anniem

My son plays trumpet in Crown. He plans to tweet from the show starting sometime after 8pm. http://twitter.com/search?q=crownsopjordan

True story. Hope the weather cooperates.

Sweet! Drum Corp... the drinking game.

That is often the case. If audiences decided placement I think CC's "Triple Crown" would have finished in the money in 07.

This is Indiana, one of only five states where we still can't buy liquor in stores on Sundays. My initial guess is "no alcohol" but I may be surprised...

How about a big ole smile from Lance? Would it kill ya to smile?

That might be true for BD, Cavaliers and HNC who've all been there before but I'm telling you it would be a good thing for CC to finish in the top 3. Big boost for future seasons...

I don't think they sold alcohol at San Antonio. What about ATL?

Plenty of Crown honks. Just hopefully learning not to wear our hearts on our sleeves quite so much and taking it as a compliement that the corp is getting so much attention on DCP. The reality of recently scoring behind HNC and Cavaliers has shut down the wave of overconfidence of a few Crown fans. Goooooooooooooooo Crown!

I don't believe that you scored higher than BD, Cavaliers or Cadets when you marched with Crossmen or Jersey Surf so as a member of those corps you never experienced the thrill of beating one of the Big Three like CC has very recently experienced. My post was an explanation as to why it is a big deal, not an arguement specifically related to your marching career. My apologies for not being a historian (and too darn lazy to look up stats) but by the time you marched Cadets it is likely that HNC had already cracked the top 3 in Finals. For your HNC corp as a whole it was a normal thing, not something new to be considered competition for BD and Cavaliers. It may or may not have been a thrill for you as an individual the first time you were with a corp that beat the Cavaliers or BD but imagine the collective "WOW" feeling for an entire corp and their fans when they have never accomplished that feat. As someone else said, in the past 15 years only 5 corps have placed in the top 3 at finals. I'm sorry but you don't understand "the big deal" it is for CC fans that our favorite corp is even whispered in the same sentence with them. You asked "what is the big deal" and I'm not trying to argue with you. I am trying to explain why it is a big deal. I think for the most part CC fans have looked up to BD, Cavaliers, and HNC. Please check the record books and see where CC has finished in finals over the past 20 years and when they first scored higher than Phantom, HNC and Cavaliers. CC did not start entering "this" category a long time ago. To finally be compared to the Big Three rather than seen as "Oh how cute, horses" (and I heard variations on that theme twice in the bus lot in 07) is still a thrill that will not soon to be taken for granted.

Why thank you!

Have you seen HNC yet this year? They are doing that for their audience this year...

Just a few more random thoughts to avoid going outside to shovel horse poop... With so many shows happening "back in the day" drum corp was a more convenient local form of entertainment vs. today. Working people don't have time to hop in a car and drive all over the country to see shows that are few and far between. The cost of getting there and back quickly (ie flying) is too great for many of us to go to as many shows as we'd like. And in 1968 and even 1978 more families were only juggling the vacation schedule of one working parent, not two. Lots of factors....

Even in economically hard times with people strapped for cash we seek out entertainment. We just look for less costly versions of entertainment. Was a drum corp show a good value 30 years ago compared to now? Could a family of four get in for under $20 total compared to $100+ now? Might the economic times have made drum corp MORE popular as a form of entertainment rather than less popular? Maybe instead of seeking out a more expensive concert, drum corp was an affordable alternative in hard times. Kind of like going to the county fair instead of an amusement park or camping locally rather than going on an expensive vacation? Not trying to argue, trying to get educated by those who remember. Not sure that the direct correlation is as simple as "less entertainment= lower attendance." Another big factor has to be "higher costs of drum corp operation and show management= fewer corps and shows= lower overall attendance." Are there fewer people at each show these days or just fewer shows due to rising costs? Did audiences dwindle to nothing before shows began disappearing or did corps fold so that shows also folded even though attendance was stable? What came first? Lower attendance? Fewer corps? Fewer shows?

Might the answer be more economical rather than entertainment driven? What did it cost to take the whole family to a show in 1968 vs 2008 (and clearly considering adjustments for inflation)? What did it cost to hold a show then compared to now? Maybe the entertainment value has decreased but has it been the biggest factor or does the cost factor drive the fewer number of shows and the lower resulting attendence?

I'm unclear about what great danger could have occurred or how she endangered life and limb. I realize she could have tripped herself and others and might have caused an embarrassing fall. What other potential dangers were there that I'm not thinking of?

Timing vs. technique... I think at this point CC's timing may be better than individual technique which still looks varied from person to person (imho) vs BD or HNC who have both timing and technique down.

What he/she said. Crown in the same sentence as Cavaliers? HNC? BD? Huh? The big deal is that CC is starting to be considered legitimate competiton (not by all obviously) for the three corps that have nearly had a stranglehold on championships in recent years. They don't have 9 rings or 13 rings. They haven't even made it into the top three ever and yet they are being discussed with the big boys regularly. I don't expect you to understand "the big deal" since your corp has a very long and rich history of winning. You don't understand what it is like to feel so excited about your favorite corp beating one of the Big Three for the very first time ever because it has happened regularly for your corp over the years. This is the first season CC has ever scored higher than Cavaliers and it has only happened twice. It is still a big deal. If CC were to score higher than Cavaliers regularly it might not be such a big deal but right now its still a really big deal to CC fans. CC has never beaten BD so to be considered as competition for them if only occasionally is a big deal. I realize that HNC beating CC isn't a big deal to HNC fans considering the two corps' very different histories. Beating HNC is still a big deal to CC fans because it hasn't happened often and only very recently at all. CC isn't to the point of consistently competing with the Big Three so we are thrilled when they are able to do it some of the time. We are still amazed to have CC discussed in the same breath as the heavy hitters. One year in fourth place doesn't make us take for granted that CC are anywhere near to "arriving" in the top tier. I have always been in awe of the talent of BD, Cavaliers, and HNC so I'm really excited CC is on the verge of being in that company.

What he/she said. Crown in the same sentence as Cavaliers? HNC? BD? Huh?

I'm sorry. I was just joshin' you. I was actually very moved by your post and think she is lucky to have someone who honks for her like you do. Best to you both!

Please, and quickly before anyone wakes up.

lol. TMI Long summer eh?

I'm a CC parent and I thought the same thing when comparing them to BD or HNC. Clean form, dirty feet. I don't think you're picking on CC at all when you make that observation.

YES! DCI are you listening? However, this will affect the drum major selection process for sure...

or drum major cage fights... Now THAT would put a new element in the stands for shows.