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So far we’ve had: 1. Judges are not judging right 2. Top Corps are just following the same formula + too much guard spinning 3. BD is too good, and the music and performances of the other drum corps are not good enough on their own to keep my interest. Let’s kick BD out and pretend the second best is the best. Each one with exponentially higher word count… Y’all are on a wild one today!

Blue Devils open just screams out “here we are”. So freakin confident. How can anyone not dig this show?

Mandarins Staff: Hey, let's add 8 more counts to the last note. Spinners: Uhhhhh...

You posted this same rant 7 years ago. 🙄

We all get different commercials based on browser algorithms. For some reason I keep getting ads for some obscure website called "OnlyFans".

I absolutely love DCP. 😄

This show just FLOWS so seamlessly

Actual image of Cadets running to a different corps headquarters

I have a great story to share. I have friends who I met during orchestra in college. They are huge anime fans and as string players have not really been exposed to the marching arts. They (a couple) are now living in Atlanta and both have played for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and I told them about the DCI show last night. I just got off the phone with them this morning and here’s what they had to say (paraphrased): ”We were so impressed with how excited everyone was. Definitely not an orchestra concert. We really loved everything but the standouts were Phantom Regiment, Carolina Crown, Boston, and Blue Devils. Especially, Carolina Crown and the Blue Devils! CC was very symphonic and really appealed to us as string players. BD was just obviously on another level. They sounded like professionals. We loved their repertoire the most because we obviously love JoJo’s and Jotaro. We knew nothing about the theme but were enamored from start to finish. I almost cried during their ballad. We’re actually now going to watch a documentary on Matisse to learn more. We’re obsessed with DCI now!”

Do you know what’s not fair? Giving somebody first place in an effort to “be fair”. I have judged virtually every discipline in the activity other than percussion. It’s fair to give an honest evaluation and number and ranking. Judges do this, they total the score and the chips fall where they do. Blue Devils win often because they are almost always in the top 3 in all areas. The staff and the organization put the performers in the best position to succeed, and know how to get the best out of them at the right time. As a member of the first four title-winning groups (and one that fell painfully short in my third year), I respect the longevity and success of the organization. I also have a healthy respect for the very fine units that compete at a very high level with BD each year. The groups these days are so good, that it’s difficult to even tell the difference, unless you’re up close like the judges are. Once in a while, I scratch my head at a particular number, but I never see any kind of a conspiracy or other intrigue going on with the numbers. When any corps wins DCI, it’s an incredible and earned accomplishment. The level of competition is unparalleled in the history of the activity right now. The competition is fierce, and any group that triumphs has managed to master incredible amounts of minutia and detail in doing so. It’s great that my group is on a great run right now, but it’s not always been that way. There have been stretches of heartbreaking defeats in the past, and inevitably there probably will be in the future. If I am a marching member, and I was, I want to beat the best when they are at their best. That’s the essence of what the activity should be, and some notion of “fairness” really shouldn’t be part of the equation. It’s a life lesson that will serve these talented kids well in life, whether they’ve achieved a title or not. Doing your absolute best as an individual, and as a team is the lesson. Complaining about the results is the domain of those that aren’t fighting those battles each day. I get it, we all would like our favorite team or kid to win, and it’s heartbreaking when they don’t. Besmirching the trained professionals that have to sort it all out is petty, and doesn’t acknowledge their expertise and the difficulty of their job. THAT, my friend, is what isn’t fair. I have found out the kids these days do much better about putting it all in perspective, than the adults on these forums do. Perhaps we should learn something there. The season is not over, we still don’t know what’s going to happen. Enjoy the shows, and know that the kids are getting a rich experience regardless of the results.

Wow. That show is just so good.

And that’s what you want, right there. It is a teaching activity, after all. For those blathering endlessly recently that no one knows who Matisse is, well here is an example of people being so captivated by a show that they are going to embark on a new journey of discovery and appreciation. All it takes is a spark. A million years ago, I wrote some show reviews and other articles for Drum Corps World, and one piece was about this same subject, using the (then current) ‘90 Star Belshazzar’s Feast show as the example. People were spouting the same stuff then about it being too obscure, etc. But a lot of people came away from that show seeking out information and knowing more than they did before. How dull the world would be if we only were ever shown things we had already seen. I truly admire BD’s commitment over the past decade-plus to building shows around subjects that deserve the spotlight. In an age of greatly diminished arts education, they provide an invaluable service.

Mandarins are less than .8 away from their highest score all time. What a season!

I have a hard time saying that any season without Vanguard is a great season, but this one has come as close as possible. There is not a single show that I don't get excited to see.

I am deceased. They’ve killed me. I love this show

This is a year of really really good ballads

TIME TO SIN AND SPIN!!!! LFG MANDARINS!!!!

I want the Blue Devils to stay right where they are. They believe in Drum and Bugle Corps. They believe in competition. They believe in teaching young people to perform at all ages and they believe in kids and that those kids should have great opportunities to perform and express. It is because of the Blue Devils that the rest of the activity has a real benchmark. Why would we want to get rid of that? They are a benchmark in organizational structure, funding, and performance. Their hard work has provided a road map for the activity -- even if it can't always be duplicated it certainly gives the other corps a view of what can be achieved. We need them to stay right where they are and lead. Yes, they win a lot. That's ok. There will be years that another corps gets them. But without them we lose the high benchmark that I feel has been important to this activity. Losing Star of Indiana was a sad day for me. Yes, I appreciated what they brought to indoor theater and to awareness about our activity, but all of that was short term. Where are they today? Gone. To me this is a shame. We need our Premierer organization alive and healthy and leading the way. I believe the other directors and staff of the other corps would say the same thing.

