justaJ0e

I'm not sure the poll was worded clearly enough that I understand it's intentions. The essence of what makes a Drum Corps a "Corps" is everyone working as a unit to achieve one end. To ask "Which is more important, the music or the visuals" is like asking "Which is most important for a pizza, the crust or the sauce?" To which the answer is "Without both, you might have something tasty ... but it just isn't a pizza!" I wonder if the question was more about all of the "pageantry" that is going on during most Drum Corps shows now? In that case the question would be more along the lines of, "What is more important to make an award winning pizza, a really good pie (crust and sauce) or having tons of exotic toppings?" Mmmm. I gotta go get a snack now.

Gotta start by saying "GREAT JOB" to all the Corps!!!! I want to add my thoughts as to what set the Cavaliers apart but I have to add the disclaimer that all my comments are based on what I saw on the ESPN2 broadcast as well as seeing a quarter finals showing at a theatre (all produced by the same company). I was not fortunate enough to get to a live show. :( For me, what set the Cavaliers' show worlds apart from the others in the top 10 was that their show FEATURED the Corps. It seemed to be based on precision marching and playing and drill work all designed to show the CORPS as a single performing unit. With the other Corps I tended to get the impression that at best their was a dance recital or play going on in the middle of the Corps show or worse, that the horns and drumline had been relegated to the background and were really just there to provide back-up music for the little dance pageants that were being put on. I find it hard to believe that show design has actually come to this but that IS the impression that the 2 broadcasts I saw left me with. I specifically recall during Phantom's show (which was shown in it's complete length in the theatre), actually feeling bad for the Corps members because I KNOW that they all spent the same amount of hours marching in the heat and drilling over and over again all summer long to perfect their show yet, it seemed like 90% of what I was getting to see was just clasp shots of dancers "interpreting" the music. I guess the Cavaliers must have left that stuff out or maybe the producers had just gotten tired of showing that stuff because what I got to see with the Cavaliers was actual shots of a Drum Corps marching formations. Still a few too many "artsy" close-ups for my tastes but I at least think I got a good look at the show. All and all there is just no substitute for seeing it live and maybe that is why DCI continues to let this production company do this to the broadcast ... to get us to turn of the TV and go buy a ticket to the stadium! :) Excellent show Cavaliers and at the least excellent "sounding" shows by all the Corps! Don't know how you will top yourselves next year ... BUT I'M HOPING TO FIND OUT! :D

Just a reminder about participating in the survey! http://dci.org/news/news.cfm?news_id=013be...b9-f3d350ee3584 I think it ends this evening. The only way we will ever get to see a broadcast that features the Corps' show instead of the producers inturpetation of what HE thinks the show designers really meant is to give them feedback. I am seeing far too many posts from people who were very frustrated with the coverage but are afraid to speak up for FEAR that they won't get to see even that much. I think the "worst" that they can do to it had already been done once the show was removed from PBS and moved to ESPN2. Once that happened DCI (technically speaking) actually had a smaller possible audience since it is now limited to those who have a cable system that carries ESPN2 and are willing to/can afford to pay for that cable. Keep in mind that the company that produces the finals broadcast (Tom Blair Inc.) is the same company that has been producing it since 1987. SO nothing about the "quality" actually changed on the production end. In my opinion, now that DCI has crosssed into the world of PAY cable it will always be available whether it is ESPN2, or A&E or the comedy channel. In a world where we have a hundred cable channels looking for content to fill their airways and a ready made audience ... DCI is a sure bet. Anyway - just please go fill out the survey. Besides ... they're giving away DVDs!!!! :) http://dci.org/news/news.cfm?news_id=013be...b9-f3d350ee3584