Kyoti

It would be more believable if any of the posters that think Hurcs are gonna take Bucs in percussion didn't also seem to REALLY want to see this happen. Wishful thinking aside, I saw both the Bridgeport and Lawrence shows, and IMHO the Bucs have the program and performance by a noticable margin. Maybe not as much of a runaway as previous years, but I think that is because a couple of other lines have gotten better, Hurcs and Cabs included. Ya gotta pay attention to what's being played and not just the occaisonal "dirt" tha you might hear once in awhile. And, c'mon, does anyone even come close in front ensemble?

Wow! An 8 point jump for Bush!

Turn your point around, what if a corps does deserve a 20, or a 19.8, and they go on first in a random draw situation. Do they NOT get it because the judge has 10 more groups that he or she theoretically has to leave room for? Even if they earned it?

I noticed this myself and checked some other recent shows. This Music Ensemble number seems way out of the norm, both in the spread and as an actual rating. Something seems fishy.

I wonder if the scores were Cabs 74 and Bucs 79, if there would be such outrage and disbelief among those that have Reading fatigue? I think 80 is such a milestone for DCA corps, that it doesn't ring true with some people, even if they weren't at the show. (I wasn't at WW, but I saw them in Bridgeport. Scoring in the 80's is not out of the question if the CABS and Hurcs are both in the high 70's) And now, conveniently enough, Empire scored ever so neatly in between the three other top 4 corps, even though the other corps in competition scored in the 60's. Just when people were starting to complain that this was another runaway season, Wa-La! Instant competition for Reading! I wonder when MBI will start fitting into the 2 point gap between Empire and Bucs? I guess it will have to be Jamestown. OK, just for fun, here are my predictions fr Jamestown, NY AND Lawrence, MA combined... Reading 89.9 MBI 87.0 Cabs 86.7 Hurcs 85.9 Empire 85.8 Not sure about the scores, but I bet this will be the ranking.

But the the other corps didn't all "march, drum, play, and spin better" than Bucs, so there lies the rub.

Not called into question, just compared to the color guard judges whose decisions you called "ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS" and accused of having "LOST THEIR MINDS". If you feel that your percussion credentials are strong enough to make these kinds of statements about Antoine Blalark and Ed Doscher, then so be it. Is that what you think the Buccaneers are doing? Buying rings? C'mon, you are in their Alumni Corps. You should know better than that. And FWIIW, how would you know how hard a Top 5 corps woRks if you have never been in one? Have you taught a Top 5 corps in your infinite list of teaching experiences? I'm not saying that non Top 5 corps don't work hard, but how can you make this statement if you haven't done it? Circus with elephants, clowns and trapezes? I didn't see Statesmen there? But c'mon, a Dustbuster? So you are saying they were THAT dirty compared to Cabs and Hurcs? I guess you are right. Jim Galvin and Charlie Poole just don't have the stones to put down a number that would make the Buccaneers unhappy. Here's Charlie's write-up from Pro-mark... Charley Poole’s 41-year drum corps career began in 1957 at the age of 6. He rapidly developed a reputation as an individual snare drum competitor, and from 1966 through 1969 was the reigning Connecticut and Northeastern states individual champion. At 16, Charley won the first of three national snare drum individual championships.After assuming staff positions with a variety of Boston-based corps, Charley became a part of the instructional staff of the 27th Lancers of Revere, Mass., in 1977. Together with visual genius George Zingali and brass veteran Jim Wedge, he collaborated on a series of show designs recognized as some of the most exciting and entertaining in the history of DCI. His percussion features were noted for their musical complexity, technical display and visual intensity.From 1980 through 1986 he was unanimously elected to serve on the DCI Task Force on Judging as the percussion instructor representative, a testament to the respect that he earned among his peers. In 1987, Charley consulted with the Star of Indiana and in 1988, with the Bluecoats. Currently, Charley serves as the DCI Atlantic Division percussion caption chairperson as an adjudicator. He is also the percussion director at Everett High School in Everett, MA and the percussion caption head at East Coast Jazz Drum and Bugle Corps, based out of Wakefield, MA. But who knows, maybe YOU are right? OK.....YOU'RE CRAZY!

