BDCorno

1. Blue Stars - Very interesting program, best "traditional" drill of the year. Innovative color guard. There's just something about their style I like. 2. Cavs - Entertaining as always. Their show style and approach is as reliable as the sun coming up in the morning. 3. Blue Devils - Not the most "entertaining" on an emotional level, but clearly the best corps in 2010. Intellectual show that introduced new concepts and approaches to show design. 4. Bluecoats - Have established their own style and consistency. I think 2011 could be the year they finally make it over the hump, but they'll have to design a whale of a good show to do it. I'd be surprised if BD does not move toward a more accessible show next season, so it won't be easy to overcome them. 5. Phantom - Enjoyable show throughout, novel entrance was a real plus. 6. Boston - Good ole fashioned drum corps show. Red meat. 7. SCV - Didn't care for the way they chopped up the CFO at times, but well constructed overall. 8. Crown - Best version of Nimrod, beautiful sounds from the horns. Not enough going on to challenge the viewer though. 9. Cadets - Program seemed dated to me...they performed it with their usual exuberance, conviction and energy - bonus points for that. IMHO, they would have done better without Little Geoffrey. He did a great job, but it was distracting instead of an enhancement. 10. Madison - Good to see them back...retro show was entertaining. Now it's time for them to do something new and different.

Well, you had to replace 212 decibels of ear-shattering goodness from the french horn section...good job!

How did we ever have a baritone line then? Hahahahahaha! Walked right into that one, didn't ya???

I didn't figure you did. Someone hit on a truth that gets missed often...the lack of a personality or style fit for an auditionee. I'm sure there is a lot of mad talent that doesn't make BD or other top groups that play or spin just as well as the ones that do, but don't make it due to personality/fit/money/circumstances or even a lack of spots available. But wow...91 rookies is a boatload. I think we had 60-some "rookies" in BD back in 1978 and we hung in there only to fall a bit short. For Cadets to do as well as they did with that many new people is impressive. Bottom line, the top groups simply get the most out of their people, no matter the talent. It's fairly obvious to see who those staffs are, for the most part. That really is the beauty of the activity...it's one in which you can outwork the competition, make more out of less and succeed. Good lessons for life.

If my memory serves me correctly (I wasn't at the show in 1984...was there another one?), the Garfield pileup was 1983 at Whitewater.

Also, "Splooie!!" or "SUTA!!" (any number of times at any number of shows over the years)

78 Blue Devils - "Art West, you pervert!!!" (right before his solo at the start of Spanish Fantasy)

Intended or not, that was one of the better "complisults" of the BD (and of the Cadets, for that matter) I've seen. I've read a lot over the summer, and there seems to be a line of thought among quite a few people that the Cadets are the "smartest, hardest working corps out there". I don't doubt for a second that they are smart and hard working...but do you and the others really think that BD, Cavaliers, Crown, Bluecoats and others don't rival Cadets in those areas? Could we just lose the editorial "est" suffix on this subject? Props to the Cadets...they do work very hard and have proven their credentials, but I hope nobody over there gets insulted that they are "not the most per person talented". Without traveling with ALL the corps and observing their practice habits, rehearsal techniques, teamwork and otherwise, I'd find it almost ludicrous to believe anyone who tries to make this call. I don't think it's a stretch to say that virtually any corps at the pinnacle of the activity exemplifies and achieves at a high level in all aspects of performance and teamwork. If one exceeds the others, it's in small, almost imperceptible increments. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the vast majority of the finalists draw from a regional and/or national talent pool as opposed to a strictly local arrangement. As with any competitive situation, the top 3/4/5 probably get the cream of the crop - but to think that BD gets first choice of talent above and way beyond anyone else is a bit ridiculous. I'm sure Cavs, Cadets and Crown get the first shot at the best in their regions and draw nationally as well. I'm sure the talent quotient is fairly even at the highest levels. "Talent" is an extremely elusive thing to quantify at the highest levels of achievement. Simply playing higher, faster, louder and more musically (not to mention marching, spinning and dancing better) isn't the extent of "talent"...the ability to work hard, focus, push the envelope in terms of your individual performance level and to work as member of a successful team are equally important in the overall "talent" evaluation. If those qualities aren't part of the inner makeup of the marching members, there is no getting it out of them. In fact, the latter qualities are the best predictors of success in terms of winning championships and placing in the top three. Based on that, I think it would be safe to say that the BD - and other corps with long term track records of high placement - can easily classified in both the "smart, hard working" and "highly talented" categories. During my time with the Blue Devils, we always aspired to work better, longer and harder than anyone else. Did we exceed everyone else in those categories? We'll never know, but the results indicated a level of success in those goals. From what I've seen, they haven't deviated a bit from that recipe from 30 years ago. Lots of "talent"? Sure. Smart? Yes. Hard working? Absolutely. However, they don't have the market cornered in those departments...nor does anyone else. Let's just say that BD, Cavs, Cadets, Crown and many other top groups are doing a hell of a lot right! That is about all we could safely assume.

