BigW

I know. It's one of the main reasons why at least three other people I've known personally who have worked there are gone. The thing is, how much business/fundraising does the Director of one of a spinoff YEA! corps necessarily have to do and devote time to if they're under the aegis of a theoretically well-funded parent organization? A loaded question Jeff, and one I'm seriously asking. I know one person squealed on that thread like I stuck them with a red-hot poker when I wondered if the problem was that not enough money was incoming for the Cadets2 project. Even as lacking in business savvy as I am- if I were thinking of doing this project, I'd have made sure the money and funding was in place from the start so that there were no concerns. This much I learned from Larry and other people who know how to do stuff. It's common sense. I would think a lot of his job would be involvement as a super-coordinator/manager of the staff, show and the overall directon of the project. I'd think he'd excel at that. I'd trust him with that aspect in half an eyeblink. I know he'd also get the mundane stuff right, like scheduling what and where and how. If it were all fundraising as the director, I'd think common sense would indicate one would retain someone who was an expert schmoozer/grant-writer/fundraiser/money maker as the individual to be the Director- or... have a Business Manager in place within the corps structure to do that special work. Am I making sense, or as someone I knew awhile used to say, Am I making too much sense?

I like the pics, Tony. The stories are intertwined. Kinda like Audi and Peugeot in the documentary "Truth in 24"- perhaps the greatest racing movie ever, at worst one of the top 3-4. Is that 'Brownie' on the right in the lower pic of the Bucs? Good guy, always respected him as a competitor, and as a judge later on.

Hmm... only someone like me can tie together Tony's discussion about on-field persona and one of Eric's rants. It's absolutely true when you put on the uniform that you just have to turn yourself into superman or woman. You take on another persona when you perform. And part of that is looking the part in terms of projecting confidence. Some of us weren't going very well in projecting confidence when we performed. I know early on, Eric even told us to practice the look in the mirror, to have that thousand mile stare that burns right through everyone, a look of confidence. One practice, he stands there waving everything off on the hillside like a guy trying to wave a jumbo jet off a runway (not a very unusual thing for him to do...) and yells something like this- and of course you need to have that Eric accent- which I was told he has because his parents are French- which makes sense when you know that- "I AM TIRED OF WATCHING SOME OF YOU GET THAT 'Oh S|-|!+!' LOOK ON YOUR FACES WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE ON THE FIELD! YOU DON'T GIVE AWAY YOUR MISTAKES TO THE JUDGES!!!!! YOU MAKE THEM WORK TO FIND THEM!!!!!!!!!! IF I SEE ANY OF YOU DO THAT AGAIN DURING THIS RUN-THROUGH, AND I COME UP TO YOU AND TAP YOU, IT MEANS I CAUGHT YOU DOING IT AND YOU OWE ME 20 SIT-UPS OR PUSH-UPs, YOUR CHOICE!!!!!!!!!" Needless to say, I think most of us ran that run-through like we were marching on a minefield, but I figured, as long as I just LOOKED mean and tough, I'd get through okay. I did. Eric never had me do any situps, which I'm proud to say. He'd come tearing into the corps at Warp 9 during run-throughs and rap people and run back out, or run down and tap 2-3 at a clip. And Hopkins doesn't think Eric can run his Senior Corps.... Really!?!?!? I wish I had one for Eric to run so Eric and I could kick Hop's patookis. I'd just stand there with a smug grin like a cat who has the catnip bucket on my face and nod at Eric when it happened. I know a lot of us STILL have our game faces in Alumni corps when we perform because of Eric. The first time I went out on the Forum stage with the Alumni something like 20 years after I last performed- Dad was blown away and told me it was crazy seeing all of us up there still with the thousand mile stare game faces. It's so much a part of us that they never left us. I'll get to more stuff, but somehow, I managed to connect some crazy dots and figured I'd share since everyone was into the Eric moments. At first I wasn't sure what to think but as I started to realize that after 3 seasons as a performer with Westshore- I was FINALLY understanding HOW to march and my visual skills were **insanely** better because of Eric. I know I had to be one of many who felt that way.

I'll be at Hanover, you bet. The Alumni corps is sounding pretty decent, I think we're finally starting to really groove better as time goes on!

It's likely it offended Sky because they didn't think of it first. All I will say on that is we got invited back to the AL Post in Jessup, PA after the Scranton contest because they told us we were pretty polite and well-behaved- though we did party and buy a lot of their alcohol. They/Sky didn't get asked back. Ask me what they told me about that when you see me. The Erie crew could also party hearty. The Booze Brothers, etc. etc.

IIRC, Westshore took Guard too. And in cleaning the visual package, Sun was able to close the gap we were usually blowing people out on in a huge way because of Eric's pushing us so hard.

^_^ Fran didn't invent that concept. Some chucklehead bari player (even by MY standards and Baritone player standards, this guy was a chucklehead) shot a Tenor mallet at my head in HS and put a cut that took three stitches to fix it up. I was lucky I ducked and it only grazed me! I can even let yah rub the scar on top of my head if you want to next rehearsal!

