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If not today...tomorrow. And soon some Corps (Senior) will try to recruit Clapton.

OK, I'm an old Chicago Cavalier and so I'll only talk about Cavalier shows. You, on the other hand, should share your views on YOUR Corps performances. For a long time I thought that "Frameworks" was the ultimate show. Then came "Samurai" which I thought surpassed everything The Cavaliers had ever done. And now, after repeated viewings, "Mad World" just blows me away! Undoubtedly the best conceived & executed Cavaliers performance ever. Please remember, this is NOT about my Corps vs the other Corps, but what YOU think was your Corps shining moment.

Once upon a time, we either were MMs or Fans. While we had our biases then, can we not be Civil now?

I salute you all!

Wish I'd said this.

Wonderful! FHNSAB! My 2nd favorite Jr. Corps of all "Eras".

I have seen countless Forums & Posts about what certain organizations/associations/cliques can do to advance DC. And have been encouraged by numerous Posters who suggest that it is our Duty to further DC by our individual actions and efforts. Let's face facts - there are more of us who have participated in this wonderful activity than on the BODs of DCI, G7/8, and Corps collectively. So...What do YOU do to contribute and what advice can you offer to those of us who are as yet uninvolved?

For years I watched The Cavaliers being attacked for performing original compositions I personally came to LOVE these shows. "Frameworks" '02 was brilliant in both Concept & Execution. And while I am one of those who subscribe to "Give the Fans something they recognize!" as opposed to "expanding their horizons", there IS a place in DC for introducing new Musical ideas without alienating the audience.

I see other Posters mentioning "Design" as opposed to interpretation of the Musical Book. Allrighty then... BD '10 was WAY over my head musically, but Design-wise neither they, nor any other Corps, has come close to approaching The Cavaliers '08 "Samurai". IMO, THIS was a show which, in years to come, people will watch and wonder "how did this not win?".

BITD (pause while Readers skip to next Post) we played George Gershwin,Cole Porter, Richard Rogers, Leonard Bernstein, Victor Herbert, Harold Arlen, Benny Goodman, ad infinitum. Basically, music that people already knew. I don't think composers like Bartok, Stravinsky, let alone those you mentioned ever crossed our Arrangers' minds. Furthermore, if they had, I don't believe we had the "chops" to truly perform them. I remember hearing Cavaliers playing "Pines Of Rome" & "Firebird" and was really impressed. Phantom Regiment, barely an "A" Corps in the '60s became THE voice of Classical music, Santa Clara reinvigorated Broadway musicals (once pretty much the turf owned by Garfield) and an amazing Corps from Concord, CA gave us lessons in Jazz. Star? God only knows where they came from(although today the Star United Mini-Corps seems to be composed solely of Pros, on a plane of their own God bless 'em!) My point being that today's Corps are more familiar with Music at higher levels than we ever were, and have the ability to perform it far better than the street kids of the '50s & 60's. Are we jealous? Yes & No. We did the best we could with what we were given and never thought beyond this Season/Month/Week/Day and, yes, the next 12 minutes. What the artists of today's Corps consider passe' we never even dreamed of. Can't wait to hear my next lesson! But the fact remains that audiences (outside of insiders) still have more of a connection with Music they already know Case in point Madison 2010. Not that they weren't great in performance, but that the crowds immediately recognized and connected with that show. If I think there is a main direction for Drum Corps, it is this - educate subtly, but bring the Fans an offering of tunes they know. This is a problem. What eager young Musician wants a program focused on "comfortable" charts while longing for an opportunity to reach new levels in their personal experience? Hey, if I could answer that, I'd be running DCI

Hello! Are you awake? Two towers are irradicated, a Nation goes to War looking for WMDs that apparently never existed, Celebrities raise millions for earthquake victims in Haiti & Chile while people in America are jobless, homeless and starving, our Government put us in debt to Foreign Powers, and some American citizens are symbolically chanting "This is my Rifle!". So you don't see this as a "Mad World"? When The Cavaliers revealed that theme, some of us said that's a concept that's going to go WAY over their heads. Cadets Jeffrey's far fetched dreams? Blue Devils illusions & mirrors? These are concepts are that are too representative of living in the USA for people of limited mental abilities to absorb. I hope you're not living proof of that. This is NOT the America I used to know, and Corps are reflecting the reality of what is NOT what we wish it to be. Are you not aware of this? Look, I used to raise the American Flag during the Cavaliers Color Presentation of "Battle Hymn Of The Republic". Did that accurately depict our National perception? I think so, although at the time I couldn't have put it into words. Any more than I can today about Corps shows. BUT I do believe some shows actually define & depict the way we are...and hey! This IS a very, very, Mad World. Proclaiming that the Emperor is naked IS Patriotic!

