chasgroh

...IIRC, they *tried* clickers...really easy to zero folks out, lol...but of course you'd just use the results as a way to rank. I think that's distracting to the evaluator, especially in visual where all aspects of the ensemble are rated. I'm an olde tic guy, even ran a sheet or two...I think the subjective method is a whole lot fairer, simply from the fact that the adjudicator isn't dividing his attention between a sheet and the performers, and is able to stand back and truly evaluate what's in front of him. The rub in this system is in assignment of numbers where the tendency to *not* spread is rampant. Drawbacks in either method for sure, but I tend to lean towards the judge(s) being professional and expert in his/her caption...and, above all, *trying* to do the job correctly. All that said, I wouldn't want to be on this years slate...no way Jose, heh...

...you ain't wrong, dude!

...looking fwd to seeing them at DCA's...best they've been at this time (notice the *lack* of holes!)...nicely written SMART show...

Yup...I've always boiled it down to the one thing that pervasively impacts our community: Competition. Great staffing, however you manage it. If the other guys are killin' you in horns you hire (or persuade, eh?) the best instructor you can get, not to mention a quality writer. You see this phenomenon in all aspects of society, at least those that require somehow rating the participants (of course in our free market economy this is absolutely apparent...).

Good for you, man! Hey, I shoot photos up north at Stanford and Sac for the early shows, and most of the SoCal shows too...find the old guy with the BIG lens on the sidelines and gimme a yell I'd love to meet you! (haha...next year, of course!).

...yup! In my area it has become hip to be in the band! Guards are thriving...Drumlines are everywhere...drumcorps are improving and gaining members...I love watching the growth!

...well, seems like there's a surge in Open Class. Here in SoCal we lost one this winter (City Sound) but one came back to the field (Incognito)...so we have 5 Opens within spitting distance of each other and the potential for one more to come back. Gold is stronger this year with a bunch of kids and Golden Empire from Bakersfield is pretty studly, too. Things are looking up in SoCal...

...maybe I should have said "more artificial"...my point being a testament to KISS than anything else.

...you put the mics at the box (and you only need two), which is where the programs are pointing their product. Anywhere else is artificial and NOT what the designers intended. I've had this discussion with quite a few really good sound guys and crowd noise is a universal reason, and then all the sideline equipment gymnastics to lessen the impact of the pit? Well, I say "figure it out!" I can get a GREAT recording using my tiny H2, depending on where I place the device.

...you guys should do quite well, judging from the vid(s)! Significant improvements in just the pit and guard! One thought for your vid person; pan SLOWER! Hahaha...I got dizzy a few times! Can't wait to see you in person!

Damit Dorritie...now I have to see that flick! ...the obscure one...

The Hawks (Richmond CA) Cathay Commodore Perry Scouts The Senoritas ...these were mid-early sixties California powers. Hawks in particular knocked young me OUT...even when in the same show as the nation's best ('63 Cavies) they held their own. Cathay was big and powerful and very ethnic (go figger)...the Senoritas usually had us boy-corps tied up in knots from *both* ends of the spectrum, just smiling sweetly and kicking our butz...Commodore Perry was a SoCal group that won the state AL show in '62 and were strong for the next couple of years but stopped field operations after, I think, '65. Believe it or not, they are still in existence! They made the unbelievable decision to pursue Scouting (the Boy variety) and to this day have a parade corps and a thriving Troop (as an olde Eagle Scout who got swept up in the VK/Kingsmen/Anaheim Scout thing back then, I can't help thinking they made the correct choice for their constituency...who can argue?)...

...I thought Firebird was brilliant and it kicked my posterior. But then, I could be a bit biased...last season *was* a great show for sure...knew it right out of the gate!

Nice job, Frank! What I remember 'bout Clark is, while performing with the Tonight Show Orch., he once had the chance to trade licks with Al Hirt and Doc...well you gotta know *those* two were playin' notes like slot-machine jackpots...Clark just stood in the middle and when it was his turn, lo and behold, he played fine, artistic melodic ballad trumpet...my mom, who had a lot of music in her, was blown away by the contrast, and her and Clark just scooped me up!

...I don't think there was a minimum for stop time, but you could have too much! I think you *had* to have 8 (or 8.5?) minutes *in motion*...

...I've been shooting shows/band tournaments for years and at the same time becoming more and more familiar with my photographic avocation. Each and every image I take is my intellectual property, copyrighted by me, unless pre-contracted otherwise. Model releases are required when using images for commercial use, that is standard in the industry. However, public is public. You see people in newspaper photos every day and they aren't signing model releases. I also market my stuff through an outfit named Smugmug (under www.marchingpix.com), but these pics are a part of the service I provide. If you check the DCP Photo Archives you will find a huge amount of content shot by me that I've agreed *not* to market, reason being that other photo entities have contracted with both DCI and DCA and my "DCP" shots are legally and ethically not salable. It seems a bit convoluted, but in essence, in reference to Mr. Pickering's efforts, he's working in "public" and should be free to document his subject at will. Hopefully this clears the air a bit...

...that's a first class AAAA organization...I know many people involved and they bring much to the table. Not only drum corps, but the really important things, too! ;)

...is he gonna stick, you think?

...while your "history" seems OK, Mr. Brasso, you are mixing-up your arms and ammunition. The Miníe ball (named after Mr. Miníe himself) was used by US soldiers on both sides (to devastating effect) in the Civil War...revolutionary war fighters mostly used smooth-bore muskets, although there were rifles of the Kentucky variety. And, on another tack, I think Fife and Drum kicks ###! ;0)

...here's a link to some historical material... http://www.high-velocity-media.com/DCW/?page_id=367 Drum Corps World (AKA Steve Vickers) is a mine of information, if you can get your hands on "The History of Drum and Bugle Corps" (I think Mr.Vickers is re-publishing it...or has recently...or will...heh...) you will be way ahead...

...boy you hit a chord here, Brasso! That was an amazing bunch who's only weakness was M&M ex...as a Kingsmen '74 instructor, it was duck soup to go in there and show 'em (usually only once...) why they got beat the year before...incredible drum corps...

L'Insolite!

...aw, come on Jeff...a little pine tar and some cork...homers abound!

...you know, of *course* corps today are much, much, "better" than in the 70's, or any other decade. Duh. I love the fact that age produces *experienced* perspective. One of the huge reasons I'm like I am now is because of drumcorps...and both life and drumcorps, to me anyway, keep improving, morphing, and pushing on forcefully. I'm lucky, as most of us posting in this thread are, to have seen huge changes in our beloved activity...and *participated*in them! My 1950's were the best. Why? Because that's when I started learning at the knees of life-long drum corps people willing to give their time to a bunch of idiot Boy Scouts...even then I knew they (those men teaching us) were special. Now I'm one of them. My 60's were the best. Why? Because I went from being a Boy Scout to a drumcorps kid...starting a new corps, the Velvet Knights...in the process winning some and losing quite a few, listening to the stories about the East delivered by people who knew the history and wild-west nature of it all (I mean, Sac and Boston stories straight from the mouths of real Sac and Boston guys...whoa!). SEEING the Royal Aires. Man, *that* was the best. But wait! My 70's were the best! Now, after a brief respite getting shot at for a living, I'm teaching, back to the womb. Touring is now becoming an artform for us westerners ('cuz, really, ya gotta go where the action is, eh?) and our corps are becoming great, too, if not dominant. Wow. Great, huh? Of course, but my 80's were REALLY the best! Well, you get the picture...'cuz, in all honesty, I think the activity is "best" right now. Oh, and I'll say the same next month...or year...

...heh...yah, your bat's just a bit softer...