silvertrombone

You know which uniform I'm talking about. It doesn't matter if it was green, blue, maroon, white or another color. It doesn't matter if it was Boy Scout-ish in origin, military-inspired or of other inspiration. Which uniform was "THAT" uniform for you? And what was it like if you had the honor and privilege of marching out of the tunnel to the roar of the crowd who loved you? I have to go back to a little bit before I even knew that drum corps existed to provide the proper background of why my experience was so magical. Feel free to do the same for yours. My freshman year in high school we wore those old hideous "cue-tip" hats in marching band. It was the last year of our old uniforms and we were to get fitted for new ones second semester. This was 1988-89 at about the time when bands began using tuxedo uni's in concert season. We did not. We had uniforms that had capes and cords for marching season, remove them for concert season, but same uniform for concerts. Thankfully, we never wore the "cut-tip" uni's during concert season since we debuted our new red, white and blue uni's for concert season--that was cool! And the show my sophomore season was patriotic in nature, which REALLY went over well with our new uni's! But, GAWD, those "cue-tips"!! Talk about "BAND-O"!! I was really into marching band. Thank goodness I had not discovered DCI yet otherwise I would have been a complete malcontent for four years. We weren't terribly spectacular, especially when you consider the standard in Texas bands these days. We didn't have a band director who was a jerk or who wanted to win, win, win. We had fun, we played good music, he had good junior high's and JH directors who stuck around for many, many years. And we had a good private lesson program. But Richland, Duncanville or Berkner we were not. So when I finally discovered DCI I was absolutely HOOKED! And "THAT" uniform played a HUGE part of that experience and that reaction. As if inspired by God Himself, Finals were in Dallas in August 1991, just as my senior year of marching band was beginning. Now, you have to understand, we didn't perform classical music in high school marching band. At least my junior year I had a decent solo and won outstanding soloist on trombone at one marching competition. We literally did MICKEY MOUSE my senior year. Yes, I remain bitter about that to this day! I mean, unleash us and let us do some Beattles, for crying out loud. Mickey Mouse? Epic fail. We deserved that second rating we got for the first time in, like, 10 years just for that program. Done. Absolutely DONE from the second my best friend said we were doing "Mickey Mouse." His exact words. Enter the Phantom Regiment. Our HS CG instructor was an alum of PR 88 and 90 (talk about picking a rotten year to skip!), so we knew about the public rehearsal at Plano's Clark Field after PR's quarterfinals performance. Several friends of mine and I decided to attend, and even the threat of rain could not deter all of us invincible young-un's! Off to Plano we trekked! Of course, PR only put on one of the greatest shows EVER as far as getting the fans off of their butts and eliciting the love. That was nice. And while the uni's were just DIVINE... ...THEY WERE REHEARSING IN THE FRIGGIN' RAIN, MAN!! Here we are huddled under umbrellas in the stands with the admonition to keep quiet during rehearsal. And the corps is rehearsing in their tanned, toned, "It's August, this is drum corps and we don't even ACKNOWLEDGE that it is raining" gloriousness! I wanted to jump out on the field right there and join in. Talk about wow. Now, the corps didn't have on their full uni's, obviously, nor did they have on the "chickens." But I was in love. Those helmets were simply the coolest thing I had ever seen. Done. Changed my life forever. I would have offered my left arm to march in "THAT" corps. Then, along came Finals. Side note: I thought I was cool b/c we got seats down low near the field. 