deltabass

How far is DCI going to go with these experimental events? If these are what we can assume they will be, which is musical theatre-based productions, how will the organization as a whole be able to handle this? If these events become a huge success and a huge money maker for DCI, at what point does it become exploitation of the members? Obviously, developing these productions as well as maintaining a competitive field show is going to take much more time and effort from the participating groups. If DCI wants to present these performers as professional quality, how long until the members realize that they aren't getting paid for their extra time and work? As is, the drum corps activity is becoming more and more intrusive into the performers' lives, forcing them to miss school both at the beginning and end of the season. At what point to members look for compensation, wnd at what point does it become a matter of exploitation?

Huh. Seems to me that a particular corps did that show, for the most part, this past year. Happened to be wearing West Point uniforms, too. Just with black pants, no stripes, and much brighter red on the jacket.

It's a warmup exercise

To someone so obviously outside the activity, I can understand how you would see the lines blurring. It's always difficult to see distinct differences from afar. Speaking as someone inside the activity, I can tell you that there are undeniably distinct manners in how the members of each corps act on a day to day basis, and this is a direct product of each corps' unique approach to the activity. Drum Corps is very unique, as usually the only people who have any idea as to how it works or how to operate successfully are either currently heavily involved, or have in the past. Because of this, it takes each corps a while for all of its members to figure out the "mojo," or persona that is associated with a member of a drum and bugle corps. Once the new people are able to figure this out, each group takes on its own identity, and these can be clearly seen on the field. As the season progresses, more and more people on the field begin to figure it out, and more and more begin to project that image of bad###ery that is specific to their corps. Being someone that believes very much in tradition and corps loyalty, it offends me to hear that someone doesn't see passion for drum corps like I do every summer. It offends me even more to see that person sharing their thoughts in a public forum. Each corps does in fact have its own identity, and it can be clearly seen in the way that each member of the corps carries themselves on and off the field, though keep in mind that this may not always be a positive thing. Some groups that may be in the middle of a temporary flux and between groups of veterans may act differently that other corps, primarily due to a lack of role models. Regardless of how each corps acts, it is definitely distinct. But here I am ranting, hoping to catch the attention of someone who probably doesn't care. Just take this as a message from someone actually involved to someone who either never was or hasn't been for some time, corps identities are alive and well.

Spirit's 2010 Program: "Forging an Icon" Graphic can be found on forum on corps' website.

Had to match the shirt.

Me too!

I thought one of the main driving factors of the concept was that all the things you were doing had been done before by other corps, hence several visual quotes and whatnot. Sadly, most of the segments were much too brief to be considered "amazing" in comparison with their predecessors with similar content. Example? Hungarian Rhapsody 2 first debuted as a short contra feature in VK 92, and it was nice and clean.

06 phantom

80 spirit

06 crown

92 VK BUT...how could the 88 Sky Ryders have been a previous champion if 88's 10th place was Suncoast Sound?

Nope.

Just noticed some very cool quotes from the 08 Cavaliers. Visual quotes include the rotating contra circle that moves down the field (06), and a toss of a flag from one guard member to another standing in the middle of a form (2000)(actually noticed these during the summer). Musically, the rhythm of the taiko drums at the beginning and throughout the drum break mimics the rhythm (1, and of 2, 4) called out by the hornline during the "Fight Club" portion of Frameworks. Also, the rhythmic stabs performed by the entire corps at the end of the show mimic the stabs from the end of Mars (95, duh). No idea if either of the last two are intentional, probably are in some respect, but it adds another layer to the show. Kinda cool.

The idea with including the pre and post show ideas ion the show announcement is not to suggest that Spirit will be doing all of this. It is asserting the idea that the focus of the show is the music, and the driving force behind the music is to entertain the spectators, as a concert would. The design staff has elected to bypass all hidden meanings and pretentious subtleties that have begun to plague the activity, and instead do as much as possible to produce a high-energy, exciting, and entertaining product. Spirit's 2009 mission is to turn the focus of the product from pleasing and fooling the judges to entertaining and pleasing the crowd, much like a concert without the burden of being judged does.