NakedEye

I would think nothing is as much of a motivator as being outscored by a corps playing your old standards, such as Candide and WSS. Looks like they are pretty aware of the areas of the show that aren't connecting and working to beef up those sections. Will be very entertaining to watch this skirmish over the next few weeks!

This is an EXCELLENT post (which I trimmed to reply). You've hit on exactly what I've been thinking the past few days after seeing the show live. They have the absolute best arrangers, choreographers and instructors available in marching music. They have the absolute best, talented, dedicated, amazingly hard working kids in marching music. Yet, the entire success of the show hinges on a few kids who were recruited just in the last month before tour began. These kids are obviously trying hard and giving it their best effort, but their level of acting ability is not on par with the rest of what is happening...and it's nearly negating all the work the others are putting in. I'm the target audience for this type of show. I am not against good use of narration, I love NPR and This American Life, agree with the idea that you can largely influence your mood and reaction to situations by emphasizing positive thoughts, and have always been a fan of corps who take an unorthodox approach. However, when I re-watched the show on the FN yesterday, I wanted to THROW SOMETHING AT THE SCREEN! Why? The DELIVERY of those words is making me nuts. The sing-songy inflection and pushing and emphasis of the wrong words reminds me of a local news tv reporter in a very small market. UGH. If they're going to continue with this, YEA seriously needs to find a quality theatrical group to partner with to get some well-trained actors. I know many will find that blasphemous, but I do think a well-cooked product that includes the spoken words would not be creating nearly the negative reaction that this show is. It might also open up some really interesting possibilities. In college, we had a debate in a design class about what constitutes something being "good," and what constitutes something that "works." Is it totally subjective, or is there some minimal standard? Our instructor came up with a phrase I still refer to this day: "if it works, it's good, and if if's good, it works." That sums it all up. Their '05 show was good, because it worked. The drumspeak was totally appropriate, spoken by people who KNEW how to speak it, and the crowd ate it up. It's too simplistic to paint this whole argument as "people always hate change and they don't understand revolutionaries like us." YES, a lot of us do understand, but you make it really hard to support you when you're producing a top 3 music and movement package and a 35th place oratory. Cadets/George H.: PLEASE fix this and you'll find a lot more people willing to go to the mat to support your idea. Right now it's a premise with merit that is being destroyed by self-inflicted gunshots, and that's going to color a lot of fans' opinions about future attempts. You can do it. Make people love this show!

I love it too, and there have only been a handful of their shows in the past that brought me to "like very much" level. 2003 was one of those. Didn't much like 2007. This one, well, just WOW. They manage to slip in a bunch of stuff staging and movement-wise that I consider innovative, and it's all done in such a fun manner. The colors are great. The costumes are great. The business with the bendy poles is a hoot. When they make a grid or pathway with them, they then use it to wonderful effect. White plumes and leg capes are a riot, and they laugh at themselves in them. Constant different approaches to interpreting the theme. I like the music and the random people running around the field. The human drum racks - crazy! They seem so well prepared and confident, that in the early season vids, I thought they made everyone else look like amateurs. It was just a totally different level of comfort with the material. If there really is a lot more to be added, as been hinted at in interviews, I think it will be tough to beat. What's their secret to having their act so together from the beginning, where so many others struggle with unlearned material and unsewn flags? Just massive, organized professionalism, or something in the Kool-Aid?

