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I cried a few times in 94 with Suncoast Sound as I new it was going to be last year marching DNB Corps. I would spend my last two years of eligability in the USMC. After the 94 tour, an old corps director asked me about a legit opportunity to march Madison in 95. Boy, did I kick myself in the tail after seeing that show. Then I saw the 96 show, which may have been my age-out performance. *sigh* I cry everytime I sit in the Blue Devils warm-up circle...because it's loud! My heart's with the ghost of Suncoast... Semper Fi

I'm a jack of many trades and a master of none. However, business, being a corps director or a caption head (or anything above being a member of a drum corps...drum corps related) are not on my list of trades. Facts and opinions have been laid upon the table. John Mapes has made statements that I personally couldn't discount. If Esparanza was flourishing, conducting camps, making show announcements and such, I could see where Mr. Mapes could possibly be full of it. From what I gather, E isn't exactly flourishing with camps, etc. The subject at hand is what we (the members of DCP participating in this threat) know or have heard of. By no means do I place the principal of the known situations on the back burner, but odds are that the complications known are not the only complications. Odds are, that the complications may spread past the corps or the activity its self, in regards to the individuals of the administration. I've been through tests in my life like many have and I can say that when things weren't going too well, most everything in my life was effected. There may be a bigger picture than what Mr. Mapes and other staff is experincing or know for that matter. Do I know the situation? Heck no. I don't even know where Esparanza is from - I've been away from the activity for so long. I DO know that when it rains rough times, it pours rough times. My prayers go out to the kids of E as well as the staff and Admin.

84 Suncoast Sound - The Vietnam show touch so many hearts of Veterans whose hearts genuinely deserved to be touched. Not only for the show, but Suncoast actually went to the wall in DC and played a standstill ON the wall. THAT would be hype. 85 Suncoast Sound - I believe was the first original show written musically - and I'll take the DCP hammering if it wasn't. I'd love tho play the closer 'Midnight in Miami'. And that bass line!! 90 Blue Devils - This show was my first taste of drum corps. Larry, the soprano soloist for the closer of the show is the reason for me marching and I luckily had the privilage to meet him. 93 Blue Devils - The year for the soloist. What a seamless show musically! I'm glad to have seen that show live at finals but it would have been sweet to solo in it. And that little guy with the goatee!! Who IS he?!

Hey torn8o, ever see that cover for Maynard's 'New Vintage' album? The back side shows a cork being shot out of the bell. Would a solid ammunition void the accomplishment? HA

Who cares what the outsiders say? The member's acceptence of the show is what is important. DCP provides and awesome opportunity for people to taste their own shoe leather - I hope some of the people here buy quality shoes! If Spirit doesn't change minds of the rest, pfffft on the rest! As I last heard, the general public supports our troops that are in a war that that isn't supported by the general public. My point? Why not at least support the members even if you disagree with a show or the show announcement? I'm already standing in applaud for Sprit!

I am born in the United States and a proud 'jarhead'. I am a total meat and potatos kind of guy, BUT, I don't eat a steak every night. Actually, I have had some Indian and Thai this week. I know many who haven't tried either and boy are they missing out. I may have a cheeseburger tonight, but may have sushi tomorrow. Luckily, I still wear my shirts well after eating all of that but here's my point: change is good - things change - people change and sometimes even a tiger's stripes change. History repeats. Around 92/93, some kids thought that Bohemian Rhapsody was a new tune - HA! How 'bout that Special K commercial where the mom finds her old jeans in the attic and the daughter digs them? I've recently accepted that there are things I can control, but there's more that I can't control. I'm not gonna fight it. I may raise a brow, but oh well...I can still slap in a 90 BD show and play to it when I feel like being back in the 90's and no one will stop me (except the landlord). iQue Sera, Sera! Hope this doesn't create an infamous DCP tangent! Semper Fi - Carry on...

Well, until my Mom saw and heard what I was saying "Holy !@#$!" about, I was fussed upon. I was funny to watch the clip of us afterwards and hearing us distort the audio.

Is this 'Deluxe' typin in here? I remember seeing the 91 corps on tv and thinking 'WHOA!'...no, I got in trouble for saying Holy !@#$!! Low and behold, I was there in 92. What a time that was in 92 - to stack notes the first day of tuning and it was okay bacause everyone else was doing it! People walking by like they saw a 500-headed monster...because they DID see a 500-headed monster! My most memorable moment (other than giving that cute little Canadian girl a foot massage in the hotel) was having our picture taken after the parade - standing on the steps of Madison Square. Some guy (no clue who) said he'd always wanted to conduct something like that. When we played, the only thing moving in my sight were his arms and the Don't Walk signs. Brian, what's up?

Has anyone ever been to a movie and the kid behind you just keeps talking over it? Better yet, have you ever been in a sit-down-circle corps meeting and the two kids next to you keep talking over it? I have a sneaky suspicion that some of those talkers are the loud ones in here - heck in DCP all together... We (Suncoast Sound) had a best seller in our souvie stand on our 94 tour - a shirt that simply stated "SHUT UP AND PLAY". Now, I know that this forum and most like it would completely lack interest (if that is a suitable adjective) if this premis were to spread, but I would also shut up and listen/watch...to the corps. I think an announcement of this sort is nothing more than a tool to inform the future spectator/fan that "Hey, here is an idea of what our show is about." For a person like me who tends to be a little shallow of picking up a plot, an announcement is nothing more than food for thought. Great! Outstanding! This gives me something to look back on after I see the show - kind of like reading your horoscope at the end of your day. Kudos to the staff of Spirit who are not afraid to refashion a well traditioned corps, but more so, kudos to the kids who are buying into it! While the show approach and uni are being refashioned, I'm certain that the "Corps Values" (pun intended) will remain untouched. Our 94 show with Suncoast was comprised of music by the Christian Accapella group Glad. Many thought that Suncoast had become a 'Crusade Corps'. Not exactly - we had to split the guys on one side and girls on the other for not-needed-to-mention reasons like many other corps have. The staff liked the music - it was great music to put on the field. Find some music by Glad and you will probably enjoy the music regardless of your religious beliefs. So yeah - I still think our shirt still has a meaning....shut up and play. Spirit will play to those that shut up and watch. $.02

I love how people hate this show and the corps has yet to perform a lick or a drill set... Stay classy DCP…

Great topic! I once played lead for Suncoast with excessive pressure and an overbite. I think I played upstream with a downstream fashion? Regardless, trying to pump out to the box in Madison for the first time was #### on the neck and in my last year (94) I started to kick out my lower jaw where my upper and lower teeth were even and tried to play with less pressure. This posture feels much more comfortable. Since then, I joined and left the Marines, tried to play long tones for a few weeks in 2003 using Claude Gordons Systematic Approach to Daily Practice and have lived in an apartment where I would successfully fumigate my building with my pre-7th-grade sounds that come from my bell. I can hit a G in the staff on the money and a few pedal tones. My practice equipment consists of an ego-gold 3C and a Mercedes II Bach trumpet. I hope no one pulled a hernia from laughter! I want to join the Florida Brass Senior DnB Corps but feel I could be a weak link for months. Comments if I should either bust my butt playing long, loud tones with my new(?) emboucher or go back to my old, destructive roots? Also, any King K20 sops laying around for sale? Gabriel Suncoast 91-94