irishbugle

[sigh] Remember the good ol' days when each performance was scored on it's own merits and a corps could take it or leave it at each outing based on how bad they wanted it. Those were the days..

I'm not implying it will happen. I'm just stating anything is possible. Who knows whats really going to happen? And if you look at my predictions, I have them in the top 3.

1-Bucs 2-Minnesota 3-C2 ------------ 4-Cabs 5-Empire 6-Hurcs 7-Kidsgrove ------------ 8-Renegades 9-Inspires 10-CV 11-Fusion Core --------------- 12-Bushwackers 13-Kilties

Truth is, anything is possible right? It's not going to be as easy as most people seem to think it is for Cadets2. It's not easy adapting a summer wide program to a weekend only program. From a design standpoint, you have to incorporate layers into the show differently than you would a summer wide program so that the members can absorb the information and apply it while only doing it 2 days per week. I know they have brought in staff from other DCA corps, but the DESIGNERS are still DCI. It's possible they come out and lay an egg this year.

{Off in a distance, George Hopkins is sitting in his office in Allentown} {He reads this forum and stands up abruptly, knocking over his chair} S&*T !!! {He yells} They know my plan!!! {He exclaims, with great concern}

This is a big if here but IF you were able to change the entire worlds perception on marching music today its possible your idea would succeed. Awareness is a large part of the problem we fans deal with. I, like most others, have accepted this activity simply is a niche form of music the common person will not understand. However, I do believe there is plenty of untapped potential both for a fan base, and performers, in the world today. The problem is awareness. Additionally, as a performer, $35,000 before taxes isn't enough to live on in todays age. Maybe for a while after college... but for 20+ years? No way. When Pro-Football first came about it was in a time when $35,000 would land you a big house and a nice car. I believe the form of pro-drum corps your talking about, if it were to actually happen, would be a completely different form than what we know and love today. In order to gain public acceptance, drum corps would have to change their model, change the way performances are structured, and change the way the activity is presented. This would all happen over a period of decades as 1 pro corps morphs into 2, than 4, than a dozen, and so on. As these corps form, they adhere to the public perception of the activity that exists at that time. It's the natural evolution. And depending on how that future version of drum corps looks, you may regret ever proposing this in the first place, That's why I have my time machine stored in my briefcase when I travel.

Anyone who tunes in to Howard 100 even 20% of the time knows that Howard regularly credits the difficult times in his career for getting him where he is today. A lucrative 500 million dollar contract for 5 years. The most lucrative contract in broadcasting.. period. He rarely calls up the past in a negative light except for his days at NBC. Right now, he has started a law suit against Sirius XM for parts of his contact not honored and he still praises them regularly for being a great company with great vision. Even a company he is legally fighting, he still speaks well of. So to think he would hold his small time in Rochester against a performing group 20 years later, especially when it offers him ABSOLUTELY no gain in doing so, is completely absurd. Likely one of the more ridiculous statements I've ever read on DCP.. and that's saying something. Just to point out... I know it's just a repost from FaceSpace.

I think what A LOT of people on here are forgetting is that "Drum Corps" was not auditioning for Americas Got Talent. A performing arts group called "The Edge" was. The drama you described, while great, is not even on the table. Any drama that would be associated with The Edge would be whatever associates with members of the group. What your describing in the quote above is like bundling all of today's vocal artists across the entire industry onto one 12 year old girl auditioning. If every DCI World Class drum corps went to audition for AGT then your quote above would be valid. But it ISN'T in this case because the two entities are separate. The producers are not looking at The Edge as the face of Drum Corps, and we shouldn't either, because it's not. They are a branch off performing group... Look... I was really hoping The Edge would make it through the first round.. but it didn't. It's simply not a style of music the general radio head turns to. You have to remember the scope of the show. What act would be successful setting up shop in Vegas and entertaining masses of people every day? IMO The Edge is not that. A great group, no doubt. But imagining people from all over the world buying tickets night after night to see them.... I'm sorry but lets be realistic here. Drum Corps itself is NOT being attacked here. And in all fairness, I would say to The Edge what I would say to any of the performers who don't make it onto these shows like American Idol, The Voice...etc.. If your really putting all of your hopes into one shot on a TV show, you were doomed to fail to begin with. (Not saying that is the case with The Edge). It is not a failure that they didn't make it onto AGT. It's simply a road that is not open at this time. I'm sure they will move on in a different direction and be just fine. I commend what these people did. I certainly would not have the time, talent, energy, or drive to do what they have already done. I wish them all the success in the world moving forward. This just wasn't a great avenue for them at this time. Go ahead.. dislike away. If nothing else, I know DCP keeps my inbox active.

I know their not exactly a corps known for change but their last few seasons they have been doing more modern shows with new music. It seems like, from what I've heard about their show this year, it is more akin to what they did with Carmen a few years ago, which was very successful. I guess we'll find out in Wildwood.

