year1buick

That or, in later years, realizing that I've gone through spring training, etc. and am about to march in a show even though I've aged out and could get the corps disqualified. (Funny how stuff like that actually makes sense in the dreams.) The details vary, but the theme is always the same.

How about other venues? When they had it on Finals night in 94, it was at SMU's McFarlin Auditorium, I believe. Other cities had similar locations. Would something like that not be possible agian?

DirecTV is just now rolling this out. Unfortunately, almost all of the material will have to be downloaded to your DVR via an internet connection. (Only really high profile stuff is supposedly going to download via the sat). My connection is pretty mediocre--2 hrs of high def (even with mpeg4) would take a lifetime. DirecTV has some pretty esoteric stuff once you get on down the lineup (RFD, for instance. Last time I flipped to that one, they were showing a live cow auction). Maybe in the future, once they've got this increased bandwidth they're expecting, groups like DCI might be able to purchase deals to run PPV, with a cut going to the sat provider. Just a wild guess, anyway.

I'd be down with that. High Def TV?... check... High Def DVR?... check... Blue Ray/HD DVD?.... Um, I'll have to get back to you. Hopefully "check" by the time DCI has it on one of them. (Economy of scale needs to kick in a little more.) Still hoping for a Finals theater show or some type of limited broadcast, but I'm definitely not holding my breath. In the meantime, I'll replay this year's show again...

I filled it out the other day. I was actually complimentary, and only said I would like some way (don't care how--theater, TV, whatever) to catch at least some part of Finals live. What do you think about the idea of the theater broadcast being done for Finals as well? I know there's a concern about losing tickets to Finals itself, but don't you think that the majority of folks that would be going to a theater wouldn't be making it out to Finals anyway? Granted, I don't know anything regarding the numbers they get for Quarters--no sense working out a deal with theaters, only to have a few people show. BUT, if Quarters is doing well, couldn't a Finals show represent another revenue stream for DCI and a chance for people that can't make it out to Finals to see the results live? As far as what you say re the broadcast--I'm starting to see more of what your saying. (Saying it made "no sense" was off...) It's not so much that I'm completely against how they do it now (I'm not), just that I wish there was some way--any way-- to catch Finals without having to buy a plane ticket. I'd happily buy a movie ticket. Or a PPV (Maybe DirecTV and all of that extra bandwidth they're getting soon. They've got On Demand now too.) Guess I could hope Dallas gets Finals in 2014, for that shiny, new stadium. :)

Were they to do Part 3, I suggest The Wizard of Oz, opening the door into, well...duh. Don't use straight up music from the movie--just a fleeting reference or two (no more than the Twilight Zone theme was used). They could throw in some brief pop culture references too, like Yellow Brick Road by Elton John or Money by Pink Floyd. Characters could be re-worked into a more modern theme. (No animal suits) "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

"No. You see children know such a lot now, they soon don't believe in fairies, and every time a child says, `I don't believe in fairies,' there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead." ... "Do you believe?" he cried. Tink sat up in bed almost briskly to listen to her fate. She fancied she heard answers in the affirmative, and then again she wasn't sure. "What do you think?" she asked Peter. "If you believe," he shouted to them, "clap your hands; don't let Tink die." Many clapped. Some didn't. A few beasts hissed.

Um, we're pretty sure she can. (So rude to ignore...)

Probably not. In a similar vein, I've never had much luck talking people out of going into darked cellars in scary movies. (I mean come on. At least turn on a light.)

Hah, that's funny. Either I totally missed it or have just completely forgotten. (That might've been one of the few shows where I had to sub for someone on the begining Euph part, who was out with a sprained ankle. I had the darndest time not fracking on the higher notes, because I was still winded from El Amor Brujo. If so, then my mind was pretty well focused on not screwing up...) Yeah, we usually heard some funny stuff each year in the Rockford 4th of July parade. It was later in the day, so many spectators were pretty well lubricated by the time we strolled by. They'd yell things like, "Play LOUDER!!!" Lord a'mighty, how loud do you want it??? (By this point in the day, many of us had given in and were blowing our brains--and lips-- out).

Actually, between this field and the standard green ones, Tom Blair has a decent opportunity to go crazy with some chroma key effects for a joke easter egg for the DVDs. (For example, Regiment marching over a cloud filled sky)

I don't remeber that. I did hear a press box phone ringing in Denver and someone saying "sweet" on the CD.

It's true that every time you hear a bell, an angel gets its wings. But what they don't tell you is that every time you hear a mouse trap snap, and Angel gets set on fire. --Jack Handy

This seems a little bit "over-analyzed" as well. If this were true, wouldn't Glassmen be winning all the time? I think too much credence is given around here to conspiracy.

And, of course, 1991 Phantom Regiment as well.

I think it resulted from a combination of more and more individual stations dropping it and DCI eventually making the choice to switch over to ESPN. In this 2004 article, Dan is already mentioning the possibility of ESPN, while trying to get more stations to carry it again. He says, "Why not ESPN." Here's the 2005 announcement for the move to ESPN.

