27/soa

Getting back to the original theme.... I already pay dearly to get Super Premium tickets, IMO. I want three nights of drum corps. I DO NOT want DCI to force me to buy 5-packs of tickets, just to continue getting the SP tix I am receiving. This is America. If I choose to not attend any Div. II and Div. III events, that's my choice. If I don't spend one penny on DCA, that's my choice. If my hand is forced and I stop buying tickets to DCI altogether, well then, there will be more good seats available to those of you who want them.

Change is inevitable. Growth is optional. Been a fan since '80, marched three summers '82, '84, '85. Loved it then and still do. Will buy tickets every year. Now, do I sit through every corps all three nights? No.

Yes, Semis. Me, too.

Newbies behind us for three nights....which is fine, except they had to be gently reminded that talking must cease once a corps begins! To answer the Mouse question from earlier... I don't remember Mickey Mouse being on hand to present the Spirit of Disney Award at any DCI except Orlando's, and now Pasadena's, due to the proximity of Disneyland. I loved when Mickey walked over toward Crown's DM's, he and Evan high-fived each other!

It totally worked for Crown at the end of the season. How else would we have known that Devil in Blue, Green Machine, Crown, and Holy Garfield were down the stretch together?!!!

Evan Van Doren: Carolina Crown

Want someone in the Hall of Fame? Start writing that letter! The Hall of Fame committee doesn't seek out potential members......these worthy people must be NOMINATED! You, and you, and you, too can have a hand in getting deserving people into this great company.

I'd be willing to bet my house that Indy's package to lure DCI every year includes some kind of Housing promise...that these issues WON'T come up.

Thanks, THX. Your explanation makes the most sense I've heard about this subject. It is more of a play-by-play. Like when you're watching Baseball on ESPN, you are SEEING what is happening, but Joe Morgan "narrating" the play makes it better.

. . .

"People have valid feelings - maybe they express them in a way that inflames others, but that doesn't mean they should be dismissed." I'm not dismissing Jordan's point of view. He has his. I have mine. He's telling me (and many others) that I am WRONG, and not a "true drum corps fan". I am not telling him the same. I am asking him to do something that is nearly impossible for someone his age (my daughter again), which is to be OBJECTIVE, and to understand that others will always have differing points of view on numerous subjects.

Jordan, have you even met a single staff person from any corps ever? I've marched with 2 corps and 2 very different staffs. Incredible people, all. And your experience? You can dislike narration all you like. You're very young, and young people (like my almost 15-yr. old daughter) see everything in absolutes & black and white. It's with the wisdom of life experiences that you will come to discover that life is really more gray. Maybe you'll change your mind in Pasadena, maybe you won't. I don't care. As for Crown's staff, they know EXACTLY what they're doing, and it's not an effort to rock any boats or ruffle any feathers. Oh wait, I KNOW. They're doing it to #### off you........ So, the corps that will be fighting for your membership will be Phantom, SCV, Colts and Spirit. Go for it. And after you make horn sergeant in your first year, and the winter and all days are going smoothly, if the staff throws in some small narrative segment, you're going to bolt, right?

Ah, the Crown mellos. My FAVORITE over the past few years. The Crown chord. If you can tolerate Dakota Fanning for 98 minutes, you will hear a lot of Crown's beautiful and exciting music in the movie "Dreamer". The first notes of the movie are Crown's opening piece.

Silver, that's the best post I've read all month!!

1st: NO to the Benedryl! I can't believe someone would suggest drugging a baby/toddler. 2nd: I am not single without kids. I'm married to a drum corps age-out (like myself) with two kids 14 and 6. Both of my children were introduced to a drum corps show at the appropriate age. 6+. It is simply not fair to surrounding fans to bring a baby to a long drum corps show, a movie, or the symphony. People pay good money to be at an event they have chosen to be at. Babies don't choose to go to DCI Finals. A babysitter is the best idea for the OP and his wife, if they simply must attend DCI Finals. I took several years off (when mine were babies) from Finals. Be objective and look at the situation that's best for all. A baby will have no memory of attending DCI Finals. He/She would rather be cuddly at home in a crib or other familiar place.

Excellent response. I, for one, cannot wait to get to Pasadena! As for added narration? Armageddon. Rapture. End of Days. (huge tongue in cheek!) N-O-T-H-I-N-G could change how much I love this show!

I like the Spirit of Disney Award being given each year. It's ONE award that isn't tied to the scores. I don't feel like it is a way to make everyone feel like winners. If DCI was bent on everyone feeling like a winner at Finals, there would be 11 differently-named awards for the ones who didn't WIN.

Spirit of Atlanta's guard won two Guard trophies in the 80's: 1985 1987

Follow the contour of each leg carefully to see that no Cavalier had his legs turned around in "The Machine". It DOES look funky at first, though!

Having someone say that 2007 Crown is their favorite show of all time is...well,...BIG. I've been either marching or spectating since 1980, and I have never really thought about naming ONE show as my favorite. There are too many terrific shows to choose just one! But Triple Crown may just cause me to make such a statement, too! Love it, love it, LOVE IT!

Now now, oldsoprano, you wouldn't be suggesting the JSU is better, would you? As luck would have it, weather.com is predicting MORE of a thunderstorm chance for J'ville.

Judges=confusion.

Forecasting must be hell... I check accuweather.com, weatherplanner.com, and weather.com, and THEY ARE NEVER on the same page. Sometimes quite drastic differences!! As for Sunday, I'm guessing afternoon droplets, clearing in plenty of time for a 7:30 start!

Crown will be rehearsing all day AT the stadium the show will be at: American Legion Memorial Stadium. You can watch rehearsal until the stadium is cleared and gates closed at 5:30.