^Michael^

Ehhhh... you're a nut! :P j/k

Wow. Hrothgar! What an awesomely constructed synopsis! Thank you for your kind comment about my boy! ^OO^ Like it or hate it! I won't debate personal preference - we all have them and one is as valid as the next. But to not find anything musical in this show is simply beyond my comprehension. Again - I make no judgment on liking it or not liking it - it simply doesn't affect my life one way or the other! No problem, mon! :P

Wow! That's all I'll say.... Except, I've seen you say that you listened to the audio from Indy. There were no APD's of Indy and the only Cadets audio is on the 3:23 DCI Cam clip. On that clip there is no amp feedback, distortion, or static. I'm just wondering where you actually heard this noise you've referred to. No comment. Discretion is the better part of valor, right? :P

Back in the '50's and '60's, a few all-girl corps (such as Audubon, NJ Bon Bons) competed quite successfully in the upper tier of top national competitors. DCI maintained a separate All-Girl Division and Championship from 1975 up through 1982. In 1975, 10 units competed in the All-Girl DCI Prelims. In 1982, there were 7 All-Girl units at DCI Prelims. In 1983, the first year that All-Girl units were combined with Class A (the forerunner of Div. II), two All-Girl units made Class A Finals - placing 1st (Les Chatelaines) and 6th (St. Ignatius ).

I was there 30 years ago. It was different - not better - not worse - different. Perhaps there is more than one sadly mistaken person here? I think maybe so.

Very eloquent! And I agree with every word!

Michael Terry Admitted oldtimer - brain damaged - but not brain dead!

Thank you so much for taking the time a effort to set the record staight for us!

There's no accounting for taste! :P

I think it is still legitimately a four-way (and as a long shot - five-way) race for the DCI Title. Whatever happens - it's not going to lack for excitement and drama! b**bs

Sally, Congratulations on a mature decision informed by your own personal experiences and preferences. I sincerely hope you find the drum corps you enjoy in DCA!

~G~ - don't pass out when you read this! :P That was one of the most excellent posts I've read on DCP in quite some time. Regardless of which position on the issues one respectively takes, you (I) have to admire the sincerity, coherence, and civility of ~G~'s post! My kudos and congrats to you, sir. More like this one please! Sincerely, Michael Terry P.S. - I know you've vowed no further responses to my posts and I respect that. No response is expected or needed to this. I just wanted to publicly recognize a quality offering!

<snip> They can't do those things at shows they don't appear in. I'm quite certain that wasn't the intent of Mr. Naffier. Would you agree that the responsibility to support the touring requirements for the division a corps competes in should be applied equally to all corps in that division or applied to none? And if a corps benefits organizationally, financially or any other way from not meeting those responsibilities - is it fair that they still enjoy the full competitive benefits (scores, etc) of the fully committed corps in the division?

Unfortunately, I can't go to Foxboro this year. My lingering disabilities from my motorcycle accident in May 2004 preclude me making a trip of that magnitude. (Murfreesboro was about at my current limit distance-wise) It's only the 4th DCI finals that I have ever missed since the beginning of DCI! But I'll be back on the road next year - come he** or high water! :P And I am attending the quarterfinals Cinecast at an Atlanta theater, at least (the next best thing to being there?).

Randy, I agree that this should not have been aired on a public forum. However - having said that - I do feel that the door was opened with your original post to this thread. What I mean is that it was probably inevitable that someone would cross that line while attempting to respond to your original question in context. Perhaps we could get a mod to close this thread and put it behind us?

Good luck with this argument (sincerely). This same argument was presented in a similar thread about the Cadets' 'The Zone' show being based on ideas that Marc Sylvester first used with a high school in Michigan before expanding on them with Cadets. The explanation was shouted down by "the tribunal of omnipotent DCP'ers that are the arbiters of all that is drum corps." But wait - this is not Cadets - you'll probably get a pass! ^0^ :P

Stef, I am sincerely happy for you that you have found a place where drum corps exists as you think it should be! I'm sure that your support of DCA and Div II/III will be noted and appreciated! <snip> No. From what I've observed on DCP it may be more like 12-15. (okay - that was a shot. I apologize) What bothers me about this statement is the "broad brush" of "we were the generation" with the implication that the entire generation feels as you do. That's simply not fact. My observations (also not necessarily fact) is that your views represent a rather small minority of the previous generation (not that it makes your views any less important). Also, I recall quite clearly that many of the venues (not all) utilized for drum corps competitions were smaller than many used today. That, combined with the fact that, in general, many corps were community based with a significant built-in following of local family and friends, accounts partially for the decline of back side crowds, I think. Bottom line, I wish you much enjoyment and fullfilment with DCA and Div II/III! I am am ardent supporter of Div II/III myself, having marched in a Class A corps (forerunner of Div II) and having founded and directed a former Div III -1991 and Div II - 1992 DCI Champion Corps). I attended the Rockmart, GA DCA show earlier this season and honestly - it didn't turn me on much. However, I still very much appreciated the passion, effort and dedication of the corps members, management and staffs of each competing corps!

Finally someone recognizes the significant impact of societal and economic changes over the last several decades on the drum corps activity and its viability! And thanks for outlining who DCI really is!

Thank you Mike! I consider this high praise, indeed, coming from someone who has my utmost respect for his open minded, unfailingly civil and rational posts! You are someone who represents us "old phartes" with evenhandedness and class. Thanks for that!

Pot...Kettle...Black.

The "way DCI is" is evolving. (You and I will just have to disagree on the appropriateness of that term). Perhaps that's the way he likes it! DCI, love it or don't! (just quit whining!) ^0^

Okay, someone asked that Chris Maher's comment re:entrusting the activity to be cared for by the current generation (paraphrasing). As I look at the contemporary drum and bugle corps of 2005, much has changed since my first year in 1971. However, I remain convinced that more has remained constant: the core values, the work ethic, the fraternal/familial bond of any member from any era to any member from another era, the life skills and lessons learned, the exposure to different locales and cultures, the opportunity to learn, hone or advance ones musical and performance skills, the growth of personal responsibility and personal confidence, the desire to be the best you can be and relishing the hard work and sacrifice it takes to realize that goal, learning the grace to be a humble winner and a gracious loser. Yes, the instruments and equipment have evolved (or changed - if you wish), but the important things that truly define the drum and bugle corps activity as the American treasure it is remain strong and firmly intact IMHO.

How predictable was that now? :P :blah:

The wrong Michael here - but I, for one, am happy that some of the haters have quieted down (if not jumped on the bandwagon - no pun intended). I had grown very weary of the chronic and irrational negativity! :) <--- me being happy.

removed double post. Sorry!