Blackstar

I'm going to leave this question as open as possible. Think about what the question is really asking. What do we have to do or change to make Drum Corps more TV friendly?

Can someone tell me why the Bayou Classic is Televised? Don't bother its because of the bands. How about the Honda Classic...bands. Why are these bands always featured on TV and in movies.....Bueller...Bueller.....Because they entertain the hell out of shows. They play music everyone can sing along to or have heard at least 100 times. I would say that out of the top 12 many everyday non drum corps fans would not recognize most of the music, let alone understand the "themes" of the shows. Why is Ice Skating a staple of TV. Because its entertaining and once again doesn't require thought. Someone asked why doesn't Dougie Fresh sell alot of records even though he was one of the best rappers of all time. The answer was he was better in concert then on record. Its the same thing with Drum Corps. You have to see it live to really understand it. You have to give it the timie needed. Editing a 11 min show to 5 mins kills the product. And no channel is going to give 4 hours for a single telecast.

I know no one will pay attention to this but I'll put it out there anyway. Why is Punkin Chunkin (PC) on TV and not DCI PC is Stupid and doesn't take alot of thinking to watch and appreaciate. 77% of the people watching TV don't want to think PC is TV perfect. It can be edited to show 2 to 4 chunks before a commercial. Almost anyone can be a chunker, young, old black (no yet) and white, Rich or poor. PC is growing not dying. It started in Delaware (my home state) and now had teams from 10 different states. People are wearing funny hats and people love funny hats. Everyone has a chance to win and I mean everyone. Theres alot of interesting back stories. DCI wants you to figure out why a show is called Purple when the music hasn't anything to do with purple until someone explains it to you. A DCI show runs what 10-12 mins. That means they can only show 4 corps per hour. Less commercial time for sponsors which less money for the network. Editing a show kills the product becuase now you have to do more explaining about the show. Back in the day a PBS show was 4 hours. The attitude is that only certain people can march DCI (true) and showing this All American Kid (usually white, usually good looking which makes people will think he/she is rich) in background stories doesn't work. Are you going to show how some kid is struggling to march while his Dad is out of work....really. Or the kid who travelled across country to fullfil her dream of marching in the best of the best. Excuse me while I go to the food bank. ARe you going to show the top 4-12-17-25. theres only so many corps. So who gets on TV. Once again the top 12 win out and the corps who need the exposure lose out. The hats on corps aren't really that funnny and people like funny hats. 9 times out of 9 1/2 we know who will win. There will never be a tiime in Drum Corps when a 4th 6th 9th place corps comes from behind and wins. People like to root for the underdogs to win. That doesn't and never will in DCI. See above about back stories. Now is not the time to talk about people paying thousands of dollars to march in a band (becaue that what people think it is)

I marched in a top level TOB band back int he early 80's (2 yrs) and marched in Crossmen in 84. Funny thing is I have over 30 friends on Facebook from school and 98% are from band. I have 2 friends from the Crossmen. Same thing with another school mate who marched a couple of years ebfore me. Looking back on which influenced me the most Band wins hands down. Which would be more community aware once again band wins hands down, especially win most of the marchers are from out of state. CRossmen, Texas, Large group from Ohio with maybe half from the Delaware ValleyI don't think 10% of West Chester knew what a Crossmen was.

All I want to hear is Stone Ground Seven with 8 tenors....or Dugga dum....or...oh God the choiced but at least a 3 minute drum feature......is that really too much to ask>

I called my shot a month ago when Cadets were sitting in fourth place. As much as it pains me to say Cadets by 5 tenths over Blue Devils.

I used to take my son but know I take my daughters. Its cool because we get to hang out before she leaves for college. Wilm DE Regal Concord pike

I haven't been able to find anything online.

I'm suprised Surf has been scoring so low. Not knocking them but I thought they would be moving up the ranks a little. Are they smaller or younger this year?

I knew people were/are going to come up with other comparisons but nothing matches what happened in 1980. Truly any of those 4 could have won. If it wasn't for penalties there would have been a 3 way tie for second.

If Teal Sound is really helping them why not out a request for people to donate to Teal also. I hate to be a nudge but it seems like people only care about corps at the certain level. Even when a smaller corps needs just as much if not more help.

I remember watching shows "back in the day" and sitting there amazed of what was going on on the field. Then screaming at the end of shows. I went to my first D2 show back in the middle 80's and lost my voice before the end of prelims..why, because I was once again amazed at what these kids were doing and trying to do. I'm sure alot of people felt the same way. But now a days its "seen it already" or "its not perfect" I'm truly beginning to beleives its not the corps but the crowds. Maybe We have become too jaded in what we want corps to do. Then we remark on how everyone looks the same. Its the same as going to a soccer game. Everyone isn't in the premiere league but we roote for college kids, yell for high school kids and cheer for those 6-8 year olds that are barely bigger then the ball. We need to cheer the effort not the result.

First let me say that I haven't been a big fan of the Cadets since they changed to the name to simply The Cadets. But that being said I think they will this year. I know DCP has them ranked 4th but something tells me they will creep up to 2nd by 2nd week of August with a big push by finals. Just my thoughts take them as they are.

