[Show Suggestions]

DCI shows just keep getting better and better every year. I thought innovation in drum corps has reached a pinnacle last year, but now corps like Crown and BD are taking it to a new level!

Still, there are some works I'd like to see turned into a drum corps show, so I thought I'd start a topic about it. Has there been anything (game/movie soundtracks, bands, etc.) that you ever wanted to see on the field? And if you have seen it happen, were you thrilled or disappointed?

Here's what I'd like to see: The Legend of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, any of the 90's Disney animated films, and various animes (yeah, you can tell what kind of person I am ).

[If my jr. high band was as good]

I am SOOO moving to Japan to raise my kids. They'll wipe the floor at BD auditions!!!!!

[Is it worth making a special trip to see Crown live?]

I've already spent a bundle on DCI this month (flying to DATR) and going to Dallas, Denton, and possibly Wichita Falls. And I loathe the DCI dome experience, but have been to SA before and it wasn't too terrible.

But the closest Crown will get to me (lives in Dallas) is in San Antonio. And after all the good things said about Crown this year, should I make the jump to lightspeed and head to the Alamo City? And by the way, I loved Crown last year and thought they should have placed higher.

Uh.....

YES!!!!! DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SEE THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Open Class banners?]

Yeah, I want these too!

[NEW CORPS !Magic of Mobile Drum and Bugle Corps]

I'm sorry to point these two things out, but I think this may help in your recruiting efforts next year.

*I'm just going to get straight to the point: your fees are ridiculous. $2,750!?! Most World Class finalists don't even charge that much! Unless you want to lose all of your members to Mempho and Spirit, you've gotta lighten up A LOT.

*I read on your website that experience in a high school marching band is required for membership. For a corps that is just starting out, isn't that kind of unrealistic? At this point in your history you should focus on getting what you can, not what you want. I guarantee that in almost every Open Class corps today there's at least 1-5 members that are getting their first ever marching lessons from their respective corps. Building a successful drum corps should be hard work for the members and staff alike, THAT's waht it's all about!!!

I hope my opinions helped and didn't just make you angry. Good luck, can't wait to see you in '09!

[how is academy doin this year?]

IN the rankings, they're not making it past prelims. I (and probably everyone else) expect this to change drastically come finals.

[open class corps director]

My vote goes to Tom Maiello of the Raiders. In his time as director, they've received three medals and made it back into division 2!

[Hostrauser's DCI Rankings - Week 4: 7/14]

wow its weird seeing Crown mixing up the usually typical top 5....lets see if they can continue at the same pace....should make finals interesting

I was actually expecting this after seeing last year's show. With that kind of programming, they must be attracting the best of the best.

What really surprises me is The Academy's placement. They were soooo close to making finals last year, and now they're suddenly at the bottom!