sarnia sam

I get you are making a point in the first post with your additional comment, but it didn't come off that way. Glad to see you aren't of that type, so let's hope between the two of us we changed at least one person's view point of how to enjoy a show. On the other hand, the chance of anyone ever bringing a bomb or gun (to use) into a show, or any place, is so low it's almost inconsequential. If anyone really thinks authorities aren't onto that sort of thing long before any news reporter catches wind of it, or someone actually tries, then they are delusional. When it does happen, which is rarely compared to other day to day threats like getting rear ended on the highway, then it's more likely because someone was lazy at their job, or pure luck on the part of the perpetrator. Foisting point of entry searches is just show meant to cow us, plain and simple, or an misguided line of thought that that's what has to be 'in this new age' fantasy. Regards, John

I don't think that's very good logic. To begin with the booths and pre-show entertainment (not warm ups) happened inside the gates. Second, it's a terrible thing to assume people don't want to see the whole show even when a corps like Pioneer is in it. For the record, I want to see Pioneer (and other lower placing corps). My son marched in Pioneer last year, it's a good organization that cares about the kid's experience on tour and why wouldn't anyone want to support that by watching them perform. I think it's an elitist attitude to think that shows other than TOC-G7 shows have a built in people mover because Jersey Surf is in the line up. Poor planning is just plain and simple poor planning. My money, or anyone else's should not be treated so cavalierly - and d@mmit, I'm not bringing finger nail clippers to the show so don't ask, don't inspect, don't wand me, just let me enjoy the show. That's what I paid for. Regards, John

Thanks. Crossed at Buffalo, not Port Huron. In light of what I'm seeing and experiencing on your side (if you are on that side) I believe I'm on the right side. We still have our own stupidity related to 'security and safety' but thankfully those idiots are few and containable - and fortunately I have a job that allows me to publicly question, and mock when necessary, dumb ideas in my neighbourhood. Regards, John

arriving at 6:45 for a show that starts at 7:30 is entirely prudent. You could walk around the stadium about 4 or 5 times in that period, so how's it not enough time to go from a parking lot to your seat? Regards, John

only one gate open, two turnstiles operating, yeah it was fubar. It's totally unacceptable, don't care which way the fingers are pointing, in a mexican standoff everybody loses. I heard they built Ralph Wilson Stadium with more than one gate, someone should have mentioned it to the lessor and lessee. Staff at the gate were not unpleasant, I was one of the last in (arrived mid afternoon) and the staff could have been really stressed by then so congrats to them for holding it together. MANAGEMENT ON ALL SIDES ARE TOTALLY TO BLAME FOR CHEATING ME OUT MY TICKET MONEY. Didn't mean to have all caps on, but it does look kinda nice. Thankfully Phantom, SCV, etc. erased the bad taste I was carrying. Someone has to bring some sanity to all this 'security' crap. No one is blowing up any stadium in Buffalo for any reason, certainly not a drum corps show. I get the sense that each jurisdiction has to out perform every other in new ways to inconvenience everyone else with their 'gotta be safe' nightmare inducing schemes. Oh, it took 10 minutes to cross the border, all lanes open and hundreds of cars lined up. they're doing something right. Regards, John

Same happened to me. The idea of having one gate with only two lines going through was beyond ridiculous - AND metal detectors? Don't know who would cause mayhem in Buffalo (or why) and at a drum corps show, definitely overkill. Someone needs to answer for this because a lot of people traveled a great distance to go to this show (I drove 4 hours), made it in plenty of time, only to be held up by lines that wrapped around the stadium and moved slower than a snail on qualudes. I feel cheated missing Cadets, and almost missed Phantom. Yes to the Cavies at the gate, good PR. Intermission, how about between every corps with the blockbusting movie soundtrack type music. Conversation at shout level. And the chatter from Dan Potter was unintelligible. The corps were great, all of them, well, except Cadets - did I mention I didn't get to see them. Everyone did much better shows than the prevailing opinions I've read all summer. Regards, John

soundtrack to Peter's quest, 'So Very Hard To Go.' I wish you luck, see you in the lot. Regards, John

thanks John

I saw that before I asked, but, does that mean Cavies go on first, or Cadets? John

anybody know how's on first, etc.? Regards, John

I hope he takes you up on your offer. I get what you're saying. I work in television, producer, and I write about entertainment related things for one of the larger papers in the country (Canada) and I know all it takes many times is just doing it. I know some of what you have to do to make things happen and the kind of money it takes - money that someone invests, and often doesn't get a return on (and they're still happy they were along for the ride). So what if nobody ever heard of your activity, or you, the point is they are going to if you tell them. Most certainly they'll still not know anything about your interest if you don't. Go big, or go home - and don't listen to the negative talkers who don't know much of what you already know and have done repeatedly; that's what I've observed from successful people with new ideas (or previously unheard of ideas like - what's a drum corps?). Every single one of the corps left today started as an idea that many people passively connected at the outset said - that ain't going to work. I wasn't there, but I've seen it time and time again in all sorts of arenas (did I mention I'm heavily involved in politics and community issues - the number of arm chair quarterbacks who only run interferance is astounding). Things get done because someone like you saw an opportunity and ran with it. When you have success, all the same people who said it couldn't be done are the same ones who pat you on the back and say - I knew you could do it. Good luck, the activity needs people like you. Regards, John

elvis 77.

Those are Ludwig tenor mallets with felt heads, they came with wood heads too. Standard operating procedure was to pull off the plastic grip, cut off the bottom end of the shaft (they were metal) at the nurly part, put the plastic grip back on. They were the standard tenor mallet of the late 70s. In Oaklands we figured out that if the felt was soaked in varathane for many hours, then cured for a day, as we used them the head would get harder, eventually like glass. Slingerland had the same kind of mallet, had red grips (Ludwig was black), but the felt came apart real quick, and the metal was inferior, would bend too easy. Regards, John

I was there, probably sitting near the photographer of this pic. I was high up in the grandstand, not many people up that high in the stands until A class corps started competing. Then a bunch of Del folks (Mike Duffy was one of them) who I wouldn't get to know until a few years later, came and took up the two rows in front of me. Princemen did an incredible show that night. Not sure why Del didn't compete. Regards, John

well, the thmub nail is of cavies, half the discussion is about the video, what do you want? It still got to the front page. Regards, John

http://www.reddit.com/ http://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/19zzy8/ever_wonder_how_directors_decide_to_film/ Regards, John

he was in the drum line, played tymps one year, which would be after the pti was created. I think he also played snare one year too. Regards, John

try the Optimist Alumni website http://www.optimists-alumni.org/ there's lots of pics of other corps Regards, John

thanks for the laugh Sam. Del/Oaklands it was the X used most noticably in the El Gato drum break. Regards, John

Didn't notice you were asking me a question until now. Can you repost and include the pic, my comment is from more than two years ago and I don't know what pic you are talking about, other than it may be Optimists or Ambassadors. Regards, John

clicked the link in tyler c's post, don't know whether to laugh or cry. some things never change. the first two threads were continuations of the same arguments from a decade ago. Regards, John

Just noticed, OP mentions alumni performances on the night of, and forgets to mention CADRE will play too. The website looks pretty good. Regards, John

You look familiar. Welcome aboard. Regards, John

I was one of the saints . Feel free to disagree. John

Tony Furiano, Oaklands 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 - Malaga sweet. Regards, John