Leaderboard

You have to be inside the ice cream cone of silence.

along with being a Cadet marching member from 1964-1973 and a long time volunteer, donor, owner and principal at Gen Realty, LLC and has been a principal in Equity Options Hedge Funds since 2009, a member of Inspire Arts and Music Board of Directors since 2016 (aka Boston Crusaders BOD), a key "matching donor" of the M&G Club, and further education Ohio University, Athens, OH Marketing Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ Business Law Fairleigh Dickinson - but sure he can't run an ice cream stand. Gotcha.

but why wasn't the board already in place?! that alone makes me think this is a bit of a banana republic. one of the main criticisms that haunted GH was that the board worked for him (and enabled him), rather than the correct way around. if you're gonna start fresh, DO IT RIGHT, and we have not done that.

This is literally perfect and lets not forget the COO/CFO has no, nada, nothing on business/finance or honestly running a drum corps. He joined YEA! in 2016 as the IT guy when George Hired him... Took over director of ops after sean king was in and out.... and now landed this gig... When you promote within and hire the board to do what you say and not to help you run an organization... BIG YIKES!

I’m off the interNUT for a few hours and look what happens.

I can think of a few reasons. One, some answers may be vague, and there could be legitimate reasons why some things may be vague. Second, there are some who will only want to hear what they want to hear. For me, as long as what they say satisfies marching members, staff, parents, and donors, that is what matters most.

Dude. It's Spongebob. Relax. Not quite the same as asking to throw band directors - you know, the ones who teach those who go on to do drum corps - into the cutely animated jellyfish fire.

Glad we're clear.

Recap: Introduce the leadership team - Denise, Justin, Brad, Ron March 31 transition to a new organization 501 c 3 not yet handled but definitely will by March 31 "Most" copyrights to show music have been obtained Guard is 50% contracted Percussion full Brass "down to single-digit holes" Brass knows 33% of the show Things are "going great" WRT the corps and the show Spring training site TBD "95%" of sponsors are "the same;" Denise "can't disclose" the few changes New board TBA March 31 No new fundraising initiatives; same stuff: M&G, Power the Cadets; March-a-thon forms Commentary: What are they doing? In any organization the BOARD is first and the BOARD hires the management team, not the other way around! The managers work FOR THE BOARD. The COO has a "consulting company" that "supports non-profits." Uh.... what? No spring training site?! IT'S LESS THAN 90 DAYS AWAY! I feel exactly zero confidence in donating to this organization which hasn't provided any clear answers about whether it is a non-profit charity or not ####

dodge bob weave dodge dodge bob

Hopefully! 😝 (ducks and runs...)

Clearly a rookie

And that’s Squidwards instrument to boot... #### I’m 62 and knew that. 😫

Because Greg Pych shouldn’t be in charge of anything, even an ice cream stand in July. What a joke.

Thank you sir for the reasonable response to the Cadets webinar. The cynicism about this organization is really sad. I have faith in the current team and believe they are on a positive trajectory. Feel free to insult me if you want.

I don't think that's technically correct. I think they raised money but it was probably all spent on debt and crap, resulting in the generous person stepping in. My two cents.

thanks for the summary - I had done a similar one in the other thread agree on your concerns - however I have confidence in Denise and many others involved SO I am donating (a modest 3 digit monthly donation) but will increase that if/when more details are announced they can gain much more goodwill and confidence on or by March 31st but announcing a STRONG board of directors that exudes confidence, independence and expertise - that would be huge for the future

Not enough information about what is actually happening with the organization. None of that information gave me confidence that they are going to be okay. When the management team did not do enough research about a 501c3 and that they do need it to be able to fundraise. The fact that they did not answer how are they allowed to be in world class with a brand new 501c3 after the DCI rule changes... So many questions that were asked to a simple "We dont see any questions..." and ends the call before Denise can even say bye.... Wow... Not sure if thats the face you want to put for your first meeting as the new cadets!

Time to take charge T.

Why do I have a feeling there will be more questions then answers!

