CozyChopsCom

I taught many people how to take photos underwater, but that was the element. This photographer wouldn't expect a photog or videographer to report in with expensive underwater housings for a drum corps gig in Rochester. That would cost even more bucks on a tight budget, adding more to ticket prices...Get the blurry picture? In 2006's Hurricane Ernesto storm, the rain attacked camera lens at a more acute angle than 45 degrees. (See JohnD's photo from the open-air pressbox and others.) If NBC-TV can't film an average rain at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade properly, why should we expect a vendor paid on our DCA budget to flip to Captain Nemo mode? Why are we (no, you) still talking about this? The minnows from the muddy puddles next to the Rochester still photography tiers and the crawdads who did the merengue in the Paetec Park excellent field drainage system are all collectively rolling their eyes.

DCA listens. The fan$ are winners!

I'm honored by the offer. You Louisville cats are so friendly. During 2007 DCI Pasadena, I stayed on Dream Plachta's boat. Got to visit with Bill Howard, father of BD DM, Brian. All us sop players listened to my new Bill Chase CD for hours. It was odd playing along with Chase with Plachta's pocket trumpet in the marina. Fortunately, no one sank the boat or tossed me overboard.

I flippantly agreed with Tom's comments with a simple "Worthy" icon before. Let me say more. I agree with Tom that the DCA judges typically rank smaller corps properly. We, the fan$, often argue that GE needs to get more points. It's difficult for a Class A corps to rack up GE points vs. an Open Class corps. Refer to Govies, Chops, more recently Dream, Gulf Coast Sound and many more for corps who figure out how to garner more points with what they have. Chops and the Govies had this figured out decades ago in DCMidwest. GCS and Dream chose to learn fast from the get-go with their talented staffs and members. (Any deletions of other corps are not meant as a slight. Shootin' from the hip here.) Fred Windish, in another thread, made some excellent comments on proper show choices for smaller corps. He cautioned that smaller corps should not try to be "Santa Clara Vanguard lite." I digress. Overall, the DCA judges are doing a fantastic job in a tough genre. When a Class A corps finally gets into the top 10, knocking off some strong Open Class corps, it will be historical and a well-earned placement. I expect the DCA adjudicators will rank it properly, thank you.

Ironlips, Thanks for posting. Ritchee truly is one of the nice guys. Teaching middle school does make this honor even more special. Ritchee is da' man!

RJ, Thanks for posting. I checked 'em all out. Great to see so many familiar faces. Surely, it is even more exciting to have so much new blood. Best of luck to CorpsVets in aught eight!

Tom, I haven't lost sleep over these numbers, nor did I wake up this morning thinking about it. It was when I read this thread. My understanding is that the original intent of 35 was partly to align with DCI. However, my news of that vote is that it was mistakenly reported that DCI had a 35 limit. So, if the intent was partly to align with DCI, vote on it at the next Rules Congress. Let the dice fall one side or the other of the Rubicon. Show sponsors like a 35 limit rule. Some growing corps would prefer 30. Much difference? It can make or break some, if not this year, some other year, especially in non-traditional drum corps areas. You know, Tom, the truly remarkable accomplishments of some corps. It's amazing how corps are now growing in areas where a local show from Kansas is in Denton, TX, where horn arcs warm up literally on blazing curved curb blacktops, where temps hit over 100, where humidity is like Florida...oh, it is Florida!, where corps go on excitedly at 4 and 5 PM at hot California shows, where....

Cincinnati Tradition in 2007. Others I'm PMing to you.

Lee, Sure, I'd love to. Any snare "solos"? Seems so long ago, back in the DCA Renegassic Scrantonesque eon, but I recall Tom P. at the mike, I as sidekick. Chat with mic covered as Crunchy Frogs performed: "What the ##%^& is that?...Have no idea...Do you believe that?...Believe what?...What the...I have no idea...That's Boo!!!...Wow! Catch that...Isn't there a time limit?...This is time suspension...."

JC, you da' man. I always relish in your reviews. Can't wait to see the progress of the Kilties since my Open House visit. WWBD

Tom, Why does the 35 minimum limit have to be set in stone. It was established with the mistaken belief that DCI had the same rule, but DCI set it at 30 and has not changed. I wish I'd been at that DCA meeting. That difference of five has affected a few corps. I believe the upcoming Rules Congress should "fix" this to 30. I do agree about protecting the integrity of 21 in minicorps. I oppose raising the limit in minicorps. 30 for Class A would protect minicorps while giving a li'l breathing room to start-up and comeback corps.

Bill Chase and band died in August 1974. The next day, I pulled out all my Chase LPs and played them for hours. I still have those LPs, plus CDs added through the years. Got a wonderful gift of Bill Chase recordings just last year during the DCI Championships. Chase used to sit on the tour bus and buzz his mouthpiece for hours. What a player! Thanks DCK for playing Chase and to all others like Renegades who have honored Chase.

I clicked in thinking I know the answer to that one...Saw others had already correctly explained. Now, I'm licking my quill pen to write down the news: Crunchy Frogs to perform at DCA Finals, Fran will announce any minicorps name he chooses no matter who performs with a Hawaiian accent, DCA honchos will hand-pick 10,000, the chosen musicians and staff, to live in an underground corpsdom, Renegades Minicorps to perform Sunday despite en absentia, Peashey to sue Lee and Lee could care less who sues as long as they are vampires. Do I have all this straight? This was all on-record, right?

Fantastic! Delighted about this news. MCA is a circuit that not just honors the past. It is as hip as anything going on in corpsdom to date. Check it out!

Me likem Schlitz. This news is like enjoying a Roman holiday. Now when do we get Cincinnati beers back: Wiedemann, Burger, Hudepohl, etc... ...Googled here in mid-post: An Oct. 2007 report states Wiedemmann and Burger are back, part of a retro brew craze. Fantastic! Were we discussing drum corps?

Yes, have Bob line Mr. Brown up for a HoF cruise. I was part of an improv troupe in St. Louis, then did some improv nights at a Ft. Worth club. Fun times but talk about stress!!! Playing my horn or corps announcing is so much easier.

My thoughts go out to John and the CB family.

Fantastic staff! Can't wait to see ya'. Happy 25th!

I think of Ft. Worth...uh, Denton a lot. Never thought of Rich on mello. 'Dis I gotta see. Best of luck, Frontier!

I move from areas and corps opportunities increase? The demons are out to get me. Best of luck with this gig. Introduce more people to corps entertainment.

I'm looking forward to saying "hi" to Barb. "Aloha" to Fran.

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I'm going. Like last year, I'll be the guy hiding under the stage doing a quick-change...maybe.

I'm soooo excited for Shenandoah Sound. Can't wait to view the show in Rachacha and in the DCA South.