westcoastblue

It is a design 101 issue. Want to do a "deep" show? Fine. You better have crazy talent out the wazooo (can I say wazooo?) that can pull it off and allow judges to look the other way at some design flaws or areas that are't really coming across early on (Devs the last six or so years), OR, you pull them in to the show in such a clear way that the audience and judges get it immediately, and are then hooked for the entire 10-minute journey (see Blue Knights 2014- brilliant). If I remember the spring training podcast correctly, when asked about the show, I thought that describing the past finalist SOA shows as "big glitz and Broadway" came across as dismissive. I believe it was stated that the intention was to now be more darker and introspective, yet staying true to their roots. Many people refer to these types of shows as "Childrens' Tears in the Moonlight" shows. Well, if that is really what you want to do artistically and competitively coming from 17th place, there are several things you will need to do successfully. For the children's tears show: Children- we need to clearly hear or see children. maybe both. Tears- we need to know these children are crying, Moonlight- we need to know its night time, and we need to see the moon AND, we need to give a rip. Who are these children exactly? Why are they crying? Why should I care beyond the fact that they are children? Why is it night time? What does that matter to the show overall? Are they just going to cry in the moonlight for ten minutes? Will we see the children gathering? Will we see them being lead out of their tearful situation? Where is this all heading? Will they stop crying? Will they be happy? Be saved from crying again? Will the no- tears scene happen just as the sun comes up and the moon goes away? How do you want me to feel at the end? In Spirit's show, we could apply the same approach to key words in their show description. I will in part borrow from a previous poster, 2muchcoffeeman "Disaster? Catastrophe? Despair? Tragedy? Pain?" add to that, shock, hopelessness, questioning, struggling, all followed by perseverance and triumph. Additionally, they state they want to honor their southern heritage. Listing "Tara's Theme" strongly suggests that the show may be the burning of Atlanta during the Civil War. Without going on, this all seems like a really tall order. really tall, for any talent level group. I can tell you Devs would not touch it with a ten foot pvc pole. Unfortunately, many of the words listed in their show description are difficult to portray (hopelessness, struggling, despair, shock, etc.). Most all require acting, but with context clues that help us get it, costumes, flags, electronics, role playing, etc. SOA's competitors are doing: a horse show, clearly with horses, corral fences, Copland-esque music another is doing a reboot of SOA's own NOIR show with characters and narration, sound effects one is playing accessible Mary Poppins music, and doing it well etc. I get not wanting to be like everyone else, but show design clarity is an absolute must in all competitive ranges, especially the one you are in. 2muchcoffeeman used the term hyperbole. That is a perfect word for what is happening with this show design. If you sit the members down in the gym and say "The arrival at letter A is pain", "this phrase is the struggle", "these chords represent empending resolution", "this major chord is the triumph"- that is all good and fine, but the audience needs to get it without having to be sat down for a show talk in the gym. Come on SOA, give your talented members a fighting chance.

Think I'm gonna like this guy. And, it is now 83 disappointed thread clickers.

Great job on your first post! Thanks for the review.

Well, since I am already not going to win the most popular poster award anytime soon, I'll just throw this out there- Having marched in a top corps for _____ number of years does not make you a good judge. Having taught a top corps for _______ number of years does not make you a good judge. Having designed a top DCI or BOA show does not make you a good judge. Having attended _________ university does not make you a good judge. Standing in front of _________ college ensemble, _________ Mid-west feature group, ________ honor band does not make you a good judge. I think that much too often the above "qualifications" are stated to justify someone's authority, whether it is as a corps administrator, or as judge. While these experiences may aid one's discerning ears, eyes, ability to recognize creativity, etc., these experiences do not guarantee that someone IS a good judge or an effective leader. If such lists are truly resumes, I want to see how much someone has actually judged? where? how often? any judges training? by whom? state contests? BOA? DCI? etc. No , this is not any assessment for or against Sly's abilities to judge.