I was at the show, where the weather turned out to great after a lousy rainy day for hours prior. A few thoughts, not really a review: Crown over Cadets: not a surprise at all. Crown's show is not perfect and it still strikes me as Hooked on Classics, with none of the music getting a chance to fully develop, BUT it is well crafted and they are simply performing it at such a high level that it works. Their sound is unreal and the guard is amazingly clean for midseason. The whole show just grabs you by the neck and demands that you show it respect. A new addition seems to be the crazy conductor hair on the guard. Frizzy dyed or wigs with a white streak. VERY fun. Still one show flag missing. Seriously? At this point in the season? The momentum died during the ballad and all the time with only body movement and no marching seemed mighty dull in comparison to what Phantom did with similar music in 94. Despite the overall EXCELLENCE of the show, I think I do feel a little disappointment that they didn't use all that power on a more original idea, rather than taking golden nuggets of other shows and refining them just enough to make a good package. Yes, I know this show is their own idea, but they generate effect by borrowing (with a wink to the crowd) lots of stuff too, like the Cavaliers "step over" move. They've done some great original things in the past, even without the quality level they have now, so perhaps 09 will show them really taking a bold step again. In comparison, Cadets just seemed beaten before they even started. The show was really flat. I've seen it on the FN, but have tried to steer clear of most of the ad nauseam criticism of it until I could experience it in person. Verdict: not working, and that pains me to say, as I've admired them and Hopkins as well for years and years. It's not the narration by itself, but the sort of disjointed feel of the whole production. Both the story and music seem like half ideas, pushed together within a time constraint. I was listening carefully and I did not catch how she went from seeking happiness to suddenly finding it. All the sudden the show was over, but there didn't seem to be a progression to the resolution. There were also odd moments, such as when the smiley flags appear during music that still seems as chaotic as the Wall Street music. There seemed several like that...just....confusing. What happens from here will be interesting to see. Working in a creative field, I know that from time to time it is easy to get into an idea bubble, where you understand it so well, that you have trouble comprehending how it is missing with others. At those times you have to put everything on the table and be willing to axe even the parts you are most passionate about. It is often the only way to salvage a project. A wise person once told me "it's either everyone else, or it's you." If something is really not projecting (and it certainly didn't with my group, who knew nothing about the show or controversy going in), there is a reason for it. I sure hope they can find the reason. The message they try to present is wonderful. But it's only wonderful if it communicates. Other tidbits: Boston was on fire! Fun fun fun fun! They have a big home crowd in Orlando and they were out in force. The guard seemed much improved over an earlier viewing and the fauxhawks and makeup they wear really adds to the theme. Pure energy and excitement, except during the ballad, where it was screaming for a bit of color at the end. Just flags for 30 seconds, please. Something to go with the build in the music. Bluecoats are very entertaining and have some lovely moments. On the Waterfront seemed a bit coarse and my friends verdict was that they liked the whole idea with the boxers, but at times they couldn't keep track of what was going on. Over-stimulus. The part where the drumline charges through the horn block is great and the double sided flags really added effect. Guard had issues over the course of the night, though. Lots of mess to be had. I LOVED the Glassmen. Yes the drill was a bit meh at times, but the show is CRAZY and I do love crazy. The guard is a riot. One guy rolled over his balloon and popped it, so when it was time to hand it to the featured girl, he really played up how he had nothing but string to give her. The music is engaging and the whole thing was just creative and quirky. Tiger, leopard, etc. flags were a fun surprise. Crowd went wild for them. Colts, in a word: non-threatening. Nicely performed, but as some others have noted, it seems dated. Not sure what contributes to that, but perhaps it is staging, broad ideas, or costuming. I appreciated their performance, but my attention wandered fairly quickly. They might be vulnerable. Spirit: The obtuse idea with the 4 chicks completely went over my head and I wish they would choose a path that has a chance to showcase some more personality, but I still liked a good bit of the show. Something about the closer was just very catchy, and a few of use had it stuck in our heads for a while. It was all a bit 'dry', but they have a month to tenderize it. Finals may not be out of their reach after all. Guard really sold their show, even if we weren't sure what it was they were selling. I take back what I said about the "Safeway" uniforms last year. In person they are a very crisp look. Blue Stars: Fantastic. Clever. Emotional. They were last place one my list in 06 (hated that singing and cheese) and next to last in 07, but I thought this was great. Some very interesting drill ideas and use of space and the guard was on fire. The handlebar flags were used in a shockingly ingenious manner. Just a wonderful overall package. They took some chances with this and added a very human quality to the show. Welcome to the top 12. Crossmen: Some nice moments, but the Cuisinart arranging style seems to disembowel the impact. However, it is 500% better than their show last year. Guard had some good stuff, though the sabres struck me as the most non-tossing sabre line I've ever seen. Most was maybe a triple? They just always seemed to be hanging on to them. Their costumes are GREAT - based on laser tag? Crowd ate up the jazz portion. Listen to the people, Crossmen. Did you hear that? Please do something as fresh and original as you want, but don't leave your much loved identity in the dust. You're too good at swinging to not do more of that. So that's it. Crowd looked big and thank you DCI for having a show in Orlando again!

