Leaderboard

I don’t get that. In all my years following drum corps I don’t think I’ve ever heard of members from other corps saying BD members thought they were above anyone else or their **** don’t stink. Some people confuse confidence with arrogance. They’re out there rehearsing like everyone else and I can assure you the level of demand isn’t coming easy for them. I can’t believe I’m coming to the defense of BD. Lol

I applaud someone having a YouTube channel like this. I would call it something else though. March or Bake March or Cut the Lawn March or Change the Oil in my Car ...March or Die is a bit extreme.

I've gotten tired of saying "Regiment members turned it on at the end of the season and maxed out their show" when the show they were given was a mess. I'm happy to see that the members are now being given a competent design that is worth their effort. The future is bright.

Are we just stating obvious things now? They haven't won every DCI championship in their existence, so they obviously have been "beaten at their own game." Are you about to tell us that Crown brass is very good at what they do but have been beaten at their own game as well?

Your first sentence is some grade A backtracking. Expect some pushback if you’re going to make a claim that the BD organization lacks humility. I’m sure you would defend Regiment if someone came on their thread and took a ****.

You came into a blue devils thread, made an over-generalizing and negative comment about the organization, and expect people to not tell you off? I believe the new generation would call this *snowflake behavior*

After having watched them at "Concert in the Parking Lot" posted a while ago, I remarked how they were all so young. I had not seen such a young Phantom Regiment - perhaps in all my time of following the corps. I am astounded. I am astounded at the depth of the horn line and the maturity of all the marching members. We come across moments in life that make us have a paradigm shift. I hear moments of pure Phantom Regiment in that horn line that I think young people would not be capable of producing. I am so wrong about how I look at the capabilities of young people. The aura of this corps shines through. They face challenges and they always bounce back. They.always.bounce.back.

Might be a generational thing but I’ve never found BD’s music from the past decade or so to be “sophisticated” their writing continues to be jazz inspired and apart from 2010, 2012, and MAYBE 2013 (I enjoyed those shows too but they were admittedly esoteric and “sophisticated”), they’ve been one of the most melodic and fun to listen to corps

Can you give us an example of something that happened to you personally with BD, staff, members? What was said or done that makes you believe they need more humility? Or is it that they are consistently on top, and you are looking for any reason to tear them down because you want to see someone else win?

Holy smoke. YouTube video of the year. Wow.

she started percussion this year in school! 3rd generation....she's the family's Ben Solo!

I saw something on Instagram that leads me to believe they will wear hats/shakos in 2022. I like that. Hope it catches on.

I want them to bring Darius Milhaud to the field. Here’s an excerpt. https://youtu.be/DB8e_V_4b2s

No more Shakespearean voice overs. And please, no more rave clubs.

Blue Devils' nation. What do you expect from the 2022 edition of BD returning to the field ? What changes would you like to see, and what predictions do you hold in regards to music writing and selections ? Will there be a shift in design approach, and how influential do you think they "might" become in the current/post pandemic of the activity? Will there be a shift with the organization, changing and morphing into a bigger and a better entity that they are now, expanding and growing way stronger; Or do we see a dwindling down of who BD is for past many years ? For discussion sake, let's discuss and answer some of these questions and let's talk about our expectations and predictions. Will we see a WOW BD production for 2022 ? Or Will it be the WTF! BD show. What's your thoughts on this ? What type of shows do you like most of BD ? Ps. Even the bashers are welcome to give their thoughts 🤪 I'm most interested to know what you think.

Hope it’s not too early for this, but I think the future looks bright for Phantom after their performance tonight! This Phan is VERY happy and excited.

76 BD was phenomenal! I was there.

Yeah. I wasn't even born yet Lol. Yes i have seen the 1976 show.

No personal slight taken. It’s hard to be sore at a phellow phan.

I was being semi-sarcastic, sorry. I see you're a huge Blue Devis fan. I am too.......sort of kinda. I don't know if you're old enough but did you see them live in 1976? If not, watch their show on Youtube. That was the apex of the activity during that era.

Atleast you're honest

If someone posts a contrary comment, why does it lead to that kind of "sexual taboo" reaction? Can I honestly ask that?

I was addressing some of the fanboys/fan girls on DCP not necessarily the organization as a whole. I have, however, witnessed less than professional behavior from marching members of BD over the forty+ years I’ve been involved in the activity. Isolated cases but ones that reflect on the organization. Want an example? Your comment about me wanting to tear them down is precisely what I’m talking about! They might not be my cup of tea, but hey, it’s a free world and we don’t need to bad talk people who feel different from you.

Just keeps getting better! Official full show!

