chris7997

I know I'm going to get booed for this, but how about 1 show...just one...that brings back the old school musicals...like Phantom of Opera or Fiddler on the Roof. Maybe Les Mis?

My friend who is somewhat of a drum corps newbie was asking me the following questions, which I should have known the answer for, but did not. Please feel free to pick any one or more of the following to answer. 1. Who is the person(s) who has complete say and makes the final decision on what type of show the corps will be doing in the coming year? Do all of the Caption heads meet in a room to listen to music and vote on which music they like the best? How is that process play itself out? How are new show decisions decided? When do they begin? In September? 2. How many Caption Heads of the Top 12 corps are working full time for the corps? Do most have other jobs? Like band teachers, etc.? 3. What is the main responsibility of a "corps director"? What is the main responsibility of a corps' executive director? 4. Why is it called a "Caption?" Like Caption Head? Kind of a strange word. 5. How much does it cost an individual to play in any of the TOP 12 corps (total expense...winter rehearsals and travel, spring, summer)...does the corps pay for airfare? What if a music prodigy kid cannot afford it? Do corps offer scholarships? Does DCI offer scholarships for low-income families? 6. What does an Open Class corps have to do to become a World Class corps? Is there a membership requirement? Do you have to present your case to DCI to jump to World Class? 7. How often, if at all, do corps recruit specific people? E.G. Johnny Trumpet playing Triple G's...plays for Blue Devils...would the Bluecoats or Crown ever recruit Johnny to come play for them? 8. Is drum corps a relatively "clean" activity? Or is there still drug and alcohol problems? If someone is caught doing drugs in any of the corps, will they be immediately sent home? 9. Does the winning corps get anything? Like a new set of drum equipment from Vic Firth or a money prize from DCI? 10. Has anyone ever been injured during a show...like broken a leg? What happened? If that ever happens, will the corps get marked down? Will they stop the show?

This is just a random question (I need guidance/advice on this)...but would it also make sense to... 1. Publish/Make More Available info on which drum corps the judges themselves played with or were involved with? To spot any potential bias? 2. Throw out the high and the low score, like they do in the Olympics? 3. Have a FAN FAVORITE every year on Finals Night ... TEXT to VOTE ... TEXTS are tallied and Award is Presented after announcing judged 1st place winner

I'm not a BD fan, but I LOVED you guys this year...perhaps my favorite show.

The LAST thing DCI needs is OSHA coming in and over-regulating marching band field shows. You can be self-regulating, safe, without getting government and the lawyers involved. This isn't a job workplace. This is a volunteer activity.

Is that video available, viewable to public?

If David Warren is conducting again, they should do something innovative with him... e.g. have his conducting as a part of the show on the field as they wheel him around on a platform...

Hi all, what are everyone's final thoughts on 2016? I attended all three nights of finals. My opinion: Bluecoats were magnificent. To me the skate-board ramps weren't the only reason why they won. It was the unbridled enthusiasm and unleashed freedom of the musicians. It was part playground, part wild fiesta, part heavenly joy, part freedom of flight, etc. No wonder people have written this is the show that will change drum corps moving forward. Carolina Crown's changed ending, where the guy showed him grace, instead of shooting him was a smart move. It was a show that tugged your heart strings. A brilliant visual show. LOVED the theme. Very well done. Blue Devils - I'm not a BD fan, but I was this year. This show was so creative and so well done. The 20 or so trombones...oh my Lord. This is the show I would want non-drum corps people to see to introduce them to drum corps. It just blew me away. Most dramatic show. Love the tarp and wave. Very triumphant towards the end. Bravo! Cadets - I didn't think they were as bad as a lot of people are saying. Great show. Very entertaining. Ok, from a design stand-point, a little unfinished, but still a very very good show. SCV - sorry SCV. I didn't understand it. My eyes needed a break because of all the white...white pants...white posters, white trees. The beginning was sublime, but everything else was confusing, had no coherent theme (even though it's supposed to be force of nature), the pink color guard clashed completely...the music was boring (except for beginning) and content was vague. Cavaliers - WOW. WOW. WOW. Visually exciting and brilliant. Tremendous music and horn line. Creative! Not ideological or divisive AT ALL...just explaining the phenomenon of propoganda. A show to be remembered. Academy - WOW. WOW. WOW. One of my favorites. Drum Major was SUPERB.

I agree. You can't have "Mary Poppins" shows all the time...and a lot of corps who did esoteric concepts in 2015 did more substantive shows in 2016...but you can also have a little substance without being cheesy or "Disney"-esque. Make it 90% esoteric/artistic if you want, but give us a LITTLE substance.

Sloppy shows with bad marching...people out of step. Lines that are supposed to be flush, but are jagged.

