YardLineA

Fixed schedule television is so last century. When you can watch nearly every show live online and catch the full shows of all corps in quaterfinals on the big screen with killer sound and loads of other fans... the broadcast seems sort of pointless.

Disclaimer: I have absolutely nothing against amplification in drum corps. I have absolutely nothing against amplified voice in drum corps, whether it is singing or narration - In fact, I think it has incredible potential that has yet to be explored at a level on par with the creativity, complexity and demand of the rest of the ensemble. Thought #1 Watching this video was something of an epiphany. It clearly articulated the root cause of why the use of amplified voice in drum corps (for any purpose other than an occasional texture) has yet to really take off. This video presented images that actually highlighted the contrast between the demand, contribution and overall experience of the brass/percussion/guard and the actors/narrators. In one scene you have members out in the sun, sprinting to near exhaustion, focused, and pushing their own personal physical limits... ...which cuts to... ...narrators casually (and rather half-heartedly) reciting lines in an air-conditioned lounge. In another scene, you have a narrator referring to the other performers as "these kids" and marveling at how much they rehearse... makes it quite clear that the actors/narrators themselves do not feel that they are on the same level as the rest of the organization or an integral part of the program. The contrast within the actual performance itself makes this point even more clearly... brass, percussion, guard are all over the field performing to their absolute limit both musically and physically... while actors are stationary on the field, seated in cozy armchairs (and the narrators are hidden from sight). Thought #2 For the use of amplified voice in drum corps to reach its unique potential, both the creative and education aspects should be on the same level as all other aspects of the organization. Currently, it is a rather makeshift effort, a cross-over effort from within the pool of existing resources. It should be approached with the same requirement for expertise on the same level as every other aspect of the program. You wouldn't reasonably expect the snare tech to write the sabre work... the flag tech to write the horn book... or the drill writer to run the tour. So... why is this aspect of the program not regarded with the same level of expertise, experience and specialization that ALL other aspects of the organization are? I argue that this misconception that this aspect of the program does not require this level of expertise, experience and specialization is precisely why the result seems rather shallow, amateur and poorly received. Thought #3 Using the current program of the Cadets simply as example, a considerable part of the disconnect is not the use of voice or narration, or even subject matter itself, but the architecture and delivery of its use. The fact that performance is only connecting with a segment of the audience should not be seen as a success (aside from the issues of narration, the very concept is not something that anyone younger than 40 can personally relate to). To shrug it off and suggest that some in the audience just don't or simply won't 'get it' is taking the easy way out... and frankly, contrary to the actual concept of creating a program with a specific underlying message (which the current Cadets program does have, to the point of bordering on preachy/self-help). If the message really is important, shouldn't the goal be to deliver it in a way that resonates with the largest amount of people? Currently, it seems the point is about the medium, not the message. Additionally, if the current use of voice was, in fact, brilliant... there would be a "Green Eggs and Ham" effect. Suggestion: Don't change the menu... don't keep experimenting in the kitchen... just hire an experienced chef that knows the recipe (same as you do for all other aspects of the program).