Leaderboard

Things have changed since then. We probably are all aware (at least from historical accounts, if not from personal experience) that verbal abuse was often part of the training technique for most physically demanding competitive endeavors. If it was used in the military (from where drum corps originated), then it was thought to be appropriate for coaching sports at equivalent age levels, and even the marching arts. The most revered, character-developing generals, coaches, instructors... even band directors... were best known for their mouths. If you visit rehearsals today, you will probably notice that contemporary corps staff prefer to teach/coach without resorting to verbal abuse. The change in rehearsal culture is profound.

Yep, with the hearing issue in one ear I leave captioning on all the time. And if I miss something (audio or visual) that rewind button on the remote works real fine. And let’s not get into the needed bladder break where a pause button is 👍

There is also a marching band made up of 250 band directors from all 50 states marching in the parade. They will accompany a float made in tribute of band directors. Pretty cool. There is a live stream of the Band Fest held today and tomorrow on the TofR Music Facebook page.

Stopped reading here.

FYI - The BOA Honor Band is marching in the Rose Parade on NY's morning. Feedback from my son so far is that the group sounds great. Also saw that Hebron from TX is marching as well. They are always a treat to watch/listen to.

Getting called out is one thing, making it personal (allegedly) is unprofessional.

Overall I am in agreement with you at least as far as grouping. Your top six will in all likelihood be the top six and I would have Bloo and BD in the top three, but I think whether BAC, SCV, or Crown is in the top three is up for grabs. Though I wish Crown had traveled to Indy so I could see their show live, I was impressed with what I saw and my understanding is that last year’s show was planned with a view towards this year. BAC’s show was the show closest to what a corps would have done competitively, at least in my opinion, and to me it demonstrates their growth. SCV has Michael Gaines which is always a strength and while Cavies at 6th is possible, they can be surprising. Your choices for 7-10 would be similar to mine, though I think for Cadets and Phantom, we’ll be seeing their shows improve over 2019 and predict better things for the future. I think I would have Pacific Crest in finals over Spirit returning to finals based on last summer, but I wouldn’t bet the farm either. I heard quite a few members of PC marched with Blue Devils in prior years but went to PC so they could march. If they didn’t age out, they’ll probably return to BD. As far as wild cards, Genesis was pretty strong last summer and with Music City the corps attempted something different and I felt they worked hard at improving it, especially seeing their first show in Quincy and their final performance in Indy. It will be interesting to see where they end up this summer.

The WSS matinee I went to was nearly full. Also, the three elderly women blocking the exit while going on about the shabby linoleum in the apartment didn’t get the memo. Lol. That was your take away ladies? Oy vey!

Modeled after one of the Looney Tune honchos Friz Freling… Yeah I know WAY too much about cartoons (and way too many Looney Tune DVDs 😆)

This is my kind of instructor:

I couldn’t agree with you more.

I keep asking myself if I would make an accusation knowing there were at least 149 other members/staff who could confirm or deny said accusation. The question to me is not whether it happened but what PR/DCI will do going forward to prevent similar incidents.

Thanks - sometimes it's hard to tell in this thread.

I think the sarcasm emoji was left out.

Ay Dios Mio!

Well if it wouldn’t bother you, then why should it bother anyone else? 🙄 And if being “woke” means thinking how others would react under certain situations then sign me up.

I would hope there is more to that person than their given birth name (dead now?) or sexual identity. But, perhaps I give more credit to human beings as I am a glass is half full type of guy. Not being woke or jumping on any bandwagon of faux outrage before knowing what the facts are goes a long way to being reasonable. A few isolated incidents doesn't make a pattern nor does it make it nearly into the realm of other crap that has been in DCI for decades or even come close to Hoppygate. Also, to point out yet again, condemning anyone waiting to hear the facts or labeling them as "quaint" doesn't make your case for a mob style lynching. I want to hear from the marching members to get both what was said and what the context was.

“Getting ribbed” You make it sound so quaint. Do those same professionals get results by dehumanizing and attacking the very essence of one’s being?

I sure would like to hear from members that actually witnessed this. Too many here are siding with woke mob mentality. I frankly don't even understand all the nuances at play here as it relates to reality. Certainly most if not all here that have marched drum corps at some point got called out from an instructor on the field that wasn't very nice.

