SACMellos2010

I haven't put a stopwatch to it but would like to hear more brass playing in today's shows and it does seem to me that you are accurate in your assumption and sure there will soon be an analysis of each show and time playing versus not. I will say that in my marching years we spent very little time not playing in our book thanks to the amazing work of Jim Prime

I read the first page of the thread and then came to here to post my recommendation and this may have already been recommended. As someone that in addition to running my wealth management practice also serves as the chairman of the board for 2 non-profits, many times going to those reaping the benefits or those working with those people to have a vested interest can be very successful. In the case of a drum corps struggling for funding, and honestly if I read correctly, the risk here is coming home from tour $60,000 in the red is not a large number to be raised. If you have 140 members and say another 30 between staff and support staff if each person is brough aware of the situation and given a goal to raise $352 I think you will easily raise the number. Give each person a few different ways to go about asking or ways that are successful raising funds so they do not have to create it on their own and let them run with it. Obviously they are passionate about the organization and that is very little if each person takes on their part. JMO

I could be mistaken but thought we did in either quarters or semis in 1992.

Well I guess contrary to many I enjoy when these threads start because if we are being compared to Carolina Crown or even BD that means we made an impact and left an impression on an activity that has meant so much to so many. To still be referenced over 20 years later is flaterring and especially with an existence that was WAY too short in only being 9 competitive years. To answer some of the questions posed.... I do believe that Crown has been adopted by many Star Alums, more from the brass side, as our new "home team" because sadly we do not have one of our own and most likely because many of the people we marched with are now on their brass and visual staff. Our hornline always took great pride in our technique and to listen to what Matt, Ben, Ray and their brass staff now do is utterly amazing to me. I have said on multiple occassions that I would argue our '92 line as well as '91 against any line as best in history UNTIL I heard and witnessed Crown the past 2 years. SO that should answer why it seems many Star alums seem to have adopted Crown. The next question is the booing issue and it is definitely the biggest part of my drum corps years that I would like to forget. As I believe Brasso said, I do not ever remember being booed in the New Englad area and honestly remember getting more respect there than in any other area of the country. Fans in that region seemed to leave their "home team" bias at the door and took each corps performance in and when they enjoyed it were not afraid to show it. Now the same cannot be said in the Midwest and other than the Bloomington show we seemed to be booed on a nightly basis and yes that included '91 & '92 in addition to the more controversial '93 show. It wasn't fun to experience and I wholeheartedly believe now that it had absolutely nothing to do with our shows or the performances but simply because of the uniforms we wore and the name we were called. Put our performance in a Green or White uniform and the stands may have shook to the ground but that is all water under the bridge. I am also very glad that the internet didnt exist during our days of competitive existence as that could've been even more ugly that some of the BD stuff I read. SO as I started this response I will also end in saying that seeing our name reappear with such high praise 20+ years later helps to put the negative responses we received on and off the field back in our day in perspective.

I think a better title isnt "Play Charts" but should be "Play the same charts at the same level and proficiency" and to me that answer is NO!!! I am sure almost any hornline could "play" the charts but how would the end product sound relative to the level at which Crown performs??

My dad was involved in drum corps my whole life and took me to my first show at the age of 4 in 1975. I always wanted to march drum corps and made it clear that I would march as soon as possible. In the fall of 1984 dad came to me and said I am taking you this weekend to audition for a new drum corps in Bloomington Indiana. I know the people involved and think this will be very special for you and a good fit. I was 13 at the time and he pulled up, had me grab my suitcase and sleeping bag and walked me in the doors of TLB. Signed me in, walked the halls to say hey to a few people and then said "see you Sunday superdude". So started then and aged out in 1992 but did take 3 seasons off in the middle because of sporting reasons. Would not change the experience of first trying to make finals all the way to winning a championship and then coming back in 2010.

