#1PhantomPhan
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Posts posted by #1PhantomPhan
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SCV is poetry in motion. First drum corps chills of the year belongs to them. It was so subtle and beautiful. All the components work together, and their guard is doing some really difficult stuff and making it look easy!
They pay homage to the original App Spring. And it's beautiful. Just beautiful.
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I find it funny that people keep talking about Seattle, Surf and Pio, but not one person has yet to mention that Mandarins are in that grouping too. Don't forget that other corps from out west. They have just as much of a chance to make a run for it like any of the other three mentioned.
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I found the skirt on BD this summer distracting, but I did like their white plumes. And their guard uniforms were HORRIBLE! Belly buttons and neon. Ugh.
I liked the change in the SCV uniforms (both Vanguard and the Cadets.) The only thing that really bothered me was indeed, The Michael's Christmas ribbon bargin sashes. I liked the red. Just not the fabric choice.
And I have loved the new Mandarins uniforms ever since their preview. You know it's that little corp from Sactown when that burnt orange comes on the field. They are a 1000+ better than their previous uniforms, and though they went for the cadet style uniform, they kept their unique asian flair with the inspired cumberbun and gauntlets.
As for guard uniforms, loved the SCV uniforms, Crowns uniforms and the Cavies uniforms. I really did not like BD's guard uniforms (see above) and the Mandarins guard uniforms were... well, yikes. Ditto that for the Scouts guard uniforms.
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Very interesting thread. I am a big fan of Mandarins, and would love to be a fan of Pio. I got to see them live last year in Pasadena, and I loved the show! (Since I don't have $$$ to my name, fan network is out of the question for me.) However, I still root for the 15-20 corps, maybe even more so than I do for the 1-5 corps. My beloved Phantom included.
Why? Because, I can't tell you enough how much I love watching the hard work and achievment from these corps! I have watched Mandarins grow this year. Their membership was about 10% veterans... and 90% brand spankin new high school students. And the progress they made all season was amazing! People keep asking why these two corps don't go back to Open Class...
Well... The paycheck from DCI, the better housing, the better show sites, the better judges, bigger crowds??? The list keeps going! Not to mention the fact of the Div one, I mean, World Class corps experience.
I wonder how many people even watched Pio and Mandarins this year??? As far as I can tell, many people are much more excited to watch the lot than to go in and actually see what these two wonderful, and FINANCIALLY SOUND, corps are pulling off.
MY HAT OFF to Pio and Mandarins.
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HAHAHA! I TOTALLY thought this same thing last night!
Phunny!
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Thank you for the honesty, and for putting it all out there. Totally agree on everything! I think people were ready to tear those interviewed judges at the end a new one. Each time they said they had BD on top, I think more old ladies went flying at the screen! It was def. a Phantom crowd. Myself included, of course!And how about that three way tie in GE? Really?
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Great review. One of the best this season. I would like to take a moment to thank you for giving the corps like Pioneer and Mandarins more than two sentences in your review. That was very nice.
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Mandarin were next and to me, not nearly as exciting and not holding nearly as much potential as they did two years ago. The new uniform, in its second year
This is the third year the corps has worn the rust uniforms. Personally, I think they make the corps look amazing on the field, and still the details are all about the Mandarins styles.
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I remember reading a story last year about a mandarins member helping an injured BD member onto the field for retreat. Does anyone remember the full story?
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I find it funny that some people think that tossing high is the mark of a great color guard.
I have not seen Cavies or Crown live. I am one of the many unlucky people who don't get to see all those corps unless they travel west of the rockies.
All I have been hearing is how Crown is amazing this year, and they were out of this world LAST year.
BD, IMHO, are up there only because they are BD. I watched most of their California shows, and I can't tell you much about their guard. Except that exposed belly buttons is almost as taky as wearing a neon sign. In other words, they were a snooze fest for me. I actually found the corps more entertaining than the guard.
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Ultimately, as many others have already pointed out, the need for community involvement and participation is what enables feeder Corps to exist and thrive. For any of you who are really interested in how this works back in Concord, listen to the Field Pass interview with Rick Odello; he pretty much explains how and why the BDB and BDC Corps have continued to thrive for the last two decades.