I'll echo and endorse the Chi Running method. It's sooo much easier on the body...one friend referred to it as the "old guys gait", but it's for everyone. It's far more efficient than typical running gait, expends energy more efficiently and is easy on the joints. Don't wait until your joints are gone to look at and evaluated technique....unless marching drum corps has already done that for you! I'd venture to say that the near absence of high mark time has lessened the damage that the youngsters sustain to their joints, though the addition of other movement could add it right back. In any event, get out there and stay dedicated! Sometimes the hardest thing to do is simply get out the danged door! Make the effort, and a half mile out you'll be glad you did.

Walking is pretty easy on the knees, and gives a nice cardio workout. Downside is the amount of time it takes. I started out huffing and puffing my way around the neighborhood back in February, and have made constant progress. Still walk a lot, but have integrated running into the routine. I'm down 45 pounds now, and really haven't modified my diet much. Sure, I eat a bit less because I just don't feel like it. Amazing how that works when you exercise! Speed, stamina, and overall health are great. Just had bloodwork run, and my cholesterol is down 36 points, good cholesterol is up, triglycerides and bad cholesterol are down 25%. It's simple calories in/calories out, nothing real fancy. "The old fashioned way...you burn it!" The Nike Plus system with the Ipod/Iphone or Garmin sports GPS units (they work for walk/run and bikes too) have great capability of tracking your progress. One of the biggest motivators is Facebook. Ran into an old friend there...ex-VK drum major...and we ended up running a half marathon together in June. The ability to encourage each other - AND having a goal to meet - were key in keeping both of us motivated. Find like-minded friends and acquaintances to share with and encourage. If you have nobody for that, let me know. I'll be happy to stay in touch and give encouragement, and will appreciate the same in return. It feels great to feel great! All of the above is in only six months...YOU CAN DO IT TOO! P.S. - You feel old in your mid 20s? Wow, wait until you're in your 50s like me! LOLOL!

Therein lies the answer...reduce the amount of outlets to increase the percentage of seats filled on average. Believe me, I NEVER had illusions that ANY theaters sold out. The two locations I've viewed at were less than half full. DCI shouldn't be expected to guarantee a sellout, but if the show is marketed properly and tickets are pre-sold to establish how many theaters to use, it could work. My preference is in-home PPV, but I have no clue whether it's financially feasible.

Hmmm. I guess if you had a couple coils on the front sideline, I think judges would think twice about parking there and the pit crew would have to be verrrry careful!

Legally, yes - as long as the pedagogues are registered offenders!

http://wimp.com/musicaltesla/

I understand where he's coming from, but money talks. If they could be guaranteed a sellout at a very high price, I think they'd change their tune. We could at least beat out "Furry Vengeance" for gross receipts, I think. Maybe if DCI called it a movie that would change their mind!

As a native Kansas Citian, I'd go for that. The BBQ alone is worth the cost of a trip. If DCI happened to be there at the same time, even better! ;-) I do recall housing was a big problem when they had it there. Something to consider.

