deloop

I actually really like the creative direction the shows are moving in, and had planned on seeing more shows this year than in the past. Part of me had even considered contacting some friends to get back in and tech for a week or so. Instead, I'll be doing the opposite. And because the directors of some of my favorite groups are on the BoD, I will not be supporting those individual corps either. If anything, they are more responsible for DCI's actions than Dan Acheson. They have the power and ability to change the direction of DCI (it's their job), and they refuse to do so. The list of corps whose directors/board members are on the DCI board, for anyone interested: SCV, Bluecoats, Crossmen, Madison Scouts, Blue Stars, Mandarins.

Like almost every year since 2005, BDB on top at the first show.

As a member, I thought it was awesome marching on giant logos. Having a halt on halt on the tip of a big red W was great.

First time I saw a live drum corps show was in uniform from the field. Hadn't even seen a video of any corps before auditioning.

While we can't make assumptions based on the number of solicits the corps sends, we do know how well off the corps is. Awesomely, the numbers have been put out on this forum for us. Thanks garfield! Again, I'm not stating the cadets are relying on, or even benefiting from the emails, but it's a fact that they aren't the richest corps in the activity.

Filters are your friend. You don't need to send all Cadets email to spam, just target the ones with key phrases they use in those emails. If your client doesn't have filters of some kind, sign up for any of the free ones that do. The internet is not very hard to use.

This is probably the "correct" rule to follow. It really depends on your corps, which probably has some fairly defined rules. Each corps has it's own idea of what the jacket should mean and many corps even have different ideas based on what era/decade the person marched. Probably the best person to talk to are the most current drum major or horn/drum/guard sergeant/captain of the group you were with. One thing I have seen though, is black jackets people get on there own that are completely full of patches. It shows a love and support of the marching arts without speaking for or representing any particular corps. This may not be an answer for you if you're a current member or recent age out, but something you might consider for times you aren't specifically associated with a corps, percussion, or guard.

I'd like to blame the hash problem on a strange decision on the part of pyware/the people who use it to graph out football fields as 157.5' long instead of 160' like it's supposed to. For many high schools, the back hash is not a problem, and that's fine. But DCI corps should not be plotting drill based on incorrect numbers. It creates automatic flaws (see: designed dirt). The program should have the hashes in the real spots (40' apart, instead of 37'6") along with a secret hash shown (at 37'6"). And the dots should be written in relation to the distance from the actual hash. On today's drill sheets, a dot that is 4 behind the back hash (seen as 105 feet (7.5+97.5) from the front side line) should be written on the dot sheet as 2.33 behind the hash (level of rounding still depends on the individual corps). This way drill writers can draw all sorts of pretty pictures spanning the hashes and kids with dots based on the back hash can be in the form and on their dot without doing anything dumb like stepping off of some invisible hash. And anytime the drill writer wants to make a form based on the real back hash, he can just draw it there and the visual staff doesn't have to determine which sets are based on secret hashes and which are based on painted hashes. The concept works for corps that use a 7.5 to 5 steps size between hashes as well. By showing the grid as being taller between hashes, drill can be drawn to be aesthetically pleasing while mapping the dots out accurately. I realize this still leaves and creates new problems, but it's still way better than the current system.

I'm more interested in knowing what will happen if open class corps A wins at Michigan city but loses to open class corps B at Prelims.

Try emailing the corps directly?

I don't find that to be a strong goal. It's not something you can personally have a big enough effect on. If you do happen to win, you can't take credit for it, and if you don't you can't blame it solely on yourself. Really, as an individual you can only change the performance of the entire corps in a very small way, even if you're a soloist. With that you can change the view a judge has of the corps' performance by an even smaller amount and only then hope the score they give reflects that. Of course, I always wanted to win, and winning felt really good, but I'd never put it on my shoulders to carry that kind of responsibility.

Underpack. Having less stuff than most people really lowers your packing time and the occasional mile long walk from the bus to gym at 3 or 4 in the morning. Clean shirts? Not that necessary, you're not wearing it during rehearsal so it doesn't get too dirty. Clean shorts? Nah, one, maybe two for every rehearsal all season and a pair you wear for after shows/freedays. Wear yesterday's show socks during the next day's rehearsal. I brought a sleeping bag only my first year. A sheet or nothing was all I ever needed most of the time. It's usually super hot wherever you go. If they do happen to crank the AC just put on some sweats and you're good. Find a small bus buddy. It's always more awesome to have more room on the bus. Overpack underwear. You'll never be sad about the abundance of clean underwear when it's the middle of July and you're in Texas.

Changed every year. My first year was just survive every beating the staff gave us. Second year was get a complement from the box once a day. Third year: be THE example for others in the corps. Fourth year I tried getting my section a complement from the box at least once a day. My last year was spent enjoying what I spent four years trying to get good at doing as much as possible. This year: don't be the fng.

Really, follow vis. staff instructions for everything. Even if you think you have a better way of doing something. And you might have a better way of doing something, but it really doesn't matter. There are only a few staff members compared to the number of marchers and they work the best with their style of doing/teaching drill. Trying to be smart, efficient or anything not what the corps does may help you during that block but will mean you are not rehearsing like the rest of the corps. Since rehearsal is performance, you won't be performing like the corps either. That's a really bad thing. If you have a question ask it at an intelligent time. If you have an idea talk to someone about it during a meal. Mostly, pay attention always and learn as much as you can from everything possible.