RE: Star '92. Yeah it was it was brilliantly played and performed (as always) but for me they hit overload when the guard, who had by this time shed the Betsy Ross meets Princess Diana dresses, ran out in front of the horns and produced these "pop-up" American flags on expandable poles and just sort of waved them around. They weren't real national flags either, but something made out of sparkle organza with sequin stripes and stars. That was...a bit much...and that was even before the giant ending banner with Statue of Liberty and sequin fireworks. I'd add the '88 Cavaliers Firebird to the list. I loved that show overall, but there were some funny, over the top moments: The web of streamers that the one guard guy gets ensnared in. Funniest part is how he leaves with all that stuff wrapped on him. He throws the whole bundle over his shoulder, pauses at the sideline to give a look of attitude to the audience, and then continues on his way, dragging all this mess behind him. Then there was the "golden shower" 50 yard mylar streamer on poles thing they pull from front to back sideline, ending with the big reveal of the Trans Am firebird logo. As crazy as it all looks now, I miss some of that glitz that no one does anymore. I assume it has to do with changes in the guard judging, where running around with a bunch of props doesn't count as equipment or movement. A LITTLE glitz would be fun again!

Agreed. That is by far the best look with the white. Just the right amount of contrast to really pop. They seemed to realize that when they brought them back in '03. Am not a fan of the current plain white gauntlets. It makes the whole thing look really blank. When they used similar ones in the very first years of the all-white look, they had a bit of black trim, which helped a lot. Of course this will all change when they reveal the show-specific accessories (hopefully) soon. No more black uniforms! They were a fun effect for a brief period, but they also looked half the size in them. The gray on the guard is absorbing all light at the moment. Hope there is something to be added to them. The idea of drab fits the theme, but a rusty brown color might have been a bit more visible. Will be fun to watch how these evolve.

I love everything about BD's show! They pull off the difficult concept of "absurd" in an amazing way - supported by these uniforms/costumes. Belly shirts on the guys, instead of the girls? ABSURD! A cape on the leg, who does that?! ABSURD! It's all really fun and interesting. This is my favorite show of theirs in years. SCV: Not sold on this appearance. The satiny fabric looks cheap. Also not sure about the tapered sash width. I mean, the straight diagonal is even a part of their logo, so that seems like one element that needs to not be messed with. It does appear they've flipped it from the sketch, however, as on the Stanbury site, it goes from narrow at the shoulder to wide at the waist (very band-o). What they ended up with is better. Also confused about the librarian guard costumes. The girls seriously look like my 8th grade math teacher. Same suit and oddly colored poofy blouse. They just need to add her orthopedic shoes, and the look is set. PR: Am looking forward to the inevitable additions to both the corps and guard. These come off as a baseline right now, with pieces/changes to add impact on the way.

That was a general comment about the immediacy of internet reaction, and how easily one's perception of a show or idea can generate instant controversy, even if the perception is really not what was intended by the designers. Case in point - two women hugging at the end of the show, intended as a show of affection, can be an instant scandal. Meanwhile, 14 yrs ago, there did seem to be a hint of a more provocative idea designed in, and with the slower communication methods of the day - no scandal. Fast information is great, usually, but a deep breath is a good thing too. The comment was not directed at any one individual, and I appreciate you not trying to direct it for me.

If I remember that correctly, it involved the guard members "searching" for the right person in a beautifully designed movement sequence. At the end, there was one male and one female couple in addition to the numerous boy/girl pairings. Very subtle and well done. It was mentioned in at least one printed review at the time, but no one showed up with torches and pitchforks. Fortunately, these days we have the internet, which allows the morally outraged to get their rage on (even when based on a misunderstanding of the show message) in a much more immediate and convenient fashion Oh, those Cadets - the eternal boat-rockers!

OH! A pic of the new Blue Knights uniform was in here. I had to find a pic of the old one to make sure it was actually different. At first, I thought they had just added some dots to what they had, but no, it is all-new. The blue/black are flip flopped and that folding business on the front is a different shape. So, it's a new design that kind of looks like the old design, but not really + some dots + the shoulder wings have flown away. Pretty sneaky, Blue Knights!

I wonder if these things will be the invention that finally takes the "weapon" out of weapons. In contrast to previous attempts at curved wooden devices, that seemed to be less capable than a rifle, these actually look to be more capable with: All those hand hold positions providing new options for tosses and tricks. Theoretically less breakage, with the heavy plastic construction. Possibly less blowing around on high tosses, with all the holes cutting down on wind resistance. Interesting! I would think the school district market (at least) would be pretty receptive to this new option.

