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LabMaster

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Posts posted by LabMaster

    Drills Skills

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    when I marched, we used to play this 'game' to 'liven up' basics:

    -the whole corps forms up in a block. sometimes with instruments, sometimes without.

    -A staff member would call out marching commands, move the corps around, bring it back to a halt.

    -the rest of the staff would be atop the podium picking out all the mistakes. When the corps came to a halt, they'd call out everybody who made a mistake and that member would be eliminated.

    -as the numbers dwindled, commands became more complicated, the tempo increased, and the spotting of errors got pickier.

    Do many corps play this game or a variation?

    We took it pretty seriously, even the front ensemblers were dedicated to hoping one of their own would win it (sadly no, but very very close a time or two). the bragging would have been insufferably joyous.

    Now I was at Dekalb last year and got nostalgic about DCM Track&Field day, which gets me to thinking.

    I'm sure that even the mention of 'Corps v. Corps Tug of War' would probably bring many a current corps director to the brink of an anxiety attack. in that spirit, though, how great would a 'best marcher in DCI' competiton be? DCI has tried skill competions in the past (fastest drummer, etc), but they've never really taken off. Am I wrong in thinking that this Skill Drill might be a thrilling event? can you imagine the crowd going crazy if it came down to a couple members from the Big Corps and some Open Class members?

    heck, I bet one of the marching shoe companies could be convinced to put up a nice scholarship prize.

    finding the time would be a challenge. pre-show / intermission would no doubt exclude somebody, but that's detailwork TBD.

    nevertheless, it ought to come to be.

    Our corps used to do the same type of thing. Drill eliminations. It created some great internal competitiveness becasue ALL MM's would be equal relative to drill knowladege and ability. excpet with unique DL movement. Start with a full corps block and when soemone "ticked" out they'd go. It wirked well for brass and guard more than for percussion and obvioulsy pit.

    Normally I'd think something like this would be silly as you described, but as I gave it a few minutes I though it might be afun thing. The drawback I feel may the the "language" used for drill commands. Much I am sure is similar throught units, but there must be nomenclature unique to staff anf instructors as well as the units themselves. You would have to create something to give to corps, for MM's to study so if they wanted to participate they would all be on the same page, literally.

    Housing: the corps killer?

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I must be out of touch with the cost of housing. BITD housing was a minimal cost or sometimes no cost as the H.S. housing a corps did so as a sponsorship. The trade off was there was a clinic for the H.S. band program, that was free. Possibly a contributing factor in rising costs is the corps "demand" or "need' for expanded facilities. Where a single field had been used, corps want more than one field. They want a high vantage point, use of a kitchen and so on. it is all part of the advance competitive requirments of the top corps. I know of a corps that at one location, the housing rehearsal facilites were "inadequate" and demanded they use the sponsoring corps rehearsal site. IMO a bit of elitism and self importance of their group, which can be part of housing difficulties. It shouldn't be.

    At the risk of seeming contradictory, an overnight housing situation is one thing and can be a minimalized site. I think a more extensive housing site is necessary when a corps on tour has a camp like break in their tour. IMO it is reasonable and required. A corps should not however not go overboard and incure higher costs to get a site more extensive than necessary. When a tour coordinator or manager starts the site search, they should look at each tour stop and work with the staff on the needs that take into account the rehearsal requirements at that point of a tour and the cost impact to a corps. Costs MUST be taken into account at all times before a corps hits the roads and while a corps is on the road. The staff and management need to hold hands on agreed tour criteria.

    Which drum corps cuts vets most often during tryouts?

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I went back and forth on the vet cutting thing for a while and here is where I landed and I think it is reasonable and fair. And at the very least there should be fairness. Should/could a vet get cut? Yes. Is the org looking for quality and can it improve with a better MM taking the spot? Is not cutting a deficient vet, unfair to a new MM trying out, that may deserve the spot? Yes it's unfair. Cut away, but not instantly at first re-audition. I believe the vet is owed a second chance. They deserve to know what the reason is that they are on the bubble and given the opportunity to remedy the deficiency. The org deserves to know if there were mitigating circumstances that put the vet in the situation he/she is in.

    In the business world you don't typically fire someone without cause until afetr some coaching and warnings given. I have seen written in some of these responses, that maybe a vet had more of a personality clash or similar issue. If that's the case, didn't anyone ever mention that to them vet as being a deal breaker or maker, when the vet auditioned again? I would hope someone on staff would have made mention that participation the next season hinged on an attitude/behavior change. Just my .02.

