prodigal bari

NO...engagement day (as if I do not know the answer already.. )...gosh, I am not THAT crazy...

Talk about a resurrection...I am so proud to see Troop back where they belong! Makes me prouder to be part of the LBL... (AND..if it weren't for the fact that I am putting a ring on my girl's finger tonight; Troop would be my Number 1 thought for the day... )

WELL..this was 30 minutes of my life I can never get back...

Didn't make any difference in the credibility to me...good review! And...live and learn, newbie.

WOW!!!!! That is the ticket...is there anyone from the Troop looking at this?

32 guard is the number from the TroopBlog on the corps' website. I think they could expand to 36; but I think 32 was the number.

According to Scott Atchison on troopersdrumcorps.org the guard, brass, and percussion is FULL with alterenates on both guard and brass. Looks like the guard situation has been solved...and I can now hear the thunder rolling from the Rockies now...

1980 was horrible...we were quoted a temp of 140 F when we went on; not only did I have blisters on the soles of my feet when we got off; but (and I kid you not...) the rubber on my heels was SOFT from the heat! Someone with DCW did a pictoral of the fallen during prelims (I think that year) that was scary; but in a sick way somewhat funny. Many did not finish their shows...

I think at this point, it is simply the oath of silence that is keeping more info from spreading....

Wrong...do you think the Irsays will put up with any shenannigans on the stadium? They will take the Colts elsewhere...as if they had never moved them before...

How in blazes can a stadium that is already built close? IT DOESN'T. Sure, they may have to do something different about staffing for events; but it is not like a business..the stadium is already built..besides, do you think the Colts (and the NFL) will allow that to happen, even if it could? This is just blustering by another #### poltician who is like the rest of them.

I'm a little surprised no one mentioned the reason for a lot of the visual changes (i.e., the rise of wildly asymetrical drills)... THE LINES. In 1978(or 79?) the usage of the football grid as standard performance markings allowed writers to use the field as set points rather than members as pic points...and I do believe that it allowed for more creative drills while maintaining the ability to execute and clean. I know; it ain't sexy..but to me it makes sense. I'll pull my trousers leg back down now.

I am not privy to the '09 budgets of the corps; but I am concerned with the instability of the world (and the Middle East/Russia in particular); IF there was a fuel spike either before summer or during the tour whether the individual corps or DCI have contingency plans in place..or budgeted at the highest diesel price? Flail away, O community of drum corps nuts (me included..)

As in HIGH??

No..Too Jewish...

OHHH...it's twue! It's twue, it's twue,,,IT'S TWUE!!! (I hate to say this, Mein Schottsie...but that's my sabre you are licking!!!! )

"How are things in the clean world?"

I think there was an evolution taking place in the 80's due to the increased demand and velocity that drills exhibited. In general, it was the transtition from the military marching techniques that were used in the earlier eras of DC and the marching activity into the more ergonomic and athletic movement techniques..and a lot of it was trial and error. Remember, one of the most important rules changes that almost noone talks about is the adaptation of the football grid for performance fields in the late 70's (remember just one middle line and a big X?) and the removal of the entrance/exits lines at the inception of DCI. This loosened up drill designs (the lines made a world of difference...no more guideons and pics!) and allowed writers to become more adventurous. As normal, movement styles had to change with the change of movement demand...and within that transition, you had some style differences..and some that just did not work. Organic design finally took over; and you get the styles you have now that are somewhat related. I need a rest..I am sounding like a college professor...Piled high and Deep!

Just to add to this...This is an apples/oranges comparison..the marching band at the university level is there ONLY to enhance the atmosphere at football games (and in most cases is at least partially, if not fully, funded by the athletic department)..and in many cases, they demand BIG. They do sometimes multiple shows a year; do pre and post game performances and events, and play ceaselessly during the games; which means they must have a fairly large reperitoire. They also so this with limited time during a academic week. Meanwhile, the sole required performance responsibility of a corps is to perfect and perform a 12-minute state-of-the-art competition show (alhough many other corps do some other things from time-to-time) to perfection..or very close to it. They prepare throuought the year; and have a literally round-the-clock saturation in preparation, performance, and travel in the activity from late May to the end of Worlds. You just cannot fairly compare the two.

