Marianne

With all due respect, I hope you reconsider that as a blanket statement for everyone. In my case, I "could have" marched Troopers in the late 70's, if I were able to turn back the clock. Mom detested my involvement in drum corps, and eventually made me quit when I was 16. Ten years later, she was fully supportive of my sister as she marched Troopers. I finally confronted her and asked her why she had such a double standard; not supporting me, but supporting my sister. Her answer was that she would have let me march in the Troopers, she just hated BK. Hearing that news at age 26 was just a few years too late. To think I could have been a part of the legendary 79 corps (which would have been my age out year), and could have been a member of the famed "Black B****es (cause there is no doubt in my mind I would have worked my butt off to make that rifle line)....well.....I guess you get the picture. The only consolation I can give myself over the "could have's" that didn't happen is, if I rewrote history to place myself there, that means I would have displaced someone else from that line, thus denying them the experience. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Wow, all these photos of early 70's MWCGC guards brings back a lot of memories! Our winter guard took a few trips out there each winter. I was even secretly hoping our pic would pop up here, when I saw all the familiar guards' pics. But, oh well. We didn't exactly make any waves when we appeared. All the 83-84 WGI Pics are great too. I was able to attend those two shows. Can't say I remember a whole lot of 84 though, as I was on drugs at the time.....car accident on the way to the airport delayed our trip by a day, and I sat in the audience with a broken collar bone and all done up on pain killers. Sis sat next to me with a newly sewn up ear that had been slashed open and had to have a plastic surgeon's attention. I remember we were both a bit nervous of getting bumped and banged up in the crowd. So, since it was her right ear, and my left shoulder, we sat with our injured sides to each other so we could sort of form a protective barrier from the crowd. LOL. From that year I remember most....City Slickers hospital/doctor theme. One portion of the show they put their arms in slings and did one handed equipment work. Sis and I both laughed as I said, "Hey, at least I could do that!" I also remember Royal Guardsmen's shiny wigs (must have been intensified visual with the drugs. LOL). And Emerald Marquis Pirate theme. So now you know designers, if you ever want to design a show that someone on drugs will remember 24 years later.......

I think it takes courage to express your thoughts. It wouldn't be wrong or surprising that many who are close to these young ladies are supressing feelings of anger. Yes, they did do a stupid thing, and paid a terrible price for it. I just want those who are starting to feel guilt over these feelings of anger that its ok to be angry, frustrated, or whatever definition you want to put on those emotions. It ok to be angry, cause your anger comes out of your love for them. If you didn't love them, or care about what happened to them, then you wouldn't care about their actions. I know I went through those thoughts when my sister took a header off her horse nearly two years ago, and I spent the day of my birthday in the ICU waiting room wondering if my sister would make it. She did survive, but with a brain injury. She's still recovering, and probably will never be the same. She'd been warned countless times to not even ride, as she'd suffered several concussions, had serious neck/shoulder/back problems from previous tumbles off the horse (that resulted in three previous ambulance rides to the ER). She'd been warned by her doctor that at any time she could end up dead or crippled with the next tumble off her horse. But she continued to ride, and ride wrecklessly. So yes, I was angry with her for being so careless with her life. So allow yourself the anger and frustration. There's nothing wrong with you if you do. Allow yourself those emotions, so you can free yourself of it, rather than letting it fester inside you. Being angry/frustrated doesn't make you heartless. It just shows how much you care.

I didn't conciously look for myself, but just happed to see Mom and I after Trooper's performance in 2004. We were both wearing Trooper shirts, and were easy to find since we were in the wheelchair row. I don't know for sure, but it could even be that the camera focused on us cause we were easy to pick out in that manner. They didn't zoom in or anything, but we were sort of in the center of the shot. It seems reasonable the cameraman might look for Trooper fans to focus on just after their performance. When we got the DVD's I did look in hopes to see the Cavie's DM directing the corps in the victory concert (or was it for America? Geeze, only three years hence, and already the details are foggy). Cause for sure I could have been in the shot then. He was standing on the seat next to me (can't remember now if it was right next to me, or two seats away). I do remember I could have reached up and grabbed his leg if I wanted to. ^0^

I think designing a new uni would be a really cool Project Runway challenge. If they can have challenges to design Sasha Cohen's costume, a mail carrier's uniform, etc, why not see what they can come up with for a corp's new look?

