Quad Aces

Dmiggles - Yes, Drum Corps is evolving, but evolving doesn't always mean for the better. People should not need to attend a pre-show lecture to understand what they are about to see on the field - there's always the symphony for that :) Drum Corps fans don't need to get off their high horses, they just need to keep buying tickets for shows. If they stop buying tickets to shows, it becomes pretty difficult for Drum Corps to exist - can't really tour when you're playing to empty stadiums and not getting paid. People stop going to see shows when they no longer like the product - a decline in attendance is one factor that led to the Michael J. Cesario involvement.

Forte Piano - You are correct - from the programs announced so far, it does look like a lot of them will be more fan-friendly. Maybe I should have been a little more specific and said that it appears just the Blue Devils gave it a one-year hiatus by catering to the masses and Michael J. Cesario with an easily accessible show, and this year they're back to the same old same old. Yes, yes, I know - like everyone said, I too will wait until I see the Blue Devils' show before forming any more negative opinions, but judging from their program announcement (which you almost need that PhD in modern art to understand), they will have an uphill climb in conveying to the fans what their product is all about this year.

(Posted also in the "2012 Blue Devils" thread): Seems like Blue Devils didn't get the memo about being more fan-friendly and accessible with their show... I used to be the biggest Blue Devils fan, back when I first became acquainted with them in the mid-80s, when they would just play shows consisting solely of straight-up jazz - seems like the days of "Channel One Suite" are LONG gone. One shouldn't need a PhD in modern art or literature to enjoy a drum corps show. To be fair, it's more of a widespread issue than just the Blue Devils. Somewhere along the line, drum corps became so engrossed with the concept of themed shows that the wheels just about completely fell off the product. Don't get me wrong - the talent level has continued to rise every year as the performances get better and better, however the shows themselves seemed to have gone off the deep end. If you need any proof, you need to look no further than why there was a need to bring Michael Cesario in and create the position for him that DCI did. Last year seemed to get slightly better in terms of accessible shows, but now one year removed, it almost looks like some corps did this just because they were "forced" to, and this year they're back to the same old, same old. Flame away...

Seems like Blue Devils didn't get the memo about being more fan-friendly and accessible with their show... I used to be the biggest Blue Devils fan, back when I first became acquainted with them in the mid-80s, when they would just play shows consisting solely of straight-up jazz - seems like the days of "Channel One Suite" are LONG gone. One shouldn't need a PhD in modern art or literature to enjoy a drum corps show. To be fair, it's more of a widespread issue than just the Blue Devils. Somewhere along the line, drum corps became so engrossed with the concept of themed shows that the wheels just about completely fell off the product. Don't get me wrong - the talent level has continued to rise every year as the performances get better and better, however the shows themselves seemed to have gone off the deep end. If you need any proof, you need to look no further than why there was a need to bring Michael Cesario in and create the position for him that DCI did. Last year seemed to get slightly better in terms of accessible shows, but now one year removed, it almost looks like some corps did this just because they were "forced" to, and this year they're back to the same old, same old. Flame away...