[What would you think if...]

13 minutes ago, cfirwin3 said:

mostly because symphony orchestras and wind bands have been employing these techniques for outdoor venues for decades, because it makes sense.  I promise you that if you catch the Boston Symphony at the shell on the Charles River... you are going to hear an audio engineered performance.

Again, symphony orchestras playing outside are doing so to an entirely different audience, and realize that their strings won't be heard over the wind and the sirens by audience members 100 yards away.  Please tell me which of the Berlin, Vienna, New York or Chicago symphonies use microphones in their natural setting - the concert hall?

Because  you know what?   Orchestras don't have 24-person trumpet sections.

[The Cadets 2019]

54 minutes ago, skevinp said:

No one would blame him if he started to appear as Bob Dixon.

I always liked Ivan Dixon

[What would you think if...]

1 minute ago, garfield said:

I've admittedly been distracted from the activity this year, but did this actually happen?  I seem to have missed the "No Props" story.

 

Chester, PA.

And at MetLife, Bluecoats were allowed to stop their show in the middle of some rain in order to wipe-down their props (and potentially protect their electronics) for a few minutes, then restart their show from where they left off.

[What would you think if...]

Just now, One n Done said:

2.  Much of the amplification DOES sound excellent and improve the audience experience.

That's a subjective assessment, and one with which not everyone agrees.

[What would you think if...]

3 minutes ago, barigirl78 said:

If what I'm hearing is mostly a talented soundboard guy and expensive equipment, then the "wow" factor is gone. ...

Legal or not, it's disappointing as a fan.

Exactly.   Someone earlier said that all music performances in large venues do it, even citing outdoor classical music.  Well, when I go to outdoor classical music I'm doing it to have a pleasant picnic, not to seriously listen for audio quality, since I know it's being delivered by speakers.  If I want my classical music to sound GOOD, I go to the concert hall where no self-respecting orchestra (or opera) is feeding their sound through microphones.   Same for drum corps - I want a live performance by the performers, not a mixed, filtered, aided-by-pre-recorded-tapes, designed and operated by adults with delusions of being DJs.   Give the performance BACK to the players.  Otherwise, just cancel the season and send us all a perfected recording from a sound studio.

 

[Point Gains Since July 24th - One Anomaly]

14 minutes ago, MikeRapp said:

Cadets gaining over five points is remarkable. Great job by that team!

Hmmm ... I wonder what could have happened to explain that.

On 7/23/2019 at 6:53 PM, Eleran said:

FYI - they are working on at least one significant change/rewrite, and brought in someone with prior Cadet marching and Visual staff experience to write it

What could they have done if Bilby had been there since November.

[What would you think if...]

5 minutes ago, jeffmolnar said:

True but what if the speakers just played fart noises the whole time 

GE would increase, probably

[The Cadets 2019]

Just now, HockeyDad said:

What he said. 

That is what he said. 

^{- Copland's Lincoln Portrait, from 2014's Promise: An American Portrait}

[What would you think if...]

 

16 minutes ago, E3D said:

Next thing you know some one will bring a device that interferes with a show electronically. 

Show terrorists if you like. 

Not that the judges seem to penalize corps now when their sound systems malfunction all by themselves.

[What would you think if...]

3 minutes ago, Jurassic Lancer said:

But the ear pieces are for listening to a spread ensemble ... they are not for used to broadcast a metronome. 

Next you're going to tell me that no corps has used taped synth patches of their soloists rather than playing 100% live ...

[The Cadets 2019]

I think he meant that neither composer (from 2015 and 2016) was American, which really goes more to my comment about Cadets using American music more than your comment about them moving away from it.

However, even the Resphigi in 2016 was balanced with John Mackey for half the show, similar to prior use of American wind ensemble composers, not just orchestral composers like Copland and Bernstein.

[Shows that move or touch you]

22 minutes ago, garfield said:

Touching is not permitted in drum corps.

 

Tell that to the couple on top of the table in the back during Relentless.

[The Cadets 2019]

6 minutes ago, Jeff Ream said:

i look at it and i see them trying to be Cadets. 

They lost the uniform.  They lost the intense drill.  They lost the quality classic, Americana source music. 

What exactly about 2019 is "trying to be Cadets"?   

[Jersey Surf 2019]

22 hours ago, Jeff Ream said:

lesson learned....design for what you have, not who you want to be. 

Absolutely disagree with that.   The last several years they were held back by designs that didn't do enough FOR their players, that were too casual and lacking in depth, creativity and competitiveness.  The brand new design team wrote something for DCI, not for a college halftime show, and it showed.  Compare with the 2015 anniversary show, for example, and note 2019's increase in sophistication in both drill and arrangement.

[What would you think if...]

13 hours ago, One n Done said:

....you learned that a top 6 drum corps had wireless mic’s on over 30 of it’s brass players? 

Are we just talking about some corps having some brass members with individual mics?  Because that's not new - especially for solo parts.  Or are you saying that those players' mics are on throughout the whole show, with their performance being used electronically to cover up the sounds from players without mics?

