rr4353

There will be a full 150, plus alternates, on the field. There was no show-and-tell this past camp. Huge alumni involvement in the preparation for this year, and the kids seem to be pushing the staff more than last year - great things are coming for the corps this anniversary season.

Honestly, they're just having fun. They have a long history of being like this - if their performances are not hurting anyone, why not let them continue? It's a good laugh and they're just kids blowing off some steam and having fun. There are enough college marching bands trying to appear more than they are and do corps-style shows - it's literally just band. As someone currently in one of the biggest, most recognized, most popular, and most historical college marching bands in the United States, I can tell you that a lot of the hype and the 'tradition' comes from being rowdy in our own unique way - and not many people in the band want it to be more than just fun. In short - It's. Just. Band. Don't make it out to be more than it is. Corps is corps (I march both in a drum corps and in college band), and band is band. Let them be their own thing. It's just band.

it was definitely a rather unfortunate flub. I feel bad for that kid, for sure.

Any news from the last camp this past weekend?

They're doing the right thing, making choices that will have lasting benefits for them. I think it speaks volumes that their founder (Freddy Martin, founded the corps 40 years ago) who, in recent years, has been quoted as saying that he never wanted to return because Spirit was 'spiraling downward', has chosen to return to them again - the staff they have in place and the plan they have is astonishingly stable relative to the time they've had to put it together for this anniversary season. I'd say look out for them. This year, the hype just might be real. They're my dark horse for this summer, for sure.

Glad we can all agree on something around here :)

Enjoy the different mediums for what they are. High school band is less difficult than DCI, yes, and of course it's less perfectly executed overall (generally). But does that make it less enjoyable? Not necessarily. It's all just a different form of band. The goal is to entertain, to educate, and to emote. Not to confuse and to enrage. It's just band.

Guys. It's just band.

I think it wouldn't be too much of a hassle to provide recordings to the corps directors, members, and staff of their corps' own finals or semis or prelims run (whatever their last filmed performance is) so they can have a momento of the season. They could be instructed not to share it, but that way they have something to keep with them as a reminder of the summer they had! Am I crazy or is that something that could easily be done?

Does anyone have any videos of semis performances? I'd love to see the nonfinalist world class corps.

No, JW definitely was interested in returning. He told the members as such. The BOD is interested in finding slightly more local staff (JW is from California, as is a lot of the visual staff who are not returning).

I'm really thinking they will be top 12, they sound phenomenal already. The organization looks to be in good hands this year :)

It was a full hornline, except for a few people who had school obligations and couldn't make it.

1. Cadets 2. Blue Devils 3. Crown 4. Bluecoats 5. Santa Clara Vanguard 6. Cavaliers 7. Blue Knights 8. Phantom Regiment 9. Boston Crusaders 10. Blue Stars 11. Crossmen 12. Spirit of Atlanta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdSvjj6l-4w Interesting... a different direction than usual. Looking forward to hearing it.