Alan98member

I know this isn't the ideal location/thread for this question, but it's sorta related... Who won the Drumline Battle??? In terms of the Sound Sport event, it was certainly a learning experience for all. All-age groups getting the chance to play in front of a DCI crowd, during Finals, was certainly worth the effort (IMO). Thanks to everyone that came to see, and thanks to DCI for building/creating the activity. Hopefully it can grow into something awesome! Thanks to Jersey Surf for sharing the video too!!

Eeeew....

Thats the idea!!! Wait... we're talking about stuffing extra cash into our pockets so after our closer we can sprint (waddle) to the beer carts, right? I swear if they tell me they're outa beer again, I'll **** a pickle!

I've been hearing lots of good things about you guys. Welcome, welcome!! Gonna try to get to the convention center in time to see you perform.

Someone said cinco-pete = free beer.... dang it.... NOW the pressure is REALLY on!! :P Looking forward to seeing everyone! Good luck to all!!!!!!!

Great job to all & a special shout out to the 36 Blue Knights that helped us with our scrims!! We couldn't have done it without you guys. Thanks for that!!!

I LOVE the idea. I'd be there helping in any/every way possible. However.... :( This is a topic that has been buzzing around the Star Alumni for the past couple of years, especially right before our performance last week. What you saw this past Friday night at DCI Semi's is most likely Star of Indiana's last full size, public performance. The powers that be, and many of the Alumni are happy with letting STAR slip back into history. When the discussion starts within the corps about starting up Star of Indiana again, the response that keeps the ball from gaining much speed is "Why?". Why would we do that? Most of the reasons end up being selfish pride, or emotional wants. There are plenty of great corps out there for kids to get the experience they need. Drum corps doesn't need Star to come back. (it'd be way cool, but then again, I'm admittedly one of the selfish) Another way to look at it - There are PLENTY of corps out there that have someone that was related to STAR already instructing in key positions. Star of Indiana may not be on the field competing - but Star of Indiana influence is very much still in drum corps.... I love STAR - I love drum corps - I hope that what we did this past week lived up to everyone's expectations. See you in Rochester, NY!!!!!!

Interesting- a few days ago, I wanted to see a vid of the 1993 Cadets show, and struggled to find much. I did find a complete finals vid on someone's MySpace account. Other than that, there isn't much out there. I found one that's in 2 parts, and filmed with a camcorder (?!?!) Star of Indiana 1993 is.... well, much much easier to find. I wanna take a stab at this...... The reason Star of Indiana has a halo of hype, and is still talked about to this day (good and bad) after being away from the sport for 17 YEARS, is simple ..... Because it's Star of Indiana. People loved them, or disliked them. People thought they were boring, or awesome. They were a corps that made it very hard for a fan to be lukewarm towards them. The dynamic of mixed responses to their shows, or even to their very existence, was enough to pull you in, or push you away. I'm sure the crowd response was one of the many things that helped drive them to achieve all that Star accomplished. Even though Star left drum corps in 1993, the buzz around Star never left drum corps. Only being in DCI for 9 seasons, love them or dislike them, there has never been another corps like Star of Indiana, and there probably never will be. Not to mention they were pretty good, and won a few things here and there. .... The Beatles of Drum Corps?.... hummm..... (just my opinion - I could be full of kool-aid, but I didn't enter the Star scene 'til 98) See you in August!!!!! :)

The first photo after you click the link for "view photo gallery" at the bottom of the page..... That view was difficult to grasp. Our corps hall is home to the Scouts this season. Madison was in the hall a week before the Alumni camp. All the signs that mark what room is what were green when we arrived. (i.e. Large Ensamble Room, Mens Restroom, Kitchen, and sectional rooms) Needless to say, all in fun, we changed those signs back to pink one final time.

It's because of these years of DCI, that I curse my parents not for having me 5-6 years earlier. But then (in my little mind) the sky opened up... and Star of Indiana Alumni Corps fell from the heavens for a one time gig. Double knot your shoes and break out your MP3 recorders as we are going to try our best not to suck.

OK, I hear what you're sayin & I agree with ya. DCP is an interesting and colorful community of opinions. It's awesome & yes, we hate all corps, all the time. (LOL?) I would just figure that the reasons someone WOULD go to finals weekend would out weigh the reasons NOT to go. It seems that there is a rolling hate-wagon of doom surrounding Lucas Oil. Folks, it's only been there one time. The second time around will have improvments - not perfect, I'm sure- but better than the first year. Dang it, go if you can. Just don't ride the hate-wagon of doom around with flaming pitchforks as you may influence someone that's never seen a corps show not to attend.... then instead of joining a corps, they'll take up competitive cup stacking. Bottom line, my .02 : If you can spare the time, distance is not a problem, and can afford to go.... I'd think you'd go, no matter where it is- because it's DCI World Finals & we all look forward to it every year. Am I off my rocker??

+1

Thanks & I can guarantee you this.....Star of Indiana Alumni will be ready to play for 8,000 or 800,000 - as will the corps competing for the championship. Maybe it's just me - but If you're a real drum corps fan/DCI fan, isn't the choice to attend IF you have the ability, a bit of a no-brainer? Boycott the Super Bowl of music summer games because it's at Lucas Oil?? Is that really an option, and what does it solve, other than show the kids competing that it's not about them at all? I'm not saying it's the perfect place - but what can you really do about it. They know they need to change some things. Leave it at that & support the corps.

