rainshdw08

Obviously you and the other person didn't read it. Or see that this is like my 10th post or less. (not my first internet forum's) If this post truly is "the same old thing" then, versus saying "it's the same old blah blah blah thing" why don't you add something to it. I see lots of people complaining about the thing we all love and what's wrong with it. DCI does too. You don't think this isn't read by them or other important people, it is. I'm sure this type of post is common on these forums and people get sick of reading them, but complaining about what was written isn't going to fix anything. So instead of mini flaming, try to add to an important subject that everyone will agree needs to be fixed somehow. Maybe you will have just the idea they are looking for, maybe you'll say something they didn't think of, you never know.

Well said.

Exactly what I'm saying...that's what's irritating. DCI is working to fix this, from my understanding. I'll have to edit that part in my post, wasn't meant to lay all the blame the Corps for that.

Ok, "time thing" as explained by you makes sense, I understand that from a law and financial standpoint. I also understand that they don't much time to have the shows earlier on a weekeday due to ppl being at work, but the Sat/Sun shows could if they started a bit earlier. They could work it out if they wanted to ...DCI just got lazy IMO. Its still a show, make it entertaining. Let me put it this way, if you (anyone, not you in particular) went to a rock concert, or any type of show, and they performed 3/4 of the show then left, would that be ok with you? It's nice to see the Dm's up close and personal but with today's society, I can just skip that part and check the scores on my phone, heck I can get recaps too and post right here if I like...not that I do dkip the DM retreat, just sayin I could. This is what my point to this thread was, pleasing the crowd. As for the boring part....no, not all shows are boring, but a lot still are. That's easily fixable too. If I'm wrong here then why did DCI create a position called the Artistic Director. Micheal Cesario is working hard to make changes to make Drum Corps more accessable to the crowd. It's all about money - Listen to Field Pass: Cesario steps up as DCI's Artistic Director on December 9th Part 1 and 2. Just to be clear, (and in no offense to what you said) I'm not saying "Relive the old days" or Bring back the old days" or anything like that. I'm just saying make it cool again. Make it entertaining. The 2 shows I was at the crowd was lame. one was Lisle IL...the Cavies show. The troopers are blaring and the crowd just sits there, a few people stand at the end. Then the Cavies, their home show, not a real strong standing O at the end. Case in point: The show in the theater this year recorded in Texas. Did you see the crowd? Were they jumping out of thier seats? For the most part no, more like a strong golf clap at times. You have the top 8 Drum Corps from last year and all you get is a smattering of applause? Yes ok, it was onlt the second show of the season and Yes ok, maybe they aren't a huge drum corps area like the Midwest or East but, if the corps were really putting on a show, the crowd would react accordingly.

I'd like to give credit to bmroth1 "I only read through about half this thread and couldnt take it any longer. What in the world has happened to Drum Corps fans??? Drum Corps was an activity where parents and staff encouraged their corps from the stands. There use to be standing ovations in the middle of shows and staff on the side lines going NUTS yes I said NUTS! Audiences today for the most part are LAME! And expecting your staff to sit on their hands and not encourage their corps is just STUPID! This activity needs more excitement and response from the stands both in patrons and Staff! That was and should be Drum Corps. It even use to have an impact on General effect scores.So any suggestion that patrons and staff should act like they're in a concert hall should be thrown out the window!" and hockeydad "There used to be standing ovations in the middle of shows...because there were impact points in the middle of shows. For you to blame it on the fans...that's pretty funny. When half the shows are more like symphonic band concerts, the fans in the stands will react like the audience at a symphonic band concert. Polite applause at the end of the show. You want screaming fans, then write impact points into your shows!" for the inspiration for this thread.

