HappyDad

Yeah..how many shows can a corps do nowadays...the season looks pretty short. It looks like they spend more time practicing on the road than performing on the road.

Thank you for your thoughts. I agree. Look, I don't know all of the ins and outs of how the judging works. I don't need to when I'm a fan. In the programs they have a spot for your scores and then you also write in the judges scores. I've seen these at some shows in the past. It's like a guessing game versus what the judges score each corps. I'm never 100% correct, but I've been close a couple of times to the correct order. I never get the numbers the same, but hey, it's fun to play along. I've read a couple of times on here about judges scores getting booed before. I don't think I would boo. I figure they are looking at different things that I don't even know to look for. In Lincoln, last week, I thought all the corps were much closer in scores than the judges did. I really liked every show in a different way. I was just wondering how the fans would have chosen. There are no corps from Lincoln in the show. I don't think there is even a corps in Nebraska. I don't know if there would be an issue if the fans chose a corps that the judges didn't choose. Again, I don't know all the things they look at. I just thought it would be fun to also have a fan's choice. Thanks everybody for sharing your ideas. This is a good website for drum corps discussion. I didn't think there were this many people talking about drum corps. I had no idea.

Thank you for your answer. It took me awhile to find this when I just started this topic yesterday afternoon. Boy, things happen quickly around here. Anyway...I understand the judging and the scores and how this helps the corps as they improve their shows and all. I'm not saying to replace judging by the professionals on the field. I just thought perhaps the audience could have a vote for "fan favorite." Maybe an applause meter...something like that. Maybe my idea is just impractical or unnecessary. I don't know. Last night I even thought it could be sponsored...like the "Rubbermaid Fan Favorite Performance of the Evening Award" or something like that. Ah well...I guess some of you don't think it can work.

Didn't they go out west a few years back with this kind of a tour? I wonder how successful it was? I'm not saying the judging is all bad. Some people have pointed out that judging allows the corps to perform better each show. I just felt after seeing the show in Lincoln it would have been nice to award a fan favorite for the evening. Just the recognition of the corps the fans felt was the best that evening. Sure...some corps close to home would be an obvious favorite, but, why not? Afterall, I spent the money for two tickets, food, and bought a t shirt for my wife and a ball cap for me. We spent over $100 that evening. It would be fun to have a vote for a fan favorite. When I went to the corps booth to buy my cap I told them they were my favorites. I guess that will have to be enough for now. I think I'll email DCI. If they answer me...I'll come back on and share it with you all. Thanks for an enjoyable afternoon. Time for supper.

OK...I didn't ever say let everyone be winners. I understand the point regarding how judging can help the corps prove overall. And, yes. Figure Skating has professional competitions. You are correct. But, how do we get the fans more involved in like...a fan's choice award? Someone else mentioned some of the shows having a Hot Licks champion by text voting on a cell phone. Could these results be captured in time to have a winner announced that evening? Maybe a portion of the text charge could go to the corps for food, fuel, etc. Or how about a applause (noise) meter? Thanks for your input on this.

Who would I talk to at DCI? Do I just send them an email? Do you think they'd take the time to respond to one fan about a new possible way to get fans more involved?

I appreciate your thoughts on this. I respectfully disagree. In football you can still have a score without judges (referees). It might be a bit more chaotic, but it would be like a pick up game in the backyard. Scoring in football is different than drum corps. Drum corps is scored more like figure skating than like football. In figure skating...after the competition is all done...the skaters turn pro and the judges no longer judge them. Just the crowds showing up in ice arenas around the country. Again, I appreciate your comments but I respectfully disagree. Drum corps is not judged like the NFL. It is judged more like figure skating.

I think that's Tupperware. BURP I mean.

Great idea! I just sent them a little note on their form. This is a good deal for the kids and corps alike!

Thank you...yes I guess judging drives improvement. But, what harm would there be in a fan's choice award? Couldn't they take a moment before the scores are announced and measure the applause for each corps and award a fan's choice award? I mean I don't pretend to know what the judges are measuring. I just know what shows entertain me. Some of the corps shows looked complicated and I liked parts of their shows, but I liked the Cadets and the Phantom Regiment for how well they moved and played. They were also the two loudest so that helped. So let the judges have their say. They are the experts...ok fine. But, why can't I also have a voice in an award? Me and the rest of the folks in Lincoln the other night? I know when a corps is doing a show in their hometown, they ought to at least win the fan's choice award. How hard would this be to create and manage each evening? I guess some kind of noise meter...what else?

I've been a fan of drum corps for a few years now. I got to see the Lincoln, NE show this year and the night was terrific. No rain!!!! Great performances by every corps there. Thank you for coming to Lincoln again this year. I was sitting next to a guy and his wife and he told me about drumcorps planet and I joined. Anyway, I've read alot of complaints about judging on DCP over the past couple of days. Do judges really have that much power on a given evening? Don't corps own the Board of DCI and couldn't they just vote not to have judging? Couldn't the corps institute a fans choice award at each contest? I guess there's some kind of Hot Licks award or something this year at some of the shows. And can't we go back to calling them drum corps shows instead of drum corps contests? Why can't it be about wow-ing the crowd? I thought many of the corps did just that in Lincoln. What do you all think? I know...I'm new to this. But, it just bugs me a bit. The corps could just get rid of judging couldn't they?

This is why drum corps is special. It's competitive...it's about judges and scores... But, mostly it's about Corps A in unexpected trouble and needing help. And then Corps B steps in. Thanks to Rick Bays and Capital Regiment for being Corps B. Now...what can we do to help Corps B take the field next year?

This is good news right? Doesn't PepsiCo own Gatorade?