Willie85

Not sure what loudness or apparel has to do with it. (Although a crowded, loud and wild stadium is perhaps not a good environment for a toddler up past his bedtime.) Orchestra, opera, and ballet are at also times inherently loud and wild, and during the summer season, many symphony orchestras play outdoors to casually dressed audiences. Outdoor summer venues often allow young children in more casual lawn areas but prohibit them from pricier reserved seating areas. FWIW, I was just at an open orchestra rehearsal this morning where a young mom had to make a hasty retreat when a particularly loud chord startled a dozing toddler.

Of course, the Candide overture, William Tell overture, and the Barber of Seville overture all occur at the beginning of their respective operas.

Sorry, but like so many others, I've had one too many DCI finals performances disrupted by misbehaving wee ones. Unless there is a policy for admission of small children as suggested by skevinp, there will always be folks who find excuses that they 'have to' bring the lil'uns along - even if daycare is available. Such restrictions or guidelines are commonplace in the performing arts, and most perfoming arts venues have them. It's not a personal attack on parents, but a recognition that all patrons (parents included) are entitled to enjoy the event without undue distractions. Yes, in the case of DCI, a 'suggested guideline' is probably more feasible than a prohibition. Kudos for recognizing the need and the needs of other attendess. Though I still don't see how a crosstown van ride to an offsite, afterhours daycare facility is more comfortable than an elevator ride to hotel-provided child care.

Not surprisingly, this service is already available - only a Google search away. Holding out for DCI-sanctioned daycare seems to be a bit of a crock. Indy Hotels with child care services

Oops! Wrong pic. Easy to get them confused though - ain't it?

Are these the ones you were talking about?

Phantom '91 of course - though after seeing Lyric Opera of Chicago's quite literal and graphic portrayal of the original bachannal scene from Samson and Delilah several years ago, Phantom's moves seemed positively retrained. Was it 1986 that Spirit's guard seemed to remove another article of clothing with every tune in their Gospel themed(!) show? Blessed their lil' Southern hearts for turning a Sunday-go-to-meetin' show into a strip tease. And does anyone remember the Cadets' elegant 1985 guard uniforms with the maroon tops that would occasionally flip up to reveal a flesh colored leotard underneath? You were never quite sure what you were seeing. I'm not sure how the occasional boob flash tied in to Bernstein's Jeremiah Symphony, but it sure kept the audience's attention. Finally, got to give props to my own IIliana Lancer color guard for incorporating their patented "Fat Bottomed Girl" flag move from their 1981 Midwest Color Guard Circuit Class A Championship show () into the corps' "Temptation" concert piece the following summer.

Would require a once-in-a-decade baritone soloist (brass or vocal ) to pull it off, but the powerful aria "Batter My Heart" from Dr. Atomic would make for some powerful drum corps.

"Stuck" here in Aspen for the Aspen Music Festival. Yesterday AM, sat in on a dress rehearsal of one of the festival's five (!) orchestras playing Bartok, Debussy, and Tchaikovsky. This morning, watched my partner perform a scene from Eugene Onegin on the stage of the Wheeler Opera House. Tonight, the American String Quartet playing Schubert and Bruckner. Tomorrow, Jane Eaglen performs the Four Last Songs of Richard Strauss with orchestra, then a voice master class with Metropolitan Opera featured tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, then a dress rehearsal of Massenet's opera Cendrillion. ...I guess I'll live.

"Y'know, that red team is really pretty good." Overheard at 1985 Semifinals in Madison after Santa Clara's 96.0, 2nd place performance. To this day, my buddies and I still refer to Santa Clara as the 'Red Team'. Isn't that what PeeWee Herman said every Saturday morning to summon Jambi the genie to his playhouse?

Happy dance. Way to live up to your potential guys!

6 Carolina Crown - 8 Madison Scouts 8 Phantom Regiment 7 Santa Clara Vanguard + 7 Troopers

4 - Blue Stars 13 - Carolina Crown (-) 19 - Madison Scouts 21 - Phantom Regiment 17 - Santa Clara Vanguard (+) 15 - Troopers

15 - Bluecoats 20 - Blue Stars 22 - Carolina Crown - 5 - Crossmen 28 - Madison Scouts 29 - Phantom Regiment 29 - Santa Clara Vanguard 29 - Troopers +

11 - Blue Devils + 23 - Blue Stars 21 - Bluecoats 30 - Carolina Crown - 26 - Crossmen 30 - Madison Scouts 36 - Phantom Regiment- 29 - Santa Clara Vanguard 29 - Troopers

Who was it that said: "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out ... where the doer of deeds could have done better." But yeah, at this rate, it looks like Version II might take its place among "those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat".

Also, not everyone has the luxury of being able to spend their entire summer, 24/7, doing drum corps. Cadet corps (and other locally-based open class corps for that matter) allow kids to participate in drum corps and do other things with their summer as well.

It seems to have vanished without a trace from the web, but I seem to recall seeing a news release from Vanguard last winter annoucing their program concepts for the next three years. ...Anyone?

I have a few buddies who played in the Bears Drumline. It's not the actual Cavies drumline, though it may have its share of Cavies (and other corps) alums. As I understand, the drumline is sponsored, equipped, and managed by the Bears organization. We did the national anthem for a White Sox game when I marched the Knights - not sure what the corps got out of it other than free baseball caps. My first corps in Chicago also used to occasionally man food stand during Bears games at Soldier Field.

I seem to recall that that was more of a fluke due to a rules technicality. After several years as a Div I finalist or finalist contender in the late 90's, Magic went inactive for two years. When they came back after their year off, they couldn't 'declare' themselves Div I and had to come out as Div II. Hardly a David - more like a Goliath thumping on the 'real' Div II corps.

Be careful watch you wish for. The Vanguard Cadets were a Div I semi-finalist corps in 2000. As I recall, they were smokin' that year and the spot was richly deserved. But it was also kind of sobering to consider that DCI 'needed' a cadet corps to round out the semifinals competition.

18 - Blue Devils 25 - Blue Stars 21 - Bluecoats 04 - Boston Crusaders (+) 25 - Carolina Crown (-) 24 - Crossmen 30 - Madison Scouts 00 - Mandarins 34 - Phantom Regiment 28 - Santa Clara Vanguard 26 - Troopers

16 - Blue Devils 23 - Blue Stars 21 - Bluecoats 11 - Boston Crusaders 25 - Carolina Crown (-) 19 - Crossmen 34 - Madison Scouts 07 - Mandarins 27 - Phantom Regiment (+) 03 - Pioneer 26 - Santa Clara Vanguard 24 - Troopers

In WGI, the musical aspect is in service to the visual presentation. In drum corps, the visual aspect is in service to the musical presentation. (Or should be. )

"With 46 age-outs, including a large number of percussionists, the corps would expect to have available somewhere around 80 or so positions for the new season." ... also, please consider marching with us? .... Do him proud Mr. Hopkins.