[2019 Phantom Regiment]

3 hours ago, xandandl said:

I heard that their pit instructor was a dog at getting rid of ticks!

K

[Volunteer Call-Out: Help Phantom Regiment Put It All Away]

Possibly tour leftovers.....which may include PB&J

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

13 hours ago, Mello Dude said:

Any bets he used Jim Wren to throw ideas off of?  I don't think WP has enough self-abasement to consider this.

 

Where the heck do folks come up with this stuff??? Why don’t you ask Will yourself? He’s approachable enough to answer legitimate questions. Oh wait, this isn’t even remotely legitimate. N3VERMIND

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

25 minutes ago, BigW said:

I remember reading a thread on the switch where there were people believing the corps sold its soul to the devil and jumped the shark when they had those horns. They've switched since then, to what? 

I believe they went back to King instruments who is still one of their sponsors.

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

3 hours ago, Continental said:

I thought JD Shaw was a French Horn/Mellophone player?

Bingo! JD was the soloist in Nessun Dorma.

And I believe they stopped playing Jupiter horns a few seasons ago.

[Staff merry-go-round]

4 hours ago, Newseditor44 said:

It’s easy to say that from behind your computer, but there is a lot more to being a director than competitive placements. Why we don’t know are the financial issues the corps is facing, and how that translates to what is happening from a competitive front. It could be that Regiment doesn’t have the resources to be as competitive as they once were. 

No it’s not easy to say it as a 48 year veteran of this organization. You missed the point of my previous posts. I was around for 1986, 1999. it took a change in director to right those ships. I do not feel RV is doing the organization any competitive favors. As I’ve said before, the corps is at a crossroads. Should they become a music outreach program or a competitive DCI corps? I think they have the financial ability to do one or the other but not both.

In today’s DCI if you want to be relevant you must spend what’s necessary to keep up with the Jonses.

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

1 hour ago, phd-student-TTU said:

For me it’s just getting back to sounding like Regiment: dark & lush. Clear theme with accompanying visuals. Set a new foundation and then move into more complex ideas. 

We agree on more things than we think! Frightening eh? You make an excellent point here.

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

12 minutes ago, BigW said:

Reading the thread, some of the facts are very cloudy. No one's sure what the truth is in some of the complaints except for the fact the placement has been dropping and that they fought for their lives to make the cut this season.

 

The big one to me is to make sure the corps financial intake is solid (if it is not) and to make sure staff is paid on the level of other top end corps, (if it is not) Without money, steady money, things don't happen in this activity anymore.

 

The other issue, and it seems to be a very loaded one, is how much of the management and staff should be alumni, and why? It might take someone from outside that perhaps 'gets it more than they might get credit for getting it' about what Phantom represents, but can provide a fresh design outlook and the out of the box ideas to get them out of the rut. Something tells me- but I can't confirm it that things have gotten too 'in-house' in ways that are negative and not positive.

I agree with this. The Regiment is a unique organization , it always has been , with a certain way of doing things.  It’s time to pull in non-Regiment staff to broaden their horizons. I’m a fan of fostering new talent from within but those up and coming people need to learn from tried and true designers. Take established ideas and apply new twists to them.

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

2 minutes ago, Cappybara said:

Drink up Shriners 

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

38 minutes ago, Cappybara said:

Not sure why hobby is in quotation marks as I used no such word (just a pet peeve)

Your "meaningful" ideas (or anyone else's) on DCP aren't going to do anything for Phantom. None. Just like complaining about about Regiment isn't going to do anything for the corps either. One choice isn't superior to the other. Again, this is a discussion board! Not a board meeting room. Nothing said in here is going to influence the corps' decisions.

I cannot stress this enough: your incessant need to control the discourse is getting tiring. No one asked you to become a moderator. 

If you can't see just how subpar both the musical arrangements and show designs are compared to corps placing BELOW them, then I really don't know what to tell you. 

Also, again, I did not use the words "corporate regiment" so please stop using quotes as if I did. Thanks. 

