Guard-Dad

If you'll endulge me, I'd like to add to this topic from a guard parent point of view (as my kids think "Good God Dad!") Until my son's graduation last year I was what you might call THE guard dad at the high school my kids attended. I worked with the coaches setting up transportation, ordering "stuff" ect .. What guard added to me really, cannot be put into words. It literally changed my life (not to be too dramatic). When my daughter came home in 8th grade and told us she wanted to try out for this group that tosses flags I thought "Ok why not" .. after 5 trips to Dayton, countless bus rides to field competitions, watching as my son become a member of the 2009 DCI Champion Blue Devils, little did I know I would be HOOKED! Even with my not going to Dayton this year, I was a texting fool and the "Refresh" button on the scores page is probably worn out! I've met SOOO many amazing people along the way, from the coaches that my kids spent hours upon hours with I say THANK YOU, to some great people at WGI, other parents, but mostly some of the most dedicated and amazing kids I've ever come in contact with! As parents and fans we need to never loose track of what this activity is all about. The young ladies and gentlemen that do this simply because they just LOVE to! To all of those that I've met thank you .. to those I didn't get a chance that are involved still, enjoy every second of it!! Ok I'm done with all the sapp

This is GREAT news! I know one young man in particular that will be auditioning! Maybe another Dayton trip is not out of the question after all! After 5 years in a row I've become use to spending "vacation" in April in "lovely" Dayton Ohio!! Thank you for the insite!

As a parent that has been involved with Color Guard for six years, 2 kids through a HS program and one in Drum Corp, I have to say I'm more then surprise and frankly a bit ###### to hear a BAND DIRECTOR speak about a portion of his/her program like you just did. As was said in a previous post, if there is "almost no return on the performance side" .. that sounds like an organization issue, no motivation, little dedication .. kids emulate what they see and/or hear.

The "recycled dirty work" got them the Silver Medal at World Champinships in 2009. Don't know why the negativity, I was simply asking if anyone had heard.

I've heard rumors they are returning to WGI in 2011. I hope so I just LOVED their show in 2009! Anyone heard anything for or against these rumors?

I did some looking and found the houseing site answer on the show website. Here they are in case anyone is interested: Corps / Housing Site / Showtime Teal Sound / Staley Jr. High Rome / 7:05pm Pacific Crest / Westmoreland High School / 7:22pm ** My High School ** Mandarins / Herkimer High School / 7:39pm Spirit / Westmoreland Middle School / 7:55pm Madison Scouts / New York Mills Jr. Sr. High / 8:37pm The Cavaliers / NYSSD/RFA Stadium / 8:54pm Bluecoats / New Hartford High School / 9:11pm Santa Clara Vanguard / Rome Free Academy / 9:28pm

I think Bluecoats are just locked in right now. BTW .. does anyone have housing sites? This show is in my home town back yard and I'm curious if any corps are staying at my old High School!!

I have a question .. this is the 2nd thread started by the OP about a particular Corp. The other is “Phantoms Guard” .. I’m sorry but I have to ask, why two threads questioning why something is done a particular way, or why a certain part of a Corp is scoring low? Are you looking for actual answers or trying to “stir the pot”? Just curious.

If you're talking about the black jackets you see them wearing after shows, I maybe mistaken, but I believe those are for members only. I wanted one also, but that's what I had heard. (someone jump in and correct me if I'm wrong please)

My son will once again be traveling to Concord, CA this Thanksgiving weekend to audition for the 2010 Blue Devils!! ps .. He'll also be picking up his 2009 Championship ring! (what can I say .. I'm still a VERY proud Blue Devils Dad!!!)

A version of this song arranged and peformed by Mr Joe Fos, was also used by WGI SW Color Guard Finalist Rancho Bernardo HS in their 2008 show also entitled "Smile". Couldn't find a youtube link, but if you're interested head to the Video Gallery on their website http://www.RBHSGUARD.org. You can watch their preliminary performance from Dayton that year. Just thought I'd though that out there!