Mics in horn bells aren't exactly a secret - they're fairly obvious (just look at the below recent DCI pic and you can see at least three personal mics) 

 

 

[The Cadets 2019]

"Story" shows are not inherently bad or worse than non-story shows (e.g. Spartacus, Drum Corpse Bride, Relentless, etc.), and can vary much as to how literal a story is presented or whether the show is merely alluding to the major themes of the story (e.g. As Dreams Are Made On, Inferno, Wicked Games).  The problem is that writing a story (pr adapting one) that can be visually mimed by 154 people on a football field in 12 minutes without detracting from the music is a skill that most DCI designers do not possess (and often are unaware that they lack it).  

But similarly, most are unable to present a coherent, enjoyable non-story show as well, so there's that.

[The Cadets 2019]

No matter what happens (who stays, who leaves of their own volition, who is asked to leave) ... since in a week everyone's attention will quickly revert to real life, let me say before then:

• Every one of the Cadets staff was trying to bring success to the Cadets in 2019, and for that they deserve our thanks;
• Special Commendations to:
  • the Media team (Josh Clements, Photographer; Jake Hutchinson, Videographer; Roxanna Peykamian, Video Editor; Will Richards, Social Media Specialist) who turned out excellent content (within the boundaries of what they were permitted to release) all season long - better than any prior year (though Robert Machado's videos in 2016 were also excellent);
  • whomever designed, constructed and maintained the prop bridges, which were professionally realized and presented opportunities to the Cadets unlike ever before;
  • the medical staff (Kenn Phillips and Daniel Auli) for what appears to have been a season mostly free of major medical concerns (though some of that could also be a result of the limited drill in this show, especially of the whiplash variety);
  • Aaron Witek, assistant brass caption head, who appears to have the technical knowledge and methods to both instruct and motivate players - I think many Cadets wish he had been on tour all summer (he was limited to a few weeks during Spring Training, and then rejoined at Atlanta Regional); 
  • the Administration Interns (Israel DeMello and Alfred Braza), and especially the Tour Manager (Lauren Davis), who were asked to perform more than they undoubtedly bargained for, and appear to have done so with grace and professionalism beyond their years.

I hope they all enjoy this Finals Week, for which they have worked so hard all summer, and I hope they hear the "thank yous" which they deserve from all the Members. 

[DCI Open Class World Championship Prelims - 8/5]

Allons-y, Les Stentors!!!

[Some interesting ideas...worth considering from Ken...]

6 minutes ago, Cappybara said:

Good points. Regardless, we can at least agree that corps with "uniforms" that aren't even consistent from person to person is a little ridiculous, yes?  [emphasis added]

Not to put words in his mouth, but why would he agree with that?   He just told you he values the celebration of individual rock star members.  How better than having unique costumes where those stars are more easily noticed?

Not that I necessarily agree with that line of reasoning, but it's pointless to presume any consensus agreement.

[The Cadets 2019]

1 hour ago, George Dixon said:

so I took a stop watch to the brass playing - they play exactly 7:43 of the program

As bad as that is ...  so much of the book is broken up into group features - trumpets only, mellos only, tuba's only, etc. ...  that I calculated only 5:24 for lead trumpets.  Take away the soloist times, and it might even be worse for 2nd/3rd trumpets.  It's utterly abhorrent.   If these kids had wanted to spend a fortune to dance all summer, they could have gone to the Abby Lee Dance Center instead.  

[Allentown, PA - Saturday, August 3, 2019]

4 minutes ago, exitmusic said:

Has nothing to do with the kids in the corps, who are incredible as usual. The adults have let them down. The kids' talents are wasted by a failure to instruct at a high level. 

Then you don't write "the hornline" - you write the 'brass arrangement" or the "brass design".  The "hornline" ARE the kids.

[Allentown, PA - Saturday, August 3, 2019]

3 minutes ago, exitmusic said:

The Cadets hornline is a #### train wreck.

 

1 minute ago, MikeRapp said:

That’s no doubt the reason the design has them pushing props around the field rather than playing.

The two of you take the cake for classless pieces of trash.

[Cadets Alumni Corps?]

Someone mentioned Holy Bass Alumni?  They're live in Allentown

 

 

 

[The Cadets 2019]

9 hours ago, ranintothedoor said:

To be honest, I say give staff folks 3 years and watch for growth. 

This was the third year for Shanefield and Aungst running brass/percussion.

[How do the Cadets right the ship?]

19 minutes ago, kdaddy said:

Chris Johnston is listed along with Bobby Jones as drill writer on the corps webpage. Is that a recent change? Is Johnston just doing rewrites? 

(Asking as a phan who sees he has a Regiment background...)

Johnston was the Visual Caption head.  When Jones was ousted during Spring Training, Johnston stepped in to finish/fix the drill.  Jon Bilby was brought in a couple weeks ago to rewrite the closer.