ContrasAreFun

There is a little truth to this, but it's hard to measure. Part of it could be a geographic thing. For example, if Corps X did a show of Nirvana music, don't you think a show in Seattle Washington would have a bigger reaction than say Nashville, Tennessee? In retrospect, Broadway shows don't stay on Broadway if it receives less than stellar acclaim. But then again, audience and critic reaction doesn't represent how well the program is performed. Just a thought...

No, it's not DCI's fault. People didn't understand that were actually 2 ways to enter and exit the stadium grounds. Dan Potter even tried to help everyone with an announcement at the end of the night. I can't say I want people to figure out the other entrance to the stadium, though. It makes my commute much easier :thumbup:/>

Some overall impressions and $0.02 of last night, because this was my first show of the year. My opinions have all probably been mentioned somehow, somewhere. Colts and Spirit: Thank you for keeping with your roots. Drum corps doesn't always have to be about marching as fast as possible while playing 50 million notes. Cadets: In a word, disappointing. Well executed by the corps, but really anti-climatic. Maybe I'm too partial with past shows, but I just don't get into programs filled completely with recycled music. Granted, probably 90% of the people attending have no idea about 1999-2000 SCV, or even have heard of Star of Indiana, but I'd prefer more originality with the concept. I have to remind myself a lot of kids in high school these days weren't even alive when these songs were on a football field. I was at least hoping for the push and resolution at the end of Madea, but was left hanging. I know corps utilize and repeat past repertoire all the time, but even the 2012 Cadets show had a cool flare and new take. Everyone knows Christmas songs, but it felt brand new to me. SCV: Had a great resemblance to shows of the 80's and 90's. Refreshing and easily accessible to audience. The brass and drum book are solid. Pardon my ignorance, but is Pete Weber no longer writing their drill? It's not bad by any means, just not as complex as I remember in the past. Cool backfield effect with disappearing hornline and battery. I think there is still room for some added effect that can push them over the top. They don't need to become 2008 PR, but there's obviously a lot of potential. Knowing SCV, I'm sure there's something up their sleeve. A complete moment of silence for a Vanguard yell would be great, too, but beggars can't be choosers. Crown: Holy crap. I would die if I tried marching and playing that show. GE, visual, brass, and guard are all amazing. I hope their drums can improve, though; it's apparent they're not quite up to snuff with the other top corps. BD: Just like every year- typical BD. Amazing marching, brass, guard, drums, and execution. However, this is similar to 2005 Cadets or 93 Star. Confusing for most people because the concept is probably ahead of its time. Most of audience didn't know how to watch or understand the show, making for a somewhat awkward crowd reaction at the end of the show.

It's been a while since I've been on this forum, let alone written anything, but I think I'm qualified to chime in on your dilemma. I majored in civil engineering at Texas A&M University from 2005-2010 (5 years, no summer classes). I had this same question during my freshman year in whether or not I should march. To put it frankly, getting an internship as an underclassmen is HARD and dang near impossible in most cases. Companies will pass you up because they're more willing to help the guy/gal about to get out of school. That being said, I say go ahead and march as long as you can. You have over 40 years of work ahead of you, with only a few to march. After applying for dozens of internships and getting little to no responses, I ended up marching with a top-3 Division III corps, and a top-5 Division I corps in 2006 and 2007 respectively. I was the only engineering major in the D-III corps (of around 75) and one of maybe 3-4 in the D-I corps. Everyone else were primarily music majors. In 2008, my age-out year, aside from my body took a toll from marching with a contra and from other previous physical activities, I had lost that spark to be in drum corps. I felt I got what I was looking for in DCI. I marched with my dream drum corps, and needed no more to feel satisfied with my experiences. I figured out pretty quickly that some people stay in drum corps because they don't have a lot to aspire to outside of music. In my case, I came to a crossroad in my life. I didn't need drum corps anymore. Marching was no longer a major driving force in my life, and I wanted to start focusing on my career and start building my resume. Not sure if I wanted to make the decision official, I went to one camp in the fall of 2007, and although I put my best foot forward in preparing and auditioning, I hated it. I remembered how tired I was of all the repetition, the long grueling rehearsals, and to a certain extent, the politics that can surround and taint a drum corps. However, while I was there, many rookies and new folks attended the camp with the same excitement and optimism I once had. Pretty quickly, I realized that DCI needs those kinds of kids-not someone doing it just to occupy their summer, so I quickly dropped my name from the running a few days after camp ended. I thought of it as passing the torch to a new generation so to speak. Throughout the rest of college, I still kept playing my instrument with concert and basketball bands. To this day, I still volunteer with my old corps, and go to 2-3 shows every year and proudly wear my jacket, even in the 100 degree Texas heat. That being said, this was just my experience, and you could have a completely different one. The point I'm trying to make is that I encourage you to do both DCI and engineering. It's very possible. I have no regrets in what I did, and feel very blessed to be in the position I'm in now. Companies like to find people with personalities and interests outside of work and school. If you're serious about becoming a civil engineer though, be sure put focus into finding an internship or co-op at some point that is of your specific field of interest. They can be difficult to find, but they're out there. Aside from one summer internship, I was able to get another job at a local civil firm that allowed me to work part-time throughout the school year and full time during the summer. I wasn't even looking for the job so much as it was just being at the right place at the right time. It boils down to never knowing what's around the corner. As far as doing international stuff, study abroad, or whatever- as cool as they sound, they don't buy a lot of stock for you unless you're specifically looking to work out of the country. If nothing else, get as familiar as you can with Civil3D software, and Excel. The nice thing about civil engineering is that there will always be a need for them. This isn't like getting some useless degree that qualifies you to work at Dillards, or another engineering field where you could be fired in an instant if the economy takes a down turn. Civil engineers aren't losing jobs that are going to China or India, and as long as people are still breathing, we'll always need water pipes, toilets, roads, drainage, etc. Like I said before, getting a job as a young student is very hard. Enjoy yourself and march while you still have the passion, time, and money. Trust me, there are plenty of people who do get a civil degree who never had a job in college. Having a 4.0 sure helps, but being more well-rounded helps even more. I finished with a 2.95 GPA, and no company I was interested in cared the slightest bit. The ones who did, I wouldn't want to work at anyway. Remember, you're only 18 years old, and you have your whole life still ahead of you. Whatever you do, work hard, play hard, be honest with yourself, and make the most of it. Hope this helps, and best of luck making your decisions...