Sorry, but I fail to see how "Mad World" was redundant, that The Cadets "Jeffrey" in any way mimiced anyone, that Blue Devils didn't exhibit a novel approach, that Crown was a "copycat Corps", that SCV or Phantom, Blooo! or Madison didn't each present their own unique approach. And the list goes on....but you have, from your Almighty Judgement seat, proclaimed them all "boring and redundant". And why oh why would anyone try or even want to "re-create what Star did"? If Star was as classic as many claim...where are they today? God knows EVERY Corps wants to be just like them, a flash in the pan, unlike those old fogies that win or lose, STUCK AROUND. The real problem with with Drum Corps today is you and all the truly ignorant who follow you blindly into the Last Days of Drum Corps. You may be the future (shuddering), but you have no Past. We, (and I rarely use that word in place of "I") will do everything we can emotionally, physically, and Financially to stop the corruption, decay, and death of Drum Corps. But that's what you want, isn't it? Drum Corps suffers, dies and is buried, but on the 3rd day is resurrected by you soulless minions of King George. And will recreate it in your own image. God forbid!

Holy Cow! Until this hilarious Post, I didn't get it! Gosh, that superior, I see further than you attitude was just a joke! Thank God! For a while there I thought Hopkins and his sycophants like yourself were serious. Just goes to show you how we Chicago rubes can miss the point entirely! But then sarcasm & satire are wasted on we the illiterate, unable to comprehend anything beyond a "Knock, Knock" joke. But how did you know that in 1961, Corps that couldn't run or jump or pirouette as well as you but could MARCH your ### into dust, would say their Evening prayers, asking God only that He help us to stay relevant to "band kids"? Listen up, smartass! We of the '50s & '60s have watched 4 "next generations"! We haven't always understood, but you all have taught us how high Drum Corps could climb. And while, in our ignorance, we didn't immediately understand the evolution you created, we came to not only accept but love Drum Corps even more, But this proposed 5th generation is creating turmoil among those upon whose shoulders you stand. "Band Kids"? Want to join the Corps? Then lay down that woodwind and learn to play a (dare I say it?) freakin' Bugle. Keep it up, Hopkins, Gibbs, and any of you G7 elitists, and watch not only your Fans disappear, but your Alumni as well. And like it or not, we collectively, Fans & Alumni were the main reason you still exist! Is that "relevant" enough for you, f......s...u.bone head?

! I pray that someday I can approach your level of erudition! And while this Post has drawn many intelligent coherent, non-hostile Replies, only a few, like yours, shine forth like diamonds in a dung heap.But then. I'm prejudiced. As a '50s-60s Chicago Cavalier how could I not admire any group or Individual bearing the proud name of...G A H F I E L D!"?

Anyone who has been bored enough to follow my occasional Rants knows I have not been a big fan of Mr. Hopkins. In all fairness, however, I must say that he seems to sincerely believe in his "Vision" of the future. Many of us don't share that vision and openly disagree with it (virulently in my case). So I totally agree with the statement that Fans don't come to DC shows to be "educated" or to have their "horizons" expanded. Fans, as opposed to Supporters, WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED. If you doubt this go check out the 2008 DCI Championships when the Cavalier Anniversary Corps "888" appeared in Exhibition. In what was the 60th Anniversary of The Cavaliers, these Alumni reprised many signature Cavaliers pieces. Crowd reaction? Multiple and often sustained "Standing Os". And this in a year when "Spartacus" battled the "Samurai" in what has to be the greatest theatrical showdown in DCI History. 888 were not competing - they were performing a salute to not only the Traditions & History of the Green Machine, but to everything Drum Corps once was about. AND THE FANS LOVED IT! They were not being educated, brought up-to-date, or having their horizons expanded. They were being entertained and having fun as well. And as someone much wiser than I has said, "Want Entertainment? DCA". We are never going to get those non-affiliated Fans back until we can guarantee them an evening of Entertainment & Fun! For education, they already have Community Colleges. "Fans want entertaining shows, and are willing to pay for it." Has anyone ever stated this more clearly? IMO, No! Consider this scenario; a family in Corpstown, USA Dad: We're late, Dear, where are the kids? Mom(shouting): Randy, Brandy! Get down here, we have to leave now! Kids (whining): Maaa, why do we have to go to this dumb thing? Mom: It's for your own good! Your horizons are limited and that nice Mr. Hopkins has offered to expand them. Dad (whispering): And ours as well. Mom (replying in a whisper) Thank God Drum Corps have visionaries like George! Without him we'd be subjected to still another Evening of Entertainment! Dad (sotto voce): Word!

