Willie85

A little unsolicited life advice for the OP: While I'm sure your heart is in the right place and your outrage may be justified, you're not doing the marching community any favors by sending a letter like that. It's an embarrassment man. You start with the most juvenile of personal name-calling attacks and pepper the whole thing with misspellings and unforgivably horrendous grammar. You're writing to a journalist for Pete's sake. If he even reads past the first sentence, it will only be to see how much of a train wreck the letter is. I know that's the only reason I read on. At best, he'll dismiss you as the undereducated punk you come off as (not saying you are one, but that's the way it comes off). At worst he'll pass the letter around to his colleagues or even publish excerpts for a laugh at your expense. Take a look at Crunchy Tenor's letter. He makes the same points, but so much more effectively. Sorry, I know this is harsh, but it's for you own good.

Again, suggesting a little respect and restraint here. I don't think it's productive or appropriate to speculate on the details of the work situation. What I think most folks (including myself) are voicing objection to is that those details were alluded to at all, and in a derisive, vindictive, and unprofessional way in a public, external communication.

Jeff, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been in the same situation as you and can sympathize. Hoping the best for you. However, I for one don't care to churn up any more private details of the bookkeeper situation from either party.

Again, not presuming to speak for Tristan, but perhaps the above is what he was getting at by posting in the first place.

Lesson well learned: When we say YES, when we say NO --- these decisions frame our world!

Well, I can't speak for Tristan. But perhaps he might say something like: "We do not control the reactions of others. We control our response to the actions! BUT .. we may also wish to be aware that there is a response to the actions we take." Wise words indeed! With all sincerity, best of luck with the new staff and the new season.

Facts? Seems more like a demonstration of the lengths people will go to manipulate numbers to match their opinions.

OK, I'll say it: I didn't realize the SCV lower brass needed filling and supporting.

1) I don't think movement in the rankings for the sake of movement in the rankings translates to more creativity and excellence. Seems like it's the other way around. 2) Depends on your definition of "creativity". It's not necessarily what we all want. See page 412 of the synth thread.

If she hadn't have said "there is no accounting for the logic and action of a 25 year old", I would have guessed that it was written by a another 25 year old. The funny thing is after trashing the previous jobholder with that little gem, the job description itself still solicits flighty twenty-somethings: "It's perfect for the 24 year old who wants to work hard and move up!." Oh, and isn't it illegal (or just a really bad idea) to mention a specific age for the ideal candidate?

Sounds about right!

I think I get what wcf is getting at - a show that grips you from start to finish with no weak points or lesser moments. The kind where 10 minutes passes in a flash. Yeah, certainly 'perfect' is in the eye of the beholder. To me, it means a 'perfect' balance of emotion, sophistication, and accessibility, and a 'perfectly' unified yet contrasting program that builds and builds in musical and dramatic tension... higher ... faster ... louder... until... until.... yes.... yesssssss... : that perfect moment of musical and dramatic ..ummm.. release. Certainly '84 Cadets is the top of the list. Others (mostly the usual suspects): BAC '00 Several Phantom years including '89, '96, '06, others that come close. SCV '85,'99,'04 Spirit '80 Suncoast '85

Yeah, for the life of me I still can't tell a Blue Devil from a Blue Coat from a Blue Knight. So characterizing them as elite, ultra-elite, and super-double-extra-special-elite helps me keep them straight.

This. All of it. Maybe they can do like the early days of electric basses in HS bands and have a uniformed member follow the soloist around with a speaker on a cart.

First ones that come to mind: Guardsmen 1980 Colts 2007 Dutchboy 1988 Suncoast 1989 Geneseo Knights 1983 Sky Ryders 1987 Crossmen 1996

smj - I think the PhD candidate in you is showing. As I alluded to in my previous post, I also happen to agree that such intangibles as history, reputation, and even style come into play in my personal definition of elite. But I have to say: by now saying it's just all a matter of taste, you kind of contradict your own OP which seems to abritrarily define elite as recent placement in the top 6 or 7.

This was hashed about on the previous a page already. But a new option occurs to me: For that number, have the entire audience get up out of their seats and move into the backfield seats in order to accomodate the corps' sucky staging -- because it's all about the staging designer's vision.

Yet more number crunching: Out of curiosity, I averaged the placements for the last five years and it seems, to me anyway, that a clear separation shakes out: BD - 2.4 HNC - 3.4 Cavs -2 PR - 3 SCV - 5.8 CC - 6.4 BC - 5.6 Now my own idea of elite is based on 25+ yrs of corps watching -- but if you're talking recent, consistent high placement, there's a remarkably clear break between the top four above and the rest of the pack.

Agreed, some of the most dramatic moments in drum corps are achieved playing from the sideline or from/to the backside. It can be a striking integration of musical and visual effect. But if it's strictly for the visual effect, why not save the soloist a walk to the endzone and just have a guard member 'lip sync' on a fake horn. I, for one, have no interest in shows from designers who need to 'cheat' with mics for visual effects rather than express their vision while working with and respecting the natural (and amazing) acoustic qualities of the instruments and the venue.

Actually the OP might want to insluce a quick visit to the spell check button the next time he's on the ole' electroninc keybard.

I pretty much agree with Puppet's well-made points. It does seem like, for better or worse, these days drum corps is more about performance than participation. If you don't already have the means, mobility, and musical background, then drum corps is not for you. And talk of the drum corps experience as a constant frat party doesn't do much to dispel the elitist image. Not that I buy it. Every corps has their bad boys and goodie-2-shoes and the full spectrum in between, and, at least in my experience, they tend to self-segregate off the field and look after their own -- and everyone keeps an special eye out for the wee ones. I can sort of agree that the expansion of band programs have somewhat taken the place of local corps. But let's try to not pretend that there isn't a certain amount of elitism there too, and a much more constraining type. I think it's fair to generalize that prosperous schools with properpous band programs come from prosperous school districts. What about kids in districts with a crappy band program or none at all? It's not like they have the option of marching in another school district.

Does anyone else get "Baby Cavaliers Available" in the ad banner for this thread? I've heard of feeder corps, but this is ridiculous!

Post of the week!

cj8: There were a few corps that could be counted on to come out in June with a complete and reasonably well polished show, and SouthWind was consistently among them. Just wanted to say that it was noticed and appreciated - something I always admired you guys for. You guys were always one of the highlights of the Normal show for me. I have yet to kick a 20+ year habit of getting pysched up for the first show with fresh memories of finals stamped in my brain and then proclaiming I'm never coming to a June show again in the parking lot after the show. I know - I keep on telling myself it's all about potential at this point. Still it's so refreshing to see corps like SW and few others who don't seem treat early shows as just a runthrough in uniform. Yes, it does show respect for the audience and a highly professional attitude. You guys did it, why can't everyone? And yes, now that the midwest season consists of June (OK, July 4th) and Indy week, it's even more important to present fans with a complete, polished show for the entire season.