Show us on the doll, exactly where the Blue Devils hurt you.

Or for some Don't March and Don't Watch.

nope tics were by far

This is interesting i like it. Knowing BD design team, i'd bet it might be done in a way never expected. I am curious what the arrangements would be. I am going to explore more of Darius Milhaud on YT

More swing-type music. I enjoyed Cavaliers' Sing Sing Sing so much. So many of BD's charts are so sophisticated they're a little difficult to follow sometimes. Dumb things down just a bit for old coots like me who like to tap their feet to the music.

after Allentown i didnt watch again until the last night

I expect they will be excellent as always

There’s more

A little humility would help.

Yeah, I can agree to that point about preseason BD hype, it's kind of almost not needed because of the predictable expectations to be "So good". But what i get curiously hype over is the type of show they might do, i'm always finding it interesting, because you never know what they might do. It kind of like a mystery to me because the shows are so versatile, imho. I have never had or used one of those rotary phone, all i do when i see one is to steer at it. Lol.

The 2019 Drum Corps Associates Grand Champions FREE Players performing at DCA Finals And props to the Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni for providing the FREE Players an honor guard for their performance.

I would be in total agreement on that. GE should be worth a lot less of the pie compared to music and visual.

If true, then the DCI judges would not as a collective group have asked the Corps Show Designers in 2016 to come to them BEFORE the season started in 2017 and verbally explain to them what their upcoming show themes were all about in terms of its substance and messaging. The DCI judges did so because as a group they admitted that they were sometimes confused with previous years shows, and wanted the DCI Show Designers, if they wanted to, to sit down with them before the season began to explain what their show would be about. I know of a few Corps that took advantage of that outreach and participated in the preseason verbal explanation with the judges ( as well as a few corps that for whatever reason declined to take advantage of that offering ). Many shows with their themes are highly communicative via music and visuals, and thus there is no need to " splain " to audiences and judges alike what you are attempting to convey. There is something amiss in your show design if at the end of your show audiences appreciate the performance from a technical proficiency standpoint, but are confused as heck with what your show was about. Sure, judges eventually get around at some point during the season to having your theme and show explained to them, but most in the audience around the country at all these shows, have to relie on what they saw and heard on the field from your Corps. I prefer those shows that are able to move me with their show and theme musically and visually in a coherent fashion so that at least at some basic level I understand the show and theme. Otherwise, forget themes, and messaging attempts altogether, and just dazzle us with your performance abilities alone, sans " show themes ". Lord Knows, Corps corps were able to do so for decades without the need for such attempts at introspective navel gazings with some of these shows/ themes that have audiences confused as heck, and even judges themselves of late needing your show and theme and messaging " splained " to them even before the season begins.

Blue Devils will no doubt be taking marchers from the " fan favorite Corps" into their ranks next summer to help them to continue to win with the Judges. DCI prides itself on embracing " change ".. but some things never change, ie... like the annual 40 + year pilgrimage by the young. talented and motivated to Concord, Calif in their search for the Holy Grail... another BD Championship. lol.

True but I also remember PR as well as Cadets ( mike can vouch for the no more war show ) who gave a hand out at shows. With that said, and this also goes to judging. One can watch a show they completely do not understand and appreciate so many aspects of it, musically visually, emotionally.......If they want to IMO PR was a fav. of mine this year for many reasons , including visually and musically. I think it was a fine moment for them in a while BUT so was Bluecoats and others. Sometimes ( again to judging a product ) one looks beyond the obvious to enjoy many many layers that make up a program. There's beauty in simplicity ( meaning stripped down and a raw focused program ) as well as a full on extravaganza . Both can be done exceptionally as well as some done not well at all. I really don't like ( although I tried not to and did..lol ) over think anything from this year because I believe this year IMO shouldn't be a year of picking anything apart but celebrating every single person on that field for just being there. It didn't have to happen and every single program is not just a winner but a testament to so much more than just a drum corps show. These MMs especially are ALL gold medal winners no matter the program and people I think showed their appreciation as they should have to these incredible young people during one of the worst times in our lifetime. Bravo to them ALL !

Well then you have met your first criteria mark for marching (sort of..) Couchmen (or DCA in the early 2000's)!

Wait....there is a subset of "pageantry people" who can be self absorbed and expect people to hang on their every word and decision? I'm now preparing my shocked face.

