mojo67
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Posts posted by mojo67
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The only way we'll know if this really works is if, Pioneer, Pacific Crest and the Mandarins finish in the top 12! If the top 12 remain the same well.....then......we can blame Hillary Clinton for emailing the recaps to the judges who weren't supposed to get the recaps until after the season. Cause we alllllll know judges are kept apart from each other and never discuss anything! yup yup yup.....
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Just talking about SCV this year! wow! Wow! WOw! WOW!!! On video it was absolutely spectacular!!! I cannot wait to see it live!!! I see this definitely being a medalist show! The drill, the music, the energy, just the entire show! JUST WOW!
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My response to the site is this; it is 2015. There is technology that could be utilized to make this a friendly website for phones, iPads, or what not. WGI even has a cell phone website. If this is "Music's Major League" the website does not portray this is any fashion. It is a generic boxed site that is dull, plain, and definitely not the way to get the new generation interested in drum corps. Every corps that competes on American soil, should be listed....PERIOD!
If there is going to be a price for providing streaming service, it should be about perfect. Last night was pitiful. I felt like I was watching Godzilla at times...(the movement on the video would stop, and the motions on the field kept going). The interviews with BD and SCV were a great touch, however video and audio were horribly off. There should be refunds offered or something because, the consumer is not what they are paying for. While the offer of the service is great, the service needs to match up. And it fails....miserably. Fix it DCI or DCI may be a thing of the past sooner than later............
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This is my first show I've watched on TV in a long time. What I will say is this. DCI needs to get their crap together. The feed was herky jerky, some of the camera angles were apparently being done by Helen Keller, and they synch between video and audio was horrible at times. DCI is paid a crap ton of money to deliver a product. If you can't deliver their needs to be something done to make it right. I doubt this will happen, as they probably ignore these threads. That being said, onto the show.
Obviously most of the shows are still incomplete.
The Mandarins - Obviously not done, however the show is easy to follow with a great them, and everything clicks. They'll do well.
Pacific Crest - Some nice moments but again, not done. It will be great to see a finished product. Love the new look, (except the extended cape down the leg...aka Blue Devils.
Blue Knights - I need to see this again, not sure what I watched.
Phantom Regiment - I thought this was going to be cheesy, and I was wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed this show, it was easy to follow, the rep is catchy, and they tell a complete story. LOVED IT!
Santa Clara Vanguard - I about peed my pants with excitement...where has this group been? LOVED everything from beginning to end. My personal thought, Could be a top 3 finisher.
Blue Devils - **sigh** I did not get this show (though it was the high cam I was watching, because the multi cam wasn't working). They play well, they do what the Blue Devils do, but I was underwhelmed. Hopefully changes will occur to make me favor this show a bit more, but right now, I do not see this competing at the end of the season.
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And that is exactly what should NOT happen.!!
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As Jim Ross from the WWE would say, "MEH GAWD, THAT BLEW MY FACE OFF!"
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Double D. Thank you!
Skevinp - I'm kind of a long winded person...and thank you..I like your signature!
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It's hard to say. They possibly could have scored higher if that would have been the case.
Please do not misunderstand me, I am rooting for the Bluecoats to pull out a major victory in Indy. I know that hypothetically there is really not a set in stone answer, but something to ponder.
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Enjoy:
"Somewhere deep in the heart of every person is an Alma Gitana, A Gypsy Soul. The life being led in that manner would not necessarily be that of a person on the cover of Vanity Fair, but there would be No Strings Attached, some would even consider it the Dark Side of the Rainbow. Some of those people realize for That One Second, they are Immortal or Unbreakable but during that TimeTrip a person can learn the Joy by looking at a simple Magnolia, thinking of the beauty and without going too far Out of This World, think about those Words 2 Live By, and in Turn, Pay It Forward. Sadly, what some folk will never realize is that feeling of a Promise: An American Portrait, A Peoples House, that home is Where the Heart Is. They will slightly Tilt their head, and wonder what life would be on an Animal Farm tying the good and evil of Swan Lake then coming to the realization that life will Nevermore be anything less than Felliniesque."
