East9900

I don't think I knew about the BD one, but I specifically remember marching with a mello player in 99 that went to SCV in 2000. I can't speak for either, but I kind of understand their decision a little after how rough '99 was. I know I would have been kicking myself had I done the same. For those of us that remained loyal, it certainly paid off. I don't even mean by winning: that show was so much fun to perform and the attitude of the corps and the summer in general was about as different as they get. Also goes to show how much of a difference show design can have on a group of performers and their mental state. I truly feel for this year's corps.

It goes to show how much impact a poor show design truly has on a corps. It doesn't just hurt the corps this year. They are going to have to make some massive changes next year in the staff or else they are going to be feeling the sting for years. It really hurts because last year was such a positive step. I would never have guessed that this year would have turned out like this. I had questions about certain staff positions but thought they would improve, not digress. As a brass player, I'm disappointed in the staff's ability to make these performers better and clean the music. I'm not even a staff member of a corps and things I've heard a month ago are still there and still not fixed. I just do not get it. Hopefully they can do what they can to bring an elite staff to this corps or else I fear they'll be at the bottom half of finals yet again next year.

When GH was director, he wanted to field an alumni corps that was similar to what SCV did a few years ago. Times change and instead it became something much less. If it would have been similar to what SCV had done, I think people would have been doing whatever possible to make it happen. Instead, I think many weren't going to commit to traveling a few times for a stand still performance of a few tunes in their corps jackets. I am disappointed that it could not have been used to show corps strength. These things don't just require lots of time, but lots of money, and money that The Cadets just couldn't afford right now. I do feel the admin was a bit disorganized and didn't do enough sooner. They are still having a rough time getting stuff together, but I do think they will get things fixed sooner rather than later. I'll say this: WHEN The Cadets reach their 100th year anniversary, they had better pull out all the stops and make it incredible.

The BK's could take that to another level.

While some of that is concerning (especially at this time of the year), I think the purpose is to improve their ears as to what's right and what's wrong. I think it's about knowing when something doesn't sound right and identifying it. If you can't identify a problem, you will not get better. I'm not sure I completely agree with a partner making that determination. Not all players are the same and if you have a partner that can't hear the problem, then that doesn't help either. I do disagree that pumping the kids up is what they need to improve. Being critical and analytical will. Telling them how good they are (which they aren't and they know it) isn't going to get them where they want to be. At the same time, you do have to give them a pat on the back from time to time, but mostly they need to continue to be critical if they want to get better. Never settle. I 100% agree that they need to clean the book. As to my previous comment, if you can't identify a problem they can't get better. While there must be accountability from the players, that exact same accountability must be done with the staff. It almost sounds like they want the members to do the job they should be doing and that is incredibly concerning. Stuff like this is things that sound like should have been done in Spring Training, not with only a few weeks left to go. It sounds a bit like the staff is in over its head and the results so far seem to support that.

I know you didn't. I just used used your quote. My apologies for making it sound like I was calling you out. Some of the previous posts before yours made it sound like what YEA and The Cadets were doing was sketchy.. at least that was how I read it.

It's probably a big reason The Cadets are still around today. They needed money, so they came up with a way that not only gets them money, but gives HS bands another option to perform. Not sure why that is such a terrible thing. Since they use them as moneymakers for The Cadets, I'm sure they are making sure they are properly funded so they don't fold. Because if they did, who does that hurt? YEA! and The Cadets.

While it is frustrating, I will say it's deserved. As much as it pains me to say this, this show is where it should be and the corps beating them deserve to be on top. The only silver lining is the farther they fall, perhaps the more of a wake up call it will be to make drastic changes next season.

I generally am not a fan of quiet endings, but thought the original ending was a good one. I love "Hey Jude" and was surprised it wasn't in there... until now! Very excited to watch this show live this Sunday at NightBeat. This is easily one of my favorite shows of any corps in quite a long time. I really want Bluecoats to win it all this season and everyone involved deserves it!

I'm pretty sure he was the one who made their props this year. I recall a photograph of him working on some props that was on their social media.

That was a great show. While they are both shows featuring a single artist/group and completely different, there's something they both did that is 100% on the mark. They both did shows that fit the original artist's/group's style. A Billy Joel show wouldn't have worked in the style of The Beatles in the same way you couldn't do The Beatles in the style of Billy Joel. Both corps understood that and that's why those shows work in their own ways.

To me that's EXACTLY what a fan is. A fan doesn't have to exhibit blind loyalty to be a fan. Sometimes fans of something are the most critical of all. Why? Passion! I am an alum of The Cadets and always been a fan of The Cadets. At the same time, I've been very critical. Why? Because I want them to be better and there's obviously things I think they could do a much better job of doing. That doesn't make me any less of a fan. At the same time, those that have nothing bad to say are any more/less a fan of those more critical. I will say any one discrediting the other as not a fan is just plain wrong. If you're here, it's because you care enough to be here. Apathy is the most dangerous feeling when it comes to a fandom. When you just don't care, that's when there's a huge problem.

Aside from tarps, isn't any prop vertical? SCV used vertical props in the 80's. SCV '87 and '89 come to mind.

