sodakphan

I don't get it. The percussion score variance from Minneapolis to Atlanta (2 weeks) is saying something, but I'm not sure what. Of the top 7 corps, SCV's percussion score has improved only 1.6 points (Mpls 16.9; Atl 18.5), while the 6 corps ahead of them improved by a wider margin from Minneapolis to Atlanta: Crown +2.4 Blue Devils +2.3 Cadets +2.3 Blue Coats +2.1 Phantom Reg +2.0 Cavies +1.9 SCV +1.6 Given what I'm reading on this topic thread and in other places, I'm really trying hard not to conclude slotting is going on. SCV has gone on to the field early in both these shows, and I know this hurts, but I still believe in their musicality and being super "clean." Again, I'm trying to understand the math above. Most of you are more knowledgable on this than I, but I will tell you this: a snare player I know very well in the SCV battery says the book is tougher than last year's PR book. He was there, too. I know, I know, maybe everybody else's music is superior to or more demanding than SCV's. I, for one, am not convinced that's true.

Prediction: SCV drum score will rise with the Dallas heat tonight!

No more watching the radar for me; I'm following rainshdw08's weather analysis. Be careful, rainshdw08. Don't go storm-chasing! We need you!

My son, now in SCV, basically confirms what nemesiscorps has said about the brass philosophy. While my son is a percussionist, he knows the brass will be bringing it bigger -- and at the same time, with great musicality -- in the end. Anyway, can't wait to see SCV and all the corps tomorrow in Minneapolis. Bringing 9 relatives with me. Hope they don't wilt in the heat! Go, SCV!

Clouds, but no rain for the time being. A cool 70 degrees. Perfect for the corps if the rain holds off. Looking good for now (one hour before show time).

Our fair city is something of a factory for percussionists. Pete Hansen and his percussion organization, Groove, Inc., is comprised of about 150 drummers, pre-school age through WGI/DCI age. Several Groove alums have been in high-power DCI lines, including Phantom Regiment 2008 and 2010, and the current SCV batteries. Check out the Groove Web site: http://www.sfgroove.us. Pete fashions little snare drums from quad parts!

A beautiful start to the day here in Sioux Falls. Sunny and in the 60's right now. Mid-70's for highs, light winds, but some rain may move in at 4 pm or so. Phantom Regiment has been here since Monday, practicing at Washington High School in the northeast part of town. Yesterday was a gorgeous day for rehearsal. Word is they were making some changes to their closer. (My wife wouldn't say what they were!)

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is honored to host the "Sioux Empire Spectacular" this Wednesday night, 7:30 pm, at Howard Wood Field. A very nice line-up: Blue Devils Phantom Regiment Boston Crusaders Blue Knights Glassmen Cascades The corps are promised a cool-down in the weather. Forecast for Wednesday: low to mid 70's and a 40% of scattered thunderstorms. Sioux Falls is a city of about 150,000 people at the intersection of I-29 and I-90, and is home to three good-sized public high schools, each having a strong marching band program. As many as ten young people currently or formerly from these program are marching in corps this summer, including Phantom Regiment and Santa Clara Vanguard, and, I think, Madison, Blue Stars, and Colts. Sioux Falls is many miles away from the Missouri River flooding. No problem getting here. For more about the Sioux Empire Spectacular: http://www.rooseveltband.org/siouxempirespectacular.php

Hooray to a great thread! And an unintended (and deserved) little kick in the pants to overly-proud parents like me who have a kid in a G8 corps (or whatever you want to call them). Just appreciate the shows...wherever...and whoever is on the field! It's much more fun and entertaining that way.

Well, General, I was at the show last night, and I really appreciate your review. You are perceptive and fair in your evaluations of corps' strengths and weaknesses. I thought, "My goodness, he's spot on about such things as the stilts of the Cavies, etc." That's what you remember. But didn't the crowd go crazy for such things as the stilts...and especially, it seems, the wall of sound coming from PR, The Cadets, Cavies and Blue Devils?!! I do not feel the SCV percussion got enough credit from the judge! 3rd?? So sharp and clean! I certainly also do appreciate what the Blue Devils and others are doing in percussion, but they are not better than SCV, imo. My overall impression after the show: there are many superb corps and shows this year! Already VERY strong. So glad we brought a guy along who has never been to a DCI show. He was "wowed," and is making plans to get to the San Antonio show with his family.

Thanks for more information about your earlier remark. We need to sit down over a cold one and talk more about this. Omaha? Minneapolis?

Thanks for an "insider's view" of pre-show hype, the influence of Paul Rennick on you, and the "Dan Sailer hype" reference. He's going to kill me if he ever reads this stuff!

