LabMaster

I'm not sure they can conquer a corps or two ahead of them just yet, but if they can, that would be tremendous. At the very least, closing the gap that has opened up would be pretty telling that the show is coming together. They'll need to stay ahead of Blue Stars tonight and gain ground on Madison. I believe you are right about having changes in place by Allentown. They cannot be tinkering after that. All changes need to be in place and being worked between now and mid week next week, so they can see them in live performance in Quincy, before they get to Allentown.

I think the order is right for tonight but the high score will be over 90. Cadets 90.5 BD 89.9 Crown 89.45 SCV 88.7 Bloo 88.65 Cavies 86.2 Phantom 85.5

I'm going with: Madison Boston Blue Stars Colts Spirit Mandarins Southwind Heat Wave

So where does Boston go from here? They have 7 shows left before quarters in Indy. They have a lot of off days where they can clean. Will they clean or add? Will they add through Atlanta and then only clean from there? What is a strategy for Boston ( any corps for that matter)at this point in their schedules? How critical is their score in Atlanta to prove significant performance inprovment and stay with their tier pack? Can they catch Madison? They have been known to make a late season surge although most recenlty the surge hasn't been all that much, if at all. I have faith. Much more faith in BAC than I have in the Red Sox.

The thing is, all corps kids are working hard. It isn't exclusive to Boston.

Total guess, emphasis on guess: Carolina: 87.35 Bluecoats: 86.45 Cavies: 82.60 Boston: 79.75 Academy: 75.50 Cascades: 66.50 Pioneer: 62.90 Southwind: 59.75 Good luck to all.

Very true Craiga. But maybe related to being in control of their own destiny; I am not sure any endeavor that relies on another persons judgement, enables anyone true control over their destiny. It got me wondering though from a points assessment standpoint, there seems to be, each year for Boston, a slowdown in the progression of score. I get that all scores are based on a nights perforamance and a comparison to other corps performances in the same show as well. It just seems that there is a (putting on my conspiracy theory tin foil hat now) manipulation of numbers to keep some corps tiered, dare I say slotted, so there is greater competition between them. It appears fabricated. I believe ALL corps when they get to a certain point of the season, even with changes going in, performance levels should not necessarily stagnate or drop. Logically speaking it does not make sense that some corps have no drops in points at all while other fluctuate significantly. To qualify what I mean by significantly: at this point of the season a 2 point drop; a hold of a score or very limited increase of say .5 over three shows. Maybe it is my perception alone but at least it gives me something to do between shows, to look at scores to see if there is any correlation or if I need a meds adjustment. Beyond that, Boston certainly has some work ahead of them and I hope they are concentrating on cleaning. And from what all reviews of their show have been, looking at prop/banner staging. If what they are doing, is planned for Indy alone, if they aren't getting any credit while they work toward Indy, they will not all of a sudden get the credit in Indy where the viewers of the show go "AAAHHH, so thats what they meant to do". None is not meant to be critical. Cautionary maybe but not critical. I believe in the direction the corps is going and support them fully. Although I won't quite rise to overstating their efforts saying they are doing things no other corps is doing in DCI. Patience & faith are my watchwords. Eat em up Boston.

WHAT? What could that possibly mean? That connotes a very serious offense bubba! Explain the dumba@& use of that.

Waaabhh.

I believe Boston has a staff MD who is on tour with them all summer. For real. Along with a couple of physical trainers too. So for them, there is alot of attention paid to the physical health of the MM's. With the physical demands on MM's throughout World and Open class corps, I would hope there is a significant focus on physical preparation. What corps do to that end I don't know. With all the knowledge about nutrition, proper rest and overall care of one's body while on tour. Corps should be planning into their day, the appropriate attention this would need. And after all the physical stuff for performing a show, the conditions factor into it as well. These kids are at altitude, sea level, cold, heat (lots of heat), wet, arid, on a bus, off the bus, on a gym floor. What is done in todays shows is far more rigorous that what I went through BITD and when I taught for several years after.

It is my hope that the work the kids (and staff) are putting in is directly performance related and is more in the vein of cleaning both visually and musically. I hope there is less tinkering with show design except for the most critical aspects of the show. Last year there seemed to be more show tinkering (maybe as a result of an ego conflict) than dedicated performance enhancement and adjustments to aid cleaning. What might be seen as improvement in the judges eyes at this point is cleaning; where it is unmistakeable that the show is improving from a performance and clarity. Subtle design changes won't get it done. Design changes that are installed that don't get a chance to be cleaned, because they are new, will leave the impression that the show isn't getting better. Gains will be hard in coming.