Actually, I DID go to enjoy the music & marching and it WAS enjoyable. It just wasn't the big Brass impact I'm used to. And it was only during one piece of music that featured a rank of flautists out in front of the Band I mentioned that I started counting. My REAL disappointment of the night was arriving too late to see Sasquatch perform. That oboe question will haunt me forever, Thanks for bringing up a sore point! P.S. A Big Fantasy Moment for me would be, still having my "Honey". I lost her years ago.

I know I'm coming in late here, but after reading all your Posts, the one that rang truest for me was Kilties "bill" on Page 4. Community involvement used to be an integral part of Corps life. That's changed, and many MMs have no attachment to their Sponsoring town. I can't speak about other Corps, but would like to point out the ongoing Love Affair the people of Rosemont, IL (AND surrounding towns) have with The Cavaliers. The Corps does "Parade" there and performs annually at the town picnic. 4th of July will find them parading in at least 3 Chicago suburbs. And it doesn't end there. When the Naperville show was rained out, The Cavaliers, a few weeks later, threw a 2 1/2 hour "CavaJam" performance (which included we Classics) for the disappointed fans at no charge. And in Michigan City, IN, (which does indeed feature a pre-show Parade) large numbers of the local citizenry with no familial ties to Drum Corps do attend the evening Contest. While I've never been to Denton, TX I hear that the "locals" are enthusiastic Drum Corps fans. But then, to the best of my knowledge, these towns along with the Corps DO "market" these events. And speaking of "Marketing", who could have ever imagined that millions of people in the Northern States who have to commute & travel through ghastly Winter storms, would avidly watch "Ice Road Truckers"? I don't remember who the OP was or which Forum, but the suggestion that a weekly reality TV show that followed Corps (and not just the "Big Guys") through the Season, "behind the scenes", practicing, traveling, performing, with all the drama that we know is a daily occurrence on the Road, i.e. The Cavaliers food truck fire & the response of The Cadets, Crown, and others, would open up OUR World to THE World. IMO

An interesting side note; the Announcer for this show was our own Classic Cavaliers Drum Major, AND The Cavaliers souvie booth was there as well, staffed by Alumni wives. Great to see the Band fans buying Corps shirts and other Cavalier items. It seems that Band people (at least on the HS level) really do appreciate Drum Corps!

Screen the Staff? Definitely! Screen the MMs? Not!

Just got back from a Marching Band Contest in Mt. Prospect, IL. And while it LOOKED like Drum Corps, it definitely didn't sound like it! But then I realized why. For example, 1 Band I watched marched 12 Flutes, 6 Clarinets, & 8 Saxophones, and while their Brass line was very talented, those moments when we the audience should have been laid flat by a BIG musical moment were left stretching our ears. As I see it, the Brass are not allowed to come on strong for fear they'll drown out those Flutes, 'Nets, & Saxes. If this is where DC is headed they'd better amplify the whole show! Don't get me wrong - these Kids were performing at very high levels and exhibited the same hard work & commitment that Corps do. It's just TOO politely restrained due to Instrumentation demands, IMO.

DCI doesn't "appoint" Corps Directors, the Individual Corps do. In the case of The Cavaliers, Directors are usually FMMs, which pretty much means that a woman won't be their Director.

Drillman, perhaps I was unclear in my Post. I know Corps do things today for their communities as much as they can. I was trying to point out that we were part of our local scene 365 days a year. I'm not saying that this was necessarily "better" than the current era. Just responding as to how I feel. IMO, Corps members today do not have the same "community connection" that we did.

Spot on, supersop! BITD, (I know, I know, you're already bored.) there was a Drum & Bugle Corps in almost every neighborhood in Chicago. Kids would walk into Corps Halls with no previous experience and miraculously be turned into Horn players, Drummers, and Marchers. They were supported by local AL & VFW Posts (as well Churches, though that was more common out East). They learned all the things the OP enumerated as well as (dare I say it?) Patriotism. We wore our Corps jackets everywhere and were recognized by all the locals. We were a visible and active part of our Communities. These days how much time do Corps members actually spend on the streets of Rosemont, Concord, Boston, Allentown, Canton, etc.? Virtually none due to the "Touring Schedule". And after DCI Finals, everyone returns to their hometowns. So in one sense, YES! Drum Corps has lost its Soul. Which is not to say that Corps today lacks "Soul". Just a different "Spirit". Great Post, Dan!

To quote Ed McMahon, "You are correct, Sir!" That way everybody could have their cake, etc. etc. etc.

Anyone who was there?