I reported my webcast problem, and was ignored. My sister reported her problem (same day, same problem), and not only got an answer, she got a refund. I re-reported my problem, and was re-ignored. My sis had a platinum membership, and casually mentioned she wasn't so inspired to renew for next year. I guess that's what inspired them to answer her. I didn't have a platinum membership. Just tried out the webcast for the Stanford show. I casually mentioned I wasn't as inspired to get Semi's after all the problems from Stanford. Also not as inspired to get the platinum membership for next year, unless I could be convinced the quality would be better. I guess they were only concerned about the people they already had in their platinum clutches, and didn't care diddly for those who were only "one timers" checking it out. I guess they aren't all that interested in bringing in more platinum members for next year. That, or they aren't all that convinced themselves they can pull off a quality webcast next year.

Maybe they already packed the microphones off to Pasadena. They're set up there, and that's how far away from the sound we are.

I dont WANT to manage my frigging account....OK. Its managed already. Take me to the #### webcast already!!!

Well, at least you got a webcast box. I can't get past the account management screen no matter how many times I click the webcast link.

Same problem here. I click on "watch webcast" and it takes me to my "account management" page.

Nope, more like wait five minutes. B) I've been to every DATR since its inception in 1972. The only time I wasn't in the stands was when I was on the field. Take it from a DATR veteran....its almost a tradition for it to rain some time during the show at DATR. But it usually passes through quickly.

And old fat girls too! :P Playing the newest version of Ricochet here.....

Rained out....maybe they should come up with a better name for the show than TIDEWATER SUMMER MUSIC GAMES. :)

Well, I actually split two decades (68-74). But since I spent more time in the second decade, and would have aged out in '79 if given the chance, I selected the 70's.

Now I know what the judges did with all those points they've been holding back from the Troopers!!

You piqued my curiosity, so I went Googling. You're probably just as good at Googling as I am, so you may have already come across this. But maybe this will give you a little info: http://www.dci.org/about/fame/view_member....3f-4af843dd3ffa

Division I 1 The Cavaliers 78.550 2 Bluecoats 78.350 3 Glassmen 69.450 4 Crossmen 69.000 5 Troopers 63.250 6 Southwind 62.350

Link isn't working for me. Am I the only one?

You know, I have to say I have really appreciated and enjoyed reading this thread. Before I continue, please allow me a disclaimer that I intend to share a “journey of enlightenment” if you will, as I share feelings of a person 20+ years younger than I am now that aren’t very flattering at first. But then, that’s what enlightenment is all about, isn’t it? Learning, growing and admitting your mistakes. I can remember back when I first heard of 27 folding, and of what the sign said, I thought the corps was basically folding cause they didn’t make finals. Sure, that’s true in part. But I felt that the underlying reason was driven by a temper tantrum attitude, meaning, “if you don’t like us enough to allow is into Finals, then screw you, we don’t want to play with you anymore.” Now, I seriously can’t remember why I came up with that reasoning. I had very little direct contact with folks in the activity by that time. I doubt it was something I’d read, unless it was a comment by one of my pen pals at the time. Or maybe it was from a girl I used to march with who had actually marched one year with 27 (can’t remember what year though), and came back with some bitter memories. Or, I shudder now to think I could have even come to that conclusion all on my own. I was basically raised by a born skeptic to be a skeptic, and I struggle to this very day to try and wrestle that trait out of my daily vision of the world. All I can remember now is, 27 had always been one of my all-time favorite corps, and when I heard of the corps folding, and the underlying attitude I thought had driven it, I was very, very disappointed. More in the attitude, than in the actual loss to the activity. Over the years, that feeling of disappointment waned, but the memory of it was still there. While no longer a flaming fire of disappointment, the pilot light was basically still lit. It grew weaker each year, but there was always a small flicker still lit. My respect for the 27 Organization, and the incredible quality product they put on the field never waned though. To this day the 27th Lancers remain one of my all time favorite corps. Over time, I chose to remember the 27th Lancers for what they put on the field, instead of for the disappointing exit from the activity. Reading this thread has been so enlightening. Reading about your personal experiences, of the hardships you faced, endured and fought through to even put a corps on the field has given me a new found respect for each and every person who took part in making it happen. I can’t begin to say how grateful I am to every member of the 27th Lancers who have shared themselves in this thread, and for all of the other members who shared themselves by performing on the field every year. In sharing your heartbreak over that final year, and the devastating decision to fold, I can finally say that the pilot light has been permanently extinguished.

