DC Guy
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Posts posted by DC Guy
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Excerpt:
"New Experimental Events
Being planned separately from the traditional format of the 2011 tour will be a handful of experimental drum corps events, also produced by Drum Corps International. The top eight finishing corps from 2010 have been invited to participate in this series, which will feature additional competitive and non-competitive performance material developed beyond the corps’ standard 11.5 minute production.
“This series will give us the opportunity to explore several new elements in the production of our events using a number of our very best ensembles,” said Mark Arnold, Chairman of the Board of Drum Corps International and Executive Director of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. “By creating these unique opportunities for our corps and our fans, we hope to develop exciting new features for future DCI events, helping us to expand our audience while providing a thrilling and engaging experience for everyone.”
A unique competitive environment is also being developed for the experimental series which may include judging techniques not currently utilized under current DCI rules. Further details are in the preliminary stages of development, with additional information expected following the annual meeting in January. "
Your thoughts?
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A 'coverage map' i pulled together with a bit of insomnia and google earth tonight. Radii set at 75 miles (arbitrary 'drivable' length). Includes shows where at least one 2009 top 12 corps was present. (therefore does not include WC shows after the finalists left the west coast, nor does it include the open class tour).
THANK YOU ... that's a GREAT map!
I was wondering if you'd consider doing some re-coloring to indicate show dates. It would be great to see this with, say "lighter colors" to notate the beginning of the season, and going to darker colors toward the end of the season.
And maybe smaller circles for Open Class shows ... as they are usually a "more local draw".
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... I think the DCI board should be made up primarily of outside directors that have long experience in the activity and its best interests at heart (the WHOLE activity). Charging a corps director with the responsibility of the activity, while his primary is his own corps, is the source of the problem, IMO.
THIS is the most intelligent statement of this entire sub-forum (and something I've been saying for a long time!
)I cannot for the life of me think of how corps directors, who have a fiduciary responsibility for looking out for the best interests for each their organizations, can impartially guide an activity of which they are a part.
We need a set of people with diverse business experiences (i.e., finance, legal, technical, administrative, etc.) who have experience and a passion for drum corps to impartially lead DCI. THAT is what will save the drum corps activity.
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Sort of interesting ... Blue Devils get slammed for making "so much money" ... and they probably use a nice chunk of it for transportation to get the A and B corps across our beautiful country.
BUT, when it comes to getting midwest / east corps out to California, it's hard because "it's too expensive".
So, if people complain about BD making "so much money", they might want to take this into consideration ... it ain't cheap to put two champion drum corps on the road!
As far as drum corps in California ... their (World Class) season ends when SCV and BD leave before July 4th. If you live in California and want to see World Class drum corps you have to travel to TX, AL, PA, or IN to see a decent show. It doesn't seem fair to the California fans.
Why should any corp go to the west coast for a show? Certainly, the DCP favorites rarely get out here, and they have zero downside in their decision. But, any west coast corp MUST come to the east if they are to compete in DCI. So, do you see any downside if Phantom, Cadets, Cavies, Crown never get to CA except for the 1 time in 30 years that we had a finals out here?the reasons they don't
Money
no need with the finals, tour, qtrs, semis all east of the rockies.
Timing: DCI does not schedule any shows for major corps after june.
False reasons:
Venues are not available. Best venue for me this year, Standford. 2nd best, UOP. Most overrated, Lucas Oil
Since DCI is controlled by the directors, it seems like the directors pretty much don't want to be out here. For most of DCI, it seems like Denver and San Antonio defines the west. Hasn't been like that for 150 years and the CA gold rush.
Makes a lot of folks like me pretty frustrated.
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Wish I could be there! Good luck to the DCP Blog Team ... may your servers stay up and your bandwidth stay high!
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The best drum corps ever. BD 76 a VERY close second.
Actually ... in '75, BD came in third ... SCV came in second!
As a side note ... in 1975: I believe that BD beat SCV in every show they competed together in, EXCEPT when Madison was there. If Madison was in the show the placing was always 1) Madison, 2) SCV, 3) BD.
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Supersop, your intent is admirable, and I fully agree with it. I'm not trying to squelch anyone's opinion here, but opinions based on misleading financial documents can lead to wayward ideas (and "solutions") that are based on inaccurate or misleading data - a complete waste of time and effort.
