yellow jacket

But there is a re-sale market for the Bb horns.

VK; although Jerset Surf is making me forget my pain at times...

Hadn't seen that. Thanks!

Blue Devils (Blue Devil Parents Assoc.) for FYE December 2011 stated on their 990 form that the A corps had program services expenses of just over $2 million will income of just over $1.2 million. B and C corps come closer to breaking even on expenses v. revenues. Near as I can tell: $1.8 million in Bingo revenues. Gotta love those bingo halls!

My math has it at 350k to 500k in member fees on the revenue side pf the quqation. I will look for some information off of Guidestar to fill in the gaps, but I have heard 1 million to 1.3 annual operating costs for a world class corps with a full touring schedule.

I watched and listened to Semi-finals in the judges booth. Sound was pretty darn good from where I was sitting! Right on the 50, with every horn up seemingly pointed right at me... DCI booth to my left; Venrod VIP booth to my right. Can't wait for the DVD's. KW

I was at the age-out ceremony and it looked like Crown and BD had a TON of age-outs. General guess was that they were losing the most, but I hope to see more specific information.

Why do people keep insisting that the G horns would be "louder" than the Bb horns? Is there something about the physics of their construction that makes this so? In all of the research I have done (somewhat limited) I have flund nothing about the basic construction of these instruments that would suggest Bb or G is louder than the other. From Kanstul's line of marching instruments, here are some specs: BbTrumpet: .470 Bore with a 5 1/16 inch bell G Soprano Bugle: .470 bore witha 5 inch bell What is supposed to be making that G bugle sound so much louder??? Is it less tubing (since it is in G instead of Bb)?? Help please with the physics of this "G is louder" assertion.

Last time Blue Devils had jazz in their show? 20 seconds of the 2013 show. Okay, maybe 22 seconds of the 2013 show; which was pure joy. The rest was mostly pure pain or pure indifference for me. I consider much of the 2011 show" jazz," within the loose confines of Jazz as described by other, earlier posters. There should be room for Bacharach under the big tent of Jazz. I do long for the more "big band" stlye arrangements that were such a part of their past. Please, just give it to us one year in full heavy doses of swing!!!!

THIS!!!!!!!

I disagree. Crown's book is insanely challenging, and so very well executed. Cadets show leaves me asking the question: would Samuel Barber approve? BD's show leaves me asking the question: why do they only give me 30 seconds of the Blue Devils sound? Crown's show leaves me asking the question: Would you please play that again, and again, and again...?

45; but 24 in drum corps years (first exposed to dci in 1989)

Regal 12 in Fort Wayne, IN. Then down to Indy on Friday for volunteer work at Semifinals. Very excited and very distracted right now. best season in years; so many shows I am excited to see!

Thanks to both replies - This helps a ton!

I want to hear hornlines and/or drumlines on Friday afternoon before going into the stadium. Anyplace in particular I should scope out to get that "in the lot" feeling?

I follow DCP fora near daily during the competitive season; I check once or twice a month in the off-season. I stick mainly to world class discussions and show reviews (in season). I have visitied the DCP forums for over five years now; just joined this summer in order to make the occasional post or thread topic.

Scouts had 20 tubas a couple of years back. I tend to see 15-16 tubas as a regular staple when I watch videos of current corps. I think the answer to this "synth helping the bass" problem is to balance out the horn line better. I agree with other posters about the synth over-powering some of the portions of the shows.

wow! what a sound!

How about a giant EVIL QUEEN fetus that is worked as a puppet. Now we are on to something...

Most of Crown's narration is significant to the original work, Glass' opera Einstein on the Beach. I am not a fan of narration in general, and was originally turned off by Crown's show with the narration, but once I listened to the original material it made sense to me and fits perfectly. They evoke the spirit of that opera and have masterfully integrated ASZ into the overal show.

Classy! I am certainly rooting for Crown this year (really every year since Triple Crown - so much fun and so much entertainment) but I wouldn't be a drum corps fan if it wasn't for the Blue Devils and the Phantom Regiment. I marched two years in college and was taught the ways of marching music by two fantastic musicians in our trombone line, one who formerly had performed (and was a drum major) with Phantom Regiment and one who performed with Blue Devils and won a championship. That was my entree into DCI fandom, my exposure to the activity through them. The Blue Devils were quickly my favorite with their great jazz shows (I started watching DCI in 1988). I still love the Devils, even if I don't love their recent shows as much as their earlier shows. But now I have grown to love and appreciate so many corps. This is what happens when folks promotoe the overall activitiy and genuinely root for everyone to do well. It is one of the best characteristics in the activity, even if that characteristic is not always on display on DCP fora.

Fellow Drum Corps fanatics: I am going to be in Indianapolis all day Friday leading up to Friday afternoon/evening's semifinals perfromances. I have only been to DCI in Indy for a Finals night (Saturday), and that was just to breeze into town for the performances and then back home That one time was in 2011. This time I am there for all of Friday. What should I be checking out? Where can I hear and see hornlines or drumlines warm up? Are there recommendations for DRUM CORPS related stuff to enjoy leading up to seeing everyone perform live? I'd love to hear from more experienced patrons about how to make my Friday great. Getting pumped about next week!

I voted for 8: Crown; Blue Devils; Cadets; Vanguard; Bluecoats; Phantom; Boston Crusaders; Cavaliers I hope that a ninth (Madison) slips in, and because I love First Cirlce so much I would like to see Blue Knights rewarded for what appears to be an excellent program (only from watching videos - can't wait to see this show and the others in the pre-lims theater simulcast). Voted for 8; hoping for 9 or 10. What a great season!

I thnk the Cadets staff will iron that issue out quite sufficiently in ensemble practice. Thorough repetition will fix what ails them. The only moment I can think it might even come into the performers heads (and I say "might" because pf the incredible discipline and professionalism for which Cadets is known) is if the players starting thinking about the trouble spot a measure or two before it comes - almost over-thinking it.

I share others' preference that Phanton of the Opera not come back again, but if it did I would want to hear Crown's hornline deal with the score. Broadway shows are tempting as possible themes for show design because there is often a compelling story to tell, along with accessible and recognizable music and melodies. But let's dig for some repertoire that has not yet been "beaten to death" as another poster had commented. How about "Jersey Surf presents Spamalot?" I know Urinetown may be too off-color, but it's the kind of show that Blue Knights might see as a challenge to develop. Can't you just see the Cavaliers offering Billy Elliot and conveying the story through their athletic and talented guard? Marry Hairspray's catchy jazz/pop songs with Spirit of Atlanta's entertaining drums and brass. Crown palys a fun version of "You Can't Stop the Beat" from that very show in some of their parade or encore stuff. I lik eBroadway shows for drum corps show design material, but maybe Phantom has been enough.