fsubone

The last piece was the new version of Send in the Clowns. They introduced a new version last year that utilizes some elements of the Kenton edition. J.D. putting his stamp on the corps song. Not exactly a universally loved change, but it is what it is. Cool to have a soloist featured.

And if a band like UO or OSU had the same priority as OC, and spent the same amount of time on their show, they'd probably do pretty well. Can't compare apples and oranges like this.

What if said member sucked? Should they still be guaranteed a spot? Not like most corps are hurting for members anymore and will keep someone around for 10 years because they need the bodies on the field. Every Finalist corps has kids lined up out the door for spots, and if a vet can't cut it, then a new member will gladly take their spot and have more to offer to the success of the drum corps.

If the vet can't hang, then they shouldn't be given a spot just because they marched a year. What if said vet was a complete tick all season and everyone hated to be around them? We've all marched with those kind of people, and don't want them back. Or the ones that are ticks and then go back home and talk as if they were the star member. No one likes that guy. And if they show up un-prepared to auditions, well, it sucks to be them. Call it motivation for the next season to work harder and come back prepared and ready to show what you can do.

That amount of money probably isn't too far off from what the Top 6 pay each year. The 990s are floating around somewhere, corps spend tons and tons of money to get down the road every year.

Only if they get Scott Chandler to design the guard uniforms

Aungst was with Blue Stars recently. Slotting happens the most in the early season it seems. Performance order at shows is usually based on the prior year's results. Corps are thrown into groups of 3/4 and then randomly selected to perform based on that. So if a corps has a big drop-off in one year, they'll still perform late at shows during the first part of the year, probably through the first regional. Then the seedings are re-done based on those standings.

That's the crux of the argument. Everyone thinks CBS will just do this out of the goodness of their hearts for DCI exposure. DCI couldn't even keep the broadcast on PBS of all places. The contract for ESPN cost a ton of money DCI didn't want to lose, and CBS would probably be even more being a major network. Still signed it though, would be nice if someone wanted to pony up the cash to pick it up.

And the immortal Coneheads! Also more recently, McGruber.

Good staff they're bringing on. Lot of good people, with a lot of backgrounds to bring in different viewpoints and information. Look forward to seeing what they present this season.

And how can anyone forget the classic Night at the Roxbury?

Yes, it would lower costs, but would also lower the quality of the product. No real need to go for high quality because there's no competition. And it deprives students of the ability to work in a competitive environment and build those skills, especially those that want to go to the DCI level. There are lots of circuits out there for smaller bands that don't use props and electronics. Bands can find the circuits that work best for them.

Don't forget pants and underwear

A lot of those rings are given to members from alums. A lot of rings from past years on the field that the member themselves never won. Not a tradition I agree with, think it's too ostentatious, but it's what BD does.

"But Brawndo has electrolytes. That's what plants need."

And that version was put on at the Midwest Clinic last week, and was absolutely beautiful. Amazing what a top group and conductor can do. Reynolds barely conducted at all, just let the musicians do the work.

They did his entire score for the Divine Comedy in 2007. Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Show was named Ascension.

Looks like they're going full-bore with the BD feeder corps idea. Even adding the drop sash on the side. I do like that they're keeping the white and teal. DCI needs more bright uniforms. So many dark colors on the field.

Do we start taking bets now on who's going to die during the show? Do they set it during the Revolution? Or set the entire show in the Catacombs underneath?

That did exactly that in 2010 and 2011, and everyone complained about SCV doing shows no one wanted to see, and that they needed to get back to playing music everyone had heard before.

I said can create more visual dirt, not that it does in every single case ever as a set rule. It caused huge issues when Crossmen tried using them a few years back. The ones that Bluecoats use are also specially tailored to narrow the waist out, instead of being a flat vertical line down the side of the body like many of the old uniforms were. Check out early-to-mid 80s SCV to see what I mean. A lot of extra fabric around the base of those jackets that create bulkier lines and wider-looking people.

But it makes everyone look shorter and wider. Not really the look they go for anymore in DCI. And any extra material that isn't secured or tight to the body can create a lot of visual dirt. Which is why no one uses capes anymore. Too much visual dirt comes from them.

Not yet. Still under a show-cause penalty for another two years. UM should have a Harbaugh by then

This is true. Have respect for the people around you. Some shows do have marked out staff zones, I seem to remember the regionals in San Antonio and Atlanta had zones at the top of the first deck. But most local shows don't, so it's either hang out on the track in case you have to help push stuff off, or try and find some open space to watch. There are moments in shows though that staff know hasn't been clicking, and then finally does at the show. It should be fine to show emotion and cheer at the big moments. Maybe that's a problem with the larger audience as has been alluded to, or maybe we should just try and keep it in.

Oh, come on. Messiaen could be awesome. Would be interesting to see how someone could put "Quartet for the End of Time" on the field. His songs filled with bird noises could also form a cool backdrop for a sequel to "On Air". The Quartet would require a pretty dark show to fit into though.