RogerF

"It's a Blue Devils world, and they just let the rest of us live in it?" PULEAZE....I for one will pass on living in a 2nd or 3rd place, overblown, weird, esoteric and amplified mish mash goo of a "world". Thank you.

Loner-whoops... That's too funny.... Sorta like a baby crying in church or on the airplane, right? It's just a fact of life... get over it and move on.

No, actually it's not another "I hate electronics" thread. Sorry to burst your bubble. It's a legitimate question. In the event there isn't any electricity, how would these corps perform, if even they would perform at all?

If, during a day time (no lights) show, the electricity became unavailable because of (whatever reason), how many corps would be affected? If electricity was not available to plug in all of those things used on the field, how many corps would choose not to perform? Is it written in their contracts that on-field electricity be available, or else they would not perform? I mean with all the microphones, synths, pre-recording, etc., I think BD and Crown would be most affected. Could BD and Crown actually compete on their own "old school style" without all that stuff? -Roger

Actually, it wasn't the closer that 'hit me over the head', it was the entire show that gave me a headache. Had to take a Tylenol. I don't think it's gonna go over well with Midwest or Southern audiences...who knows.

BD's show.. ugh... I really can't stand it. Dances with Poles. Pole dancing. Size (of the pole) mnatters, those poles are really really tall, and there's lots of em. Very distracting as is all the mic'ed trumpets. Oh and the horn line playing main passages from the 'Rite of Spring' where normally a full section of violins, violas, cellos and basses would play,.. .it's ridiculous and not in a good way. This is not a pleasant show. Stop with trying to expand our minds, or "educate" us on your 'art'. After a long hard day's work week I want you guys to blow my face off, with tunes that we are familiar with, or play songs all the way through. Not all these b.s. blips and bleeps, and monkey drumming....

Vanguard's new unis..... Wow!!! Stunning..... so beautiful and powerful!! The best!

I would love to see "Stubernic" win I&E percussion ensemble. This is really an incredible showcase piece, perfect for a drum corps adaptation, or by itself.

People had been dealing withOUT instant communications that cellphones have ***FOR DECADES*** How did they deal with emergencies?? ***THEY CALLED THE LEADERS OF THE ORGINIZATIONS*** who would then relay the communications back to the kids. They also sent real live physical letters to and from each other. Archaic huh. Remember Summer Camp before the internet and cellphones? Kid at camp... mom and dad back home.... dad has an accident, mom calls summer camp office, camp office contacts kid. Problem solved. Kid wasn't checking his phone every 30 seconds for texts, emails and calls. He was out rowing a canoe, learning to start a campfile, playing baseball, hiking, etc. Kids are spoiled rotten over cellphones. No, you don't have to be connected every second of every day.

I will say as a response, that the director of the symphonic band I was in, I think, for me, was the issue because he allowed the facebooking, and texting, and did not say a word. I can't tell you how my ears and mind cringed at all the wrong notes, poor musicality and unfocused immaturity many of the members had, but of course, .. .they were multi tasking. They did not care, .. .did not want to care... so why am I there? I quit last Thursday. I can't waste my time with people who want to socialize and play around, rather than rehearse and play music. -R

So, in drum corps, for either senior or junior corps, are there policies regarding the usage of cellphones/ipads/ipods/etc. during rehearsals and performances? I'm old school, and I believe that a music rehearsal is a MUSIC rehearsal, not an opportunity for members and musicians to keep their little iphones/whatever next to them or on the music stand, or in their hands. Do directors or corps have any policies regarding this? Or is it just known among the corps that phones and other devices are prohibited during rehearsals or performances? The reason I ask is because, I am in a little community college band, I'm in my late 40's. Most of the younger college age musicians have their iphones out, facebooking or texting during rehearsals! Outrageous. And most of the time, they sound not good. The director does not say a word about their usage. I've already said words to the other percussionists about this and I can't believe their lackadasial (sp) attitude about it. Last night was topper...we had a concert last night in front of about 100 people in a college auditorium. One of the percussionists starts texting during the final run through before the actual concert. I asked him to stop and he looked at me like I was some kind of nut and he did not stop. I asked him to put it away and his attitude, as expected was basically, just shut up don't tell me what to do. Then, one of the directors came to me and said basically "I don't think it's a good idea if you are police-ing the other musicians during rehearsals about their cell phones." What??! I told him, no one else is telling them to put them away, it's a major distraction, and we should be here to play and rehearse music, NOT play on our phones. Anyways last night was my final time with this "band". I can't believe how immature and their unmusical approach and attitude. Appalling. Does this happen in drum corps, with cell phones? Thank you, Roger

What should DCI do? Have a Coke and a smile. :)

Watching Finals broadcast LIVE on local KCET channel 28 in Los Angeles, in 1978. Peter Emmons, some white woman with peroxide blonde hair, and Rondo were hosting. Rondo congratulating SCV for winning, Pete smiling! I was home during the summer, alone as a 14 year old, then watching 27th Lancers spin the flags, and thinking.. ."I can do that, that looks easy." Watching North Star with the pie throwing.

More random blips and bleeps from the Blue Crew. Yeah! 1st Place Gold Medal.

Drum major/conductor murder - Phantom 2008 - SPARTICUS

Some of you old farts need to chill on the negative criticism about Sound Sport. Notice all of the kids in the video, MOVING, rather than sitting on their fat as**es playing, or playing video games. Think of it too as possible preparation for marching drum corps. No?? Notice all of aspects of their performance. They get to prepare, perform, and have a great time. Is that all not good for them? Don't you think their parents were excited too? It's the BEGINNING of SoundSport. Some things may not work and some may.

I think this is totally awesome! Gives the kids more opportunity to perform, on an international stage!

I think this is totally awesome! Gives the kids more opportunity to perform, on an international stage!

Had BD or any other drum corps, won the title with a woman as center snare?

How about this one???? The Top 6 of DCI World Class... competes against The Top 6 of Bands of America ... in a pay-per-view competition.

THANK YOU. Great post and response, HH!! Second-hand belly aching and #####ing and moaning on the behalf of someone else. Good. LORD.

HELL YES!!!!

They are too busy texting and websurfing at shows.

Actually, the moderation is good. The moderation keeps things moderated. It helps the drum corps community keep it's thoughts, opinions and ideas together. On the reverse side, many of us can imagine the usenet group alt.drumcorps from back in the 90's and 2000's. It's a complete cesspool of spam and crazy posts from the likes of something called Colonel Jake and who can forget Catherine Burr. That's of waste of time and energy.

Well, 30 years ago, OMG, on the way home from Montreal, I hated it. Surreal, and mind blowing. We didn't have internet, twitter, facebook, etc. And unfortunately I was a lone teenager, and had these druggy bullies in the horn line, who kept on me the entire trip, what with their stealing, and their drugs and drinking. Yes it was true, it got so bad I had to fly home from Cheyenne Wyoming back to L.A. because I hated the whole experience being on the bus with them. And the staff wouldn't do anything about it. But now, I am sure it's better, to what degree I don't know. The day after finals is always odd and strange, it's as though you came out of a blender!