The Concord community has a lot of old vets, supporters, fans, etc. As a direct result, there is a pool of local talent from which to recruit new members and generate interest. In fact, one of the primary reasons we have shows like Precision West, Pacific Procession, Stockton, etc., is to generate local interest. And I've personally witnessed that interest peak and result in large numbers of local kids coming out just to have fun in the BDB and BDC Corps. Yeah, a lot of them want to join the A Corps someday, but the highly dedicated staff of the BDB and BDC Corps are unbelievably dedicated to helping the kids enjoy the hell out of their experience. Do they want them to eventually become good enough to join the A Corps -sure; but is that the primary driver - no. Rick Odello and his entourage of highly dedicated instructors (many of them veterans of the A Corps, not to mention the A Corps staff which dedicate their time to the other Corps when they can) ensure that the kids enjoy the experience and are encouraged to stick with it.
During my years with the Corps, not a lot of the BDC and BDB kids made it up to the A Corps, but a sizable number did manage to break through. And most of those, I can say, turned out to be incredible performers, e.g. Jim Roscoe, Chris Barnes, Mike Busbee, JJ and Jerry Ridgway, etc., etc. Never underestimate the drive a feeder Corps can instill in a child who possesses the raw talent and desire.
Now, the important part to mention about the BDB and BDC Corps' success is the management aspect. The Blue Devil organization believes very heavily in the future of all its organizations and therefore support them substantially. Not only that, Rick Odello demands that the parents take an extremely active role in their child's participation in the activity - that kind of support cannot be underestimated. In fact, that may be one of the primary reasons for BDB's and BDC's continued success.
I lived in the Concord region during my years with the Corps, as well as several thereafter. The region is not particularly unique with regards to well-publicized community support for the program and its participants. The secret lies almost entirely with the ingenious management instituted and overseen by Dave Gibbs (I would be remiss not to mention Jerry Seawright's visionary design and dedication for this structure), Rick Odello, and many other members of the BD Organization. It can happen elsewhere (and does down in Santa Clara for the same reasons). I know that in the past both Jerry Seawright and Dave Gibbs have offered management models for consumption by the larger Drum Corps community. Hopefully, the success of programs such as BD and SCV can and will be emulated by some highly motivated veterans. I won't sugarcoat it, it takes an enormous amount of dedication. But, just like the successful Colt Cadets, Blue Star Cadets, etc., it can be done with the unflinching support of a few courageous souls, that is, with a little bit of management know-how. IMHO
I grew up and lived in Concord for 26 years. I attended high school and participated in band in high school. As much as BD was apart of my family, (oldest sister marched in 90) I was very dissapointed in the fact that many of the BD kids that attended our school had the attitude that playing in the high school band was beneath them. Yes. It happend. As I am sure it happens across the country in other schools in other states. It just made me sad. Talented kids should be taught not just to support their corps, but to also support their community. With the sad state of affairs that music programs are in now a days, such support would be helpful, to say the least.
I have been reading this post for a day or so now... and I just keep agreeing with one poster that said that most kids want to play with the big boys or not at all. SCV Cadets and BDB, IMHO, retain their numbers due to the idea that maybe by marching the "feeder" corps, they will make it into the big game. While corps like Mandarins and Pioneer struggle to maintain enough numbers to march Div1. There are so many kids out there that are not marching, just because these aren't the top 12 corps. And that, my friends, is a tragedy.
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Renegade's standing in 7th. Nice.
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Okay, so with all the moaning and groaning about visual judges and GE judges having a guard background, not one of you brings up the point that Scot Chandler runs the visual and program of Blue Devils. Any person that knows anything about color guard, knows that Scot Chandler is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest name in Color Guard. But we don't talk about that, because saying anything against the beloved BD would be terrible! I personally feel that Chandler has done some amazing stuff with BD... but OMG! He's a guard person! Run in terror everyone!
To call guard a "dance ensemble" is a very narrow minded view. Yes, the guard does dance, and it is an intrigal part of the performance. However, they are not JUST dancing! Or are the rifles, sabers and flags that keep popping up nothing more than a figment of our imaiginations???
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At least you get to see completed and fine tuned shows for the next decade....it took 35 years for it to happen in California...
Can I get an AMEN???
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Next year hopefully we will have 22 or more World Class corps, making Prelims will become more prestigious than it already is.