I knew Ron mainly through Westshore Alumni and NJA and always enjoyed working with him. I expected to see him Saturday to be honest, very, very sad, my sympathies to Ron's family!

Only a fool would ever have thought the other corps wouldn't fight back and compete. Sky, Sun, Cabs, Reading, and Hurcs had all won fairly recent championships and had all been in the top 3. The question was whether they had the brains to actually do it (credit Reading and Sun) the vehicle, (Sun did) or talent. (Sun did, IIRC Reading was just waaaay down on talent that season, big turnover) The show DID have issues. A lot of that is from looking back on it with a lot of hindsight and learning about show design/construction, etc. Then again- who took high GE? If the show had issues, everyone else's also had to have some issues too, otherwise we'd have blown that area....

It was partly that but more, much more. When you're not getting any input from panels other than, "You're winning huge, it's great, just keep doing what you're doing...." How do you "improve the program" when you're not getting any real guidance from the panel as to what and where the issues need to be addressed because you're so far in front of everyone in almost every which way? Just some food for thought. I have some stories about THAT issue over the years....

How about Reading's closer from "Sylvia"-- a fine moment indeed BITD. My favorite personal moment as a performer was the last 30 or so seconds of the 1982 and 1983 Westshoremen programs, the Frank Dorrite chords- a rip to play, and the crowd bought them.

Winning at Clifton was absolutely no fluke. Will explain later. Lead with HPD proved false, trying to take some missing items/reward offered posters I made last night over to the apartments across from Cap City airport the guy had "friends" at and stashed his stolen food at as well. Maybe someone will cough up the stuff no questions asked for a few bucks. The early season was no fluke. There were problems baecause of it, which as a judge I have really come to understand as I got older and judged more and understood some of the dynamics that were afoot that weren't really anyone's fault. If anything was at fault, the massive early season success was. I believe Ream knows what I'm thinking. He's likely been in this situation with some of the groups he's worked with.

Had a bottle of Troegs Dream Weaver recently Not as good as I hoped, not to my taste, but it was obviously well thought out and brewed, just not for me. And what you are both saying is you can DRINK Brut Cologne!?!?!?!?!? AM I understanding this correctly? And not fall into convulsions and die!?

Gah! Natty Bo! Couldn't agree more. I have one bottle left of Oatmeal Stout here. My tastes are rather choosy with Beer. Drank some Russian Imperial Stout recently. Good stuff. Still need to sort out parking in H-Burg wish me luck. And Poole- that's not Charlie Poole the DCI judge!?!?!?!?

PFFFFFF!!!!!!!!!

"Of the people that I knew as ring chasers one followed the other, this person is ALWAYS around, and is annoying!" I have a feeling we're speaking about the same individual.

I didn't come up with the term "Chumley Drums" for no good reason. I have to go see Harrisburg PD on the trail of my stuff. Seems this goober was arrested for a DUI in his clunker, which I helped him get running, and also warned him he needed to get it inspected... (Boom is laughing because I did sound like Dad when I told him) well he evidently got busted for DUI, no insurance, no registration, no drivers liscence. My guess is his crappy Saturn's impounded and I'll ask if they found stolen property in it. The most recent tote sheet on this guy: 1 stolen electric buggy from the New Cumberland Giant 50 pounds of meat and poultry from the Camp Hill Giant in several raids, using a Taxi as his getaway car. Stealing 225+ buxx of stuff from me Check fraud/forgery Stolen Credit card from another tenant in my building. Lemme tell you- A lot of this is petty, but it does add up, and I hope they keep him in the freakin hoosegow and not take pity on him this time. The Forgery can get him up to 10 years in jail or as little as probation. Regardless of whether this guy has to use a cane and limps-- regardless of whether the crimes are non-violent, he's rackin' them up! At least they've had him in Cumberland County jail since the 16thish. And they need to KEEP him there! You guys got to corner me after practice or whever we hang out after, I'll fill you all in on this stuff, crazy, surreal, frustrating, and entertaining all at once!

Steve, two time Bruni Award people aren't ringchasers. The Brothers aren't ringchasers. I'd get snarly with anyone who would tell me they were, get downright Senior Corps rude with them. One of the individuals I mentioned has the musical talent to fill about 1 percent of a pinky thimble. The other was a woodwind crossover who'd never performed on a brass instrument until they did with us. 'Adequate' would be a way to describe this individual on-field, and as a rookie, should have LISTENED to a five year veteran about trying to march inside the &*@^$&*^ing form! The third person actually came from a top-end DCI corps. But, they were clearly NOT a team player. That individual just did things to make bus rides hell, and my guess also sowed dissent throughout the color guard all season is my educated guess. I'm suprised someone from the guard just didn't unload and break their jaw at one point for the smack they used to talk about other people in the guard- GOOD, TALENTED, DECENT people who did NOT deserve the kind of criticism and rotten talk they used to deal out about others. I'm trying to keep names and ID's on these individuals nebulous, Those who were around know who I mean, but I really don't want to totally call them out in a public forum. Some have tried to defend two of these individuals to me in conversations with "Oh, they were there because they love the activity", and I told these people they didn't really know these two clowns that they did indefensible things to others and were there to draw attention to themselves and cause drama. Outwardly, they may SEEM like okay people, when you watched them in action off the field and how they treated others and their drama machines, not good. A team player does not mean that you don't lead quietly by example, which the Brothers did. It does not mean that you didn't lead musically by setting up groove, pulse, drive, and musicality, which the Brothers DID. Driving an ensemble is REAL leadership. Period! I see this all the time when I judge, or the lack of it, and call out those who do for special recognition, because it's deserved. There are many ways to lead in a corps, both silently and overtly. You and the Brothers lead, whether you knew it or not.