20-yard line-ish, 10 rows up. Cool to be able to yell for our buddy, George, in the SkyRyders' pit, but not terribly good to get the full effect of the shows. Well, Sky led off, and I knew several members of that corps being that I started my drum corps journey there just 3 months later at auditions. I saw a whole bunch of other corps whose names and histories meant nothing to this then-"Band-O's" "Band-O." Pretty similar uniforms, too. Shako's. Colors. So forth. Blue Devils came and went, perhaps the greatest drum corps in history. It took me many years to shake the bias that their 5th place finish that year created in my mind. I simply had no appreciation for what that corps entailed simply because of their recaps. Dunce that I was. SCV put on one of the great shows in DCI history, quite frankly, in Miss Saigon. VERY creative production. Did not get the respect it deserved in the recaps b/c it was kind of slow to evolve. Complex material. I had no conceptualization of the austerity and class entailed in those uni's, either. Class of the activity in so many ways. Then..."THEY" marched onto the field in "THAT" uniform. And they didn't even have on their customary BLACK trim--it was SILVER! And ALL-WHITE unis--how cool was that?!? Talk about painting a picture on a blank canvas, that was the coolest thing I have ever seen to this day! "THAT" uniform had an amazing contrasting compilation of facets. Quoting Michael Cesario later, that corps embodied "POWER and PASSION." The helmets alone accomplished this...the POWER of the militaristic helmet...the PASSION of the plume...aka...the CHICKENS!! Again, how cool? It was not until I first put one of those on that I realized...holy smokes, there's no chin strap! How do you keep from it falling off?!? Answer: Very, very carefully. The end of that show remains one of the most spectacular single moments in DCI history. Pretty much the entire Bachanale. An ORGY on a football field?!? As a 17-year old at the time, I was positively RUINED for life! All that work my parents had put in...right out the door! And I LUSTED to put on "THAT" uniform and march in "THAT" corps! Now, I have said often that my experience IN Phantom Regiment was not even as good as my year in SkyRyders. Simply put, this activity does not favor a good experience for rookies, and Phantom Regiment, in my experience, makes a particularly strident effort at making their rookies...even those of us who were not rookies to DCI..."welcome" in their own special way. I still am not allowed to speak of certain "activities" that occur during one's rookie year. My friendships from SkyRyders far outnumber those from Rockford to this day. And given the opportunity to hang with any particular PR vet or any particular Sky vet, I will take my fellow SkyRyders any day of the week...and twice on Sunday. Better experience overall. But my HEART was pierced the night of that rehearsal in Plano, Texas and I have bled Phantom Re(d)giment ever since. "THAT" uniform is forever intertwined with my spirit to the day I die. Heck...I may just have to have "THAT" helmet...complete with chicken!...atop my casket. On a side note, I have been quite critical at times of various aspects of "THAT" corps' operational decision-making, etc. As the saying goes, "We criticize the ones we love." It is because we love "THEM" and because we want the best for "THEM" always. I hope this tale gives a little bit of background into why I do not remain silent at times other Phans would like for me to do so. It is also beause of my experiences in this activity from 1991 to 1994 that I joined the Board of OYAA/Forte. The effect of that rehearsal in the rain continues to be felt in a positive way. I hope that you will all share with us the stories of "THAT" uniform on your corps experience. And if you have not yet taken "THAT" next step, whatever it may look like for you, may I exhort you to do so? Our beloved activity needs you, your passionate involvement and your service. We who so benefited from it so many years ago have much to pass on to others who still have no idea drum corps exists. I look forward to hearing "THAT" story from you, too.

