skluyuk

I fully recollect those discussions. I passed it off as a few kids wanting some extra bucks to buy souvies...very poor judgement. That type of behavior is damaging to the individuals self respect and puts a very negative impression on the corps with which they are affiliated. However, that is a FAR cry from your assertion that the corps management put them up to it to support a bus ride home. It's probably not a good idea to simply accept as truth something you read that has no substantiating information. Again, if you can cite names and provide details regarding your conversation with the souvenir people, please do so (anyone else with other than hearsay, feel free to put you two cents in as well). Otherwise, I respectfully ask you to discontinue making statements that are personally damaging to FEVER's management. Corps directors have enough to worry about making sure that the hundreds of kids they deal with every year are cared for properly. Unsubstantiated allegations don't make that job any easier. It certainly doesn't help them try to get back on the field next year either.

Wow....I seriously question that statement. You are putting peoples integrity on the line with comments like the one written above. If you cannot cite names and provide details about your conversation with the 'souvenir people' then it's best to avoid making such inflammatory commentary. If you can, please do so. I'm not saying that it's impossible, but for the leadership of any organization (including boosters on tour) to put kids out on the corner with a cup in their hands would be reprehensible. You can see by my signature that I've been around drum corps for a while. I have NEVER seen anything like that happen. A few kids with poor judgement maybe, but on an organizational level...never.

SCV 81.1 PR 79.2

... Whoa. Maybe he(she?) was really disappointed that Academy got beat. Forums are a funny thing. You miss all of the body language and inflections that tell you how a person is actually making a statement. I try to give the benefit of the doubt... Anyway...PC was very impressive. Tight show with a great hornline and battery. I don't think they have put quite the level of difficulty into their book as Academy, but they are certainly outperforming them as are the Mandarins. Same commentary for them. I heard second hand that Academy had quite a few ageouts last year and are working with a fairly high percentage of rookies. Couple that with Walnut being their first show, a demanding horn book (very), and some drill that will make you drop lots of extra weight and I can see why they are a bit behind. If they can ramp up their progress schedule to catch up with the others, they should be able to move up into the block they were in last year.

I don't want to get into a big confrontation here or anything, but please... Both corps have very challenging shows. SCV is much more dirty at this point in the season than BD. To say one show or the other is "about a million times easier" is biased opinion. My biased opinion is that BD's show is more difficult and they are doing a better job with what's on their plate. Both hornlines are smokin'! I have to give BD the drumline edge. Regardless...California is going to represent the very top once again! Get ready to drape that drum stack with the Bear!

There is a very simple answer to this yearly question... WEST IS BEST!

lol. You guys are way too serious. Hey! Ya think we can cut up that soggy ham sandwich and share?

Just ... wow. Thank you for putting that into words. The genesis of drum and bugle corps should never be forgotten or dishonored.

Good luck with your group. edited to remove unecessary slight.

OK...an updated set of predictions. I had to take into consideration the fact that the activity has implemented organizational change in the last decade. So, I just chose the numbers of World/Open class corps represented from 1999 to 2008. Looks a little better for the World Div, but pretty bleak for Open. A linear extrapolation for the World Divison based on 1999-2008: y = -0.3697x + 763.79 <So there should be enough corps around for a top 12 through 2034.> For Open Division: y = -3.9636x + 7987.7 <Alarming trend...Open will dwindle to vapor in its current incarnation state within the next seven years.>

I was honored to play for the observance at Los Angeles National Cemetery yesterday. I joined a couple of young men from USC and we did an echo rendition. Very solemn and very appreciated by the families in attendance. If you have not taken advantage of contributing to our veterans in this very small way, I urge you to step up to the plate. The truth is that you will receive more of a benefit from doing it than anyone else there.

Here's a related topic I posted over in the historical forum: Historical Decline in Number of Drum Corps

I'm not sure if anyone has said this or not, but Cadets actually amplified their wind instruments last year during narration. The narrator was on the field in the middle of the wind instruments with the mic on while the horn inflections were played. That's just gotta be a 5-point penalty!!! This thread is ridiculous. BD stomped last summer. Cadets had a great show. Just let it go and get ready for 2008. The crap people bring up sometimes just amazes me.

