LancerFi

It seems that from being at certain shows that the loudest crowd response for certain corps came during parts they might have done back in the 70s. Easy moves, a wedge here, legs extended while corps in a V - it's not the difficulty necessarily on the part of the corps and it's certainly not the knowledge or the education of the people in the stands, it's the WOW factor of something very small but so chocked full of effect and how it "affects" the audience that matters many times. Also, I've noticed not only applause but screaming at 2 straight lines of rifles all tossing and catching at the same time. I guess certain people are tickled by certain thing and others are not. But I've mentioned just 3 very small things here that had a true affect on the whole audience. They responded heartily.......

Nope. I generally can't tell the difference after seeing them 6 or 7 times in a season with some of those times being within 2 or 3 days of each other. And I DO pay attention!

Welcome Bill! Glad you came by!

I as usual agree with you. I don't consider some of the "equipment" used even in the 80s as such. I'm not into shawls, or fans or whatever you want to add that was considered guard equipment then. Did those items excite me - no, did the corps proper pick up the slack for me, yes. It was a real let down to be a former guard person and be fixated more on the drill and marching of the corps than of the guards in that era I call "the bridesmaid costume era". Then when I decide to take time away, when I returned, what I found was some very artistic athletes, much of which is lost in my opinion because they are doing it on a football field and their bodies cannot be seen as well as maybe other people think. Throw in all the time spent (I'd really like to time it) in the changing of equipment and props, and I'm a little disappointed. No doubt, these guards are at the top of their game and have so much responsibility it's amazing they can learn a show in the time I do. So, kudos to the talent that is out there, lord knows it's incredible, however I'd just like to see more equipment work in unison and moving off your spot for a 5 or a 10 should never be an option.

I'm just speaking from one experience and it's been mentioned before by some 2-7 alums. In 1980, I'm not sure of the percentage of new people we had, but it was many. The corps that was seen in February at the Olympics was not the corps that was seen in May/June of the 1980 season. We had graduated many snares who had been long time members, and I cannot speak to the numbers in the horn line but suffice it to say that a good percentage had to learn not only our basics, but the music and drill. It really didn't matter that we had kept most of the show from 79 as so many were learning it for the first time. It was a fabulous group of people, some with experience and very talented and others that were so willing to learn they soaked up anything that was given to them. I'm so proud each individual from that 1980 corps - we almost accomplished the impossible however I believe it was a great ride even without winning the ring! Kudos to those people and to the staff and administration that made it all possible! LancerLegend, I remember you mentioning it, I thought you might be able to shed some light not necessarily on an exact number, but maybe a guestimate percentage wise?!

Hi Jim - what I remember is the Phantom rifle line visiting our drumline. As a matter of fact Dustin was kind of P.O.ed that he got a mouth full of chain instead of something else!

I believe Dr. Dave K. is in charge of facilitating the Hall of Fame.....

Although I'm not here that much - I miss her already! Hope to see you back soon Lisa!

This is quite puzzling because there's always the best in each corps, someone has to be the best in each section......I'd like to hear more about this situation, it's odd.

Yes, it was indeed showed live with items that were filmed earlier in the year. They showed Don Angelica with Spirit of Atlanta. They showed the complete top 12 in its intirety. Also the scores... I"m not quite sure why I'm thinking that it was PBS however my Dad had to go next door to see it because he didn't have cable yet (or maybe it was PBS from NH). I believe the only thing that isn't on any tape that I've seen of the broadcast is a live interview Zingali and I did just as I came off the field. Not many words were actually spoken....DOH! I loved the packet the television station sent me, it said to wear bright colors - I guess they thought I would be leisurely coming by for it, not coming right off the field. But I did have bright red on.....

I always tried to stand next to or behind the strongest rifle in the line. I found that to be very helpful in striving to be stronger in almost every way.. I already pretty much had the attitutude, drive, stamina, but I believed that it defininately helped.

Is this the one? It's the bass drum lines - maybe there's one with the complete line?