I’m Dirt I’m Dirt! And it’s car engines I like to hurt!

oh Lord. i'll warn the Borough

They decidedly did not raise a ton of money last year. They didn't even have the money to buy horns this year. A generous person bought the horns from Yamaha and is lending them to the corps for the summer.

two more upcoming webinars March 19, 2020 8:00pm EST UPCOMING Meet the The Brass Design Team April 20, 2020 8:00pm EST UPCOMING Meet the The Design Team So - the one that just happened > there were two trolls on the questions - Moi and Harrison - hard to take either seriously. Wonder if they are also posting here? (Magic 8 ball says yes) Some news: 4 team members covered bio BOD announced March 31 New website March 31 Organization name is simply "Cadets Organization" Implied the 2 satellite camps were a longer view strategy to increase the reach of the organization Horn line non-contracted spots down to single digits - complimented talent level Percussion full with "incredible talent" corps running 2 shows (Allentown and Annapolis) plus a third they are still finalizing venue Guard at 50% contracted which is ahead of the 30% they were at last year same time Brass has first two tunes 30% - brass getting third at next camp & at April camp rest of music will be to brass & percussion Wine & Cheese fundraiser in April - invites and details soon, great success last year YES - they can legally accept donations at this time April - show would be announced on Maroon & Gold Day Ticket sales through DCI this season (I personally would assume this is how DCI will recoup funds for YEA! debt Music copyright secured stands at 85% and should be 100% very soon ST site (implied at a university) announced "within a week or so" Drill/Visual design - moving along well Re: Alumni > communication a focus and newsletter out soon YES - you will know it's THE Cadets as soon as you see the corps Things not addressed - the status of YEA! more explanation to the "divorce" other than saying it will allow the new organization to focus on the corps Did not delve into legal matters etc - so those topics went untouched

If you didn't, I'd be dialing 911!

Wouldn't know if it was predictable, but I was hoping for more transparency.

They said they have about 80% of the copyrights done for the show. How the heck would they know if they're going to make the top 12? Clearly that's something that they're striving for (and obviously higher), but why bother. Some answers were very bumpy and they should have been more prepared for some of the incoming questions.

Questions asked and not answered. A Fan 6:22 PMWill there be any partnership with USBands in the future? Moi. 6:11 PMHow long will it take to improve the tone quality of the non trumpet mm who were at the recent FL camp? 6:37 PMWill we make top 12 this year? Cadet90 6:19 PMDo you have the rights to the music yet? Harrison Thomas Also concerned with the COO & CFO with finance capabilities

any show that conveys 1 thing the entire time is boring. all of those shows have places where the darkness you speak of is broken up, thank goodness. morning allelujahs in 93 was a real breath of fresh air after all of the heaviness of the first 3/4 of the show. i love that whole era of the cavies. masculine is a generally useless word to describe any of those shows. just because mars was god of war doesn't make the music holst wrote in that piece male or female. it's just weird to think of music that way to me. and my dad would've called all of the guard members in all of those shows...well, he wouldn't use the word "masculine" to describe them, let's put it that way. a lot of people wouldn't. it's disgusting to me the way people use gender as a pejorative, but there it is. also, i loved 98 cavies. my favorite part of the show was actually the dance mvmt called for the woodwinds, and it was super light and whimsical.

Maybe Shell? I remember ads with a "Shell Experimental Car" or something like that... it ran several hundred miles on a gallon of gas. Lots of coasting, lots of barely tapping the gas pedal. LOL. How about those Cadets?

Wouldn't that be an oboe?

Considering your contention, I wonder if you can add any color to why you feel this way. Admittedly, his time at Ohio University make me wonder if he takes life seriously, but it's obvious that he straightened his life around since then. 🙂 I've enjoyed talking with him and, clearly, he has a rich and deep history in both the activity and Cadets staff and administration.

the dark side of the force

Lol added to my bucket list, buy University of Guam t-shirt (if place still exists). Long story lol edit: add Guam Community College to the list too.... went to a CC myself

I’m understanding now, community outreach worker who puts together an outreach strategy, providing strategic communications for inter-city communities in return for government funding.

I appreciate the exhaustive research you put into this.

details?

The sad thing to me was that we had such a great year in 1971, with Frank Dorittie, George Tuthill and Bobby Hoffman as the staff. When George was let go after 71, a good percentage of the drumline left and went to the Cabs where he was also drum instructor. If I recall, 2 of 4 snares, 2 of 4 timps and all 3 of the tri-tom section quit. None of us were near to aging out. If we could have kept the line together, who knows where we could have gone the next couple of years. i did go back in late winter, but I played horn...I mean, who wanted to be in a Fred Sanford drumline? 🙄

I respect your consistency.

😳

Lets talk about mental health in the activity.....

