troon8

The Cavaliers participation in the Casual Parade revealed some shocking secrets about the corps' actual membership to a horrified public...Apparently the power of their uniforms to make marchers look good was even more potent then any would have guessed.

Reposting this one from "The Bold Predictions of '08" Thread. Seems I may yet be vindicated, just a year off... There will be the threat of rain in Indy on Finals night...perhaps a light, intermittent drizzle, or just a few noticeable drops...there will be a discussion between DCI officials and the stadium staff...the roof will be closed...fans will freak out...it won't actually rain that much...fans will freak out...the show will go on, the roof will remain closed after the rain has passed, and the acoustics won't be THAT bad...everyone will applaud at the end, and go home remembering what a great a time they had...Half of DCP will cry "Conspiracy! It didn't rain THAT much! Drum Corps is DEAD!!" and continue to freak out for another 10 months...the other half will cry "The acoustics weren't THAT bad! I'm just glad the show could go on!" and continue to freak out for another 10 months...everyone will enjoy themselves at the first shows of June of '10 again...

I was waiting for someone else to narrow the list down...and now they have. Still a tough call for me, but... '89 Vanguard.

I haven't seen anything from Spirit pre-2002. What is this fabled "1980" show that I hear legends about? I also haven't seen any full shows pre-1984 that weren't on the Classic Countdowns. Quite sad, really.

'93 Star. The first time I watched it all I said "What the frak WAS that?!" The second time all I said was "Wow." Honorable Mention: '07 Cadets. Unmentionable aspects be danged, I thought everything else about it really was that good. Also a quick shoutout to '87 SCV for the music, and '03 Cavies for visual.

Many I haven't seen in this bunch, but I got to go with what I know, so... SCV '04! Seriously close honorable mentions to Phantom '05 and Blue Devils '06. Three great years in a row for third place shows, who would've thunk it?

From last spring: http://www.jerseysurf.org/articles/101/1/J...ture/Page1.html (Sorry for some of the puncutation formatting, that's actually how it is on the website right now, and I don't have time to clean it up for here.) "The grass on the football field and the lettuce in the taco salad won’t be the only “green†to be enjoyed by Jersey Surf this summer as it embarks on a new program to examine and improve its “touring eco-footprint.†A comprehensive environmental- impact project is being designed and managed for the corps by fifth-year Surf visual staff member Eileen Althouse, an environmental engineer specializing in water resources for an international environmental engineering firm. With the word “Surf†in its name, and with regular performances in coastal New Jersey resort towns like Wildwood and Surf City, this project quite literally hits close to home for the corps on several levels. “It's a fact of life that drum corps face a financial burden getting down the road, and it is very obvious that concern for the environment isn't necessarily on the top of anyone's list when the corps are merely trying to stay out of the red,†said Althouse. “By examining our operations from the perspective of ‘long-term sustainability,’ it would be exciting to discover that we could save money and resources in ways that we’ve never considered before.†According to Althouse, an assessment phase of the project will provide “discovery and analysis†of the corps’ current environmental impact, with an implementation phase to follow, identifying areas targeted for improvement. Some overlap of the phases is expected as short-term solutions are created to improve circumstances outlined during the discovery process. The focus of the program will be to improve touring efficiencies and ecologically- and environmentally-friendly operations in several key areas. Areas of study will include: Direct carbon emissions/energy usage: • Fleet emissions (trucks, buses, generators, support vehicles) • "Getting to rehearsal" emissions (determined through research with corps members designed to measure how far they are traveling and how many trips are made per rehearsal weekend throughout the year. This will yield an estimate of the CO2 emissions created by getting the corps to and from rehearsal) • Potential use of solar energy on the food truck Waste production • Identifying recycling opportunities while on the road • Reduction of food service waste • Minimizing paper waste (Analysis of current use and determination of potential recycled paper product options) Environmental Responsibility • Proper disposal of wastewater (food service, fleet washing) • Appropriate handling of hazardous materials (approved field paint, cleaners, gasoline, oil, etc.) Social Responsibility • Incorporating the efforts of volunteers, corps members, alumni and staff beyond the scope of the corps’ operations. • Possible corps-sanctioned service projects prior to and/or following the competitive season “This is a great opportunity for The Jersey Surf to take a fresh look at our current practices, and find ways to improve our operation while adding additional value to participation in our program,†said Director of Operations and Corps Manager Brian Prato. “It is our hope that we will be able to share our findings with other corps who may also wish to conserve financial and natural resources while improving the efficiency of their touring operations. Eileen was happy to help spearhead the project, and we expect to learn a great deal that we can share within our organization and beyond,†Prato added. Prior to joining the Surf’s visual staff in 2003, Althouse was a baritone player with the Crossmen for three seasons. She holds both a Bachelor’s of Science and a Master’s of Science degree in Bioresource Engineering from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, with a minor in Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior. While pursuing a master's degree at Rutgers, Althouse performed research for and participated in the drafting of a regional stormwater management plan for the Pompeston Creek Watershed, a tributary of the Delaware River not too far from where the corps rehearses. The goal of that plan is to improve the water quality and reduce nuisance flooding throughout the watershed using innovative engineering and community participation. Additional information and periodic updates will be available from the corps Website, wwwJerseySurf.org."

