JeffK

.25 behind Cadets last night. I think they catch Cadets (possibly this Sunday and maybe more by finals. SCV is catching fire!

Thoughts from last night in MN: Best SCV since at least 2004 Cadets really play and thought they were better than the Devils. Not sure I've heard a horn line equal to Carolina's. Incredible!

I usually enjoyed Star. From a fans perspective, it appeared that they left the activity when they didn't like the outcomes at finals night on consecutive years. That may be an unfair observation; however, that is how it appeared from the outside. No question that the creation of Blast was an outstanding accomplishment and nothing can diminish what Star accomplished in it's short history. Their championship at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas remains one of my favorite moments. As a founding member of the Star of Indiana I feel compelled to comment a bit here. The Star of Indiana was a grand experiment of a very successful and wonderful man, Bill Cook. The corps was built for community, but more importantly for the drum corps community. Mr.Cook had some different ideas on corps management and finance. He and some remarkably experienced and skilled managers, Jim Mason, Bob Lendman, Moe LaTour and many others built and ran the corps as lab and demonstration model of how they felt 'it should be done'. Many see the 80s as the golden years and it many respects it was, but by the mid-80s we were losing corps left and right. In the years I marched, 84-88 the activity lost dozens of large units, including many former top groups, 27, Bridgemen ect, while many of the then current top units were struggling financially and/or were terribly mismanaged. Star was well financed, but not extravagantly so. It was designed to eventually be self funded by way of a bus company. It had quality equipment and transportation, but took good care of it. The concept of the corps allowed it to bring in some very well known instructors from day 1. But success was anything but easy. The early years where a tumultuous period of staff changes, conflicts, direction changes, ect as they experimented and figured out better and more efficient ways to do things. In time the corps locked down certain key instructional staff and perfected the care, feeding, and traveling. Success both on and off the field followed. Along the way the corps and it's staff shared what it learned with anyone who would listen, and helped others in any way it could. A meal here, some equipment there, a bus or place to stay, even some funds to get through a tight spot. The rising tide raises all boats theory was very much in place there. Of course ultimately the limits of the activity pushed the corps to move on to other arenas where they have achieved great success. Could the organization have returned to the field? The bus company was eventually successful and in the last decade was sold to another company. Blast continues to tour. The corps hall and property are still in around and now used by the Madison Scouts and Blast for their training. But then there is the question of desire. In some ways the experiment failed. Financially corps are still largely financed the same way they where in 84', bingo ect. The touring model is still financially a huge burden. The activity is still very much a super competitive and artistically restraining niche. But the surviving organizations on average travel much better with improved care and feeding. Despite it short competitive drum corps life, the Star organization produced and incredible amount of current day designers and instructors. They and some of those key managers have and continue to bring some of those ideas and concepts to such corps as Crown, Madison, Blue Stars, and now Troopers. The Star of Indiana was built to win and to last. But the definition of winning is much more then just points on the sheet. It provided a wonderful and life changing experience for it's members. It helped the activity in many key ways, including Mr.Cook's personal financing of the PBS broadcast. It helped dozens of corps with issues and problems to stay on the field and get down the road. It demonstrated a model of management that put emphasis in the care, feeding, and traveling well. It moved on to bring some the activity to new venues and audiences, providing an outlet for former corps members to perform professionally. But most importantly, it provided a creative and learning environment that spawned a whole generation future instructors and designers. Personally I call that more then longevity. I call that legacy.

Sadly, Zingali had to leave and the rest is history. That's why hypothetical questions are fun. That said, I sure do miss 27th and the Bridgemen. Both corps were so entertaining and in such different ways. Was at the MN show last night and I loved Santa Clara's old style show. A great mix of the old and the new. Maybe 27th could have found that mix; we'll never know. I try not to think about how the course of DCI history might be altered had Zingali not left 27th for the Cadets in 82.

I saw the show in Minneapolis and agree with you that the Devils are all that! Still, I found the talking to be quite distracting and prevented me from fully appreciating just how magnificent the corps was. I wonder if DCI will offer recordings this year with the option of removing the extraneous noise. That would be perfect. I've been attending shows since 76 and have found the last two years to be particularly outstanding...I just hope the corps stay focused on what matters, the actual performance on the field. I sat on the 50 yard line inside the lower press box tonight in San Antonio. The Blue Devils are simply the most phenomenal performers I've ever seen in 33 years of drum corps. There isn't a moment that wasn't captivating, engaging, or that failed to just blow me out of the water. I alternately whistled, laughed, or just held my breath waiting for the next insane moment. It's the first time I've seen a show ever that captivated me completely from the corps entering the field to the very end. There has never been anything like them, and this show left me breathless. Just WOW. Can't wait to see it again... Thanks Blue Devils... that was outstanding. I also understand why people might not like it... but I just witnessed a new standard in performance and coordinated design. Outstanding! Chuck Naffier