jasgre2000

Was there this much angst after The Cadets won in 2011? I'm guessing there wasn't. Which kind of undermines the argument that this has nothing to do with BD.

Bingo! A lot of the confusion over the GE scores could be alleviated by simply looking at the GE criteria on the judges' sheets.

In my opinion, it isn't really a fine line at all. I could care less if the crowd is entertained or not. Yes, keeping fans buying tickets is important, and I understand why people would be concerned at making sure paying fans still find the activity accessible. If every corps was doing shows like BD did this year, that would be a disaster (I loved BD's show this year, by the way). But I am not addressing the general trend of show design. I am addressing the attitude of "I am not entertained, therefore I am going to stop supporting DCI and the opportunity it is offering to young people." I find that very selfish, and I don't think it is a fine line at all. If we want to talk about increasing the fan base, I would be happy to do that in another thread. I just think people need to think about what their priorities should be with respect to drum corps. Everyone can make their own decision, but for me ... while I find drum corps very entertaining ... I find the opportunity for growth and achievement that is offered to the participants far more important. That is why I plan to continue supporting the activity for a long time to come.

You should ask the members of BD what they think about that.

This sounds awesome! I can't wait to see it.

I agree completely that comic timing is very difficult. That is why so many avoid doing it. Badly timed humor is groan inducing. I would love a corps to do a genuinely funny show, but I'm afraid of it being pretty bad.

I'm sure I'll get a beating for saying this, but it sure seems like a lot of people care more about their own personal gratification when it comes to drum corps than what should be the primary focus of DCI (making sure the participants have a great experience). If you aren't entertained, then so be it. You are free to complain and boycott DCI if you want to. Just remember that it is more than just the "designers" that are impacted by you leaving. There is a lot more going on here than just "entertaining the fans".

OK. Can you give me an example of a specific show that future corps should look to for inspiration?

OK. Beyond BD, what other corps had a show design that concerned you? If you are complaining about a "general direction," surely you can come up with another example beyond BD.

I got a negative vote for this? Really? I was being sincere. What do people think the future should look like?

I see a lot of whining about the fall of drum corps (one show from this year being a common thing to grips about). How about we be a little more constructive? What show, from the last ten years, do you think epitomizes what you think the future of DCI should look like?

You aren't really stating a POV though. You are stating facts that you don't seem to have any support for. I understand that you don't like DCI, but that doesn't give you license to make up facts to turn other people against DCI. No offense intended. I understand that you are upset. But I think it should be noted that there is a difference between objective fact and opinion.

And how many were watching online throughout the season? How many attended the theater show? Sorry, I don't buy your swan song.

You don't have to think that, because there is no evidence to support that assertion at all. You choose to think that because it bolsters your argument.

As a relatively new fan (this is the first year I subscribed to the Fan Network for the full season ... though I have followed DCI off and on for the last 15 years), I couldn't disagree more. I have come away an even bigger fan than I was before and can't wait to see what BD (and the rest of the corps) do next. I know I am just one person, but I thought I would add my perspective. I find the concerns about turning off new fans baffling. I don't think it is new fans that people should be worried about. Apparently old fans that can't let go of the past are having a much harder time seeing how great drum corps was this year.

I don't think they should try to imitate The Bridgemen. That will mean they will always be compared to them, which isn't fair to either The Bridgmen or Jersey Surf. But, I think there is room in DCI for a corps that focuses on fun and audience entertainment first.

Crown won in visual proficiency? Say what? They were 4th in that caption last night.

I'm a fan ... and I love the current "state of the activity". I love that I can watch an awesome tribute show like Surf's, a dark and difficult take on the Rite of Spring from The Academy, innovative drill design by the Blue Knights, awesome impact moments from The Scouts, beautiful emotional classical music from Boston and Phantom, heart-wrenching themes from Bluecoats, amazing brass runs from Crown, edgy boundary-pushing creativity from BD, and (my favorite) an amazing show from SCV. I guess I am an outlier. I don't see anything wrong with the "state of the activity." Should we be going back to the days where everyone marched symmetrical drill and played show tunes?

I don't think I would give up on the staff that replaced Gaines so quickly. When there is a staff change, there is often a stumble in year one. I have experienced this directly in marching band. My third year we got a new director, and the music/show we had that year was really weak compared to the other three years and our scores reflected it. The next year we had a much better show with the same director and won nearly every competition we were in. I know marching band isn't the same as drum corps, and that the expectations should be higher in drum corps, but I wouldn't conclude that the current staff is bad just because they may have made a few mistakes the first year out.

I agree with you. I have no problem with them placing where they are. I also wouldn't have a problem with them placing higher. I am just wondering if they would be higher if they started out the season a little better. I suspect that they would, but there is no way to really know.

I'm glad you are smart enough to know what the entire audience thinks of the show.

I don't think they are trying to do a "Dada show". They are doing a show about Dada and its relationship to other styles of music/art. Satie isn't Dada. Bird and Bela isn't Dada. By the end of the show they are in full uniform and marching in a much more traditional style. They are certainly not trying to be Dada.

I completely agree on the use of voice. People complain about the voice over, but the voice over isn't being used for what is being said. It is being used for its sound. People complain about the voice covering up the music. The voice is PART OF the music. You aren't supposed to be hearing the music without the voice. That doesn't mean you have to like what they are doing, but saying that their show is badly designed because the voice covers up the music doesn't make any sense.

Paid $17. Manager came in and said he could give us all movie rain checks, but some moron in the front row told him that he should make Fathom give us free passes for next years show and that we didn't need rain checks (so he didn't give us any).

I thought Crown would be a lot closer to BD tonight. I thought they were phenomenal tonight. Their brass was almost flawless (with the exception of a very obvious cracked note during one of the Fanfare segments). I thought visually they were cleaner than I had seen all season. I still don't love their show, but I thought they had a chance of beating BD tonight. I agree ... it looks like BD is firmly in the #1 spot. Crown is probably set for #2, but they better watch their backs. I think BD is better than Crown in design, but I wish there was more competition for the title this year.