BoyWonder1911

The horn ripple in Blue Devils 2003 show comes to mind.

I estimated, based upon $4 a gallon and 12,000 miles (both diesel and gasoline) that with the Blue Stars' convoy (2 semis, 2 RVs, 2 box trucks and a passenger van) NOT including the tour buses, that fuel will cost somewhere in the neighborhood 40k-45k for the season. That doesn't include the cost of leasing the semi trucks, nor the cost of hiring the tour bus company. Souvenir sales often go directly into a corps fuel tank. Please buy souvenirs!

I have a feeling DOT is going to be at more than just 1 or 2 competition sites this summer because of this.....tires are supposed to be checked out to make sure they are in good condition. Of course, things happen and tires do blow, but all the same, we have to be careful out there. I know for a fact that the tour bus drivers like to go 70-75mph down the highways - our RVs can't keep up with them, neither can my semi truck. Well, this truck isn't governed, but I still keep it set at between 65-68. I think the buses should be governed at 70mph, especially with all those kids on board. I hope the rest of the season goes smoothly and safely.

I arrived there in the semi truck just in time to watch. The show is very fast, very loud, and omg very difficult...makes last year's Houdini show look soft. IF they can get this show cleaner than last year's show, well I don't know, it looks very difficult, they could do very well with it. I'm sure staff will edit parts that aren't working out, and changes will inevitably come, but this show, from only 2 weeks in, looks pretty darn cool...oh, and they didn't perform the final minute either - I can't wait to see it. This should be an awesome year. Oh and please buy souvenirs at our shows, because that goes directly into our fuel tanks so we can get to the next competition!

I have no idea...I think probably all of the WC corp staff have their marchers doing at least some demanding physical training...last year with the Blue Stars, I remember watching the brass instructor make the trumpets run around in a circle for a good 30 seconds, then make them pick up their horns on the spot and begin a section of the music. And I imagine rehearsing a show sun up til sun down every day for 3 months in 90-100 heat will make anyone physically fit...

Oh - I'm not saying they aren't important at all - and I totally agree that without scoring and judging and the nature of competition forcing a better product, then there would be no drum corps - what I meant to say is that we as fans should put scores in the back seat over things like entertainment, show theme, music choices, etc. And also, if you think the judging system is far from perfect, then you really shouldn't be putting much emphasis on scores, since they aren't realistic due to the very reason you mentioned that they are far from perfect. Far from perfect = much less accuracy.

One thing I never really understood is how a corps can have a "different sound". They are all human, they all play the same instruments. Maybe there are 3 or 4 different horn manufacturers that are used in drum corps, but how does that mean every corps has a different sound? Even staff changes around in corps, so it can't be staff teaching them to have a different sound, if that's even possible anyway. Really never understood it.

I'd have to totally disagree. The judges scored the brass on Finals night in the same order of placement for total score. How can you say Phantom Regiment has the 2nd best sound, when they placed 6th in brass, and you don't even have The Cadets in there??? and the Blue Devils (no round sound) what the heck is that supposed to mean? Phantom Regiment during championship weekend had so many tuning problems it wasn't even funny. In fact, they only scored 18.5 cumulative, taking 6th in brass, to Cadets' 19.1 in 5th place, which is a huge jump, if you look at recaps. How can you come up with this list, when the judges have far more experience and knowledge NOW about what makes a good sound than you will ever have until you are 80 years old. Not trying to intentionally be rude, but I think your list is arbitrary and totally opinion based, based upon bias of your favorite corps. And if you don't think the judges also judge the quality of sound coming out of the horns, then you're wrong. Oh - and btw, even though the Blue Devils are far from my favorite corps, I agree they had they the absolute best sound coming from the field last year. That is why they took 1st in brass in QF, SF and Finals, scoring 19.3, 19.3, and 19.8 respectively each night, from 3 different judges each night, and Phantom Regiment taking 7th, 7th and 6th. Crown taking 3rd, 4th and 4th.

