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swmstom

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Posts posted by swmstom

  1. 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.

  2. 9 hours ago, chadwick said:

    I also initially asked what year corps stopped having a cymbal line.  Can anyone provide this insight?  Would be real curious to see when the last year was for Blue Devils, Bluecoats, Cavaliers, etc... had a cymbal line. 

    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.

  3. 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.

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  4. 3 hours ago, nsxanax said:

    I’m sure there have been countless other examples over the decades, but Madison ‘98 immediately came to mind when I saw this thread.

    Just watched the vid for the first time in ages.

    Thanks for the reminder👍

     

    I was on that 98 line

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  5. 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.

  6. 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.

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  7. 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.

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  8. 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.

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  9. 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.

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  10. 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. 

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  11. 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. 

  12. 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.

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  13. 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.

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