Thanks for your response. You clearly know more details about the actual instrument manufactoring than I do. That stated, I do not hear the things in their sound you are hearing. On the two videos I have seen, their preview and Evansville, it is hard for me to hear what the Kanstul instruments are providing because of how bad the pitch, tone, balance, and blend are, at least on the video. While the Kanstuls may have the potential to allow for a better overall sound, there is no way that Spirit's sound is blowing BK's, PR's, BD's, SCV's, Crossmen's, BC's, Cavies, Trooper's, Boston's, etc. out of the water. Other than their ballad soloist, I hear noting I would call "amazing" or even good at this point. Regarding sound, I am hearing correct notes, but sounds that are not centered, round, nor characteristic of mature players. I hear edge and overtones fighting each other. I hear many blowing their pitches sharp. I hear weak embouchures trying to support more air than they can handle at this point (that can be a method toward eventual mature sounds in the hands of skilled instructors). I prefer B-flat instrument sounds, you prefer G. That's cool, but regardless of key (E-flat, C, D, etc.) good fundamental brass playing is good fundamental brass playing. I state all this is not because of some dislike I have for Spirit as a drum corps, quite the opposite. I am simply being honest about what I hear and trying to keep it it real. One more point of clarification if you don't mind, what do you mean by "troll"?

So I can attempt to take you somewhat seriously, can you define what you mean by "amazing" and what you mean by "sound" as well as "blows out of the water"? Seriously.

Guys, guys. Come on. They had a good thing going. Something wasn't right and caused the 11-13 team to all leave at the same time. Staffs do not do that when they are successful and being appreciated. So, they had gotten the corps back in three years in a row with shows that were successfully old school meets new school, staying enough in the Spirit wheel house to please alumni and new fans. Nearly brilliant and text book on how to rebuild a corps. Got the corps out of debt too from what I hear. Anybody seek those guys out? Why did they leave? JW and board then hire lame designers two years in a row because they do not know what good design is nor how to get it. JW may have been fine back in the day, but obviously has lost touch, or never had it. This will be hard to turn around any time soon. I really hate this for the members.

Madison- disaster Blue Stars- potential Cavies- no theme, no glue Crown- holy crap Bloo- you have to be s_______en me Cadets- I can't even begin to think this possible in f___ing June

It has been so interesting reading everyone’s differing takes on the two shows. Here’s mine: Troop: The initial build is spectacular. The brass is clearly their strength right now. I like the first half better than the second half, though the closer music is cool, well-scored, and welcomingly different for them. I like that this show does not rely too much on super familiar Americana music. The guard singer was good. The percussion seem about where they have been. The brass improved. The guard a bit down, though their drill and book were no where near finished. I wish the drill was stronger. I wish they were embracing electronics, samples, etc. more with the concept this year. Though I do not see this show being a dark horse for making finals (pun intended), you never know about that 10th—17th or so bracket. Wildy prefered them over Scouts. Scouts: Right to it, how about rather than “gotta dance”, we consider “gotta change”? This was really rough to me. They are more talented than Troop, but have a weaker show. Opposite of Troop, I liked the second half better than the first. There were only two GE moments that did anything for me tonight. The brass seem down, percussion down, and guard improved. So much of the show is tempo di snail’s pace. The vocal inserts seemed forced and trite. The opening sequence alone was just not happening and I do not think it a performance issue at all, boring. Seems the show was written to please the 1980s and 1990s alumni crowd. Maybe that is exactly the intent, discussed and agreed upon in NY at some cool as hell bar just after the alumni Macy’s parade success. I didn’t feel good about this afterwards in regards to them being a shoe-in finalist. Work to do boys. Thanks DCI for the free showing. Thanks Madison and Troop for starting us off, warts and all. Peace to everyone.

So according to this guy and two other reviewers of their preview show, they were loud. Any thing else brought to the table? Anything? Loud doesn't get one out of 17th.

