candl

There are TWO types of victims: 1. Those who "consented" under duress in order to march or keep their jobs. 2. Those who refused and, so, were unable to march or continue working. (I would guess group 2 is much larger than 1. Group 2 should not be forgotten.)

sigh. I long for the day when "effect" means "effect on the audience". posted from the DrumScorps app

Academy's scores have been flat. Can you tell if it's more a visual design/musical score issue? posted from the DrumScorps app

IMO the music arranger's "failure to finish" is the source... ...why the designers seem indecisive, the design seems undeveloped, the audience response seems muted, and the emotion seems missing, etc. All because of the musical score. posted from the DrumScorps app

5 steps to "Finals flu". 1. Most Finalist corps play musical fragments. 2. Academy is distinct...it plays the whole song (e.g. Unchained Melody, Step In Time) 3. Academy becomes very popular...because it plays the whole song (not because of movie characters). 4. Academy makes Finals. 5. Academy now plays musical fragments. The symptom: Academy has abandoned the "thing" that made it so amazingly popular. posted from the DrumScorps app

Arrrgh! They abandon me! The music builds up to a climax.... ...aaaaannnd POW! (I wish) Instead, right at the climax, they stop and leave me hanging. Why would the arranger give up that huge, climactic, standing ovation moment? I don't know, but they did. posted from the DrumScorps app

Academy will probably be fine. It tends to surge. 2014: Passed up Crest about Atlanta, OC about Allentown, Spirit at the very end. 2015 was a static year. Academy didn't pass anybody, didn't get passed. 2016: Passed up BAC about Minnesota and Scouts about Allentown. (Scouts had beaten Academy by 5 at the same opening show.)

Next feature, please; ala the Win.nr app: Allow us to select favorite corps for which we receive score notifications.

We'll be in Lucas Oil Tin Can (glad every note is so nice since we'll get to hear each one thrice). Most excited to see Crown and Coats. No doubt what I'll see from Cadets: Whatever Coats did last year and not what they'll be doing in three weeks.

Muggles!

Random thoughts: When watching Bluecoats '17 and some years of Madison, I wonder why all corps aren't in white. It pops. Even the bright yellow of the Bluecoats '17 guard paled in comparison. (I always shake my head when I see people say, "If your opinion is different than mine, leave". ha) Good grief, designers; look at the long view! OC in uniforms that look like tree trunks up close, but fishing waders from the stands? Just...no. Colts in bikini tops? Phantom as Spirit? Troopers with crotch frames? I'm not sure why Cesario is channeling The Village People in his uniform designs. Disco is dead! And so are gradient colors. Also, I'm not sure why DCI accepts the appearance of impropriety by having the guy in charge of the activity's design direction also making money from the activity's design direction. I don't care what gender is on the field. I DO miss the projection of power rather than the look of children. I think three things contribute to a childish appearance: 1. Shakos and hats that are too large, resting down around the ears and looking like a child play acting with an adult's hat. 2.Uniforms that have little reference to real-world clothing. IMO that's why Academy's uniforms have been such a hit: morning coats that look like a morning coat worn by adults rather than a Halloween costume version worn by children. 3. In our culture, "masculine" is seen as "powerful", and women in men's clothing is much more acceptable than men in women's clothing. Right or wrong, there's no way around those facts.

I don't see Ike on the list.

Two discussions going on: Whether the DCE all-age corps will, as quoted in that DCI announcement, "...compete against the Blue Devils and Santa Clara Vanguard..." Whether it's a good thing for an all-age corps to "...compete against the Blue Devils and Santa Clara Vanguard...". (Interestingly, the answer to the first question doesn't answer the second, even when posted all in red lol.)

Incorrect. They are competing in World class. That's the only issue.Correct. International all-age corps fit the DCI International class perfectly. If they were competing in International class, we'd all be throwing a party rather than wondering why DCI is letting an all age corps compete in World class.

The question. What compelling reason is there for DCI to set the precedent of suspending its rules? International corps have often competed in DCI International class, DCI All Age class, DCA, Soundsport, etc.

The only issue is that the all-age corps is planning to COMPETE in World class. ...not "along with World class". ...not "as International class". ...not "judged like World class". The all-age corps will be competing as a World class corps.

Nah. I don't mind opposing opinions about whether an all age corps should compete in World class. I'm talking about comments like, "This activity isn't big enough for people to be as picky as you want to be". Lol

Lol. Some people are really exasperated...perhaps desperate(?). You can tell them by their preference for snide remarks, mean memes and denial of the issue over discussion.

That an all-age corps is expecting to compete in DCI World class is the only concern I'm expressing.

All-age international corps in DCI International class competition? Perfect. All-age international corps in junior Open and World class competition? Why?

Lol. IMO "we did it before" has got to be just about the worst reason to repeat a mistake. Just as for Beatrix and Jubal, etc., DCI International Class is a great place for international corps who otherwise fail to meet the requirements of other DCI classes. Keeping its rules is what makes DCI "international". Suspending its rules is what makes DCI regional (despite the "I").

The very essence of "international competition" is to compete beyond one's own circuit or nation by deferring to the common "international" rules. Several people have it backwards... In actuality, the word "International" is the reason FOR DCI to enforce its rules...it's the only way it can hold a 'real' international competition. The time for DCI to remove the word "International" is the moment it won't. *NOT enforcing its rules is what will make DCI a "North American" circuit with international visitors at its contests.

It could be they meant 5x the number of registrations than at this point in time last year. IMO this year's 11th place finish shows the indirect benefit of a fan-favorite like 2015's "Step In Time"; potential members are attracted to corps doing the shows they like. Not sure it still applies, but apparently The Academy won't allow kids to audition if they are auditioning at another corps. If so, I can't imagine that "all-in" attitude of the mm's resulting in anything but positive.

The solution for the west, of course, is Finals in Denver, Pasadena, Santa Clara or Vegas. Bonus: After 10 years of finals in one spot, DCI has just about worn out housing options. New spot = new blood.

(This probably should be a different post, lol) IMO kids 'do' corps for the 'exceptional experience'. I think the 'fix' could include corps staff adding things like participation in drumline battle and I&E (as well as parades, community standstills, high school band workshops, etc.) to their 'cleanest possible performance' definition of 'exception experience'.