Mello Dude
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Posts posted by Mello Dude
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2 hours ago, scheherazadesghost said:
I've decided to keep my limited opinions about her to myself. Too many DCPers jump to her defense before taking a breath to understand that I have lived experience with drum corps abuse (that doesn't give me blanket authority by any means) but does mean I have direct, professional experience in handling such situations.
What I can say is hiring the daughter of such a person without taking significant, clear and transparent actions to keep her father away would be a risk to member safety. Not saying this didn't happen cause I wasn't there. Just seems like a risk I wouldn't be willing to take, but perhaps that's why I'm on the outside. Perhaps there's too much liability in even addressing it from an organizational standpoint.
She's at Phantom now.
Tough calls. I hope they take (or took) precautions and hopefully told her as term of being there that daddy was persona non grata.
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19 hours ago, billj said:
I absolutely look forward to hearing and seeing this show, and I don't care what the judges think.
Of course I want Regiment to place high if it's deserved, but long ago I stopped letting the judges decide how I feel when driving away from a show. I let each corps' performance determine how I feel.
Hence, I don't stay for the announcement of scores. Side benefit, you get out of the parking lot easier and you get home earlier.
Probably the healthiest reason to watch any more. I stopped caring about score for the most part when I went to a show and a corps only had 2/3's of the show even done and they beat 3 other units that were comparable.
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Featuring in 2023....
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20 hours ago, scheherazadesghost said:
Blacklists violate confidentiality, at least formalized ones do. While I'm all for it, I don't think it'll fly in today's litigious society.
Train the members, and hell, even demand compliance of them so they can at least confirm that they know their rights and defend themselves in worst case scenarios. Very worst case scenario, they are still violated, but know it was wrong and not their fault. I didn't get that until 15 years after the fact after extensive soul searching.
Once you know what to look for and how to handle a report, the culture can begin to safeguard itself a little better. I genuinely hope that SafeSport was the start of this, but it's simply not enough. The easiest rule to put in place is no 1-on-1 meetings between staff and members (or even member-to-member if there is a power differential.) Ever. Period. If you see this happening, say something or interrupt it.
Where we are mostly right now is, huh? what problem? oh snap, my fellow member/alum was violated? that really sucks... moving on...
Not quite sure about that. Sex offender lists are readily available. I'm fairly certain in some states the offender is required to notify the community they live in.
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Be a sad day if the band has to stand for inspection before entering the field.
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4 minutes ago, gbass598 said:
And an electronic keyboard is still a keyboard no matter what sound comes out of it.
I don't want to debate merits of electronics, I just don't see how you can possibly police what sounds are or are not coming out of any instrument. You want to put rules in place, fine. But how do you police it? Inspect everyone's MainStage/Logic setup before and after a performance? Have a T&P guy stand over the electronic performers shoulder with a tick sheet?
Every organization already states that sounds must be performed in real time anyway. The only difference I can see to that is a "pre-show" but that is pre-show and technically not judged while everyone is setting up. Removing that actually creates creative limitations on the entertainment factor to the audience while the group finishes the final preparations of their show.
Sounds like a great idea. I mean we could just cut the electricity and see how that flies also. Going green and all that.
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8 minutes ago, gbass598 said:
And if you have the tool available to you, why not be able to use it?
If you have an electronic keyboard, why only limit it to making piano, strings, and bass guitar sounds? How many groups use Mainstage or Logic with a full library of sounds at their fingertip but somebody is going to police what sounds are used and where?
This is not going to turn into another "back in my day" discussion but how do you allow progress and place limits on the tools at the same time?Limiting the functionality of a keyboard is kind of like having a clarinet but telling them they aren't allowed to play b flat or a trumpet but they aren't allowed to use a mute.
Because in theory the KB with proper sound samples can mimic ANY instrument. Rather self defeating for the other 99% of the people on the field with a traditional instrument. Frankly this has taken a long time for people to wake up. Your mute justification doesn't really follow. A muted trumpet is still a trumpet and not a sample. Indoor activity with electronic instruments seems a more proper venue.
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11 hours ago, jameseuph said:
That’s not a tradition just a technique. The new visual staff uses the bent knee approach.
Bent knee is better on the joints.
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1 minute ago, IllianaLancerContra said:
I agree, but (baring total transparency from the Corps/DCI), this is the choice that exists.
You would think. But the converse is true also. If lawsuits are pending, there is no way you are getting that. Also, even with total transparency you get that one person (or small group) that is a complete PITA. If you live in an HOA you know what I am talking about...
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1 hour ago, IllianaLancerContra said:
So which is worse:
A Corps with sketchy business and member-treatment practices, or
No Corps at all?
But it doesn't have to be either of those. That's the travesty. The problem when you start dealing in large sums of money you have to be SO careful who is manning the ship as it were. Non-profits are so hard to do right.
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13 hours ago, Jeff Ream said:
they suck at not having the high ground
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16 hours ago, Jeff Ream said:
only Sith deal in absolutes
They also control the weak minded....
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36 minutes ago, CadetDood said:
Paul and Sandy have been writing for Troop since the early 2010's, and in a DCCS podcast he did this year he said he has no plans to be more involved with Troopers this year since SCV has folded. In his own words, he always wanted Troopers to be a place for his students to go teach at and make their own way in their DCI careers and he thinks that him taking over the show at Troopers would be a bad idea. Plus, with their continued success under the leadership of Lauren Teel at Troopers, why should they change anything?
