blue Knights 4. Blue Devils 5. Bluecoats 6. BAC 7. Crown 8. Mandarins 9. Blue Stars 10. Crossmen 11. Cadets 12. Pacific Crest I’ll put money on it. 😉1 point
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How ‘bout .. . Go With the Flo ! Any of our Finalist Corps does their usual outstanding performance but, half-way through, STOPS abruptly and walks off the field. Leaving the entire audience screaming and shaking their fists !1 point
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