Bando_Commando

I have no problem with the DCI, DCA, or WGI judges and the judging system. If you possessed the comprehension skills of an "8th grader" you would have been able to deduct that after reading. Secondly, I have no problem with the quality of the product. I myself even acknowledged that it is a weekend activity which requires more mental stamina and brings about more a greater level of difficulty. My issue is that people always hold the victor in DCA (be it at a show or at finals A class or Open class) to a standard that is not achievable. They complain about a few ticks in a performance as if the people in second and even third were flawless. In reality, and relatively speaking, DCA Corps never reach that level... none of them. In short I find it ridiculous when someone whines about several corps not being clean mid season. What do they expect... they not even going to reach that level of cleanliness at finals. On the topic of a Corps "covering" a show... all I am doing here is pointing a finger at other corps that are "guilty" of things that the DCP Elitist community likes to bash the Reading Buccaneers for. If anything my post is mocking those individuals. Many shows can have the same title and concept but still be different. Clearly Crown's take on The Wizard of Oz is far different from The Empire Statesmen. That in and of itself is the reason why I went into such detail explaining that yes, in fact, it is the same show concept. Thank you for the history lesson, but I am well aware of the activity's origins. I personally embrace the rich history that still lives on in the alumni corps. It's a shame that more DCI corps don't have them. I was sad to see the Yankee-Rebels go. I grew up watching this activity and thankfully I was able to put 6 years in the Jr. Corps World. I still respect each corps in DCA, hence why I stuck up for the Empire Statesmen and the Reading Buccaneers. Jeff- I don't doubt that you have been in a great DCA percussion ensemble, look at what some of the WGI lines can do with weekends and a few extended weekends. It is just rare to have that happen in DCA because most of the individuals marching WGI in world class march Jr. Corps and drum all summer. I'm sure that you understand what I'm getting at with that. As for the TOB and TIA judges, I myself never had to deal with that circuit as I had previously stated. I was just commenting on several stories that I have heard from individuals that I marched with in Jr. Corps that came from different programs. The general consensus among these individuals at the 2 corps that I have marched in was that TOB and TIA's judging community has gone down hill each year and is now a joke. Again, not from my personal experience... that is just something that I have heard through the grape vine.

Thank you for not corps bashing. You are a positive influence here.

1) Yes I agree with you, that was my point... I was mocking those that complain about it, be it mid season or finals time. When I see people make completely illegitimate and narrow minded arguments, I then look at the bottom and see all of the gloating... look what I did... Respect me. It is the individual whose insight does not match their long list of experience that I feel is unqualified. Perhaps I should have made that more clear. I addressed the cleanliness issue in another post. Give that a read, and let me know your thoughts.

Oh but how it actually is a Wizard of Oz show. I will explain. Never have I claimed to know all the answers, but this I am sure of. Alright here we go, lets be objective for a second. The show starts off with the brass playing a truly beautiful arrangement of the Promise of Living. The Wizard of Oz starts off with everything calm and happy for the most part does it not? The first actual movement of the show is called Storm. Oddly enough there was a Twister that basically set everything in motion. This is even reflected in the Drill design with the brass running in a "vortex" if you will. The actual opener can be described as being off to see the wizard, and collecting the posse. Then for the percussion feature which segways into Puck then into Sensemaya, depicts the flip flopping struggle between good end evil. Then the closer, give it a listen, it recaps the whole production in a way, and starts off with a joyful perhaps glorious pep. Tis is the point where they have found the wizard and such. Then Storm is used again along with somewhere over the rainbow at the same time... almost as if the Wicked Witch has been defeated, but it is subtle. then more triumphant music. Please, just accept this as fact for I know that it actually is. No disrespect to you was meant personally. On the issue of clean performances, sure some are much cleaner than others, but they never reach a Jr. Corps quality of clean do to the fact that the rehearsal time doesn't even begin to compare. Clean for DCA, but actually clean... I would disagree. No disrespect meant there either. DCA is more difficult mentally due to the fact that the show isn't constantly drilled into you. My post has nothing to do with the annual meetings. It has to do with people bashing a respectable organization (The Reading Buccaneers). Again, I never said that I know everything. Don't be bitter with me because I called out those who think they know everything. Oh the spread this, the spread that. There is a reason for a judging panel! None of these people constantly complaining, yes none, are qualified to Judge IMO. No one person can put up an accurate number judging alone. So when I see posts saying "I had a 1.5 point spread using the same sheets!!!" Posters are basically digging their own grave when they act like they know more than a judge. Grant it some judges are more respectable than others, but this isn't the TIA, TOB... from my understanding those circuits are cursed with under qualified judges. Thankfully I have never had to deal with any of that since it is a long way from home. concept: check content: check demand: check general performance quality: check staff that is among the best in the marching world: check an efficient rehearsal method :check a record that you do not get w/o the aforementioned: check I think it is very fair to say that the Buccaneer organization has this activity figured out pretty well. Don't be bitter about it, be real. Denying reality will get you nowhere. First point is not a joke at all, you clearly lack a complete understanding of judging. Actually a fair amount of judging is based on comparison. Your 5th and 6th sentence nullifies your entire argument against me. well done. The Green Coats take the field first for the night. The percussion ensemble has a strong performance... not yet completely clean but respectable... the dynamic contrast is apparent. Judge: leaves comments on the tape as needed and writes down an overall benchmark number of 16.9 The Orange Eaters take the field second. Their battery plays completely together, but stands out of the ensemble like Shaquille O'Neal in Tokyo, and the book is relatively bland. Judge: hmm was that better or worse than what I just saw... they could play clean with each other... there were really only two dynamics the whole show Loud and Louder... 16.45 The Pink Swordsmen take the field, They play almost as clean as the Orange Eaters, exceed the Green Coats in dynamic control, and have a book that seamlessly fits into the ensemble. Judge: was that better or worse than what I saw previously. better. ok now what about the Geen Coats? yes. ok... 17.2 That is what happens. Welcome to it. There isn't a tick system anymore.

