82ryder

I know... no motors in DCI... (note: I marched with a Corps that helped bring about the 'no animals" rule)... so with that aside, just as a proof-of-concept exercise, why not utilize a simple system similar to robotic studio TV cameras instead of GPS..? Companies such as Vinten have had systems in play for decades that will move and relocated motorized camera supports based on a simple "direction and distance" model from a singular home starting location that may easily apply to platform and/or prop movement. Something similar would require nothing more than a simple definable 'target' for a starting reference. This would require no need for advanced venue scouting or individual re-calibration per new venue. You could utilize the fact that pretty much all performance areas (football fields) are standard and uniform in dimension to your advantage. In theory, as the props or platforms were being moved towards the field in pre-show, you would define a repeatable and standard location as your initial targeting position. It could be something as simple as the very corner of the end zone markings where the sideline and end zone lines intersect. If you were to align a square stage with two sides lined up exactly along those two intersecting field markings, the prop would then have a base or 'home' reference that it could easily use to calculate and determine the location and dimensions of the performance area. It now has a defined X/Y axis area for direction. All it needs now is distance information for positioning. It can obtain that from something as simple as defined distance traveled based on calculated wheel travel. So... give it a home for reference... tell it what direction it needs to go based on that home reference... tell it how many wheel turns it needs to make to achieve the required distance... and BOOM... your stage is set at position #1 for the opening number. You then utilize each new position as the targeting location for the next move. It's kind of like reading directions to a scavenger hunt. "Start here... then go there... from there, go here..." and so on. Speed programming could be done by defining the 'time' used to complete the required distance traveled per move, easily incorporating prop movement into the visuals. Again, just a thought... Something along those lines might provide a simpler engineering approach to a GPS based system. But hey... I'm no engineer, so I could be totally wrong on all this...

I know it's just one night of scores... And analyzing score is NOT my strong suit... But I took a quick glance at the Foxboro breakdown and the Cadets GE-Rep #'s were both ahead of BD. The VA-Comp score is right there with BD as well. Can someone help a severely "numbers analysis challenged" individual such as myself understand how those scores are indicative of a 'boring' and 'same old' show...? In all honesty, I'm trying to understand what I'm missing here...

The Sky Ryders received a Grammy nomination in 1983 for Kerchner's arrangement of "Home on the Range." I want to say that it was eventually dis-allowed because of the limited commercial availability of DCI recordings (could be wrong). Would that same issue still apply today...?

Sorry about the quality... just a quick frame grab from an old video...:

But this Dino is OK with a one and done homage.....

Several years ago, Michael Boo had a great piece on dci.org recalling a discussion he had with Dennis DeLucia... and one subject that came up was Bobby Hoffman's original vision for uniforms that eventually was responsible for creating the signature 'Bayonne' look. It's a great read, especially the story of how the hat style came to be. The whole thing can be found here...: http://www.dci.org/news/view.cfm?news_id=d278db64-2057-4781-b5d9-c589924090a1 Anyway... back to why this Jersey Surf uni reminded me of the article. This is close to what the Bridgemen 'might' have been. Here's a quick snip of what Hoffman had in mind...: “So, now we had a long coat and a “pimp” hat. Boots? Gone in favor of shoes. Plume? NO WAY! Instead, we had a brightly colored scarf tied around the brim, with an 18-inch piece hanging down the back. Color? Bobby’s vision now switched from black to pastels; each section of the corps would wear the long coat, but the sopranos would wear lime green, the mid-range pale yellow, the low brass pale blue, the drum line light pink and the guard lavender. (I forget which section was going to wear what color, but the concept I’ve outlined is absolutely accurate.) “This way, if the sopranos had the lead, it would be a “green” moment; the drum solo would be a “pink” moment, etc. So, he had samples made of the coat in four of the colors, and at the end of a Sunday rehearsal he had four members of the corps go into a back room and put them on. He then told the corps about the concept behind the look, the “attitude” and the show. With baited breath he asked the four “models” to come into the room. “I thought that we would never get out alive! The reaction to the ideas was one of ready acceptance, but those COLORS! Kids threatened to quit and/or run the staff out of town!" For me, that just made this uni choice that much more fun to see...

I know the 'modified western' look of the early 80's Sky Ryders wasn't for everyone... I think it worked for the era and style of SR during those years. It did play a role in my audition choice for my 'rook-out' year. I will be honest and say that I think the blue pallette of '83 was a step up from what I proudly wore in '82. I really wanted to take the SR topic... But every time I started, I felt it was too much of a 'homer' post. Thought it best to leave it to a non-bias pair of eyes. I was going to use the monochrome black versus white uni's of '87 as my miss, but in the context of the show theme they were perfect... And years before 'Angels and Demons'. And I do thank losnickes for the 'not horrible' clarifier... ;)

You should have heard them "SNAP" those things closed as a group... Really got your attention. (edit: added a full color pic found in the Historical forum)

My old corps went down the same road. Hence the saying: "Birds don't fly in DCI"... My beloved SR utilized the 10 yards of Rainbow almost 35 years ago, so I'm not exactly the guy who has a lot of room to be critical of props...