I guess I watched a different show at Bridgeport? I thought the Bucs clearly won all captions and that there show is in a different league than either Cabs, Hurcs or Bush. If you are just comparing performance levels, I guess you could be led to think the corps were closer than the scores would indicate, but that's only half of the judges job. Which ones are examples of "absolutely ludicrous spreads from insane judges"? Based on your review, I would guess it's Guard and Percussion. Antoine Blalark is one of DCA's best Color Guard judges, and he saw a 0.4 difference in Comp and the same in Excellence, which translates to "subtle, but objective differences and nuances on the DCA sheets. His opinion?....Well, YES, THAT'S WHAT HE'S PAID TO DO! Insane or ludicrous? Not by any stretch of the imagination. Looking at the recap, Ed Doscher had the same kind of spread at Wildwood in Guard betweeen Bucs and Cabs. He is also a very well respected person in the Color Guard judging world. What are your Guard credentials to call these two experienced judges "ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS" (was absolutely necessary?) and claim that they have "LOST THEIR MINDS"? Based on your picture holding a contra for a list of corps that were all in serious rebuilding phases or had already joined the ranks of Alumni corps when you marched with them, I'm gonna go with Antoine and Ed Doscher's opinions about guard for now for now. Maybe the Color Guard community will read your opinion and rethink their numbers later in the year. Who knows? I will also give the nod to the percussion judges for now. The perc judges have always been known to be willing to put in bigger spreads than the brass and visual/guard judges. (0.6 - 0.9 spreads in subcaptions, instead of half as much for the other captions) Reading's percussion section brings a great program to the field every year I see them(even before they were winning), and this year is no exception to that. Try focusing on what they are doing as well as the number of times you hear some dirt. From what I saw at Barnum (disclaimer: I didn't see Wildwood), the Bucs have put A LOT more content and variety on the field than do Hurcs and Cabs, in all captions, but especially in guard, drill and pit, and they are performing on par or better than their competition. I will agree that both Cabs and Hurcs batteries are playing aggressive books, but there is much more to the equation than that. This Reading show may actually be able to top the last few years, although I was really impressed last year. Knowing how they seem to get better throughout the season, I don't see either Cabs or Hurcs catching them. Just calling it like I see it.

1981? 1976? 1966? You people really need to learn how to let things go. I remember getting screwed in 1976, but it was at my pr... (oops!)

1981 will not happen again, unless there is a new religion/empire started that decides to come up with a new calendar and begins at 1. Even then, it will be almost 2 milennium until the new 1981 happens.

Since I'm the one being quoted, I guess I would say... 1. Yes (I'm the one who said it. And I don't claim to have uncovered any big secret. Everyone knows the Cabs have played these types of shows for a long time. I also mentioned that my favorite Cabs show in recent years was Carmen. Still fit the Cabs identity, but it gave them the chance to present a little different flavor. I'm sorry to sound harsh, but I and a lot of other people I know have heard enough shows that sound like Malaguena or Pictures of Spain for a while....a long while. But of course, this is just my opinion, and I know the Cabs have lots of fans that love the fact that they know what to expect when they see the corps perform. However, I don't think it is going to do very well competitively. 2. No the Bucs are not ruining DCA. I have been to finals several times in the last 10 years after not being around the activity much for 15 years before that, and I have definitely noticed an increase in the quality level of all of the corps, from top to bottom. Corps like Bush, Brigs and Bucs (hmm, maybe it's a B thing?) have done a lot to push the other corps to play catch up. I'm sure it's frustrating to the other corps when one corps goes on a terror like these two have done over the last 12 years, but as several others have said, if they don't like it, step up and do something about it. This includes the show writers along with the corps members proper. Sorry to have caused so much hulabaloo, but I was always known for being a loud mouth back in my day. I guess retiring (from drum corps) hasn't changed that very much. Good thing we didn't have this DCP thing back in the 70's & 80's. It was bad enough just in the lots after the shows.