I am predicting that the 2022 DCI season will be intensely competitive. I also anticipate most of the shows will be sold out. My thoughts on placements are below: 1. Blue Devils 2. Crown 3. Bluecoats 4. Santa Clara / Boston 5. Boston /Santa Clara 6. Cavies 7. Bluestars 8. Cadets / Phantom 9. Phantom /Cadets 10. Blue Knights 11. Mandarins 12. Spirit of Atlanta 13. Pacific Crest 14. Crossmen 15. The Academy 16. Colts 17. Madison 18. Genesis 19. Music City 20. Jersey Surf 21. Cascades I caveat this prediction by saying its just a meaningless prediction and I would love more folks on here to add theirs. Kind Regards

i think many of us could say that about a parade or two over years ( Barnum 96...actually 2000 also and i was just staff for that)

You mean he wasn’t modeled after George Zingali?

I was only speaking conjecturally, as in "Why would this particular movie be struggling commercially?"

2008...........Prosperie has BD drums 5th and BD takes Silver. DCP............Prosperie is best the best judge ever! He calls it likes he see's and hears it 100% of the time! Prosperie for President!!! 2019...........Prosperie gives BD drums a 10 in achievement, BD holds off the Amazing Powerhouse that is The Bluecoats. DCP............Prosperie knows nothing! He is on the BD payroll! He "ALWAYS" puts BD first!

I can't remember the last time I went to the theater to see a movie. Nothing to do with COVID for me. 😁

Because I think it is an important topic that can benefit from constructive discussions that might lead to solutions that prevent these kinds of harms from occurring in the future, you?

whoever has the highest score of whatever scoring system used after everything is added, multiplied/divided and penalties accounted for wins. (insert corps here) will be viewed as being screwed (insert corps here)'s fans will be considered smug (insert corps here)'s fans will be considered honks (insert judge here) will be clueless/biased i am sure i am missing some, but it's been 2 years i am out of practice

very much so. when i last taught in 2012 it was different from when i first started marching, and it's even more noticeable now. i have been to a few youth sporting events where maybe things were a little too "old school" and even saw a 12 year old call out a coach for yelling in a way that wasn't constructive

Oh, how I miss John Brazale. He was family. He came out with some choice call outs but we all understood things said were to make us think on the field and be better performers. I look back on those days fondly. I understand it was a different day and age from what constitutes today’s drum corps.

I've read parts of both, and I do see your point. All I want is for corps like the Cavies and Phantom to be in form to put together championship shows, so I should focus on that.

Lance, please make the effort to read both threads. Then throw your two cents in. I merely compared the two threads and how differently they have been reacted to. That’s all. Don’t need to start another thread. Have a nice day.

Suta, go start a thread about how you feel phantom gets treated unfairly by fans on social media. This isn't a thread about phantom. Glad that the fmm who spoke up about this acknowledged that the Cavies are addressing this, and let's hope it trickles into any other corps that employ any trace of this kind of braindead culture.

Sounds reasonable. The rabbit hole does go deep on the offended path I am afraid.

Well, to be fair everyone reacts to things differently. That's fine if you want to go down that path, knock yourself out...polite pass from me. For myself, I want to hear from people standing around this person and in the context that it was given. Then "I" can make a decision that I would think a "reasonable" person would give the circumstances around the alleged incidents.

If what I’ve read here is true it was a personal insult based on sexuality (for lack of better term). Thinking of what it would be like if it was based on race, religion or gender. Maybe it’s my Senior/all age background but can see Crap hitting fan. More than ribbing imo.

Depends. I know a LOT of professionals that teach, and teach well, that kind of get in your face and make you better. This is why I want to hear from the people that were there and the context in which this was done. I marched in the 80's and getting ribbed was kind of a normal thing when you were screwing up.

I find this thread a bit ironic. The allegations here are every bit, if not more, serious than those against a Regiment staff member and this is some how laughable? I don’t get it. Where is the hand wringing and the teeth gnashing over the fact that the Cavies’ organization has said nothing about the allegations leveled against them?

You can speak your mind.. just do so within the community guidelines and you'll be fine. Just bear in mind however that words often generate responses and not everyone will agree with your point of view. Moderation here has never and will never be about silencing opinions and discussion.

Suffice it to say, the activity in general needs to take a good look at itself in the mirror.

Drum corps exposes marchers to all sorts of life experiences both good and bad. Should harassment/abuse be condoned? Absolutely not! But every story has three sides to it. We’ve only heard one. That’s why I stand behind the corps working this out between staff and marchers on their own.

They are custom-made 3 valve G bugles hand made by the Horn Doctor (https://www.coolisbac.com/). And yeah he got all the tooling from Kanstul. B.A.C stands for Best American Craftsmen.