In Paul's own words on that podcast he's still working with SCV with the hopes of doing some virtual events with his UNT kids that were with SCV and have decided not to march at another corps. So for this year, I think he's not going anywhere. The real question is what happens if SCV can't field a corps in 2024?
SCV will need a LOT of intervention from what I have seen. I can tell you first hand that when you loose a non-profit status you have to move mountains to get it back. Not everyone is qualified to run an organization or what it takes to keep everything up and running and current. Hopefully they can get someone with the experience needed to get things done. Luckily, they have all year to work on it.
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His name alone moves them up 3 spots regardless.
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1 hour ago, kdaddy said:
Only one of us is speaking in absolutes, and it's not me.
It sounds like you're suggesting that "data that's available" means that you can draw conclusions about a particular demographic based on a generic fan voting outcome. And I would suggest in response that's a failure in data analysis.
Not even close to absolute. "Data that's available" is simply that. Drawing the opposite conclusions based on "imagination" or "assumptions" seems biased and based on nothing substantial. That is a failure on simple logic 101. But hey, we are all allowed to have opinions no matter what they are based on. Based on what I know to be a fact there are ex-SCV members marching with Phantom and some staff as well. I have no idea on names or numbers but there we are.
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2 hours ago, kdaddy said:
Note that I specifically said *20-year-old SCV member*. You nor I nor "fans" at large are in that group, therefore it may not be easy for us to understand their tastes. Your favorite music of 2022? Okay, that's great - you're not who I'm talking about. I happen to like Mahler - I'm also not who I'm talking about.
Could I envision a 20-year-old thinking Regiment's props (and how they were used) were lame compared to, say, Mandarins? Absolutely.
I will agree that I could see 20-year-olds getting jazzed about fan responses to what they just performed. I don't know if that's enough to sway them in one direction or another, but I agree that it could be important.
You are assuming WAY too much on what others think rather than using the data that's available. I don't know how you can "envision|" someone else's thoughts. I can only go by what people voted (including 20 year old peeps) and the crowd reaction. Music matters to musicians.
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4 hours ago, kdaddy said:
I can see your argument for SCV percussionists going to Regiment, especially if the new Regiment guys got an endorsement by the Rennicks when SCV's 2023 season ended. Naturally a good percussionist would want to work with the Rennicks for quality writing and instruction, but I suspect they also want a drum trophy. If that's the case, the next natural place to go is BD (where they would also get quality writing and instruction, as well as the chance for a corps title on top).
Likewise with brass... if you can land at BD or Crown, that's a great choice. Same with guard.
I'm sure design stylistic choices may factor into a student's decision, but placement clearly matters also. Regiment hasn't been top 6 since today's marchers were in elementary school. They probably know more about corps management seemingly turning a blind eye to guard member mistreatment allegations than they do Spartacus.
I loved Regiment's 2022 show, and I think they're on a competent design path. And the design and instruction decisions should mean 2023 is even better. That said, I could also see an 20-year-old SCV member watching that show and thinking it was lame relative to BD, Crown, and Mandarins (and SCV).
Lame? Really? Voted fan favorite for a good reason. Don't underestimate people wanting to be in a show that gets butts out of the seats. The sheer joy of being in a show that doesn't get "golf claps" shouldn't be discounted. Not only that but as a musician Phantom had the best music last year IMHO. Or I should say best drum corps arranged music. But we shall see. I suppose I could just ask someone working in management this year. I mean, it's probably no secret. I'm more interested on what they are doing this year.
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1 hour ago, Sutasaurus said:
Just no Grogu puppet, please.
No no no no no no no...LOL Those that watch will get this...LOL
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Actually Regiment needs new warmup material. I suggest The Mandalorian. 🙂
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10 hours ago, Jeff Ream said:
when i marched, over my years, i wore a shako, aussie and helmet. i wish i could have worn nothing but my hair.
if it works for the show, who cares?
Hair was optional? 🙂
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IMHO, headwear makes the corps have more stage presence. Everyone looks taller. I really don't care one way or the other but from just an aesthetic standpoint, corps without headwear don't look as good.
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Those scooters are a menace. They go WAY too fast with people that can't drive and you can't make me believe the brakes are good enough to stop 15mph 500lbs+. That's a LOT of potential energy.
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1 hour ago, Slingerland said:
The question is real simple, folks. Do you want drum corps to survive? Then you need to increase participation at the grass roots level.
You either want to fix the grass roots issue or you don't. Affordable, local, easy to start up, and with enough competing units to make hyper regional competition (within 100 miles of home) feasible.
Saying "I don't want to hear flutes at a drum corps show", even if those flutes are in their own high school division (did you all miss that part?) that is there primarily to put butts in the seats for the WC corps shows, is a guarantee that in ten years, we'll have 20 corps left, period.
Simple, if you plan on a music career or LOVE music you need to learn more than one instrument. Learn to play something that is in a drum corps.
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Woodwinds won't save anything and in fact will kill any identity drum corps still has. Also, the maintenance on woodwinds would be beyond the patience of many. Drum corps is not easy on equipment.
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Phantom Regiment 2023
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
Then there are those that only look at props.....