Just an FYI, my blistering remarks are no more reality based than your images of a burning clarinet. Some comments are said just to arouse a response, and apparently that worked. I'm sure a woodwind player may be deeply offended by your graphic image, but only if they took it literally, or personally. It also occurs to me that your images have again nothing to do with the Madison Scouts in 2020, which we are constantly reminded to stay centered within. This is a talk forum, not a venue for do it at home psycho analysts. Otherwise, no apologies.

I thought the same thing ... so I retired!

On YT there’s a live PMG video of “First Circle,” 1989 Montreal Canada. Have lost count of the number of times I’ve viewed it over the years, and Lyle Mays’ keyboard feature during that performance still leaves me breathless.

That’s really dark, Dude.

Around 12:35 sounds incredible in person. I heard it at the December and January camps, and it sounds glorious. Made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I first heard it. Just a sneak peak of something you will be playing on repeat this coming summer. Go Crown!!

Hello, all – my name is Michael and I marched mellophone in the 1996 Cavaliers and was absolutely obsessed with drum corps in the late 80s and 90s when I was in high school and college. I started to lose interest in drum corps after about 2009 and stopped going to shows or paying much attention to what was going on in DCI at all. I still went to finals in 2011 and was thoroughly unimpressed. I decided to pay to watch 2019 finals at home to see again if things had gotten any better. Let’s just say the Beatles are my favorite band and the Bluecoats got me back into watching drum corps big time. I had so much fun that night, I spent some big bucks and bought all the DCI blu-rays going back to 2013, the first year I stopped buying DCI DVDs before. I must say, generally I’m still unimpressed, but there are some great shows out there now from the last six years. The trends in the activity are interesting and to buy up the whole recent history of DCI in one go and take it all in for the first time was wonderful. I’ve read a fair amount of what’s going on in this forum to learn what other “old-timers” here think about the “new stuff”. I decided not to read too much more of that until I made this first post and give my impressions of what’s going on from my own “naïve” individual point of view as a “re-newcomer” to DCI again, without knowing much of what others think. I think some readers might find this a unique way of seeing how an old-timer might feel about this wealth of stuff that’s brand-new to me. Overall, I don’t really like the fact that shows are still often unentertaining, unmelodic, rambling, obscure, and that there are too many huge props and synthesizers. I hate amplified extended storytelling and singing, and miss uniforms as opposed to “costumes”. I do like that you can amplify solos over the “loud parts” now, though. I’m also surprised at how much I enjoy the addition of trombones. There are a lot of really effective glissando parts, especially with the 2016 Blue Devils. Generally I still don’t like post-2008 BD, but they still put out a couple winners for me: 2012 and 2016. I don’t know why they can’t stick to playing the same tune for more than 16 measures and I think their “oddness” seems a little pretentious. That said, they’re probably the best musicians I’ve ever heard, truly virtuosic sometimes, as is Carolina Crown’s brass. (I know 2012 BD is the oddest, but I learned about dada in college, and to see and hear BD’s interpretation of it fascinating. I guess that means I probably should learn more about the meanings of their more recent shows, in BD’s defense.) The greatest shows of the “new era” to my eyes (why does nobody have killer drill anymore?) and ears would be 2016 Bluecoats, 2015 Cadets, 2015 Crown, 2016 Crown, 2016 Devils, 2013 Cadets, 2018 Boston, and 2019 Bluecoats, in no particular order. Crown ruined several otherwise amazing shows with narration and singing. 2018 Bluecoats, 2015 Bluecoats, 2014 Cadets, 2017 Cadets, and many others’ did, too. It’s sad to see the decline of great corps like the Cadets and Phantom. (But 2015’s Cadets were very 1990s-ish and fantastic for it. Best Cadets show since 1993.) I didn’t like 2016 Bluecoats’ show at first but have to come to consider it one of my all-time favorites. What time signature is that relentless Spanish song in, anyway, 13/8??? They actually made Pink Floyd work on the drum corps field, too. (They need to do the Pinkcoats for 2020 for sure.) They also made great use of their giant props that year, unlike their giant chairs later – pretty much like all the other corps with giant props. That cheesy wink thing was kinda cool though. Crown was amazing in 2016, too, taking that 1993 Star music in completely the opposite direction and telling an epic story with it successfully. I was practically hanging off the edge of my seat holding my breath to see how that show would end on my first viewing - a first for me. It’s too bad corps often play such difficult horn parts now that they usually can’t march while playing them, but BD and Crown are still amazing musicians. Crown managed impressively to march through a few ridiculously hard parts over the years, though. Also fantastic now is all the body choreography by the horn players in more shows now. 1993 Star was way ahead of their time. I know I personally never had the coordination to do any of that. It looks like my Cavies have been engaging in some “rebuilding” years, but 2019 looks like the beginning of a great corps coming back. But just say no to singing and cheesy electronic sound effects, guys. Some of their newer uniforms are really great I’m surprised to say. The men in green will always be my brothers and it’s exciting to see their new directions. Splooie! Santa Clara is generally excellent every year, too, but not enough so to make me comment on anything specific, other than maybe 2015’s Spark of Invention. Boston’s made some great strides in the last few years, their “SOS” production being my favorite show of 2018. It’s good to be literal sometimes; too many shows today have such obscure themes if any at all – just visual motifs. I don’t want to go on too long and I know I’ve been kinda rambling, but thought some people might be interested in what somebody who’s re-lost his “drum corps virginity” without tainting myself yet with today’s general opinions. I hope I haven’t said anything too inappropriate that might have offended anyone. One of my general impressions, though, is that every top 6 corps’ musicians are now musical virtuosos compared to anything from the 90s. And maybe despite what I’ve said about some shows, I really do love almost all of them to some degree or another and am thrilled to be back. I am very much looking to getting my 2019 blu-rays soon and watching much of 2020 live online. “Number 9” \ “Turn me on Deadman”

