3rd_Star_Brigade

The word on the street from the past two-three years was that George wanted to leave DCI to form a for-profit band circuit based around the current top 6 corps. After the G7, one would assume he is orchestrating the whole situation slowly. I'll give him one thing, Donald Trump doesn't have #### on George Hopkins as far as masterminding plots. I think George even one uped Dr. Evil. (The Ozone Layer is next)

I call that the G7.

hahaha What happens when a car crashes into the overpass?

So, I was watching the 27th Lancers the other day, and I saw something that hasn't been seen in a while. 2 silks on a pole. Anyone know if there is a special pole that I can get?

Puurfect! thank you.

In a video I saw of Future Corps tonight, I saw triple bass drums. Yes 3 drums on one harness. I was thinking about trying a double with my small band, and wonder if there is special equipment out there to use without trying to drill through the rim or main body of the drums. Suggestions?

I see someones following the kool-aid truck on a one way trip to Georgetown. Seriously Mike, for once, see things for how they are.

No, I know YEA! pretty through and through. Hopkins has no other job than YEA! His life's success is determined by the stability of the drum corps and marching band community. He pays for full dinners for his entire staff on tour. I mean, we're not talking McDonalds here. We're talking Red Lobster and Outback every other night. Add that math for 15 people for (conservative count of 2 months) 60 days at $15-$20 a piece, plus the costs of airfare for Hopkins to move all around the country, the costs of his season tickets in the diamond club of the Philadelphia Phillies several thousand if not tens of thousand (plus nearly every World Series at home last season and before that), an average days worth of Starbucks at $10-$15, putting his daughter through college, etc. I mean, something is seriously amiss. Why do you think the Cadets are in continual fund raising mode? They have full sponsors for Christ's sake. Instruments, uniforms paid for. Staff all paid. Yet Cadets tuition is the highest in DCI at nearly $3000. Come on. Hop works for Hop.

I thought that DCI corps had to fill out and pay for their rights. I know DCA does, and I thought Open Class as well. Can you shine some light on this?

No, all Div I/World Class corps have a vote. Open Class is ignored and is not paid (to my knowledge).

Product is defined as what? To what extent do the Cadets grow their local ties and resources in the local area of Allentown? Do they even break even in Allentown or have they dried up their resources among local businesses and schools? The Blue Devils have had the most credible financial and service-worthy organization of the G7. No other organization, other than Star has moved outside the box in the same way. Organizations like Pioneer give kids a chance. Organizations in Open Class give opportunities to those underprivileged to afford $2500 tuition rates plus airfare/transport. Are these corps less worthy? No. In truth, if people like Hop didnt make DC into a career, then drum corps staffs might be able to teach corps that could pass the "elite".

This will be Hop in a few years... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4fdPltPJRU...feature=related

Perfect analogy... What we have here is 7 pro teams attempting to form the XFL.

What scholastic music? Oh, the programs that are ceasing to exist all across the country!!! oh ok. Great business plan there. Make yourself more like a school music program.

Ever heard of Pioneerland? Pioneer is fiscally competitive with the Blue Devils. Once again, business practice is mistakenly attributed to competitive success.

The evidence is already present considering the now nearly deposed Executive of DCI has had to send a press release concerning the deep division between member corps. What exactly will convince you? Hop's own words stating "all the money belongs to us" and we should be "the party in power since we bring people in" because if thats so, than I direct you to the G7 proposal and Hop's facebook status declaring frustration at the backlash of people not wanting to see him attempt his takeover.

Or 2 non-G7 top 12 corps that believe themselves to be in the G7 in the future, or those two directors who will live or die by the words of George Hopkins. I, for one, will not pay homage to King George, as is the American thing to do.

The problem with that statement is that the G7 is close-minded to any further discussion on keeping the BOD system and member corps on equal ground. The whole of the G7 is about reconstituting the BOD and DCI funding to only the G7. Thus no compromise can be achieved. Respecting the democratic process and the business of drum corps means discarding ego in favor of equality. The fewer the corps, the fewer the alumni, the fewer the message, the fewer the fans. Simple. By the way, G7 is the dumbest, most arrogant name I've ever heard. You're not saving the environment, solving the economic crisis, or fixing the environment. You're making a competitive game determine business qualifications.

"Corps are NOT the same. Those who drive sales through excellence and entertainment ability deserve to be rewarded." Hey G7, blow it out your #####! This smacks of self-preservation. Remember when corps used to help each other out instead of trying to stab each other in the back over a stupid competition. I like to think what George Hopkins, he who last year stated when his corps was in 4th place, that The Pursuit of Happiness was more than the game on the football field, that it was about the brotherhood, entertainment, legacy, etc. thinks of his own idiosyncratic hypocrisy. I guess George cares more about the paycheck to get him boarded on weekly flights and dozen Starbucks coffees from his YOUTH ORGANIZATION with the wine and golf fund raisers than he does about the kids in Open Class that have no other activity that keeps them safe and productive (SpiritNJ, Blue Saints, Dutch) Yeah Cadets kiddos, your BAND director is a nice guy.

I hate the idea! (Was waiting for someone to say it)

You be the judge. The Elder Scrolls is a video game. Now, video games don't normally make good movies or shows, but the music of Jeremy Soule is incredibly beautiful. If you've never heard of him or the Elder Scrolls before, here is the opening theme of Oblivion, Part IV of the Elder Scrolls. (Reign of the Septims)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw4w-c5bKBY (March of the Marauders)

Very happy. I do feel uncertain, as many of you do, in regards to Guidry's writing style. I don't like his arranging. To be honest, it feels like too much (octatonic) fluff, too little substance.

Has it been reported to the IRS? If you have doubts and think that there was illegal, immoral things happening when he was at the end of his tenure, you should talk to them about potential impropriety.

already been said on here earlier. truth is, even if someone spills the beans accidently or on purpose, it'll just be treated as another guess. personally, i think the true meaning of SUTA and any other bonding secret ritual is the shared experience of the corps in a nutshell. it is something profound and important and a way of continual recognition. Secret Traditions are beautiful things.

Perhaps Phantom Alums planted this here to throw us off... a drum corps conspiracy more profound than the prop bag and mello chest