So... I was wasting lots of time today and was curious about the historical decline in the number of "World" class corps since the beginning of DCI. Let me start by stating that the basis is weak. I went to corpsrep, counted the number of World and Open class corps from 1972 through 2007 and plotted the results in Excel. Out of more curiosity, I plotted a simple linear trendline to get a simplified look at the negative slope. Just to add to the bs I took averages for each decade. Here are the results From 1972 to 2007: Trend: If x = year, y = number of drum corps y = -0.0871x + 1765 Averages: 1972-1980 - 46 1981-1990 - 39 1991-2000 - 26 2001-2007 - 23 <I know it's not really linear all you statisticians...just humor me.> So...<just having fun here, don't get all worked up y'all....I know how DCP can be!!!> I predict that the number of World class corps required for a top 12 Finals will not be possible by 2015 and that drum corps as we know it will fade away entirely within the next two decades. Now, the Open class corps on the other hand are doing nicely! There is actually a slightly positive slope on their trend. Except...the numbers are all over the place. Huge mood swings in the 70's and 90's, fairly steady in the mid-late 80's and on a rapid decline from the mid-90's to present. Actually, what all this kind of tells me is...World and Open class had better cooperate and DCI might want to consider giving just a little more attention to the Open Division. That's the volatile market. With the proper nurturing, there could potentially be a huge payoff....<or a Depression era flop.> Nah...nevermind. I have to get something done to earn my paycheck today. Have fun!

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D'oh! I don't even have a legit excuse. If Dave can make it from Bako, do the rehearsal, still have time for bs and a post-rehearsal chowdown before driving back, I should be able to drive the 20miles or so to Simi. Dang it! I'm bummed that I missed out on the chowdown!!! Sorry guys. I'll get my priorities straight by the next get together. What is your instrumentation? What would you like me to play? I could probably be at least somewhat competent on anything but Contra. It would take too much effort to learn how to buzz in a cereal bowl.

High praise indeed. All I know is that hornline owned that song and tattoo'ed it to your face if you were lucky enough to be standing anywhere forward of the bells. No doubt that today's "Surround Sound" is based on '84BD's La Fiesta. You were engulfed with no possibility of escape!! ...and it was good...

Hold on....I thought that was the way to pass the time when on tour and moving 3 or 4 states over for the next show. The food wagon folks were always looking for that 5gal cooler of OJ from breakfast for some reason. Regarding the proper way to watch a drum corps show...all alumni know the answer to that is from the field up. But your way is good too!!

Carl....You're gonna really like this...<sorry couldn't help myself> I'll just steal one of Dave's horns. He seems to have found every defunct drum corps on the West coast and acquired their inventory. I'll bet he could field a full Div I hornline. lol. No...just kidding I have my own ball. I have a trumpet and a two-valve G sop. I also have access to a Bb Bari if that voice is preferred. I play trumpet most of the time, but can hack out a decent bari run on occassion (ask Mr. Rogers, he didn't make too many faces at my sound. lol). I was lead sop with Valley Fever and came into BD late '84. No holes in the sop line at that time so I picked up a bari and got a spot. Played with the alums last summer and am still meeting up with the SoCal guys about once a month to play some old school. Alright Dave, that might do...if by "Charlie" you mean like... "Charlize" and by "Groh" you really mean "Theron". I guess she didn't have to spin the rifle...I'll make that concession.

Hmm...Simi Valley is only about 25 minutes away. OK...I'll go if you guys produce that hot guard chick (rifle) I met in Montreal in 1984 and make her flirt with me until my wife beats me over the head!!

Read the fine print my brother. lol.

Pit chicks always thinkin' they can play a horn!! I'd love to sit in with a Freelancer line. Absolutely one of DCI's most smokin' hornlines!! But one question...why on a Tuesday?!? Weekend travel is easier for those of us who are Geographically challenged.

Awesome. I have volunteered both locally and not so locally several times. I made sure the VFW and American Legion have my number. From my perspective, it is a real honor to pay this respect. Just want to make sure I understand that you are "contacted" rather than "contracted." I refuse any form of payment for playing. Playing is the least we can do.

Haha...nice sig.

I thought you might be busy with something Dave. Too bad, we had a good time playing and got together for some chow, beer and lots of legacy collection viewing on the big screen with surround sound. All the dogs in the hood were howling! We're all going to Glendale this Sunday and then possibly Riverside and finally Anaheim for the world record! C'mon out for one of 'em!