Leaderboard

Want to know what's boring? I'll tell you what's boring: the constant, predictable "snarking" at each other that characterizes so many postings. Wake me when it's over, please. ZZZzzzzzzz

Gaines "boarderline boring?" Cappy, the ease with which you can be so judgmental about a highly creative and influential is breathtaking. We should all take your opinion for what it is worth -- at most, very little.

Edit to add: please note that I'm not using this meme in reference to the context in this Simpsons episode. Merely expressing my original desire to engage this person, and thinking better of it.

I got my ticket confirmation from DCI today. Back in section 140.

What the Dickens is a "patch out culture "?

Moderator hat here: Please refrain from making personal comments about posters. Discuss the topic, not a person’s personal viewpoint. Thanks

Sounds like you're in love with him because others agreed it's boring but you keep going back to him. Could only tell you one set since Gaines took over that I remember in SCV drill and that was the horn snap company front. Go back to les mis or spark of invention and those were memorable. And back to staffing topic

Talk about a "safe" message.

You spelled predictable and boring wrong. SCV and Cavies had the same problem this season. I've seen both of those shows done better, by high school marching band.

He may be fantastic, but this is the primary drill set photo he has on his webpage. And for what seems to be a Planets show. C'mon man!

Cappy, way to diss one of the real talents of the activity! Armchair quarterback is the easiest role there is.

I came here looking for a discussion that I thought would be in-progress already. I know it's not World Class, but they are a key piece of the world class parent organization. I'm not suprised that the cost of goods/services continue to affect the activity, but I did not expect this sort of announcement from the SCV organization: https://www.scvanguard.org/vanguard-cadetscurrent-season/ "After much consideration and internal discussion amongst executive leadership, program leadership, and the Board of Directors, Vanguard Music and Performing Arts (VMAPA) is placing The Vanguard Cadets on hiatus. While the summer of 2022 was a historic and successful season for The Vanguard Cadets, it was also the most expensive year to run a drum corps in the history of the activity. Like many other organizations, VMAPA experienced dramatically increased operational costs due to skyrocketing gas prices, nationwide vehicle and equipment shortages, decreased accessibility of affordable housing, Covid-related PPE, and more. These factors, in combination with the current economic climate in the United States, have unfortunately created a financial burden too great for VMAPA to shoulder while running not one, but two incredibly high performing drum corps. “This is not a decision we arrived at lightly,” said Jeremy C Van Wert, Executive Director of VMAPA. “We could never have anticipated the astronomical costs associated with the 2022 season. Everything- from basic food staples, to the buses that transport our members, was twice or three-times as expensive this year. We did our jobs to provide a World Class experience to the members of The Vanguard Cadets this summer and we are incredibly proud of all that they accomplished. Now that we have had time to reflect and take a close look at our financial situation, it is clear that we must place The Vanguard Cadets on a hiatus to protect the future of VMAPA. The Vanguard Cadets have achieved incredible things and it has taken diligent work to produce this excellent performer experience. A scaled back and drastically reduced experience would not have been consistent with the work done to build The Vanguard Cadets brand.” As to the future of the program, Mr. Van Wert said, “It is our hope that economic conditions will improve, and that it will be possible for The Vanguard Cadets to return to the field in the near future. However, as we learned this year, we cannot predict what comes next in today’s world. Our plan is to continue to do everything we can to bring in more funding and to revisit the future of The Vanguard Cadets program at the end of the 2023 season..” To stay up to date on the status of The Vanguard Cadets, visit this page."

Sad but necessary…they were a great training ground for other WC corps; it isn’t the natural progression feeder it used to be where kids were promoted into SCV-A. My kid spent three years at SCVC, did the Rose Parade, won OC twice but got tired of the “you are less valued” atmosphere and went to Blue Stars in 2019. He had a blast.

It's actually wake me up when September ends

I'm pretty sure SCV 2018 begs to differ. On the other hand, you don't like Goodfella's pizzeria, so that lines up with this opinion. 🤣

Speak for yourself. After 10 years and 12,000+ posts, I think we all have enough information to make our own judgments about "Cappy's" content. EDIT: **This should not be read as me being in agreement with cappybara on this issue, or necessarily any others.**

13 posts and coming in guns a blazing. Boring safe drill wins but Weber was more entertaining.

And the 'Finding Nirvana' ending wasn't one of the most beautiful ending I've ever witnessed in drum corps. 🙄 I guess you didn't find 'Nirvana'? 😁

The circle segment where they kept running into the props?

Unfortunately, the corps has a history of hiring or retaining people from within regardless of the potential impact. To be fair, they have also tried going outside with mixed results. However, an end of season survey of corps members might have shed some light on unknown issues that could have been taken into account prior to any hirings or appointments. Just my 2 cents!

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, which is just that. I find it rich that you denigrate the efforts of people like Hannum and Gaines. They are two of the great creative figures of the time, people who have risked and made considerable contributions to the activity. At the risk of being accused of an "ad hominem attack," what have you accomplished in this activity?

His visual design with the Cavies were incredible. Some of the best of all time. Not so much with SCV

Good. Their visual programs have been so lackluster ever since Gaines came on board

Color is a finite resource in DCI world class uniforming. Bluecoats took so much there wasn't enough for the rest of the corps.

