stevedb1975

Hey, I was the person who brought this thread back and if you check out who the author of the thread was, you will find out it was not me. Furthermore, if you read my posts on page 11 and find out why I brought this thread back, you will also notice that I'm not one of those people who believe that a high school band can compete with the elite among DCI world class. So, I don't understand what you mean by this smarmy little post of yours or what it is you think I will "lose"...."again".

I want to serve record that I no longer hold to this same opinion that I had a year ago. I've seen some up close and personal things now myself in the marching band world that tell me no way. Hmmmmmm.....would need to think for a while on my newest conclusion....(give me some time)

*double post...sorry*

I know this is an old thread but it was in my history that I was browsing so I had to bring it back just to comment on one thing. The following was said to Guardling (who for record and fairness said he/she taught a BOA Champion)...by the following user ("luvs me sum mello!")... And I might add, the opinion of obviously a "guard" person. Before you jump on me. I do not say that in a way that means to slam guard people. I will also say that if Guardling really has taught a BOA Champion, I have no doubt about your high caliber of skills as a guard person, and you have my deepest respect. That said, I do want to touch on a delicate subject. That being, how much both DCI and BOA are judged through the lenz of Color Guard. I've heard my share of judges tapes over the last decade and it's a good thing I have not done one of those drinking games where I had to take a shot for every NON Color Guard tape that spent 60-90% of the time talking about the guard. I'd be in the hospital if I did. I've even heard music tapes where guard comments have slipped in. This is something that I think needs to change in both elite circuits of Drum Corps and Marching Band (i.e., DCI and BOA). Guard is not the only thing on the field and lately, it appears as though it is.

In before the close...

LOL! Ok, Might be hard, but I'll try.

You know what else does not change facts? YOU! Here is a fact for you. The drum corps currently affiliated with the organization known as "VKYAO" IS...."The Velvet Knights". Nothing you say can change that fact. I'm DONE!

You MAY have at least a halfway valid point there. However, back to Blue Stars....where would they be today if it were not for the previous years that were less than currently desireable. No matter how hard you try, you cannot ignore those years? I'll anser it for you, they would be a current finalist with a different name. So much for a "resurrection" we can now cheer for.

Oh I believe you....but still....They had their share of hard times too. Either way, Daniel's statements about why VK does not exist and shouldn't use the name are completely invalid.

No, I get it just fine. LOL! I'll give you one thing. You are entertaining.

Exactly. Isn't it stupid?

Look back through the posts. Someone asks "doesn't VK still exist" and he says "no". Then in a later post says "they should not use the name". Tell me that isnt just plain mean. Yeah, you're right. I get it. Still doesn't make it right though. I'll back off.

So why don't you give VK the time to get there, learn from their mistakes and make that right decision? You said it plainly...they shouldn't use the name "Velvet Knights" because they are not at the same level as they used to be. So, if that is your reasoning, do you think the Blue Stars shouldn't have used that name in the 90s? My point is, if they didn't, that corps wouldn't have existed in the late 00s and the current powerhouse of a Blue Stars would not exist today. You can't just dismiss a corps name because they don't meet your standards of what that name should mean. VK, just like Blue Stars has a right to get dirty WHILE USING THAT NAME until they figure it out. And even if they never do, they still will be "The Velvet Knights" and nothing you say can take that right away from them.

NO!!! STOP RIGHT THERE!.... I AM taking about the 29 years in between...which is strikingly similar to the years currently with VK. You don't get to dismiss all of those years in between where they used the name "Blue Stars". They were still the "Blue Stars" in the early 90s. You don't have a right to dictate otherwise. Just like you don't have a right to dictate whether VK uses the name "Velvet Knights" while in the same position Blue Stars were once in. You don't have that right. YOU.....are WRONG!

You are missing the point....HE WAS A MEMBER OF DUTCH BOY HIMSELF WHO PUT HIS OWN HEART AND SOUL INTO THE CORPS! His reaction is probably stemmed from some sadness of his own over the corps folding. Healing comes in many forms. Sometimes, it takes even "joking" about something lost to remove the sadness of the loss. So like I said, lets move on. We don't need to drag this out any longer. It's already been blown way out of proportion.

"Completely different situation"? "Kids STAYED"? Seriously? You really believe that? The last time Blue Stars made finals prior to their return to finals in 2008 was 1979. HOW MANY YEARS went by in between. LETS COUNT THEM....... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28,....29......29 YEARS!!!!..........................between the Blue Stars last year of making finals and their return to finals in 2008. Are you REALLY telling me that you truly believe that in ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL those years in between, the Blue Stars NEVER had any problem retaining membership? Are you REALLY telling me that the Blue Stars never had a "stalling point" in all of those (count em again)....29 YEARS in between? I DOUBT IT! The fact is, the Blue Stars struggled just as hard to retain membership as VK is currently (or maybe even worse at times)....BUT.....people believed enough in the Blue Stars to KEEP THE NAME ALIVE and and press on (despite obvious "stalling") and finally when the time was right, The Blue Stars returned to what we now know as a GREAT GREAT Finalist drum corps. Don't tell me the situation in those years between 1979 and 2008 were "completely different". For one, you have NO way of knowing that because you were not there for all of those years and TWO....the OBVIOUS should tell you that they DID stall and struggle to retain members or they would not have gone from a once full 128 corps to an "A-60 corps".....leading them BACK to the big kids playground where they are now. You are WRONG....and UN"factual" in your comparison.

I think you have missed some of the latest developments with this thread, including Walter admitting that HE HIMSELF was one of those people who put his OWN heart and soal into Dutch Boy and the day it died it ripped HIM (Walter) apart. Furthermore, he has apologized. So, lets move on.

Exactly!

I'm trying real hard to think of a way to respond to this that does not come off as insulting but I just can't think of anything. So this is the best I've got......... What you have just said in the above is absolutely stupid. It's also just plain MEAN! "They shouldn't use the same name because they are not at the same level they once were"? I'm sorry, but that is completely moronic and juvenile. It's a good thing the Blue Stars didn't take to your philosophy. Thankfully, your opinion is not important. The current "VKYAO" organization is called "The Velvet Kinghts" and nothing you say is going to ever change that. Derailed....

Yeah, well you are wrong. :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown:

Guardling is absolutely right and allow me to tell you all a little story to put some light on why.... Top 12 WC drum corps typically have anywhere between 170-300 people audition in the November-January audition camps. Unfortunately, those "camps" may as well be considered "clinics" because 70% of the "rookie attendees" cannot play or march their way out of a paper bag and don't get a spot or even a call back to the next camp. Average high school wannabees at best. So, by January...February maybe......corps go down considerably in numbers (some as low as 50ish horns) and they spend the remainder of time between February and June actively recruiting to hopefully find the level of talent they are really looking for. So yes, I'm sure there are openings. However, they are not going to be any quicker to take an average Joe who they have to "teach how to play and march" any quicker than they were in December. The days of sticking a horn in a kid's hand and pampering them through the summer are long over. So, if you have the talent, take your pick. I'm sure every corps out there is looking for STRONG talent right now. But don't kid yourself into thinking that an "open spot" means they are just looking for a "plug".

I believe I read somewhere that Madison has a few hornline openings.

I think I was in that audience in the 90s. I believe it was called an "Amway Convention"?

Freelancers - Sacramento, California.

The Bridgement organization has been resurected with a very strong alumni corps that holds very true to it's roots. Though, I would agree that it would be great to seem them finally field a competitive DCI corps.