ranintothedoor

@Restless@Eric M. Buckman I hate it when mom and dad fight... 😉 ... just to be clear, I'm actually enjoying your back-and-forth... it's informative! Proceed.

BTW... When I first saw the props and uniforms, I literally thought, "ALRIGHT CADETS! They're not spending a ton of money on a bunch of extra junk!!! WOOO!" The fiscal conservative inside me ran around in joyous circles throwing cheap handmade confetti for, like, 5 minutes.

As a band director, parent, and alum, I must say that this is a great piece of wisdom when it comes enjoying a show. However, I 100% agree that having a unifying concept that ties everything together is probably much more interesting for a judging community, an ensemble, and a staff that live and re-live the show for months on end. As an anecdote, a couple years ago my band kids played Ravel's Pavane for a Dead Princess. We went through lots of discussions about what each part of the piece might represent (the parents' sorrow, the moment of the child's passing, etc.). Later on, after they put a ton of work into investing meaning into the music itself, I told them the truth: They felt cheated and hurt. Ravel may have been joking, but... ugh. Gut punch. We then had a great discussion about how the artist and the art can stand separate from each other. I ruined the piece for them, I think, but it was a huge learning moment. I'm waiting for the day when drum corps just start coming out with "Show #78" and then imbed their own private meanings into their shows... just like they did back before everyone had to have a title. 🙃 lol

DUDE!!! This is AWESOME!! 😄

I hear what you're saying, but if you're talking about what drum corps' roots were (ie, community ensembles that got kids off the streets with great touring and performance opportunities), that has been supplanted by the public school and the school band. I think that if DCI were to survive, they had to shift to providing "elite" "next level" experience in order to stay relevant. This worked for a while, but now it's just too expensive. You're right, though. The business model is breaking down. DCI needs to consider moving to a different model to stay affloat.

This is a good point. While still a youth activity (which is why we get so emotional about all this, I think), we are all constantly pushing for these groups to run themselves like real, honest-to-goodness businesses. When a corps makes a shrewd and perhaps aggressive move which will benefit their bottom line (ie, full, talented corps roster), I find a lack of tact easy to forgive.

Thank you for this! I don't think I ever saw this show! It's amazing how different things are now, but even then you could see inklings of what they'd become. Great writing, too! 🙂

With SCV's announcement, I thought I'd put out the question: How're The Cadets doing financially? Will running a 2023 season break the bank? I know debt and debt service have been big issues in the past... are they planning on operating at a loss this year?

Woo Cadets!

Bro, this was my JAM as a kid!!!! 😄

Actually, I think kids getting a ba-jillion hours of mixing practice in all types acoustic situations... I'd think this would almost be as good as a taking 9 credits of a music technology minor. Especially if the kids got to contribute to creating the soundscapes, the work of running the hardware at shows, etc. PLUS>>> the corps would save money!! Hire less staff and more income from members! Treat it like another specialized section (guard, drumline, front ensemble, brass... aaaand the sound crew!).

Alright, I'll bite. I'm a HS Band Director. I train my kids to become audio engineers, then they run the live sound. I run it like an apprenticeship. I start some kids in my middle school Music Technology class, then pick one or two to work under my high schooler "pro". They run it together. I also started a non-profit (StreetWise Studios, Inc.) which will one day have the capacity to start this kind of program in schools across America to solve the exact problem the OP presents. Don't know how we'll get there yet (lol) but one step at a time. 🙂

So.... Bloo 22 is... The Zone, Part 3? 😄 I'm down!

I would like to point out that DCI/Flomarching production team made it a point to focus on the Trooper cello young lady's back... complete with all the harnesses, etc. 🙂 Well played. Very politik, if done on purpose.

Phantom's closing drill was my visual highlight of the night. So satisfying. I think that's what I miss most in modern visual design... sustained full ensemble drill moments. Hard to do with more kids, I get it. 🙂

This, right here, kind of washes everything else away for me in this discussion. To have the possibility of a Phantom 08, to allow for a magical connection between audience and corps for that one final run... mmmmm.

Speaking of the last part... AT 11:57, TO THE LEFT OF THE 50, ON THE CRASH CYMBAL... THAT'S MY KID!!! (well former student... but...) AAAAA!!! I'm so proud of him!!! 🙂

Oh yeah! I forgot there was a review section! 😄 Thank you! It's hard to get back on the horse after so many years of DCP withdrawal.

Can't tell you all how much I've enjoyed coming back to DCP, and this thread in particular, after years of neglect. Missed you all. 🙂

The ending, tho...

How was it?!??!?

JMU BRASS BAND!!! GET IT GIRL!!!

Another girl with a briefcase in a Cadets show!! WOOO!! 😄

Any updates on this? Have any corps put out mentions of this and their plans?

Not only the diesel... we're facing a huge economic collapse a la 2008... but probably more like 1929. What do our corps do if this hits while they're on the road? Just hoping the poop misses the fan until after tour finishes. (I know right?... quite cheerful today... lol)