Ahem...I said "a little money". $500k isn't little money! <G> Yes, Saturday is HUGE movie business, but honestly - our local theater (which showed the quarters show in one of the "small" theaters on the side) has 15 screens, but Avatar or similar hit will not play on more than two screens. The big stadium screens are pretty well packed on a weekend, but I can walk into at least five or six theaters showing some crappy or out-too-long film with only a dozen or so people in it. As I said, I'd pay $40-50 to see finals on a screen like that, assuming the sound is done properly (ears bleeeding). Average ticket to one of those other flicks - $11 x 12 people in the theater - $132 gross. Even if tickets were only $25, you'd be hard pressed to not beat that figure. If DCI marketed properly and limited the number of outlets, it could work - and be very profitable. The biggest problem we face re/web is whether they can provide HD (at least 720p) quality for a broadcast. My laptop has an HDMI output, which I patch into my 50" big screen and home theater. Sounds pretty good, not fantastic, but the picture is only acceptable on a multi camera view and quite fuzzy from the high camera. I can live with it, but they must find a way to make it better. There is far more money to be had through this channel, as opposed to live audiences. In fact, a venue such as Stanford might be an excellent place to have finals. How about a "sold out" finals with a packed house, and tens of thousands more watching via many different media channels? Then DCI lowers its overhead (face it, LOS is big overkill size-wise for the crowds they pull), presents a better face with a packed house and increases its per-ticket profit through electronic media. It's a matter of "thinking big by thinking smaller"...empty seats never present a great image to either the corps on the field or viewers on tv.

Well first of all, Denver is not "West". Furthermore the "mountain air" is spectacular because there IS NO AIR. No oxygen! ;-) Stanford or San Diego would work just fine. Seattle might even be an option! I went to the San Diego show post-DCI a few years back, and the venue was great. They moved the field closer to the stands and I loved it. Access to the stadium is excellent, the weather fantastic and there is plenty to do outside of the shows.

Well yeah, but blaming it all on entertainment is foolish. Not sure where it all comes from...I found almost everyone entertaining in some way this year. Variety is good. I'm not a "jump on my feet and cheer" guy anyhow. Too many years of judging? LOL.

I figured the seats were not all paid, but the crowd itself was impressive. Regardless the actual number, it was still a multiple of what we're seeing now. SoCal was not really the prime location for the West Coast anyway. I'm sure NorCal would have been a bigger draw due to the BD/SCV aspect, and a more central location that would have taken 7-8 hours off a drive from the Northwest. My basic point is that DCI needs to move it around, and that Denver (nice as it is, I love it!) is NOT a substitute for having it on the West Coast. PPV might be expensive, but I think even if DCI loses a little money to start it will be worth it in the long run. I've subscribed to the webcasts for two years now, but the quality is not where it needs to be. Bandwidth can be an issue for some (though not me), and for the non-techies, trying to hook a computer to a TV is a non-starter. Maybe PPV via theater is the answer...I paid $18 to see quarters. Didn't like the cost but I had to see it. Attendance wasn't great, but it was in the middle of band camps out here, it was on a work day and started in the mid afternoon. Despite that fact, I'd pay $40-50 to see finals (assuming the volume was there) in a theater. If DCI played their cards right and marketed properly, sufficient revenue would exist to convince some theaters to show finals on a Saturday at the expense of one screen in their complex. I hope that DCI gets over its stubborn desire to get live attendees at the expense of a potentially large revenue stream. It's a chicken and egg situation, one that I think they have backwards at the moment.

