And in first place~

Something about coal....(just kidding). Fa la la la la

That's Santa's job. Fa la la la la....

You're very welcome. I can assure you that their show is completed. Other than the ongoing tweaking, of course. What great people they are and I mean all the members, staff and volunteers. Anyone who does not like their show is jealous. Seriously though, as always some won't like 12.25 but they will be in the vast majority. I am hard to impress but Cadets impressed me to no end.

Cadets finished, errrr I mean completed today, June 13. I was there (Mount Pleasant PA High School) so I saw and heard it. Did I ever....wow.

I just spent hours and hours watching the Cadets at Mount Pleasant (PA) High School over the last three days. Going in to today, they had one minute of their show to finish. I just got home from ensemble and final run through and their show is now finished. I can't find the right adjectives to describe them but I was extremely impressed. Such a strong horn line and I mean strong. The company front at the end of their show is just incredible. Guard, pit and percussion are all fantastic. Two drum majors had to leave the corps. The second one had to drop out and their current drum major, Kendra something-or-other, was tossed into the fire in April. She is so good. Last night they were in full uniform which are a bit whiter than previous uniforms. I was told that this is for a more Christmas look. Guard uniforms, at least as of last night, are sort of a cream color, bodysuit style I guess you could say. Their show begins in the form of a snowflake but must be seen from high up to appreciate. Their Christmas music is so well written. The ballad near the end of the show is something to be heard. I think it will be another Cadets classic. As in people years from now wanting them to play it Iike they do "Rocky Point". Someone told me that it is thought that their hornline might be better than last years. Time will tell. They are now leaving for Akron right now but it was great having them here. Fa la la la la...

More fan friendly corps to start with. Maybe a corps with the intestinal fortitude to dump the traditional theme show and move in a new direction. A better tour schedule would help. They now focus on regional shows and most of us who do not live nearby cannot attend unless we are rich. The same cities get the big shows year after year. I will not drive hours and hours to see a show. Basic economics comes into play. Pittsburgh has had a show for years and years and yet the lineup lately has been less than attractive. No disrespect to the corps there intended, either. Plus the fact that Pittsburgh (Baldwin) has had their show at the beginning of the tour for at least the last two years. And....less people who have attitudes. I lurk in here and see so much arrogance toward those who do not like the direction DCI has gone over the last decade or so. Many do not like amps and such but most still do drum corps some way, some how. Fans are divided and that does not help at all. Not that this has anything to do with saving drum corps, but when people get driven away their money goes with them. And corps need money more than ever. One thing I saw in here last night was a post by someone who said she wanted to march BD or PR but she could not afford it. Now what is wrong with that picture? I thought about that a lot and it really bothers me. When it costs too much for someone to be a corps member, something is drastically wrong. Since when is DCI for the uppity ups? If only I had the answer to the problem. I could list many more ideas but the "know-it-alls" in here would blast me for days. Let's just hope drum corps gets saved before the top 12 becomes the top 8. Which reminds me of their latest crazy idea.

You aged out only 4 years ago and you don't like some things already? Imagine how you would feel if you aged out decades ago. I won't list my issues with the direction corps have gone because it seems like most in here love the current state of DCI. Those of us old school people get blasted when we compare corps of today with the way corps were years ago. This is why fans are divided and it should not be that way. I better stop right here so as not to offend those who like amps, gymnastic movements, athleticism and a host of other things.

They are going back to an all female guard but too bad it won't happen for Finals. What a corps. Incredible every year.

Cadets win and George then wants 658 rule changes, more amps and just for kicks a tympani

Not sure how they handled the logistics but it would have been nice to find out in person. Cadets did camps at UPJ for the last few years. Maybe the last two years anyway. Maybe George can move them to Western PA when they move next. I remember Cambria Cadets very well. In particular, the lovely drum major Carol Englehart. Wonder whatever happened to her. Seems like 98% of the people I knew back then gave up drum corps.

They used to televise it live and I don't think it hurt attendance. Most who can afford to go to Finals are going to go whether it is on tv, the theaters or Fanstream because you just cannot beat being there in person. I think your idea is great but I doubt the big kahunas in Indy will do it. Maybe some day they will finally see the light.

A corps you probably never heard of.....Blue Rock. Their "Baby Elephant Walk" was incredible. I am now thinking of one of my all time favorite corps, St. Kevin's Emerald Knights. I better stop with the old corps before they flip out on me.

Sorry but anyone booing a corps or corps placement is a total moron. Even booing what some think as too low of a score is wrong, but then I am old school and respect corps more than some I guess.

Seems to me that marching bands used to imitate drum corps. At least they did where I live. Now it's the other way around. Shows may get large crowds but that is because there are still throngs of us old school fans who still attend shows because we love drum corps even if we do not like the direction corps have gone. Personally, if I wanted to see marching bands I would go to a band competition. I have been with the activity for over 50 years and will gladly aim my money other directions. And with the economic situation as it is, it seems to me that DCI might just care about how some of us feel about things. Obviously they could not care less. I used to belong to five booster clubs and dropped all of them. I just wish you guys who think this direction DCI went years ago is so great would back off a bit. Some of us need to vent and whine at times. As far as attendance goes, I was at both Finals in Buffalo. One had 30,0000 and second one had I think 22,000. I seriously doubt Indy gets that many as attendance has decreased over the years. Too many took up needlepoint or stamp collecting, I guess. Which means that much less loot DCI has to play with. Bring on the clarinets and feature twirlers!!!!!!

I got back from North Myrtle Beach Saturday night (not thinking drum corps at a beach) and forgot all about Cadets being at Indiana University of PA tonight. Sigh. I am wondering if anyone was there and if so how it went. They were to do their show at 9:30 and I missed it. It was my only chance to see them. Hopefully they did not get rained out. I think they leave for Indy at midnight. If I hurry maybe I can stow away on one of their trucks...

It's because Bridgemen are soooo worth it, Heather. Wow, what a corps. Thanks so much for all the work and great performances. You have no idea how so many of us appreciate real drum corps. Now to bring back the blind folded snares that I was fortunate enough to see and hear back in the day. I went....bananas that day.

It's a long shot, but should there be a tie in Indy (Finals in Indy for a decade....sigh), the tie breaker should be whoever has the least goo wins. Oh wait, then there would still be a tie come to think of.

Anyone thinking a tie? Not much of a chance I know, but stranger things have happened.

If "he" is me, then no, I did not the memo. Too busy watching " B flat tuning" on You Tube maybe. Actually, I was a member here a few years ago and joined again. Had I not stayed away for so long, I would have 8 million posts like many others. Sorry to go off topic. And now back to the Atlanta show....

I can't help but wonder why anyone would be considered a " troll" in here. Just because some of us have a life and can't spend all day/ night posting in here. Or just joined recently perhaps? Seems to me everyone in here had a post #8. I so much enjoyed reading this thread about the Atlanta show and found it extremely interesting. Now back to trolling around.....

First off smart a**', I was here a few years ago and just returned. Otherwise I might have met your requirements. But fortunately, I have a life and cannot hide behind a computer and make snide, cowardly comments like others apparently do. I simply asked what I thought was a legit question. Had I realized it would bother a few in here, I would have never asked in the first place. Now go post some more and rack up the numbers,,,

Nevermind..I get the hint.