Drum Majors are for marching bands. Conductors direct classical music, hence the designation. (!) <retreats to bomb-proof shelter, dons flame-proof suit>

There's some truth to this statement. I took a nice, long break from DCI 98-03. Made a couple of observations upon my return: 1.) Take care of the off-field stuff first and the on-field stuff will follow. 2.) When in doubt, refer to rule #1. Not to MAKE it a thread about BD, but BD's record speaks for itself. Off-field, staff, on-field, championships, etc. You are spot-on.

Meh. Tried writing directly. They are strangely unresponsive. Decided to start my own drum corps. Don't answer to anybody any more. (hopefully Chris won't see that comment! ) If you're hypothesizing about staff moving between corps in Northern IL...don't hold your breath.

So...in other words...somewhere between Jackson and Dallas, eh? I thought this thread was about Finals attendance, Stu. That was a killer argument for regional touring, though.

Wow. Betcha Texas looks pretty good right now, eh, Rockford? Well, at least he didn't move to BD. End of the day, all that changes is that SCV and PR flip flop. All good things...

Blueberries. Or Pecans. Or both. Droughts. And waffles. And drum corps.

The man makes good sense! And don't forget that had SCVC travelled to Indy this year the West Coast would have swept all medalist spots.

Following their 2005 DCI Championship, The Cadets have experienced something of a drought with 2011 the earliest they can possibly end it, equaling a 6-year span. 2007 was, as I and others have maintained, STILL one of the finest units ever fielded in drum corps history. And I maintain that it took 2007 BD to snag the Championship from 2007 Cadets. A little less energetic performance by BD and this thread doesn't exist. 2009 and 2010 have certainly been well-received, entertaining shows (LOVE 2010!). But my question is...what is the previous longest span between Championships for The Cadets from 1983 to 2005? I'm guessing 2000 to 2005, but maybe I've got my years wrong? Thanks for clarifying. And lastly, BD had sort of a rough go of things while Star of Indiana was around. While BD won in 1986, Star's first competitive year (IIRC), BD was shut out in the Gold Medals department (before they even used the term in DCI!) until Star left DCI effective for the 1994 season, also a Blue Devils' undefeated season. I would say that The Cadets' current drought compares to BD's from 86 to 94, and to be fair, I suppose that you'd have to include Phantom Regiment's span between their first (96) and second Championships (08). Madison's gap between 75 and 88, while longer than any of these, doesn't rank as highly in my book because Madtown always had the reputation of playing to the crowd and not giving a rip what the recaps said. Now, if/when DVD and Mason deliver another Championship, 20+ years will certainly rate right up there, especially given the entertainment quality of so many of those 20+ shows!

Some great points/comments. And I agree with recent posters...the new/additional questions are good and deserve attention as well. Keep it up. @Boo...DCP IS a forum for discussion. This just brings a few major points front and center in one place as others suggested. I am just the messenger. If your focus is a Championship every third year, then there probably isn't any grant money for that. USSBA, BINGO and the generosity of your host city are your best friend. If you don't mind recruiting 20 inner-city black / Latino members then the money is there. Again...rings? Or community service? While I suppose the two don't HAVE to be mutually exclusive, we haven't seen them wed together in DCI in a generation. Right on. On both points. Before I became involved in drum corps. Someone else confirmed that in their reply. Bitter, table of one?