25,000? I don't know the exact numbers from Pasadena, but knowing how large the stadium is, I'd estimate that crowd at close to 40,000. Keeping finals in a place with no draw other than the fact that finals is held there is just bad planning. I'm sure it's great for the DCI people, since they can walk from the office to the stadium, but don't they realize it's not so convenient or attractive for quite a few people? All this talk of the "lack of entertainment" being the reason for smaller crowds is like saying that flooding is the cause of hurricanes. It obscures the real causes. Let me toss a couple of causes out there: 1. Holding finals year after year in a city with little to offer other than air conditioning and an indoor stadium. Don't get me wrong, Indy is a nice town but it isn't considered a "destination" from a tourism standpoint. 2. Shrinkage of the activity causing smaller crowds, not the other way around. Let's get real here...the core fan base are family of MMs or alumni. The less people march in corps, the less of a core fan base there will be. Not a hard concept to wrap your head around. 40 years ago there were hundreds of corps. Now there's less than 50. Do the math, the answer is right there, big as day. 3. Failure to leverage new media in broadcast and advertising of the activity. The lack of a pay per view showing of finals is almost criminal. All alumni are "low hanging fruit" that could be drawn back in via outreach such as the webcasts and PPV opportunities. Energizing those potential customers would grow ticket sales for both local show and finals, not to mention provide a new revenue stream. Broadcast is nice, but live is still king - so chances are viewers will attend live shows and/or finals at some point. Keeping finals in one location limits the opportunity to harvest the potential crop of attendees. In this economy, expecting people in certain areas of the country to continually shell out big money - and travel thousands of miles - to attend DCI finals is a recipe for the woes we're seeing. Bring the show to the people...they WILL come. Look at Pasadena. 4. Shunning of the West Coast. Finals in Pasadena supposedly was a record crowd. DCI rewards this by signing with Indy for ten years. Doh! Maybe someone should take a clue in that there is a market out West and do something about it! ONE finals in 39 years? Start rotating championships among 3-4 locations (Northeast, Midwest, South, West...and Denver is not West, thank you very much) and boost regional shows with a concentration on the serially underserved Western market. 54 million people in CA, OR, WA, AZ, ID and NV...one finals in 39 years. Unbelievable. 5. Institute some sort of program to build the activity from the ground up. I don't think G7 is quite the prescription. IMHO, I think the explosion of youth sports and associated competitive programs have eroded a substantial part of our activity. Over the past 30 years, drum corps has responded by allowing the lower level, "training" corps to dwindle and die. Now it's a decidedly "professional" activity that is basically capped at less than 7,000 participants nationwide. Add in an insular attitude in regards to championships location and a curious bent toward appeasing the HS marching band crowd - instead of reenergizing former drum corps members (many of whom have kids of marching age currently) - and it's an odd way of building an activity. Drum corps must begin to make itself relevant to the young (and I mean the young, not high school and college age kids). Many districts have cut elementary and/or junior high school programs. Why isn't DCI thinking of providing opportunity in those areas? Its an outreach that will not only benefit HS music programs, but also groom a new generation of drum corps performers. Face it, drum corps is getting its clock (and cupboard) cleaned by youth sports. Many of these kids do sports for a few years and realize it's not for them. Are we there to provide alternatives? Not really. The activity is really focused on the high school age kids and beyond. Building a robust and relevant youth musical training infrastructure is the way out of the wilderness - not more company fronts, 'park and blows' or crowd pleasing gimmickry. All the complaints and bluster about "entertainment" are a waste of time. Treating a symptom does nothing to cure the disease. Your average little league, soccer or Pop Warner game has little if any "entertainment" value. But parents religiously and vociferously support and attend those games. Their hearts and their dollars go to those activities because they have a personal involvement and/or attachment. Drum corps could be as entertaining as a major "stadium level" rock act, but still not gain support from this demographic, as there is little emotional connection. Making drum corps relevant again revolves around growing its value to young families and their children. Absent the ability to do this, drum corps is doomed to being crowded out by a myriad of other options. Let's face the facts...drum corps is and will continue to be a niche activity. Trying to compete with mass media, video games, pop music and such, based on some nebulous ability to "entertain" is almost laughable. It's time drum corps "got in on the ground floor" and started growing itself from places in which it can compete...a) with the young kids and young families in need of wholesome, educational opportunities not provided by schools; and b) as an alternative to youth sports programs. Once that is accomplished, the other little picky things will take care of themselves. As has been said "politics is local"...same for drum corps. Start bringing the activity back to a place of benefitting the local communities, and it will prosper. Asking for emotional, material and monetary support from the public without tangible benefit is a battle we're sure to lose. Sorry for the long post, but this has been heavy on my heart for a while now and I had to get it out. Thanks...

I would imagine they will engage those who like their program, and frustrate those that don't. Take that to the bank!

Interestingly enough, Cavs (39.1) nipped them by a tenth, and Cadets were tied with BD for second (39.0)...

M&M/Visual stacks up thusly: Blue Devils - 14 Cadets - 8 Cavaliers - 8 SCV - 6 Phantom - 4 Troopers - 3 Madison - 2 (interesting, the two years they won!)

Well Sam, it looks like BD have the advantage in GE as well: BD - 12 Cadets - 10 SCV - 9 Cavs - 7 Phantom - 2 Madison - 1 Star - 1 27th - 1 Santa Clara won or shared the first four GE titles (tied with Madison in 1974), Blue Devils won or shared the most recent four (ties with Cadets in 2007). Santa Clara (87-89), Cadets (83-85) and Cavs (00-02) all had streaks of three straight.