GaryTrooper

So is this where the b-men hang or this is thread for official practice time information only?

Kingsmen in Lynn Mass 1979 Oops... Sorry.. I thought you were from the other side of country....

DOH!

oops...

So aaaa. I just checked out your 2008 tour schedule... Tell if I am seeing things... Is your tour over six weeks long? Is that standard these days or just the way the Troopers do it now? I have been out of the game for some time... In 81 I thought I was lucky to be able to do a west coast tour and an east coast tour in one summer. Thanks...

Where does the amplifiers power source come from? Can you plug in an extension cord or does it have to be a battery? Does the amplification rule have any limitation to wattage? I can see a future DC stage like on Who’s Last American Tour in Boulder in 1981 where there are hundreds speakers stacked 50 feet high! Turn that up to 11 and add a little distortion… See what reaction you’ll get. Though it may be hard to set up and break down in the allotted time. Insert that guys Avatar of the guy getting blown away sitting in front of a speaker or TV or something here.

No Problem.. We forgot the 80's.... Might be a good thing....

Commercial revised: 1965. Intense corp members from different corps beat the carp out of each other after a show. Local runs to the phone to call police. When sirens are herd all involved run to the nearest pub, have beer, and become life long friends. 1975. Corp members look for the nearest pub and just happen to see a phone in the corner of the bar and wonder if they should call someone… Naaaa… 1992. Bus pulls up. Members file out, into the gym, then to the phones to call home. 2008. Bus pulls up. Members file out--cell phones at their ears--into the gym, and grab the spot closest to the plugs to recharge their cell phones. 2010. Corner of the field has 100 small solar panels each charging an individual cell phone during practice on hot sunny day. 2012. One big solar panel has 100 cell phones charging in corner of the field on a hot sunny day.

I am not sure... But it does kind of look like him... He was a very talented guy...

This would definitely be convenient. Also finding friends from other corps after you did your show… I remember spending lots of time walking around looking for friends from other corps. I totally hear what you are saying. I was downhill skiing the other day and the kids all had cell phones talking away telling each other where they were on the hill every five minutes like they were using walky-talkies. It was amazing to me… Life is much different now…

Ya mean emotion like when the vibe players had to the carry the vibes with straps to his or her back and they were bouncing up and down with their knees TOTALLY Jamin out to the grove of the music and the vibes were bouncing up and down it time with them and they were all over keys!!!! Like that?

I was 17 on my first tour... After each show we would find someone to buy us beer and then we hung out with our corps family :smile: I was miles away from my parents and LOVIN it!!!! You should have seen us have a free day in New Orleans... Callin my parents was the last thing on my mind.

Yes that is right about Eric F. Blain Hechart I think only played bari... But that was a long time ago..

Yes Jane Jetson had a cellphone

What is the average time length of a “fan”? A fan generation if you will. Parents who are “Fans” because their kids are in the activity are only around for what… 3 to 6 years? Die hards who get the bug have longer hang time… All of us… My parents went to finals for years after I was no longer in the activity until one day. That day was when their old method of obtaining tickets and reservations was revamped and they were out of the technical loop to figure it out the new method. They are now in there late 80’s and still following it somewhat but they stopped going to finals because things changed for them. Older people get in habits that make things easy for them to do what they want without having to rethink the process each time. The short fan generation time (expect for the die hards) tends to lend itself to change quicker which alienates the older folks. There needs to be a way for the change needed to attract the young to incorporate the need for the “elders” to relate to. No simple task. This is the challenge DCI doesn't have in my mind. Always looking for what is new and what needs to change. I don't feel this is a malicious act it is the mentality our society as whole...

Aahh… Once again the balance of the good and evil of technology… On one hand you have the no cell phones idea of less interruption means more focus on the task at hand. Winning… Staying focus on what you have committed to do. On the other you have individual freedoms and the convenience of coordinating ones free time on tour. Is this a states rights or federal case issue? Sounds like it should be up to each corps to decide. I think we will see a reduction in the amount of payphones as times goes on because of cell phones. I went to visit an old DC buddy a couple of years back in Mass. When I got to his town I could not find a phone both any place to call him. I had to ask store owners if I could use the phone to call. It took a few tries before a store owner would actually dial the number for me and hand me the headset... Talk about feeling like a fossil… I bet that the more intense, focused corps will have rules like no cell phones or things that might distract from the overall strength or focus of the corp if they see that as being a problem… It won’t come without problems thought.

Isn't that what DC is all about?

Not planned.. Spur of the moment...

Yes I took the photo... That is of Munchkin... We were bus seat partners for three years... I was doing MM after my age out year. I was in the press box for perlims. He saw me in the box with the camera up to my face and started waving. He jumped and I got it... It always seemed to capture the sprit of the B-men for me all these years...

Yes I believe that is Larry...

Before a Bridgemen practice in Miami 83... Bridgemen snare line practice mid summer in Bayonne 1984 Prelims warm up in Atlanta 1984

Not the same.. This Blain was a barri... His good buddy was in the snare line.. Eric... You must know him...

Thsoe practices were in like 102 degree heat... On a black top parking lot... It's just an old photo... You know the quality of those old box Kodak camers... Thanks..

Trooper practice 1981 Front Row: Blain, Guido, Animal Back Row: Blue Bus

Wow!!! Your description of the man just sent shivers up my spine... and many fine memories... What is it about a man who pushes you to your best even though you sometimes hate it while it is happening. But in the end it is what is respected later on... I wish I had the opportunity to see the man in the prime of his time. Off topic I know but I hey… What is a little Jim Jones tribute among friends….