TopBass

MBI does a lot of full-corps and section recruiting at high school events. Last year we did two preview Bando shows, one for a local HS who was having their end of camp sneak peak for the parents (my alma mater, Irondale) and we also did the District 11 preview Bando show. It's the first show for all the northern Metro schools in the Twin Cities with us finishing up (I don't think anyone is judged). These serve two purposes for us, one as a recruiting tool and another as a chance to perform our show in August when we typically have few opportunities in the Midwest. Also last year different sections of the drumline helped out with clinics at the MN Day of Percussion. The bassline and cymbal lines gave three clinics each all in one day as a full line and current and former members of the snare and tenor lines also gave individual clinics. Drumline turnout has been pretty good the last few years which could have as much to do with the level we're currently playing at than our recruiting efforts, but every little bit of exposure helps. Funny story: When we agreed to do the clinic we were told there would be about 10-30 kids at each one and that we should speak on a beginning, intermediate, and expert level. Well, as the first clinic starts, about a HUNDRED kids file into our TINY room so we had kids in front, behind, and all around us with all five of us and our drums crammed in there. The third clinic had more than that! I had a very informative clinic planned that everyone was very bored with until we played a fours exercise and our streetbeat to tremendous applause. Mental Note: fours = good clinic memories

Excellent! Good luck on a great season Brigs Love the show concept, different and accessible, this is exactly what DCA needs more of! DCI is getting so cheesy that I think DCA could take over in terms of popularity. Now, if only we could see all you East Coasters before finals...

two words: Drumless Basics! ha ha, I think we can all march and if we can't, I don't think anymore basics at this point is going to help! Well, most of us can march anyway, we just can't all guide. :P Another thing we could use, wheels on our stands. Anyone have a stand strap? I think I may need to patent that this year.

#### yeah! You got a lead on a crappy job out there for me to replace the crappy job I have now? Preferably something where I can surf the Internet all day and make more money! It'll have to wait until next year though, how often do you get the chance to march the same five guys (well, four dudes and a lady) in any line? And next year I'll be changing careers again anyway. So, how 'bout them pictures? Can't wait to hear your hornline again and see how much your drumline improves this year! You guys made leaps last year and I expect more of the same in '06 You guys should go to Indy! And when are we going to see DCA on the West Coast?!? (Now that DCI is going to be)

Yeah, I guess I'm also curious, did anyone watch the whole thing?

bad alumni, slaps hand

Do you think he actually made Vanguard? It sort of seems that way from the vid. I'm sure that would go over well. Reminds me of a special we had on a local News show and they interviewed two drumline rookies. They said something like "she won't make the bassline this year and will have to settle for cymbals" and I was waiting for the repercussions. Our cymbal line is very bad ### and you have to fight/try-out FOR a spot in that line. We knew she actually never said that but gave her some crap for it anyway. Luckily we don't torture our rookies too bad anymore. I can't imagine how many bus-ups a comment like that would require back in junior corps whether you said it or not, heh heh

bad alumni, slaps hand

How was camp? Is it going to be another brilliant year for the Renegades?! Are you guys going to post sneak preview snippets again like you did last year? I'm so tempted to write, Later 'Gader, but will have to resist because it's dumb. heh heh

I WILL MARCH THIS PARADE SOMEDAY! and hopefully someday soon, but alas, not this year. I was in Chinatown for their new years last year and it's crazy fun! I did feel real tall, however. :P