Before you did your mad scientist calculations, you should have taken note of the word "Variations", although playing Malaguena and or Pictures of Spain more than once every four years also seems excessive, no? If you would add in Malaga and all the other songs based on the phrygian mode that sound remarkably like Pictures of Spain, I think you would get a result more like 70 - 80 % of the time. BTW, you wouldn't happen to know a guy named Dale Bari would you?

Yes, they would have been much better off starting the season with a 48.6.

I guess the memo from DCA (Dubious Conspiracy Alliance) told ALL NINE judges to put Bucs up big time in ALL NINE captions. I'm sure ALL NINE judges would willingly go along with such a plot. Get over it people. Griping about an outcome after a contest will do nothing to change the results. The ink on the recap is dry and I'm sure the corps that were at Wildwood are already planning on how to fix the performance problems they had at their first show. If the DCA corps staffs are focusing on the spread or scores/placements as their main goal, then all but one (two with Class A, I guess) of them they are setting their corps up for a big dissapointment. Make your drum corps gooder every week. That's all you can control.

They have been playing shows that are variations of Kershner's "Pictures of Spain" or "Malaguena" for the better part of the last four decades, maybe longer. (I don't go back farther than that.) It's been done MANY times, including the last two years. I will admit the closer was much more contemporary sounding. Kinda like an Arturo Sandoval chart. (I liked that part of last year's show too.) No, they should continue. It seems to really be working well for them. I have enjoyed their shows for the last 10 years or so. (Even when they weren't ruining DCA!) Most corps have an American Flag section, and I have no problem with Patriotic music in a show, although I think a whole show of it gets boring. IMHO, they could do without the fire extinguishers and the signs telling you what is going on. Well, what can I say, the Nose Knows. I doubt my opinion dooms any corps. If it does, then they were doomed anyway.

I would completely disagree with this statement, and I think a lot of other DCA fans would too. I go to DCA shows because I like experiencing the corps' performances, whther they take 1st, 2nd or whatever. I used to be in drum corps way back when, so I know what it takes for these weekend warriors to do what they do. When you have a corps like the Bucs, I'm even more amazed at what they accomplish on a weekend only schedule. I'm one of those not so rare drum corps fans that likes both DCI and DCA (and some of the Alumni scene as well). I know from reading DCP you would think there weren't very many of us cross-circuit fans, but I think only the people that feel strongly about DCI or DCA bother to get involved with these shenanigins. (Kinda like politics, eh?) Bucs probably didn't really win by 5, but IMO they clearly were the winner at Wildwood, so OK, maybe it should of been 3.5 or something like that. Who really can say for sure. Isn't that why they hire judges? Cabs were strong, but it all seemed a little too familiar (Kinda strange considering they are playing an original show!?!) Bush was "unusual" as usual. I bet they will make a run for the Top 6 if the fill out the corps. Fusion was probably the surprise of the night - Best early season show from them to date by far.

WOW! The tic system, less Corps than Back In the Day, Evil Hopkins, Blast ruined drum corps, and the end of the activity all rolled into one post! All because the Bucs won the WW show... By a lot. If only you could have tied G bugles into the conspiracy. Maybe when the Bucs beat Empire?

Looking at the recap, I don't see anything unusual. The field and ensemble numbers are within 3 - 5 tenths of each other and there is a consensus among the entire panel. I'm sure all the corps will be hard at work to climb the ladder from here. WW is not Finals!

