Widge

Based on what I saw in Orlando....Crown is on an incredible roll. and they will definitly have the crowd on their side. Their ovation in Fla, was 5 times what the Cadets recieved. They have an awesome show and perform it with such power, that any corps will have a hard time outscoring them at any particular show.

I attended the Olando show , Crown was, in a few words "Absolutely Awaome!!!!!!!!!!" Their hornline just keeps getting better, and better. The guard is as good as ever, and their drumline is super . As a traditionalist , the show itself is as good as any DCI show ever, as good as anything Scouts, SCV , Phantom, BD , Cavies have ever put on the field. I have seen 1975 Scouts, 1988 Scouts, 1999 SCV ..This show is in that class... They will deserve much consideration for a top 3 finals finish with a production like this.I

I know I am weighing in on this thread late, as I have just arrived back home from the Orlando show, and now have a chance to comment. I also have not read all the comments in this thread. I have been one of the biggest " the Cadets are great, but I hate their show" crowd. On Saturday I saw the Cadets for the first time since Toledo, and saw the Crown show for the first time live this season . Still hate the Cadets show, even the revised version. They still perform it great however. Crown was, in a few words "Absolutely Awaome!!!!!!!!!!" Their hornline just keeps getting better, and better. The guard is as good as ever, and their drumline is super ( Bluecoats drumline was absolutely on fire that night, and deserved the best score) As a traditionalist , the show itself is as good as any DCI show ever, as good as anything Scouts, SCV , Phantom, BD , Cavies hav ever put on the field. They will deserve much consideration for a top 3 finals finish with a production like this.

Heading out about 5:oo weather looking better. Came from Ohio to see the show . Daughter marches Glassmen, they are looking for a great show tonight. Have not seen Bac or cadets since Toledo, Looking for a good show there as well.

Who knows anything about the recaps not being up on DCi.org. The recaps were up by 11pm for Chesapeake , but at 3:pm today...nothing from Louisville. !!

-Whenever I hear the Scouts sing/play "You'll Never Walk Alone" (The epitome of brotherhood) -Madison's "The Way We Were" and "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" (1975 was a magical year. I wish I was around for it) -SCV's Bottle Dance (Ditto) Add to that... 27's Danny Boy...especially when the Bridgemen reunion corps played it in honor of 27 last year ,,,,Best " goosebump" single note ....the full hornline entrance of SCV. Scherazade.

Saw the replay of Kalamazoo on the Fan network this AM...Very impressed with the progress since Madison. hornline was much more precice, percussion much cleaner. still a bit of dirt in the drill , but much improved and looking better all the time. A well deserved 3rd place showing among some fine competition. (Can't figure what is up with the GE score though) We will be traveling to Orlando to see the show in person on the 12th, hope the preshow is on the field by then, and the improvement continues.

Also 27th Lancers, Bridgemen, and Kingsmen.

I don't buy a ticked, and attend a DCI show to have reality pointed out to me , or to tell me what someone else thinks is true. I don't want my thoughts provoked.........I want to be entertained!!!! It seems that , the direction things are heading, shows containing social and political issues will not be far behind. With the rules next year allowing the use of water in the shows.....can a "global warming" theme with the polar icecaps melting all over the field with a commentary on the rise of greenhouse gasses be in the future?? Just play, march, (running is ok if it fits) , amaze me with guard moves, and visuals, and entertain me!!!

I'm sure that anyone who has seen the Gmen at camp, family nite, or at a show has been entertained by the kid on the left of the pit on the trap apparatus. I've never seen anyone as "in to it" as he is. He is worth the price of a ticket Now you can get a great closeup of his act by watching the video montage of the Normal Ill show on DCI fan network. Give me a whole corps of this attitude, what a show that would be!!!

Seconding the GMen ...Besides being one of the largest, and talented., The kid on the trap apparatus on the left is worth the price of a ticket to watch. You will never see anyone as "in to it " You get a good glimpse of his performance on the DCI fan network Normal Ill montage.....check it out. Give me an entire corps with that attitude....What a show that would be!!!!!

A sure way, is to set up a stage in the center of the field, and add a narration as to how Sarah O'brien survived the Irish potato famine, and found happiness.

This is another scary thought...... Since the rules changes for next year allow for the use of water to be used on the field. ( a rule proposed by George Hopkins ) ....Will we see a "global warming" show next year.... If so I may just go to get a hot dog during that one.

I hate to see that happen. The Corps is great, and the kids are really Working hard, and deserved not to be booed. It's the show that needs bood, not the performance. Perhaps we need a way of communicating this . Maybe applauding while chanting " change it" I know someone here will come up with a better idea than this, but the comcept is sound.