I agree with the "this is a cool topic" people. I've never really realized how few run-throughs there are. I smell motivational tool! I think I'll try and calculate about how many we'll do this year, although 40 sounds like a good number, and not all that many when you think about it. Brass used to do two run-throughs at the end of every practice and I hated it. They would have hornline not play first run-through and then they would play the second. It seemed pointless to me because all the drummers gave everything we had for both because we really don't have a choice so our first run would be pretty good and the second would be crap because we're all tired by that time doing two in a row. In present day, every now and then we'll do two, especially early season, but they usually spread them out. One right when we come together for hornination (I mean coordination) and then the normal one at the end of the night. I've never agreed with this either because that first one is usually such a cluster and the guard never does it anyway because it takes them so long to set up, pointless. But I digress. I also don't think practice should ever go over time. Under promise, over deliver. If you expect us to show up on time, then we should be able to expect that we'll finish on time. But then, the people that usually complain the loudest are the people that need the most practice, so screw 'em. I'm pretty proud of the fact I've only missed two hours of rehearsal in the last two years. That being said, we get to drum tonight! Live and Breathe Corps!

I had a feeling we might be marching tonight, good thing I ran 3 miles yesterday to tire myself out, heh heh. Although it would be pretty scary to set the line without seeing those rooks try to march, heh heh. Cha Cha Chump Bumping down the street

You didn't know that dude? Just like in the drumline (snare = soprano), you high ends get all the glory, us low ends do all the work. heh heh What does that say for me? I'm a high low end. Take that however you will...

Being in such a veteran group in the bassline (we haven't had a "rookie" since before '03) we don't really get nervous but we do have pre-show jokes while we're on the line waiting for the step-off. Only once did we almost miss the actual off-the-line because we were laughing so hard. Although that did happen in practice. The best way to avoid the nervousness is to prepare for it in practice. Visualize there always to be stands of people in front of you whether they are there or not. In addition, I usually imagine that everyone is watching me personally so I perform better and not ever slack off. If you do that, the show will seem like just another practice and won't be such a big deal.

Sorry, I still have the best avatar on DCP. Now I've marched A drum corps fan's dream, A drum corps fan's dream part dos, and A drum corps dream. What's next? A drum corps dream fan's dream dream? heh heh Or a drum corps fan's wet dream, most likely! (whooopsie, gross) Although I think I know what I'll be calling the show all year. B) Can't wait until Wednesday! I tuned up my drum and everything.

With the state of their backs, I bet that happens once or twice this year! And your brother likes duuuuudes (I agree with you, btw, more lower Brass = better horn sound!)

Hey, it looks like we have enough low brass so far this year, Amunds should do cymbals! Tell him to quit taking care of his ###### and come to practice! ha ha Hopefully he reads this. I'm assuming you'll have to guess what the five letter word is. We actually played through the streetbeat last Wed without falling apart, that's not bad for first rehearsal.

Speaking of... where was he last night?

MBI also has people that can't commit to the full season so they just march parades. Why anyone would actually WANT to just march parades is beyond me. Now, if I could only convince them that I can only march shows we would be getting somewhere. But the bassline sounds kind of funny when someone is gone. ganick ganup

Drumline is shaping up very nicely. We can still use Tenors and Frontline and maybe some cymbals if anyone is interested in marching with us this year. Bassline is pretty much set, snares are going to be unbelievable and the competition to get the 2-3 spots in that line is pretty fierce! Whoever gets them will already be battle tested (or battle scarred.) A couple familiar faces poked into the tenor line, and a lot of familiar faces limped back to the bassline! Things may not be as different as once thought.

I'll see you there!

Hey, the Twin Cities! My buddy and i drove down to KC for a Twins game two seasons ago and we made it in five and a half hours. Of course, ummm, we drove kind of fast. You won't find a better corps any closer though. This year is going to rock. There's plenty of people that would put you up over weekends and stuff for camps. You might need a few more days than us off work but it would be doable. And i bet you could get out of marching any parades. Check out our web page and email recruiting if you're interested. www.mnbrassinc.org

Y'all shouldn't give away these hints for free

Brass is selling their old bugles. I'm not sure if they are Dynasty. Go to the Shout out to MN Brass thread and PM Brent, he's the corps director and can give you more information. Good luck on finding what you need!

I'll be there man, just look for me in my dinosaur suit!