ssorrell

Hmmm... Spartacus belongs on the stage and/or performance hall, not the football field. James Bond belongs on the screen, not the football field. Phantom of the Opera belongs in the Theater District, not the football field. What's your point? What music "belongs" on the football field?

And this is true because of the music of Kansas as the corps repertoire?

Interesting to note that Northern Aurora's shows in 92 and 93 (the Kansas show) were their highest placements in Open Class in their history. so maybe their choice of Kansas wasn't too bad for them either.

I'm happy for two reasons... 1. It's not wind ensemble music. 2. It doesn't take a long dissertation to explain the "concept" or the "vision" that the corps is trying to present. That's good enough for me. Whether it turns out great or not, at least this isn't a show where the majority of the audience will be scratching their heads trying to figure it out.

tigger2 gets it.

What good do these automated announcements do when they are nearly a week older than other posts with the exact same info?

I would have had to have included Phantom's "Death Hunt" on the list...it's even from a Hitchcock film, which should more than meet the criteria for the list!

This thread has just passed its 3rd birthday. Is this a record (aside from some of the discussions that have hundreds of pages in the Historical Discussion forum)? I wonder if this thread will ever die?

It must be the new math they teach in school these days, Mike.

There might have been criticism, but hey...it got Spirit where they wanted to go. Back then, music was favored by the judges moreso than visual, and they capitalized on that. My choices...not to be a homer, but the power of Spirit in 79 and 80 is what attracted me to that corps. Other than Spirit: BD 1996. OMG... the opening statement alone, as I sat at the very top of the Citrus Bowl, parted my hair. Madison...most any year, particularly in the 70s and 80s = Park and Blow. Bridgemen...ditto.

Scott was a member of the Scouts but never taught there. He worked with Bridgemen before he came to Spirit, then off to BD where he's been ever since. As for Winter Guard, Scott came to State Street in 84 after his successful run with the Skylarks, and the team of Scott, Tam, and Sal was one of the best staffs ever assembled.

"Flame Bait worthy question"? Asking about the history of dance in the guard is flame bait? And why do you need more "meat"? There are 9 pages of answers...seems like plenty of meat to to spark discussion for lots of folks. Perhaps they lurked for weeks like many people do when they first find DCP, thus they would have learned the term "DCnewbie" by reading it in posts? But really, it's not like the term "newbie" is exclusive to drum corps anyway. A little late, considering this thread is now 3 years old and the OP under that screen name hasn't been back online since Dec of 2005.

Not to be a homer, bit I find it ironic that you note the 1985 Scouts' guard and their dance as the catalyst for changing drum corps forever, but failed to mention Spirit's guard, who danced more than any other guard that year and a few years thereafter...who WON the guard trophy...led by Scott Chandler, who is the most influential guard caption head for the last 20+ years... particularly when you are talking about guards who use dance as a major element of their visual interpretation.

LOL! The fact is that I'd certainly have Suncoast on my short list too, but I thought I'd let our #1 Suncoast fan say it like only he can...

I see Randy lurking on this post...that means one thing...be prepared for a Suncoast plug! ;>)

While I agree with your statement above, as I certainly had my fair share of brew while on the road my four years, it really doesn't matter whether anyone uses it responsibly or irresponsibly in drum corps...either way, for the majority of the members, alcohol possession and consumption is illegal. In my tenure, a six pack shared in the parking lot after a night's competition between drum corps comrades was a "cultural uniter", as you called it. And like you, it helped me make many memories back in the day...none of which were a result of over indulgence. But today, beer's champion building qualities of yesteryear aside...it is illegal for the overwhelming majority of the members and thus corps should be very dilligent in keeping it off the road. IMHO, of course.

People are referencing drum corps because there are "antics" that happen on the road that could be considered similar in nature to those described in this and other UW incidents. Why would they have more riding on what happens? I happen to think the opposite. Take any major university...they have legal departments and lawyers that work for them. They could be hit with a big law suit and still come out okay. People would still join the band and life would go on. Now, look at nearly any drum corps...most would simply have to fold if they ever got named in any kind of lawsuit where a monetary award was given to the plaintiff. Therein lies the difference...the UW band is representing the school whereas a drum corps is representing only itself. The school would take it on the chin when their marching band gets bad press, but a drum corps has no one else to take it on the chin for them. There's not many corps that could handle even a little blow. Aside from the band being suspended and if anything was ever done through the legal system where a monetary judgement against the school was issued, what else really could happen? Music majors would still get their degrees and classes would continue with the band getting a slap on the wrist. Hopefully those individuals responsible for the problems would get some jail time, though. A drum corps would simply die. Now...who's got more at stake?