Dear Mom(s): Please do not take offense at my jest, which in no way a criticism of your undoubtedly talented and hardworking children. That being said, I do find an amusing similarity between this: and this:

True. Those are the classiest paint samples I've ever seen!

LOL Those color strips do look like like the paper samples with three colors from the paint store. Not only the gold is moved, but all the colors are in different spots on different people. Sort of reminds me of the bars on a stereo equalizer when they are all in a line. They do like their earth tones - perhaps watched too much HGTV while designing the show? Madison's look great and distinctive, it just a bit busy. The green looks about as grassy as you can get though, so wonder why they didn't go a little brighter, or darker.

I like the Madison one a great deal. Really plays to some of their history with a unique appearance. A more forceful look than the giant fleur-de-lis variations or the rainbow disaster from last year. Will be interesting to see how it reads from the field. Am more ambivalent about the Vanguard design. Seems a minor variation of what they been doing for 10 years or so, with perhaps the strongest continuing element, that white diagonal, getting diluted a bit by having it taper in width, and some red shiny stuff added around it. Some of his 'fantasy' design ideas for them were more interesting, but whenever you hear about a "collaborative design process," there are usually compromises, so I'll bet the fun stuff got left on the cutting room floor. A positive - looks like it is not Christmas Green again!

That being said, that is a typical information release that gives absolutely no real information. Sort of like "Congressman Jones and his lovely wive Suzanne continue to have a strong and committed marriage." Next news item announces their divorce. Like others have said, I hope it all turns out well, but that PR was a little unsettling, at least to those of us who work in advertising..lol

I actually always liked those. It was a very clean look, with the black pants and turtleneck and the gray open jacket on top. I believe those were donated waiter's jackets that they stuck giant lapels on and then went crazy with the "Bedazzler" and applied rhinestones and sequins all over. That was a bit much, but it was certainly sparkly from a distance. The "broach" in the middle was cheap, but sorta cool. Wasn't there a black hood that covered the sides of the face and went under the shako too? They ditched those later, but with the black plumes, which not many others were using at the time, it made for a mysterious look. In '93 those same jackets suffered a sad fate when they were sprayed with purple paint, through pieces of lace, to give them this blotchy appearance. It was like Martha Stewart had taken LSD and tried to faux-finish everyone. The next year they got rid of them for ones made from actual purple fabric, that they kept until the infamous "those weren't the Glassmen's! Yes they were!" creme tops.

Your disputing had been disputed! See my other post for the final nail in the coffin of Sleevegate. Why go through the trouble of removing the sleeves? Well, when you have zero money, a pile of creme sleeves in a box and are desperately trying to maintain some sense of the 'tuxedo' identity the corps is known for, you make mothers do a lot of sewing..lol Not sure whatever happened to those. After the first folding, they came back with that 'bando' look. I think that was a way to attempt to visually distance the corps from the financial problems of "old Magic," associated with the tux outfits. Too bad, though. The old jackets were a mess in many ways, but they were totally unlike anyone else's.

It not only looked like it, it WAS the Glassmen 94-96 uniform. They were either donated to, or purchased by Magic that year (can't remember which). The sewing ladies took off the black satin sleeve and put the original creme colored ones back on. The "open front jacket" was just a purple fake vest bottom thing with attached purple fabric drape around the neck. An off the shelf design from Cesario that was velcroed to the front. I sat there and stuck fake buttons on the front of those things for hours. A white collar and tie around the neck stuck on at the top. Almost everything about the uniform was a hand-me-down. The black shakos that year were from the Crossmen, circa 95-96. The much maligned purple brocade jackets from 94-98 had completely fallen apart, and the nearly bankrupt corps was lucky to get anything to wear at all.

