Granny Smith

Now THAT would be an interesting experiment. A little more complex experiment would be to survey a drum corps crowd and ask them to give some information about themselves (age, drum corps experience or not, etc.) and see how they enjoyed the shows. I'm a bettin' gal, and I would bet that there would be a general consensus among different demographics. In other words, we tend to think that those with years of drum corps experience will choose a different favorite then Bill and Betty who just came to the show from milkin' their cows. Coincidentally the two guys from Burma liked Regiment the best and Crown second best. "From the mouths of babes"

So, the other day I took two young men who are Burmese refugees to the Rockford show. It was a very interesting experience and I had about as much fun watching them as I did the shows. One had been in America for two years and the other for about two months. Here were two guys who had lived their entire lives (about 25 years) in a very primitive refugee camp in Thailand. They later told me they had never seen more than about eight people do an organized activity and were mesmerized by what they were watching on so many levels. At intermission (after four shows) they asked if it was time to go. I told them no and then explained what an intermission is (everything is new to them). They seemed a bit disappointed and a little weary. Later when I asked what they though of the show, they were gracious and said they had a good time, but said, "they all sounded the same." Granted...I'm talking about two people with virtually no western cultural experience or context, but I thought there remarks were very interesting. I guess if I was honest, I would have to agree with them a little. Have everyone dress up in neutral uniforms and take away their name and it might be hard to hear too many distinctive qualities (there are exceptions of course). P.S. The next they brought me a thank you gift. It was two frogs. Being the culturally sensitive person that I am, I told them I wasn't sure if the ladies in the cafeteria knew how to cook up frogs but I'm sure they'd be willing to let them use the kitchen, so the next day they came over with their family and cooked 'em up with a blazin' hot side of chili paste (which explains my crankiness the past couple days).

I found the poster for next year's Trooper Show. Wording is good and everything. http://youtu.be/p_fXeya-_lA

This year, show-wise: BD < Regiment Cadets < Regiment SCV < Regiment BC < Regiment All my imo, of course.

The idea that embracing your identity and being competitive are mutually exclusive ideas is simply false. This is the case I'm trying to make. We have been told that in order for the Troopers to be competitive they have to change their uniform and start playing music that is disconnected with their heritage. Thus far this approach has not worked out so well. They are not "kicking ###". So I am writing to hopefully agitate and stir up the notion they should follow the way of the Scouts. Does that mean they will come out next year playing Battle Hymn and Ghostriders and vault into the top 12 with ease? Not necessarily, but they would certainly be a crowd favorite and I can't imagine them placing much lower. (Disclaimer: I am not arguing for schlockiness. Excellence in performance is still paramount and arranging with freshness is of utmost importance) --------------- Now...just a brief word about Jim Jones....and this is off topic. If there ever was a man who was committed to teaching "life skills", it was Jim Jones. But again, teaching life skills is not mutually exclusive with excellence in performance. In fact, excellence in performance is a major life skill. In addition to demanding excellence on the field he demanded excellence off the field. I'd like to invite Trooper Alumni reading this to maybe share a story or two with us.

I posted on another thread the phrase "Fan Favorite". After I typed it I got to thinking about what I had just written and what I meant by "Fan". The other night in Rockford I looked around (and this has been the case at most shows I go to in the midwest) and the majority of fans were probably about 45 and older. In my immediate vicinity there were only two people who looked like they were in their 20s. The rest were in that older demographic. In fact, every year I see so many people trying to climb the steps who look like this is the last thing to do on their bucket list before they kick it. So, when corps write shows to appeal to "the fans", what does that mean? This only intrigues me a little because most of us on here are NOT average fans. We look and listen for intricacies and nuances that most average fans do not. We know names like Gibbs, Hopkins, et al. Amuse me for a moment and take us super-dcp-sophisticates and the judges out of the equation. Imagine that the only measure of success was how much a show appealed to a stadium of average fans. What would that show look like? What music would there be?

I don't know of anyone who has said anything negative about the front office for the Troopers. Clearly they have done a great job of reorganizing and providing a solid foundation for what happens on the field. The only reason placement is an issue for me is because recent scores/placements serve as a rebuttal to those who claim that the Troopers need to change their persona in order to compete. The entire thrust (can I use that word on this forum?) of my post is that the Troopers need to embrace their DNA. Buy into their label of being "America's Corps" and strive to be the fan favorite.

