inquadwetrust

Amen.

In the end, what's putting off "real" life a few years anyways? You could graduate college at 22 or 23 and then jump into your career of choice for the rest of your life. The. Rest. Of. Your. Life... ...or... ...You could march a few years and then go back to school, graduate we'll say at 26 or 27, and then go gung-ho into your career with all of the experience of drum corps at your back - responsibility, time management, commitment, good ol' fashion hard work - and who knows? Maybe your position in your so desired career will be much higher with some participation in a drum corps... Maybe that's a little extreme, but it's been said here before (multiple times)... School will ALWAYS be there for you.

I didn't march last summer - not by choice - but I didn't slump around all day wishing auditions had gone over better! Sure, I did my share of tracking scores (daily!), caught a few shows in my area, and searched for YouTube videos, but I also did the things that I hadn't done since I started marching four years ago. I enjoyed the time off and went camping, kayaking, actually joined the family on a beach vacation, and even went skydiving! Granted, not all of those things are of the norm, but I couldn't let the money I saved go to waste! In all seriousness though, the few shows that I went to and having to watch all my friends march was pretty depressing! But it made me want to march the following summer that much more. I decided that next year I wouldn't complain about the heat, or basics blocks, or lack of sleep, but rather soak all of those drum corps beauties in and enjoy them while they last - especially because I'm aging out this year. And also, I've seen many people put school before drum corps and part of me agrees in the sense that there is more to life than drum corps. But the other half says that drum corps ends - there is an actual point in time where it all comes to a end. You can always go back to school... Just some food for thought.

I'm just gonna say Crown. The brass, drums, guard - to the show design and level of performance and audience connection... Best moment of that show for me was the section of slow motion through the end. Hands down.

"I'm 52 years old. I've done this for 46 years of my life. I've taught a lot of groups... I've taught a lot of groups. I've taught some that were better. But I have never in my life, taught a group of individuals with more character, heart, and not an inch of quit - not an inch of quit. I will remember that performance as long as I live. It's on my top ten list and when you're as old as I am... I've seen a lot of performances. Congratulations because I think there's something else that's important here. You marked a new day in the history of this drum corps. We took on an incredible challenge. We said we were going to do something different here. We've done it. It's a new day for this drum corps and you be the judge of your own performance. No one else judges you. We choose to compete... We choose to compete, and sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't, but you never let anybody in your life judge you. The only person that judges you, is you. And if I were you, I would say..." (holds up a #1 with his hand) --Charley Poole 2004 Drum Corps International World Championships Denver, CO Peace.

Well said Brian. ANYWAYS, good luck to the organization this season should it take to the road and once again claim the east coast and good luck to the kids attending the audition camp in a few weeks. May your time spent with the Jazz be as life empowering as it was for me. I bleed green. Swee late. Farewell and goodnight, Jazz.

I just want to quickly put in that most of the "bad parts" of ECJ are what a lot of other corps go through on a day to day basis. I think everyone knows that - and at least to some degree. But aside from all of the great things posted as far as gaining responsibilty, learning how to prioritize, just being more professional in how you carry yourself in life, things like that, to the more negative stuff that's categorized as being "chaotic," look at what the corps has accomplished in the last three years on the field. From winning brass and percussion captions a couple times, visual twice, I even think there was a GE snag there too. And even a World Championship. Granted, I think anyone who has marched with ECJ recently would agree the staff has been outstanding, but I would say more of the "dribbling" is in the kid's hands. Know what I mean? Was it worth it? More than you know. The ol' saying, "the ball is in your court." I said "dribbling..." Oh snap.

Oh absolutely! The next time someone complains about losing the air conditioning on a bus for one overnight ride or complains that they didn't get enough food at lunch or complains about being tired in practice because the corps didn't get any sleep the night before because we were parked in God knows where for countless hours and we only got off the bus to pee in the sketchy allies and found our bus drivers sleeping on top of the busses and no director in sight even though we were traveling maybe 2 or 3 hours but it actually took all night... I can just think to myself, 'Dude, it's all been done before. Put your big girl panties on and deal with it.' Bad*** huh!

I'm just concerned, man. ECJ may never be the same for us who have all found other places to march, but I'd like to think that the first-timers into drum corps -- or even the people looking for another place to march -- will have their defining moments with the Jazz in 2008. I think we all understand that it's not easy being a director, especially having to start new, and I'd agree that most, if not, all the things handled with the organization were pretty chaotic, but think of what the corps has done for you in the long run... ECJ gave me something to believe in, something to fight for. It was hard work. There was blood, sweat, and tears. It was something that I was able to do as an individual that none of my friends back home could identify with. It gave me great friends, a better outlook on life, and all of those life lessons that we read about here. And even though all of these experiences were my own, and we were all different from day one, we came to this corps and this activity for the same reason. Wouldn't you want that for the kid being dropped off at the first camp in a couple weeks?

I just lost the game.

Quite a few come to mind actually... "Love You Madly" by Cake "Where Do I Begin" by the Chemical Brothers and "Age Six Racer" by Dashboard Confessional (both were used in Boston's 2002 tour video) "Take A Picture" by Filter "Stay With Me" by Finch Pretty much anything from Incubus "Faithfully" by Journey "Times of Our Lives" by Paul Van Dyk "Dare You to Move" by Switchfoot and "She Sells Sanctuary" by The Cult

WHAT ARE WE? BAD*** HUH!!

I'll say Crown will be the first to get the crowd going! The rest speak for themselves. It's been too great of a season not to have great audience response the next few nights! Good luck everyone!!

I think this is one of the best answers I've heard...

Here's the best I can get for finding the seats. http://www.rosebowlstadium.com/seating.htm And I believe Row 56 would give you a better aerial view of the corps as well.