George Dixon

Both are true. They do both. Identifying young talent and development of such is extremely valuable. Then you keep some and set others free. My comment had nothing to do with "winning and/or losing"

I second you on the vote for Prelims and Semis as the "best two days in all of drum corps!"

you know what I find most interesting about this? That with all the criticism Hopkins tends to get, he still continues to successfully IDENTIFY, DEVELOP and EXPORT talent. That's one of the true signs of leadership. Exporting talent... so important in the business world as well as the NPO realm... Growing people. Just my own observation as an executive in the private sector.

let's not presume to know how this works out... proof, as always, is in the pudding...

yes because Cadets don't play well outside. We can't forget that... ?

sounds great - be sure to come back and let us know how you enjoyed!

yes - I don't think I was clear, but that's what I'm saying.

yup - but early season 1989 they had some straight silver only bugles mixed in with the silver/gold inside bell and (from memory) were getting hammered by the visual judges they painted all the bells white inside sometime during July that year (again, from memory) so at least all the horns "matched" unless I'm going completely crazy ;-)

they had a set which were silver but gold on the inside - in 1989 I believe they had a larger line and a "mixed" set of used horns on the inside so they painted them all white so it was a "matched" set I personally thought it was a better option than to have a mixture of G bugles on the field but it wasn't particularly attractive or something I'd go out of my way to achieve :)

Having posted the "opposite" - let me just add, I totally agree with everything you just said here as well. Allentown is quite special and the small town feel is great. Indy sound is bad up high - but visual is great. Sitting in the middle or lower sections - Indy is really nice

Hey - for me it depends on the year and my own personal schedule etc... I often go to Indy for Prelims (seating is ample and it is easy (and cheap) to get good seats) and semifinals - So essentially Thursday & Friday. Saturday morning I fly home. Saturday night I watch it live online the past 2 years. You get to see all the corps, and most twice. You get better seating. It costs a lot less. The performance quality tends to be best on Friday night (corps aiming for positioning or a spot in finals) and frankly the hotel rooms are even cheaper. So I get 80% of the fun for about half the price. For Saturday seats/hotel - it gets expensive if you want quality for either (unless you order at finals the prior year and I never can due to my crazy personal/work schedule). I end up going about 2 out of 3 years. Anyway - that's how I do it. You also asked about Allentown. A few things to realize: 1. the stadium is a large high school stadium with a track so you are seated far back from the corps 2. the surrounding area offers little of substance beyond the normal chain restaurant, motel quality lodgings etc - so "nice vacation" it isn't 3. the top corps are split onto 2 nights - so you go twice, which is fine, but in the summer the odds of rain/tstorms one or both nights is pretty high - and if no tstorms the heat can get miserable 4. parking is tough and it is a long and steep walk to your seats (if that is a concern) Positives: 1. it is less expensive 2. only one week before finals, the corps are very good 3. the crowd is great and the experience has a feel of a "reunion" 4. food, for a high school stadium, is good and cheap 5. the park next door (where corps warm up) is a great place to hang out and picnic / tailgate etc. My bottom line, just one person's perspective, is that Allentown is nice - but finals week is much more of an experience and a "vacation" and you have controlled weather conditions. Indy itself offers a few things to do during the day, nice restaurant and hotel options, and is modestly priced as it is a midwestern convention town (this perspective is from a guy living in DC where things cost much more) Hope that helps! George.

Finals. Not even close imo

Nah - I actually meant more like this

well... once you go chocolate it's really hard to go back to vanilla...

they all admitted they had a weaker run on finals night - the caption award is for the best of 3 and that was BD - SCV and Cadets each were best one night - but BD won the average overall if I recall Frankly any of those 3 could have taken the drum title - it was really close this past season

he was EXCELLENT!!!

not really. You're just in every thread involving Cadets - and I read those.

you're obsessed with George Hopkins... Congrats to both young men (Graham Hopkins & Samuel Crawford) for being named Bluecoats 2016 assistant and lead Drum Majors

Nope. They'll be running all over the field ramming notes. Thank god.

agreed. And I say that totally pulling for BK to accomplish this - I loved their program in 2015 - my favorite 2nd only to Bluecoats

so what's going on in BK land that makes you think they will leap frog Cadets, BD, Crown & Bluecoats in the brass department? Huge talent? Just curious - loving BK the past few years but that would be quite the bold move... Frankly - I hope it happens. SO - what makes you say this? I'm very curious..

well... a lot of the top drum guys disagree with you. This proposal will likely pass.

agreed - it's ridiculous. A top six drum line in JANUARY if they teleported to finals night

not necessarily

ego?