Vito

To Post #30. You are on the money. The G7 are not the show. I would gladly pay to see the Troopers, Boston, and Madison compete. In my mind, that's a great show. Maybe reduced ticket prices would bring more fans to the gates? Instead, many seem to be falling into the logic that only bigger is better. As the price of tickets has increased, the price PER FAMILY has gone up dramatically. Bring the little kids and they will get hooked. Vito

Post #28 I really think this the answer for a lot of drum corp's problems. Regional corps would increase the number of players in the smaller corps. Kids will see the "local" corps more and want to join. There would be more shows and more interest. I'd say more, but you've set it well already. Vito

The flow of talent to the top corps is killing the activity. People complain that the same coprs win every year but for some reason can't see the cause. The older members want "just one year with a winner" and move on. I can't blame them. The are paying a lot for the experience and for the music majors it may make a differnce in their career options. The price of gas and air fair may begin to regionalize corps again. If this were to happen, smaller corps would have a better chance of developing and the "second tier" corps could challenge. This post started by asking about how goood would the top corps be without the second tier. Would we all suffer if the best corsp were only as good as the Blue Coats? That's a pretty good level for the product to be at.

I am sorry, I found Phantom's show over the top. I don't hate Phantom or any other corps. I just think we could do with a little less theater and a little more drum corps.

Sorry, some of the posters are missing the point. I amnot criticizing a particular corps or guard. I am saying that color guards are being used as comic releaf for the purpose of GE. In stead of dazzling us with brilliance...

More individual corps identity in the music. The variety is missing.

For clarification. I am not calling Corolina clowns. Nor would do I mean to deminish the overall quality of their show. I am referring to the antics of the Color Guard during their show (and during retreat). They are dressed in cartoonish director's outfits and perform in a way that mimics clown behavior.

Although I clearly have an opinion, I am really interested in your thoughts. It seems to me that many units' color guards have taken on the role of clown. Consider the on field antics of such guards as Crown and Glassmen. Much of the performance is schtick. In a circus this role is taken on by the clowns. In corps, it appears as if this is a role taken on by color guard. The Blue Devils took this to the absurd level. The entire corps played the role of clown. Clearly this was a fitting piece of show design. On another level, was the pre show antics/theater of Phantom anything more than clowns prepping the audience before the actual performance? I am somewhat surprised that so many beleive voice over to be the end of drum corps. While I am not a big fan of being lectured, I am a not a fan at all of drum corps as circus. Sure, it's entertainment but I would rather enjoy a solid musical performance than vaudville act. I really don't like clowns. What do you think?

I am new to posting, but this topic made me get involved. I think that every thing we say or do gets interpreted. As such we need to be aware of the messages that we are sending. When we offend someone we work with we apologize. I believe that much of the bafoonery at retreat is offensive and disrespectful to the other corps and to the activity. It's pretty obvious, clapping for another competitor is classy; imitating part of their show is not. Parading past a coprs to show respect is classy; putting on a display or show (like Crown) throughout retreat is not. Frankly, I am waiting for apologies from a number of corps. I guess that won't happen since we condone this as entertianment. Sigh.