USNA90_Mello

I would be very careful about this conclusion. In fact, apart from the nobody really cares about parades from an IP perspective, it is a totally false conclusion. Doing any type of public performance puts you at risk. It also puts the parade organizer at risk as well (though no parade organizer I have dealt with ever checked this box and even know they are potentially liable for not requiring this of their musical groups). Bottom line is that you are performing publicly their copyrighted work and you are infringing their Intellectual Property. Even were you to publicly perform to a dozen drunk boaters on the pier, YOU ARE INFRINGING. There is no "no harm, no foul" provision in the law. Case in point, a garage was recently slapped for public performance of music being played on a stereo that was audible to the public. Practically, no one cares though, and I would be surprised if any Drum Corps has ever secured rights for parade-only tunes. You would be protected, obviously, for adaptations of your field show music. And yes, I do practice Intellectual Property Law. Cheers, Bob

1989 CBC, without a doubt.

Just '95? This ring knocker is sad. :-) Well, happy to see the redesigned site and the legacy videos, but sad that he can't see himself back in the day. Cheers, Bob

Though I was affiliated at one point with a Class A corps and they remain in my heart, I am no longer officially affiliated with them due to a job relocation. I now live in San Antonio and have no affiliation to any DCA corps. This rule was and is a rule about exclusion. Exclusion because of a short sighted view that smaller corps can have no impact for the crowd and that forcing smaller corps on the show promoters was forcing them to take a less impactful group. The words of the ones voting yea on this, not mine. The future of DCA is in the small corps. A rule that requires a minimum membership will take many of the corps that are just starting look longer and harder at whether DCA is a viable venue for them. If I was starting an all-age corps right now, I would steer very, very clear of the DCA framework. My opinion and I am entitled to it. If DCA is about growth of the all-age activity, it should embrace every group it can. Can a medium sized metro support two or three small corps, probably. Look at Minnesota. If you force DCA groups to be a certain size, you reduce the overall number of corps. So what could have been a nice local show of purely local corps, all DCA corps if this rule was not in place, becomes something less, if it is even held at all. Again, it is a rule that supports exclusion that removes possibilities of new blood coming in and shaking the apple cart. They have their ball and you can't play with it. Has anyone done an anlysis of the make-up of voting membership for DCA over the years? I bet if you did, you wouldn't find much turnover. And when competitive corps have fallen down competitively, the ball holders have changed the rules to give them a break. Then when the break is no longer needed, they yank the carpet out from corps that took advantage of it. (The same rules congress that voted in the 35 member minimum is the same rules congress that restricted membership to the top 10). Yes, this post is a bit of a rant. It is also some stuff that has been bubbling for a while which was never able to come out. Again, I am not affiliated with any corps at this time, and my views are solely my own. Any flaming may be directed solely at me. Cheers,

If that mouthpiece is a good fit, I think mello might work for him. You may need to move to a different Alto/Tenor horn MP though. I played this past season on a Dennis Wick 2 Tenor Horn MP on a King Bb mello, so it does work. Sound is darker, IMO, then the stock mouthpiece. But the cup is huge compared to the stock. There are a few that are smaller cup, in fact gave a Alto 6 to a budding mello player after this past season as a good intermediate that she could be very successful with quicker. Personally, I love the sound of a Tenor/Alto MP in a mello. Never had the chance to play an IYM, though. The Wick 2 shredded me (stamina wise) when I first switched over from a stock 6V, but was able to work into it.

Always a fan favorite with DCA and midwest audiences, Chops is looking to strengthen its instructional staff in 2008. 2008 represents some new beginnings and challenges as current Executive Director, Bob Bohanek will be turning over the reins. Bob has recently moved to San Antonio, TX for a professional opportunity. Bob leaves behind a motivated administrative team, and they are looking to take it to the next level. Chops truly embodies the work smarter, not harder philosophy. Chops commits to its members that they can do drum corps and still do other things. Our members come from all walks of life, with lawyers, dentists, realtors marching alongside high school students. This synergy and Chops performance experience is unique in Drum corps. As we embark on preparations for the 2008 season, we need more motivated instructional staff to ensure that we have good people in front of our most important asset, our members. We will consider interest in any instructional category, but we have particular need in our Brass and Percussion caption head roles. These positions require someone with a large vision and focus. We have been wonderfully gifted with truly motivated people over the last few years and are looking in 2008 to engage those in the instructional community, and will give preference to those who are currently working in the music education field. Rest assured, the time commitment we ask of you is limited as well. Interest in technician positions in all captions is also solicited. The technician should be a highly proficient performer in their field. Are you a snare tech with no interest in what the bass drums are doing. Perhaps you are the greatest mello tech in the world but can only identify a tube because of it's size. We want you. Our members deserve the very best in instructors and we hope you are it. So, what is your next step? Give us a call. Write us an email. Send a messenger (it's okay, we are not Sparta here, and they are safe). You can contact us at 1-800-486-9207. Resumes and letters of interest can be emailed to Bob Bohanek at rbohanek@chopsinc.com. Like everyone that experiences Chops, Bob can't really leave the family and will be coordinating Chops' search for the best people to put in front of our members. Cheers, Bob

Go NAVY, Beat the Zoomies and Coasties. :-)

My personal opinion is that it all comes down to what Pasadena brought to the table and how accomodating they were. I am not out there, and have not talked to any members, fans, or staff, but I would hazard a guess that for everything but the actual show at the stadium that everything is pretty good there. That the community is really welcome, etc. As to the actual venue...meh! Only there once. Not to bring in the all-age discussion, but something of the same ilk is happening on the DCA side. Great community in Rochester, great support around town, less then stellar stadium. And unseeable lines? Try marching after a hurricane rips through. Hell, what about as it rips through. My hats off to GH for sticking to what is important and making sure his kids had a safe experience. I wish more of us in DCA had stood up like he did on Thursday night.

Anyone seeing the active stream link. I am a platinum member but don't even see the link in the upper right to click on. The only way I could even get to the web page to see that the stream wasn't active was to come here. This doesn't bode well for Friday night and about a dozen of my friends.

Chops is Class A, and #### (darn automated forum censor ) proud to be part of the growth in DCA!!!!!!!

Only partial? I'm cancelling my tickets now and staying home. :-)

US Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corps (See Sig). They are now defending Intra-Service Academy Champions (Current pic below). Cheers, Bob

Chops was in attendance. However, no vote to vote against this.

If you have access to a tenor/alto horn mouthpiece, I would recommend giving it a whirl as well. I have a deeper cup alto mp I have been playing on and love it. I may move to something with a slightly shallower cup. I absolutely adore the tone and the ease at which I play with it. Just my $0.02. Cheers, Bob

Would having members on prison work-release be good enough? :-) Bob