MidWAmericanArts

1. Bluecoats 2. Mandarins 3. Blue Devils 4. Carolina Crown 5. Cadets

If they get past 99, it’s going to be less than 99.2 I think. Blue Devils just had a heck of a performance, but this year’s show isn’t bulletproof like 2014.

Hate to be the bd homer, but I bet that just took all judges (outside of percussion). Great performance!

This is going to be one of those shows that I just fall in love with over time after not appreciating it fully during the season. Visual writing isn’t strong enough to take a gold, but this is my favorite music book of the season.

Of all your gripes man, I’ll never understand this one. Have you ever been a performer or taught? Individual field level skills are VASTLY different from box skills. It’s like saying VP and VA are the same. You put yourself through hating BD so much every year. You need some hippie garden of love in your life, my friend.

BD not blowing anyone out of the water. That lead looks comfortable, but only because they edged someone by a hair in 6 of the 11 judges. 2 of those slip and it’s going to be TIGHT. Finals panel looks a bit friendly for Crown, right? I still take BD, Bloo, and the Crown, but it’s going to be tighter than I’d thought.

Ordinals Scoring: BD-18, Crown-30, Bloo-32, BAC-36

Cavies, BAC, BD

https://www.dci.org/scores/final-scores/2023-dci-world-championship-prelims

If I’m judging tonight… Music Effect: Bloo, BD, Crown Visual Effect: BD, BAC, Bloo VP: BD, Crown, BAC VA: BD, Bloo, BAC Guard: BAC, Crown, BD Brass: Crown, BD, BAC MA: Crown, BD, BAC Perc: Cavies, BD, Bloo BD Crown Bloo BAC

You know, I’ve been saying that too, but the other corps have been scoring close. I could be wrong, but I strongly agree with you.

Ok, is anyone else’s FloMarching playing everything 3/4 of a full step flat? It’s driving me INSANE

I feel like the only placement that I won’t be able to decide on is 6th vs 7th.

Both visual GE judges have BAC and Crown at higher performance levels than their content. Not the best sign.

I wasn’t there love for 06-08, but I can say that the amount of booing at 2015 was sad.

Emphasis on pull ahead, as in move firmly ahead and not look back 🙂

Don’t Bluecoats stage most of their show, too?

It’s going to be like last season. Bluecoats will finally pull ahead. It’s not a matter of if but when.

Hey Crownies - try to relax. Lots of talented corps and someone has to place 4th in that bloodbath. It was Crown tonight, but 2-4 are neck and neck. It’s one night and it’s not an important one. Gotta get back up and get ready for regional #1!

I’m so glad we’re having this conversation, rather than “do more props mean more GE?”

I’m not fully sold on Crown, but this will be their best show since ‘16 at least. However, I have 3 concerns. Their visual design sometimes feels a bit forced and inauthentic, but I often feel that way about Crown. The lack of guard integration is a bit of a head scratcher to me and at least on the sky cam, feels like a step backward from most years. My last criticism is that the stage top feels a bit out of place in each movement and a bit of an eyesore, at least on the video I watched. All that being said, I tend to be fairly critical of Crown each year and I’m impressed with what they put out. I wrote off medal contention from the moment I saw them last year, but I’m not doing that this year - much more solid legs. I don’t think this will win, but that’s dependent on the strength of BAC/BD/BC.

Audio available on iTunes as of today

There is a part of me that says that corps should only play fully licensed music from now on, whether original, public domain, or fully licensed via payment. Having video of these performances are so much more important than most realize. It’s recruiting for DCI and band… it’s a memory for members, their families, and fans… it’s art that will be lost forever. If you had to make me choose between seeing groups at finals and having recordings of performances, I’d choose the latter without hesitation. Im ready for a rule change in DCI. It will limit some crops creativity, it will cost some crops extra money, but screw it, this is so much more important long term. It might not feel vital today, but wait until we have 10 years without video.

No, it’s a clear downgrade. Most of the announced percussion staff is returning to their same positions (which is honestly a huge win for them this year). Brass on the other hand lost a gem of a brass caption head and replaced him with the former caption head of BK (19-22). I’m not sure of how great Tye will be for the brass, with a good year for BK in 19 and a lackluster 22. Likely less of that was his fault than was. Regardless, the brass staff that Cavaliers had before will surely be missed.

TAKE COVER!!