Figuring those blocks aren't limited to sectionals makes me think they have a lot planned. Doesn't mean there won't be sectional work, but they are definitely leaving things open. Two 4 hour blocks and a 3 hour block is brutal, but an incredible amount of time to improve. Nobody can say this corps is ready to give up with a schedule like that.

I don't there's anything wrong with being a critic as long as you have a suggestion to fix what you are critiquing. Being a critic just to be a critic doesn't help anyone.

As an alum and trumpet player I have to agree. Doesn't sound good. Good news is there's a really easy fix: get rid of it. Unless it improves the show, it shouldn't be there. They want an emotional impact- take the tag out and use that time to make one. At this point to make the show work (and I cannot believe I'm saying this), they may need to add some voice. They need the audience to get the story and they just don't. Perhaps by telling them what the queen character is thinking they can do a much better job of that and actually make the audience care about what's going on. In the "Do Better" part, take out a chunk of the voice and let the percussion throw down for all to sit back and enjoy.

I would really like to see that tag pulled. I didn't like the gospel thing they tried and removing most of it but leaving the tag now makes even less sense. I still really want them to bring back the big hit in BOTW- that was probably one of my favorite moments of the show and then they decided to impress the judges with their use of dynamics and lost the moment IMO.

The uniform is not the problem here. In fact, many people actually liked the new look for this season (myself included). The problem is staff and show design. SCV didn't get to where they are by changing their look. Neither did Bluecoats. They have killer design teams and teaching staff that elevate the performance level of the corps members. Nobody will say a bad thing about The Cadets drumline this year. What changed? I LOVE the maroon and gold and have been very upset when they didn't wear the traditional uniform, but that is not the problem. Give these performers a brass staff and guard staff on par with the percussion and a show that gives people a reason to cheer and you'd see a much different result.

Let's not forget that The Cadets slump started when you-know-who was in charge, so it's not like this is a sudden thing. This has been happening for a few years now. Also let's not forget the plethora of talent that left while he was in charge (Jeff, Gino, Colin, Neil, Tom, etc). Thankfully Tom and Neil came back, and I don't think it's wrong to suggest a motivating factor was someone no longer being there. Also, according to Scott, there's a LOT of behind the scenes stuff that most of us do not know that needed to be fixed. He didn't go into details but he did suggest that those things just don't fix overnight. If I were to take a guess at one thing, I would say housing. I do know some schools did not want The Cadets there after GH went against the schools wishes. Getting housing is difficult as it is and mending relationships takes time.

Ugh. I really liked those uniforms and the top hat ruins it for me. I don’t understand how that enhances the show or the theme. Thankfully they throw them off early.

“It would seem” is the key phrase. Sometimes things are not what they seem. DCI is the culprit. They are the ones that approved these shows and these panels. You really think The Cadets asked DCI or WY(or any of these 4 corps shows) to put them in a “sentimental show” with corps they could beat so they could look good in lieu of a small scoring panel that could hurt them in the long run. I’m sure these shows would sell more tickets if they had more corps there, but The Cadets want a sentimental show so too bad. Thats like assuming BD and SCV start on the west coast only so they will get high inflated scores at the beginning of the season to make them look better.

I don't think drill needs to be changed to staging to win. Carolina Crown's drill is full of Jeff's influence and at least they are in the discussion. I don't think his drill is a liability. In the 2015 show I thought it was the strength of the corps, not the weakness. I would say they lost because the show theme was one dimensional. Staging is the "in" thing right now. I think there's a way to incorporate killer drill and staging in a way that creates incredible visual effects and still make it look like The Cadets. The visual program needs an overhaul and if that means get rid of the drill and stage then so be it. I just am not ready to put the blame on that as the reason The Cadets haven't won.

A corps doesn't lose points by not doing shows. If that was the case the Blue Knights would be struggling to make finals every year. 😉 If anything their score should be even better as they've had more time to rehearse and get better. If they do indeed fall behind it will not be due to them not scheduling shows. Corps close the gap due to improving more or less than another corps. It can also happen when corps make drastic changes. Sometimes those changes take time to get better and scores may be lower at first and then climb once that new change is fixed. Don't sweat the scores. The Cavaliers are incredible this year. The top 6 are some of the strongest shows we've seen in years.

I REALLY hope they can bring Jeff back. There's no doubt he loves The Cadets. I feel like he was pushed out just like all the other great talents that left around the same time. Getting Tom and Neil back was certainly a really good sign. My concern with Jeff is that I think he's pretty happy at Crown and may not want to leave. If they can't bring Jeff back, they have to bring in someone that has experience and can write incredible drill... not just okay drill.

I'm willing to give them a little pass this year. If the material they were given wasn't fitting their vision than perhaps they can bring in someone who will. I will fault them for not making this decision in the offseason, though. They knew what they were getting. It's not like his drill was mind blowing last season and just didn't deliver. It looked pretty similar to last year. The way it currently stands, I am sad to say this is pretty close to the bottom of my favorite Cadet shows. There's plenty of time to convince me otherwise but they have a lot of work to do. The storyline itself is lacking for me and the original idea of the attack on the Queen was pretty tone deaf- I don't give them a pass on that. I will credit them for at least listening and changing. The drumline is fantastic! Hornline still needs a lot of work. There's still time, but time is running short.