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But if there were any other corps ranked above Bluecoats in WV..would Bluecoats still have scored what they did? Hmmmmmmm
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Good draw for Colts after a bad draw in San Antonio. Hopefully some changes get put in this week.
I have seen the Colts show on video and in person in San Antonio. Plain and simple to me, it doesn't make sense. There is a show title in which I'm trying to combine with the musical aspect and visual aspect, and things do not fall into place. That being said, I think the Crossmen are the solid 12th place corps this year, if not higher.
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I saw all the shows down here in Texas. All I can simply say, is the Bluecoats have created one of the best show concepts. It is different and unique. There is a theme. While the show needs some thought to follow, they have all the ingredients to win. That being said, Blue Devils and Cadets are also on an extremely high level right now as well. Santa Clara is even coming on strong. With all that being said, and for my personal reasons which I will forgo on here, I think Blue Devils will win. However, I am strongly rooting for the Bluecoats to pull something special out and have their highest placement yet.
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I typically avoid these boards but I do have a question. Would you as a drum corps fan be interested in seeing a blind draw for shows throughout the country? or even for preliminary performances for world championships? Why or why not?
With this year especially being a most competitive year for a couple of drum corps trying to make history, I do think that being in a random draw would be awesome. Why? A judges responsibility is to judge and rate and rank correctly. In looking at some scores and ordinals, I can't but get upset at seeing the same old thing occurring again. 10, 9, 8, 7, blah blah blah going on. I have yet to attend a show yet this year so more will come to fruition later in the week as I attend three shows albeit, in a reverse order of their ranking. Please note, I am not bashing, it just seems constant year after year after year the same thing happens.
In open class, the corps go on early in the day on Thursday and the first corps to take the field typically does so to an empty house. Now if, oh let's say, mix things around have a blind draw, and say if Blue Devils B or Vanguard Cadets went on first there would be more of a crowd. This should be a growing, learning, and selling experience for the kids. Seeing 75,000 empty seats to me, would be depressing.
The idea would basically be to have the Open Class be a blind draw, the corps in the bottom 11 in a blind draw, the top 10 in a blind draw. This would require true management of numbers and thought process instead of just popping a higher number on the given sheet. And there should not be a big deal since all the corps are judged on the same sheet through out the season as well. Then proceed in semi finals and finals in the seeding process. Just allow some corps who perform literally in front of 200 people be able to see a nice crowd to perform in front of for a bit of inspiration and hope. Just my thoughts.
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I guess what is staggering is; looking at some very optimistic people with ideas, is the money factor. Rumor had it that the whole get up for WCU and their LED's was around 450,000 grand. What corps has that kind of money to throw around. Here are my plain and simple proposals:
1)Have a blind person judge music
2)Have a deaf person judge visual
3)Have a fan favorite corps (as voted by the fans)
4)Legalize powder (for clarification, to use for effect not to sniff off a mirror)
5)Drug test judges
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As someone who served on the board of directors for a World Class corps that fairly recently went inactive (while I was on the board- I had to help make that decision) let me offer my perspective. I don't believe the G7 have anything to do with it, the more corps that go inactive and the more the activity shrinks, the more strained and insignificant drum corps becomes and the less relevant everyone is. Most the G7 corps have deep roots in their communities, and have been operating as a highly visible non-profit youth serving organization in their communities going back years and years to when drum corps were all just small groups of local kids. G7 corps have powerful boards, they are tapped in to the local Rotary Club, and they often have established means of fundraising due to lots of community connections. Their high profile and years of competitive excellence lead to equipment manufactures fighting for them to use their equipment, and command the highest performance fees because those corps pull in the majority of the audience. Also, most of the G7 corps have highly professional business people operating the corps behind the scenes, and have very well thought out business plans. Even with all that going for them, most the "big boys" run on a surprisingly thin margin- razor thin in many cases.