Forgive the "should know" question, but as the name says, I'm a Color Guard dad. When selected to a drum corp, are the instruments supplied to the musicians? If they are is it so they all look and sound the same? Just wondering why the exclusive aggreement is as big news as it is.

Congrats! I've listened to this twice. My son was on the Guard and I get goose bumps everytime I listen!! Very cool!

First off, thank you for your reply, and actually the way you put it makes sense. I can understand what you are refering too. Mind you, I am NOT a guard teacher, instructor or anything like that. I've been around it for 6 years now and just pick up on what is taught, what the instructors say ect .. When I initially said "you can't compare guards today with the 70's" what I meant was in the movement and such. I base this 100% on videos I've seen of guards in the past. I did not march in the 70s, have never spun, trust me you certainly do NOT want me tosses a rifle! I just think that times are different, I'm sure the way musicians march is different now then in the 70s. Times change and activities such as this have no choise but to change with it and as with many things, sometimes change is for the better, and sometimes it's not. Once again thank you for your response

I see .. well thank you for your opinion

Please let me say, I in no way meant to make less of what guards were doing in past, my pupose was to just stress that things are changing. If what I said came across as a "slam" of guards of yesteryear, I apologize, was not my intent. EDIT .. I would say in regards to the comment that today's guards are not trained for technique. I've been to many a practice that would question that statement.

Well now, this was some interesting reading ... I will admit I'm a bit "Guard bias" but so be it. Let's remember folks, it is called "Drum and Bugle Corps" .. this will never change. HNC have been doing this for 75 years (congrats to them BTW). I don't see it changing to "Drum, Bugle and Color Guard Corps" anytime soon. Is there WGI influence here, on the visual aspects of guard I would say absolutly yes. That's just the way it is. Back when Piper was "crusing for guard babes" the ability and complexity of what color guards could do cannot be compared to what is being done now. Just as corps are changing musically, so are guards. Example, BD tossed rifle ensemble EIGHT, back in the 70's as stated that would not have been a thought! Color Guards are pushing the envelope every year. If you haven't been to a WGI Color Guard show, your comment about "prancin and dancin" shows your inability to judge what you don't know. With 100+ musicians and say 40 guard members in an average drum corps, I think that the spotlight on music is pretty safe.

I have to say, out of all the reviews I've read (and I read them all) this has to be the best I've read to date. No negativity, just constructive and insightful input. Thank you so much for such an enjoyable review. This is the first time I can actually say "I felt like I was there". We need more like this!! Again THANK YOU!

Let me just say, I couldn't tell you a "hard" show from an "easy" show believe me, I'm too busy trying to find my son on the field! LOL I just like the activity, what this people do all summer is pretty killer! My hats off to them all!

LOL .. even as a BD fan .. that was #### funny!!

hhmm well maybe my thinking is backwards, but I for one would rather see a clean show. Although, I can in no way tell you what is clean and what is not in the way some folks look at feet and junk like that. I personally think what they go out on that field and do is pretty amazing ... "less clean" or not!!

Don't get me wrong I am without question a BD Fan and a homer, come on how can I not be! Honestly my post was directed to folks that bash ANY corps, or ANY show, as it's said many times .. until you've walked a day in my shoes .. that goes here. Until you've marched a step in ANY of these shows, nobody can say what is easy and what is not. Period. Let me add, before someone says "Well I marched last year" or "I marched and you didn't" all this might be 100% true, but if you marched last year and not this, or marched 10 years ago, my statement still rings true.

I see .. so then with this thinking a "more difficult" show that just looks bad would/should score higher then a show that is "less difficult" but clean as could possibly be?

FINALLY a post I can enjoy! I didn't know what to expect when I clicked on the link .. well put! BTW .. I'm assuming you are the same person that was posting the blog on DCI.org for finals. Well written!!

I think you hit it on the head .. I mean come on people, can we get over the chairs, if it makes anyone feel better, I was told they threw them all away so you'll never have to be bothered with those bad old chairs again!