Davy1dave

What is the new tie-breaker rule? I'm a newbie and have no idea what the rule is?

Does PBS still get to show their 2 hour run thru? I thought I saw it one saturday evening last year?

Would you make this same argument in 1983 about the z-pull (Drill should only be symetrical) or 93 about Medea (How dare they march with no music playing or move their hands around)? To blatlantly to say it's not a corps show if they have narration is about the most narrow-minded, snobbish thing someone can say about this art form. You know, why don't we just go back to high steps, marching tympani, and the tick system for judging. How dare we say what is or what isn't corps? How about we sit back and keep our minds open to the possibilities of the unknown. Bigotry is defined as the stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own. I know it seems silly to use such a word describing Narration, but is it not the best way to describe the attitudes we hear about this? If you don't like the show after it's played, fine. But don't shut your eyes and ears to the possiblity of doing something outside the norm because that wasn't the way you want it to be.

But do you honestly think a seperate "anything goes" division could be sustained? We can barely field 20 Div 1 corps as it stands right now? Whatever is to be done has to be done inside div 1.

So then if that's the case, and looking at the rest of your list, you have to go back to 93 Medea for the most recent "huge leap." I went on youtube to watch Medea again after I posted my comments last nite. That show is 14 years old and it still evokes an emotional response when i watch it. Looking at your list, it seems many of the early innovators went ahead and pushed the envelope knowing full well it could cost them the championship. One could even argue that Medea cost DCI the Star of Indiana. So are there any corps willing take that kind of a chance, anymore?

Inflation or not, isn't west coast where most of the shows are left?

Is this a guess or the real deal? (With Bill Mcneil)

I would venture to say "jaw-dropping" is in the sense that you can simply say "z-pull" and everyone knows what you mean. How great is it that a show almost 25 years ago is still talked about to this day? But when would you say was last "huge" leap? Medea? The Cavies "double-helix?" My point is that there are huge creative leaps going on in BOA more often than in DCI. Thoughts?

After seeing Madison nosedive this year, anything is possible

What about the "wow, this is awesome" for the fan who goes to the one show when it comes into their town that year?

Is anybody upset that the corps don't mass anymore? Also, what's with assigning who plays the encore? WEAK!

I wanted to start a new topic because of a response I saw in another other post. And it brought up a good point. It seems with the addition of electronic amplification and non-marching movement that DCI is moving beyond what is considered "traditional" drum corps. Some corps are embracing it, i.e. Phantom, Cadets. But I hear so many people complaining that it's not a true corps show with mics and choreography. Do you think amplification has ruined DCI, or do you think they are not moving far enough and would like to see more allowed, i.e. electronica, as it is in BOA? I personally feel DCI has lost the innovation "edge" it had in the 80's and 90's. I mean, who in their right mind marched with no music being played before Star 93 or who would think to fill the entire field with 1 large flag, ala Santa Clara "Miss Saigon"? But what about today? Is there any truly jaw-dropping moments drill or visual wise that you haven't already seen at a BOA competition? Don't get me wrong, you can't beat the talent musically that you find in DCI. But it seems those pushing the creative envelope these days are more than likely to be at a high school than a drum corps. Which leads to my final question. Are the limits that DCI places on what can be used in a show hindering the innovation or have the creative genuises left the Corps ranks for the High schools??Thoughts, opinions???

That was an awesome post! Thanks for taking the time to spell things out for me. I'm not an alumnus, but just a casual fan who is concerned we may lose a truly unique Corps like Madison. Let's hope for a speedy recovery!

Wow, worst DCI nerd...ever. So, I humbly apologize so you may answer my question, oh great sage of drum corps etiquette.

What went down at Madison to make the Scouts sink all the way they have... I mean, I saw the short answer above. Young kids, turnover, and bad drill. But still, is that all there is? I mean is Madison the first Corps to have these problems? I know other Corps have fallen back in rebuilding years, i.e. Vanguard, Phantom.. But fall back meant top 12 instead of top 6. I mean, from the looks of it, Madison may not even make SEMI's! So that's why I'm asking what went down to cause such a swift meltdown?