It would certainly be a refreshing change. If what you say is true, do you think it's because C2 stirred them up? Or perhaps people counting them out?

I have to back up your statement. I'm not a regular listener because there are just parts of his show that don't interest me, but his celebrity interviews are absolutely the best in the business. No one else gets the kind of information like he does. The same goes for pop culture in general. 9 times out of 10, Howard has his finger on directly on the pulse of that genre. I'd say only about 20% of his daily show is perverse. Other than that, it's actually pretty decent. Back on topic- I was really routing for The Edge to at least make it through the 1st cut. It amazes me how much instrumental music has fallen out of favor in today's culture. If nothing else, I was really hoping someone could show Nick Cannon what a real drumline was all about!

BUT WAIT... their part of YEA so their not really new to drum corps so they shouldn't have to follow that rule right?? Kidding of course..

In comparison, is it fair to the corps that have paid their dues to have a new corps perform after them?? I would say no but that's just my opinion.

I count 5 different topic directions since the OP.

Well if my understanding of the system is correct, as a Class A corps, you receive very little money for appearances vs an Open class corps, you have no voting rights unless you beat out some open class corps at finals and your judged on the same sheets as Open Class. Not exactly motivation for staying in class A.

Well if there were changes being made to Class A why not change the rules governing voting status? If we're making changes then lets make them all the way.

Couldn't agree more Fran. 6 and 6 is not the correct ratio IMO. Maybe 7 and 5. 7 Open Class corps keeps the field pretty competitive and makes a performance at finals an achievement vs. a guarantee for some. I t also keeps the Top 5 on their game when they realize they are only 1 or 2 spots away from an early elimination vs the current format. And 5 A class corps would seem the right number to keep the game up in A class. Only 6 Open class corps seems too thin. It's no disrespect to the A class corps but you have to remember the scope of why A class even exists in the first place. I was always under the impression that A class was formed to give the smaller corps a fighting chance vs being smothered by the larger corps, similar to Division II//III vs Division I in DCI ( Now World Vs. Open). That doesn't mean A class is the red headed step-children, but you have to look at the what your loosing by taking away more Open class spots in a 6 and 6 format.

I can respect your opinion but I believe they are in fact at an advantage, in a number of areas. One team had to win (Right Mr. Ream?). Corps that have been consistently Top 5 for a decade do not constitute a failure in my book. It's not like you can have multiple winners that dictate success. I don't believe for a second that the other corps haven't been trying to reinvent themselves and push to get back into that #1 spot. Stagnation implies the other corps have been sitting back thinking that just doing the same ol' same ol' will be fine. I highly doubt that has been the case; at least with those groups.

For starters, their staff list is not complete. Also, it's very difficult to assess ones contribution to a program simply by affiliation unless you have worked with them before in other groups and have some personal experience. And as for being "green", there are a few techs that have never taught a drum corps program before. Not saying they won't do well, and I wish them the best... My point still stands, it's not all roses... Moving on.

Well let's be clear, I never said "dead weight", and I don't see how I implied that at all. And no, I will not name names. I draw the line there. Especially on a public forum. I won't even continue to speculate out of respect. My point was made. The perception by some is that the staff at C2 is the best in the business. My point was that is not completely the case. Either way, those people, are still good people.

This has been the major benefit to DCA for decades. It's not a new concept. I will give credit to C2 for shedding some new light on it though. It is my hope that one day, DCA will not be viewed as a Plan B option for these students. We all know what the weekend model can offer, and something's can not be touched by DCI.

I disagree with you on that one. I'm sure there are some who fear what C2 is bringing to the table but there are also those, me included, who are not fearful, but just genuinely not happy that the playing field is no longer even. I know we can debate this age limit thing forever and mostly every point on both sides is valid. I do believe that experience trumps youthfulness in many regards but terms like "young blood", "not as young as I once was", and "back when I was your age" exist for a reason. Plenty of exceptions sure... But if their is one thing all of DCA participants had in common before, it was they all had the same hurdles and the same structure. Now, that's not the case. It's a different skill set now. Fans maybe, but I'm sure the admin, staffs, and members of those corps are indifferent at the least. These corps have been around for decades and have replicated themselves time and time again. If anything, this may be a wake up call, but fear... No way. Those who are afraid, have already lost.

That's open for debate for some. No question that Jeff and the other designers are a "winning staff" but there a decent amount of staff with C2 that are green and some that have not done well at other programs. It's not all roses.

I can understand where you are coming from. There are quite a few things about Cadets2 that are a slap in the face to a lot of the tenure Open class programs they will be competing against, but realistically, they will likely be in the Top 12/Top 6. If they were a brandy,shiny new drum corps with NO drum corps experience I could see this being a very bold statement, but YEA knows how to put together a high quality program. I'm not at all a fan of this venture by GH but there is little doubt it will turn some heads, both within the DCA community, and outside it.

I don't think there is any harm, I think it's just a matter of the venue and the timing.