I see your point, but at the same time, nothing will prevent future violations better than a healthy dose of peer pressure, and since everyone in the band received discipline for the actions of a few, maybe next time it won't happen because there will be literally dozens of good honest kids in the band that will be watching and hopefully standing up for the integrity of the band.

Don't think that I'm a homer, because I was not a part of that 1980 line, but are you serious? Spirit's lines under Jim Ott especially in 1978, 79, and 80 were so freakishly loud because they played better in tune than most any line in DCI history. And they worked on breath support every day...something we continued into the 80s with Freddy Martin. Ever try to blow up a 12 inch balloon on a mouthpiece with just one breath until it pops? And contras used bread bags!

As a former Marching Southerner from JSU, I gotta tell you like a couple of others have that yes...JSU's band is among the best in the country, but claiming to be the best hands down will not win you any fans. Yes, this year's show is awesome. The sound that comes from the line is amazingly powerful, but then again, when you've got 300+ on the field, power should not be a problem. The drum line usually smokes too. But drill...well, Southernners have never been known for their drill. The music is difficult for sure, however. Practice? I know a big Div 1A college band that practices just as much, if not more. Of course I don't think they can hold a candle to JSU, but as has been pointed out, they are there for a different purpose. And their show changes quite often, if not weekly, while the Southerners concentrate on maxing out one show with very few major changes, if any. I've been surprised by some other college bands in Alabama lately. I saw UNA a couple of years ago and was blown away. JSU isn't the only good college band in the state. And even though I've been around the marching activity for 30 years now, I've never heard or seen Riverside Comm College that Michael Boo spoke of. I've heard OF them, but have never seen them. I do believe that many of their staff and members come from the Blue Devils, which should certainly make you believe that they are strong. So let's just say that JSU is among the best in the nation, and leave it at that. JSU probably does more "gigs" than most college bands (notice I didn't say ALL). They play a lot of exhibitions at high school competitions, they do perform at every home game and travel to some away games. They do exhibition at BOA Regionals quite often. They've done the Macy's parade a few years ago (I believe they opened the parade and was the lead in for Santa Claus). The band does a lot of heavy recruitment in their area to keep the Music Department as popular as it is. That's how they keep their numbers up for a school with around 9000 students as compared to their Div 1A counterparts with tens of thousands of students enrolled.

Sounds to me a lot like marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, except for the fact that for that parade, it can be very cold and rainy, as it has been for many of the past few years' parades. I'd jump at the chance to perform in any Olympics opening or closing ceremonies...9 hour wait or not.

From 1977 until the mid 90s, Spirit held their banquet during the last couple weeks of tour. Before the Top 12 was required to perform in quarter finals, our banquets were held on Thursday before finals. Later we started having it on Tuesday or Wednesday before finals. Then in the mid 90s the banquet was moved to November I believe. In 2000 and 2001 and maybe even 2002 we held it on one of the last weekends heading into finals, but now once again, I think it is back to being held in November. I loved it when we had it on tour...of course, that's the only way I've ever known it. But it was the ONLY time you could guarantee that everyone would be there. And we all looked forward to dressing up for that one day on tour. The girls looked quite funky with the open shoes and heels while sporting their drum corps tan that stopped at their ankles.

Everyone might think that the designers make a lot of money from their gigs with a top 3 corps. Although they are indeed compensated, it's not enough to sustain a family, and as most know, it is not their primary job. In fact, I know for certain that many of the top level designers do not make much more than their lower level counterparts. They do however, have more star power as a result of their relationship with a top corps, and thus find more work writing for HS and college bands across the country. I can only imagine what kind of stress it would be to have a full time job, be a family man with kids, AND write year after year for a top 6 caliber corps. In my own experience, a few years ago I was very active behind the scenes with Spirit, devoting several hours daily or weekly to the cause. But with a full time job working 60 hours per week, two kids in school, and a mini farm to maintain, I had to cut something out and my drum corps affiliations were really the only thing that I could do without. I don't know...but maybe some of these guys that are leaving the activity have come to the same crossroads in their life? At least they can leave drum corps with a stellar reputation and in good standing. Kudos to everyone who puts their family first.

Oh, so Phantom winning brass at different times throughout the season and in the end taking 2nd only to BD's hornline was a fluke? I guess the brass judges were clueless... If the sounds that Phantom produced were "gross", then I guess I love gross sounds.

Wow..the apology posted by Cadetzoid is the most mature thing I've ever witnessed on DCP. Bravo!