No rambling at all. I'm so glad you said this. No matter how long between seeing someone in drum corps, you don't begin again, the getting to know you in drum corps is so intense and in some cases there is so much love among the members it's like no time has passed. People that don't know drum corps don't understand things like sleeping in the same bed with the opposite sex and it's family....even after I was married if I tell my husband the DM and I are sharing a room, that's all that's said. He does understand and get what the comraderie is about and how deep it goes. It's about trust, true friendship, and something that lasts forever. As the Bonfiglio's have said, it was a family, it's still a family, our door is always open, and that is exactly how it feels.....wow, don't know if other drum corps were anything like this but most people that don't know drum corps would automatically think, no, there's something more. They don't get it. What a shame they've not felt or had friendships that go so deep.

The flags are beautiful, the corps looks great, but the rifles just look so messy. I realize they're all turned in different directions and may be doing free style work or sequential work, but it just looks strange to me. Anyone else? That's not to say they don't work very hard, must use their bodies, know many pieces of equipment, go at 200 BPM. I just wish they got a chance to work more on the parts when they are together and up front. I know, there are no ticks, but clean just looks better.....

I don't know, the stands seemed filled with the same people that attended 30 years ago. They still want impact points, they're not really worried about the tone or pitch or whatever else a music major would look for in a horn line. They just seem to want to be entertained and sometimes they're happy and sometimes not so much.

I too thought as alumni aged out the stands would be filling up like crazy however after seeing so many marching members no longer interested, or have other interests, many do not become the usual drum corps nut. I'm talking about the people that lived, breathed and bled the corps. Some haven't seen a show in 25 or 30 years, as a matter of fact I would venture a guess that just in the 2 corps I marched in, less than 20% have no connection to the activity. I was lucky enough to march during the first 10 years of DCI, got to see how it grew, how everything unfolded, I knew it would change, but I never thought it would be to such great lengths. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, however many go to a show and no longer recognize what they are seeing, consequently, if they attend again they don't go for the show, they go to see old friends. The stands in both 79 and 80 seemed bigger than Orlando and both years in Foxboro. It could be because I was on the field and the stands just look and sound huge, however that's no way to figure the amount of paying customers. I do know at some points in most corps shows there is a point where the drum major could not be heard, I haven't really heard audiences like that in quite some time.......

Because I go to so few shows and it's usually quite a reunion, I think too much about what I'm going to wear......I become obsessive and end up with nothing special really. When I meet Malibu in Allentown or Orlando, I usually buy all new clothes....dum da dum dum dum

It is quite distracting. I mentioned this in another thread, the corps equipment is right behind the field. We begin moving out during BD which seems to be terrible logistics.

No, no booing, however I usually don't do the standing ovation thing when a certain corps is on.

It's a shame you had that experience. I really wish it hadn't been like that for you! :( It was out and open here and I'd say 1/2 of my good friends were/are gay. That's not to say that everyone accepted it, however there would be no harrasment tolerated if I heard a bad word said. Also, if you were not accepting of it, you'd be loosing out on some great people. I love and respect my gay and straight friend equally. One of the nicest compliments I received was an instructor telling me if he wasn't gay, he'd want to date and hopefully marry me. It was a great compliment considering who said it.

Yes, a find tuned version would be a good thing. I have to go back and read the corps whore comment, I missed that, I've not been on line much......your last comment is very sweet.....

You can always ask your question. Fairer - no, to whom would it be fairer? It's a different question. Pretty cut and dry I'd say.

Oops, were we supposed to say what area of the country if it wasn't clear? Or is the demographics word just throwing me off? I'll reply again, yes, in the east, Revere, MA

Both of you have been very good at reminded me about that slice of heaven that I might miss. However, I will fill out the form as tentative, and if the stars align I shall be at the closest practice to those stars aligning. A very nice guard person also PMed me yesterday, and a few others a while back...... I promise, I'll fill it out, maybe if I can imagine it, I can be it or however that goes..... THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU AND ALL THAT HAVE CONTACTED ME.....

Although I don't know what to say about our horn line specifically, I love the way Jimmy Wedge ended most songs, like they were never going to end, you thought they were going to end and there would be maybe 24 more counts to go. Not sure if anyone knows exactly what I mean, but I enjoyed it. Especially the end of Crown Imperial - although maybe that's how most songs were written..... He was also very good at throwing in an ending say at the end of the 77 Rocky OTL, the judges tape said something like, only Jimmy Wedge could add an ending like that to any song and have such a smooth transition into it.....