MuddySpikes

Thanks, Mike...I signed up.

Does anyone have any idea when or even if the Kingsmen plan to re-open their forum?

When the board comes back on-line, check the numbers. The drumline was pretty much all former Kingsmen as was the color guard. The hornline was pretty much 50/50. OK...not quite an even split...I concede that point...but the horns.......check it out.

Very small and picky point...they played at the semi finals. They took no thunder away from anyone. The Kingmen executed and were very well received.

And you know this, how?

I couldn't agree more, and it was a very real tribute to all who marched and all who supported them to have 280+ members rise above anything that could/would cause problems and field one of the most memorable of the alumni corps.

Just as an aside....the original Kingsmen were very serious about their heritage and legacy. There were times that the attitude bordered on being insufferable. There was always a kind of barrier between many of the originals and among some of the "guests." I believe most got through the adventure joyfully, but I also believe many were glad when it was over.Bottom line is the entire effort was admirable. Whatever differences existed were for the most part shelved for the good of the KAC and for the ultimate reward...once again marching in a world venue.

Maybe the members could be tagged for a fuel surcharge.

No doubt. Maybe the DCI could handicap the west and forbid them from practicing outside until May 1.

The KAC was very much a mix of many many drum corps personnel. I suspect there were nearly as many members of the DCI Kingsmen who weren't original Kingsmen as those who were. Even though the KAC designated the non-original Kingsmen as "guests" and required they buy a different corps jacket than the original Kingsmen, they did allow the non-members to speak to them and buy them beers, but they also required the "guests" listen constantly to those endless and boring stories of what it was like to be a "real" Kingsmen.

Now that would be really cool, and it could probably work and build upon itself. The cost of gas will probably have the same kind of impact on today's drum corps as the Viet Nam war had on many corps in the late 1960's.

The problem appears to be leadership. Several directors have come and gone, and there are some problems the membership has with the present BOD whose members are all from the KAC that marched in the Rose Bowl. Several members have voiced their displeasure at some of the BOD decision making.In addition there have been accusations of favoritism arising that certain board members have been dismissed for infractions other board members have been allowed to get away with. I think there is a huge lack of communication compounded by the reality that the XKINGSMEN site has changed hands and ownership, and the forum is having difficulty staying online. As a result the communications void is getting larger.

My error....the main site is still running, but the forum has been down now for a bit.

You're probably right on both counts. Putting together a fully functioning alumni corps as they did took massive amounts of time, devotion, and effort. I suspect many were just glad it was over once the DCI gig was complete. To continue to want to travel great distances to practice, attend camps, learn new music, and make appearances can't command the same kind of devotion from a 55 year old as it can from a 22 year old. Priorities and situations change a great deal.I'm surprised a junior corps would be that hard to get started in Orange County. There are lots of kids in lots of bands who would love to march in a fine junior corps. That said, getting together a workable board, good instructors, volunteer support, equipment and uniforms, and sponsorships is a daunting and expensive task. Maybe something will gel for those guys. They were so very good in the Rose Bowl. It's sad to see that kind of effort just go away.

I am also old school drum corps, but I have watched a fair share of contemporary drum corps. First,today's drum corps demand talent and devotion. They are expensive to belong to, and the lifespan of a member seems to be for only a couple years.....they get burned out after a couple competitive seasons. There are also different motives for joining the elite corps than in the past, and one of those motives is for college music education majors to get DCI marching credentials on their resumes. I don't see drum corps as being the kind of fun summers we enjoyed in the 50's and 60's, and that doesn't mean we didn't work very hard to stay competitive. They have become very grueling time consuming obsessions rather than memorable and fun experiences. Drum corps has become "professionally" oriented rather than an amateur activity that was something interested kids did for several summers developing a high degree of proficiency through hard work, cameraderie, good instruction, and loyalty. I seriously doubt most corps member in the elite DCI corps even know each others names. I may be wrong, but after working with some contemp drum corps, I believe the observation to be accurate. Second, even though the M and M is enormously complex, and the cadence very fast, it isn't especially enjoyable to watch. It is incredibly mechanical and doesn't always reflect the rhythm of the music...third, the music is unrecognizable and esoteric. That is my biggest let down. Yep, the players are excellent musicians, and they know the music, but the music isn't very interesting to me. It isn't like corps from by-gone eras where after leaving a competition, a fan could hum and enjoy the routines over and over...not really the case today. I'm not a pit fan, and I liked the old school rudimentary drum lines, and finally, the "color guard" and all those complicated and very intricate and difficult routines that are now a part of a show tend to detract from the horn and drum lines which seem to be around more to supplement the color guard and its routine rather than being the major show. Drum corps has changed. Some of us like the older days and ways, and many others like what is. All is OK, but I still am glad I marched when I did. It would take an entirely different mind set to march today with most highly competitive corps.