PCSoprano9702

I find it interesting that this conversation is about something that has been true for decades and ignores the new information enclosed in the original post: that working off tuition is taxable income. If you work bingo or a phonathon and get your tour fee reduced, that is an economic benefit valued in dollars, so it's taxable income. Should the corps withhold that tax from the benefit? Or should the corps remind the member (and parent if a minor) that this must be claimed on taxes? Or does the burden fall completely on the member('s parents) and the corps can just continue to go about status quo?

Housing. You're essentially replicating finals all over the country, and housing has proven to be a mess for that many corps. Also, I believe a return to regional tours is vastly superior to a 50-truck 100-bus convoy covering 4000+ miles in 9 weeks given the rising cost of living and fuel. (Anyone who thinks diesel will continue to drop hasn't heard of OPEC, nor their recent announcement to curb production. Now is a great time to hedge.) Nonetheless, I appreciate the novel thinking. While I'd prefer ones that expand the number of corps by supporting Open Class, I appreciate the strong demand for the big boys at just about every show.

I never understood this. "Pop" has like 5 other meanings. "Soda" has at best 2. When shortening "soda pop," why choose the word that could mean your dad, your grandfather, a loud noise, a lollypop, a punch, etc.?

Yes. Totally intense. I wish that recording were put on some website somewhere (hint).

That old drum corps was ok, it was at its best around the time we got involved, but now it's just awful.

That they sometimes use the field of competition to play American football.

Just pay the charge. You're probably wrong anyway.

This looks like writing to me.

I'm not sure what you think a Bill of Rights would do for you. You have a contract dispute. Contact a lawyer.

No, won't happen. They'll leave the drums and replace the bugles... horns... brass, or whatever.

That reminds me of an idea for a corps we had while on tour. "On the field, from Addison, Illinois, the Judges Drum and Bugle Corps. [pause for applause] Are the judges ready? [drum major turns and salutes] Drum major is your....[big opening hit from the hornline]." The uniform would be ball caps, with green polos and khakis. The colorguard would spin clipboards (with streamers of course).

I would form two: the Morro Bay Sandspits Drum and Bugle Corps and the San Jan Capistrano Swallows Drum and Bugle Corps. They would be in-state rivals.

Troopers marched in the 2001 inauguration parade. I was invited to participate, having marched the previous season, but if I were going to travel 3000 miles, I would have been on the sidewalk holding an Al Gore sign. I was too bitter to play a bugle for Dick Cheney's home state. And it was on a school day. I watched it on TV, more boos than cheers, and not for the bands or drum corps. And it was raining. Looked like a miserable time.

Chris "Backfield" Cowling is a good guy. He'll be a great sub for Adrian Rivas. I have nothing but good to say about the both of them. I like seeing corpsmates continue their involvement.

Judges can make suggestions for how to improve a weak part of the show. "We're not getting the full effect of those finger cymbals." It would not be cool for a judge to say, "Mic that pit and crank it to 11." The judge addresses strengths and weaknesses, but doesn't dictate technique. Suggestions, however, are in-bounds. If the finger cymbals are effective enough to earn credit, that there are 3 kids pounding on them or one with a hot mic is really irrelevant. Though 3 kids would be more crowd pleasing, because multiple people doing the same thing the same way at the same time is one of the fundamental attractions of drum corps.

Madison 1998 is one of my all time favorite shows. Perfect for running. Totally underrated at the time. The closer is killer. Cadets 2000, BD 86, are other tops for running. But there are probably 20 that I frequent if I sit down and think about it. Any show you marched in is great for running too. It gets you pretty pumped, and you start thinking like you're performing the show. Next thing you know, you're done running, you beat your record time, and you're not that tired.

I agree, final push of either Cavies or Cadets from 2000. Though Phantom 2008 may be more relevant to them, as that's current bad assness.

My mother used to have a hard time remembering to say "bugle" when talking to people outside of the activity. She'd get strange looks when she'd say, "Both my sons are sopranos."

"You guys want to know the secret to playing high? And loud and in tune? Leads you'll want to hear this, so get close. Do you want to know the secret? Play high every day." -Rudy Arevalos

Normally the naming distinction wouldn't matter. But NPR listeners are an intellectual lot, so they can appreciate nuance better than most of our coworkers. Sorry, my coworkers - I have no idea whom you work with.

Boston 2000 - Con te Partiro singing Cavaliers 2000 - making wooosh noises. Cadets 2000 - grunt when they kick after the "battle" section PC 2000 - guard made some vocalization when they caught their sabres I'm sure other corps and other years abound.

! That is awesome! This CD should be sold by DCI. Countdownaguena, perhaps.

It's the same question. Drum corps is a gradiant. Drum corps can continue to get less traditionally drum corps and still be drum corps, just as we can lose a lot of civil liberties and still have civil liberties. Dig? Personally I feel that the 1990s is where we went from evolving to devolving - but I'm sure people who march now think that G bugles and acoustics are quant.

When did we lose our civil liberties?