Yes ...I see a growning trend that the show is concieved for the judging, and not for your paying audience. If you have watched the George Hopkins pre show speech to the corps on DCI fan network , he stated "What people think is what they think. It's not about their opinion. " I readily admit that this quote is taken out of context, and that you should view it in its entirety. To give him credit, he does seem to praise his members work, and seems to really care about them as corps members. I think that this ignoring of the fans in the stands, seems to be a growning trend. If you are playing to the handful of judges, and ignoring the thousand in the stands, you are probably doing something wrong. Both objectives can be accomplished , Blue Devils, SCV , and Phantom among most other corps are proving that continually.

Yes....Just did an edit to correct the error....thanx for pointing it out.

A lot of posters seem to be missing the point of it all... I first experienced it in '05 with the BD Yowsa show, I did not like it, but the show was fine and I enjoyed it.'' The Bluecoates 07 narration was minimal, and at times effective. The Cav's 07, was a bit overdone, but was, at least appropriate, and related to the dum corps activity The Bluecoates '08 narration is minimal, and exists mainly in the pre-show. , but does really not add a lot of enjoyment to the show , in my opinion. The major point is that the narration in the Cadets '08 show , is just plain BAD!!! It is overdone, poorly written, badly performed, detracts from the performance of one of the best horn and drumlines in DCI, and leaves the audience sitting on their hands at the end. (it really bothers me that the show ends with dialogue, not music) I have seen this performance twice , at the Toledo show in person , and on the web at Madison. and the crowd response is noticably lacking. I will witness the show again at Orlando, and finals, and a few more webcasts. I hope it is modified to make it more audience appealing.

Its really strange where a discussion goes when the thread starts to react to the posters rather than to the original post. At least this reply is giving some thought to the original discussion. Mainly Why does the best corps at a particular show, put on a performance that leaves the audience sitting on their hands??

Original poster here. Now I am wishing I had worded my original post differently. The point I was trying to make is 1. Was the dialouge that ends the show thing what the script was tring to imply, or did I misinterpret it. 2. If it was, then I was questioning if social commentary of this or any other issue has any place in this venue. I guess my views about drum corps shows may be outdated, but my idea of a show comcept is the same as when I was a band director in a previous life. There are a few judges in the stadium, and there are a couple of thousand fans. If you can end the show with the thousands standing and cheering... then you are doing something right. ( paraphrased from Rick Valenzuela, )

With an attempt to get the discussion on it's original intent. ...... My concern about the show is that when I saw it , it was just not as entertaining as what came before it, and that was evident in the audience response.

Regardless of whether there was any social commentary involved. The crowd reaction was lukewarm at best. The audiance was pumped up after the GMen , Crusaders, and Bluecoats shows, and this one just let the excitement drain from the audience, and as previous replies have stated, it was very noticable.

I have given this a week to think about, and still I feel compelled to give this commentary. I have been a 30 year Drum Corps fan, a former band director, and current DCI parent . I was at the show in Toledo, and was impressed with all the corps for the first show . Glassmen show will be a crowd pleaser and , Crusaders horn line was great , Bluecoats drumline was smokin. Cadets were absolutely top notch in all categories, But that Catets show?? It just leaves me scratching my head. I was not much of a fan of last years show, and found the narration tiring, but at least the story related to the drum corps activity. This years show is much heavier in the narration, and is , at times a bit depressing, mentioning subjects of cancer and divorce, and relates in no way to the drum corps experience. Also, I really question the idea of ending the show with narration, not music. This just does not lend itself to a great crowd reaction at the finale. What I haven't seen discussed..........Am I missing the point , but is the message at the end that the main character's final lines (on which the show ends) ndicate that she found her "Pursuit of Happiness" in a homosexual relationship??? I guess that I am not really criticizing the corps, because the performance was excellent,and deserved the score it recieved, I just feel that it is a waste of talent not to show off the musicality of the group by trying too hard to tell a story.

I have been a 30 year Drum Corps fan, a former band director, and current DCI parent . I will weigh in on this. I was at the show in Toledo, and was impressed with all the corps for the first show . Glassmen show will be a crowd pleaser and , Crusaders horn line was great , Bluecoats drumline was smokin. Cadets were absolutely top notch in all categories, But that Catets show?? It just leaves me scratching my head. I was not much of a fan of last years show, and found the narration tiring, but at least the story related to the drum corps activity. This years show is much heavier in the narration, and is , at times a bit depressing, mentioning subjects of cancer and divorce, and relates in no way to the drum corps experience. Also, I really question the idea of ending the show with narration, not music. This just does not lend itself to a great crowd reaction at the finale. What I haven't seen discussed..........Am I missing the point , but is the message at the end that the main character's final lines (on which the show ends) ndicate that she found her "Pursuit of Happiness" in a homosexual relationship??? I guess that I am not really criticizing the corps, because the performance was excellent,and deserved the score it recieved, I just feel that it is a waste of talent not to show off the musicality of the group by trying too hard to tell a story.

Caught Glassmen rehearsal at the last camp. The show will be great. Very entertaining. This years Gmen is a young group with a LOT of energy.