I've waited a long time to jump on board on this topic: I know one of the young men who moved from PR to SCV (OK, he's our son!). He was a snare player for 4 years for PR and is not connected with North Texas. We talked with him about corps loyalty, and he wrestled long and hard with that. Finally, his high admiration of Paul Rennick and the incredible instruction Paul brings won out. And then there is the unique fraternity that is the percussion section...in high school marching bands as well as drum corps. They become so tight. The friendship factor with battery mates factored in as well in the PR to SCV switch. One thing that was not a factor: Mr. Rennick did not recruit. He was a pro in this move.

And that is just not right if this happens! We phans hope that the line will prevail like it has many times this season, despite the corps itself losing by several points. The best should be rewarded for being best...even at Finals!

Your point is well taken, ajwdad. When I was introduced to the world of drum corps in the early and mid - 2000's, I really liked the Blue Devils, but when my sons became members of Phantom Regiment, PR, of course, became "my" corp. But the BD of today seem far different than the days of their Godfather show, for example. I miss the slightly older version of the BDs! But, as you say, entertainment is in the eye of the beholder. It's hard to argue taste. And it's hard to root for all the corps when you're addicted to one, as I am now. I really try to appreciate the activity of drum corps in general because there are so many fine corps, but my humanity gets in the way too often.

I find myself resonating with Peel Paint's point of view and with that of the OP. Is the GE category a measurement of the impact of the corps' show on the judges or on the audience? Who is the corps supposed to "move"? Seems that some corps know exactly how to play to the judges in the GE category, while other corps are concerned about connecting with the audience and are scoring lower in this category. I probably am showing my ignorance regarding the GE category and what exactly is being judged. Someone explain! Thanks!

It was a day-of-the-show issue, not Ticketmaster, from what I understood. That is, had I walked up on Wednesday to the Lucas Oil ticket office, I would have paid $25, not $32, for the quarterfinals' seats. Maybe someone else can confirm this??

Yes, we paid and watched. Having seen our son in only two other competitions all summer, we wanted to see quarters, too. It's just that we were banking on a certain price for tickets. It's not so much that I'm quibbling about $7, but when you combine the acoustics problem with high ticket prices, you may see more empty seats at Lucas, especially for quarterfinals, in years to come. We -- and other corps member parents -- may be content to watch warm-ups on Thursday night (saving some cash) and sit back and enjoy the semi's and finals in the soft seats and AC of Lucas...hopefully, with improvements made to the acoustics for drum corps!

AND! On top of the bad acoustics, DCI (or somebody) charged about $7 more per ticket for walk-up tickets the day of the show. I had pre-ordered semi's and finals' tickets, but wanted to walk-up and see the quarterfinals in a different section. $25 tickets were $32 on Thursday, $35 tickets were $42. Highly questionable sound and high ticket prices doth not a success make! (And I am generally NOT a complainer!) At least the seats were soft.

Thank you! I couldn't write what you wrote in response to Wesley (though I wanted to!) because the smoke from my ears was blinding me after reading his post. I appreciate the sanity you brought to this discussion.

Not sure what you mean by championship corps going out the next year, opening their arms to others, sharing themselves. Please explain! You're making PR sound unprofessional. This is not something I have witnessed from them this year, nor in the previous five years I've followed them. They certainly conducted themselves with class in our city early this season.

Granny, keep the interesting threads going! I'm a bashful rookie on DCP, and I want you to know I've been reading your prune juice-inspired work for a couple of years. The juice is obviously contributing to your wisdom and wit...and probably to your cardio-vascular health as you rush off to the...er, never mind. Anyway, thanks for your kind words in the OP concerning Phantom's show. Your ears are still working great. Hopefully, the visual dimensions of the show will improve and your bifocal-assisted eyes will bring you added joy. A big admirer, sodakphan

Time to hear from a Phantom Regiment parent! You all mean well in your comments, and it's fun to read them. I would think that most of us parents whose son or daughter won a ring last year (we had to pay for the ring, by the way!) are as proud of the corps this year as last. Last year's show was magical. This year's is fine...and will get much better. We as parents -- along with most fans -- try to enjoy and commend all corps and all shows. (Yeh, there's a biased heartbeat beating in my chest at every show Phantom performs in!) I try to remember that all the corps are working long hours to put the best show they can on the field. I try not to criticize the other corps. There are so many good corps, and five or six of them happen to be scoring and performing better than our blessed corps at this point. What talent there is out there! And as for the kids in the corps, they're doing just fine. (Our son is alive and well and enjoying this year as much as he did '08 and '07.) They are not worried about the scores; they want to perform as well as they can...and get better.

Thank you, kind Crown fan. Looking forward to seeing Crown. We have kids from our humble city in South Dakota in Crown, Phantom, Colts, and Blue Stars. A marching band hot spot in the cold north!