Not a good argument. Put hobby in quotes because I don’t know what this activity means to you. What purpose do you have to demean posters who don’t agree with your opinions? Incessant need to control the discourse?? Really? Your carping isn't tiring?  You have a really high opinion of yourself. I’m not a moderator nor do hope to be. I just call useless, unproductive crap for what it is.  If you are addressing  what you see as the shortcomings of Regiment’s BOD/staff then you are speaking to corporate Regiment. Don’t be coy here.

Peace and love to the world’s largest rodent.

Don’t worry, I’ll stick around to speak truth. 

 

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

12 minutes ago, Cappybara said:

What credibility? I'm just the world's largest rodent! 

 

By the way, this is a discussion board, not an executive board, though I guess with some egos on here it can be easy to confuse the two. Holding anonymous people commenting on DCP to the same level of standard as those on the board of a corps is just adding to the hilarity of this thread. 

Self portrait? Nice. Thank you for the clarification of what this garbage is. DISCUSSION hopefully would bring some MEANINGFUL ideas to the table, but alas you prove me wrong. Some posters see this as a viable means to share ideas on how to help while you consider making demeaning remarks a “hobby”. You’re blaming “corporate Regiment’ for their placement, then address it as such and not rely on a scapegoat. 

[Is anyone becoming bored w/the Avant Garde shows?]

1 minute ago, FlamMan said:

It's been doing that slowly for 25+ years.

And like global warming, it has accelerated!

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

30 minutes ago, Cappybara said:

This thread is comedy. Much like Will Pitts' idea of good show design 

Sorry Cappy, you’re not helping your credibility here.

This thread turned to nonsense because of posters such as yourself.

Everyone is quick to complain about everything Phantom Regiment and calling for Will Pitts’ head. However when someone tries to turn this discussion to constructive brainstorming all you get are crickets or snarky remarks. Basta!

I learned a long time ago in the corporate world, when you go into a meeting if you have an issue with a policy or a particular method or procedure you better bring a valid idea on how to fix it. Otherwise you’re considered a time wasting complainer and no one will take you seriously going forward.

Later.

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

11 hours ago, Rocketman said:

Dave,

Sadly, I'm pretty sure it doesn't work that way and, how could it be verified? As you and I discussed, it may be time for more drastic changes including relocation.

Hello my friend,

I’ve spent several years helping not for profit causes and donations can be designated for specific programs/uses. The organization must record donations as they are designated for auditing purposes. At least that’s how our NFPs were run.

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

3 minutes ago, Phantombari1 said:

I hardly beat up on anyone.  The overly sensitive always play that card.  Until enough people get angry enough to make enough noise the situation will continue to worsen until no one will be able to join the corp. because the corp. will have to fold.

Only then will people wake up and then it will be too late.

I respect your opinion but is “noise” going to turn the current situation around? No. Actions will. All I’m asking is to have people put their money/ideas where their mouths are. Is that wrong or asking too much? Honest question here....not being overly sensitive.

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

21 minutes ago, N.E. Brigand said:

Educational programs are generally quite appealing to donors -- often more so than artistic programs. Phantom may be getting donations/grants that are restricted for such purposes, or they may be getting donations to support general operating that they would not get if they didn't offer educational programs.

Thank you for that info. Perhaps those who feel the design staff needs replacing should earmark their monetary donations “design staff budget” use only.

Send money, send good ideas, not complaints.

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

50 minutes ago, fatbrassboy said:

Agreed. What I don't understand is since PR has the money to fund what is needed, why aren't they hiring top notch staff for all captions? 

The corps puts on multiple instructional camps not only during the marching season but the off season as well. Offering music education to underserved communities is commendable. I’m not privy to the corps’ finances but I’m sure there is significant expense in providing that instruction. Does this expense come out of Regiment’s competitive program? I don’t know, but if it does, they are at a crossroads. As I mentioned in a different thread, it’s time the BOD make the decision to either leave DCI to become a music/arts outreach program or commit to improving their competitive standing within DCI. I don’t think they have the finances to do both at this time.

This is merely speculation on my point but it’s done so without beating up anyone.

SUTA to those who understand what it truly means.

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

1 hour ago, Phantombari1 said:

You're thoughts have been answered, and you were wrong. I'm sure you can find a safe space with other deniers.