I have a serious bone to pick with the entire DCP All-Age community that gets wrapped up in numbers. I come from the land of DCI. Having never marched or been involved with DCA, aside from spectating after tour comes to a close and dropping in on a few pre-season rehearsals of 3 relatively local corps , there is something about the conduct on this forum bothers me... time to grow up! Point of order No. 1: Statement: Corps X blew a triplet roll, they should not have won percussion at Show Z !!!! The judging is rigged!!! DCA is ruined Response: Has it occurred to you that you are not a judge in a respectable circuit regardless of the years of "experience" (in weekend marching band) that you gloat about in your signature? There is probably a reason for that. Can any of you honestly say that any DCA drumline has ever played a clean show by finals? If you can... you are lying, or you do not understand what clean is and should add "all of this experience has given me no credibility" to your signature. Reading was given a 20.0 at finals last year... the first complaint was't that they shouldn't have won, it was that they got a "perfect". In reality they ticked on finals night... just like every other drumline in the history of this activity be it DCI, DCA, or WGI. 20.0 means nothing aside from the fact that they were the best that night. The 20.0 was selected because they needed to give Reading an accurate spread over the percussion section in second place. EVEN MORE SO, the constant wining about mid season dirt as if every corps but the winner of said show was clean is down right immature. Maybe you seem to notice the dirt coming from Reading because the show grabs your attention that much more, or their record makes you more critical of them than the other corps. <just a little food for thought. Point of order No. 2: Statement: The Reading Buccaneers are ruining DCA!!!!! Response: If anything, they have DCA figured out. Every single corps designs a program, has some sort of audition process, a method of rehearsal, and strives to max out their performance. <Can any of you "Experts" out there counter that argument? ... No you can't. Don't hate them for having a highly experienced and highly qualified design staff. In addition do not hate them for having a tech staff that knows how to teach and clean. Clearly there is a formula for rehearsal that allows them to stay ahead. Point of order No. 3 Statment: Empire is cheese!!! Response: The corps is passionate about performing, and they express it in a different way than the rest of the activity. Simply put, the vibe I get is: Enjoy every moment and make a memory... Scores will take care of themselves if we worry about ourselves. The Velvet Knights and Jersey Surf are two organizations that strike my mind as doing some things that aren't "kosher". The Bushwackers have done some unorthodox things as well. In short let them HYPE! their hatless uniforms, and crabbed cadence. Point of order No. 4: Statement: Reading reworked a Jr. Corps Show!!! Response: -The Reading Buccaneers' 2010 program is Rome... OMG they stole Phantom's 2008 show. DCA = Ruined. Seriously, the shows are different aside from the Ballad. Time out. . . -The Empire Statesmen's show is entitled Oz. Oz = The Wizard of Oz = The Grass is Always Greener. Watch Crown's 2009 show and you may see the connection (pending that you open your narrow minds) aside from the use of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. -MBI's show is Caravan. Can I get a Bluecoats 2005 anyone?!?! I mean they didn't even bother to change the title. Not only are they playing what I believe to be 2 of the same pieces as the 2005 Bluecoats, they are playing 2004 SCV and 2007? Boston Crusaders music. Not a single individual on DCP has complained about The Empire Statesmen or MBI's act of unorigionality. Why? ... Because they aren't in first. In reality, all of these shows have been done by a marching band first. Let's just get over it. Remember... If you ain't havin' fun, you're doin' it wrong.