A couple of people in another thread had some good ideas about DCI and holding a Round Table on DCP. Seemed like a good idea, so here goes. (editing both posters' replies) And from one other, another very interesting topic to consider. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on California. For now, I'll concentrate on the seven issues listed by 'cage' above. 1. What do you think about the music being played? Its a heckuva lot better than it was from 2004 to 2007! I came away from 2006 having heard about three corps' repertoire previously. And not much of those at that! Contrast that with the last two years' music and it is certainly much improved. Equally much more room for improvement going forward. 2. What do you about visuals? I think props, if that is what 'cage' meant by visuals, need to be rewarded less if not excluded from the scoring entirely. Big budget productions are rewarded with props, electronics...heck even the expanded front ensemble of today!...at the expense (figuratively, since we can't keep up literally!) of "lower" or "smaller" corps. Having my name literally on the record for a corps now, I kind of resent judges literally looking at our outfit in terms as simple as "How many marimbas / xylophones do they have?" Forte & Genesis just placed in OC Finals as first-year corps. Make the field more level as far as who gets credit for how many trucks full of stuff they put on the field. Let's talk about show design. Let's talk about music (#1 above), etc. It IS a visual activity. But I simply don't listen to a VIDEO of DCI while on the freeway. Important point. 3. How can we grow the activity? If you want GROWTH, then you want GROWTH. If you want DYNASTY, then YOU'VE GOT IT!! Any questions? The only way to truly grow the activity is to: 1.) Observe the HISTORY of DCI and recognize that certain trends have resulted for a reason. If you want to grow the activity (and this is a BIG turnabout from me from year's past!) it has got to happen more locally, which means REGIONALIZATION. Period. Call it DCMidwest, call it DCEast, call it DCSouth and DCWest, for example. Charge each region's corps with growing THEIR BASE and I'll betcha the rest will take care of itself. Nice situation we have now with Crown and Crossmen (not to mention Teal, Revo, Genesis, Forte and Music City) in the South. For the first time, really, ever we have a pretty decent representation everywhere...except maybe Canada. Shoot, with Genesis, Crossmen and Revo we have a pretty decent presence in SAN ANTONIO and the RIO GRAND VALLEY--how long before we have a better presence in the "Texas" valley than the "California" valley? Open Class is the way to grow the activity. And yes, some things need to change at the World Class level. Big time. 4. What is the purpose of drum corps? Used to be keeping the neighborhood kids off the street and out of trouble. To a degree it could still serve that purpose in limited instances, but that is not the purpose of the entire activity any longer. I didn't march to stay out of trouble, and that was 16-18 years ago. I marched to be in a world-class (note caps) marching organization. And I doubt that most fans in the stands are there to see the local neighborhood kids, though there are plenty of family members at any particular show. See below for "neighborhood" aspects in the 21st Century. 5. What do you think about electronics? Electronics have their place. Shoot, even in drum corps. Again, they should not be the focus. And they certainly shouldn't (IMHO) be rewarded in the captions or a corps deducted for their absence. I have yet to see a GREAT use of electronics in a drum corps show. Some good ones, but not that "89 SCV"-type show that makes me say, "Yeah, THAT'S what I've been talking about!" Give me that. And yeah, Broadway seems the pretty ideal vehicle to me to relay that. Could be HUGE for the activity if we effectively make that transition. We have not yet. And I'm not sure I want to. Convince me. 6. Should we / how can we make drum corps more inclusive to minorities and impoverished? ABSOLUTELY!! This is a GREAT area of potential growth for drum corps, start-up's, DCI, et al. Grant money galore abounds for the groups that "adopt" a metro area's disadvantaged youth and open up drum corps to them. Where is the grant money? Somebody who knows point me in its direction. How do we apply for it? Who do we call? How many youth do we need to recruit? I could probably trek down to Oak Cliff and recruit that number times 10 this Monday and that's just here in Dallas! Further, if DCI used to be "non-musicians," I wouldn't even start in the band halls--I'd go to County juvenile and ask for their 150 worst who needed a good "public service" opportunity in order to commute some juvenile crime to probation and eventually have it removed from their record. Any thoughts? 7. How do you feel about the "G7" proposal? Trash. Period. I'll refrain from commenting further for now. Any further issues anyone would like to include? Speak now--you never know who's reading this thread!

Without participating in the poll... I miss Star. I hope they return. The more the merrier. But I'm assuming (having just gone through that process) that if they did, they would be coming back in Open Class. I'm also assuming that the alum would be directing it. I don't know that Mason is welcome at this point...many are kind of bitter toward his ever taking the corps inactive in the first place. OC would certainly be better off with Star's presence...I would vote to approve them...except that I don't personally have any such vote. Just sayin'. Oh, and assuming they assemble a capable management team, which I expect they would. Interesting conjecture on the part of OP. Hope it happens. But I'm sure part of their thought process would be, "Will it be a high-quality venture like it was first time around? Or will it be less than that?" I'm sure the fact that Star never placed out of Finals crosses minds any time that conversation is had. To launch in World Class today would probably REQUIRE Bill Cook's participation...and reading his take on the matter of launching a drum corps, I doubt he would want to do that again. But I don't know the dude...maybe...

