CloudFuel

DCI may be a competition, but Drum Corps is first and foremost an activity where performers marry music, athleticism, and narrative in a compelling manner. Judging and scores will always be subjective, but there's absolutely no denying the incredible effort put in to create these amazing experiences that will last forever.

I've noticed that the website allows you to specify your resolution (defaults to auto) whereas the app doesn't. If possible, I'd suggest putting on a laptop/desktop and then mira-casting with 1080p selected.

Solid run for semis! IDK if we'll be able to get clean enough by tomorrow to catch the likes of Phantom, but it's clear that the men are loving this show and giving it their all. Certainly making this FMM proud! 💚

Just randomly stumbled across this thread and find it very interesting... considering how since December, the company I work for (tied to ceramic proppants and fracking) has seen a DRAMATIC decrease in sales (resulting in layoffs, facility/plant closures, etc) and production. That article that the OP cited was spot on and if I had known how the market was going to turn, I probably would've tried to move out a lot sooner (my wife got layed off and it's not looking so great for me right now). However, on the definite plus side... I'm glad to see the drum corps are going to (hopefully) be able to cut some costs! I'm all for anything that helps the activity, community, and kids out. :)

Amen! I left from the Magnolia area with a 45 minute buffer and still managed to miss both The Bluecoats and Carolina Crown. Ridiculous!

Yea... I thought that was a bit odd.

1) I absolutely love the graphical design used by the OP. Fantastic! 2) Anyone know why they (DCI) dropped the TOC from Houston? In previous years we've been spoiled with the top 8 of the preceding year... if I'm being COMPLETELY honest I can't say I'm not a little let down by them not doing so this year... 3) I am pulling for The Cavaliers to catch Madison/Bluecoats tomorrow. I expect Phantom will have a slight (0.50-1.75) lead for the win.

Nice to see that I'm not the only one who does spreadsheets for DCI scores. :) I've been making spreadsheets with all sorts of formulas pretty much since I marched back in 2004. I usually have multiple trends that I'm look at, like average placement over the season, average score (totaled), average score for last 3 shows, average score for last week of shows, increase from 1st show to current, increase from beginning to midseason, increase from midseason to end... etc... Then I use those number to try and predict what will happen come finals time. I always get close, but never perfectly nail the score... which just goes to show that scores are definitely unpredictable.

Holy west coast inflation!

I know they've come as far north as my area... The Woodlands / Magnolia. I've gotten rather spoiled with the top 8 from previous years at the Houston show... but we're not getting that this year. :(

Very good points, Brasso!

Seeing the show in Houston compared to the rest of 2011's top 8... I had the show around the placing it ended up. Not that it's bad, it's just not yet on par with some of the higher scoring shows (by way of difficulty, content, cleanliness, and sound). I've seen some videos on YouTube and you can DEFINITELY tell a difference in just a few weeks time.. so here's to hoping that the mostly new staff can tweak some more towards the end to get us up closer to the SCV/PR level. The theme is kind of vague at some points and doesn't always come across easily... but then again some of our other shows have been the same way. I think the biggest difference this year is there aren't many 'wow/cool' moments like the sit/spin section of 2003, fight club of 2002, drum circle/cuba from 2004, etc. The guys are busting their tails (as usual).. just a matter of more tweaking/cleaning/selling GE at this point. Regarding Jeff - he has stated time and again that he may not be the best, but he knows how to surround himself with the best and get the job done.

Thank you!

Thanks!

Scary and tragic, for sure. It's one thing to see senseless acts of violence on TV, far removed from where you lay your head... but it's something completely different when it happens practically on your door step. I don't have the numbers to say for sure, but it seems to me like this sort of stuff is becoming entirely too commonplace.... or maybe it's just that the media is getting faster about reporting this sort of thing.

DCI Houston presented by THE exSIGHTment OF SOUND http://www.dci.org/schedule/detail.cfm?event=7ee03531-e3e7-4d13-9bc1-9f9f4dc90a3b Welcome to Houston all competing corps, affiliates, volunteers, judges, and fans! Today's show is part of the 2012 Tour Of Champions Series and features a great match-up between the top 8 placing corps from last year. The performance order is a little wonky, so it should definitely make for an interesting show and even more interesting scoring... :) The show is held at Berry Center (built around 2006 & seating roughly 11,000 total) in Cypress Texas just off of Barker Cypress Road & West Road. There are upwards of 50 places to get food within just a few miles of the location, just click the below to see a list: http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=berry+center&find_loc=cypress%2C+TX&ns=1&ls=b24229e6238987af#find_desc=food&l=g:-95.7403564453125,29.87428991382505,-95.63735961914062,29.9641554177363&show_filters=1 Box office opens: 3:00 PM Gates open: 6:00 PM Start time: 7:30 PM SHOW ORDER - 7:40pm - Carolina Crown 7:57pm - Boston Crusaders 8:14pm - The Cadets 8:31pm - Bluecoats 8:48pm - INTERMISSION 9:08pm - Blue Devils 9:25pm - Santa Clara Vanguard 9:42pm - Phantom Regiment 9:59pm - The Cavaliers