Yes. And sometimes, ironically, TRYING to only keep time, messes up the tempo of your players...because you aren't being as passionate and forceful with the tempo....you aren't commanding the members' attention with clear down beats. It works both ways. There does need to be a balance of course, but please...get a little bit excited and refrain from looking COMPLETELY BORED while conducting.

Drum Majors that show NO emotion. We need/want more drum majors like David Warren and James Taylor (name?) from The Academy!!

I'm sick and tired of post-modern shows that have no substance...like "Continuum." What is it? It's all head, no heart. Art and music should move you, tug at your heart strings, in addition to inspiring you in your head. This is why I didn't like the SCV show, even though everyone thinks it's beautiful. Too much white visually...white tree, white pants, my eyes need a break! And what was it about? It was too disjointed...the beginning was the only inspiring part. But the rest of the show was just a string of sound. The favorites were the shows that had meaning...The Academy, Crown, Cavaliers, etc. Even Bluecoats seemed to be communicating "joy" and "freedom". But vague esoteric shows that try to impress the judges with how "artistic" they are being with vague and unmemorable themes, cause nothing but confusion and "what is it" blank stares from their audiences. Another complaint: Not playing America the Beautiful at awards ceremony as was tradition in the '90s...for all the corps to play, with the winning conductor conducting 12 finalist corps.

Bluecoats: Unleashed Blue Devils: Triumphant Crown: Heartfelt SCV: Confusing Cavaliers: Superb Cadets: Triple-tounging Blue Knights: Fascinating Phantom: Conductor Blue Stars: Impressive Crossmen: Vague Academy: Brilliant BAC: Creative

I want to use this post to apologize publicly to the Cavaliers. A couple of months ago I posted a negative complaint after learning the Cavaliers used Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump sound bites in their show. My complaint included accusations that I learned to be untrue. After seeing the show at Finals week in Indianapolis, I concluded my concerns were not true and unfounded. The show wasn't political and did not push an agenda, as I had earlier stated. It was brilliant. One of my favorite performances. The concept is brilliant. The visuals were outstanding. And the music was awe-inspiring. It was very well balanced commentary on the phenomenon of "propaganda," and did not aim their message at one side over the other. Again, I'm sorry for jumping the gun publicly. I regret my knee-jerk negativity any frustration it caused. I look forward to many more shows from the Cavaliers and appreciate all the Cavaliers do for young people and this worthy endeavor. All the best, Chris

There's NO way that Bluecoats do not win Finals. Their GE is just too flipping out there. It's an unleashed show...countering all the conventional boundaries of drum corps. They are playing on a different level than everyone else. And that is saying something, because the Blue Devils show is excellent and so is Crown's. Bluecoats have everything ... it's like a playground, a wild fiesta, an fast air plane ride, and a space ship ride all in one.

Does anyone know when they are announcing scores?

The soloists for Blue Coats were ON FIRE tonight. Blue Coats, in my opinion, did even better tonight than their prelims. Just completely out this world. This is a show for the ages. Blue Devils were excellent too. Crown was great. Everyone did a great job. I'm not getting the Vanguard show, sorry Vanguard. It's too ethereal. The opener is nice, but there's no substance to the show.

I predict that the Bluecoats and Carolina Crown will have shows that bring down the house...with BD coming in 3 and 4th during prelims and semi-finals, but BD will introduce the Muppets puppets during the Finals performance, thereby winning first place....the first show to every feature muppets. There will be pandemonium in the stadium...riots in Indianapolis outside the stadium...bar brawls...and pledges to burn DCI flags...the muppets puppets will be torn to pieces by crowds of angry protesters...but then we'll get over it and do it again next year.

Sorry guys...my friend is going now, so these tickets aren't available anymore. Chris

In overall show quality how does 2016 compare to 2015. 1. 2016 is WAY better. 2. 2016 is Somewhat better 3. About the same as 2015 - same quality of shows 4. 2015 was somewhat better 5. This year is kind of flat and boring compared to 2015

Not a hassle at all. No lines. No bottle necks near entry doors. Just be in your seat before the start of the next performance, because people held in hallway will experience a bottle neck trying to scramble to their rows in between performances...but only for semis and finals. Prelims isn't as busy/crowded.

T-shirt and shorts. Very comfortable.

That tailgate looks great. Q - does anyone know if Lucas Oil stadium has a room to check luggage (for people arriving right from the airport on Thursday)? I doubt it, but just thought I'd ask. Q - Is DCI doing the 5K race again this year?

Hi all, Any advice for someone totally on their own? My friend may have to cancel, and so I'll be flying solo all three days/shows. Randomly go up to people to make new friends? Chris