Open public forum versus formally written letter... I would vote for formal letter if you find it crucial. Well that is unless this is an attempt at trolling

I hope this organizations DCI run is just getting going!!!

this x1000 2 valves and G made it unique

If Brass judges weren't afraid to put the spreads up that drum judges are, or maybe it is that the drum judge was trying to control the whole situation, then Crown would've still won. Sorry but their brass section is FAR superior to everyone else more than their drumline is behind. SO at the end of the day the Champion was the correct one. Also how does BD get visual score credit when there are very few forms and it is just pods and props?? Hmmmm oh wait nobody on the BD side is talking about visual because then they aren't doint anything..... I felt Crown and SCV were the closest to drum and bugle corps and "Marching" music than the other top 4 participants. All the kids did a great job with what they were given.

I believe we had a 20 in 1992 at semis... 1992 was our best hornline although doesnt get the same attention. Back to topic Crown 2013 is hands down the best hornline I've ever heard. Lastly, for Cavaliers to ever get a 20 in brass again points to DCI judging questions. Brass was never their forte

Tommeee- Your comment about sustained chords not being demanding?? You have done the proverbial better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt:-) Yes simply playing a note isn't the demand but playing it in tune, with no holes, powerful and consistently is VERY demanding. Crown does it better than any corps ever has. Actually their hornline does all facets better than any line ever has and are lightyears ahead of any other line this year. But I'm sure you also find all of their double and triple tonguing simple as well lol.... And they play that crystal clean

I think another thing to expand on here is the staffs ability to recognize who can transfer from a simple audition and winter program to being on the move and having the ability to make it through a summer on the road. It isn't about picking all the best musicians as there are LOTS of great players sitting or standing that cannot play on the move and/or cannot march to the physical demand needed.

Oh yes I remember Keith. Tell him I said hello.

Great staff and work ethic!!! I have always said we didn't the same talent level as the rest of the top 5 and if you lined us up player to player we lose but the staff had a program, process and chose kids that would work their butts off and do whatever they were told and whatever it took to accomplish the goal set in front of them. They also taught us, as you mention, it is about individual accountability to do your job. WOW that last sentence seems to be lost in todays society doesn't it?? BTW great post!!

There should be at least as big a spread in Brass as there is in Percussion!!! There is Crown and then in a whole other division is everyone else.

Let's be completely honest...the activity in its current state is much more similar to marching band than ever and the wide gap that used to exist doesn't anymore. A better title of the current activity is "Professional Amateur Marching Band minus Woodwinds"...

Best way to make a point is simply do not go to the shows and then DCI will get the hint... oh wait that hasn't worked either I am not buying the "activity needed to evolve and change line of crap"... Does the same argument mean that instead of goal posts on a football field there should be basketball goals and instead of basketball goals a court should have soccer nets....... you get my point...the judging criteria should've stayed the same and made it about playing great music and marching.

Absolutely LOVE this show!!

Took my son to see the movie last weekend and meant to search and find out what line was playing. Had a strong feeling it was a drum corps line and BD or Cadets were my first thought. Loved it!!

Is it truly that "cleanliness is rewarded" or instead of cleaning demanding and exposed aspects now, certain teams, design clutter so thus it is difficult to tell if clean or dirty??

1985 Allentown Prelims... DM started Sorcerers and half the corps was on one count and the other half a beat or two off.... needless to say we watched finals from the stands that night.

Priceless!!!

LDO - think maybe you were drinking or at the souvie stand during Crowns show to claim their brass isnt playing during much of the show. Get out your stopwatch and compare how much they play versus your home team? Then, if you have time, go even further and measure how much they actually play music in melodies versus attacks only that mirror more of a percussion book. I can save you some time and tell you it isn't even close in either case. I do agree with your perspective on booing and as someone that endured it for a few seasons it isnt fun but is part of the activity. And to think we were booed for playing too many notes and being on the move for almost all of them. Use that same stopwatch from above and go back to 1990-1993 and see what those results look like. So everyone says we have to continue to change the activity yet a big argument every year is who is playing versus not and if they are playing on the move. Sounds like what the true paying fan wants is more of what we had in the past yet anytime that is recommended those people are labeled dinos. I hope your child has an amazing summer and gets past the booing. One thing that definitely helps that now days is not having retreat.

You must have really been deep in the scotch!!!!!