:D I love it when people ask others to "bare with me." All I can say is, "trust me, you don't want me to!"

I think you handled it well so far. To ease your mind from future incidents, I like the idea of putting one person in charge. Or if the one person is uncomfortable with that idea, tell them to take it upon themselves as a group to put one person in charge of house security for the day on a rotating basis. Heck, maybe even put up a greaseboard to post who is in charge for the day. As a group, they then look out for each other by reminding the one in charge to lock up. And of course the one who locks up takes responsibility. Good teamwork building IMHO. Also, I'd inform the corps director (or whoever is in charge of coordinating housing), that there was an incident involving the security of your home. Its up to you if you want to go into detail. But I'd tell the person that while the incident was resolved/discussed amonst yourselves and no further action is neccessary, you're giving them a "courtesy FYI" that if it happens again you will no longer be able to house them. Doing it that way (IMHO) shows the kids you are counting on them regainging your trust, and that you aren't trying to hold a grudge and get them in trouble. And also, that way the housing person isn't suddenly blindsided with a "I want them out of my home immediately" thing. They are probably counting on those spaces you provide them, and if they suddenly have no where to put them it could put them in bind. This way at least they have a heads up just in case.

Mike Boo's Fanfare column from May 13, 2005: The First Pit Performer and the Birth of the Pit

If I'm reading right, several of you are assuming a live coverage of the season, having the TV cameras update the viewers at home as it happens. I don't think that would work. Sure, we as fans would love it, but the general tv audience probably could care less. And the general tv audience is who we'd have to sell this series to. AFAIK, none of the top shows (Survivor, Amazing Race, Apprentice, etc) air the series as it happens. The real show films, finishes, packs up and everyone goes home. The editors take over, create their "story" and then the show airs, usually after everything is done and over with. Even those with "live" finales usually have everything but the finale over with months before it actually hits the TV. I know with the cheerleader shows I mentioned earlier, the filming followed each team from auditions to going to Nationals. Even though I'm not passionate about cheerleading, I watched the shows and then looked up the teams on the Net to see how they had fared at their Natiionals. No reason why folks couldn't become enamoured with a corps featured on a show like this, and look up their website for more info.

I think a good approach would be in the reality tv realm. Something along the lines of Cheerleader Nation or the more recent Cheerleader U. Follow a corps (or for that matter, a winter guard or percussion ensemble) through the audition process, the spring training, etc. Pick a few individuals to focus on so the viewer finds someone to root for. And profile what that person goes through from auditon to Finals (and of course have the obligatory person who was cut but is determined to make it "next year.").

I never marched in band. But then, I was a guard gal too! I tried all my three years to get our band to start a color guard. They didn't see a need for one. The year after I graduated, they started a "tall flag corps." I did play viola all through my school years, starting with 4th grade. What's intersting though is, even though I had all that exposure to music by being in the orchestra, the most memorable classic pieces I heard came from my exposure to drum corps.