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trh

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    DCI Applications you have wanted

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I'm in town for tonight's show. I've got some time to see rehearsals. Where are the corps practicing?

    A geo-location app that pulls together, into a single map, the housing/practice sites of all the corps participating in a particular event.

    A "fan's-choice" app that uses online-polling tools (frequently used at business conferences, etc.), and lets fans who are in the seats or watching via FN to rate the corps after each one concludes its performance. Built with filters to prevent ballot-box stuffing. The effect would be similar to quarterfinals and semifinals: An updated list of rankings would be generated after each corps' performance, based on the rankings of people using the app. Users can vote using the app or using a Twitter hashtag.

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    Austin, TX

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by trh

    For the few of you who actually care about this, here we go.

    By the way, I have no credentials, and the words I say are just that. This is not a professional discussion by any means.

    In order of performance:

    Phantom Regiment

    Loving the program. Interesting brass sound, and great overall design. The large witch-thing was strange, but the Phantomettes were killin' it. Great uniforms, really fun show. Nimrod from Enigma Variations was an interesting choice, especially with how many times it's been played by different ensembles over the past few years. Great show overall.

    The Cavaliers

    The general show design is fantastic, but I wish they would stick to one musical motif, rather than changing the mood in uncomfortable intervals. The drill is much better this year than last year, utilizing space, time, and direction much better, but I've heard from former marching members this feeling of a strange sense in lack of skill in marching technique by members. At this point in the season, this is incredibly rare for The Cavaliers. I think that if they can keep on polishing and re-write a bit of music and drill, they could still make some incredible strides and be more competitive… But while they're learning new drill and music, Bluecoats, Phantom, and SCV will all be making leaps and bounds with their current shows. The guard is so great. I originally didn't love the capes, as they looked like large blobs on the field in the early season, but I'm kind of in love with them now. I wish I could've seen the different ending, but the best word to describe the 2013 Cavaliers is potential.

    Blue Devils

    Holy cow, do the first four minutes of this show absolutely freakin' rock. This is such a kick ### show and the first show I've ever loved by BD. They're good, they know they're good, and they're out to prove it to the world, and I can't wait. Probably the best part about this show is its overall versatility. It's whatever you want it to be. There's a story if you look hard enough, but it's also whatever you want it to be. This is a show that you'll be able to watch 50 different times after Finals and STILL find new things, little nuances that have previously escaped you, and you'll be encapsulated in its beauty AGAIN. I think I could talk about this show for hours, but the best word to sum it up is wow.

    The Cadets

    Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. For some strange reason, I had really low expectations for this show in terms of overall entertainment. The show was quintessential Cadets, and I absolutely loved it. The musical selections were stunning. My first set of shivers came from the very first note of Adagio. Side x Side is absolutely amazing. The subtleties did it for me. They didn't kill the title/theme, but instead, let it enhance their visual and overall show design. And the ending! Oh, the ending. Absolute perfection. I wish I could see this show over and over and over again. Absolutely amazing show. Yowza. I think I got shivers at least four times in this show.

    Santa Clara Vanguard

    I have to admit, to start, that I've never seen or heard any tracks from Les Miserables, but they absolutely KILLED this show. I can't wait to see what Vanguard's going to do in the coming years, perhaps even living up to their ensemble's name. If they can keep their staff and recruit hard, they'll be up at the top again for the foreseeable future. Very, very cool show and incredibly user-friendly. Can't wait to see what they can do towards Allentown.

    Carolina Crown

    THE FEELS. I really have no words for this show. I'm obsessed. OBSESSED. This could be the year that Crown takes, well… the crown. And they're only going to get BETTER. The entire show. Shivers at least five times IN ONE SHOW HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?! Unbelievable. I might have teared up a little bit? Also, in LOVE with the uniforms (costumes?). #fangirlstatus

    Bluecoats

    A really interesting show. I love the guard uniforms, and the flag work is so good. I had the opportunity to watch them rehearse, and that was a really sweet experience, too. It was cool to see that the things they were rehearsing were fixed in the show that night. I love the quadraphonic sounds after the first big hit. Bloo is back again with another great show.

    • Like 10

    Dear Mr. Acheson...

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by trh

    IBM Interactive Media produced the DCI broadcast from 1995-1998. The quality was less than stellar (Tom Blair didn't produce) and terms of the deal were that IBM participated on the back-end of video sales.

    What I was putting together was a completely different sort of deal and Microsoft's experience in entertainment and media is light-years away from IBM's. This would keep the same production team in place, but Microsoft would provide the technical/streaming team and infrastructure. There was absolutely zero interest in revenue participation (not even worth the accounting effort for them), but would even provide the infrastructure for a fan network replacement. They just wanted the case study for other sales efforts they had on their roadmap (Olympics, NFL, NCAA, NASCAR, etc.).

