wk2w

Wow. Thanks, Geoffrey. I just won the bet!

Like I said, it sounded like Dick Cheney just walked into a DNC convention. That's the first time in 20 years I heard a reaction like that. No sour grapes here. I'm just telling you what I heard.

I'm sorry. I try and try to stay out of this, but I can't help it this time. When the score was announced for the winner at Indy on Saturday night, it sounded like Dick Cheney just walked into a DNC convention. People were leaving the stands in droves. The people around me were either booing, shrugging their shoulders or just clapping politely. I have always liked BD. How could you not? Obviously the judges were very happy with their show. But, whether it was the fact that Crown didn't win, or the fact that BD won by that much or came so close to the record, most of the crowd was extremely unhappy.

My first date with the girl who is now my wife was 20 years ago to see the Pat Metheny Group - she loved it. A few weeks later, we were in Allentown to watch corps - I loved it. To this day, we still get to a lot of corps shows (and Finals), we never miss PMG shows and, until his departure, never missed Maynard Ferguson shows. Now if I could just get her to watch Family Guy......

Before someone gets the wrong idea........ I've watched plenty of Cadets rehearsals over the past two years. They don't beat the crap out of the kids. Yes, they work hard, but there is no punishment ever dished out. Practices are run efficiently and there is no wasted time. Members move quickly back to their spots on their own. Some members even take it upon themselves to practice or do physical training on their own time. Often times, sets are repeated again and again. But, during the week of finals this year, the staff had trouble finding fault and the sets were only run a couple of times. The staff consistently passes out constructive criticism to help the corps improve. More often than not, the staff is praising and complimenting the corps for "great effort" or a "wonderful day of rehearsal". You really get the impression that the corps members demand more from the staff - not the other way around. It's definitely not day care, but it's not Navy Seal training either.

Thanks. Yeah, you're right. She's got mad skills!

What part of the show was that? Was the girl working her way to the end zone; or behind the pit and next to the horn line?

Nearly every member who spoke at the banquet thanked Jeff for his drill. They really loved it. I have no idea how they marched it, but they really loved it.

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Good point! Someone replied that Crown has a way of doing that to a crowd - that is very true. They are masters of the ballad. They also understand that you can't be loud unless you're also quiet. When you combine that with good control and good intonation, you're going to gain the crowd's undivided attention. I really think that Crown's ballads are one of the major components of their success. When their show is over, you really feel like they've taken you somewhere. That's good design.

When my kid first tried out for a top 12 corps a few years ago, she was told that she wasn't quite ready. But, they gave her plenty of recommendations for other corps as well as a ton of instruction to make her better. I would think you experience should be similar.

This year - Boston.

It's painful to say but I've spoken to several members of another corps who said that Crown staff was very rude last year and some of the BD members did not exhibit very sportsmanlike behavior this year. The behavior of Crown staff really bugs me since I have liked Crown from the beginning and always hope they do well. It's very evident that they work very hard and deserve all the adulation they receive. There is absolutely no reason for them to act this way.

Thanks.

Before you close the thread......... Man, that was some great stuff. Loved the design and loved the drill. Music was great no matter what they played. And, after all there was indeed a connection between Martha Graham and that music. They had every right to play it, and they played it very well! A great show is a great show.. No one can ever say that they didn't pull it off this year.

The day we understand judges, men will understand women.

I agree, last year was a disgrace. The hot-dogging at the end was intolerable and the behavior of some of the corps was embarrassing. But, I wish all the corps could do the right thing and play together during retreat in a respectful manner. DCI should structure the retreat schedule to make this possible. It is a final tribute to the hard work and dedication of all involved as well as a great send off to the fans, some of whom make great sacrifices to be there. It is also a real treat for newcomers and it may be enough for them to come back next year.

Does a coke bottle half-filled with water count?

8. People dislike the Blue Devils because they are successful. BD has always been one of my favorites. I saw them five times this year (live) and still don't get why the show got the scores that it did. I talked to countless people sitting around me at these shows who had the same puzzled expression on their faces at the end of the show. Do you really think that many people would boo a champion corps for the reason you say? They certainly got great reactions last year and some people were pretty mad about them getting knocked out of first.