Not going to happen. Nice to dream, but as it's been specutlated before, drum corps, outside of the top 12, are a dying breed. Esperanza went inactive a few years ago, and we have not seen them since. This is just crazy. I personally think they should just let all the corps compete in quarters and semis. I mean, what's the point in cutting those two corps at the bottom. It's not like they don't work just as hard as the top three corps. Give those kids a chance to shine in front of a large crowd... a crowd that doesn't see their performances all season, because they are in the lot checking out all the top corps.
Sheesh. Stepping off my soap box.
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Hurray for old guys!!!
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I think I met you on Saturday night!
Great review. Thanks for the props to the staff at Mandarins. They are working very hard, and that corps is just keeps on amazing me this season!
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They certainly are pushing the envelope in terms of difficulty ... I've never seen BD move around on a field like that.
That said, I also felt the show was a bit too formulaic ... Too close to last years show in construction.
I agree. Their closer is very reminicent in my book, of last years closer. Also, as awesome as they sound and look on the field, I am not feeling ANY emotional impacts from the show. This was my third read, and I just say hummm.
Phantom was amazing last night... and so was Vanguard.
Gotta give a
to Mandarins. They have a small hornline, but sitting up in the second tier last night, they were putting out some serious sound! -
And then there's those pesky Mandarins too.
Wow! Someone actually remembered that there was another Div 1 corps at these shows!!!
Mandarins have not been mentioned more than twice. It's like they are the mystery corps or something!
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What are the numbers, I wonder, in the 12-20 corps?
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But here's the real question for all you drum corps fans. When Troopers didn't march in 2006, did you care? If Pioneer were to fold, would it matter to you? Does it matter that 27th Lancers aren't marching? Or VK? Or Cascade for that matter? I have a feeling most of you wouldn't care. Just give me the top 6 corps and I'm fat, dumb and happy.
Amen to that. Really. As a big fan of some of the "lower" end D1 (or world class, what ever you want to call it) it KILLS me every time people talk all about the top 6-7 corps in their show reviews... paragraph after paragraph, and MAYBE there will be a small two sentence spit on the "other" D1 corps that marched... if mentioned at all. It kills me that the Vanguard Cadets and BDB get more of a review than some D1 corps. What that shows me is exactly what the poster about has said. Unless it's top 12, it's not worth the effort. And this mentality folks, is what is keeping those kids home, thinking that because they were cut from the "Big boys" they can't march anywhere. Wether it be that they are deflated and don't think they are worth anything, or that their ego's are to big and thinking marching anything but top 12 is beneath them.
A couple of things to consider. I believe this change to 150 had to be approved by a majority of the corps directors. Did only the top 12 have a vote? I may be wrong, but I believe all D1 corps had a vote. If thedirectors of the corps not in the top 6 were worried about losing more members to the top 6 they obviously
would not have approved the change. Hopkins may have made the motion, but the majority had to agree.
As far as I know, the top 12 corps are the only ones with a vote. And also, I hear somewhere, (I may be wrong) that BD, Cadets, Cavies, Phantom and I think? Vanguard, get more than one vote. Anyone have real stats on this?
Trust me. The smaller corps would NOT have voted yes on this! Take Mandarins for example. They have to fight for members, as they have BD AND Vanguard in their back yards. You can't honestly think that they would have voted yes on this, knowing they would lose more kids to not one but TWO corps.
20 D1 corps. This is a SAD state of affairs for the activity. There were 23 D1 Corps last year, and even more Two even three years ago.
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You know who has great weather... all be it hot weather... during the summer. Yup. California.
Bring it back!
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Okay, this might sound like a REALLY long shot, but does anyone know where BD had their "A Train" BOYS uni's made? I check with Fred J Miller, (where Scott Chandler has his collection) and I can't seem to find them.
Does anyone know, if maybe they still have those old uniforms, or if another school purchased them... and would like to sell them???????
Thanks for ANY info.
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Sniff Sniff.
I wish I was on the field with you guys this summer. Stupid school... and broke bank account.
Stockton Sizzlin'
in DCI (All) Corps Show & Event Reviews
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I loved LOVED how VK was constantly risking folding chairs. Thanks for the chuckle, VK! Good to see you.