    When DCI blew it off... they ended up pouring crazy money into some Lacrosse championships as the test case.

    Sure there were certainly other hurdles (most specifically terms of the ESPN deal had not expired, even though they stopped the broadcast, which put up some restrictions... though nothing that couldn't have been resolved or bought out). Investment in the Brightcove solution was also an excuse, but that, again, is not a reason to simply dismiss without even a meeting to explore. The guys were ready to fly out there... and had already gone to finals.

    Anyway, was just one example among several. Again, DCI's more or less treading water when more aggressive actions are what is needed.

    Embarrassing.

    DCI is just weird.

    One of my personal issues with drum corps in general is that there really isn't a spot in the "ecosystem" for folks like me (aged out about 10 years ago, decent disposable income, willing to donate, willing to travel). Everything (especially on the corps level) is geared around keeping the older guys involved. Whether this strategy is right or wrong is not at issue here.

    Anyway, I wrote to DCI this winter and said basically, "Hey, if you can get me access to a suite (*which I will pay for, using cash, right now*) for finals, I will fill it with alumni who have cash to burn but don't participate for various reasons. We're talking lawyers, guys from Goldman Sachs and Microsoft, successful entrepreneurs, plus at least one partner from the largest law firm in Indianapolis. Then, you can come panhandle all you want and you will make some money and create brand advocates."

    The answer was basically "Wow, that sounds great. Can't really help you, but we hope you bring them anyway."

    I'm certainly not Jack Welsh or Steve Jobs or some other business genius, but man... this one left me shaking my head.

    Ludicrous. Even more embarrassing.

    Old guys trying to cater to old guys, bringing the system down year after year after year. One of y'all influential folks should get in contact with a G7/G8 (tumblr_maxey6YT2u1rw0ca5o1_500.gif) corps director in the off-season, and see what they can do? Who sits on the BoD for DCI?

    Cavies Struggles

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I thought that the robes made them look like blobs on the field from high camera. I was expecting a much more robust brass sound, as the MMs have had music since February from what I understand.

    Design though? I liked it a lot. I didn't like the whispery "Secret Society" thing though. That was a little off-putting. I wish they would stick to a unified "mood", like 2010. Mad World never got happy, and there are a couple minutes of the show that it just seems too happy to be mysterious. It'll be okay, though.

    Lexington Lolllapalooza

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Line-up:

    Bluecoats - Canton, OH

    The Cavaliers - Rosemont, IL

    Spirit of Atlanta - Atlanta, GA

    Crossmen - San Antonio, TX

    Troopers - Casper, WY

    Cincinnati Tradition - Cincinnati, OH

    Weather forecast - High 88, Low 67, 10% rain chance

    My Predictions:

    1. Bluecoats - 71.2

    2. Cavaliers - 68.5

    3. Spirit of Atlanta 64.3

    4. Crossmen - 61.0

    5. Troopers - 58.5

    I think putting the Cavaliers almost 5 points behind where Crown scored last night is kind of silly.

    Wrong Step in Right Direction

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    This thread scares me.

    The question that arises in my head would be

    'What could any ensemble do in a more "athletic" or "dance-related" uniform (or costume, even) that they can't do now that would yield a more effective product on the field?' The Cadets may have done it in 2011, but I'm not really sure what more can be done...

    • Like 1

    Preseason Performances

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    When The Cadets won their last DCI title 2 years ago in 2011, they went out with 16 Contra Basses ( or " Tubas" if one prefers ). This year their practices here in June ( and as recently as yesterday) are showing 10 Contras. Is this a show design change decision for them this season one would presume ? I do see a trend of late of Corps going out with less Contras than a couple of years ago. Madison Scouts went out with 20 Contras 2 years ago, and most others had 16 or so. ( although BD has routinely gone out with 12 ). Is this perhaps because the Finals are indoors and staffs believe now that 10-12 are more than sufficient in an indoor Finals ? Or what can we attribute the reason why the 30% reduction in many elite Corps size of their Contras line ?

    I'm going to take a stab at this one and guess that it has to do with composition. A lot of corps recently have gone from 80 brass back down to 72 (from what I understand, the Cavaliers had 80 in 2011, 72 in 2012, along with the cut from 16 to 12 contras). I think, but I'm not sure. 72 is a really nice number, though. It's divisible by so many numbers - 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72 - I'm sure that makes for much more friendly drill-writing.

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