rkfdPRphan

The BAD: - didn't expect to see a field judge end up on his a** in front of the percussion during the very first corps show. He did get right up, but you could see him ducking and weaving during the whole show. Guess judges have to learn each corps shows too??? - COLOR. Is it just me, or were most of the corps dressed in 'off white' or a variation there of? And, when the color guard wears the same color as the brass and percussion they seem to disappear into one smaller blob on the field. - UNORDANIZED COLOR. OK, so a couple of the corps DID go with some 'wild' guard uniform choices (Cavies I am looking right at you!). To me, it did nothing for the total visual package. So many competing colors scurrying around, IMO, didn't help the overall visual production (and face it, DCI scoring is a lot about visual or perceived visual). - CHEESY AWARD! Phantom's beheading. Lots of laughs about that one. How long will that visual last???? The GOOD: - Phantom was ready, but of course I would mention that being a volunteer and all. We worked our butts off to get those matching uniforms DONE. 3 SETS of colors (1 brass and 2 for guard plus flags) really bumped up their visual score. Get used to it. I'm sure there is more to come. - I liked that dock that the Blue Stars are using. Can't wait to see how it is integrated into the show as it progresses. - the Cadets slides. What is going to happen there? - any corps who used the entire field for their show. Blue Stars: Didn't get the program, but I'm sure I will understand more the next time I see it. Was fun to watch the guys on the dock....brought back old summertime memories that have nothing to do with drum corps. The guard needs COLOR! Maybe bright flags would help. Didn't this corps go south to be able to work outside sooner on their program? Phantom Regiment: COLORFUL! Yes, I volunteer with this corps so I see things in the show that others might miss. Yes, the show is rather simple and painfully obvious at times. I'm sure the ending at Finals will be very different than at Akron. It was just good to see a full balanced product on the field for the first show. Great foundation to work on for the rest of the season. TONS of room to improve, build, evolve......could be Phantom's bloodiest work yet! Carolina Crown: Loved a lot of their sound. I dont understand the uniforms at all. The change by the brass/percussion from black accents to creamy glitter did nothing (IMO) for the visual. COLOR. Show me some COLOR. There were some great moves in the program that would have really stood out with some accent colors. To me, this program has tons of potential. Was there drums in the show - out in the field? Not happy with them using a shortened field setup. Cavaliers: I was so surprised by the guard uniforms that I missed the entire first 2 minutes of the show. The show seemed choppy to me, like things were thrown in to use up the time alotment. Usually they have a signature move that is shown early in the season and embellished as time goes on.....didnt see anything like that. Very odd sound. I believe that there will be a lot of things changing to this program real soon. Cadets: The Christmas theme wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. I like the music selections - but not some of the arranging. Liked some of the things the brass and percussion was doing out on the field. I think I saw some snowflake designs. I like their pit work. But, the multicolored guard uniforms, to me, distracted from the visual design. Too much going on. Waiting to see what the Christmas gifts and the 'slides' on the far end of the field is going to evolve into. This show seemed stretched to its limits. Some music seemed to be filler and some guard work was missing. Interesting show overall. Bluecoats: Loved the theme, but it didnt pop out at me visually from a distance. Great music.....and they can sure play the music, but the show didn't flow well IMO. Too much BLUE. Too dark of total look. But, I like the overall idea, how the show was set up and can see a lot of potential for this corps to move up in the standings this year.

I yelled out 'cheesy' at the theater. It was. Has to be a better way to behead someone. Did anyone notice the helmets already on stakes? There is a lot to see in this show! And, you know things will get more difficult musically and with the drums. Step by step. There's lots of season left....although 2nd place at the end of the season could be interesting. Congrats to Phantom for finishing 2nd and doing so well visually!!! Will this show quiet the early season critics - ah, YES, yes it WILL. Call it 'easy' all you want. The show will evolve and there is lots of room for evolution. Congrats again! Not bad for a corps that has been through so much these last 2 years.

Headed out in about 25 minutes to the AMC Showplace 16 in Rockford, IL, to cheer 'at' our hometown Phantom Regiment!!!! Heard that the specific theater block this is being shown in has been sold out for a couple of weeks. hummmmmmmmm........

