chasgroh
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Posts posted by chasgroh
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11 hours ago, ironlips said:
Well, you do expose the greatest flaw in the tic system: it wasn't very accurate, particularly for field judges. You could be on the relatively clean soprano side whilst a train wreck was occurring amongst the baritones. It happened all the time.
YUP! Not to mention “tolerance”…just what *is* a tic, anyway? The CSJA (Central States Judging Assn) was the frontrunner in having clinics to address tolerance, but it never really got remedied. Positioning was, like Frank says, a huge problem, and at critique, battles would erupt on the topic regularly. One time when I was working under Bobby Hoffman on ‘74 Kingsmen staff, he had me and the other tech (Jim Messina…and it was just us two!) jot down positions of the two M&M judges using diagrams of sets. Well, at critique that nite, Hoff nailed one of the judges for being out of position…did it have an effect? Well, down the road, yes, the same guy was “nicer” to us, lol. I think what we have now is *much* better and fairer.
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7 minutes ago, DWW11 said:
Half of them are moving backwards, all looking straight ahead, and no one else has any drill that difficult.
…that ain’t Pyware, baby!
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‘Coats just took out Boston. The Effect kings are next…we’ll see, eh?
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Kevin, just say what you feel! LOL…
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Without shows DCI is hurting. Tough going ahead, folks.
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17 minutes ago, Sideways said:
Sound only travels at different speeds through different mediums (eg. water vs. air). In the example above the sounds travel at the exact same speeds but the arrival times vary as the distances are different and the reference points are changing (to make point).
...amen...and that's why some situations, instrumentally, are such a beeeeach to line up, speed-of-sound wise!
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1 minute ago, jeffmolnar said:
Judging from the side is silly though, because you can't see those forms from the box. Drum corps (and marching bands) perform shows for an audience in the stands. How things look from the stands is all that matters. People make fun of "BD diags," yet BD still wins vis trophies all the #### time. The fact is, it doesn't matter what the drill looks like from the side.
The other fact is, the on-field vis judge is usually standing at the front of the form anyway.
...my point is standards. What do you mean "silly?" You can't see a company front from the box? It's just a *factor* dude...you're not standing there all the time, but you at least have the opportunity to adjudicate and get that micro view you *can't* get from the box. Everything changes, I understand that...what will come will come...
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9 hours ago, BigW said:
As I said... I think they've been lucky the "Big One" hasn't happened yet and they know it. Ever been out there in the trenches? A lack of situational awareness for 2 seconds can get someone hit- or create a situation where the audience pays more attention to that than the performance. The other issue becomes, how much is one trying to survive out there and not get run over rather than actually observing, listening, and evaluating. It's been part of the game for decades. Do things to force the adjudicator out of the area then complain they're not deep enough to suit you.
Better training isn't going to help. The DCI people have extensive experience, they know how to get out of the way and how to move as best they can. The kids know to alter or yell if they sense a collision or get out the stiff arm (My HS kids were trained in the stiff arm just in case...). It just may not be enough anymore.
Tony...there's alot of heat directed at the visual people here, writers in particular, and alot of percussion people upset. Well, as a visual dude, I'm upset. If you're judging "the drill" (ensemble is a big part of your itinerary, or should be) how can you get a read on the front to back ("Y" axis) when you're stuck on the front sideline? It's really not much different than the majority of venues, judging from the box, during any given season, lots of high school fields. I learned, not too long ago lol, from a gent named Jim Costello, to look at my drill from the side...because that, folks, is where the bodies are buried. You can tell SO much how an ensemble is trained (and succeeding) from the side. What they (DCI) are implementing is only marginally different than judging from the box...which puts them with, like, a peer judging outfit here in SoCal. I hate it. We have one band circuit out here, Shirlee Whitcomb's WBA, that has two judges down and roaming, a visual proficiency judge and an individual music guy (oddly, they place the drum judge in the box). You have people like Robert Soloman doing the visual caption and staying WAY out of the drill, but able to get that crucial front to back read (easy example: is that big company front really straight?). My point is standards, because when you can't evaluate because you can't SEE, they will degrade and disappear from the sheet. I'm still in it teaching and judging and have progressed with the activity over a half century, and I can't help but think that essential parts of what we have built are going the way of the Dodo. So, call me olde and ancient, but don't drag my standards down...because you can't...but you *can* (D@mmit) legislate them out!
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7 minutes ago, wvu80 said:
Are they all working? Five days ago in Massilon one rifle was out and that drew all attention to the one with non-working lights.
...thing is, the LED's are being defeated by the ambient stadium lighting. MUCH more effective outside at night...
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...where is Christianson? Looks like he's staying off the field...
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2 hours ago, DCIdad said:
DCI 2019: Unplugged. I like it.
Watching all of the shows in San Antonio, there were lots of offenders, but Blue Devils were the most aggregious. We were down very low right in front of their main speaker on the right. They, of course, had numerous brass soloists. They were probably all very talented, but a mic'd horn projecting to a speaker which is also mic'd sounds very synthetic. Ruined their show for me.