Music City and other corps like them, corps fighting to get to World Class, or corps in the bottom of the World Class heap, have the most difficult time. The current touring model places a lot of financial stress on all corps- the amount of money simply to get the corps down the road is insane. Bottom placing corps and World Champion corps pay the same for gas, and the same for food. Fixed costs associated with touring are brutal on all corps, especially the ones without as much community support. Drum corps have a very difficult time funding year to year activity with operations alone (tour fees and appearance fees). The math simply doesn't work out- unless members pay even more than the huge fees they do now, or audiences pay even more for shows (already pushing the envelope for ticket prices as it is) corps just can't stay ahead on operational income alone. Unless a corps has some serious community support, an amazing business plan, and some sort of steady cash flow for outside, it is very, very difficult to make it. Couple that with the fact that corps no longer hold many assets- they don't "own" anything anymore, save for a trailer, souvie trailer, cook truck, and assorted small vehicles. Due to high costs of ownership, most corps lease buses. Just about all equipment is bought/sold off the truck at the end of the season for a financial wash. Thus, at the end of the season, the corps has very little liquid assets. Not much to leverage, and very little cash flow.
So, my .02 is that it is not some evil G7 conspiracy or anything. All those corps directors feel the sting of a shrinking activity just like everyone else. Its not about people's desire to "dominate" or eliminate the competition. If you are the only one left in the race, than why would it mean anything to finish first? For all corps to survive (G7 included), a healthy activity with lots of corps benefits everyone. The current touring model, the difficulty for corps to contend with other charitable non-profits for grants and public dollars, and high cost of doing business is what does corps in. I know- I've lived it.
Please explain to the masses why (since at least 2000) there have been no more than 24 World Class Corps? The activity needs to grow yes? How does that happen if the rich get richer and the rest fade into the darkness?
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I really do think that the kids should have been notified first instead of people reading it on social media. When I asked a friend of mine what happened to Music City his reply was "You know as much as I do." I honestly believe this was a correct answer and he was not hiding anything. For the kids, well at least those that paid their dues, deserved more than getting the rug pulled out from under them and finding out on social media.
What does the G 7 have to do with this? More than you can ever imagine. If you can say my thoughts are out of whack, answer my question of why there hasn't been more than 20 - 24 World Class Corps in a given year since at least 2000? Now, I'm no Jessica from Murder She Wrote, but shouldn't the activity be growing and not shrinking? Also, granted I was not a fly on the wall during any board meetings, but I certainly do not feel this was a decision made weeks ago.
Here is the thing with G 7, when oh certain directors decided to say it was ok to raise the member limit from 120 to 150, there are 30 people..Yes? Now, go back to my above post and see how many corps we have lost. Did this move improve the activity or in reality did the "rich get richer and the poor get poorer." I am just being blunt and honest without beating about the bush. I call it as I see it. Can I be wrong? Absolutely! Can I be right as well? Absolutely!
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How sad this is to hear. I hope explanations are given because fans absolutely deserve one. It is ashamed that corps members were not even emailed prior to this. How sad. My gut tells me that there is something rotten in the state of denmark. I am not sure what it is yet, but my gut instincts are usually right.
They were on the up and up, ready to burst onto the scene in a big way. Something is just not sitting well. There were no rumors of $$ issues or bus issues or anything. All of a sudden..POOF!
With the results of last Saturday that ensured the Cavaliers were somehow included in the TOC and with the dissolving of Music City..for players for the G7. I really hope the G 7 are happy. I am getting jaded and jaded year by year and will soon lose my interest. Not because of the kids and the support I provide to them, but because of the butthead adults who are trying to run the scam so the rich get richer and the poor end up like Magic, Velvet Knights, 27th Lancers, Music City, Sky Riders, Star, Southwind, Revolution, Forte, Teal Sound, Capital Regiment, Dutch Boy, Americanos, Patriots, Kiwanis Kavaliers, Esperanza, and Glassmen and God knows who how many more.
Here is some major food for thought....HONEST answers would be appreciated. Why is it that there seems to be a maximum number of World Class drum corps in a given year is 20 to 24? Is this activity supposed to be growing?? or stunted? Is the G 7 afraid and shaking in their boots that a new corps may come out and rule the roost? Imagine if there could be a given year where all the fizzled out drum corps could be competing in a single year...NOW THAT WOULD BE A DRUM CORPS World Finals!!!!! I think people are scared, that someone else may march on their turf. Just food for thought.
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Here are my thoughts on reading this. I almost feel like I'm in a communist country being told what the best thing is to happen.