It's interesting to me that the staff would instruct members to stay off DCP because people were critical of the Troopers. The Love to Criticism ratio for the Troopers on this forum is probably more lopsided towards love than any other corps. You rarely see anyone criticize them and when they do it's with kid gloves. People have their opinions of what will work for the Troopers--including me. Since the Troopers reorganized I have consistently held the position that they should embrace all of the externals that make them the Troopers (I'm not talking about Honor, Loyalty and Dedication here--those are the internals). I understand there are exceptions to nearly every rule, but this is the third year in a row where the show has failed to connect with the crowd and the scores have paralleled that. I just think it's time to say so. So, it kind of boils down to this: for three years the Troopers have generally failed with both the crowd and the judges. You can argue that certain parts of those shows "grabbed" the audience (ala infinity chord), but otherwise they have been mostly forgetful.

Mr. Burger, My post is laced with my opinion, but I submit to you here on this day that is more objective than yours. You contend that the judges "want more of the new." I'm afraid they didn't get the memo, so you might want to let them know that this show really should be up around 11th place or so. One of the adorable qualities of the Troopers is that virtually nobody says anything critical about them. The year they made finals there were some who argued that the Colts should have been in that 12th spot, but they did it in a very soft-handed way. Well it's pretty hard to candy-coat it all this year...wouldn't you say? The Troopers have strayed from their identity and it's a shame. You can bemoan this and try to turn this into a "kids don't wanna wear cowboy hats" kind of argument, but the sad reality is that their shows are simply not connecting with people and their scores are lousy. And...on top of it...they're still wearing cowboy hats and kids are still marching. I post this as a challenge to the Troopers: Return to your historical identity. Put some music on the field that is recognizable and that hits people in the face and heart. Do some old-school stuff that harkens back to a bygone era and be America's Corps.! Just be YOU!

OH NO! Please don't think that I've abandoned George. I haven't. In fact...I recant! While I do love Regiment's show, I think the Cadets will win it all again this year. Do you hear me George? It was a momentary lapse (too many sedatives) and I'm thinking more clearly now. (Sidebar): George, during that cute little jazz lick in your show last night, I saw you bee-boppin' away and encouraging the corps, but I know the real reason you were dancing was because you knew I was in attendance and would have my eyes locked on you like a laser beam!

So, how's all that new stuff workin' out for the Troopers now? Your argument has been repeated quite a bit over the past few years...that somehow the Troopers need to start innovating and that their scarves hindered lines, etc., but I would counter that it will be a long time before the Troopers are innovators since the innovators are usually those at the top. And just as matter of trivia: the Troopers have never been to finals without the scarves. For the record, I love the Troopers but sadly when I clap for them at shows now it's because of my respect for their history and who they are instead of them hitting me in the chest with their show. I'm sorry to say this, but it's true.

Well...sorry for all the # marks. I have been censored and I stand humbly corrected for using such foul language. I apologize to each of you individually for my potty-mouth. I was certainly not trying to be gratuitous in my expletives, but it is what the man said and it was the rawness of his response that tickled me. He said something similar to "Bull-Oney" only he didn't say "Oney" Yowzers. I have WAY too much free time today.

I think the judges have bought into a notion that in order to be sophisticated and intellectual about the activity that they have to squeeze their butt cheeks, walk a little more erect and nod their head in honor to the resplendent Blue Devils. Well...I'm gonna say it: THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES! I suppose I will be properly scorned for saying this by those who are clearly more deep in their understanding of the intricacies and nuances of this sublime art form that takes place outdoors on high school football fields in the middle of corn fields with mosquitoes snacking on people while they snack on kettle corn and soft-serve ice cream.

My teeth about fell out of my mouth when a row of fellow senior citizens behind me heard the scores last night in Rockford. When they announced the Blue Devils had won I heard this old feller spontaneously yell, "That's ########!" (I agree that this isn't a very original quote and on the surface is rather ordinary...but given the context, I thought it was quite profound). While his embarrassed wife was stickin' him in the ribs and shushin him, he kept saying, "Well! It is!" He wasn't going to budge one bit from his opinion. I thought I was about to die laughing. I am so upset at myself for forgetting my seat cushion. Bleachers wreak havoc on a boney butt! I'm still recovering from last night and could really use a massage. Finally, I am going WAY out on a limb and predicting that Phantom Regiment will win. They will come in third place at Prelims, second at semis and then win by a razor thin margin at finals. Why? Because their show is mesmerizing and beautiful. It generates a visceral response that is very similar to their epic 2008 show...but mostly because I want it to win and so I am closing my eyes and puttin' the vibe out there.