Thought that reading through other people's picks would help me decide...not so much. This isn't an actual vote yet. 95 Madison...I mean, C'MON! Malaga's screamer after screamer section gets my adrenaline going like nothing else, and that final company front bull rush still makes every hair on me jump up. Did that lucky son of a gun matador guard member go utterly deaf over the season or what?! 99 Cadets...Tangy, yet sophisticated! 2000 SCV...If someone were to ever ask me for a definition of sonority, I'd just have them listen to Adagio for Strings. Then I'd have to kill them, 'cause they'd never give me the CD back. 2003 Phantom...What's that I hear? A seriously beautiful MELODY?! Wow, and I thought this was Drum Corps! 2006 Bluecoats...So...frakking...GOOD, from first pit & tuba lick to last hand-holding "awww" moment. 2007 Phantom...1. Intense Phillip Glass Birds 2. Pretty Pretty Love Birds 3. Scary Crazy Drumming Birds. 4. FIREBIRD!!! I really could live off of 4th place shows!

'97 Madison. Any show with a pirate fight on top of a spinning cymbal rack is #1 in my world. Yarrr... Honorable mention to '05 Bluecoats & '03 SCV.

'92 Crossmen. Honorable mention to the '99 Scouts, of course...

Yeah, gonna have to go with '07 Bluecoats. "Seventh" was not a word I ever expected to be associated with this show after seeing it live in mid-July. Very close honorable mention to '06 BK, though. The more I listen to that one, the more I like it.

What part of Shostakovichtastic don't you understand? (That's a yes. I was talking about all those corps in '07.)

BK '07 was in a class by itself (And I mean that pseudo litteraly, since I thought they were such a solid step above Spirit, Colts, & Boston while not quite up to the level of Bluecoats, SCV, & Crown.) Shostokovichtastick!

Pronounced Karnschwanschwavel (I'd type it all out in the International Phonetic Alphabet, but my keyboard doesn't seem to have schwas, flying or otherwise.) Yeah, it is pretty ridiculous when you think about it too hard...what's even funnier is just how many people are absolutly salivating to learn even those completly uniformative and poorly marketed tidbits (I'll admit, I'm one of them) and are able to conclude wihtout a shred of doubt that they'll be either the worst or best shows of all time.

A Bloomington Question... (Deleted sheepishly after actually reading first post in full. Galen was way ahead of me...) $25 each way doesn't sound too outrageous, although it is a little ironic considering how much cheaper my MegaBus ticket from Chicago to Indy will be. Oh well.

I think people are reading a little too much into these numbers. I mean, that's like saying that the corps that judges gave the highest score to on Finals night has the best show of the year...and we all know how uncontentious THAT assumption is...

My guess is the marchers from the shows that made the countdown thought, "Cool, we'll be on the big screen again" and that the marchers from those shows that didn't make it couldn't care less. (And I'll bet there's plenty from the former that also reacted like the latter.) Just my guess.

Yes, I'm a nerd of many varieties... I would kill to hear some of the themes from the new Battlestar Galactica on the field, especially some of the latter stuff from Season 2 and much of Season 3. Some of it's a little string heavy, but hey, so was Adagio for Strings. Lots of sweet taiko action, too. Yeah, I'm a nerd...

Just heard the mp3's...Gorgeous arranging! Here's hoping they use this as the base for their '09 show and a triumphant return!

There will be the threat of rain in Indy on Finals night...perhaps a light, intermittent drizzle, or just a few noticeable drops...there will be a discussion between DCI officials and the stadium staff...the roof will be closed...fans will freak out...it won't actually rain that much...fans will freak out...the show will go on, and the acoustics won't be THAT bad...everyone will applaud at the end, and go home remembering what a great a time they had...Half of DCP will cry "Conspiracy! It didn't rain THAT much! Drum Corps is DEAD!!" and continue to freak out for another 10 months...the other half will cry "The acoustics weren't THAT bad! I'm just glad the show could go on!" and continue to freak out for another 10 months...everyone will enjoy themselves at the first shows of June of '09 again...

" 'Pink' is Australian for Soprano..." Of course, Downundah, Drum Corps season just ended! Crazy Aussies...

Traveling on Amtrak is great for: - Stretching your legs (compared with flying) - Meeting intresting people - Taking in the scenery - Saving money compared with flying (sometimes) Traveling on Amtrak is horrible for: - Arriving on time. Sometimes you'll get there when scheduled. Frequently you won't. If a corps relied on taking the train for a whole summer, it would only be a matter of time before they missed a show.

Yes, horses = cyclists! Time to bring back the not-at-all tongue in cheek "Steroids in DCI" thread...I've been waiting for a Drum Corps to give us a musical rendition of the recent Tour de France doping scandals...

Not as far as I know. Are you thinking of "Nine?" (which is NOT one I'm reccomending for a Drum Corps show!) Everything from Wicked is sadly on my short list of songs I never want to hear on a field ever again, due to being played to death by mediocre high school groups. And for those skeptical of it's artistic value, popular legend has it that Stephen Sondheim once called "South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut" the best musical he had ever heard.

Everyone might be welcome if they show up at the door with enough cash, but how about letting more people know about the party? What about those who can't afford the tickets to the party? I wouldn't exactly describe someone who's never heard of DCI, never had the opportunity to learn an instrument at school, and/or can't afford it as "choosing" not to participate. Is that person really not participating because of "cultural differences and rational choices?" No one's suggesting forcing anyone to march against their will in order to create some sort of artificially induced diversity, and just because he uses a percentage to make his case doesn't mean anyone's suggesting that corps use some sort of minority quota system. I guess I missed the part that implies we should feel bad about those numbers. To me, saying that DCI isn't perfect and could do a better job recuriting members from different racial or socioeconomic backgrouds isn't suggesting wrongdoing, just that maybe there's improvments that could be made in this aspect. I don't beleive that noting a disparity in minority participation levels of an activity and questioning how to help close the gap as "patronizing" or "guilt mongering." I'd call it sound managment.