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I don't even know if you need to fix parity on the front (corps) end. The back/judging end is where you could make lasting reform, and it starts with the silly expectations DCI and it's member groups have about adjudication. <deep breath> Caption bleed is ridiculous and just shrugged at, and nobody can give you practical examples of what GE is, other than "I know it when I see it." The sheets themselves are written so nebulously that it lends itself to any idea of interpretation, and the idea drilled in to everyone's heads that scores obediently improve a little one show to the next, in nice little slotted positions, over the course of a season is patently ludicrous. I can give you a dozen different activities that let judges rank and rate independently, and you rarely get similar results. Hell, remember when *DCI itself* briefly had double panels a few years ago for part of a season? Everyone got so mad that they didn't agree - "how could they see it so differently?" You want parity? Call. It. Like. You. See. It. (And can actually define it.) Off my soapbox. Mike

Today (Friday 7/8) has BAC in the second day of a two-day rehearsal block in Winston-Salem, NC. My sources in the drum corps tell me the excitement is building in preparation for tomorrow's show! Eat 'em up, Boston!

After a drive home and a brief amount of sleep, and washing off an obscene level of humidity induced sweat, I am back with "Thoughts!" Music City - They have a very mature sound and look! Considering the post-covid mass ageout phenomenon across the activity, this was a great surprise to begin with. Any early season jitters have been flushed out as it feels like mid-season form and this was only they 4th competition! An entertaining and interesting show, designed a way that really makes the most of what their member's bring to the table. Crossmen - Are they short of the 150 max? They look smaller. I didn't want to waste the whole show counting but they seemed about 10 or 15 members shy? Sorry if this is addressed in the corps thread. I don't keep up with everything. This could be due to Music City before them filling the field space with props. Xmen props where minimal in comparison. It left a lot of open space. This corps is crisp. The brass was intentionally reserved and carefully chooses the moments to maximize their sound. The battery has some great notes and playing, but so much of it was unfortunately staged behind the mid-field or even back hash. I understand the show concept but the design doesn't really sell the concept too strongly. Fortunately, I truly love the music choices and arrangements. More than makes up for it. Phantom Regiment - After Detroit, I heard lots of the usual bemoaning about corps losing identity and being unrecognizable being laid at the foot of the newly costume-ized Regiment. Don't buy into it. If you were blind, you would still immediately recognize these sounds as Regiment. And even visually this costume still leans to a PR look ... without helmets. No big deal. This year's approach is all aggression. The loudness of the Detroit feed was not a technical snafu. Last year I was commenting with friends at how hard the new percussion crew had them hitting the drums REAL HARD. Now the brass matches ... and then some. And visually, they are pushing velocity and power. All along with classic PR signature marching techniques. Baffling how anyone could question their identity. Bluecoats - Coming out with a show so well-implemented before August should be a crime. The level of detail that goes into throughline here is mastery. As a viewer that tends to get distracted from show concepts while hyper-focusing on the minutiae of specific performer/performance details, I found myself at the end of the show haven't not been sidetracked even once. With that being said, it seems obvious that the design staff has plans to further curate this piece and I cannot wait. Brass is very good. Guard is deceptively good. They don't fall into the trap of setting up irrelevant expositions of technique that some of the top guards get into. The work is seamless into the show design yet still incredible. While the battery is great, what will make the difference for this percussion is the matching level of talent on display both in the front and on the field. PR Encore - Phantom's new levels of volume makes for a fantastically fun encore. Over the past few years, they have converted this pocket of Indiana into a little home away from home. I've seen PR in Rockford, and they have a great home crowd. But this is right under that tier. Dwight Emmert has forged a nice relationship between the corps, Evansville schools, and the community.

Spring training + tour for 5 weeks & show isn't finished? Learning 20-seconds of drill/day would be over 11&1/2 min of show. DCI needs to bring back under-time penalties.

Easy bet. Detailed on the first page

Parity is tough. Even in pro sports it is not guaranteed. Even with league drafts and revenue sharing there is always the fact that some drafts are better than others. Some players are better than others. Some coaches are just better than others. Some front office management are better than others. Some teams generate more cash in local TV money that others. It's impossible to make the world completely fair, even, and equally as talented. For drum corps the issue is: Funding the corps Finding creative talents and putting together a design team and teaching staff Marketing and finding a brand for the corps to help with recruiting The process of recruiting and auditioning the best possible players and marchers you can find Location - this may not be commonly cited, but location can determine how well or successful things from fundraising to recruiting can be Vision of the corps - not every corps is out to win a DCI World Tile in World Class. Many corps are out there trying to offer opportunity to young people to perform and travel. This, in and of itself, is why I love the activity. Most years I could care less who wins (Open or World). It's truly about performing and experiences. Not every corps can recruit at the national or international level. They have to find the best way to operate within their community or their region.

Its a secret we keep even to this day!