Unless I am mistaken, design only counts for half of the score in certain categories... which should mean if a corps performs the hell out of a 'less-than-desirably-designed-show' then they still have a chance at besting corps who perform ok with a good design and corps who perform ok with a poor design. I've yet to see the show, but I can't see the 'drop' happening so fast (ie top 3 to out of top 12 in one year). I am realistic and don't see us catching the top 5 any time soon, but to drop out of top 12 just seems very unlikely in such a short span of time. Either way, I think this situation is either a lack of 'talent' in regards to design or a lack of 'care' in regards to how DCI is scoring... I will know for sure in 7 days, but I'd imagine that the performance ability of the corps is still where it has been in the recent past.

Interesting to note (so far) who has increased the most and who has increased the least: Carolina Crown - 14.200 Santa Clara Vanguard - 11.900 The Academy - 11.700 Bluecoats - 11.050 Blue Knights - 10.950 The Cadets - 10.900 Phantom Regiment - 10.350 Crossmen - 10.250 Mandarins - 10.050 Blue Devils - 9.200 Spirit of Atlanta - 9.100 Colts - 8.850 Glassmen - 8.800 Blue Stars - 8.700 Cavaliers - 7.750 Pacific Crest - 7.550 Madison Scouts - 7.400 Boston Crusaders - 5.550 Jersey Surf - 5.100 Troopers - 4.850 Teal Sound - 4.750 Pioneer - 4.700 Cascades - 2.900 Granted, you have to take into consideration when the first show for each corps happened, what their score was, when their most recent show occurred, and what the score was there. Taking all of that into effect, you get the increase average (total increase divided by days on tour) as below: Pacific Crest - 0.839 Colts - 0.681 Jersey Surf - 0.637 Mandarins - 0.628 Carolina Crown - 0.617 Santa Clara Vanguard - 0.595 The Academy - 0.585 Crossmen - 0.569 Blue Knights - 0.548 Blue Devils - 0.541 Glassmen - 0.518 The Cadets - 0.495 Bluecoats - 0.480 Spirit of Atlanta - 0.479 Teal Sound - 0.475 Phantom Regiment - 0.450 Madison Scouts - 0.435 Blue Stars - 0.414 Cavaliers - 0.337 Boston Crusaders - 0.326 Pioneer - 0.313 Troopers - 0.303 Cascades - 0.290 This, of course, will favor corps who have increased dramatically with a later starting date and no recent scores... but you get the general idea... out of last year's top 8 CC, SCV, BD, & Cadets are leading the way with the Bluecoats, PR, Cavs, & BC in the bottom half.

Thank YOU for taking the time to do this and share with DCP! :)

Thank you! It is GREATLY appreciated! :)

DCI.ORG shows this for the performance order, LOL: Line-up is in reverse order of appearance. Legends - Kalamazoo, MI Bluecoats - Canton, OH Blue Stars - La Crosse, WI Bluecoats - Canton, OH Blue Stars - La Crosse, WI Troopers - Casper, WY Glassmen - Toledo, OH Read more: http://www.dci.org/schedule/#ixzz1yLMmqsQK I guess the Bluecoats & Blue Stars are just so good that they need to perform twice? :)

I love the detail of this review! Great job! :)

Actually, we were pretty close to them score-wise the whole season even until the end. It felt like one of those 'any given day' either one of us could have pulled it out. Honestly - I'm looking forward to seeing what the boys can put together in July when they come to Houston. I have full confidence that I'll enjoy this show just like I've enjoyed all of the previous ones... no it might not be as iconic as Machine, 007, or Frameworks, but that's ok... I'm sure it'll still be The Cavaliers. :)

Michael Boo: NO ONE parks and blows like BD. Egads. ^- well said! :)

Kudos to all corps. Come on Cavaliers, gold is still within our grasp! :)