Hello to all! Whatever happened to pleasing the crowd? I marched from 81 to 83, yes a long time ago and Drum Corps has came a LONG way, there is no disputing that. I could sit here and complain about today's Drum Corps, the electronics, the soloist's playing into microphones, the lack of good marching and on and on blah blah blah...but I won't because that's not the point. This has nothing to do with the kids either, I think they are all great and everytime I get to talk to some current members in the stands after shows, I make sure to tell them they are. For the record I have been out of Drum Corps the past few years, other than looking at scores on the internet or maybe watching streaming live video, due to life issues. However this year I've already been to 3 shows and have plans for 6 more. Ok before I rant, I'd just like to cover this year first. Shows are waaay better than i've seen in the past, not sure if its because DCI is asking the corps to work on being more entertaining or because the corps know the scoring is changing next year (I think) to reflect it. For example: Carolina Crown's show where the Drum Line comes out in the beginning for warm ups and just jams for a few min while the horn line plays dances to the beats. The entire show is pretty entertaining, it's exciting to watch! Or the Cavies with thier upsidedown tenors, bass drums and sopranos! not to mention a cool drill and great sounding show. Or the Blue Stars with their scaffolding, pretty cool stuff, another snow I can cheer for. Or the Troopers, where just before the end of the show the Horn Line plays a long note fairly loud, then the Drum Major turns around and salutes the crowd AS THE HORNS GET LOUDER! and they don't even have a full horn line, I was loving that. I have yet to see SCV live this year with thier crazy drill and Madison being back in near the top (next week!!) Now the rant. Before this year, and still this year to some extent, Glassmen, BD, Phantom (such a letdown, I was pumped for this show) are all BORING shows. I feel sorry for the kids marching there this year. Not meant as an insult at all. When I go back and listen to previous years CD's, which I do this time of year, there is a few constants in hearing the crowd roar...MADISON and SCV. Sorry to everyone else but it's true. I know there were some others that had crown pleasing abilities in different years, VK, Bridgeman or other shows that were amazing and made you want to jump off your butt and cheer! Go back and listen to Madison from 1980 til now...almost every year the crowd yells for them the most, why is that? its like that cause THEY PLAY TO THE CROWD, not the judges...SCV is almost the same way. Look at 91 Star of Indiana - BORING! and they won...huh? How is that possible? and don't tell me about scores and how much better they were...cause because people complained they came back and did that whole USA rah rah show just to prove they weren't robots. Don't misunderstand me, I need scores and judging, and I know the top 6 corps are much better than the bottom six, but don't make me go to sleep in the stands! All that talent going to waste on a boring show. This years BD...thats the best show they could write from Bacharach's music? Really? 14 years winning it all and thats it? and of those 14 years, how many were boring but technically amazing? For those of you with Fan Network go back and listen to the 89 Blue Devils...thats the BD I want and long for! and the 89 Vanguard, 89 Phantom, 89 Bluecoats, 91, 92, 95, 99 Madison shows VK in the late 80's and early 90's, Vanguard being emotional (Fiddler, phantom, Miss Saigon) Freelancers blowing our doors off at the beginning of every show! Madison and Cavies throwing rifles and flags everywhere and WHY DO WE NO HAVE COOL DRUM SOLO'S ANYMORE? This kills me. Ok you don't need to spend a whole 3min during the show and feature only drums but c'mon, at least step up to the front by the pit and show me something cool (this years Cavies!) And what's the deal with no retreats? Sure I understand the time thing, trust me I do. But at least do them at the big shows (TOC, regional shows, local big shows) something. No need to salute the winner by each corps in an effort to save time, just get out there, set up, DM front and center, scores, winner encore, everyone else leave field. Simple. Kids today are missing out on that wonderful experience of not knowing what you scored and how it affects you. Its a competition for a reason. There's nothing like being a smaller corps or a up and coming corps, marching right next to a top 6 corps going out onto the field for retreat. Or being chosen to be the Drum Line that plays to march everyone on the field. Then getting out there , setting up your instruments, the CG doing some sort of stance to look better than the other CG's. The Drum Majors competing who'll be last getting up front and center, the reading of the scores and hearing your corps score and how close it was to the corps your trying to beat. I'll never forget the time we beat the Cavies! They read the score, "in third place with a score of 76.2, the Cavaliers" we were all freaking out and trying to keep our bearing...it was awesome! First DCI has to fix this judging issues that makes Corps need to play to them to survive (credit to GeneralTsoChicken) I've heard this is Micheal Cesario's new job. Until DCI fixes the way they are to be judged, the writers of the shows hands are tied a bit but...whoever is writing these shows still need to work in that crowd pleasing element along with playing for score. It's not fair to the kids or the crowd. I want todays kids to have the same experience I did, I want them to feel the exhilaration of the crowd when they roar for you, I want them to be out on the field at retreat and feel what its like to have the crowd cheer for you again. To the kids and young men and woman marching today, You are amazing! I can't begin to tell you how much I appreaciate you and I hope this is/has been a great experience fr you as it was for me. It's something that'll always be with you...always! I know this is just a forum and what I say won't change anything but still, bring back pleasing the crowd for the love of God! For me, I don't care about whatever is choosen to enchance Drum Corps musically or how you use it, just make it innovative and make me wanna stand up and yell!! Lets just make it about letting the kids have fun and the crowd apprectiating that fun! Done. Whew.

Sir, I couldn't agree with you more! This is something that is being addressed this year somewhat by DCI, but this isn't the thread for my entire comments...so I'll start a new one.