swmstom

One of my years in the mid 90s with Southwind we had shows way up in Hibbing and Chisholm Minn where it got pretty cold. I vividly remember practicing with our corps jackets on and you could see your breath. coldest marching, hands down, was Auburn Marching Band in the 2000 Iron Bowl. 29 degrees and a steady icy rain that soaked you to the core.

It looks like a huge load of videos have been purged from Youtube. There was one particular Youtube channel where the person had uploaded a ton of old school DCI videos from as far back as the 70s, and I am no longer seeing that channel at all. Is that DCI forcing the purge? Anyone know? Sucks, too, because the guy had some amazing shows on his channel.

I'm sure she does.

Madison 99 will be coming up soon. Not sure what shows may be ahead of it, but the Scouts JCS show from 99 will be next week.

Last year for cymbals I could find. Blue Devils 1988. Cavaliers and Cadets 1992. Bluecoats 1997. Scouts got rid of cymbals after 2004, had a cym line in 2009 and then no line again until 2015. Appears plates are gine again with no 2019 line.

I appreciate it. That was a fun summer. We had some wicked stuff in that closer. You saw a lot in the drum feature with "monkey walk/head chopper" but the stuff not shown on video....we were slinging them plates. I hate that cymbal lines have been phasing out.

I was on that 98 line

Very surprised to hear Ward stepping down. I've known Ward for a long time dating back to our Auburn band days. I have to admit, Ward did so much better in the DCI world than I ever imagined he would. He was a purely symphonic guy that dabbled a bit with marching bands. But he had zero experience with anything drum corps. As a Scouts alum and a friend of Ward, I wouldn't mind him leading the brass at all.

Some great memories of Midwest tour in 98 with Scouts and the alumni cars lines up with car trunks full of booze for those of us legal to partake. We'd be relaxing and drinking after a show while others were doing basic blocks.

Not sure what Scouts have done in recent years but in my days it was tradition to stay in a hotel during finals week. Now the food truck issue I can't fathom. Relying on donations to feed the corps? What if those donations don't happen or at least enough to provide? Then what? Goodness, things just keep concerning me more and more.

I have a couple of thoughts on Chuck's post discussed in the thread. 1st. Why are the Scouts in the situation of a "total rebuild"? Where did things go wrong and who is responsible. Are those responsible for allowing Scouts to fall so far competitively being held accountable? 2nd. I scratch my head at the idea of doing a show strictly to please the crowd without "playing the game" in order to retain members. Seems to me finishing dead last most shows and getting beat by nearly everyone in World Class would push most folks AWAY, not to stay. And another thing....and I really think this gets to a root of the problem with Scouts these days....why is there such a divide in philosophy between "crowd pleasing" and being competitive, or "playing the game"? It should be BOTH! You should NEVER sacrifice competitive possibilities for the sake of having a fun or entertaining show. Just as you shouldn't purposefully put on a boring, esoteric or bizarre show with no entertainment value for the sake of scoring better.

1999 was a good ways back, but that's why I said in the big scheme of DCI history. If we're talking 1960s or 70s..then sure. But 1999 wasn't THAT long ago. As for other corps, I'm not saying they should just be satisfied with where they're at. But the reality is those corps, with the exception of Troopers to an extent, don't have the history of success as Scouts. But frankly, I don't care what expectations are for corps X, Y or Z. As an alum of Scouts I expect them to be a consistent Top 12 group and hope for even better. I expect them to be a corps that younger marchers dream of being a part of. I expect them to be a corps with an average age of 19 or 20. I expect them to be a corps that challenges the other upper echelon.

The difference is Scouts are former World Champs, perennial Top 6 and one of the biggest, baddest corps in DCI. They were a destination corps, not a feeder. They were one of the most popular corps out there...and this wasn't THAT long ago in the big scheme of DCI history. Those other corps can't say the same. Those groups you mentioned have always been around the 15-20 range with a few exception years. This is unchartered territory for Scouts, so yes, alumni are raging mad right now.

Looks like the "Troopers will not catch Scouts" comments earlier in the thread didn't age well.

I'm not advocating for firing mid tour...that would be insane. But the argument of "who would take over" or "you have to have someone ready" as a reason for not making that move following the tour is equally insane.

This is just like any scenario with a sports team when it comes to replacing a head coach, athletic director or GM. If they are not getting the job done and the product they are in charge of is failing, they are fired. And on very rare occasions is the replacement already ready to be named. They have search commitees, interviews, etc. So no..Scouts do not necessarily have to have someone lined up to take over if they change executive staff.

So this is a question that seriously needs to be asked. Do the Scouts EVER recover? And when I say recover I mean back their perineal spot among the Top 6? I have my doubts, even if the BOD and executive side is changed. I'm concerned they are too far gone now. I worry that you will continue to see members move on to bigger and better and the average age will keep them unable to perform at a Top 6 level.

Watching ESPN 30 for 30 on competition eaters and Joey Chestnut mentioned how his dad was a music teacher and they'd go to drum and bugle corps shows. They'd both eat a large pizza on those trips.

Before I marched Scouts I spent years marching in a lower-level corps that would routinely finish last at shows. NEVER in my wildest dreams would I ever have imagined my corps...my Scouts...would basically become the equivalent of where I began my marching career. Makes me sick.

The complaints in 17 were more about Scouts seemingly selling their soul for the sake of keeping up with the Jones'. 17 saw Scouts throw away their identity.. wearing wild costumes and playing unrelatable, esoteric music with a "theme" that was tough to follow. 18 took it a step further. Now Scouts have flipped to the complete opposite end of the new/old spectrum....and neither seems to be working. I think most alum...or at least speaking for myself as an alum....want to see Scouts put on a show that can be competitive with modern DCI, but still hold the identity that is recognizable as The Scouts in look and music style. Some say that's impossible, but I say it is. As some have mentioned, The Bluecoats have shown that "Scouts-type" music still works. The Dowside Up show was a perfect example from a music standpoint. Right now it feels like design is a blindfolded, stick-swinging attempt. No idea whether to be too old or too modern when everyone with their eyes open are begging for somewhere in the middle.

Welp...🤷‍♂️

Goodness at the crickets on here. No one has any insight on Scouts? I'm sure someone has something from the Capital concert. Or did they not play any show music? Have the fans also been sworn to secrecy? Ha ha

And?

Any reports from the run tinight?

2019: I just want the Scouts to be the Scouts again...give the fans a visual and musical roundhouse kick to the face. The goal should be for every fan to walk out of a stadium saying, "they might not've won, but that was frickin' AWESOME!"