These alleged 7 claim they've done the most for the activity and even the writer says that open class corps are declining because of various reasons. The one reason that was not mentioned was the one that some "great" corps director proposed an increase in the number of marching members. So corps go from what.....120 to 150...That is 30 people. 30 people a corp equals 4. Alas, there is no more Orlando Magic, Teal Sound, Suncoast Sound, Velvet Knights (what they used to be), there are probably others.
I can certainly say many corps benefited from my generous purchases last year at events and world championships. Sometimes I wish I wouldn't read these things. However this is a real world with real a&&holes who want one thing and one thing only....The Almighty Dollar. As mama always said you put lipstick on a pig..guess what? it is still a pig.
I read into this that 7 corps feel the need to rule and run the roost. This almost sounds like a political debate..where the rich (the G7) want to get richer and the poor (the remaining)get poorer. Those 7 can't stand the thought of finishing out of the top 7. I don't like sugar coating things as it provides a false sense of security. Even threatening to do whatever they want to do...go for it....I would be more than happy to share my hard earned $1.20 an hour with a corps outside the G 7 that actually values the lives of young people being involved in this.
I find this as a very selfish act, where the primary word is me me me me me...It is all about me. I can tell ya one thing, if I ever win the lottery, there would be a reversal of standings, because those outside the G7, would be provided the best staff possible...after $$$ talks right?
I realize no one in the G 7 would give a two sh1ts about someone like me or my thoughts and I don't care. If I stop following drum corps...guess what more $$$ for me to spend at more worthwhile events and organizations.
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Was anyone at the Indianapolis Colts football game today? The Blue Devils performed at halftime. I am just curious as to the reaction the show got. Because this was many people's first introduction to Drum Corps.
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Blue Knights 2012 = Ronald Reagan 2002..Coincidence?
I'm happy Crossmen made it in. Bones needs to be back....Hopefully they can move up a spot or two.
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This is posted on a marching band website. It's posted every year before the season starts. Just replace marching band with "drum corps" :)
MARCHING BAND CONTEST ETIQUETTE
One of the most important parts of a band show is the audience. It is very disappointing for band members who spend weeks and months preparing a show to walk into a large stadium and find that the seats are empty. There are many types of spectators at a band show and they have many different reasons for coming to the show. However, they all have one thing in common and that is that they should be allowed to enjoy the experience.
Things you should do at a band show.
· Support all bands. Regardless of which band is on the field you should applaud or even cheer when they do a good job. Reaction from the crowd will encourage the band to perform better and will result in a more enjoyable show for the audience.
· Watch the whole show. Observe different elements of the bands performance. Your interest may be percussion but, you might be surprised with the work the colorguard is doing. Often, several things are going on at once in a show. If you watch a show several times you may see something new on each occasion.
· Show up early. This is especially true for supporters of larger class bands. Many smaller class bands have great shows. Arrive early at the next show and see what you have been missing.
· Buy something from the concession stand. In many cases a band competition may be the major source of a band programs yearly budget. They have made a large investment and would appreciate your support. In most cases you will find that the prices are much less than what you will pay at your local movie theater.
Things that you should avoid.
It is important to realize that although it is fun to visit with family and friends during a contest, it is unfair to distract other spectators from enjoying the show. This is true at any performance, including a marching band performance. Be respectful of all other spectators and hopefully they will extend you the same courtesy.
· Do not leave or enter the stadium while a band is performing. Try to avoid any unnecessary movement, especially while a band is performing. At most contest the time for each band is fifteen minutes. Each show last around 7 to 9 minutes so that gives you plenty of time between bands to leave the seating area for concessions or to enter the stadium.
· Do not talk on your cell phone. Turn off your cell phone or set it to vibrate. If someone calls you on your cell phone you can return the call between bands. Please do not talk on your phone during a performance.
· Do not allow children to play in the stands and distract other spectators. Obviously, children are the future of this activity. It is good for them to see why big brother and big sister are always at practice and are not at home. However for their safety and as a courtesy to others they should not be allowed to run up and down steps and play in the aisles so others may enjoy the show.
