Dan Detweiler

Gotta respectfully disagree with you on this one. While early success makes things easier, championships are most definitely NOT won in January. Case in point, Blue Devils went out with holes in the drum corps for first tour in '82...went undefeated. Many other examples out there of corps that started slowly but finished well. The consistent winners are the ones that know how to make adjustments and finish strong. Not saying everyone wouldn't love to have 60 All State players at every camp through the winter in their horn line as well as a full drum line that has drummed together for the last 4 years and a color guard full of Onyx quality members. Sure...we all would, but the people that end up on the top of the heap are those that can work with what they have, write effectively and make adjustments as needed on the fly. My humble opinion of course but I have seen it year after year. Dan

Just so everyone knows, my refund appeared on my bank statement yesterday so be on the lookout. Dan

In light of the news regarding the 2015 DVDs, has anyone heard how they are going to handle refunds for those of us that purchased them back in September? Dan

They'll always be my home team! Dan

If the individual is beneficial in the eyes of both groups....more power to them. Who are we to judge? Dan

I get your point, but there are more than one line on System Blue these days! ;) Dan

^^^Heard which line play? Blue Devils?^^^ Dan

That's why all the guard girls wanted to be on the drum bus... ...just sayin'...it's true. Dan

I don't see this as any different than running bingo, selling raffle tickets, or gaining income from running clinics. Non profit doesn't mean non income. These organizations run on multi million dollar budgets. That money has to come from somewhere. I applaud BD for coming up with new innovative ways of supporting their activities. By the way, I believe their dues towards their members are among the lowest in DCI. Now that System Blue is its own entity I don't know how that will impact the situation at Blue Devils. It probably won't. BD rarely enters into anything without a healthy understanding of the impacts of those activities. Dan

Old news by now but here's the official press release from the home office! https://systemblue.org/news/story.php?ID=668 Dan

Our brass staff tried all of the samples they sent us early on in the process. They loved them. Hence the purchase! Dan

We at CV received our horns earlier this month and can't wait to hear what they sound like at the next camp! Really exciting times for us! Dan

Atlanta CV members receive an 8 pointed star pendant with a "C" in the middle after completing each year. We will have members receiving their 19th star this season! Dan

Really guys? Like you said...this is January. The fact that they have this much in ensemble is a testament. We all know that what you see and hear in January has little impact on what you see and hear in Rochester. Heck, for that matter what you see and hear a month before has little impact on what you see and hear in Rochester! Dan

How difficult would it be to arrange some clinics or seminars at the rehearsal or show site with local bands/directors to let them see a top DCA corps rehearsal, get to talk to members and staff and generally get a healthy introduction to what DCA has become? I have no idea what the logistics would be but DCI does this on a regular basis. No idea if those seminars are organized by DCI or the individual corps. Seems to me like this would be an opportunity for some incredible PR. Just a thought. Dan

Oh, and as for the 4 shows on August 6th, two of them are in outlying areas (Wisconsin and Georgia). This really is just an opportunity for everyone to get a number on the same weekend. Doubt it will effect the attendance at any of the four shows. Dan

I have very bad tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Drives me literally crazy sometimes. I am sure this is due to all the time I spent in front of drum lines and horn lines over the years. It is very encouraging to see as many young people as I do now wearing ear protection while standing in drum lines especially. I think this is a very real problem that won't be realized until much later in life. Dan

Yup, that's the plan. Do the show on the 2nd then get our cardio workouts Sunday and Monday! Dan

I don't think anyone knows who is going to be at what show yet. I know that our director came back from the DCA meeting with a tentative schedule but I don't think anything has been finalized yet. I know that CV is planning on being in Baltimore for the 4th of July festivities. That should be a fun trip. Dan

...and tell me, what drum corps on the planet announces the individuals that are under contract on an ongoing basis on a public website? Why do you need to know? I would think that personal privacy issues would be one thing keeping anyone from doing it. I will tell you this, my son is one of those that are under contract and he, as well as his mother and father, couldn't be more happy and proud. Speaking from a family that has intimate knowledge of the corps in the 80's and 90's as marching members and staff members as well as being life long friends with a great many of the current staff, board and administration I can, with all honesty and sincerity, say that we feel he couldn't be in better hands. That should be enough. The general public and outside nay sayers can and will say and feel what they want regardless of the actual facts...soooooooo... ...I say again, why do you care? Dan

In regards to pit "pulsing", I remember when I was teaching a top 12 pit in the late 80s early 90s, having many conversations in critique about the members needing to sell their performance...especially dynamics. That was the beginning of putting your nose on the board when you played soft and pulling as far away from the board as possible when you played loud. Drove me crazy. As for the whole pulsing thing, there is no question that the members of the front ensemble must communicate with each other in some manner to maintain consistent tempo throughout the ensemble. Pulsing is just the latest method people use to accomplish it. At least it serves an actual purpose. Unlike the whole dynamic thing. Different strokes for different folks. When I marched in Blue Devils back before dirt, I could watch Dave Brown play all day long. He always eluded a confidence in his playing but never once bought into all those shenanigans. Arguably one of the best keyboard players in DCI history (won individuals several years in a row). He was always intense and there was never any doubt of his abilities or musicianship...but looking like a silent movie actor from the 20s in the process? No. Dan

Judging from what I have heard from several people I would say that Christmas is out of the question. I am not holding my breath that I will see mine by my birthday...in February. Dan

I'm sure they do. Let's give them a chance to get settled and do what they have been elected to do. They trusted us to put them into the positions they are in...now let's trust them to do what they were put there to do. I, for one, am very excited about what the future holds. Congratulations to all the executive board. It's going to be a GREAT ride! Dan

It's the thought that counts! Dan

Everyone has issues to deal with. We all deal with indoor percussion, winter guard, high school commitments, college commitments, band camps, etc. etc. etc. Different groups deal with it different ways. All are successful as long as they serve the needs and goals of the individual group. Every group has perceived "advantages" or "disadvantages". Whether it is age, location, travel...whatever. Bottom line...see ya'll Labor Day weekend and let's see where the chips fall. Dan