Realistic scores?? I do think there is a LITTLE bit of bias in a SMALL HANDFULL of judges, for CERTAIN corps. An example, look at the recaps of last year's finals - I think it's SCV - one judge game them like 9.8 in GE and the other gave them 9.1 Or was that brass? But remember, in QF, SF and Finals, there are different judges for each night - so how do the scores move so little between the judges? It's because they have a very good system going for judging shows. There is objective criteria they look for. It's not all arbitrary. I don't believe there is slotting going on, nor do I think the scores are fixed, etcetera. I just don't see the evidence for that. And besides - what kind of real motive does DCI or judges have for doing that kind of stuff? And don't tell me certain judges favor certain corps and thus scored them much higher, I think there is a little bit of bias, but for 95% of it, it is legit. If a horn angle is off, .05 gone. If someone is out of step, .1 gone. Hear a blatantly obvious wrong note? .1 gone. Drop a flag or rifle or sabre? .1 gone. Objective things like that. But even for GE, there is at least SOME objective criteria. If scores aren't realistic now, they will never be. I don't think it's possible to have any better system than we have now. But the main thing is to realize that scores are not important. /flame

I think the whole Cadet's 2000 show was way above average - even the opener was fantastic! Yeah, the last 2 or 3 minutes of the show is what makes it memorable, but without what came before it, it's nothing. The whole musical package - just incredible. I think it's the best drum corps show ever written. VERY few shows can come close. Maybe when Star did Pines of Rome, or the one show with Medea's Dance of Vengeance, maybe SCV 1989 or 1999, you all know the "memorable" shows, plus the shows before my time, anyways yeah

The last few minutes? Can you elaborate? The percussion feature was just....there are no words to describe it - I thought the whole show from top to bottom was good...although the ballad kinda bored me, but ballads tend to do that. I also think Cadets 1998 show was genius. Also one of the best designs, and IMO one of the best guard shows ever written.

I've been a drum corps fan for 12 years. Not exactly new to the activity. I'm also not automatically hostile to new ideas, especially when it comes to the drum corps activity 1) making more money and 2) having some sort of audience participation. Oh - and 3)providing another incentive for corps to compete harder, to make top 8. I think people have overreacted to this. It really isn't a bad idea - and btw when you say G8, what are you talking about? I'm talking about the ToC events, which are the top 8 from last year. If they do it again next year, then the top 8 from this year will be in it.

I'd still like to see the day when 10 corps score 90 pts or more at Finals. There were only 2 years in history where 9 corps have scored 90 pts or more at Finals - there has NOT been a year when 10 or more corps have scored 90 pts. In 1992, the Blue Knights scored 90 points at Finals and took 9th. Velvet knights took 10th with 86.6 In 2004, the Crusaders scored 90.525 and took 9th. BKnights took 10th with 87.6 I'd also like to see one day, although it can't happen this year, is for someone to repeat other than the ones who have. Only 4 different corps have won back to back titles, since DCI began in 1972. Blue Devils did it 76-77, 79-80, 96-97, 2009-2010 (no three-peats, although they came .05 away from winning in 2008, they could have had a four-peat. SCV did it in 73 and 74. (no three-peat) Cadets did it in 83, 84 and 85. (Three-peat) Cavaliers did it 2000, 2001 and 2002 (Three-peat) The Blue Devils could get their first three-peat this year, and be the third corps to have done it. Since I'm on the topic of statistics, here's a couple more for you. The corps that has scored the highest without winning - PR in 1989 scored 98.4 and took 2nd BDevs in 04 scored 98.525 and took 2nd And of course the record at Finals is still 99.15 of course, Cavaliers in 2002 and Cadets in 2005.

Yeah, I was going to ask exactly how much of the scores will be affected by fan voting? Let's say that 10% of the scores are fan voting. Let's say for instance that The Cadets score an 85.5, taking 3rd, without the fan voting factored in, and Cavaliers score an 86.75, taking 2nd, without the fan voting factored in. How do you add the voting scores?? Let's say Cadets get the most votes, and Cavaliers get the 2nd most votes. Do you give Cadets 10% bonus, and Cavaliers 9% bonus? 85.5 x 1.1 = 94.05. 86.75 x 1.09 = 94.575. Let's say, for instance, the Blue Devils take 1st with 88.2, and only gets 4th in fan voting. Do they get 7% bonus? 88.2 x 1.07 = 94.374. Enough to make a difference, sure. But I think fans are going to want to know their raw scores, too - not to mention the corps themselves will want to know what they scored without fan voting, and they will want to get judges' comments, to know where in the show to focus on more in the next couple of days. I'd like to know exactly how this fan voting is going to calculate into the scores. I don't think it's going to make a huge difference.