In the latest video, which may or may not exist, you can clearly see, if you can see something that's not actually there, that the level of body work in the hornline is staggering. Major leap up in complexity and difficulty from 2019, which itself was at a new level. Much of it has crossed over into modern dance, and they are performing it with such energy. If there is any one thing that gives them the edge over the competition, I feel like this is it. Nobody moves like BD. Nobody. In watching some of the other very hyped shows, which have definite strengths, any time those members would jazz run or tackle some more complex choreography, my reaction has been, "ohhhhh...." Just not in the same league. How it all ends up is anyone's guess, but the movement is a pretty unique and impressive skill they've made part of their trademark.

How cool to be a HS kid and march in this show! What an experience for them.

GO GET'EM GOLD!!!!!!!!!

I hope this isn't out of line but I just wanted to share this image I have from facebook from Crown in 2013 right after a rainstorm in Nebraska

BAC wins! I’ll have to ask Stephen to close all the windows so the Crownies crying doesn’t keep me up all night. Eat ‘em up Boston!

My favorite memory as a fan was 1982 DCI-Midwest in Whitewater. About an hour before start big thunderstorm blew through. As storm was receding but still misty 27Th Lancers were practicing Danny Boy in the distance. Absolutely magical.

Don't look now but the Blue Stars are on their way to their highest DCI finals placement in the modern era!!! Just watched a bootleg from Drums on in Madison -- Wow!!!! they are not going to be denied by Blue Knights this year - I'm sensing 6th/7th here people.... Congrats to an organization that has stayed with it and not given up -- have maintained their own unique style and have built a solid organization. FCO!

It IS a secret to members and alum but in recent years it's kind of taken on it's own meaning for "Phans" who didn't march here. The older generation might not like me saying this but it has become something anyone can yell, say, or buy a shirt with it on it (available now on the merch trailer😉). It's special to those who know and it's a rally cry and a sense of belonging for those who have a meaning of their own.

I plan on attending Statesboro, GA show this Sunday. It is also streaming on flo, but I am going to finally see a LIVE show since 2019. Stoked!

Want more parity? Donate your time and money to the lower tier corps. Watch them on the field when they’re performing (and cheer loudly) instead of warmups of the higher placing corps in the parking lot. Buy souvenirs from the lower tier corps. When those “lower corps” are getting applause and recognition, more kids will be interested in marching with them. Full memberships will inspire more interest, more giving, etc. Improving parity won’t be beneficial to the activity unless it’s achieved by bringing up the lower corps, not bringing down the higher corps.

I was taught by DCP that it's not about the drop, it's about the recovery of the drop.

You need the fat lady, too. https://youtu.be/pxM13PXRs0E

So, is tonight finally the night for Vanguard's closer?

The new July online edition of Drum Corps World lists the repertoire of Music City in the first article, the first time I've seen it listed anywhere. The first 3 numbers are all original compositions by C.J. Barrow: "It's Been Many Years", "That Fateful Day", and "Heavy Metal Underwater". Then "Heroes" by David Bowie and Brian Eno, and finally "Message in a Bottle" by Sting.

Sucks we can't watch this show on Flomarching. Oh well.

Very true. I read that person's post and though he could be correct about the instructor, people often make it seem like magic. Like somehow one music instructor can magically turn a brass line into an Ott winner. It just does not work that way. If you listen to the best brass lines historically in the the DCI era (BD on many years, old Garfield up to Cadets 2015, Star, Crown, SCV and even some Phantom, Cavaliers and Madison years) you realize that while they did have fantastic instruction they also had super talent and a brass book constructed for that talent. It's never magic. It takes a lot of talent top to bottom, it takes the right constructions of the music book, it takes excellent teaching, and it takes a lot of coordination in how the music will work with the visual program. There is also the natural rate at which musicians can improve in the course of 3 months (camp through tour). A typical high school junior or senior will only improve so much on their instrument depending on how much they play their instrument and whether or not they take private lessons. And that is over the course of an entire school year. Many corps do march HS kids. Even if they are good HS musicians there is a limit on how far they can go over 3 months. Many younger musicians simply have physical limitations in articulation, control, range, etc. Because of this the nature of the brass book has to be constructed for what the full ensemble can handle, and not just the top 10% of musicians in the corps. The notion that someone can come in and turn those kids into pro-level concert artists or get them closer to corps who are marching more music majors with high level experience and long years of lessons is akin to believing in some sort of "THINK" system (a la The Music Man) in which your approach over the course of 3 months will work magic. All of this speaks to why I have loved Drum & Bugle Corps over the decades. I love that good instruction can bring the best out of these marching members and in some cases I believe the activity does work miracles for these kids. I love that. But there are real physical and musical limitations that no instructor can work around. They will make improvements for sure.

You're better than me! Even if someone left their year-round job to spend more time with their corps, I don't see it transforming a brass line into another Ott worthy Crown sound alike > unless I'm missing something... 🤣

I feel your pain over the re-broadcast not showing Blue Devils. I think a lot of people were upset about that. I had been hearing that the re-broadcasts were problematic, despite the live casts being quite good in most cases, so I just decided I was going to stay up late to see BD (NE Ohio) and I was glad I did. They put on a SHOW! They have so much room for growth and yet the show is already such a joy to watch. They perform at such an extraordinary level. Plenty of competition out there and I know Crown, Bloo, SCV and Boston will be heard from, but as of now I have a difficult time seeing BD lose a show.