I don't care either way & I'm not a mod. There was just a ton of conversation already in this thread about the YEA! changes PRIOR to the "other thread" so it seemed a bit misguided Additionally I would like to make another point: I certainly hope (and assume) that 95% or greater of the folks posting in EITHER thread want nothing but the best for the Cadets. However, it's a bit important to be realistic - there are a small number of folks posting either aligned with GH or the folks that led the corps in 2018 & 2019. All are entitled to their perspective - however it would be GREAT if everyone was just honest with their feelings or "agenda" -- and here is where the discussion is lacking. DCP allows anonymity - which is fine. We thought a great deal about requiring users to display their real name when I first formed DCP and decided against it - but the nature of RAMD at that time made me (us) heavily consider it. However I felt it was necessary to allow - due to value of letting someone share their perspective privately in certain situations. This is akin to allowing an assault victim or witness to share information or allegations privately in police/court cases - such as a "crime tip" It's interesting now since we have (at least) 1 of the GH victims posting here. A wonderful perspective to be shared. Of great value IMO However - we also have "friends" of GH (there's a group of folks aligned with GH who believe, to this day, that "a group of cranky alumni used allegations to "steal away" the Cadets from GH Hard to believe - but these folks exist. Quite sad and alarming. So - several of that group are also posting here Then the past two years - there's a couple (one quite vocal) who clearly are aligned (friends?) with the folks leading the corps in 2018/2019. That I have a bit more (personal) sympathy for. Those were hard working and very well meaning individuals. However, mistakes were made (some more than once) in that the organization "under-delivered" and over-promised in my view. Most concern mistakes (member housing, show design decisions and over-spending) weren't just made ONCE they were made twice So - another agenda being "shared" behind anonymous screen names. So - my advice is "reader beware" Anyone with a noodle realizes a few things about the Cadets right now: 1. They are in clear "rebuilding mode" - both fiscally & competitively 2. Currently the Cadets are a mid-finalist type corps (10th-6th range) - competitive success, great member experience and great show design will result in more auditioneers next winter and beyond 3. Cadets corps isn't "full" YET. Percussion is reported to be in good shape. A "few" additional brass spots remain. Guard tryouts are underway vs. video and happen in April. But they'll be full in May and perhaps a bit younger than recently. Young is a risk, but the tour is well-built to max out a younger corps. It allows for more basics & more ensemble time 4. In the activity we need the Cadets - folks mention the "10 world championships" while ignoring the time/role prior to the combine & pre-DCI. Let's be positive, be hopeful and be a bit patient. I believe in the team leading the corps NOW. And I believe in the corps' legacy. It will get there! The work-ethic of the corps and these people will serve them well Those posting anonymously - just be HONEST about your perspective. If you believe in GH - say so. If you wish Scott was still running the corps - announce that. Everyone is entitled to share their perspective - but please, be honest about it! Finally - Garfield - thanks as always for your thoughtful, calm posts. I always enjoy and gain something from reading them! Thanks, George.

yup. i marched in a few 6 man...person...lines, taught some, judged some, and worshiped the Crossmen 6 pack attack years under Thurston. It's how you A) tune them and B) write for them. if you just look at #6 as the power drum, yeah it's pointless.