I am not sure if there was anything on the lines of a power struggle with DCI and Bill that caused the dropout of Star; but there were changes in the activity that could have, from a business standpoint, made a case to Bill that he should focus his energies elsewhere. There is a unique sidebar (and a incredible story at that) to the Star story, however..and this was related to me by a former member/staff member (and a friend of mine) of the corps I marched with before Bill Cook and Star came onto the scene. He offered direct financial backing to a legendary corps in the Mid-80's before Star was formed (indeed, some of the future Star staff were cutting their teeth with this corps)...practically everything this corps needed to be a potential champion again. The corps director turned him down flat..he did not want relinquish control of the corps to an outside entity. Although that corps struggled and eventually had to be reorganized, they are still around, strengthing, and loved. I wonder if this corps director knew what potentially COULD have happened to his corps had it become what Star did become?

Whitewater..also known for the largest mosquitoes known to humanity...

Because there is more to a scholastic band program than marchng; and in the good ones, marching is only one part of the entire experience...concert, small ensembles, honor band activities (where you HAVE to be a member of a scholastic band program in order to participate or be chosen)...and the ability to win scholarships thru most university music departments for performance. (Practically all college music departments work thru the high school band directors and the state/regional association honor band lists to offer scholarships.) (Although in the OP's topic; the point is moot. So there... )

Having some knowledge of the Tennessee area and the schools, may I add these observations: -Many of the schools in the area start as early as the last week in July..this would make it very, very difficult for members to stay with the corps thru the week of Worlds (and with the state-mandated attendance policies, it would automatically fail those students..or get them awfully close to auto-fail). This is in addition to the need of local groups to have extra-early pre/band camps before school starts. With this being a corps that desires a local base it is imperative for them to be sensitive to the needs of the bands they draw students from...whether you may agree with that or not. -I suspect this corps wants to try a new approach to recruitment (which in a way is a throwback to the yesteryear) in keeping it LOCAL. The staff (who is very well known to the area and has some successful experience in both the band and corps arenas) have personally recruited thru band directors potential members; and want to make it where they can do something a little different in terms of pre-season rehearsals and summer participation..at least at the start. Given the very shaky economic situation the more local you can keep it; the more support...and funds...you can raise close to the corps' base of operations. (The lack of local particpation and support has financially doomed many a corps in the past...very hard for a community to support a corps whose members are almost all out-of-state.) They will have the numbers they want due to this symbiotic relationship with the local scholastic programs and the local universities. -Could it be that the corps BOD sees a problem legally with mixing high-school age students with college-age adults; and want to avoid any potential liability situations? I am telling you from my observations it is only a matter of time before you run into lawsuits and legal situations with the mixing of two different age groups and the statutory problems that can arise from interaction, lack of underage supervision, and parental objections to some of the lifestyle issues that are on display in adult situations..whether there are liability releases or not; we are in a litigatious society; and there is a way around these releases. And it would only take one situation to destroy a group. (Frankly, DCI will need to take a look at this at some point in time; IMHO.) I think the leadership of the Music City junior corps is being very, very smart to set this corps up to succeed, and succeed right...and I furthermore think this could be a model for the Open Class corps to take a look at if they are having solvency issues; for the reasons above. And as a private group that still fits the descripition of a youth group they can decide who they want to recruit..period...and are smart enough to know who they can recruit. How do I know? I know several of the directors in the area have personally recruited their graduating students into the corps. THAT'S targeted recruitment!!! ps..I have absloutely NO affiliation with either the Jr or Sr Nashville corps...

For crying out loud, the truth does NOT have to always be positive!!! (Self-esteem has replaced truth....ARRRGGGHHHH!)

Actually, if you study the writings of Thomas Dewey and others who designed the educational model this nation runs under this is not too far off of their original intent of public education...I think Dewey's paraphrase was 'to develop young people to be a service in today's society....much like worker bees!' OT..Again, the Mydol has not taken effect...