I’m feel embarrassed for you as a fellow alum. There is no denying change needs to happen @ Regiment, Continental is one of the first people to address that. Why are you beating up on him/her? Calling people deniers? Is it because we view things a little differently than you? This kind of tribalism is so ###### unproductive and disgusting. Didn’t you learn how to work together with your fellow MMs when you marched? What happened to that life lesson?

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

2 hours ago, EricS said:

Pitts' facebook comment is exactly what anyone would expect.  From a friend who was in PR with him it is exactly what I would expect.  He has a pronounced air of self imposed importance that he thinks is unquestionable.   If in fact is back next year I guess we will see how long it takes for him to take PR down the drain.   Four years is enough of him and and his self aggrandizement.  His music sucks for lack of creativity and he has used the same formula for all four shows, lifted from someone else's scores from years past.  He has the creativity of a ROCK.  

So good luck Phantom Regiment!  You'll need it.

Your opinion is noted and your membership in the “I hate Will Pitts coven” has been extended for another year. Do you even know him? I’ll go out on a limb and ask if you have even marched/or worked for the corps. I can’t imagine you actually were a part of the organization because one of the basic things we learned as MMs/support staff was respect....which you lack in spades. It’s okay to disagree but to attack him personally as you do tells me you have deeper unresolved issues than just Will’s ability to arrange music. Go get help. Soon. 

You need it.

[Staff merry-go-round]

19 minutes ago, mfrontz said:

Just check DCP; all sorts of world championship designers here. 

Ding ding!

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

33 minutes ago, kdaddy said:

Expect more mediocrity (or worse)... from the bottom of a heartfelt Will Pitts's Facebook post:

 

We have work to do, but if it is with these people, it’s worth it. Sorry, DCP trolls... I’m coming back. 

SUTA

Sorry K,

Will is not the problem here. He had more on his plate than needed. If show concept/design was offloaded from his responsibilities I think you’ll see his true potential. He’s a talented man.

Let’s hope the organization realizes they need more “DCI oriented” design staff in 2020.

[Staff merry-go-round]

30 minutes ago, Taylor Levun-Chard said:

All

I think Will Pitts has promise. Pair him with a visionary design head and I think he will flourish. He had too many  responsibilities this year to concentrate his entire focus on arranging. Is that due to budgetary constraints? I don’t know.

This year’s show had tons of potential if only it had more “trending elements” designed into it. Why isn’t marching while playing rewarded more these days? Yes, I’m a dino but to me this is the essence of drum corps.

Now, onto the argument about RV’s hands being tied. Who tied his hands this season???? The title in 2008 was won on the work of Pat Seidling. Since then, unfortunately, the decline in placements rests squarely on RV’s shoulders.

The corps needs someone who is able to work within DCI’s current environment to fight for what Regiment represents and based on given feedback make recommendations to the BOD on what is needed to be more competitive. This is not happening as far as I can see. 

 

 

[Staff merry-go-round]

Mr. Valenzuela needs to go. He has done very little/nothing to further the cause of Regiment’s standing. The BOD needs to make a decision to either go the route of Star and leave DCI to become a performing arts outreach or take DCI competition seriously. Fortunately they are on financial footing to do one or the other but not both. 

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

9 hours ago, Land_Surfer said:

I guess having the highest 12th place score means something.

I remember a time when only SCV, BD, Cadets, Cavies, PR, Madison only mattered.  I guess everyone is a winner in today’s culture / society.  No need to strive for greatness anymore, just status quo... never achieved anything.   

Drinking hatoraid and vodka again I see. 

Answer me this: Do you feel the MMs of Regiment 2019 should be going home ashamed because of placement? It’s not a major newsflash that the BOD and corps director need to turn this ship around like yesterday, but to trivialize the members’ 2019 season with a few badly chosen words is just hurtful.

If all you can see is the competitive side to drum corps, then the activity failed you. 

Kumbaya

[2019 Phantom Regiment]

Congrats on an amazing season of progress. This alum is proud of all the effort you put forth this season. Come back next season and continue that progress.