After the Troopers reorganized several years back there was a sense of optimism surrounding the corps. It was fairly common to see threads about them, but not so much anymore. There were arguments that they had retooled and this new approach would make them a perennial contender for finals. The optimism was at an all-time high but the results were short lived. I have grown increasingly disappointed with the Troopers as they have simply blended into the blah blur of the unidentifiable. I have always contended that they need to embrace their historical roots/identity and let the chips fall (ala Madison Scouts). Last year's show was at best "meh" (about the only positive thing anyone ever said was that the infinity chord was cool) and this year's show is shaping up to be one where I think some Open Class corps will be nipping at their heels. They have fallen to the bottom again. This is where I'm supposed to sound super intelligent and say that there are so many wonderful, sweeping musical scores that could capture the essence of americana but would still be competitive and reminiscent of the old west and that by altering the uniforms they can achieve better lines, and blah blah blah. Hogwash I say! Just give it up and wrap those iconic yellow scarves around your sunbaked necks and bring us some western tunes mixed in with some patriotic stuff that makes the hair on the back of our necks stand up. SO WHAT IF IT'S NOT SUPPOSEDLY COMPETITIVE! What have they got to lose? How's this new way workin' out? Maybe by embracing their DNA they will actually set themselves apart as America's Corps again. Sorry to say, but right now there just ain't much to be excited about. Come back to us Troopers. Signed Sincerely, Curmudgeon Smith

If it weren't for those pesky little mosquitos nibbling on my bits, I think I would do it. Perhaps DCP.com and OFF Deep Woods could get in a bidding war for which side of my torso they want to sponsor. Trust me...it would be money WELL spent...just ask Mr. Boo.

I learned years ago that the money's not in posters, but in calendars. It's been years since I was in a calendar, but I think I still have what it takes to grace a cover or two. Not sure if there's a market for a drum corps one, but one would only need attend to some rehearsals to get some quality shots.

Pardon me, but he looks really...umm...excited. I can't believe DCI hasn't used this as a promo poster.

It makes me wonder then what DCI means by "fame"?

Can we nominate ourself?

Found this in my collection and thought I would post it before I skip over it. Comments are welcome.

Oh my heaven's...I totally forgot about that incident during finals week back in '97. Perhaps it's because I was nippin' on my Vodka all during Semi's before that event, or maybe it's because I've suppressed that memory--either way, I can't believe you would bring that up on a public forum. There go my chances of running for President in 2016. I can just picture myself standing up there during the primaries and having Wolf Blitzer ask me about those allegations. It would make Newt's scandals look like kindergarten stuff. My memory of that is hazy, but I did receive a call the next day from the manager at Hooters offering me a job. He said something like, "For a gal your age you really know how to put on a show. We sold more beer and hot wings last night than ever before." Of course I hung up thinking it was some perv and then I felt this itching up under my blouse and when I went to scratch I pulled out a handful of 20's. I knew something had happened that probably shouldn't have. Anyhow...I promise I won't tell George you brought this up. G.S. P.S. Does anyone else think Newt is hot?

You know...what happens is that I exert so much energy come June through the end of the summer with drum corps that I spend the rest of the year watching reruns of "Three's Company" and "Cougar Town". Occasionally I poke my head into DCP to see if anything interesting is going on, but it's usually threads like: "Poll: Best All-time Fourth Place Show in a Dome" "I'm a Newbie: Here's Why I Hate Electronics" "Best Drum Color Ever" So...when I read those kind of topics I think to myself, "You know...I think a rerun of Alf sounds good about now."

Looks like the Troopers have a new look on their website, although it says it's still being worked on. Troopers Site

I must be a weirdo with bizarre tastes, because I LOVED their 09 show. It was underrated in my opinion, but I think coming on the heels of 08 it would have been hard to put much of anything on the field and been successful. Having watched their 09 show probably 25 times, it's the one I go back to over and over on that DVD set (save the Cadets!)