BDCorno

Well, for starters they have ditched their System Blue horns and are on Conn-Selmer made horns. That has really adjusted the EQ overall for the horns. Chip Crotts also brings a more aggressive and in-your-face vibe to the horns, which I really love. Nice to see a Jim Ott-ish approach for the first time in about 45 years. I did attend the rehearsal and uniformed performance at Grand Terrace “blind”. General impression for me was positive but there is so far to go with the show. They are really at stage one in the active deployment of the show. Major ideas and concepts have been blocked in. Once they get past tonight’s show, then they begin going through this show with a fine tooth comb, a process that will last until they arrive at Indy. The program is a little disjointed and the flow isn’t quite where it needs to be but they will get the transitions ironed out, and refine the drill ideas. I anticipate some moderate changes in the drill, feels a little too “big linear” for me at the moment. There is no question the move to 165 members has had an impact though. The field seems quite a bit more congested than in the past, and I kind of like the negative space that a group of say, 135 provides. I’m not sure if this is a temporary thing and they’ll roll it back but if they don’t, hopefully this is as big as it gets. Any bigger, it’s just gonna look like marching band. At any rate, they are off to a good start. One thing for sure is, BD staff will make sure they challenge the kids to the bitter end. It’s no coincidence how many times they have pulled off a title win at the 11th hour. They are literally improving until they get on the bus for finals. That’s the essence of the BD aura.

Still seeking...

Interested...what side of 141? I'd consider along or very nears the aisle nearest the 50. Thanks!

Could you explain the "rave club" reference? Not getting it.

I was in there! What a night.

Finals, finals and semis, or all three rounds. Any quantity, what you got? Thanks! PM me.

...or maybe it was the beer talking. 🍻

I don't know, maybe I got lucky but it was quite a bit better than the hot dogs. I'l generally grab dinner at Shapiro's anyway.

There is a thing called DCA. You can march till the cows come home. No need to raise the age limit.

Dude, the pork tenderloin sandwich rocks.

It's a tough spot. Extending membership has its own challenges. Groups like BD, who routinely have ageout numbers in 20-30-40 range, are looking at another bus, and additional infrastructure/feeding/show related issues. I don't know if there is a perfect answer, though I'd be shocked if 100% of eligible would take advantage. Life goes on, as do every person's situation...especially when you're young. As harsh as it sounds, just let it be and move on. That's just the way life works at times, and there is no way to shield ourselves from the inevitable challenges of life. This is a perfect example of that. It's how you respond to the challenge and move on that is important.

Lost in the "extended eligibility" discussion...what about kids just coming of age/experience/proficiency, that would have been in the mix for a spot in 2021? Now, the natural flow of available spots has been disrupted by the change in policy. Gotta feel good for those age-outs that get a second chance, but it's going to limit/destroy a year of eligibility for others. I really doubt that all potential age-outs will still march next year, as life goes on and forward, but I feel bad for the kids unintentionally caught up in the situation. Maybe they could bump, or ignore membership limits for one year, allowing an equal amount of spots to the "grandfathered" members? Just a thought.

Yeah, there was a very healthy helping of angry shows. Pretty unfortunate, and I agree that we could use a broader palette of emotions from the activity at large.

My 2010-2019 rankings: 1. 2014 Felliniesque 2. 2017 Metamorph 3. 2012 Cabaret Voltaire 4. 2015 Ink 5. 2019 Ghostlight 6. 2010 Through a Glass Darkly 7. 2016 As Dreams are Made On 8. 2018 Dreams + Nighthawks 9. 2013 ReRite of Spring 10. 2011 The Beat My Heart Skipped

Bumpity bump

I have a pair of seats in a fantastic location for SEMIFINALS and PRELIMS: Section 139, Row 16, Seats 15-16. Seats are right at the 40 yard line, excellent height and proximity to the field for both visual and sound. $89 each for semis, $59 each for prelims.

Messaged ya

As a stand-alone remedy, I'd agree with you. It had better be part of a larger plan to reorganize, revitalize and repair functional deficiencies. Opening up the pool of potential membership candidates is absolutely a step in the right direction, based on recent challenges in that area. Only time will tell whether this is part of a plan, or a desperate, "swing for the fences" move.

Yeah, alumni whose opinion I respect were very impressed. Good sign, this time of year. Programs usually develop slowly, mostly skeletal during June, and really kick in when they get to the Midwest. Can pretty well tell, by the time they hit the RCC show, if they're legit. Would love to see a video, but might just bite the bullet for another week and see it in uniform on BloMarching, then in person in two weeks.

Boy, that simple description brings it all back. Baking all day in the sun at Mars, then chilly, wind-whipped evening rehearsals...annnnnd the sand fleas, mostly dirt field and ankle-breaking cracks and dropoffs. Good times! 😄

*June* 27.

With all due respect, SCV on top there? They really didn't have much at all. Very well constructed program, great GE, excellent performances, but they weren't in the top half of the top 12 in "drill".

This is one of the bigger problems. DCI and all the corps are separate organizations. DCI's only power play available is to suspend a group's ability to compete in DCI sanctioned shows...and that may even be dubious. "Non-tour" events (pretty much any event that's not a regional or TOC) could potentially allow a sanctioned group to perform. It's not quite like the NFL or NBA in which there are such large amounts of money involved that a league would have that kind of leverage. It's very obvious that DCI has taken a "hands off" approach while the activity has partially cleaned up its own messes in the past couple of decades. Too often though, bad actors such as GH and at minimum, very poor managers such as Blenski were still involved with the activity. DCI could have applied pressure and achieved some change, but I doubt the type of pressure they could apply would dislodge any of these types, outside of ones already on their way out. Each group is its own corporation, with leadership, boards of directors and other officers. Unless DCI groups decide to incorporate formal and legal oversight of their organizations by DCI management, it's probably going to end up that change will happen by internal means, peer pressure (social media) and/or bad press. It's a sad situation, but it's reality.

While I agree with the thought, it actually is the biggest problem in the world. Getting outraged, then creating bigger outrage via social media, in response to otherwise trivial indiscretions is the way of the world now. The world has lost the ability to "blow things off" that have no real impact on life. EVERYTHING is in play, and it's only getting worse.