Thanks, Scerpella--that's one of the most intelligent post I've seen on DCP! Well, I am one of the grammar police. Though I like ending my sentences in 'at.' It's a Texas thing. You can correct my use of It's versus Its...can't ever get that one right either. So while not perfect, grammatically, I pay attention to some things. As others stated, "Ms." is appropriate and actually quite professional and respectful. Nothing galls me more than people calling the President "Mr. Bush" or simply "Obama." Whichever Party you tend toward, he is the POTUS--show some respect. Though I may be quite critical of Ms. Czapinski, there is no reason to be disrespectful in how I refer to her. I like to think it lends credibility to my argument, but that may be a biased fantasy. Oh, well. (that whole reply probably sounded more terse than it was intended, so... have one of those! ;-) I got a great laugh out of your signature! Don't agree with a word therein, but it's a funny as heck. We have to be able to laugh at others only a little bit less than we laugh at ourselves or we're all in a big, steamin' heap!

That is TOO funny! Too bad guys like him had such a negative opinion of anything non-BD/SCV/Cavies/PR. I picked up on that trashy attitude back then a little, but it was really driven home by the vets at PR. When I left the activity around 1998 it was kind of like, "Good riddance!" More with the attitudes and the biases than with the performances. Shut up and perform, you know? Just...don't SAY anything to me and I'll be alright. I hope he changed his attitude/mind. He and others like him owe a bunch of people a hug, an apology and a great big kiss on the butt. Ugh. I hope that everybody, whenever you have the chance, takes the opportunity to talk to the "great un(brain)washed masses" about the benefits of drum corps. Tell people what you got out of it good. Shoot, I even like to highlight corps other than the ones that I marched. Especially since one of those isn't even around any more! Make disciples. Not more sore attitudes. It took me 13 years to shed mine, and I'm sure some of you would contend that is still a work in progress with no hope for a successful conclusion.

Last sentence: "#### the discontent, full speed ahead!" After writing an entire article of discontent. Well, 1992 remains perhaps my most favorite year of drum corps to-date. I was in the 15th-place corps and still root for the 14th and 13th place corps because they survived my beloved SkyRyders. 10th-place VK achieved perhaps their quintessential product ever. Phantom played the 1812. SCV's Fiddler. Crossmen with that masterful 'earth' show--classic, and perhaps my favorite of all time! Scouts improved on their 91 City of Angels with their 92 version. Star's patriotic show, unfortunately, faded finals week, placing 1-2-3. Still awesome. Cadets tamed the perilous skies. And Cavaliers won for the first time. But I could do without all the anti-Star sentiment. Ironic the choice of perrenial (crowd) favorite SCV this year, huh? Not much complaint about repertoire. Especially about those "California champions of the past," unless you talk about mirrors. I hate the fact that the activity's collective attitude toward Star tainted my view of what the corps came to embody. It took a nice 6-year break from DCI for me to shed some of my early biases instilled in me by people like the author. Star of Indiana, as it turns out, was the best thing to ever happen to the activity and most people still put them down as being "corporate." Entirely inaccurate, but I've come to expect that from most in the activity. The older the more highly correlated that fact is with them. So the activity changed. Good! Not all things 1970's were great. And I said just yesterday, I would rather have EIGHT Bluecoats and Carolina Crowns (referring to their placements last year and this!) than back-to-back undefeated BD. Recruit from the Bay area and see how great you are. I'll take the talent of my neighborhood and spank your neighborhood every...single...year. And we're not about to get rid of bingo, so start looking for a Concord, Texas and change your zip code cause those "California champions of years past" are about as Texas as I am these days. I've been saying for about 5 years the "top 6" (now the "G7") need to just move to Texas. Cheaper, better economy, more marching band members, less travel expense, better facilities, better members. How's Cali's economy lately? How many members in Phantom Regiment from Rockford this decade? Illinois?? The activity changed. It was right in the middle of changing in 1991 when I came into the activity. This is an interesting article to find, because I was headed out to audition camp about the same time it was being published. Everything I was being told was from people with exactly the same attitude, and just about all of it I subsequently tossed in the garbage during my "break." Ironic, is it not, that the Star of Indiana alumni corps just performed in Indy? Welcome back, Star--I missed you! Star is now the "model" of DCI--both on the field (see my questions about what the heck is considered GE?) as well as off the field, business-side stuff. And don't even get me started on the whole "Great 8" (now that Blue Stars have qualified for the "G7"). That whole lot of Star wannabe's would still be playing Malaguena and Channel One Suite if it hadn't been for the Bloomington bunch. Do I prefer electronics? No. Only because I haven't yet heard a good version of a show using them. Some have been close, but none have put on two good renditions, IMHO. Bye-bye, G bugles? Oh, well! That was the best thing to ever happen to DCI. Not "IMHO"--fact! Uniforms and instruments--the best way to start reaching into the corporate realm. Start with music-related stuff...go for Hard Rock Cafe next! Oh, look at that--they DID!! #### the discontent, all right. Interesting perspective reading that 20 years later. Wow--through a looking glass darkly, indeed!