Ended up being a fan clutch (info via PR Facebook)! Everyone is safe and the corps is on-time to make their next show. I believe they are spending the day in Oklahoma City - or spent last night there. Anyway, one of the rent a buses broke...... And! 5 hours until most of us can see them 'live' at the movies across the United States. Been a lot of encouraging reports about Phantom's first show. Seemed to supprise a lot of people. Hoping for a really good first score of 2012!!! I'm leaving work at or before 5pm to get a seat in the theater on the '50 yard line'.

Thanks! Go Phantom! SUTA!

I beleive that for Phantom Regiment, you are correct. Great young lady! ...just a short funny story. When we finished as much as we could in the sewing room of this camp, we sent a message to the drum director to send a few of the big husky base drum guys in to help us move some packed boxes into one of our vans. Who was the only one who came to help us? This young lady. Got to talk to her a bit as we loaded the boxes. She is focused and in control for this season....and she is STRONG! ...never did see any of the big husky guys, but can bet that when they loaded the trucks just before leaving yesterday she got them out there and working up a sweat! In my personal biased opinion, at this point in the season, the snare line steals the show! Can't wait to see how they progress this year.

I am assuming you are saying that you do not see how the coin/emblem/crest of this year's uniform fits the show Turandot? If so.......and if you look closely the image is also on her jacket fabric, a bunch of us asked about meaning of the symbol. An excellent source of information came to Phantom Regiment this past week - our Chinese cook. He is from China and arrives just in time to join the tour. Was with the corps last year too. Seeing his English has gotten much better (understanding us and we him) he explained that the symbol is very, very old and means something like happiness. Used with marriages - much happiness for the couple. We told him about our previous understanding that it meant longevity or lots of years and he disagreed on that thought. 'Its about happiness, but the Chinese has changed the symbol' and he gave us the updated version of 'happiness'. So the picture is of Prince Calaf and Turandot and much happiness. .....but if your statement is that you don't like this year's emblem, not much I can help you with there, it is what it is......

That part really needs to be DONE before they go on tour. It takes a crew of people to keep up on the sewing/mending/repairs and yes additions to the uniforms/flags/extras that the corps need to keep in top working order. Sometimes one really good sewer can do it all. A corps is very blessed with such a soul! Usually it takes multiple people. Most corps don't carry that many extra people on the road, but seem to gather some extra people when a project calls for it. ....right now, just hours before some tours start, you can bet there are sewing teams spread out around this country with sewing machines a smokin'.....get it done!!!

....ah, your reading way too much into that! I was trying to list all the stuff the sewing crew has had to put together over the last 20 years or so. Remember that huge kite that flew over the corps in....can't remember the year, maybe 89? or 93? I'm not giving you any hints on what extra props, if any, are being made for this show.

It will be interesting to see who that 'one' will be this year. Our usual 'chief seamstress' has had health issues and the 'chief sewing person', who I think you might be referring to has also had other health issues and has not been able to be at camp at all. The corps has been scrambling all season to organize and get things done. And we have gotten things done, I just have no idea who is going on tour. Probably more than one person as they break the time down into segments that different sewers can do. ....crazy, crazy year.

All I'm saying is that the music sounds a lot different when played while marching compared to concert or encore style. WHAT they are doing while playing this music will blow you away is several instances.