From top to bottom, it was an awesome weekend. The first thing we heard after pulling in was Mass Brass warming up- we knew they were ON. Got to sneak inside and watched the Freelancers- Super-great show. Star U was treated by a sample of Music City Legend at our warm up site (Holy $#%&, that was loud!!) Sitting on the starting line, we got to listen to Golden Eagles and Mass Brass.... both those shows were top notch, and the crowd responded as such. I can't say enough about how special it is to be able to play with my friends at Star United. I'm sure everyone else shares the same feelings about their corps - you guys are the best. I can't wait to see you all again soon. Thanks to DCA, the city of Rochester & all the volunteers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's to what was a great 2009 - and here's to an even better 2010

The way it was explained to me - the winner of the competition is the group that does 'what they do' better than the other groups do 'what they do'. Regardless - it's all top notch entertainment. Thats why we all do this little gig called Mini-Corps. It's a real hoot to play for a crowd thats fired up for great music! If someone didn't know a song any of the corps performed before the competition, they probably couldn't hum it back to the car after seeing it performed one time anywho.... So I'm pretty sure that has nothing to do with it. Catchy tunes are cool - but wouldn't be a factor. IMO Each corps has an entity - all of it is entertainment. It comes down to who does 'what they do' best. Safe travels to all!!!! One of the best weekends in all of drum corps awaits!!!! I still think a sleeper is lurking.... you gotta check these guys out....

I'm pretty sure I just found a sleeper that will be in the running for this years mini-corps title.... Not sure what their name is, but you can check 'em out HERE.

I think it is really awesome that Yamaha has done this for the Mini-Corps event. It shows the kind of caliber the groups are out there. I bet it's a beautiful set. What do you think we could do to further our supporters... Like maybe Miller Lite, or Budwieser? Frost mugs w/ cold taps at either end of the stage...

Oh that is hilarious. I must have missed the video shoot.... The plan was to have those 'kazoo-type-things' in our horns for the first warm up breath. We suceeded - and our instructor gave us the wtf!?-look. Moments later he admitted he almost pee'd when he heard that noise coming out of horns. Quite a prank. LOL

I saw the results of the Mini-Corps poll. It's interesting to see everyone's opinion. It is what it is- it's just for fun. Who will take second? Again, who knows- but I agree with several of the posts on this thread.... the crowd is the one that REALLY wins!!! My first season with Star U, I was UBER-excited & came in with the "WANNA WIN!" mindset. After a couple camps, I voiced those thoughts to some of the other members - and was taught a quick lesson. When we get to Rochester, the goal we seek is all in the quality of our show. If we are proud of the product we deliver & the crowd truly appreciates it - we win. Not meaning "win" the contest- but succeeding in the task at hand. If that earns us the Donna Ernst trophy- then thats awesome & over the past 2 years, I have been humbled to achieve that. The day will come that Star United doesn't earn the trophy. Just as someone will eventually knock off the Bucs. (4-time consecutive defending champs) When that day comes, will I be sad? Maybe. If I know we didn't perform the show as well as we could have - for ourselves and for the crowd.... but I would think thats the same way we all would feel. Bottom line - it truly is the fans that win!! I can't wait!!!! P.S. - To the minority of folks, no one person(s) in particular, that still have some kind of problem with Star, or anything related to Star - I'm not sorry, and I think you're funny - no hard feelings.

"This isn't DCI!!"

This thread got me thinkin- I've never looked around at other DCA corps / mini corps sites.... I found some good ones - but one in particular really perked me up. This sucker is awesome!!!! http://www.renegades.org/blog/index.php Awesome site guys/gals - can't wait to see your show!!!!!!

Yeah - I called Mike - and he may have mis-read that post. I'm gonna say sorry 'bout that. Either way - that entire weekend is pretty awesome to be a part of from top to bottom, as a spectator and a performer. Looking forward to it!! 20 mini-corps.... wow..... That is way cool. Also noticed the Renegades are back in it!!! Right on!!!!!! See you guys at the pub down the street after Fridays show!! Good luck to all!

Bill- Wish we could have made it by a little earlier to watch some of your rehearsal. Thanks for giving our little group a listen. It was great to be able to play for the Kilties, and to meet up afterwards for a little shenanigans. It was one of the best stops on our 'tour'. Have a great '09!!

Two things- In 98, we were paid a certain amount of our college tuition if we attended an Indiana University related schools. Those that went to 'other' colleges were paid a different amount towards their college dues. As for the "Star of Indiana" name - here is what I've heard. Cook still owns the name "Star of Indiana". All the music and copyrights are part of Mason's organization. When Blast! started, Bill Cook was no longer a part, financially. In fact, slowly over the next few years, part of the money that Blast made went to Mr. Cook to pay him back for all the years that he helped Star and Brass Theater as kind of a "thank you for everything" gesture. Eventually, Blast and Jim Mason had paid Mr. Cook back 100% for the drum corps years. I'm not going to say this is gospel - but It's what I have been led to believe. (not makin' waves - just sayin).

First off, thanks to all for the kind words. It's pretty neat hearing from everyone, whatever it is they have to say. Let me tell ya a quick little story- I never had the chance to participate with Star on the field, as I was a freshman in 1993. My high school was not into promoting 'marching band' - so by the time I was introduced to DCI, it was too late for me to get involved. (Heck, I didn't know about DCA until Star United called me up either) I was lucky enough to make 2nd trombone in the final version of Brass Theatre in 1998. I was brought in by a friend from high school who thought I'd like it - and I did. It wasn't until after 3/4 way through the summer that I started learning about Star's past and how they got to where they were in 98. After hearing about all the different things they achieved, I had a dream, to someday get onto the field and play with a "Star" group. Walking out onto the open air stadium with 20 of my fellow Star United friends was totally awesome. It was quite a moving moment - one of the coolest things I've ever done. Being able to stand in front of thousands of people and perform with Star United was incredible. Standing next to one of the founding baritones and knowing what this meant to him, and to all the other members.......... wow Thanks to everyone who cheered. I hope some of you enjoyed it 1/2 as much as I did.