I have Dutch relatives and always root for the Orange after the RW&B is eliminated! Quite a run--tough finish.

Ironically, Forte's strength this year was colorguard. I'm questioning a judge's well-known record of adjudicating another corps of which I am an alum. I get your point. Noted. Thank you.

Replying to myself? Oh, my. Wanted to highlight your point. Yours as well. These comments get at the jist of my problem with the GE caption more than any other thread I have asked about it in. Thanks, guys. This is a real issue, then. These comments tell me that we should no longer by 'marching,' but 'moving' utilizing either...some would call it 'dance'...others 'choreographed movement.' Whatever. But if GE Visual is soooo dominated by colorguard, which seems to make sense according to the comments above, then 'marching and mechanics' shouldn't really enter into the equation, either. In that regard, uniforms seem strangely inappropriate to the GE Visual caption and should be replaced with 'costumes.' Whoever does that first and abandons traditional, military-style uniforms (shakos? come on!) for truly artistic and production-appropriate costumes wins BIG bonus points! Thank you for your further comments, all. NOW we're getting somewhere. Either on this topic of WHAT GE is...or how it is judged and what its TRUE criteria are...or the affect this sort of "judicial review" (pardon my snarky/sardonic/humorous/punny shot) has on design. Lots of good stuff to discuss further. I must ponder this further. Thank you. Marie still has to go. I'm assuming that you're joking. Gigging me. Ha-ha. I won't go for the flamethrower. But only because you said 'Seriously,' which would mean...you were only kidding. I would hate to think that you would be dismissing my argument based on your assumption of my age. I have a higher opinion of you than that, drummer. There's a smiley just so you know that I love you!

Well, I'm not old and gray. I've just never had an inclination (or until recently, google) to look up such information. Does DCI have this sort of information on its judges backgrounds on the web site anywhere? Might be helpful/informative/interesting. I'll be the first to admit that I don't have a leg to stand on as far as criticizing a guard expert. But simple fact, this is not WGI. Different beasts entirely. If the CG has morphed into a true WGI unit surrounded by a drum corps, that explains a lot. Interesting information to learn. And yes, CG is part of the whole. But to ignore trend and history and numbers...and then call ME a homer? Come on. How many years would you like me to find proof from? Perhaps the appropriate question is...how many DECADES?!? That's a problem. Interesting revelations. Especially Ms. Czapinski's presence in my own industry, finance and real estate. Amazing thing, the Internet!

Hmm. Wrote a book. Finance / real estate stuff. Sounds interesting. http://openlibrary.org/books/OL3582645M/Fi..._and_remodelers Hmm. Email address. Entertaining.

BOA Adjudicators bios: "Marie Czapinski Marie Czapinski is a renowned international clinician and adjudicator and has judged and taught in the U.S., Holland, England and Japan. She judges for Bands of America and Drum Corps International, often as a member of the Championship panels. Ms. Czapinski was involved in the formative years of Bands of America and was inducted into the Music For All Hall of Fame in 2008. She has served on the board of directors for the Midwest Color Guard Circuit for the past 25 years and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1996. She is a co-founder of Winter Guard International and was chief judge in the formative years. She was inducted into the WGI Hall of Fame in 2000. Marie is currently the project executive for New West Realty Group L.L.C., a real estate developer in Chicago. She is the author of a book “Financial Forms for Builders, Developers & Remodelers,” published and distributed in 2001 by the Home Builders Press, National Association of Home Builders, Washington D.C." http://www.musicforall.org/Programs/GN/200....Judge.Bios.pdf

