Leaderboard

Yeah and he also got to look at how much gas was in the shuttle bus.

I guess you didn't see Boston's weapons last year or the year before or BDs saber line this year. The layering of body and equipment and high precision in today's color guard world is just off the charts. It is probably the one area of the activity that has grown the most in since 'the good ole' days'. Calling the athleticism of what they do a 'ballerina' move is a slap in the face to what those performers are doing. I'd also note that ballerina's are incredible athletes in their own right.

I hope that for the first time since I began having contact with the organization (1989) the powers that be will recognize that the Development role (fund raising) is an actual profession. That they will hire a professional of considerable caliber - preferably from outside the DCI activity - that the organization will finally have a professional and dynamic development plan, led by someone who has experience building and growing sustainable funding that is aligned with best practices in the profession.

A music event like this should want nothing to do with a distorted product. With few exceptions, like soloists and small ensembles, talent at this high level of proficiency must be challenged to “sing” in tune and balance. A display of natural ability and masterful command of the instrument. Anything less is both an insult to the group on stage, and abuse of the in-person audience.

I am sure the kids will lineup to carry a marching timpani,

Actually, I did have a conversation at camp about financials. The Cadets are facing the money issues head on and working towards solutions. Sorry I interrupted the standard gloom and doom with some good news about the Cadets! And by the way, financial issues are not exclusive to the Cadets. The current DCI touring model is not sustainable. I hope your favorite corps gets more support than the Cadets when financial troubles hit.

When I was paying attention triples were about it, but they all came down at the exact same second like a clean snare line - CLICK. Guards today throw way higher, but the catches are not very clean in my opinion. I’d rather see a perfectly executed triple than a sloppy 7 and perfectly executed ballerina move.

I'm with you Keith! Bring back cadets, English riding boots, and knee length skirts on the color guard for a year. ........and cleanly caught rifle tosses.

Only today? As opposed to every other day?

It might be fun if all of the corps contributed an updated version of one of their classic songs for a special release CD/download. But I think I would take a pass on retro shows.

There has been dancing in drum corps for DECADES. When people say stuff like that it makes me wonder if they have in fact ever even seen a drum corps.

Big Anniversary and would like to see corps go Throwback for that year! Play music corps played back then and wear old style uni's. Just for that year! No amps, no mic's and no dancing just Marching, Brass, and Percussion! It's a wish!

You left out the "layering of body" in the quote, which when combined with the equipment work is what has propelled modern guard to its current amazing heights.

Been to many of those and still prefer them to indoors anywhere, sound wise.

Did you get to look at their financials while you were there?

aint happening

Even in ‘79, 27th was top of the pack with synced quints. Now 7s and 8s aren’t too uncommon. Look at BD’s opener last year ... were those 8s or 9s in sequence over the doors? And they were clean AF. And they didn’t even win the Zingali! The talent in today’s guards is unbelievable!

Without spending some enjoyable time watching several of the older shows (thanks Brian Smith), I don't think many of the guards tossed 7's. Never mind what else the guard mm are also doing while tossing currently.

Great post. Most of this will be covered in the upcoming announcements. Specifically, question 2 .... SO I will not comment. 1. All Campaign Donation Contributions to The Cadets go directly to "The Cadets". And ONLY "The Cadets". 2. Drum corps budgets can not operate on member fees alone. That's impossible for even the tiniest corps. Donations, fees, contracted sponsorships, performance fees, inventory sales and additional revenue streams all contribute to the yearly budget. Every organization involved in DCI deals with the struggle of balancing the costs of touring and operations against budgetary needs. No one is kicking cans at The Cadets. At every turn, I've experienced nothing but open communication and a clear plan for how to meet those needs. 3. Cleaning houses always involves new blood taking up the torch. New Admins, New Directorship, stronger planning, better organization, fiscal responsibility and clear communication when necessary and needed. Your questions are valid and require answers. Those are coming, but not from me.

So when are the Cadets going to announce they are coming under the umbrella of Inspire Arts and renaming the corps "The NJ Junior Crusaders"? .....kidding...I'm just kidding.......it's a joke..... 😛 Hope the Cadets have a successful re-boot under this new leadership and a successful 2020 season.

