BIG BARI 3

I believe that DCA CREATED the mini's because the ensembles were getting too large. Unfortunatly, I don't believe they saw the popularity of them getting this big. If not for the mini's I would not have started coming on Friday nights. What started out as a beer bash I&E has now become a serious venue for members of NON COMPETITIVE corps to perform. They pay their entry fees and hope to get not only applause from whatever audience is there, but a little input from the judges. If you look at this year's performers you will see a LOT of non DCA and non competitive corps members. DCA should be applauded for encouraging this to help keep the activity growing! But methinks they may have created a monster! The mini's DO have another venue with the Buglers Hall Of Fame shows. In fact, you did not see these corps at the DCA show at all. The DCA mini show is the true championship because it can, and does attract mini's from throughout North America! So, if the mini's need to become another class of corps in DCA so be it! I believe that most of them would love to compete on a regional basis at DCA shows,TO GET INPUT TO IMPROVE THEIR PERFORMANCE. And by the way, if DCA is not getting a percentage of the concessions at the championships, somebody better look into that!

Just a thought.... Do you think anyone from DCA noticed the crowd reaction to Cabs Alumni's off the line start? It spoke volumes to me! Great job by all the Alumni's!

I do have a question regarding judging. Is the crowd reaction part of the scoring? If not, then when did it become proper for judges to stand and applaud a mini that they are judging? I really liked Stars 1812 last year but was really shocked to see the judges, who are supposed to be objective, giving them a standing O! Just wondering.......

NO, the present field of mini's are not DCA members. THEY ALL STOPPED DOING IT! Maybe they couldn't figure out what the judges wanted either! DCA likes the mini's as it gives people another reason to attend finals weekend. In case you don't know, the mini's pay an entrance fee to perform, just as other I&E performers do. I believe that they also have to pay ascap (I think I got it right?!) for the rights to perform the music. Add to this what they pay the arranger and it adds up! The LEAST the judges could do is to provide some feedback.

This was my first time seeing your corps. To sum up my thoughts, it was AWESOME! PLEASE come back again!

We left during the second delay, sure that with the curfew no additional corps would perform. We were very surprised to find that the final 3 had gone on. Perhaps if their had been some old technology used, like a bull horn, in the concourse area so that people had a better idea of what was happening? We know now for next year though! P.S. LOVED the venue AND the whole Annapolis area!

Dock St? What a concept!

I do know that we pay $2.00 each for our Buglers Hall of Fame medals. However. the "laser engraving" costs $ .07 per letter. Perhaps DCA could just engrave DCA 2012 finals 2nd place, etc. That would make the price around $3.50 each. That does not seem like a lot of money to give a lifetime memory! Big Dan

Larry Glad to hear you are performing at a DCA event! I look forward to seeing the corps in Annapolis. I will try to catch up with you. Big Dan

Glad I asked! What a lineup!

A member of the Kilties told me last year at prelims that they were B flats! MUST HAVE BEEN A DRUMMER!

Thanks! Sounds like a good place to hear some ensembles as you can only be at one venue at a time......

I see on the DCA website that Thursday at 5PM is something called "DCA at the dock". All it says is performances in downtown Annapolis. We are arriving Thursday and would probably try to attend. What is it all about? Anyone know? Thanks! Big Dan

Thanks to the poster who mentioned the crowd movement. As I was on the field with The Defenders, (Yes it was a distraction as you could not help but notice this as I was watching our major!) I could not help but wonder what if the exhibition corps had not gone on first? These people would have missed a competitive corps, and/or disrupted the performance! I did notice that even when the DCI corps were on the field there was STILL a lot of coming and going in the stands! I thought that MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE DRUM CORPS FANS KNEW ENOUGH NOT TO HAVE ANY MOVEMENT IN THE STANDS DURING A CORPS PERFORMANCE! Apparently, I was wrong! BTW, at Mission Drums people WERE ASSIGNED at the entry points to the stands and no one was allowed to enter during a performance. Perhaps the show organizers should follow suit.

Some videos are up on BFDTV on You Tube

I know someone who was going to play with them......UNTIL he found out they spent every rehearsal drinking from the beer wagon Ballentine provided! And NOT rehearsing! So that's how that got started!

Nope not DCI! Kids DO NOT TRY THIS IN COMPETITION! WE ARE PROFESSIONALS!

Only if it were a blindsided hit!

So to get back to the point, we need to make drum corps an olympic event. Then add WWE excitement. The third trumpet takes out the field GE judge!

I am looking for someone from the Worcester area to carpool with. I know there were A LOT of corps in and around Worcester. Come on down and have some fun!

Sounds like not fielding a class a corps is a smart decision for this year. I have watched you guys start with nothing and steadily grow. Your mini corps IS getting you some positive attention! Good luck in Annapolis! Your Friend Dan

WOW! Great line up! Good luck to all the contestants! Sky Alumni, the Melha Drum Corps hope you have as great a show as we did!

Thank you to all participants! We were treated to some great music! Thanks to all of you who came out despite an "iffy" forecast. The attendance numbers were up from last year, and we got some great comments! See you in Boston and Bridgeport!

The forecast is now calling for "light" snow. The roads should be in good shape. See you tomorrow!

Definetly in spirit!