I like a good shot in the dark: 1. Boston Crusaders 2. Blue Devils 3. Carolina Crown 4. Bluecoats 5. Phantom Regiment 6. Santa Clara Vanguard 7. Cadets 8. Cavaliers 9. Blue Stars 10. Mandarins 11. Troopers 12. Blue Knights 13. Colts 14. Crossmen 15. Madison Scouts 16. Genesis 17. Spirit of Atlanta 18. Music City 19. The Academy 20. Pacific Crest 21. Jersey Surf Edit: forgot SCV 😔

My last time marching was 2003 (I think). 99% 0f that last show I marched was the best I had played and marched since 1976. I was on staff with a few corps since 1982 and learned a lot from several people. My last summer of involvement was not a good time for me as I felt like a loner. During a weekend of two competitions I was thinking over and over, "Is this what I want?' and "Do they really want me?" As I drove home I made a decision to leave the corps and the activity that I fell in love with as a 10/11 year old back in 1971. Drum corps in the 1970's was my family, my vacation and a chance to get away from my real family. I made lots of friends but I was not in any clique. I was a soloist after my second year in corps. This was made possible by the older guys leaving to join a senior corps. After my Army days I went back to what I loved but it wasn't the same. New people, different area. I wasn't a NAME staff member, but I hoped I did my job. As the past 18 years have gone by I have not attended a competition. I enjoy what the kids do today but am no longer going to argue with others about why today is better than yesterday. I like to reminisce but I am also realistic. What we did back then was great and what the kids today do is great! I'll cruise around and read and respond in a kind way. Not leaving but just waving and saying hello because it's me being KIND!

😂 For what it’s worth I did give goodfella’s another chance and it was better than I remembered but not my favorite pizza in Indy. I highly recommend you check out King Dough. Excellent pizza SCV 2018 is a standout in terms of Gaines’ visual programs from 2017-2022 but I honestly can’t find myself remembering any visual moments in that show apart from the horn snap in the ballad and the final set with the props lined up together with the hornline on them. It was certainly a good visual program to win a championship as it ticked all the boxes that the judges were looking for in regards to staging but it wasn’t the most visually interesting program to watch. Weber’s design didn’t win medals, but it certainly was memorable and colorful. Speaking of, what‘s with Gaines’ aversion to color? This past year was particularly egregiously bland

MikeD has bad taste in football teams. i know, i share that bad taste

I agree. I’ve been sitting in a block with seats in Rows 14-17 for seven years now (six seasons). Lots of great folks whose involvement spans the 50+ years of DCI.

This link may help. During the first Covid year, 2020, some members from the 1988 SCV Phantom show came together virtually and discussed the season. I found it fascinating. https://youtu.be/YiZwUEjr0Zw

Before you go-go.

Suppose to be good for prop wheels & joint pain as well...

Me to 140 is the best section

Didn’t even notice they only had 13 posts. A new addition to the ignore list And completely agree, Weber fit in with SCV’s vibe a lot better than Gaines has if we’re not looking at things from a purely competitive standpoint. There’s no doubt that Gaines’ safe and borderline boring approach to visual design provided better competitive success for SCV but his design with SCV is a far cry from the adventurous and visually stimulating designs he had with the Cavies

https://cadets.org/statement-our-board-directors

@mingusmonk Dude, thanks for all the hip links...love discovering new artists whether they make it to the field or not 😉

Got my email confirmation! For 2023, I plan to camp outside the gate after Semis so I can be at the front of the line. Or could just go sleep on the other side of stadium with Bones. (That's probably where he hangs until his appearance.) 😁

Marching members and volunteers from 2022.

You are not wrong. The members I know feel the same.

I am surprised that Dwight was announced. Last time I spoke with him he couldn't wait for the season to be over and to get a new director and I think he said several people who would make a good director. I am not sure if it was this thread or staff changes that I said PR had wanted him to stay but he had a life outside of corps. Jay is the more personaable Brother and the better speaker. He said that Dwight made all the tough decisions so the kids probably saw him making those choices. Dwight was sick at the end of the seasons and was a little grumpy, which the kids probably saw too. The announcement said he would be running the tour, so it seems this is not a full time position for him. Maybe it is a cost saving thing.

I had heard from members that he was trying to get members to march and rehearse on injuries that they should have been sitting out for. I also heard he said we are in a post technique world and didn't bother to teach technique

Cite your source please.

Yeah, I don’t need that first row anymore and Jim really doesn’t. He has enough hearing loss from working around jet engines in the Marine Corps.

that would be an upgrade for them at this time

As I recall, I think the bent leg/bicycle pedal technique came to SCV when Jeff Fielder came over from the Cavies. That had been their signature technique throughout their winning years. I am actually surprised that SCV has clung to that visual look as long as they have.

Or the lesser known Human Bloom.

1998 Cavies is another I just though of. 4th, but not super talked about even back then. They did the Sparke pieces "For the Brass" and "For the Woodwinds" which was the 2nd time I heard Sparke on the field after the Cadets did Celebration in 97. I remember loving those two pieces, and tried to find a cd that had a concert recording of them (bitd, it was harder since napster was just getting started, i think?). The closer was very cool, too iirc. Going to fire that one up when I get home today.

Jagged Line is absolutely spectacular and undeservedly doesnt get enough love. it is so good.

Yup.

DCI is one good lawyer away from extinction, because it doesn't have Varsitys money