Besides the whole James Dean/vanishing while young and hot thing, I think one of the reasons Star's memory continues to have impact is that they had GUTS. In those days, it was still pretty common for corps to carry over large chunks of shows from one year to the next. A few were starting to break away from that, but others like the Cavaliers, hadn't let go yet. They found ways to work John Rutter's "Gloria" into their productions for years on end, ad nauseum. Star not only tried something different each year, but their choices were like out of left field different from the previous show. For audiences that were, and still are, ahem, resistant to change, that made some people pretty uncomfortable. It was also pretty ballsy to wear pink. Even though Don Johnson and Miami Vice had made it a hot color at the time, taking the step of putting even the fiercest drummers in cuddly outfits took some fortitude. The best part was, they made it work with great impact. I was a huge Star fan, partly because I liked getting in arguments with the "real fans" who thought the corps was the antichrist, but also because I so admired that they dared to be different in a very conservative activity. Oh, and then there was that sound. What they produced, especially in the '90 show, was so far beyond what anyone else was putting out that I think the notes are still floating around in the clouds somewhere. One of the things that made that '93 show so intriguing was that they refused to produce the trademark sound, except for one moment. It was like the audience was sucked into a game of cat and mouse; being toyed with the whole time. There was so much puzzlement and frustration - being brought almost to the point of a big fanfare, only to be pulled somewhere else instead. Brilliantly diabolical idea, to portray angry music by making the audience actually angry. Boy howdy, did it work. When the horns come to the front sideline and let loose with the glorious Medea theme, you know you've been had. That's all you get. Sorry, you don't deserve any more. I loved it! We (Lone Star) toured with them the first several weeks of the season. In another of Bill Cook's unsung contributions to the good of the activity, he had brought Star down to be the headliner in the fledgling Drum Corps South circuit. This was not in the corps' best interests, as none of their close competitors were around. The nearest Div. Is in the shows were Sprit and Magic, both of whom were mid-teens corps at the time. At one of the first outings in some tiny Alabama or Georgia town, the end of Star's show was met with either golf claps, crickets or dumbfounded looks and drooling. Granted, there was a bumpkin factor present in the audience, but even so, people didn't know what to make of it. The tired red and white uniforms didn't help matters, as much of the visual impact only started to project when they changed to the creme later on. After retreat, the corps was circled up on the track and I distinctly remember Jim Mason SCREAMING at them. It wasn't in a "you suck" sort of way, but he said something to the effect of "It does not MATTER that they don't understand it. What you're doing is GREAT." To me, that was a fascinating look into the personal strength, and GUTS that was required to keep going with something that was so "out there." We met them again about a month later in Oklahoma or somewhere. They were now in the new uniforms and the transformation of the show was astounding. The show still made people angry, but now they were totally controlling the audience, as opposed to being at the mercy of them. This all maxed out at Finals, where that performance still ranks as the most intense I have ever seen, before or after. They did it. They believed in it, and they sold it. Being disliked for what you want to do is not an easy thing to live with. Everyone wants acceptance, and to get to the point of having the strength of character to push that away and do your best and what you've chosen in spite of those feelings take a lot of maturity, and well, guts. Like 'em or hate 'em, they did it their way, and history is usually kind to those who follow that path.

I do believe he's been involved in the program design for the Cadets for just about all of the 25 years he's been there. That includes numerous championships and many shows the masses list at the top of their all-time best lists. Sooo, that's his sandbox and he can play as much as he likes! :)

I would imagine all the kids who work jobs in addition to attending school to fund their tours would disagree on this point. Who knew it wasn't paying? b**bs Under this logic, anyone who donates to a charity is considered a CUSTOMER of the charity???? "Dear Habitat for Humanity, please rebuild that house to my, the paying customer's, satisfaction." Tax discussion? Gross. Someone call H&R Block! When Brady Quinn starts paying $2500 a season to play for the Browns, then I'll agree with this statement.

This is completely off base. The corps members are not employees, working for a company whose goal is to provide entertainment to an audiene. They are paying participants in a non-profit educational organization, which they choose to audition for and be part of to further their own skills and life experiences. The byproduct IS an entertainment experience that is shared with a lucky audience who pay admission fees to see it, that in turn go BACK to the corps and the governing organization to further the educational experience. We are all lucky as audience members to get to enjoy the wonder of what the kids produce, and shows factor in entertainment value, but they do not exist to entertain as their number one priority. They exist to challenge and educate. So, "in summary," DCI is not NBC.

I totally remember that from the victory run and always thought you guys had brought kazoos with you as a joke or something. Too funny!

Cadets for sure..crazy demand and almost as crazy execution. I like Faust a lot, but I felt the 'story' was about as weak a portrayal of that story as you could imagine. They lost me when the girl gets covered by the cloth, and within a minute is up again doing leaps. Fastest. Resurrection. Ever. Perhaps if she had been 'killed' earlier and there was a longer period of loss, or something. Other than that I thought it was a powerful and engaging show.