...well, unfortunately you were sitting in the worst place to listen to *any* modern show; in front of a main speaker array. Since *way* back, shows have been designed with the box in mind. The sound is directed/pointed there...speakers, horns, everything they can get that makes sounds (although field percussion isn't miked much, lol). That's why getting a seat high, on the 50, is so desirable! I take photos on field level, and yak up furrballs when passing in front of speakers on occasion...haha, *especially* BD! So, next time keep in mind the thrust of what's on the field, move a mountain or two, and get a seat where you can enjoy the end result. Oh, wait a minute, the TV and movie venues do that nicely!
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17 hours ago, HockeyDad said:
You have the known knowns; you have the known unknowns; and you have the unknown unknowns. So apparently we're in that third category.
...and THEN you have the lawyers. Oh, boy...
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Mr. Jorden, there is no way you are "over the hill"...you are just on the other side. ;0)
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On 7/22/2017 at 4:14 PM, BigW said:
On a parallel, the BBC reality series "A Band for Britain" describes the plight of the British Brass Band moment. If anything, their collapse might be worse than that of Drum Corps- especially since they really have no school bands.
"Thirty years ago (that's around 1984) there were over twenty thousand brass bands playing across Britain, today, less then five hundred survive, many of which are facing closure." That's a 97.5 percent+ mortality rate. And this has happened well after the big collapse of Drum Corps which took place around 1968-1971.
For those unaware, they are extremely competitive, ridiculously good at the top level, and have rather fascinating and restricted rules in place- incidentally designed to keep people like John and myself out of it unless we're conductors. (there were a lot of ringers in these bands in their heyday. Someone like myself might even have a 'desk job' at a factory sponsored band, and quietly told to just show up ready for practice...) No one with a music degree is allowed to perform-only conduct. In the US and Canada the restriction is relaxed in that the performer can't derive over half their income as a performing musician. I asked why at a North American Brass Band Championship back around 1985 and I was told with a shrug "We'd have not enough individuals capable of playing the literature in our bands in the US to fill the seats. Most of the band members happen to have degrees." They only have 33 bands across the US and Canada in six classes. Less than DCA and DCI combined by my guess. So, keeping out "Those guys" has been a great deal in keeping the Brass Band activity alive and vibrant in the UK, hmm? Even though the model is much like the way Drum Corps was in the mid-50's. Even though the British Brass Band is about the most quintessentially British thing there is in existence.
I appreciate John's comments here- It's why I get out and talk to the kids, staffs, and help out with the T-Birds. I feel that wringing my hands at where things are going isn't ginger to help. Taking some kind of positive action will help keep what there is in the activity vibrant. And I will not be a hypocrite. I get out there as best I can.
...that's why you're the bada$$ you are Tony! Missed seeing you this year, brother...keep up the good work, I'm doing my part as well!
cg
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9 minutes ago, Kamarag said:
It felt like everyone had great runs tonight. I know we did, and our friends from atlanta sure did. Tomorrow should be loads of fun for everyone.
Its really crazy to think about how far the quality has come in DCA since the paradigm shift in 2005. This may be the best year yet.
...yup!
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Yea Flomarching!...boy, that was fun! Haven't been able to actually "see" prelims 'cuz of being on the sidelines behind a camera for the last 10 years, so today was a treat! In the end, I had Cabs and C2 flipped and Sabers and Kidsgrove flipped...but *everybody* got better than last year! Great stuff, especially knowing how it *is* there!
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...no sign of Kevin Gamin! ?
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On 8/27/2017 at 7:43 PM, Fran Haring said:
So... this puts CV in as the No. 2 seed?
This is a great corps, no doubt about it.
I've enjoyed CV for *years* and kinda got the feeling the last few that things were moving up for that wonderful drumcorps...looking forward to seeing them and the rest this weekend, for the first time in 15 years not there in person but at least I'll get to see the shows like a regular human...well, at least the couch potato variety! Have fun all, and don't miss Freelancers 'cuz they mean Buziness!
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Madison. Bada$$ with total buy-in.
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...Kelley Ho...Mandarins...wow.
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FWIW after seeing Erie and Cincy down and dirty from the sidelines for prelims, and then from the *skewed* box (meaning on the 30...high...terrible angle,at least if you're not 360 degrees clean...heh) I thought Erie was the more complete drum corps and, through my rose colored underdog glasses, wanted them to jump Cincy. Taking nothing away from Tradition, of course, cuz they were excellent...but Erie had some pizzzzzazzzzz...
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Cadets Too...sheesh, there sure are some good drumcorps out here tonight!...hahaha...good as they are, however, I'm thinkin' Reading
takes it.
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Reading...knockout stuff...guard on fire...horns and drums equally...minor glitches visually...whew...
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Minnesota rocked my world yesterday...phenomenal skill sets...horns and drums, man, these guys PLAY! Always like their quirky design (boy, go figger *that*) this show is *so* solid...rocked me more *today!*
2023 Drum Corps Season – DCP/DCW COVERAGE – 2023 DCA World Championships Finals – Rochester, NY (DCA)
in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions
Posted
Nice job, Kevin! Here I am with no Flo, so just tuned in to your thread and relived all my time(s) at DCA's! Good to know Rochester will still be on the menu.