treadstone

This posted has been modified to protect self-esteem! Jason

So are you suggesting that Drum Corps Percussion programs should only play what parts originally existed? Jason

Asking "is it really worth it" suggests that it can be looked at from a narrow perspective and that the thousands who are participating are unintelligent. Worth is a perception of the consumer. Someone just bought George Washington's copy of the constitution for a few million dollars. It was worth it to that person. People participate in Drum Corps for a variety of reasons. Cost will become a larger and larger factor as long as the economy does not significantly turn around. HOWEVER, it is really a factor of the individual what they get out of Drum Corps. My daughter recently interviewed for a job and the manager asked her "why do you think I should hire you over the next person?" My daughter's reply was along these lines: "Because I spent the last summer in an intense team environment in which I got up by 6:00 a.m., rehearsed in 90+ degree heat for up to 12 hours a day with limited breaks, performed in the same heat for crowds of thousands and then willingly got up the next morning and did it again - smiling every time we practiced or performed our show. I managed to get along with everyone while I did it and never stopped being a good team player - that's why you should hire me." Did she join drum corps so she could say that? No - did she reap the benefit? Absolutely. Jason

Vanguard represents some of the most potent technique right now. Unfortunately they chose a theme that they have had a rough time with in terms of getting the audience (and judges) to connect. From a technical standpoint (however) they are pristine. I find more excitement in the Bluecoat's show, but cannot get over just how clean SVC performs. Jason

I am happy for the Cadets, they have been expending extraordinary energy and passion. It is great that it is paying off! Jason

ARE YOU SURE?

I LOVE the Cadets flag work during Amazing Grace. It is some of the most beautful and emotive ballad flag work I have ever seen. Jason

Very nice! I had forgotten all about Carnac!

Regarding the Cadets, it is their medal to loose. I am coming to believe that the Cadets are not a "learning organization" and that it will be personnel issues (both member and staff) that prevent their achievement. It's a shame, because they have a 1st place show design. It's like having the best horse, but an unstable jockey (didn't mean for that to sound like a Crown reference.). Jason

"God Bless em" is right. It it obvious the performers are talented. While their style is unique, I feel their design is ill-suited for the performers. Jason

I caught Teal Sound's performance on the Fan Network and was very disappointed. I am sure their design intentions where good, but the show just seemed to fall flat with a lot of underdeveloped ideas, drill holes and lapses. Seem like the management took an optimistic view of filling those holes, yet the outcome was "half empty." As such, a lot of the moments with potential for visual acuteness are lacking. The arranging staff also seems to lack a conceptual understanding of the need for a "drone" element when attempting an middle-eastern style. I am going to take a look at their staff page. Something tells me they must have had some notable staff changes. Jason

None of you understand the bond that unites the G8. Madison could never enter the G8 because they were not there that fateful night. What fateful night you ask? It was late. The charter members of the G8 were crossing the desert and they all saw the streak of light. No one knows which corps decided to investigate first, but they were ALL drawn to the impact site. As is typical, only staff were allowed to leave the bus - that's why some members weren't affected. They say it was the staff of a west coast corps who was assimilated first. The meteorite projected beams of strange blue, red and maroon light. For some reason, green was not part of the spectrum. By the time 7 of the soon to be 8 corps were assimilated, the light withdrew and there was a great splitting sound. Before their eyes lay eight crystals. Drawn to the crystals, each of 7 directors collected one crystal and received telepathic encoding explaining the prophecy of the 8th crystal. Mysteriously, the 8th crystal began to glow green. I would tell you more, but someone (or something) is pounding at my door. They're after me........ I have to go!

I think the viewpoint on staff behavior is going to vary widely based upon which organization a person has experience with - having had siblings in various corps I find that many inappropriate behaviors are ignored in the name of maintaining staff members willing to work for next to nothing or staff members who attain strong competitive results. This is not the place to sight specifics. If it were, this thread would fill up quickly. An underlying cause for inappropriate staff behaviors is sometimes the lack of ability or action on the part of executive leadership in some corps regarding mentoring instructors to become LEADERS. As I have explained to many young people, it is often the instructor who berates members the soonest who is likely to have the least leadership ability (as opposed to instructional ability). Unfortunately, staff members that are "at a loss" to attain results tend to have the most negative behavior. On the "flip side" there are instructors who get certain results through intimidation, but that is because they are intellectually and artistically at a loss to do so any other way. There are great corps out there who come so close to "medaling" or winning, but the "longest yard" for them is the fact that their instructional staff is misaligned and lacks clear leadership. Jason

What I would like to see the most from staff is for them to "model" the same behavior they expect from their corps members. Many of them don't. One of the glaring deficiencies in many drum corps is that director's do not set an expectation of their staff members to "lead by example." Jason