To make this thread viable and useful (beyond simple ideas like "...use local judges instead of flying them in and housing them") the discussion should start with QUESTIONS of the 990 data then have those questions answered by an authority from within DCI. Then, once we have the facts, we can put our collective brain trust (such that it is
) in gear to offer possible money-saving alternatives.So, MODS, please delete this thread and, SuperSop, start it again with questions about the numbers and let's try to get answers from DCI itself.
IMHO, this thread should be left wide open.
In all of the other G7 threads, there is unfounded speculation on the G7 corps ... why can't there also be unfounded speculation about DCI?
I do agree with you that to be more "thread friendly" things should be phrased in questions ... and I would HOPE that would also hold about the intent of G7 as well.
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That's it! Fran, you've hit on what the corps should use as a visual thread next year. After chairs and mirrors comes flooring!
The movements would be: "Wood," "Laminate," "Stone," "Tile," "Vinyl," "Cork" and "Bamboo." Now to figure out music for each type of flooring. (They could go with "Norwegian Wood" and "In the Stone," but I haven't figured out what they could do for the rest of the show. Any ideas?)
Stone Ground 7
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I have beeen hearing sotries regarding how the instructional staffs of corps "motivate" the members these days. In many cases, it appears they use the threat of physical penalty for making errors, such as running laps or doing push ups.
I watch other corps rehearse, and I'm continually amazed and appalled that this type of practice still goes on.
If performers take it upon themselves to "do pushups" (or whatever) to acknowledge they made a mistake, that's one thing ... but for a staff member to use physical punishment as a threat for not making errors is something I haven't seen in decades.
Physical threats is part of the 'old school' system, which may produce results, is NOT sustainable ... and the practice should be stopped ... in drum corps, band, whatever. It's a bad practice.
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Yes, please...love it. Can the original DCI get rid of electronics too? Love it even more !!! Could we also go back to 128 members so all of the talent doesn't gravitate to the top corps? Loving this more and more !!! I wouldn't spit on a G7 show, but that "reformed" DCI group sounds like a happening activity !!!!
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Well, a drastic overhaul has occured within DCI.
I tend to disagree. I don't believe a "drastic" overhaul has occurred WRT DCI.
Out of the 9 total BOD members, there were only 4 "G7" Directors (Glasgow, Hopkins, Fiedler and Valenzuala) on the DCI BOD before "all of the action" (ouster, re-appointment, resignations). The "G7" was in a minority on the board, and ergo could have been out-voted at any time.
Yes, there are no more G7 directors on the BOD, but as far as I'm concerned the "jury is still out" on how drastic this change is.
IMHO, a "drastic change" would be for the DCI BOD to re-organize such that there are 9 member of the BOD with NONE of them being corps directors. I think that no matter what, there will never be impartiality on the part of DCI unless all of the corps directors are out, and a board consisting of professional business people (who are also passionate and knowledgeable about the activity) are seated, and can focus on the needs of DCI without the influence of any drum corps.
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We've learned that no instrument manufacturer really wants to corner the market by making a trumpet that is modeled after the G Bugle ......... IOW an open, fat, big bore, conical design with a smaller bell flare with larger inner diameter. These instruments would have a massive aftermarket as well.
We've learned that multikey does not project the same as G bugles. King has done a fantastic job with low brass instruments, but I have yet to see a trumpet that can push the same kind of sound as just about any G bugle I've ever played on.
I don't know if you saw BDs new King trumpets ... a brand new model that no one else had ... big bore conical lead pipe, smaller bell flare, valve placements moved back. Those things REALLY projected the sound. I think that with this trumpet, King might have captured the "G bugle projection" with the "quality of a fine Bb trumpet".
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Yowza, Yowza, Yowza
I think that "Boom-shaka-laka, Boom-shaka-laka" trumps Yowza.
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May I be the first to offer my congratulations to the performers on your 14th Drum Corps International victory ... and to the entire Blue Devils organization for the 16th Drum Corps International title for your organization.
You guys just blew me away (or "blue" me away ;-) with a) your show design, b) your performance level, and c) your friendliness and professionalism during the times I spoke with your performers this year.
There might be a lot of "BD Haters" out there, but none of them can argue the fact of your success, both on the field, and off the field.
Thank you for an entertaining year ... sorry ... an entertaining 54 years!!!
