Orpheus

If that was the problem, then, why not leave the artistic people (who led them back into finals after a few really disappointing years) in place and simply hire a knowledgeable business manager? Instead of firing everyone so that you come out in '07 scoring behind the Colts and Blue Stars?

OOC, could you point to some specific instances where you think that's what happened?

And there were more corps in the 60s and 70s than there were in 1990, but a lot of people will argue that DCI corps were at their most entertaining in the mid- to late 80s thru the very early 90s. I just don't think the argument that the number of corps is in any way related to entertainment value holds any water. I mean, VK, the Bridgemen, and 2-7 (for instance) sure didn't fold because they lacked crowd appeal. Can anyone actually point to an instance where that was a factor in a corps going inactive ... ?

I definitely agree with that statement. I've been saying the same for the past few years now. There was a point in the mid- to late '90s when I nearly abandoned the activity. (I think the '99 Blue Devils saved it for me.) And then by last year, there was only really one corps in the top twelve that I wasn't totally pleased with. The overall entertainment value has absolutely been on an upswing lately.

Well ... two points, really. Nobody's saying that the Cadets aren't a good corps, or that there's anything wrong with the music and visual scores they've been getting. Also, you do know that you can't really compare scores from different contests when the corps have yet to go head-to-head, right? Saying someone is in "first place" at this point doesn't mean anything at all. True enough, I suppose. Such as the way Crossmen used "spoken word" last summer, or the 'Coats this year. But in the case of the '07 Cadets, I think, we are being treated like simpletons and being beaten over the head with the theme.

When all you can do is accuse the other person of having a closed mind, you've already lost the argument. He wasn't talking specifically about the Cadets, for one thing, he was talking about narration in general ... so his point applies equally to the Cadets and to anyone else. And his opinion seems completely valid to me.

Superb. Way to go Academy! ^OO^ Kind of reminds me of the old Spirit/Crossmen story. Hopefully, this will lead to a relationship as meaningful as theirs.

1. Vanguard 2. Cavaliers 3. Bluecoats

That has nothing to do with it. Put simply, "General Effect" doesn't mean "crowd appeal." I haven't looked at the sheets in a couple of years, but from what I remember, the criteria are pretty well spelled out, and how Bill in section 105, row G feels about narration isn't one of them.

That much is for sure, at any rate. :)

I don't see why it has to have been added after the fact in order to be a crutch. Just because it was part of the idea from the beginning doesn't make it less of a crutch, if you ask me. If you can't get the idea across with music and movement ...

DCI usually doesn't enforce timing penalties until a little later in the season.

Funny! And too true, unfortunately. 1. The three high school guys sitting in front of me and my friends at the show thought it was just as dumb as we did. 2. Does being 33 make me an "elder"? 3. And I was once a kid who "didn't really fit in" and "turned to music," etc., too. You're not gonna hear me whine about it, though. oh, and one more: 4. Sometimes with art, it doesn't matter what's in the designers' minds, but rather how the audience reacts. People in the stands - old and young alike - were laughing at the Cadets, and that's just sad.

Thank you. B)

Don't look at me. I'm not the one who designed the silly thing. Hey, know what? Maybe the show's only supposed to appeal to other emo band geeks. The rest of us aren't in the target demographic.

I almost expected him to add, "... and that's when I started cutting myself."

Very nice review. Thank you! :D

Amen!

Me neither. I was distracted because they were standing there telling me what the show was about instead of using things like, oh ... music, marching, and guard work to show me what it was about! You noticed that, didja?

I still like "Confessions of an emo band geek" ... and that's the last time I'll bring it up.

Tell Jack to shut up and march.

Well, I disagree. - - That's exactly what it is.

Saw it live at the stadium in Annapolis and I loved it! And no, it's not a typical Cavies repertoire, but I think it definitely is a "Cavaliers-type" show. If you liked "007," there's no reason you shouldn't like this show, too. It's potentially championship material, IMO.

What if you "got it," but still thought it was lame? Here's my idea: show me the theme of the show (via music and visuals) ... if you have to hit me over the head and tell me the theme, it's not working. We shouldn't need a friggin' Greek chorus to interpret a drum corps show for us. It's like if you went to a ballet and somebody stopped the action once every few minutes to walk out on stage and explain what's going on. If that's necessary, then it's not working and something needs fixed.

My opinion put simply: amplified vocals can (once in a rare while) actually enhance a show when used simply as an effect, but when the vocals become the primary focus of the show, it ruins it for me. Cadets show seemed to be primarily about the voice-overs and only secondarily about the marching and music. As I said in my show review, one of my pals dubbed Cadets '07 "Confessions of an emo band geek." "In high school, I didn't fit in ..." etc. <yawn>