Jeremy Denzer

This is awesome! I hope they also add these shows to the fan network!

With the speed of the drill today it is important for the safety of the performers that the field be lined clearly.....everyone bashes Hop for this but the reality is he is just doing his job. Also with literally hundredths of a tenth difference between the competition having the correct reference marks for the performers to hit the dots is critical.

Even under a regional touring model corps still traveled long distances. Look at DCM for an example. If you are a corps like the Blue Stars or the Colts a show in Ohio, Pennsylvania or Illinois is not exactly a short trip. Everyone seems to think that a regional tour means that corps stay home and do not encounter expenses of travel. Not necessarily true.

Forte never left their own region.....you cannot blame a national touring model for the decision to not continue the season. Even under a regional touring model such as DCM corps still had to travel. Show's in Illinois, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Ohio etc are not exactly just down the street from Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The problem with a Texas tour is why would the Crossmen stay in Texas and not see any of their competition until mid season.....makes no sense from a world class competitive standpoint.

If anything Forte was following the touring model that everyone seems to think will save drum corps.....a regional tour followed by a short tour towards championships......Forte was not on a full summer national tour.

Wasn't Forte one of the corps that had to go through a review process again this year prior to being added to the schedule? What does this review involve? I would hope that the review committee is looking deep enough into the corps finances to see that after three shows they would run out of money. This is not a corps that is doing a full national tour.....regional performances followed by a short trip to Indianapolis.

I am glad that they made the decision to not make the trip if it is in the best interest of the organization. Good fiscal responsibility on the part of VK. I just feel for the members if they joined under the impression that they were going to championships. I hope they were able to find other homes to finish out the season.

Good point and I fully understand the viewpoint of a show coordinator.....I guess my next question is how much longer will DCI even support an Open Class division? The current number of corps does not seem to warrant its own separate championships in a stadium that I am sure is not cheap. Why not just have the open class champion crowned by the highest score of an open class corps in World class prelims. Let me say that I do not agree with this thinking, however I am sure it is the next logical step for DCI. Having a prelims and finals for 15 corps in its own stadium does not make financial sense.

Was VK up front with members early in the season about not attending finals? It would be awful to join a corps with the impression that you are going to Indy and then find out in the summer that you are not. Are other corps from California that are attending finals giving VK members the opportunity to end the season in Indy?

Even without the regional circuits there are still DCI shows in every region that corps could be a part of. Also the last few weeks of the season for Open class corps are spent on a mini tour that was not part of a regional circuit that leads up to championships. At the rate we are going if DCI continues to even sponsor an Open class will everyone make finals.....or will they just do away with the Open class and just have one large division with everyone fighting for the same 12 finalist spots.

Just noticed that VK is not going to finals. This leaves only 16 corps competing in Indy in Open class.....Raiders also look to be on the fence.....What happened to open class to cause such a rapid decline in the number of corps? Less than 20 years ago we had more than 16 corps in Div II / III in the midwest alone....now we have less than that in the entire country. How many more years can the division survive before DCI does away with it and just has a single prelims at championships.

Had the opportunity to see the Cadets 2 in Lynn this past weekend. Compared to other DCA corps they are not nearly as prepared. They marched and played the first 2/3 of the show and then played the closer in a standstill formation. The guard book is very incomplete and they do not have uniforms or show silks yet. They play really well and have a well written visual program. They will be competitive in DCA but I would not bet on them walking away with a title the first year on the field.

Considering that 9 of the 15 Independent World finalists and 12 of the 15 Scholastic World Finalists in 2012 were units that were promoted from Open to World in the past it seems that just as many promoted units do find success as those who do not.

I think that too often we judge the success of a end of season promotion by the group immediately making finals in the higher class the following year. In Scholastic Open class in a typical year over 30 groups do not make finals. Should they all drop back to Scholastic A because of a non finalist season? In many cases it takes a few seasons to develop and grow in the higher class.

It was a version recorded just for Chimeras. Not released anywhere else.

Considering that two of this years Independent Open medalists were in Independent World semi finals the previous year, I can see why some guards in Independent Open are upset.

The best proposal in the bunch is not to allow guards who makes semi finals or finals in Open and World to drop down to a lower class the following year. With the number of guards dropping down only to be promoted back up the same year this rule makes sense.

Finally found a video of Avon (sorry I cannot share the link due to CGP rules). What a fantastic show. Congrats to Danny Wiles and the Avon team for putting out such a great show even though you are not going to Dayton. You will be missed. Can't wait for your return next season.

Thanks for the review. What was Avon's show? Hopefully they return to WGI next season as strong as ever.

Yes Arcadia has large curtains, yes they move from stage left to stage right. Emerald Marquis is not the only guard that has used this as a staging method. If they were using the exact same staging, choreography and music I would have an issue.....however they are not.

My concern with the video not being posted has nothing to do with the content of the show. What concerns me is the precedent that is being set. Can other guards now request the same thing in order to not be viewed outside of their own region prior to Dayton? The whole thing leaves a bad taste of "playing the game" in my mouth. The other question is what constitutes objectionable content. Some could argue that they should pull down other controversial shows such as Northmont 1997.....after-all a girl does hang herself mid show. Yes, I found Fantasia a bit shocking when I first watched it.....shocking is not always a bad thing....It certainly got people talking. If you watch the ending it actually shows the compassion of the last soldier.

Cypress Creek is signed up for Dayton. I am glad to see that WGI is utilizing the mid season promotion more in the last few years. What I find interesting is that 2 of the 4 guards that were promoted from A to Open were in Open class within the last 3 years and dropped down.

Watched some of the groups on the Fan Network. Nease and Marcus both look like open guards.....Francis Howell North (even with the high score) look like an A guard.....a very good A guard who could win in Dayton.....but not an open guard. Just my opinion.

They have been moved under current entries on wgi.org to Scholastic Open. Congratulations to Nease!