From 'Music For All' web site re: BOA...any corroboration here? "Marie Czapinski was part of Bands of America before it even existing – she was there when the original incarnation “Marching Bands of America” was just a dream of its founder, she was part of the planning stages and then saw it become a reality. She continues to be instrumental in the organization today. Marie is an icon in the marching, color guard and visual design worlds of pageantry. It was she who 30 years ago held a BOA-sponsored clinic for 2,000 teachers at Texas Bandsmasters Convention to introduce the use of color guard to marching bands, as at the time drill teams were the only form of pageantry in Texas. She has been a color guard and visual adjudicator, clinician and leader for Bands of America/Music for All throughout its history. She is a co-founder of Winter Guard International and has been on the board of directors for the Midwest Color Guard Circuit for over 20 years. She is also an adjudicator for WGI and DCI and has appeared in the DCI World Championships Broadcast on ESPN2. Marie has also impacted the marching arts as a teacher, having instructed bands including Conant High School, IL, three-time Grand National Champion Rocky Mount High School, NC and Union High School, OK. “BOA has always used all of its resources to reach out to decision makers to support music education and continues to be the innovating force,” says Marie." http://www.musicforall.org/aboutus/hof/2008_MC.aspx

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. There is literally a facebook group titled, 'Fire Marie Czapinski.' Who knew?!? It would seem that Ms. Czapinski has the same effect on the BOA crowd as she does on the DCI crowd since this group is specific to BOA. Did her husband get fired from James Madison High School in the late 70's as well? Yikes! Anyway, I would question booting her off to Drum Corps Holland after all...don't want the Dutch cursing our names, you know. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7127...&ref=search Simply amazing. And would appear that perhaps I'm not all alone in my little rubber raft, eh?

On a separate note, and for further discussion, anyone know the qualifications that Ms. Czapinski brings to the table? I ask sincerely. I am familiar with Paul Rennick's resume as well as Dr. Nick Williams, Brad Green's, Albert Lo's, etc and many more. Not familiar with Ms. Czapinski's. Earnest question--what qualifications does it take to judge DCI GE Visual? Music, I would assume, is somewhat obvious. Marching? Teaching? Other adjudication experience? Or is it an "I knew the Founding Director of DCI and I'm as Legacy as Legacy can get"? Part of my questioning has to do with my repeated questions pertaining to...what constitutes "General Effect"? I know what I heard in the theater in 2008 at the end of PR's show...it still took the judges another night to recognize THAT General Effect. Me? I turned to the guy next to me and said, "Well, there's your champion!" This despite a TEN YEAR losing streak against the Cavaliers, who still placed in 2nd ahead of PR that night. If THAT wasn't GE, then it's dead! Part of my questioning has to do with questioning the qualifications of individual judges DCI has had since I was marching. It occurs to me that, if the corps have made as many improvements as they have in the last 15+ years, why, oh why, are we still using the same judges?? Better talent begets a demand for a higher quality of adjudication. And granted, a judge can improve over time, I realize. See also the average age of NBA refs and MLB umpires. And I realize that they have hired new judges over the years. I'd just like to know the resumes and the rolodexes of the current crop. Any input?

I'd like to think, again, that we have enough highly talented or potential adjudicators out there in the ranks of alum, band directors, professors, etc that we don't have to SETTLE for such blatant bias. For or against ANY corps. Again, unless it can be pointed out that PR's performance was simply flat on Friday night, the only other explanation is that this bias needs to be dismissed and shipped off to Holland or BOA. BTW, I seriously doubt that a Homer would have been as critical of their corps as I have been. Rockford doesn't even return my emails any more. Call me a Homer if you want, but I think that I have earned the right to defend PR on occassion if I am the one willing to call them out as well. Honk if you please, but I criticize those I love the most. That's just me...to each their own.