· Do not make negative comments about other bands. That color guard uniform that you don’t like may have been made by that guard members mother that is sitting behind you. That man sitting in front of you could be the arranger or drill designer or even the band director. If you don’t have something nice to say then you probably should not say it. Remember how hard your bands members have worked to get their show ready for the field. Chances are that the other bands have worked just as hard to get their show ready.
· Do not obstruct the view of others. Please avoid standing in front of people trying to watch the show. If you have a banner to display, try to do so from the top of the stands or in some way that others can still see the bands.
· Do not boo other bands or the contest results during the awards. Unfortunately every one is not going to agree on contest results. Booing the award winners or the judges will not accomplish positive results.
Hopefully these tips will make your experience more enjoyable as you cheer your favorite band on and support all the performers of this amazing art form.
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I encourage fellow corps members to watch other shows, it can always be a learning experience. However, when 300 corps kids with wrist bands on converge on the 50 at the top, end up sitting on the stairs half way, and sitting in seats that "probably" were not purchased by them is uncalled for. Also, this was the case for adults. As well, if there were any kind of emergency, many laws would have been broken.
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but just because you have a wrist band does not permit you to sit on the steps? sit in seats where shelled out money, etc.
As for the booing, I have never approved and will never approve of that. People are entitled to their opinion. However, every single performer busts their butts off through steaming hot summers to perfect shows. Everyone should be shown respect.
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It does sound pretty bad. Especially the part where they said "we march corps", like they're better than everyone else. In my opinion, they deserve to be embarrassed about that. Obviously the corps didn't get "the talk" about being classy. Either that, or those members just didn't care.
Also, I'm not just pointing out corps members, but the random adults as well who may have just been fans in general, who were rude and considerate by getting up and leaving or coming in during performances.
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While last night was an overall wonderful experience, I have to say there was a vast amount of rudeness experienced in the upper level by so called "fans and corps members" who showed utter disregard and disrespect for their corp members and the people who actually paid a great deal of money to have a seat to watch the show.
The number of people who walked in and out the stands DURING performances was absolutely horrifying. As the Boston Crusaders were taking the field and Dan Potter was announcing them, a group of approximately 10 Trooper members were standing on the steps looking dumbfounded and not knowing what to do. A comment was made for them to PLEASE sit down as a corps is taking the field. No one apparently had a ticket as the kids shouted "we march corps"....Well that is great, but treat others as you want to be treated. Maybe if the Troopers watched the 17 corps ahead of them they could learn a thing or two. Someone yelled to buy tickets, again rude parents from the Troopers made the comment, "They have tickets" which was obviously a blatant lie as no one knew where anyone was sitting.
As much as the fans appreciate the corps performing, the corps members who are in the audience need to remember that "we the paying public" are helping them achieve a level of greatness that not many people get to experience.
It seems to me that corps members need training on etiquette and how to behave in the stands, as do the parents. Much respect was lost for the Troopers organization because of this ridiculous behavior.
Corps members in the stands need to remember and keep focused on the organization they are representing as well the city, state and localities. While having fun is greatly encouraged being a jerk is not. I've certainly raised my kids with a greater standard than some corps members in the stands last night.
There were adults as well getting up and leaving and coming in during performances which is just as rude. Unfortunately their affiliation was not recognized due to lack of supporting memorabilia.
Common sense folks....PLEASE for the love of GOD...USE COMMON SENSE!
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Indy "Logistics, Food, Meet-Up, Travel, General Advice" Thread
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
For people looking to save money on parking, and traveling, and walking...I have a great idea. If you have never used the ride share app LYFT, do so.
This offer is valid for first time users only, and it is per device. The same code can be used on an unlimited number of devices. But again, this must be your first time using the LYFT app.
When you download the app, and get the information loaded, use the code DCI2016. You will receive a $20 dollar credit for your first trip.
Also, if you are using a ride sharing app, please walk away from the stadium to a specific restaurant, hotel, etc, before you request the trip. This makes is much easier on the driver and on you the guest.
On the LYFT app you get to rate your driver, you can have your picture on the app as well so the driver knows who they are looking for, there is the ability to tip on the LYFT app.
Welcome to Indianapolis everyone! Have fun! Be safe! Go Drum Corps!