No thank you

Because BD is drama-free. They go about their business of producing a great drum corps.

my head spins. breakfast in bed. wait staff for lunch and dinner rv travel for all members weekly staff review by members stagehands for all scenery

That was part of the original quote. To me, it refers to the addition of total body involvement along with the equipment work. As opposed to the past where guards were the opposite. Guards were supposed to be as rigidly still as possible in their body as they performed the equipment work. Two totally differing concepts.

Re layering of body -well the skin is on the outermost layer, with muscles under that followed by the bone layer. If talking abdomen there is also the 'innards' layer (to use the technical term).

Des Plaines Vanguard played some WSS in 72.

I have a feeling that I'll be the next Pope Francis before DCI corps go full retro, anniversary year or not.

For some perhaps, but not for all!

Truth.

The last several pages seemed to me to be about corps financial health, front end of the house, back end of the house (not sure what that means, just recalling the conversation), whether there is a problem, including from a couple long-time donors. Versus how the music is coming along and the camps etc. He said, what’s going on at camp is very different from what you read here. That struck me as odd too, as apparently it did TwoValves, because the discussion here wasn’t about camps. Not sure how that makes me ridiculous. I made no posts during that conversation. That’s all.

How about the horn line doing the bottle dance while playing. I would pay to see that.

This is the only clip I could find of Carmine Appice on that broadcast.

Steve Rondinaro looked so uncomfortable during that broadcast.

Do I recall correctly; isn't The Troopers Alumni Corps (they are calling it "Project") working towards championships in 2023, the 65th anniversary of the corps? I greatly enjoy the alumni corps when they perform at championships. That's plenty reminder-of enough for me.

I know in 1971 the Cadets in our Revolutionary War show had the Colonials do a hoedown while the British did a minuet.

I might have played that the past several seasons. on loop. At a high volume.

Boston's design team/caption heads have more than a dozen rings combined. So yes, they do have the staff to get them to the top. The top 6 is clearly fiercely competitive, but there is nobody I'd rather have in those positions.

Maybe that's why many guards don't always toss at the same time.

2 predictions in 1: Cadets and Mandarins both climb!!!!!!

I've heard talk about 2022 proposals. There are loads of suggestions out there that the committees will be exploring. Stuff I liked: Pistol start Pistol stop at about 10 minutes and judging stops ... then all heck can break loose for another 90 seconds. 1 throwback piece of music I'm down with the traditional uniform

OK... please leave the U.S. government out of this conversation.

Actually, for the first time in years (maybe ever), the Cadets have a plan and they are not just kicking the can down the road!

With all due respect Jeff this topic/thread is basically Madison Scouts 2019 part 2 of 2 . So to be more logical why don’t we have the poster remove the year from the title and have it just say Madison Scouts? Why bother putting the year if the topic/thread is going to host discussions about anything and everything in the history of the corps? Just put a note here saying all discussions are going to be continued at topic X In the thresd/topic Starting with page X we’re going to allow 2020 only discussions

The Cadets will be fine for 2020. There will be a big announcement in the near future outlining the plan for the Cadets moving forward and a lot of the people spewing doom and gloom will be eating a lot of crow. This I can tell you and it is first hand knowledge: The Cadets have taken delivery of a BRAND NEW set of Yamaha Brass The Cadets have taken delivery of ALL BRAND NEW front ensemble instruments The Cadets Will be taking delivery of a BRAND NEW set of battery percussion The Cadets WILL NOT be competing in Open Class. They will be touring this summer as a World Class Drum and Bugle Corps The Cadets have a Specific budget for the operation of the corps and will adhere to that budget The “back of the house” is being cleaned and when the dust settles the Cadets will be in a much better place (and it will be a better place than many other corps) Finally if you talk to any prospective members or vets who have been attending the winter camps they will tell you that the experience has been first rate and the overall vibe is extremely positive

Buried on page 12 here. Anybody getting excited about BD in 2020! 😎

54-40 or Fight

So much pontificating on here. Everyone going off their own opinions and their own rumors based on people they CLAIM to know who have inside information, but no one knows for sure WHAT is happening. I would LOVE to know what music Cadets are playing this year.

"Captain, how soon can you land?" "I can't tell." "You can tell me. I'm a doctor." "No. I mean I'm just not sure." "Well, can't you take a guess?" "Well... not for another two hours." "You can't take a guess for another two hours?"

Your hurtful comment has ripped open the emotional scars from your last comment. I was just recovering. At this rate my wounds will never heal...