Some very VERY big assumptions have been posted in this thread. There is a very old saying at Cadets ... when they Zig we Zag. Maybe the ZAG is going traditional, marching drill and playing a meaty brass book. Sometimes old is new. Tradition is also about remembering who you are. Members at The Cadets have been repeating the same words over and over for the past few years. I've heard it way too many times to count ..... "I want to fly around the field at 212 bpm with my hair on fire in Maroon and Gold". They got what they asked for (mostly). When it was announced that the 2020 show design was being put on the shelf and the 2021 show tunes were listed .... all I heard was< "YESSSSS! In West Points? YESSSSS!!!! Wth the Stripe? YESSSSS!!!!!! Omg, I have to practice or the crowd will hate us........" I'm sure Phantom felt the same way, reacted the same way and pushed forward ... the same way. It lit a fire and hunger in their membership because they knew they had an awesome opportunity to throw one down... come what may. To assume that the 20 somethings don't want to do the same thing/look the same way/play as many notes/march actual drill - as we did back in the day is just plain wrong. Corps with a strong identity and tradition attract a certain type of person. That person wants to continue the legacy that made that corps AWESOME. The problem for the designers is figuring out how to use that tradition and identity and merge it with modern ideas that will appeal to judges, membership and alumni. II think the big takeaway from 2021 is ... what will the judging community do with this new information? What will the design teams and administrations do with the rules congress's going forward? A shift has been needed for while. I think it's finally here. I just hope those in power have the foresight to do the right thing with this new knowledge.

Keep scoring but write shows that appeal to the crowd instead of feeding the ego of the Pageantry Leaches* (* used by permission)

I agree he has some valid points. The electronics were too strong this past year. Personally I think some corps did use this year to experiment a bit and that was due to no judging. There were also more moments where electronics had issues. My guess is many notes were taken as to what worked and didn’t work and when competition is back, the electronics might be more balanced. I won’t hold my breath, however. There may be even more complaints than this year about electronics. As far as this past year was concerned, I loved it, loved what the corps did, enjoyed the audience interaction with the corps, and do believe limited stress regarding competition all played into a great experience. That being said, before we look at this year as a model going forward, there are things to consider. One is the audience. The audience was smaller this year for many valid reasons. From what I could see it was an older crowd. I’m also willing to bet many were seasoned fans and few people went to Indy for their first drum corps experience. Many of us who went believe that supporting the activity was crucial at this time. I’m not an “everyone gets a participant trophy” guy, but each year I attend I am in my seat when the first corps takes the field and am there when the final scores are announced. I do give everyone a standing ovation just because I am glad they are there. The same happened this year. That’s the crowd that was in Indy this year. Regarding Phantom and Cadets, loved both shows. When I first saw Cadets in Quincy I would have been bawling if I was a cryer, but the purpose of the retro show this year was not just a trip down memory lane. When we left off in 2019, Cadets survival was questionable. The corps was in debt, the show was not well received which could have hurt recruitment. I know we always hear Cadets alumni would never let the corps die, it could have happened. Cadets had to show they were a vibrant, viable corps to future members and alums. That they more than did, but as much as I loved the show, it may not have worked in a competitive year. For Phantom, 2003 with its classic arrangements was amazing, however while the arrangements were largely the same, and the show included some great retro drill moves, it was not an exact duplicate. I don’t thinks fans would be praising Cadets or Phantom if this was a competitive year. I have followed drum corps since 1975. I became more knowledgeable when I was in high school and knew people who marched with different corps. None of the top corps competed to entertain crowds and be the audience favorites. They were fierce competitors and if they existed today would still be fierce competitors. I know when we look back at favorites such as 27th, North Star, Bridgemen, Velvet Knights, Sky Ryders, Kilties, etc. We forget how competitive these corps were and I do not believe any corps really cared more about entertaining the audience than winning a show. Audience love was frosting on the cake but not the main goal. 2021 was an example of all the best drum corps has to offer, but I think it is a one and done event, not the path forward for the future.

I must have missed PRmoter's post earlier and I share your reaction. It was thrilling to watch the crowd at LOS on Saturday start the bringing down the house the moment PR first walked out of the tunnel. I too will be making a donation to the Regiment.

Let me just add that I was one of those gay boys in the shower. Half our guard was male and 75 percent of those male members were gay and believe me, the last thing on my mind was who was in the showers with me at any given time. I was just happy if we got warm showers as at least half of the time we didn't, and the only thing on my mind when showering was speed as I wanted to get clean, get dressed, eat breakfast, put on sunscreen, find some clean socks, and get my butt to warm ups on time. That was it and I would venture a guess that this is still the case for gay guys marching in drum corps now.

If you have enough energy to have sex in the shower after rehearsal, you aren't working hard enough.

Guys, gals . . . Homosexuals are real people. If you are NOT homosexual, you have nothing to fear. What more should be said?