Mehhh. And, I do not see any modern twist whatsoever. Tiny difference from the 1988 uni does not qualify as a modern twist.

Review of their Preview Show is up in the review thread.

You stated Spirit has "a new design team." Well, unless show design has changed drastically in the last 6 months and I am out of the loop, a design team usually consists of the following: Program Coordinator/Head Designer/Program Director (what ever title various corps choose to use) Visual director/Guard Caption head (sometimes both, sometimes this is the same person) Drill writer (sometimes also the overall visual director/coordinator) Brass arranger Front Enemble arranger These people all work together to bring an unified package together. Some contribute more than others. The vision can come largely from one, or from all in a very organic way, growing with each design call/meeting. In some years, one person may direct the vision more than others due to their particular strengths. Arrangers are certainly designers, just as are the people that write the guard work, dance/body moves, etc. Anyone who creates is a designer, all contributing in a way that allows the show to be one of depth, coordination, etc. Instructors are those that teach, clean what has been designed. There are times where instructors may create/design a flag phrase, or horn body move, etc. as need and expertise are called opon at various times throughout the season. The person that is most "hands on" is usually the program coordinator. According to Spirit's off season anouncements, this is the exact same person that created last year's debacle. If corps no longer design as I have stated, my bad.

Umm. I dont think this is totally accurate. Program coordinator, most importnat positon for design, is the SAME. Percussion, SAME. Guard, different head person, but new person was on staff last year. New brass arranger. Visual team and Brass team, some new, some from last year.

No, the entire design team and most caption heads from 2010-2013 left at the same time. The board let them slip through their fingers. Not sure why. We will probably never know, but it screams problems at the top, un-insightful alumni (or at least enough to make a difference), and possible funding issues. That design team also scattered to the wind. Some still in the activity, some not. A possible sign of burnout/non-appreciation. First come backs are tough, Seconds are really impossible and probably not even worth trying. Somehow they did it, got the corps back in three years in a row and developed a new fan base while regaining part of an old one. That had to be grueling work and I am sure to took its toll to some degree. I hope the alumni were falling all over themselves supporting and appreciating what those people did. Not feeling too positive for 2015. Hope I am wrong.

Yes to point one. Your second point . . . well, not exactly. You are assuming a lot my friend, a whole lot.

Yes. I agree. Bad show. Fact. Not conjecture. Not really debatable. Yep. Badarooney. Peace.

I see we have a board resignation or two already. Hope these guys weren't the ones who could have made a different path for the corps moving forward in a healthy way (Psst, look behind you at the last three years at least for some design and instruction answers). Forming a board that gets it and knows their best functionality for the bigger picture, how to best help and not butt in where they are not experts, is difficult. As much peace as possible and as little as necessary to cause healthy change SOA.

For Sale: 18 foot outer space tracking antenna. Can be used as modern day Christmas Tree, or with an extreme imaginative eye, the magnolia variety.

I think they are embarrassing and tacky. I would call them an act of desperation. They GREATLY diminish the show experience for me.

I will give you that, but not full corps talent overall. Some corps would kill to haveSOA's brass and perc talent. They aren't using it.

Fun Topic! Thanks for starting it. 1. BD redefines unbeatable. 2. Bluecoats are best second place corps in ten years or more. 3. Spirit of Atlanta abandons reason and forward progress for alumni whim. 4. Open Class corps shock world class corps during finals week with well designed shows with less talent.

NO! NO! NO! Bad dog. Bad dog. You people crack me up. It is shocking that your suggestion seems logical, thoughtful, or insightful at all to you. Shocking, really. My head is still shaking. Hello, what do see has happened to those hard working members (who NEVER want to do a 1980s show) this summer with a retro show? Shocking, just shocking. Have I mentioned the word NO! In case I haven't . . . NO!

Marie meet pasture. Pasture meet Marie. : )

Spirit of Atlanta - Atlanta, GA This was my wife's favorite corps of the night. She does not like drum corps. wvu80 Well, there ya go.