First experience was actually a live show courtesy of my HS Band Director, Ron Curtis. It was the summer of 1978 in Alton, IL. I was getting ready to start my Senior year in HS. Pretty good lineup also...: Phantom Regiment Spirit of Atlanta North Star Cavaliers Garfield Cadets Oakland Crusaders Offensive Lions Squires I still remember watching the PBS Special from 1980 with my brother and parents... in B&W... (we didn't have a color TV at the tIme). Who knew that a few years later my brother and I would be playing Bari and Contra in a Top-12 Corps... Funny how things get started some times.

Found this on the SR Alumni Scholarship FB page...: Thought this appropriate since the 80's 'standard' of 8 Contra players seemed to provide plenty of low end BITD. Of course, I have a theory about that as well...: Sorry... Couldn't resist... And before a 7 page tonal comparison breaks out surrounding the 'bhlaaaaat' quotient of older lines, please realize this is just my weak attempt at a light-hearted response... (and a really good excuse to post that King ad...)

Wow... all we had was a 'repurposed' KFC Chicken bucket tied to a helium balloon. :wink: Being an old still shooter, I am enjoying the images that are being collected by these fancy flying machines.

To this day, I am still partial to the '82 Madison version of "Strawberry Soup". To me, it's a perfect condensation of the 17+ minute original with satisfying builds and jaw-dropping payoffs... I was sooo jealous of that chart that year. And yes, I prefer the '82 version over '83... probably more for personal reasons. I also give it the knod over later versions by BD and Crossmen. Unfortunately, I have never heard the '78 version from the Cadets.

John Simpson and the Sky Ryders will forever be responsible for creating one of the most memorable periods of my life. That bio entry almost reads like a play-by-play of my summer of ’82. The Kerchner charts… The monstrous K-90… and that unmistakable Simpson Sound. I wish I was a stronger wordsmith. John Simpson deserves much more that the few lines of praise that my simple vocabulary can muster for this post.

I seem to remember the '84 and '88 Suncoast Sound shows generating some interesting conversations BITD. I'm not sure of the exact show titles... I seem to remember '84 as "Six O S" and '88 as referencing "The Contemporary Child". Could be waaaay off on that. This Dino gettin' old.

cixeksyd is correct... The difference between Canadian and US TV standards kept the 1981 finals from Montreal from being broadcast. From the DCI website...: "...While complications with PBS broadcasting from Canada were worked out for the following year’s return to Montreal, the broadcast for 1981 had to originate from the DCI Midwest Finals in Whitewater, Wis., two weeks prior to the Montreal Finals..."

Oh boy... classic example of how bad I am.... I thought his name was Daniel... :blink:/> :blink:/> :lookaround:/> :lookaround:/>

After reading the OP, I did a quick test...: It "should" have been easy... I marched my rook-out 31 years ago in an 8-man Contra section. I should easily remember the first names of my section-mates, right...??? BZZZZZZ.... Nope... couldn't do it off the top of my head. I can see their faces as clear as day, but could not nail all the names. I had to revisit a few old photos and shake my brother's memory (Bari in same horn line) as well. At least I have them now, well... for the time being...

In an earlier thread about this subject, someone posted this link to a John Simpson article describing the difference and how it involved the range of overtones the instruments could handle. Having competed in a Simpson horn line, I respect his opinion on any and all things bugle related...

Age = 52 First live show = '78 "Rook-out" year and finalist = '82 and a green newbie to this board. I'm pretty much a Dino... but I continue to purchase tickets and attend shows when I can. I also try and introduce new people to the activity when ever possible. It's not 'my' sport any more and I may not agree with the changes that have taken place in the past 30 years... but once Drum Corps, always Drum Corps. There is a common bond between anyone who has ever taken the field in competition or exhibition, regardless of era, regardless of age. I will always respect the ones that came before me... I will do my best to represent well the ones that I competed with... and will always cheer loudly the ones that follow.

For me, it's a 'yes/yes'... but it's for rather personal reasons...: The first is the John Simpson horn line that convinced me to march SR as my rook-out in '82. The second contains one of the only charts I was 'jealous' of in '82 with "Strawberry Soup". So i'm somewhat bias...

Faces...!!!!! What a rotten time for an old Sky Ryder to not have FN.... :(

Hate to go OT on my first ever post... but I was actually listening to an audio copy of MBBB's '82 show while driving earlier today. My Corps did several shows with them in '82 on the DCS tour. I LOVED their sound that year... and yes, the closer still moves my emotions. Glad to know that the Colts were able to do a MBBB alum proud.