[Garfield Alumni has his say on the QF booing]

What I still don't understand is why they needed hash marks in the first place. The Cadets don't use hash marks like some corps do, marching individually strict dot to dot. They march the form, so the hashes aren't needed.

For instance, that's how they could perform on just a blank blue floor at the Olympics in 96.

Unless things have changed drastically in the last 20 years, I can say that is decidedly NOT the case.

[Garfield Alumni has his say on the QF booing]

In my mind, those who were booing were simply demonstrating their ignorance of modern drum corps. Anyone who understands how drill works will recognize the importance of having visible hash marks to guide the drill.

Those who were booing were actually screaming "I DON'T HAVE A CLUE".

[Best Drum Corps Show Moment of all Time?]

So many great moments, but for me it has to be the "Tonight Quintet" at the end of Garfield's show 1984.

That remains the best integration of musical and visual elements that I've ever seen.

Absolutley flawless.

[Lodging for DCI 2008]

They have cabs in Indy don't they -- and IIRC the Patio has bands 'till around 2am. Plus I figured maybe Matt would throw in tender service with his housing offer !!!! :P

The Patio closed a while back. I'm not sure what is in its place, I haven't been out in Broad Ripple for a LONG time.

But I'll be running a makeshift B&B in Zionsville for finals, and hopefully will have suite access at the stadium.

The Indianapolis 500, the Indianapolis Colts and DCI.

Ain't God good to Indiana?

[Favorite 27th Lancers Program]

From what I understand, they did that show in '86 for them. Like, they knew it was their last year and they wanted to do something special.

Actually, it's almost exactly opposite of that. During the winter of '86, the rumor was that the corps was going to get some large corprpate sporsorship, and the change in direction was a step to pull the corps back up into the upper echelon.

Sadly, that didn't happen. '86 turned into a mighty struggle that left us broken hearted.

But we NEVER stopped fighting for it.

[Corps Songs]

Here's some trivia - though the corps is most often linked with "Danny Boy", the original corps song for the 27th Lancers was "The Impossible Dream".

[Aging out]

I'm interested to see replies from folks who have changed corps in their age out year.

Personally, it never occurred to me to change corps. I marched a bunch of different corps, but that's just because they kept folding! In fact, it was kind of a joke during my rookie-year tryouts with Garfield....since every corps I had been in folded, could Garfield survive my membership? I'm happy to say that they have outlived me with no issue :D

Peace,

Cathie

I wanted to age out before Cathie killed yet another corps.

(Hi, sweetie!)

[The music moment(s) you can't get out of your head]

I've had "Pegasus" on the brain for the last couple of weeks.

That, and thanks to the office Muzak, "Rainy Days and Mondays".

[Did They March?]

I, unfortunately, have some first-hand experience to add to this one.

In 1988 I suffered a ruptued disc in my back while at Ramapo College in pre-season rehearsals with Garfield. I went home for a couple of weeks, then lied to my doctor about how I was feeling so I could go back on tour.

After about 10 days, though, I realized I wasn't doing myself or the corps any good, so I pulled out without having marched a single show.

At the end of the season, I sent George Hopkins a letter asking that I be allowed to age out. I didn't want a patch or a medal, but I did want to be considered having done all I could to march while I was still of age to do so.

In no time at all, I got a return note from George that happily included me in that year's age-outs, and at the banquet I was pleased and honored to join my friends in becoming an alum.

So, in my case, I didn't actually march in '88, but I did age out that year.

In my opinion, if you did all you physically could, then you can claim you were a part of the corps. I didn't feel as though I could wear a finalist patch on my jacket, but if someone else made that decision I wouldn't fault them for it.

[The Gay issue]

I miss George Z.

Amen.

[The Gay issue]

I'll dance with you Mike.......you're a vanguard alum and that makes you ok in my book! :P

Hey, what a great topic to dive in with my first post.

I always felt that drum corps was attractive to young gay people because the atmosphere was more accepting and tolerant than the world at large. At least, from my straight perspective at 27th and Garfield, being gay wasn't a big deal - as long as you could perform on the field, that's what counted.

And this reminds me of one of my favorite Zingali moments. After a rehearsal in '87, he walked up and put his arm around me to share some wisdom.

"Stu-stu, in this world there are homosexuals and there are fags. I am a homosexual, but YOU are a ###."