I am not a big fan of the Blue Devils, but last year their brass was phenomenal. They were so in tune, it was just sick. Even at the Atlanta regional, I remember the one guy sitting next to me muttered, while the Blue Devils were finishing their closer, "These guys are just on a totally different level." And that about summed it up for me. Not a fan of their visual program last year by a LONG shot...the mirrors really didn't impress me much...but their sound...man...they are good, and that's why they won the title. Phantom had a lot of tuning problems, but still gave me shivers at times. I would rather a corps sacrifice a little bit of volume to produce a cleaner, more in-tune sound. Overblowing it and all is exciting, yeah, drum corps can never be to loud, but if it's out of tune, I'll cringe.

People get a kick out of speculating. Me, well, yeah it's fun, and we pretty much know who is going to be at Finals with the exception of one, MAYBE two corps, we don't know who is going to win, we don't know whose show is going to be a complete flop, and whose show is going to be the most surprising, but come on, the season hasn't even started yet. Like I said before, I just hope that more shows will be entertaining to me this year than last year...last year wasn't a very good year for me entertainment-wise - there were only a small handful of shows I was actually excited to see more than once. And I saw half of all WC shows at least 5 times or more, being a volunteer on tour with a top 12 corps. But people will always speculate, but let's not forget that scores really don't matter all that much. If I had a choice between having no judging at all, or no drum corps at all, I'd of course choose the first option. BW

" For instance, I have no idea what made the 2000 season memorable." Year 2000 was memorable because The Cadets' show in 2000 was the greatest show ever written. And I think this year will be memorable because of the Champion Tour events, with the top 8 from last year having multiple competitions together throughout the year - this has never happened before like it is now, at least I don't think it has - and I think that for those particular events, the audience will be able to participate in the scoring - I think it counts for a certain percentage of their score. Not really sure if that is how they are going to do it, or what - can anyone enlighten the rest of us on that if they know for certain?

In order to win a championship, you have to have 4 things all working together at the same time: 1)Marchers with an average talent of above average, 2)Talented staff with EXPERIENCE that can a) write very good arrangements and have the music all fit together well with the b) drill, that is written well in conjunction with the music, 3)A really good show theme that is above average in difficulty, both musically and visually 4)The ability to execute it to almost perfection. Also, the marchers can do their show perfectly, but a better show design and more difficulty will always win out over an easier show performed slightly better. Not all corps have all of this that will work for them. Some corps, like Blue Devils, Cadets, Cavaliers, have such rich tradition and history, not to mention money, that they are able to get the creamier of the crop to audition, and get the best staff. This is why the Blue Devils have taken 4th or better every single year since 1975 with the exception of 1991, when they took 5th. I don't see a show theme like "Rach Star" winning. I don't even see that kind of theme in the top 3. However, I do see a show like Cadets 2011 theme able to be 3rd or 4th. Depends on how it is written, and then executed. What I really hope though for this year, is that the most entertaining show will win. Of course, that's subjective, not all of us will have the same favorite show, but I hope my favorite show wins...but I really don't think that will happen this year. Predictions, well, I see Blue Devils and Cavaliers in the top 2, Cadets in 3rd, SCV and PR 4-5, Crown, Bluecoats and Blue Stars 6-8. Scouts, Crusaders, Blue Knights and either Glassmen or Academy finishing it out. Either way it goes, I hope there are more entertaining shows for me this year than there were last year.

"I had noticed the lack of body movement/dance in their 2010 program" Well it is kinda hard to dance around and be liquid in your movements when you're a wooden soldier... I thought this Cadets 2010 program was classy, heartwarming, humorous, and drum corps-ish all the way.

They have all made finals in the 1990's? They all have taken at least 9th place?

Cascades had their only Finals appearance in 2002. Dutch Boy had their only Finals appearance in 1990.

Good luck in game 7! Oh...wait...?

HAHAHAHA This is probably the hardest I've ever laughed while browsing these forums!

Chase is giving the money to whoever gets the most votes. I'd say that that is the best, most fair way to do it.

... Well I don't know why anyone would purposefully do that...and if this Liebot was being sarcastic, then I apologize for the outburst, but how am I supposed to know? I take things like this seriously. Well at least people know where I'm coming from. /rolls eyes