The way I look at is who deserves the money more. Groups that cater to a higher income bracket or groups that support the poor or communities. How people would vote for thier local fire department? How many have donated to thier local fire department? How about that group that helps battered women, abused kids, has programs to help kids in school? I marched in drum corps and didn't see one hungry kid. Most went to nice schools. If you have to fly, drive for more then 6 hours do you reqally need donations more then the kid that has 2nd hand clothes or parents that can't pay the bills. There so many levels in giving and needing. I do see fire companies that don't need money (mine) but some that do. We all know some groups get more donatations then others. But taking away money from more deserving organizations is irrehensible.

In the black community they have been replaced with Stepper Groups and drill teams. Basically drummers and a group of girls who stop and do a short dance routine. We have about 10 in little Wilmington DEL. From a little as 8 to 75. Sadly the drummers usually are the overlook component of the group. Drumline instruction is very poor. Just consist of doing stret beats. I wanted to get one of the corps (Surf or Raiders) to come and do a workshop but I couldn't get the financing at the time. I was at a parade and their was a group from St Louis, about 100 with 6 snare, 4 tenor, 4 bass and 6 cymbals. They really looked nice since everyone had nice uniforms. Most cities have at least 4 groups. Good luck finding them until theres a local parade.

I'm not familier with Nando Lauria so I listen to the source material. Back home not sure about. Need to listen to it again. Spinning Wheels Don't see it fitting with the other material Leonard Cohen.....nuff said Episode: Prelude. Made a mistake and listen to some crazy version but once I found the eight one I like it. As an Alumni I wish them the best of luck.

Ran into a former Cadet/Surf at the Gas Station couple of years ago. had a real cool convo. Ran into a former Surf member at the Barnes and Noble. I tried to ask her how it was but I think she thought this old guy (me) was trying to come on to her.

I'm suprised no one mentioned Crossmen. From the begining with the Tan unis to the black in 77. Cross to no cross (80-82-84-85-87-89) to Shakos 83-95-96 and matador style uniforms in 85 (thank god I didn't go back). Disco gold highlights 87-88. Going grey in 1999. I don't think they had the same uniform for two years in row after 76.

I didn't see the poll at all but I would say 84 Bue Devils. I was blown away by that show almost as much as the Garfield Cadets which is why Cadets won. BD had a great show from top to bottom.

When I first found drum corps I ordered some tapes from Mr Ken Kobold. I think I found an ad in an old issue of Drum Corps news my band director had. I ordered 76/77 Cadets and Guardsmen. Never knew why those corps. I liked the Guardsmen unis with the big shakos but Cadets are still a mystery. I know I wore the tape out listening to Seahawk.

I thought about this also. Did 27 and even Alliance folding help Boston rise (again) to the top 12. I'm sure Crossmen were helped in some way with all the smaller corps dying off in the area, Black Watch, Wind Jammers et al. I'm sure in the long run corps like Guardsmen folding helped the midwest corps.

If you look at 83 to 86 you see a dramatic shift in style. While watching the 83 videos I see more dancing in the guard. If you look at the Top 3 theres almost more movement then equipment work. "Old School" guard isn't seen until Madison. Also more corps are using asymentric (sic) drill. You can still see some old school in Blue DEvils show that still has an actual concert number with concert formation. By 86 no concert, more dancing, grounded equipment for all the top 12.

I think the greatest difference between 1980 and 2010 is the varied musical selections in each show. Look at Bridgemen, orginally written in 1910 classical opener, into Funk Jazz Fusion drum solo, (please check out the orginal by Weather Report) Then an Earth Wind and Fire song followed by band band music and finally a civil war medly. The only them there is have fun and listen to some good music. Bluecoats, Theme Metropolis The future is now - 160bpm from Angels and Demons, AHA! by Imogen Heap, Metropolis by doug Thrower and finally Asphalt Cocktail I understand that musical taste change but I found many of my favorite pieces of music listening to drum corps. Theres been very few over the past decade that has fallen into that catagory with Asphalt Cocktail being one of them. I think theres to much reach to fit a theme then entertain an audience.

I haven't read all the replies but for me with at one time 2 kids that might have been interested it was a couple of years ago. Paying over $1500 is too much. I pay that much for my daughters college a month and can barely afford that. While I would have loved them to have the same experience I did. its just not feasible. Also I'm not feeling the direction the activity is taking right now.

I see two things popping up. Professional which means YOU get paid. Semi=professional means they pay YOU but not as much as a pro group. In no way is Drum Corps professional. Cooler...as in Cooler then band. Okay...put on a Blue Devils uniform, and another person wears a Local high school uniform and let them walk through the tough part of Camden NJ..which one gets beat up first....the slowest one..because thier both going to get beat up and robbed. Drum Corps is cooler in the marching world but not the world in general. As much as I loved wearing my high school band uni and the Crossmen uni I got more play with the ladies wearing my dress uniform from the fire company I belong to. Now thats cool.