HeWhoWaits

That guy attending his first drum corps show ever, sitting in the front row of a local high school stadium who looks down just before Scouts turn and blast during their closer.

Carrying either a contra or tenors - his choice.

And even as a brand new field, it got torn up pretty badly.

Beat me to it.

Absolutely agree (as a Cadet homer). More surprising to me was the size of the spread the other direction from The Cadets to Bluecoats.

Obviously it is difficult for highly trained individuals to separate content/repertoire from achievement/performance under the current scoring system. A potential way to separate the two seemingly different aspects would be a modification where one judge scores the content/repertoire of a show under a "build up" system and a separate judge scores achievement/performance on a "tick" (or something similar) system. Visual content/repertoire judge evaluates Generic Corps on a scale of 0-20. This number is the maximum visual score for Generic Corps. Visual achievement/performance judge evaluates Generic Corps by counting ("ticking") errors/deficiencies noted. The maximum score established by the content/repertoire judge for Generic Corps is reduced by a predetermined deduction per "tick" to arrive at the final score. Same system applies for each caption.

Wish the same was true of GE.

Then why not add the Open Class corps by best score (same sheets) too before determining the order? Currently the O.C. Champion goes on before the intermission that precedes the first W.C. corps performance. Combining the current scores shows 4 O.C. ahead of Jersey Surf, 2 more ahead of Cascades, and yet another (total of 7) scoring higher than Pioneer. A solid improvement by Gold when they resume their tour tonight would push Pioneer down into the first performance block for quarterfinals using this method. There's no way to determine performance order that will make everybody happy.

Q: How much do corps normally improve after San Antonio? A: About three weeks of hard work by everyone involved worth.

I would love it - that's how ALL shows should be done - random performance order. I go to see EVERY show (at DCI shows and local HS Band competitions) - definitely prefer to see shows in a random order than in reverse order of expected score.

You explained this for yourself - you didn't see the show so you can't speak to what went well/improved for The Academy and Pacific Crest or for what may have gone wrong for the Oregon Crusaders' guard.

Saturday in San Antonio and Monday in Dallas.

It's something that comes straight from DCI. In 2012, when the new sheets were introduced, O.C sheets use the phrase " Be aware that the use of these components is based on the paradigm of the Open Class." http://issuu.com/drumcorpsinternational/docs/2012_judging_sheets_full_set/1?e=1376842/2992110 "Back in the day" there were separate sheets for Division I and Division II/III - same front of sheet, different criteria on the back. That is probably the "paradigm" so frequently referenced. This being the explanation is entirely speculative on my part - not an authoritative answer.

Rather than use a simple point reduction, apply the difference between the old Open Class sheets and the standardized sheets - four boxes vs. five boxes. A "perfect score" at the top of Box 4 would have been 100 for O.C. paradigm and 80 on World Class sheets. Multiplying the Open Class finals score by 80% was an excellent predictor of World Class preliminaries scores the past few years (top O.C. groups scored a little higher, lower tier a little lower). Using that multiplier, last year's 70 for Genesis would have been closer to a 56 this year, so the 60 vs. 70 comparison isn't unreasonable.

One that comes immediately to mind is Bands of America. BOA does a (mostly) random order draw for preliminaries at Regionals and Grand Nationals, and random order within groups for later rounds (bottom half/top half for Regional Finals, Top 22 group in the middle of things for Grand National Semifinals, totally random for Finals). The only groups that get any guarantee of a "prime" performance time are the defending champions in preliminaries.

Groups of 3 vs. groups of 4? Blocks of 8 vs. blocks of 9? Simple solution - completely random draw.

BD not in the top 3? Is that even allowed?

That was my point. "Get it right" being inside quotes was meant to imply that certain corps are "supposed" to be in specific overall standings groups (some call this slotting).

Too hard for the judges to "get it right" if they have to score the top 3 hours apart instead of minutes.

Southwest Ohio supports the marching arts very well. Always good crowds at most local HS Band competitions, WGI, and the DCI shows in the area.

BDB and SCVC scores were on DCI.org before they were announced here in the stadium.

I am primarily a reader and not a poster. In season I visit the site at least once a day. Off season it's more like twice a week.

The problem with the system as it currently exists isn't in the interpretation of the scoring rules. It is in assigning a score to each show "in comparison to the other shows" BEFORE seeing ALL shows that is flawed. Not just in DCI, but in all judged competitions (WGI, BOA, local circuits). In order to assess the shows in comparison to each other, no score could be assigned until EVERY show was complete. Imagine trying to recall how percussion lines 7, 19, and 26 performed relative to each other (and all others) after percussion line 36 finishes. Judging is already hard enough without adding that complication. Seemingly, what would "solve" the question is to allow the same score for multiple shows in a caption - if the caption deserves a 17.2 based on the criteria it gets a 17.2. If the next show deserves a 17.2 it gets a 17.2 as well (rather than the current requirement that it be given a different number).

For those who arrive early enough on Thursday (before gates open) there are usually spots open to park for free on McCarty Street across the street from the LOS lot. Hope I haven't just lost my free space by spilling the beans to this group. :doh:/>

BDB will win this year. Reason: best show with best execution. (also helps that Oregon Crusaders have moved to WC).