Quad Aces

Love that song (always have). Here's hoping all the best for the Glassmen.

Yes, I saw BD's show three times last year and I do not consider that anywhere close to the jazz shows that they did in the 70s, 80s, and up to about 1994-ish. Note that I'm not saying that last year's show wasn't good or whether I liked it or not, but you cannot call that a jazz show like they did during the time period mentioned above. A better characterization of BD's shows of late (including last year), IMHO, is that they do their own thing with SOME jazz mixed in.

Perhaps I'm a bit confused - why exactly would a casino be interested (let alone excited) to sponsor a youth education group? Disclaimer: This is not to say that I'm not upset at what happened to the Glassmen. I have been a longtime drum corps fan, and was happy to see when they made their medal push not that long ago. I sincerely hope that they can right the ship.

Are we sure that someone associated with the Blue Devils would actually intentionally let show details slip out prior to say the beginning of May?? Seems a bit out of character for them...

I would not like to see an arrangement of that piece on the field - I want to see an exact transcription :)

Yes, a lot of the kids may or may not have known that Phantom did this back then (depending on how much drum corps history they know). However, IMHO, we may even be underestimating their knowledge of the history of the activity. These are the kids who are more zealous about the activity, and soak in more than others would. From my own personal experience, when I was in high school band and first experiencing drum corps, i wanted to learn as much as I could about it - and I don't think I was in the minority on this. I mentioned earlier that all anyone had to do was listen to the Field Pass from earlier that season to know that Phantom did Spartacus back then. And, let's not forget that kids are not the only ones in the audience at Finals - the audience is also made up of fans who have been following the activity for a long time and are certainly aware of the history of the activity. Again, IMHO, I think it's a stretch to say that "not many" people in the stands at Finals knew of the Spartacus music.

From the previous Phantom shows. The drum corps fan base is very aware of its own history, and since Phantom themselves played this back in 1981/1982 in what became very iconic shows, people (in a general sense, but not all) seeing this at Finals that year were aware of the music already.

Yes, I know of that quiz (taken it several times myself). it's a pretty cool little aspect of that great site. However, I was only talking about Phantom's Spartacus shows, and not the entire decades of shows from the 70s and 80s. DCI's own website had a Field Pass podcast discussing the past/present versions of the Spartacus shows in 2008, so one needn't be alive in 1981 to know of that show and the music. In order to not further derail this topic, perhaps we should agree to disagree here.

I think you are way underestimating the drum corps fan base when you say that "not many" of them ever heard of Spartacus until Phantom played it in 2008. You may have been correct when they played it in 1981, but not 2008.

I understand what you're saying Mike, but the comment that Stu was responding to was that shows are too obscure these days with music that not a lot of people have heard before. I don't think that Spartacus is obscure or that it's valid to say that not many people have heard it before when the same corps did it in a very iconic show two years in a row (although granted BITD). Just my own $.02...

1981/1982 shows??

When Star split, did they still make any reference at all to DCI in their initial marketing? Honest question, as I'm not sure of the answer. Would anyone in that situation even be legally able to use "DCI" in their marketing if they are not in DCI but once were? Obviously as time goes on and the distance grows greater (such as when Blast was created, the distance between Star and DCI was already large), the less meaning there is to using DCI anymore.

"the most successful DCI drum corps in history". If they split from DCI (not saying they are going to), this statement is still true.

Nope - not any more. Hasn't been true for about the last 15 years or so (with the possible exception of Madison at times).

Just to play devil's advocate and in no way agreeing with what the G7 are proposing/doing... If the corps themselves are not the draw and the event itself is, how do you explain the attendance figures at shows that are made up exclusively of Open Class corps, or even at the pinnacle of their season, the Open Class Championships? This is also not a knock on Open Class - just looking at and trying to discuss facts.

See the Cadets announcement thread for a better standard....

Yes - Hop and the Cadets are masters at keeping their fan base engaged in the offseason (and throughout the Summer too).

"The Art of Overtones: Tuvan Throat Singing's Greatest Hits"

Since no one that actually has the answers instead of just speculation (on either side - the G7 or DCI) is commenting publicly on all of this, can't anyone get answers out of the DCI Roundtable Project or via an e-mail or something? The head of DCI marketing was able to provide answers to the sync rights issues - perhaps someone similar can shed light on this situation. Don't get me wrong - I do enjoy reading 48 pages worth of speculation... :)

I'm actually surprised this show hasn't happened yet... :)

"Concerto for Theremin and Orchestra"

Ok, fine - then answer whether or not you think ALL of the G7 will drop out of the top 12 instead of pointing out that SOME corps have dropped out of the top 12. Which by the way, was in support of my 'original' point that a show with a lineup of the G7 will attract people, and the G7 know that.

I never said ANY of the G7 - I have been saying ALL of the G7...

I like it - problem solved!

"A Tribute to the Tuning Note" - 11 1/2 minutes worth of a sustained, unison Bb concert (not sure yet what the battery percussion will do in this extravaganza)...