dkpath96

Jeez, you mean those big silver horns weren't just props? I swear all I heard at Allentown was synth bass - made me wonder why some corps even marched tubas. In all seriousness, no offense to you tuba players - I would not survive carrying one of those around all day, let alone have to play it - but I really didn't enjoy the synth. I'd rather hear the big horns, no matter how good or bad they were! p.s. my vote went to Crown - they had a great music book.

I agree, Mark, it didn't sound like anger to me, just jubilation. What's so wrong with co-champions, and why do people say that it diminished Regiment's win?? Was the same said of BD? Its not like our shows would have been any better or worse had either corps won outright or taken second. It was an awesome performance, and I'm sure the BD vets would say the same about their show. And the camaraderie between the corps afterwards was simply amazing. We enjoyed watching each other's shows and there was no animosity, just pure joy and amazement, on both sides. So if you think that either victor was diminished by the tie in '96 you are simply wrong, especially if you weren't on that field. Now that I've said that, I'm glad there's a tie-breaking system, but my point stands as this - each show was amazing, and no matter what happens in the end, everyone is proud of their final product and the work they put into it. Just listen to the interviews they had on the dci.org video.

Its been 11 years since I marched corps, and that day-after feeling can still bug me, it was that strong. I guess it's best summed up as loneliness - that first night after so many nights on buses and gym floors with a ton of people is just too quiet. And even though I was with family and friends, I was lonely and in a state of shock. Imagine all that work, all that intensity, all that effort and emotion that has built your show up from the scratch paper it started on to the amazing final product, just evaporating, never to be performed again! It's just mind-boggling. It wasn't just the day after - that feeling of never being able to assemble that special group of people again never leaves, especially when you age out. That was one of the saddest moments of my life. Getting to scream "I AM SPARTACUS!" was very therapeutic, however!!

Simply amazing...

Wow, I am so glad I made that last-minute decision to drive 4 hours to see "Spartacus" at Allentown last week! Way to go Regiment, this is a show for the ages! SUTA!

That's one of the best features of DVDs today - to get the full effect of a corps GE, you gotta watch the high cam, in my opinion.

I agree... But thanks for informing me about TBP, they will be my next target of appeal.

I don't know if this post is legal under the guidelines of this forum, so if it is not, my apologies. I am looking for a high-cam recording of the 1996 Phantom Regiment show, preferably finals week. I've e-mailed DCI about it, and have e-mailed PR about it, and haven't heard from either. Does anyone know where this video might exist, if it does? I know DCI has it, they made their finals video multi-cam using clips from it. PM me if you know anything. I am willing to pay for it and all that legal mumbo. Thanks!

I had marched two years with my college band before entering drum corps. When I came back in August from Orlando, I was three or four days late to band camp. These days are spent mostly teaching basics and learning the old fight songs, etc. so I only missed learning a few sets of our opener. Well our director made me an alternate. I only marched if there was a hole from injury/absence. That really fried me for a long time. I thought he was anti-drum corps. In retrospect, I was one of the very few that he could count on to jump in and learn one person's drill in a day or two and march the hole competently. Now I understand what he intended, at least that's my interpretation. He made me a section leader the following season after I aged out of PR. And people thought I was nuts, running back to my set every time and never relaxing until told to, etc... all those awesome habits that corps drills into you.

Most difficult single performances... hmm. I'd say Madison 1996 - when Regiment took the field the skies opened and drenched us. When we heard the "Are the judges ready?" the crowd went nuts and off we went, in the torrential rain. I could barely hear myself due to the rain pinging on the helmet and horn, and unfortunately I wore glasses, which got very difficult to see out of. I remember hearing the guard heaving and grunting and working so hard to move their flags. And the percussion fought so hard to keep sounds coming from their drums, having so much water laying on them. The timpanis at the beginning of Shost 5 sprayed water three feet in the air, it seemed, when Jer pounded on them! We had one of the most amazing crowd reactions that night, though. In retrospect, one of my all-time favorite shows, and definitely one that helped the corps strengthen its 'defiant heart'! I always thought finals week performances were the toughest on me, emotionally, especially my first year. That and we were in Florida. All shows in the south in July and August are tough...

Well now I know I wasn't the only one that didn't drink and never will. Sure felt bad for those folks who would show up to morning block hung over! (nah, they deserved it.) Anyhow, one of my favorite free days was in Rockford in June 1996, when a bunch of us rookies spent the day at the mall racing go-karts and almost killing each other. One guy decided to turn his car around and really make things interesting, but he got kicked out of the place for that. That night we watched the movie 'Twister' and it freaked me out, because here we were in tornado alley (I'm from PA and dreaded tornadoes at the time - now I love watching Storm Chasers). Wouldn't you bet we had to drive back to the corps hall (home away from home) that night in a raging thunderstorm. I was just waiting for the bus to be flung off the road by a funnel cloud. The free day in Boston in '96 was cool - that was my first time there and we did about everything we could do in one day in that city. I remember eating a huge burger at Cheers and regretting it later. The corps stayed at an awesome school in Lynn that had a big lake beside it, and a few of us got chased by a big swan or goose. Another favorite free day of mine was in '97 when a few of us went to the Rockford Municipal golf course and played 18 holes in the blistering heat. We sucked but it was so much fun. I borrowed a set of clubs from my host family and the only club I could hit well all day was the 1-iron. It's amazing how bad your golf game gets when you're marching corps!

Just found out about this forum the other day! This is a great place to talk about corps. I aged out with PR in 1997, so it's been over 10 years since I've been a part of DCI other than watching shows in Pittsburgh and Allentown. I can't believe how much time has passed since I marched. It was such a powerful experience for me that it still seems like last summer. Those of you still marching, enjoy it all while it lasts! Those of you considering marching, go for it - you'll never regret it. Those of you that have marched, will probably agree with me.