cjw5168

Such an awesome example of how incredible the world of Drum Corps really is. Way to go Red Team.

This is what happens when you try to use numerical values to rank something that is subjective. You are scientifically placing artistic shows... Sure, there are varying levels of technicality and execution, but in the end, these are performances. In baseball, it is easy. Team A scored 5 runs. Team B scored 3. Team A Wins. It's not subjective... In Drum Corps, it's just... different. When you start too look at the oddities in scoring like this, it's obvious that the system is flawed. There is no perfect way (and there will never be a perfect way) to judge 12 different corps. There are times when a corps performs MUCH better in a night and the scores drop from previous nights. There are nights when a corps performs WORSE in a night and the score raises 2 points. It happens. Unfortunately, year after year, three or four corps around the 10-15 range get jipped out of finals night because of it, even though they are probably all worthy of the spot. The scores are the worst part of this activity, IMO. I just try to take them for what they are, and enjoy =)

Do you work at Rockwood? My company buys raw materials from them... meh, small world.

"All-skate" - Happens after a rep, normally during ensemble rehearsal. It means any staff is allowed to make comments, not JUST visual or JUST music staff. Usually called from the box. "The Box" - the focal point for most of a drum corps' show. This is where the staff (who aren't on the field) sit during rehearsal, and it's where the judges (who aren't on the field) sit during a show.

Yeah I'm pretty sure that was Tim Jackson

Is that the same "word" that the Colts can't speak of for fear of a broken leg or a kitchen fire or a bus crash? Box 1-5 = an adjective put in front of virtually anything in the drum corps world to describe how good/bad that particular thing is. i.e. "That was a box 5 dinner!" = a corps' favorite meal, usually very filling and delicious "Those showers were box 1..." = a shower that dribbles out ice cold water, has roaches on the floor, and basically forces members to go use the garden hose at the kitchen truck to "shower." "HOTDOG!!" - something that is yelled when a rep is so bad that the staff is trying to say that everyone will get up and go to the concession stands if the members play/march like that during a show. "Hose(d)" - used to describe watering down (making easier) parts because they are too hard. "Yeah, we had to hose the tenor part because they couldn't play it clean." "That brass lick got hosed."

"Could we try sounding a little less autistic and more like a drum corps?" - so harsh, but it got the hornline's attention... "_______, your parents aren't going to be sitting in the end zone. Point your bell to the #%*^ BOX!!" "_______, you were so far behind on that rep that I thought you were doing work from the previous song. We're done with the opener, try to catch up with the rest of us." "If I had a baby with me, I'd toss it on the field right now. That was awesome!! Now reset and do it again!"

I kind of agree. It used to be funny when we did it every show to see who could be the last ones set. Every show you'd see the basses spaced at 5 yards or more marching 24 to 5. I've been a part of it and got ripped hard by our staff. And when I look back at it, I agree. It was lame and not very classy. We stood next to Spirit's tuba line one time during retreat and the whole line played "smoke on the water" during the entire America/O Canada. Also funny (to them) at the time, but I bet they regret it now. Yep. Sorry, I meant encore. I'm stuck in the old days. And yeah, like I said, it used to be funny. Now? What's the point? Where's the friendly competition? Now it looks like they're checking out other corps' pants... (alright, I caved...)

I can now confirm my first guess, straight from the horses mouth (a member of the 08 Scouts drumline, not that he's a horse) that the basses were participating in the old school style "bass wars." Any time they did retreat this season the basses tried to be the last ones off the field. In keeping with tradition, and the rest of the 08 season, they decided to stay on the field until someone told them to leave. So, there it is OP. It took a lot of nonsense to get here, but there's your answer.

One other thing I may suggest is trying out for a corps before the year that you actually think you are ready to march. Like you said, Drum Corps is very different from marching band. It's often an eye-opening experience once you get to tryouts/winter camps. As someone who tried out at the age of 14, I knew I wasn't ready to march corps yet, but I wanted to know what it was like before I got there. When I was ready at the age of 16, I went to camp with confidence and an edge over those who were trying out for the first time. I made the corps with ease that time around. Best of luck man, with your attitude I am positive you will succeed!

Being sponsored by a uniform company doesn't necessarily mean that everything is free. A lot of times if you sponsor or endorse a product, you get it at a discounted rate, but still have to pay some for it. Now, if they are getting those new uniforms every year for free, more power to them! That's awesome to be able to do that. But if corps were completely sponsored and didn't pay a dime, don't you think you would see more corps switching uni's every year to go along with the show theme? As for what I would change? The Scouts used to look huge and intimidating. This year they looked like boy scouts rather than The Madison Scouts. I realize they are paying homage to their history with that theme, but there has to be a way of doing it without making the Men of Madison look like the boys of elementary school. Just my .02

hilarious!

double post

I can confirm both of these. "Contra" wars eventually got turned into "Bass wars," because the bass drums were the last members of the corps marching on the field. The bassline used to spread out so that there were about 5 - 10 yards between each player to try and be the last member to be set in the block. What happened Finals night may be something along these lines, or it could be completely unrelated. I know someone who marched this year, I'll ask and see if I can get an answer. Or if someone knows the real answer please enlighten me! I'm curious! And for Pete's sake, start a new topic for the uniform debate!

Glockenspiel?