Few things in this world are more inspiring than watching a corps. Whether you're watching a rehearsal, warm-ups or a show on the field, you just can't help being deeply moved by these dedicated individuals. Thank you for starting this thread and encouraging us all to take a step back from the usual banter that consumes these discussions. We should take every opportunity to thank the members and staffs for what they do.

There is currently a discussion about remarks George Hopkins made in a recent interview concerning lessons he learned from last year. I don’t think he’ll be tarred and feathered like he was last year, but I thought it was important to start this thread. I don’t know George Hopkins and he certainly doesn’t know me. But I’ve seen him in action and I respect the man. He’s not afraid of hard work. Years ago, I saw a man in dress clothes who wasn’t afraid to help us push a cart loaded with band equipment through the mud at a USSBA show. These days, I see a man who doesn’t hide out in an air conditioned RV while his corps is out on the field; he’s out there on top of the press box baking in the sun with his staff. I saw the man running around the practice field with the snare line during some of the most demanding parts of the show when they were struggling earlier this year. His code of conduct is evident throughout the corps. I’ve met and spoken with numerous Cadets and been blown away by their respectfulness, politeness and work ethic. I’ve volunteered and witnessed first-hand the dedication, professionalism and decency of the staff. Finally, I believe George Hopkins deserves respect for the simple reason that he is a music educator – one of the people Maynard Ferguson aptly referred to as his “favorite type of earthling”. He, like every other corps director, is a tremendous positive force the in the lives of countless young people. While I’m sure this post will invite some negative remarks, I hope those with positive things to say will not hesitate to add their thoughts as well.

It was well worth the money at $29. The videos are excellent again this year.

Sort of. It wasn't that bad. We were inside with just the doors closed (a bit of overkill if you ask me). I did have to convince a squirrel to leave the food truck the next morning who stopped in for a visit.

SCV is good year after year. This year's music is exceptional and the show is a real pleasure to watch. They always seem to have something intriguing. If I remember right, years ago, that had these really neat "bass tubes" made out of 10"(?) PVC pipe that you hit with some sort of soft, oversized paddle. I think they were homemade. Neat stuff. Can't wait to see them again.

I know this discussion is just about exhausted, but I want to clarify a few things. There is a big difference between yelling for a corps and yelling over 3 other people to your friend about something that happened at your school last week while a corps is performing. There is a difference between accidentally dropping your soda cup and opening a big noisy bag of Doritos and passing it around to your friends in the middle of a ballad. There is a difference between quickly taking an important call and yacking to your mom about your aunt's goiter. And, you can at least wait until the end of a "song" to run to the bathroom; if not the end of a corps' performance. And when you return to your seat, you can at least wait until there is enough time to get in without obstructing someone's view of a performing corps. When we were in Atlanta, a group of kids in front of us acted this way while the band director sat at the end of the row completely oblivious. (Yes, we did let him know). Behind us, a kid was mindlessly banging his drumsticks together while PR was right in the middle of their ballad. And, I've heard many adults at shows loudly discussing inane nonsense on their cell phones right in the middle of a show. I believe it is a parent's or chaperone's responsibility to demand good behavior. I also think that most good band directors teach respect, discipline and proper behavior as part of their program. My wife and I have been involved with a marching band for more than 20 years. We have taken dozens of kids to corps shows and have never had a problem. They know about proper behavior, respect for others and respect for the performing members on the field. Those lessons are all part of the marching band program. So, if want to yell your head off at a company front or a great drumline, I'll be right there yelling with you. But, if you want to talk to your buddy about next week's fishing trip during the whole show, we're going to have a problem. I don't think this is asking too much. The great majority of people do act this way. Most people wait for the right time to enter and exit their seats. Most people say "let me call you back". Most people do wait until there is a break in the action to talk about things other than drum corps. Most parents and chaperones correct disrespectful behavior. Most people wait until the corps marches off the field before they critique it. Most people are polite and respectful.