Yes they do! Jason

I know you are right about the trained medical staff. There are, however, frequently situations in which the trained medical staff and the corps instructional staff are at odds. Members are often given appropriate medical advice by a trainer only to have staff members suggest the trainer is taking caution to the extreme. Pressure is created by suggesting they will lose their spot if they are out of training for any notable length of time (in corps they have alternates on tour). Jason

Drum Corps is often a very contradictory environment regarding members. Corps and staff who claim to go to lengths to look out for the members quickly abandon caution if it gets in the way of day-to-day operations and/or is unpopular with members. It is very likely only a matter of time until some individual who ends up having a medically catastrophic situation decides to sue and drum corps and/or DCI. Of course, many groups have "hold harmless" language in member agreements/contracts, but such is often impotent when a case is brought before civil court. Another area is the way in which members are treated when they are ill or injured. There are select staff members who tend to pressure ill and injured members into training contrary to what is best for the welfare of the member. This happens with sprains, tendinitis, concussions, upper-respiratory and other conditions. There is also very little trust given members by staff when the member shares that they are having issues. Ironically the staff themselves are quick to want understanding from the corps director when THEY have issues. Of course, there are members who "bluff" about their physical condition, and those members end up making it hard for many others. I am sure there have been civil suits that no one has heard about - yet it is really only a matter of time until such a situation becomes infamous and hurts an entire corps and DCI. Jason

Actually, Teal has bigger problems to worry about than controversial use of equipment. They are advertising right now to try and fill multiple holes in their drill. Perhaps the EWI drove members out! Jason

It is interesting, they're using enough content from the Doxology for it to be appropriate to credit the tune's identity.

I think this year's show has the greatest potential they have had in a few years. Last year's show was, for my taste, just silly. We'll see how the guard staff does with "content" this year - last year that seemed to be the weakest statistic in the corps' evaluations. Jason

OK - I was not able to see the Cadets except for tuning-in on the Fan Network Webcast of Semi-finals. I was floored! Why was Billy Madison in the show? I didn't even know that had connections with Adam Sandler! Jason

I can't really get past their non-attendance of this meeting. It represents a lack of moral and ethical courage. So they want to "lead", but they refuse to "lead by example." Interesting. Jason

With the strong possibility that not all "G7" members will actually be in the top 7 this year - since the G7 concept (which I don't agree with) has not yet been initialized - it does not seem logical (based upon the case they make for the G7 concept) to keep the original members if something changes this year. For example, currently the Blue Stars are heavy crowd favorite and 7th in the rankings to SVC's 8th. Were that to be the case at finals, and in consideration that G7 is still more of a vision (their vision) than a reality - should Blue Stars finish over SVC within the 7 - they should have a "seat at the table". Also, within the "7" the top 3 should get more money throughout the following year. As long as we're going to "eat our young" let's do it right! Jason

From the DCI website, it appears that the first couple of shows have only 3 corps each? Crown, Cadets and Cavaliers? I guess this is the "C3" <laugh> No need to go the first night when you can catch the same thing the second! Jason

Integrating the self-proclaimed "G7 Standard" presents some interesting adjustments. 1. Judging sheets will now have 6 boxes. The existing 5 boxes will remain, but a "G7" box will need to be added to the judging sheets. 2. Priority for G7 charter members tour housing will be based upon maintaining the G7 standard. For example, as long as a G7 corps stays in the top 7 for ranking they should be given priority for housing. HOWEVER, if a G7 corps should find themselves 8th in ranking, or below for even a day, the corps housing should be downgraded. This approach should also be extended to captions within the G7 corps itself. For example, let's say the the G7 corps is within the top 7 ranking, but their percussion caption is 9th in the caption rankings. While the rest of the corps should be allowed to sleep in the gym, battery and front ensemble performers should have to sleep on the bus, or at least on the school loading dock, until they make it into the top 7 ranking of their caption. Why? If caption in a G7 corps is lower than 7th in the rankings, while the audience may be coming because that corps is a "main attraction" they would (obviously) not feel that way about the given caption that is below 7th. NOW THIS IS BIG: If a G7 Corps should fall below 7th for 3 consecutive shows, there should be a financial process in place through which the given G7 corps should have to financially compensate the previously "non G7" corps that has taken their place until such time as they score within the top 7 for three consecutive shows. 3. Souvies: Space assignment of souvenir booths/trucks should also be connected to current G7 status. Any G7 corps that is ranked less then 7th in the overall rankings, or in the placement at their previous show should have their booth/truck relegated to the least trafficked area available for merchandising. Also, if they were a G7 charter member that is now ranked less than 7th, a percentage of their sales should be required to be distributed to all of the current G7 corps. Of course there is much more to be figured out - ideas? Jason