I would hazard to guess the order of finish will be: Blue Devils 85.55 Crown 83.9 Boston 77.25 Colts 72.3 Spirit 71.95 Surf 69.1 Pioneer 69.0 Music City 67.5 Legends 66.5 Genesis 63.5

FYI, the Crusaders through most if not all of the 70's, specifically excluded females from the brass and percussion sections. Allowing females in the horn line may have lessened the difficulty in filling the ranks.

Hmmm do I detect sarcasm? Not quite sure what you are saying here. Judges won't take anything into account. The corps will have to improve their performances. And they aren't out of the top 12 I don't believe. But we'll have a better idea of that next week, to clarify, we'll all have a better idea how everything is shaping up. I believe they will Remain in the top 12.

Who is saying the sky is falling? And they can get back to the top 12? Did they leave? If anything the BAC fan base is very positive about this year. To the point they get criticized for being such homers. I agree with you they'll be top 12 and I believe they'll be climbing the ranks now that they can focus on the task at hand. The anniversary event and Pops is over. Moving on.

No one should be too concerned with not everyone being at a "regional". So what if they aren't? There was a time not all that long ago when there were very separate "regionals" and only a few "regionals" where most everyone came together. It seems tha we fans are simply impatient and want order and slotting and comfort knowing our favorite corps IS ahead of another. Knowing that lets us crow about our favorite. Even today at a "regional" not everyone is competing together I.e. Allentown 1 & 2 on successive nights. Even though it may be the same panel there is still a day between shows and conditions possibly changing truly equal comparisons. Just my $.02 about being overly concerned about a "regional" not having all corps in it. Wait til San Antonio. That will be soon enough. This is really just getting started. Buckle up its gonna be good!

I believe BD was not without equipment. U.S. I believe their trucks were in Boston/RI on 3 days

So BAC should be wrapping up 4 days of work work work which I hope translates to clean clean clean. Hope field staging is improved as well as movement of props. Mostly though I hope they open up brass volume and show off some of the trumpet and mello features and tough parts. They play a lot of stuff but it has gone unnoticed. Eat em up Boston.

Recently there was a topic about pseudointellectuals on DCP. I got to wondering who they were referring to. Now I know.

Cranial gaseous moment? Not quite sure what that might be. A brain fart? My guesses were for the participants in the Minneapolis show only. AFD had it right. Brasso (and admittedly so) had the brain cramp LOL. EMC is so right about BD and Boston having very different shows. Right on the button with that observation.

This truly was a momentous week for the kids and the Crusader organization as a whole. They put together an amazing series of events that required pretty complex coordination. DCI should take note (and I hear they are paying attention). Speaking for the Alumni if I may, we are all incredibly proud of each and everyone one of you. Thanks so very much for these last few days. The diversion of focus to achieve the excellence in the various performances the kids have done is also nothing short of amazing. Rehearse for shows, travel to shows, perform in shows, rehearse for Pops on the Esplanade, perform on the Esplanade, rehearse for Tanglewood and perform at Tamnglewood. Absolutely mind blowing. So now back to our regularly scheduled programming if you will. Amidst all the events, the corps managed to score well in Clifton and prove they are in the thick of it. Boston has 4 days of rehearsals and travel to Minnesota and compete in the first big show with several other corps. This show will certainly set the stage for the next few weeks to see who can keep the needle moving in the right direction. It is my expectation that Boston will prove to be better than the lower tier of the top 12. I believe they are coming together nicely in drill and music so that they will be closer to Cavies, Phantom, Madison and Blue Knights tier than Crossmen, Blue Stars, Troopers. I am guessing the Minneapolis show will be: CAD, BD, Crown, SCV, Cavies, Boston, Madison, Phantom, Blue Stars, Crossmen, Surf although Boston, Madison, Phantom can be any order. Good luck to the Crusaders the rest of the way. One month left.

Sometimes I abandon hope that there are people with common sense

Boston has others in its tier but I think the tier is getting crowded. Looks like Boston, Crossmen, Madison, Phantom and BK Blues Stars and possibly Cavies all tightening up.

Was used in "The Departed"