I get how some are a bit shocked by the 5 pt spread but I think some consideration needs to be given to WHAT the two corps are putting in the field. The Cabs had a very respectable 1st performance of what many people feel is an overplayed effect. This style of show has not worked competitively for several years now. IMO the Cabs best show in recent years was Carmen. Still Cabs, but in a fresh new presentation. . Bucs on the other hand, seem to focus on exploring new territory while still maintaining their identity. Their shows have always seemed to have a level of sophistication that is lacking elsewhere.

Didn't Sun win brass with 35 horns once or twice? It was a long time ago, maybe the late 80's/ early 90's, but I know they did it at least once. Bush has won brass with smaller hornlines too in the same era, plus in 2006, although I think that year was one of there bigger lines. You're right, 20 horns won't beat 60, but you can win brass with 40 to 50 horns if you have the talent. Personally, I like it when corps have 60 or more AND the talent. What a sound!

Rehearse with discipline. Screwing around on the field REALLY turns off DCI vets. Keep the party away from rehearsals and only after performances, strictly on the DL for those of legal age. Resepct the corps uniform. Corps Image is EVERYTHING. Always present a clean public image and do what it takes to maintain it. Don't leave beer cans and bottles at the show sites and parking lots, even if you put them in a neat little pile. Very uncool.

Is this a BYOEP show, or will eye patches be provided at the ticket booth?

PACIFIC CREST TOUR... June 25 - Clovis, CA June 26 - Stanford, CA 180 miles June 27 - Atascadero, CA 190 miles July 2 - San Diego, CA 330 miles July 3 - Walnut, CA 120 miles July 4 - Pasadena, CA 30 miles July 5 - Riverside, CA 60 miles July 16 - Corona, CA 15 miles July 17 - Paramount, CA 25 miles July 18 - Mesa, AZ 361 miles July 20 - Odessa, TX 730 miles July 22 - Houston, TX 540 miles July 23 - Dallas, TX 260 miles July 24 - San Antonio, TX 280 miles July 26 - Lafayette, LA 420 miles July 28 - Hattiesburg, MS 230 miles July 29 - Milton, FL 180 miles July 31 - Atlanta, GA 320 miles August 2 - Sevierville, TN 240 miles August 4 - Erie, PA 630 miles August 5 - Rome, NY 290 miles August 6 - Lawrence, MA 300 miles August 7 - Allentown, PA 340 miles August 9 - Toledo, OH 500 miles 240 miles to Indy and then.... 2,080 miles home to CALI... They will travel over 9,000 miles this summer. Check out any of the WC corps on DCI.org (other than Jersey Surf), and you will find a similar scenario. This is not sustainable for the bottom group of the "FA-16", but they are "forced" to do this if they have the dream of moving up the ranks and becoming a Finalist corps someday.

Have you seen all of the top 5 from 2009 this year? I know I have tried, but a few of them are being quite ninja-like. I think based on what I have gotten a glimpse of so far, that 2010 is going to be a battle. I wonder what they will do about finals with 11 corps competing in prelims, counting the DCUK corps. Will they really eliminate 1 corps and then have a non voting finalist, assuming the Kidsgrove corps places in the top 10?

Here's an example.... Teal Sound Tour Schedule... June 20 - Ft. Mill, SC June 21 - Charleston, WV June 22 - Louisville, KY June 24 - Bowling Green, OH July 1 - Oswego, IL July 3 - Michigan City, IN July 6 - Metamora, IL July 7 - Dublin, OH July 10 - Kalamazoo, MI July 12 - Fairfield, OH July 16 - La Crosse, WI July 17 - Minneapolis, MN July 20 - Van Buren, AR July 21 - Broken Arrow, OK July 22 - Dallas, TX July 23 - Houston, TX July 25 - San Antonio, TX July 27 - Ocean Springs, MS July 28 - Hattiesburg, MS July 29 - Milton, FL July 31 - Atlanta, GA August 2 - Sevierville, TN August 4 - Erie, PA August 5 - Rome, NY August 6 - Lawrence, MA August 7 - Allentown, PA then....off to Indy!