I don't think the broadcast was bad at all this year. Last year either (though I thought it was a little heavy on guard coverage then. Much better now ...) However, I still prefer the 5/6 live format from <mid-90's era. Even then, there was still room for behind the scenes stuff. (Like the On the Road Again montage) I agree that that stuff is important--played a part in my wanting to march as well. People are getting sidetracked a little, IMO. Switching from the live format to the taped delay format wasn't to enable behind the scenes stuff--more to fit it in with ESPN, from what I've gatherd. (Please correct me if I'm wrong on this.) Honestly, a LOT of the pro-live camp ("I believe in choice" :P ) haven't been that negative in their comments. Just that they prefered it the other way. No biggie. I still watch and enjoy. I realize that plenty of other people would apparently prefer not to see it live--that's cool. At this point, it's pretty reasonable to assume that it's not coming back agian. Agian--no biggie. (Just drum corps. (Not like we're talking about losing SSN benefits!) I would still like to suggest that they offer the paid theater broadcast for Finals as well as Quarters. To me, it would be a win-win situation for both DCI and the fans.

I certainly haven't made this argument. Are you saying the two methods are absolutely, mutually exclusive? This is the ONLY audience? Again, why is this mutually exclusive. They can still do those things, even if there is a live TV broadcast. Or a Finals theater show. I've got an iPod and DVR. Plenty into the whole technology scene. I've watched drum corps in pretty much any medium available. Whether or not a corps has a better Quarters or Semis performance has absolutely nothing to do with the discussion. Period. (How often have you planned on attending only Quarters or Semis because they might have some better performances?) Sorry Tom, but this makes no sense at all. Who's saying they want "something for nothing." Does the current format require anyone to pay? Showing 5 corps + scores (live) should be paid only? I don't get it. I'm offering to PAY to see Finals live, in a theater. I still don't think this is going to affect Finals attendance as dramatically as you say it will. Not by a long shot. (Again, 1994 had this and yet Finals attendence for that year was very high. Higher than any following year, save this one.) The people that are going to shell out and travel to Finals aren't going to change their minds because of an available Finals theater show. Or live TV broadcast. If anything, DCI will make more money because folk like myself (hell, maybe even a teenager or two) will pay to see it as well.

I'm pretty sure that my wife would rather host a Hooters-catered Sunday brunch than organize a DCI watching party. (Not a big fan) At least we've got Breakfast at Tiffany's. :P ($1 to Deep Blue Something)

Best use of irony I've seen here in a while.

People throw this out all the time--I've been unable to find a quote from DCI or any PBS station that said they refused to carry the show because donations were too low. I do recall, however, reading--more than once-- that Finals typically brought in above average donations. (Wish I could find that...) Granted, it's probably not the money maker Sewing With Nancy or Lawrence Welk are, but I'm sure it held its own. This article certainly gives the impression that it was DCI's choice to go with ESPN. Honestly, at this point, the whole thing gives me tired-head--I wouldn't care if they showed it on C-SPAN. My only real disappointment is the inability to see at least the last 5 or 6 shows and score announcements live, which seems to have been precluded by the choice of ESPN. Hell, why not just offer us the choice to pay and see Finals in a theater, the way Quarters are shown? (As I said in a previous thread, I don't believe this would affect Finals attendance--didn't seem to in 94). I fully appreciate the opportunity to see Quarters live and watch the Semis webcast, but it's FINALS that I'm dying to see live. (When I've got more $$$, sure, I'll travel out to it.) For me, at least, it's never been that I had no way to watch the full shows--duh, I'm aware of DVD's and the webcast. It's that I thought the at-home Finals experience was better realized live, even if only for the end portion. I still happily watch the broadcast; it's still on my DVR, I've watched it several times now. I'll do the same next year and the year after that. And I still appreciate that DCI offers it. However, saying I think the Finals broadcast would be better live is hardly whining. (That crap is getting as old as the old Borg references.) Since when did it become so freaking taboo to offer up suggestions as to how you think it could be improved??? EDIT: I just saw your second reply--I do appreciate the clarification re the "whining" issue. (It's irked the crap out of me that some people have insisted on lumping everyone with dissenting opinions into this category. It's been casually thrown about in the same way Borg was a while back. For the most part, lazy posting, in my opinion.) As for the stations dropping out--even the stalwart Dallas affiliate eventually dropped off, and what you offer is not at all an implausible scenario. I've just never read any quotes from stations saying this. I do seem to recall quotes about Dallas pushing it back so as to be shown during pledge drives, because it typically did so well. (Unfortunately, I can't find any references).

He donated his collection to North Texas.

I think they're on the right track and are miles ahead of where they were in the late 90's/early 00's. This is a testament to the quality and dedication of the corps staff. However, I do agree somewhat with the sentiment that the corps' shows sometimes feel a little too incomplete in the beginning. This is nothing new--our show in 94 was completely different from June to July to August. I'm not talking tweaks either--completely different. (Mostly drill, but some music as well.) It was in a constant state of flux and cleaning didn't really start until August. This doesn't mean that everything should be set in stone--what sounds good on paper may not always translate well on the field. Still, the corps might benefit from having the overall show more in-place by the time actual competition begins.

I thought this was just a rumor someone threw out. Has there been any announcement from the corps that they're going with someone else?