I was going to say the same thing. This show got me into drum corps and I listen to it all the time, but I'd never in my wildest dreams want to march it.

I always got a kick out of the guy shouting at the beginning of the Madison '06 show yelling "yeeaah!!". Listen during the bass solo a few seconds after the show starts- makes me laugh all the time.

Kathy Pearson, wife of Jeff Pearson, marched 9 years at SCV. 79-87 I believe.

Some people can't wear contacts, and I've never heard of a corps that prohibited glasses during a performace. I can definately see that they would cause an issue if they are too big. I tried contacts for a while and could never get them to work for me, so I marched every show with glasses no problem.

+1 for 1980 SCV, sorry bout that.

From a visual standpoint, this show started modern drum corps as we know it today.

Are you sure someone wasn't playing a joke on you?

I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict that a good portion of the people voting are not familiar with 2003-2005. I have to question that because 10 of the top 15 are from 2006-2008, and only one show from 2003. Just a thought.

http://www.dci.org/news/view.cfm?news_id=e...58-d5ee1c2f891b

Dude, seriously, lay off. If you feel that Texas was cooler than the other states, then great, you must have lucked out in Texas, and got the short end of the stick in Mississippi or Michigan. We have a lot more stadiums than just the Alamodome. And yes, there are a lot of crappy schools in Texas. There are lot of crappy schools I've stayed in for just about every other state, too.

My vote in no particular order: 1980 Spirit 1987 SCV 1988 VK 1990 Star 1984 Suncoast 1992 Cavaliers 1993 Phantom 2001 Cadets 1999 Madison 1976 BD 1994 BK 1999 Glassmen

So is it safe to assume we might see the same shows again.

Dutch Boy + Spartans = Dutch Spartans Holy Name + Blue Devils + Jersey Surf = The Holy Devil Surfers Crossmen + Crossmen = Double Crossers Legends +7th Regiment + Revolution + Teal Sound + PR + Spirit + Mystikal + Spirit of Newark = The Legend of the 7th Revolting Teal Phantom Spirit hailing from the Mystikal Newark

I know for certain that SCV was the first. This is unless 27 did it before DCI was even created; they were founded in '68 and '72 respectively.

SCV went asymetric drill in 1980. I think the judges weren't sure what to think of it at the time. 1981 proved to be sucess though. As far as today, I still have to go with BD. Some might say Phantom...if they had black pants perhaps.

Believe it or not, I marched a corps that completely prohibited smoking. If you refused or couldn't quit, you were kicked out. I remember it wasn't an hour after finals that nearly every memeber in the percussion section started lighting up.

Is this confirmed? I checked out their website and watched the preview. It is logical that it might be a Rush with the trees and owl. If it's true, then I already have a favorite 2009 show.

Fiedler went to Santa Clara for the position he is currently in. I highly doubt he's looking to be the next director, but that's just me.

Nick Williams, the current head of the brass staff at Madison, was the caption head of Southwind back in 2000. The corps finished 13th, but I believe their brass finished somewhere around 7th.

Anything that is NOT from this decade or has ever been shown in the 4 year history of the countdown. With that said: 1987 SCV 1988 VK 1990 Star 1999 Madison 1993 PR and just for the fact I've never seen it- 1985 Suncoast

Looks like Texas Tech's uniforms.