I wish to deeply, and publically apologize to the entire Phantom Regiment organization, staff and volunteers. I also apologize to those outside of the immediate Phantom Regiment organization who help design the emblems, characterizations, and designs that go into this program. And, especially, I apologize for my construed misrepresentation of the fine products this drum corps receives from the Fred J Miller Inc. I apologize and deeply regret my choice of words in a blog involving why “it takes so long for guard uniforms and show silks to get in place”. The email I received showed just part of what I wrote trying to describe a process that still takes many hours of work for fitting of each uniform to each member. I was not, in any way, stating that the uniforms were not of the best quality and workmanship – just that additional alterations are needed to make a custom fit ‘look’. There was the question of tailoring of the uniforms and I wanted the reader to understand that there are still alterations that go into the final fitting. In no way was I implying that the uniforms were half made or of bad quality. As for the flag and silk comments; again, I deeply regret my choice of words and it was not my intention to offend the Fred J Miller Inc company. Again, and in the strongest terms, I deeply apologize to the Phantom Regiment organization, corps members, staff and volunteers; to those who have a hand in designing this year’s show and to Fred J Miller Inc, who’s wonderful uniforms and flags make drum corps shows very, very special. Please understand that I meant no harm while trying to explain to those who haven’t volunteered how much work goes into each drum corps’ show. After posting this retraction, deleting the original posting as requested, I will ban myself from further posting on DCP and delete my account. I am deeply sorry for what I have done, please accept my apology. Best of luck to the Phantom Regiment organization. Ellice K Ford “rfdPRphan” (original post has been deleted)

I forgot to mention that the Chinese cook that Phantom Regiment had with them on tour last year has RETURNED! Got to talk to him Monday night. Still cannot remember his name, but his English has gotten much better - so he can understand what you are talking to him about and he can tell you what he is thinking. Great guy! So, a couple of us on the sewing crew asked about the coin/emblem on the front of our uniforms. What does a person from China say about it? The previous post on this thread is correct. It is a very old Chinese symbol for 'blessing', as in blessing a man and woman during a wedding. It also symbolizes a long life or longevity of life. Was releived to hear that there didn't seem to be any secondary meaning that was considered bad or inappropriate for the show.......

Yes, I am posting from my iPhone and didn't have his name available. Thank you! He was awesome. The corps seemed to love playing with him too

Some thoughts on the concert.... The guard did the traditional thing of sitting in the front row and supporting the rest of the corps. The pit, as usual, entertained the gathering crowd (1500+) with warmup drill and program selections. Very good! Concert started with pit playing more program and a Japansese song that I can't remember the name of. Sorry! It was great sounding. Then we were given a lot of music education. Each instrument in the pit was played, described and harmonized. Even the synth was featured. Then the drums were introduced, explained and they harmonized with the pit. The snares rocked the Bandshell tonight!!! Then the brass came on stage, horns were identified and everyone played together. We learned about proper breathing techniques and how they use balloons to build lung volume. The guest susaphone player came on stage and didn't just play pretty music, he manhandled the instrument and got it to talk, cry and make some awsome sounds. Brass, drums and pit got to harmonize with him. They loved playing with him and he loved them. A tribute was played to Marty H. New Orleans type music. Fantastic. Again the snares stole the show rocking, rolling, bobbing and weaving. WOW! And, of course, the show music sound amazing. It was great to just listen and not to have to follow the story around the field. The concert was professionally recorded and I'm sure lots of other recordings were made too. I'm sure one or 2 will popup soon. Great nite! Pretty soon the corps will leave me behind and come to a stadium near you. Go see them. It's a great show IMO!

Wow, that was some post on FB ! Obviously some guy who has no appreciation for a true master musician! That sousaphone player was awesome ! He could make that thing sing and talk. He told us what he was going to do (worse note ever) and showed us how to do it. Awesome. But one person either really hated it, didn't understand it or just plain only came for Phantoms show music.

How did you like the concert chaos? Or is you picture from a tweet?

YES, but ..... not saying anything more. Aren't there some tweets out there or Facebook postings 'confirming' tonight's agenda? ....heck, if that bandshell was large enough, I'd think we'd see another complete run through of the program. I know the crowd would sure love it! But alas, its is just a bandshell and it will be a standstill presentation. Not sure how the guard uniform would be presented if that was in the plans. One year the guard stood to the south side of the bandshell in uniform, might even had a few flags with them. A few moves, pose and repeat. But you are right, usually they have sat in front or to one side to listen and support the rest of the corps. ....on the other hand.......we will see soon enough......this IS the night that many of Phantom Regiment's secrets are revealed!