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You guys, again, had a fantastic show ... both in design and performance.
Congratulations!
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What I would like to see is for the OP to give us an example of a dcp poster demonstrating thier hatred towards the corps and the kids. This will never happen.
There were more than a few posts that say "I hate ...", some of them removed.
I don't believe that any of the posts expressed hatred towards the performers (I prefer NOT to call them "kids"), and for that I'm thankful.
But, there were posts that expressed hatred to the corps, or their directors, or the show (some of them have already been removed) ... and the hate was represented in an almost venomous manner. If you saw an earlier posting in this thread, the poster said they hate the Blue Devils show ... but did it in a fashion that wasn't nasty, rude, vengeful, or in a negative fashion what-so-ever.
And if you want to see REAL hate ... just peruse the threads in the G7 .... sorry ... the World Series of Drum Corps thread ... there's some real nasty hatred going on there, with full un-moderated name calling of directors and corps.
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Just a few whys to think about. I am not looking for a debate either, just thoughts.
Very good questions,
and probably a more definitive set of questions than the singular question "Why Hate?" that I originally proposed. -
I hope the mods close this thread, as it's been beaten to death, and as of tomorrow morning it won't matter!
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No secret ... it's posted right here.
I guess if I were DCI, I'd be making more of a "front page item" of this.
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I'm all for no hate and reasonless garbage... however I also don't support the "feel good/everyone's a winner!" attitude that's pushed by a lot of you either. Criticism, both good and bad, should be allowed on here.
Ditto that ... one winner (well ... per class!).
From Dictionary.com
- to find fault; judge unfavorably or harshly
- to make judgments as to merits and faults.
I think that the negative posters usually criticize using the the first definition, not the second!
- to find fault; judge unfavorably or harshly
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Some people just need thicker skin. The is an online forum where opinions are expressed. They can be negative or positive. I personally HATE the Blue Devils show this year. They perform the hell out of it... but I hate their show (which I have a feeling that might be what they are going for... they are still getting crowd reaction.. usually an angry reaction). But I'm not entertained by it. I see absolutely no issue with me hating BD's show design. If that insults someone personally... grow some thicker skin. I don't like your product. I have a right to express my truthful opinion on that.
And there is a ton of negativity on here... hell a year ago or so i tried to create a positive thoughts only thread about DCI. The thread died in less than a week. The "we hate/love synths" debate took over.
It is a forum... debates are going to happen... and Americans love to ##### about things. Including me : tongue:
Thanks!
You expressed your opinion (even one of "hate") very eloquently. You didn't do it by insulting others, and you didn't post it in a spiteful manner. I guess that's what I'm talking about.
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We might need to remember the shortened word " fan " is derived from the word "fanatical" and from "fanatic". It doesn't derive from the word "friendly". So a high degree of fanaticism naturally needs to be clearly understood for what it is...and tolerated.... when we are on a message board where there is so much diversity of opinions encountered from us "fans".
Haha ... very good point.
Quick Google search on fanatic:
- Filled with excessive and single-minded zeal
- Obsessively concerned with something
I guess I'm not a "fan" of any one corps then, and ... I'm not "fanatical" or "fanatic" (except about hate! ;-) ... I guess I would have to classify myself as a lover of drum corps.
On the other hand, in Wikipedia, a "fan" is described as: "... sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something."
Well, no matter what it's called (and back to the tread OP) there are posters on DCP filled with hate, and it is upsetting to me.
- Filled with excessive and single-minded zeal
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Thanks for the advice guys... I will no longer engage the ummmmm, well you know what I mean... lol
You da man, Tony!
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Truly the reaction I would have expected from this poster...
Please, Tony ... no flame bait ... thanks!
What happens when an Open Class beats a World Class?
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
Would one of the other "Dino's" (Mr. Boo? :-) please refresh my old Dino brain ...
Back when DCI started, there were only Prelims and Finals for all corps (excluding All Girls), right?
Or was there also a "B-Corps Championship"?
When did the marketing hype happen to break off the B-Corps Div. 2/3?
Then there was more marketing hype to rename to Open/World. When was that?
So it seems to me like DCI is "returning to it's roots" with the "free-for-all" format ... With the exception that some of the smaller corps can compete for their own Championship.
Also, what would stop Pioneer from competiting/winning Open, and then moving on to compete in World?
New format = doesn't make sense to me.