LabMaster

How do you KNOW Boston is younger? They have barely established their membership. That happened last week. And that is likely similar to many corps having their final callbacks and auditions right about now. And there is no question mark in the Boston ranks with the departure (not “loss”) of Potter. They are just fine. Hoping for BAC to BAC!

Yes it is January and very VERY early to make any prediction other than any beyond a wishful thinking. Remember, every org has improved and is making a move up. But the reality is, corps are having their callbacks and finalizing auditions right about now. Very doubtful any corps has put their full “books” out to members, since they may not know who all their members for 26 are. So to claim they have stepped up their book for brass and pit, is head scratching. Just yet. Lastly you mention Boston lost a ton of vets. Do you mean vets or age outs, or both? I believe they did have quite a few age outs. A photo of camp last week in SA showed upwards of 200 brass for a callback/audition/production camp. 31 tubas in that crowd. Would love to have heard ensemble, but these days no one lets anything out for folks like DCP’rs to hear. Hoping for BAC to BAC for Boston.

Forecast is 22”+ from Sun-Mon in NH. We’ll be pretty normal by Monday night. Back to work Tuesday am.

I may have rushed my look back as I had a short break in my middle school substitute schedule but a quick view of where previous winners placed on a following year (excluding BD following themselves) I had 8 times 1 dropped to 2 5 times 1 dropped to 3 3 times 1 dropped to 5 2 times 1 dropped to 4 0 times 1 dropped to 6, 7, or 8 1 time 1 dropped to 9 The time period I looked at was from 1999 thru 2025. Looking back over the past 25 years seems an adequate sampling, to dispel the notion that previous winners will fall to 5th in a following season. There is more likelihood they go to 2nd. The drop to 9th is definitely an aberration. Disregarding that drop, the average is a drop to 3rd. Check my math. It was during a short free period that I looked at Finals scores. Just a funliner exercise.

The quick answer instead of going into the way back machine is to look at it in 5 year chunks. Only going back say to 2000 to now there has been a significant reduction in amount of shows. Many corps used to have over 30 shows per season. Now it’s in the teens for most all corps. Most of what can be learned is anecdotal. But there little doubt, cost is the major factor. Safety has been a factor. Housing availability is a very likely factor as well.

I’ll refrain answering if all you’re intending to do is start an argument. What you want days and dates? Good gosh. In past years corps used to go on much longer overnight drive than they do these days. How long were your overnights? Are you remembering back in the 80’s? 70’s? Or since 00’s?

A few years ago. It has been a while.

You can also factor in a safety issue of corps traveling shorter distances between shows. No more 600 mile travel and a couple of jors floor time, a brief rehearsal (maybe), perform, then on to the next show. Oh squeeze in time to eat and shower. Corps have days between shows for most of their tours these days.

First indications are coming soon. Jannuals are underway this weekend. Corps are having final auditions and callbacks at January camps, with some being production camps as well. Meaning the first elements of their 2026 production begins. Only 24 or so weeks until the first show.

I believe you got all of that exactly right. It all adds to the cost of the final product.

That is how I understood it as well. I was buying material manufactured in China during that same time period. And tariffs were applied if the product came to the US. Mine did, so a tariff was applied and passed on to consumers, even though what I was buying, was a DTC item like merchandise is/was. What I was buying required final assembly in Canada, but it was shipped to LA and SFO first. My bothers company got around tariffs from Asian manufacturers, by shipping product to Mexico (no tariffs at that time) then on to the US for final assembly. So I am sure these instruments costs will increase due to tariffs.

The same as what? Tariffs are supposed to be on any goods made offshore. Full assemblies, partial assemblies and parts for assembly in the US.

How does the tariff piece fit into this? Tariffs were supposed to bring manufacturing back to the US, or keep it in the USA.

Really, what’s there to say about PB&J? Simple food for simple people.

Are flags and rifles props ?