CrownBaritone

Not a guy

I just can't see this happening. Others have already said it; the care required to maintain a woodwind instrument would be too costly and too time consuming in the world of drum corps. You can knock the crap out of a brass instrument, let it get wet, and repair it easily, and it will still play well. Then there's the matter of member limits. If we raise the 150 mark, then what would the next step be? You'd either need to cut down the brass to allow woodwinds or add a bunch of members to the show. In my opinion the show would be way too cluttered if more people were added, as the more people you have means you have less space on the field, and possibly less awesome drill. But even if these things worked out and we found the money and time to maintain the horns and the drill was fine... I can't think of a world where you'd have a big company front with 150+ members on the field with woodwinds and brass, and the woodwinds would be audible. Unless you had A LOT more WW than brass. It's a nice thought, and a running joke that's been around since I've been involved with the activity. I can understand the problems people have had with rule changes, but every one I've seen has had a reason or hasn't been too far fetched. Amplification of the pit? Sure. Adding more brass instruments? Makes sense. But adding something that neither came from drum or bugle doesn't seem viable to me.

^ He was the one that started the topic yesterday as well. Typically, corps won't release their new uniform designs until later camps or sometimes, like Crown does, near the end of spring training.

I am so ###### excited for this year at Bluecoats... They do some amazing things with great pieces of music, and something like this gives me goosebumps just imagining what it's going to sound like on Finals night. Definitely one of those moments I wish I wasn't marching so I could see them in the lot/live.

As usual with the uniforms we had to wear these tan unitards, which I guess had the same effect as the "show whites" with the Cadets. The jock straps weren't mandatory at first, but after our first uniformed performance (in Arkansas I think?), the administration cleared out a couple of sportswear stores and told us what's what. After that, it was jock strap and unitard, then the uniform. Some didn't care, others seemed to have a problem remembering what happened to their jock straps...

I think the people who've already replied to the thread have the basics covered... Try your best to watch the vets and how they rehearse. I say rehearse because a lot of us will act goofy during the camps; it's our first time seeing our friends since last summer so we tend to pick up right where we left off. Normally though, as soon as we're needed to do something serious, we get on task. That's when you should watch us. Also don't be afraid to come and interact with anyone during meals and stuff, especially not the vets. All of them have been where you have before, and they all now how nerve racking the process is. The weekends can be much friendlier if you make friends quickly. Take in all information the staff gives you, and apply it to your fullest ability. Camps at Crown are very big on that, because it is a learning process. If they ask for a volunteer for something, raise your hand immediately. The more one-on-one time you can get with staff members the better. Especially when you're playing in front of them + 30 other kids. Never relax. If you're in the middle of the block in the middle line during visual block, you're still being watched. You're always being watched. Sometimes staff will ask trusted vets questions... "How is _____ doing? How's their work ethic? How would they handle a summer?" And make sure to take care of yourself. Eat a good meal before you drive/fly down to camp, don't rush yourself. Pack a couple of days ahead, you want the experience to be as relaxed as possible, in the sense of not stressing yourself out. When you get to camp, be sure to always be drinking water or gatorade. Don't overeat during meals... Food truck food does something different to everyone their first time eating it... Mine was not pleasant (the food isn't bad, it's just different than what you eat on a daily basis). But having said that, make sure you eat. Nothing is worse than you getting light headed halfway through a visual or brass block. And try not to stress out too much when you get called in front of the brass staff to audition. There are hundreds of other kids in the same shoes as you are, trying to prove themselves to get a spot. Don't worry about them, and don't worry about how the audition is going to go. Just go in, do what they ask, and own it. Confidence can make or break people at camps. If you have any questions feel free to PM me or something. I'm from NC as well, so maybe if you're close enough we can carpool.

Couldn't tell you! But we figured since it was our first we would try something new. I tell you what, the show was more fun without it

I wish!

The "Bern, 1905" part was originally done by one of the vocalists, but the space between it and the rapid "1,2,3,4" wasn't long enough to take a substantial breath.

I think I remember Jim Coates talking about NASA and Yamaha getting together and working on something...

Just so people know for Crown, the May 11th is for the battery/pit(?) early move-ins. Full corps move-ins aren't until May 18th, a Saturday.

I love marching on logos, and was happy that they left the Colts' helmet on the field in Indy this past year. Granted, it is a little squishier than the rest of the turf, but I think it's a pretty cool experience.

Hilarious

Hilarious

For my own knowledge, could you provide some examples or times during shows where Crown is unable to play at volume while on the move? Specifically recently, as the program has grown in the last several years.