OldManDrumCorps

Jeff, I promise you made each and every one of their days by saying that.

I'm intrigued by this.

I think you (as well as a few judges) may be misinterpretting what that caption is for. Long, powerful notes aside, who's the better group should have NOTHING to do with the caption. Should it be an "applause-o-meter"? Maybe not in so many words but if corps A is technically less proficient (not as "good") as corps B, yet corps A is able to get the audience engaged by (for example) inspiring a roar of applause or a standing O at the moment(s) in the show where the designers intended that to happen, but corps B's performance failed to elicit a response as strong as corps A, or they the "big moments" in the show don't create the intended response then (in my opinion) corps A should receive a higher communication score, regardless of excellence. For the record, dead silence can indeed be an intended response so that would most certianly qualify as communication if it was appropriate. But that's just my take on it.

Well I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong. As far as I can tell since this weekends shows have been canceled, MBI should actually go to prelims seeded first.

4-6 hours is local? Are you serious? Jeff had the right idea in mind, but illustrated it poorly. Most corps have to make cutbacks somewhere these days, and Empire chose Scranton even though it was probably their shortest ride of the season. By season's end I personally will have made three 7-8 hour bus rides, and one 5-6 hour bus ride for shows. This is all after a 7 hour drive just to get to the BUS! And then another 7 hours back! Car pool? Yeah, in fact I take a full car load with me every week, but split fuel costs? Not a chance! People chip in what and when they can, but nowhere near their fair share. Corps are broke, but people are broke too. If I said to someone that managed to scrounge up their dues so they could march, "sorry, but I'm giving you a ride unless you pay for 1/4 of the fuel and tolls" (let's not even get into the wear and tear on my car), then I would have no extra passengers and my corps would have 2 fewer members. Trust me there is a financial burden in the NE as well.

I am literally on pins and needles, I can't wait to see the schedule! I&E is my favorite night of the season!

The Bucs only had a .8 spread over Empire going into prelims last season. And those scores were from the same show. The Bucs didn't have that magical second show this past weekend where almost everyone's scores seemed to skyrocket. I'm not going to bet my life on it, but I'm pretty sure the Bucs will have a 95 or a 96 after next weekend. In any case they will have higher than a 94.25. If MBI's score had stayed at a 93 I think it would have been a lock to see Empire edge them out going into prelims, but I will admit a 94.25 is a high score so it COULD happen but that is not a given. The sad thing is I haven't even seen MBI or Reading this season and I'm probably not far off base. It's pretty predictable. Likelyhood is there won't be any big surprises and MBI will not be seeded first going into prelims. Just a hunch that has absolutely NOTHING to do with show design or execution.

Just a bump. I hope everyone is getting registered, the deadline is this weekend!

The Empire Chapter of the Beta Alpha Sigma Sigma fraternity would like to encourage all other basslines in DCA to join us at I&E for the bass drum ensemble competition. We had an aboslute blast last year and expect to do no less this year. However, we would LOVE to see a bigger turn out. The more the merrier. If you've never been to I&E, it is some of the most fun to be had in drum corps. I have attended and competed in I&E every year that I've been in DCA. If you are worried about taking the time to learn a whole bunch of new notes then by all means build a routine around your show music! Point being, we would love to see more bass drummers there to shoot the breeze, talk drums, drink beer, etc. We all know bass drummers are of a different breed. At I&E we're all friends and we drink together before we see each other Saturday on the field of battle! To all others reading this, please encourage your corps' bassline to go to I&E this year! Thanks!

Will this corps be making the trip to Rochester this year? Though I won't be able to see the Alumni Spectacular I would LOVE to see a VK Alumni corps, even if it was on video. I'm sure many others would also delight in seeing them in person.

I was gonna say something about that. Thank God you guys got out of Rocky Mount, that place was just not for drum corps.

Check DCA's website, they are available today.

Well that's cool and all, and I'm not trying to be a dick or anything but if you live in the Rochester area why don't you go and check them out one weekend? I'll bet that would answer ALL of your questions. They love a crowd.

I've actually heard drum corps described to large groups of people as "something you can only do until you are 21 or 22". By well known figures in the drum corps world no less. I have seen it first hand, kids told by their instructors NOT to do senior corps because it is a waste of time. Thankfully, I was never taught that.

From what I have seen so far of the new DVDs they are just different, not better. Sorry Box 5, strike two. Thanks for the freebee.

Brant Crocker - Michael Buffer

Weird, I used to go to North Harris. A drum corps class sounds fascinating.

Taco in a Bag.

One and the same in DCA. Out of the DCA Rules Book: "It is DCA's objective that member corps should be entertaining, unique, emotional, diverse, vibrant, spirited and energetic without sacrificing the highest level of quality. Competition outcomes MUST reflect audience appreciation and provide participant gratification."

According to what? Rankings? Based on scores from shows 1000 miles apart on different days? MBI is good, but they have not even gone head to head against Reading yet. Nor will they before prelims. MBI does currently hold the highest score. Good for them, but that doesn't necessarily make them "first". IMO there is no "first" right now. We'll see how they stack up when Reading is setting the bar. I don't like it, but that's the way it is. Look at the "rankings" and you'll see Empire in 4th place overall, but EVERY time they meet those top 6 corps they end up in 2nd, behind Reading. Reading is the only corps that has beaten them this season, but they are "ranked" 4th. Not very reliable. MBI is gonna be really good (they are always one of my favorites) so it will be exciting to see how everything lines up at prelims!

It seems clear that nothing Empire does will impress you, I don't see the point in making the same comments multiple times. I just don't see it. Their demand isn't blowing my mind nor does it stand out above the crowd, and frankly they're not that clean. IMO. Pretty hard to disagree with this one. So I will just amend, they are the best percussion section in DCA for now. I really think they can be caught by a few different groups. Again, we get it, you don't like Empire.

Fair enough. In my OPINION Empire did not have a bad night that night.

Did you read my VERY short post? I said it is possible, so I'm clearly NOT saying it is NOT possible. Can I show you? Are you serious? See if you can find a video or something, how is one supposed to "show you"? No, it wasn't a conspiracy. Why are you so desperate for me to supply you with some "all knowing" explanation? I have no explanation, how could I have anything other than pure speculation? Ed called that score like he saw it. Even a judge can have an off day. And they are grown men and women that get paid to do what they do, they can take a little criticism. They'll get over it just like everyone else will. Especially after the Cicero show I'll bet you Empire is over it. I won't even call Ed a bad judge, Lord knows he has TONS of experience to back him up. It seems that a lot of people feel he missed that call. It does happen, but that is just an opinion. The Scranton show will be great, the last meeting of all the big NE corps before prelims. Should add a lot of excitement for Rochester.

It's possible, but it didn't happen. And that would be one CRAZY bad night.

Congrats indeed! Loved the show, LOVED that drumline!! Can't wait to see what's next!