Still not done with 82, MUCH to discuss. As for 84- remember I came to one practice early on invite, but I was so busy at WCU and more or less tired and frustrated. My car had fuel filter problems so I couldn't get to the one big meeting to decide what would happen at that point, heard the corps went under, got the call in early July after Carlisle from Dan Bowman, the rest is history. Just got done talking to NCPD, have to go to work! Have one more lead on my missing slot cars! All be well!

Ben, I am GLAD you said this. I thought I was being harsh when I thought about that issue. I've been thinking about what to say here about it for over a year, and I WILL get to it. I would like to say MOST of the people who came on board- the guys from Erie, Chip, Silent Sam, MOST of them were good people who I am still happy to tell people "I marched with those people and am proud to say it and I deeply respect them as former corpsmates". I want to say THAT to clear the air. However-- there were three of them that did real damage to the zen of the corps. I still remember Mike and I all over one of them on the bus because of their mouthy crap. I'll get to THAT later. I remember nearly being told I tried to choke that same person on the bus in my sleep. One of them managed to generate serious drama where there wasn't any previously and damage personal relationships that were pretty strong. The third was a real ring-chaser and pretty much made this season hell for me. Nearly caused a fight to break out because of their BS in visual rehearsals and their stinking awful attitude and NOT understanding at ALL and REFUSING to understand the concept of "Form Awareness", which was taking hold BIG TIME because of the changes in the visual end of things. This individual obviously came to WIN, WIN, and WIN SOME MORE, and didn't understand that their stubborness and know it all attitude because they came from a top end ToB unit really hurt the corps, esp on the visual end. They also managed to connive staff when I was out for a month or 2 with serious viral pneumonia in the winter and pretty much as a result made every field visual practice a BS mound of living hell for me. If what went on them would have went on now with me, I would have told them-- "you move my spot in the drill NOW, AWAY from this individual-- or I WALK, championship shot or not because I do NOT want to be next to this (&*@^*&@^%^ individual". I don't think Ochran really understoofd what a problem this was gonna be, and I "Took it for the team/tried to be a team player" and dealt with it as best I could. there was only one real outburst as a result, but it did us no good as a corps, and you can see the results of this person's stupidity on the 83 Prelims video, not hard to point out. Yeah, I remember '83 all right. Without these people, I'm certain we'd have been MUCH better, and maybe we do better than 4th. At least I'd have better memories of that season! The one thing that WAS good were the arrangements and the sound of the hornline. Those are the good memories I have of '83, that and being with a wonderful young lady who I was too young and flat out stupid to have known and realized what I had at the time. '83 was a season that should have been MUCH better in SO many ways for the corps. To be blunt, I have MUCH, MUCH more fondness for the 1984 corps that finished 15th because everyone pulled together, everyone worked together, and I was with people I knew were REAL FRIENDS marching next to me. I'm sure Fawber, Frank Magel, and Fisher, and Rick Adams wouldn't want me stumbling around next to them if they could avoid it in the heat of battle if they had a choice- but I'll GLADLY march next to THEM ANY DAY.

Told Kenny Dechert/Contra '82 to at least come in and say hi. REALLY looking forward to practice Sunday, everything here getting back to a semblance of normal. Need to see Camp Hill police today and see if they might have my stolen goods or a lead...

I did a small paper on this about 6-7 years ago on a related topic. The activity started post-WW One through Legion and VFW posts that had access to large stockpiles of War Surplus instruments- and used them as a way to sponsor both veteran and youth groups. Hopefully, that gives you a bit of a start. Tom can certainly help you, I know there may be a few others to contact as well. Good luck on the project.

Patrick's solo I think might be THE most difficult thing anyone's ever had to play on a bari on the field- and I've seen video of him playing is sans octave splitter, and EVERY note is THERE. Only one word to describe the young man- BEAST!

It depends on which corps you're trying to join, Trevor. There are several corps around that would be happy to take you on the spot because you're practicing, have a desire, and want to be there. They'd be glad to teach you and help you grow and develop as a brass musician. That might be the real question that needs to be answered- who would you be taking a shot at? Starting somewhere to get where you want to go is a common plan and don't throw that one out as an idea, either.

I have no doubt Sun wanted that trophy as much as we did and took their best shot at it. We'd been splitting caption trophies through much of that season, IIRC, and they were serious motivators.