The Troopers Troopers debut! Can’t think of a more apt title to their show, vorAcious: this corps is dark, aggressive and brooding the whole way through. Oil drums and a giant oil derrick dot the field; the derrick is home to a celloist who is highlighted several times throughout the show. This was a really entertaining show that balanced old and new. Special shout out to brass caption Mary Duerkop - great to see a woman at the helm of a hornline. Troopers brass performed an instant encore of Glory Glory Hallelujah.

another couple of examples - I went to college in Ohio and there were 3-4 guys who marched Bluecoats [who were not even a top 6 corps at the time, and far from the perennial contender they are today]. All from a top BOA competition school, with a competitive drumline, all music education majors, and they were all in college MB, percussion ensemble, wind ensemble, orchestra, WGI drumline (Rhythm X) together, taking weekly lessons at a college level. You can't get nearly the results of that amount of "talent" [I loathe the discourse of "talent" as an innate quality; I prefer "skill" and "experience"] even with the best staff. Look at SCV's drumline, a lot of those guys are Rennick's students at University of North Texas, they're studying individually with him and playing together constantly I think the reality is that a lot of kids who march lower placed corps don't really WANT to march in a top corps. In my non-finalist corps, a lot of people just wanted to march a year or two to have the experience. You have to be a bit - or a lot - of a fanatic to want to go for a corps at the top. And from a "structural/systemic" standpoint, if you have the money to march multiple years, you probably have had enough money to have taken private lessons for years and years...

I’m on the 45 and enjoying every minute

Blue Stars….. YEAH! I like that show! Great hornline!!!! GE is SICK! The field props and uniforms all flowed with the theme! Very impressed! Great run!

Sorry, but Cavies 2003.....

Jim Coates just came out and said rehearsal is cancelled for tonight. Too much lightning in the area still. And they have a long drive to the show tomorrow. We did get to reconnect with some Corps friends while we were here and heard the brass and watched the color guard a little, so not a total loss. Bye for now!

Yes, Crown needs to perform tomorrow night after a week off. I'm curious to see the spread between Crown & Boston tomorrow night.

this would of course be the night that Flo isnt around… if only there were some other way to watch shows… some site where people post videos of things…

I also can report that at both the Quincy and Lynn shows, the stands were jam-packed for the both 7th Regiment and the Spartans right through Surf, Cadets and Boston.

You absolutely should go! And give us a full report.

No, we don’t pay attention to actual subject headers.

Looking forward to tomorrow night.

Appointment tv tomorrow night.

If corps were recruiting the kids to their organization's like college sports, and mom/dad isn't footing the bill, ok maybe. But as a parent who now has a kid marching drum corps, I wish somebody would tell me where I HAVE TO SPEND MY $4-5K a year for my kid to march. That person better pack a lunch, cause it's going to be a long day dealing with me.

Or these corps can roll their sleeves up, put in the work to get better and improve, and not wait around for someone to even the playing field, and hand out orange slices and participation trophies after each show so everyone feels like a winner going home that night. In the last 15 years, we have seen Bloo climb the ladder, Crown climb the ladder, Boston is improving each year and threatening for a place on the podium in 2022. Mandarins from 2010-2016......19th, 21st, 23rd, 18th, 21st, 20th, and 17th. They put the work in, shot up to 13th in 2017, made finals in 2018-19, and have now put the corps in the 6th-8th range on notice in 2022. Heck we just saw Gold who has only been around since 2005, and has only been touring outside of California since 2011, take bronze in 2019 open class, and the other night, beat BDB and SCVC for the first time in their history. Personally, I say screw parity. You want to get better, put the work in and go out and compete. It can be done.

Caption contenders: GE - Bluecoats, Blue Devils, Carolina Crown, Boston Crusaders Visual - Bluecoats, Carolina Crown, Boston Crusaders, Blue Devils Brass: Carolina Crown, Blue Devils, Boston Crusaders, Bluecoats Percussion: SCV, Bluecoats, Blue Devils, Carolina Crown Guard: Boston Crusaders, Carolina Crown, Bluecoats, Blue Devils Will get a better vision at San Antonio Just my 2 cents

It’s “on demand” if you’re on their exact schedule and you’re okay with not seeing the winner of the show. 🤣

I just got the recipe! Holy Fk! If anyone thinks this show couldn't get any better, they are going to choke on those words.. this is just the first week of July ending, what the hell this show going to be!??? Such a monster.

Open class prelims and finals. People skip them and I have no idea why. There ls some great shows and the larger crowd than world prelims gives the energy.

Just trying to stir the pot and show that they “know” about something. A tale as old as time on DCP

Hoping they do a formal march on with the new uniforms pieces. Definitely a cool effect with the removal.

Some used to say it meant "Stickit up their ###" but I don't think that was true. That is what got passed around back in the day. But I am sure it means something else.

6.4 point increase since July 1st! Not too shabby for a group that’s been devastated by sickness for a week. SUTA

I am not a huge Crown fan due to their show designs, but Inferno may be the best show ever to not win Gold. I never got tired of watching it, and to this day it’s one of a half dozen shows I show people who don’t know anything about DCI.