I'm not gone, but I'm working 🙂 I'm about to start a bunch of overnights at work. Shoot, I'll be at work in the next couple of hours. Here's my thing. The trolls/haters on here kinda help remind me that my growth and goals are more important than to focus on what joe schmo says on here about my posts or who I am. I promise to post from time to time, but more or less... I need to focus on my goals. As my older cousin said (she's really like my big sister) this looks like a job for Superman. Ok ok, I'm a dork. What can I say? Lol!!!

How many conductors does it take to screw in a lightbulb? No one knows, no one ever looks at them.

I think people tend to forget there are a whole lot of fans that do not post on DCP or social media. Anyone that has attended shows the last few years, or listened to the audience talk about their favorites as they exit the stadium, would quickly know there are plenty of fans who do in fact enjoy BD -- last night was no different!

Will leave this here 🙂 Closer cleaning up a ton already, flag work is still a little muddy. I personally think the closer still needs a little bit more dramatic flair in the buildup to the final chord but that’s just me. Excited to see what changes they still have in store, and congrats to BD on the HUGE statement win last night

And besides, I'm suspicious of people who say they've been part of DCI since the 80's yet refer to corps as "teams." 🤷‍♂️

very pleased with Mandarins score tonight. I've said for some time that I thought they would be setting a new personal best score this season BEFORE they got to Indy. Very confident they will be doing so. Enjoying the race between them, Cadets, and PR. Fun stuff.

Mandarins vs Cadets is a darn good battle! Series is now tied at two apiece. On to Annapolis! Congrats Cadets! Keep pushing Mandarins!

Could use some props

Blue Devils are truly amazing! Not quite sure they topped what they did last night. That was an absolute clinic last night. IN fairness I think it would be tough to top that especially in this heat. I think they were still really good tonight. Will win. Score may even go up...but not quite the electricity I saw and heard last night. Having said that I love love this show. It's a difficult beast to pull off. Keep pushing Blue Devils. This is going to be one spectacular show in a few weeks.

I don't care where Bluecoats places at finals.... the show it amazing. It'll at the top of my off season playlist.

Bloo’s unique vibe is everything. I love every iota of this show. Even the bird chirps and narration. So so cool. The music makes my heart sing.

Mandarins got rained on pretty bad at their rehearsal site yesterday. Pit equipment and electronics were damaged. They didn't know if they would be able to perform tonight. Corps had no rehearsal time since Friday. They still did a great job tonight.

so pleased to see my local home corps doing so well. This is such an enjoyable show and they are selling it so well. Be proud, Mandarins, be proud.

Not good, great run by the cadets! Best I’ve seen all year.

Don't forget, allegedly judges from North Carolina have more integrity and credibility than anyone else.

That’s on you, but frankly that’s kinda sad you feel that way. Instead of going and enjoying the atmosphere and seeing all the corps live and listening to the crowd go f##kballs crazy over troopers, phantom, and mandarins you’d rather just sit at home and pout because BD wins again?

Trumpet soloist is like a machine. I’ve heard her so many times in the show and she is perfect every time. What an incredible player!

Well on the bright side, at least it's not another crying and whining about BD thread.

It's shame the people who direct the multi-cam don't know enough to stay with the high cam shot long enough to let us see the appearing Matisse star into the disappearing then reappearing Matisse star in the ending. 🤬

Screamer hit it. Nice!!!

Sorry but it's not the 70/80's anymore...

Fantastic run for the Mandarins! A very unique show and well performed.

Impressive peformance by Blue Stars! Brass sounds excellent. The ballad is wonderufl and that baritone soloist is one of the best. Fantastic player! The show is cleaning and really coming together. Keep pushing Stars!

I live for this Cadets soloist. Man. Cannot wait til Tuesday when I get to hear it live

Sitting directly on the 50 yard line up top. Still in awe of how amazing these kids are and continue to be!

I just want to say, I love the debate and back and forth between each corps and their fans on DCP this year. One of the best I’ve seen in recent memory. The fact that we aren’t arguing about who is “slotted” where is a breath of fresh air. It really gives us old heads something to look forward to each evening. I can’t wait to see how this season ends. So many great corps this year that have pushed the activity forward. I only wish there were more corps involved. I wish we had the 30-40 corps as in the past. But excellence is excellence and these kids this year are really fighting to see who is best. Kudos to the design teams, staff, and members in making this one of the most exciting seasons I’ve ever witnessed. How I would love to see you all at finals week. It gives me heart that this activity isn’t a dying art form.

Saw this on my walk today and thought of you all for no apparent reason.

BD will probably win in 2024 also. Just throwing this out there.

I’m glad I’m not the only crown and BD supporter this year! They are by far the most entertaining shows of the top 4. Before I get put on anyone else’s naughty ignore list, this is just my opinion 🙂

^mic drop^ Let's shut this thread down. Nothing else needs to be said. 👏

Created an account on Wednesday just to rant about this, eh? 🙂

Just stopping thru to say this is my favorite Crown show of all time. Hands down no debate. Phenomenal performance! Job well done Crown.