Have you been to local shows lately flammaster? (even DCI events and Finals) It's become all to common for people to stand in the lot and listen to their favorite corps warmup, go to their seats in time to see the corps on the field and then leave when that corps was done. Gotta spend time with their corps. I want my money's worth at the shows I go to and will stay until almost everyone has left the parking lot (don't need to beat the rush home in the parking lot either). IMO there is an alarming number of people who come just for their favorite corps (or the corps their family member/friend/neighbor is in) and then they get up and leave. OR the stands are half empty until the largest of the corps take the field (won't even use the word champion or finalist, because some of the smaller corps are very exciting to watch!), then people seem to come out of the woodwork and squeeze in for the final 2 or 3 corps shows. ....just my observations.....now back to the topic.......

PERFECT response on so many levels! Thanks 3rd, great picture. Getting ready to head out to Concert in the Park, Sinnissippi Park, Rockford. Show is scheduled to start at 7:30pm. Should be some great warmups before showtime. Also, after the event, I would think that more than a few pictures will showup online. Perhaps the new guard uniforms.......if the guard is indeed wearing the new uniforms tonight. And, I would almost bet that someone will record the music played for Turandot and post it online. The 90+ degree temps are gone and tonight will be perfect for listening to some music in the park.

Altho I love to think that we all find out the scores on Monday for that show, I too, would be a bit upset not to know who won or the scores if I attended the live show on Saturday. Didn't the corps get the results and didn't we already 'know' the results before the moviecast event last year? Was thinking I had printed out the leaked results and took them with me to the movies to see if they were right. Was thinking the performance results weren't posted until later Monday night so we didn't know how GE, guard....etc was ranked. ?????

....to those of you who attended Sunday's dress rehersal at Stillman Valley HS.... Did you see the guy with the black Vanguard corps jacket on in the stands???? He, and his entourage sat at a lower level for the first run through and then moved up to the level where I was sitting for the 2nd run through. Interesting! ...dress rehersal was open to whoever wanted to take the time to come out to watch it....

Good catch chaos! " … Also from Terry: New uniforms for the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (“which is not a marching band,” he adds)" Altho we know that Phantom's uniforms are not new this year, but updated from last year, it is still great that someone noticed something was different! AND that Terry noted at drum corps is NOT marching band!!!

....no clue who you are, but thank you for joining DCP just to make your first post an anti-Phantom Regiment rant. LOVE IT! Not every corps starts PERFECT (but I am sure your's WILL). As many of us have noted, Phantom's sound will be different this year, we have a different brass team and lots of new members. How is that something new, different, insurmountable? How long have you followed drum corps? Marched? Student? Taught? Were you at our first dress rehersal in 2008? If you were, I'm sure you found even more problems with that show, and if you did, you were right - it 'failed'....... We all know JD is gone and the sound would be different, maybe much different, but this difference does NOT mean failure. What 'level', IYO, should a corps be at the beginning of the season? PERFECT or nothing? I heard lots and lots of very positive comments about both runthroughs on Sunday from people who know - past members and music instructors. THOSE are the people who's opinions I listen to and trust. Why all the work to discredit what these members are doing? ....by any chance were you one of the last few brass players who were 'released' by the corps??????

Tonight's 2 run throughs at the Dress Rehersal event showed us how hard Phanton is working on their program. Louder. Cleaner. The guard had another new flag to work with and wore their usual 'praticeware' ( my word not theirs) with some of their new uniforms. The sewing crew is still busy with finishing all of the guard unis by Thursday. There is a building energy with the corps as they get more familiar. Again, I am amazed how the brass plays off the drums who play off the pit. It HAS to flow or else! Great DM work. He has great control of the show and the corps members. IMO the visual of this show is going to score big. I heard people around me comment on 'how far ahead of schedule this years corps seems to be'. I agree! And there is so many ways this show could go as the season progresses. Again, you will need to see this show more than once. At least once to follow the great guard work, at least once to watch the moves the brass make, at least once to follow the drums (especially the snares), find the story characters and once or more to follow the pit. Really! There is so much going on! Mark my word, Phantom is going to pop visually and you will be humming the tunes for hours! Great job Phantom Regiment! I cannot/will not give out you secrets.....don't worry Phans it's worth the wait!!!