    • Like 1

    2015 Predictions

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Phantom wasn't 7th in 1992 though. I think he is remembering the gist (Phantom dropped, Crossmen moved up to 6th) and forgetting the less memorable detail that SCV still had to be announced in 7th before Crossmen knew they had gotten 6th.

    Kind of like a lot of people 'remember' the 1980 US Hockey team winning the gold medal by beating The USSR when those two things actually happened separately. They still had to beat Finland.

    Remembering only the most important stuff must cause our minds to reconstruct things so the stuff we do remember is sufficient on its own to explain the result.

    I may have read that somewhere once, but now I can't remember.

    Ahhh; kind of like selective imprecise memory.

    • Like 1

    2015 Predictions

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I'm confused by your post. In 1992 Boston didn't make finals, Phantom was in 8th, and Madison in 6th, of course Crossmen were in 6th, but what are you referring to in your post?

    I think it is two scenarios, one from 1992 ( a real one) and the other from this years "fantasy" of the above posts where Crossmen are predicted to beat Cavies, Boston and Madison.

    • Like 1

    Question On Boston's show

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    How does Boston feel on the G7 and TOC? Sometimes people post things on here that make it sound like they want to be part of that group, and at others it sounds like they don't want anything to do with them.

    My guess (or sense) is that Boston like many others who opine on DCP, would not want a G7 in any form. Others should not be more equal than another. However, that being said, no one on this forum would know for certain how Boston feels. That would be conjecture on their part to speak on Boston's behalf.

    Mega Monday and Tickets for Summer!

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    http://www.dci.org/news/view.cfm?news_id=da1835ec-242a-48ed-af09-604a5fc50b78

    Purchased tickets today for Bluecoats Akron, Pittsburgh, and Massillon shows. Really love the select your own seats for their shows. Wish all venues had seat selections such as this. I'm finding more and more shows giving the customer the ability to seat select. Not all do. Ticketmaster for Atlanta isn't very customer friendly. Hat's off to the Bluecoats and DCI for self-selection! Many others have joined the ranks as well.

    See you all at a number of shows in 2015!

    PS - one of the hottest seats of the summer last year was the Massillon show. Just my 2 cents: Take advantage of the early selection if you can! Akron is a terrific venue as well. The Pittsburg venue is really nice too. You can't go wrong with any of the shows. Terrific line ups for sure - especially Akron and Massillon.

    edited for: Just finished the Bluecoats trifecta by getting my Pittsburg tickets. Going to all 3 of their shows!

    What shows are you getting tickets for?

    Shooting for tix to BAC & BD with the Boston Pops at Tanglewood (and there is a rumor of another similar show) and getting tix to BAC's anniversary /reunion show at Gillette Stadium with BD, Cadets & Crown. Should be a killer show. The Mass, Rhode island area the first week of July will be jumping with drum corps.

    Camp News?

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    nah, but Cannon Towels did, from the neighborhood Kannapolis. Cadets used to stay there for the show in Concord before the Firstbeat, Nighbeat, Rainbeat series.

    Dale Earnhardt also came from Kannapolis. Concord and Lexington is where the Revolutionary war started didn't it?

    Staff Performance Reactions at Finals

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    These two posts annoy me the MOST. If your attention span is too short that you're paying more attention to the staff going bonkers than paying attention to the actual show, then maybe you should go watch the Opera instead.

    It's a DRUM CORPS SHOW. It's not meant to be an uptight example of keeping the crowd quiet. People are meant to go crazy, the staff included. I enjoy when the staff goes nuts during a show. It gives me goosebumps knowing they appreciate what they're MMs are doing.

    When I marched, the hornline struggled to try to get that reaction from Gino Cipriani and the very first time he did it, we were even more motivated to have even better shows.

    Sorry I "annoyed' you with my OPINION. It isn't a short attention span (I don't have one) as much as the over the top antics is what would be distracting. Especially if the staff is cheering on a corps that may not be performing well and they want to "pull" a good show out of them. It's not only distracting but a bit disingenuous too. I don't agree that people or staff is meant to go crazy. Staff should be more professional than that. I'll qualify my opinion in that I am thinking in terms of "crazy over-the-top-antics" as I have witnessed in the past. Years ago a very creative & talented drill writer (who's name pops up on DCP often) who was very animated and excited on the track in front of his corps' (plural) was asked to cool by DCI, to tone it down and be less visible about his excitement that at one time bordered on coaching. I don't mind enthusiam. I don't mind cheering and supporting your corps. I do mind it when it becomes the show more than the show is. As a few other have mentioned here. Again, just my opinion. Maybe I internalize more.

    BAC and BD at Tanglewood on July 6th

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Garfield, This must be confusing so I hope this helps clear things up

    BAC is in Gillette (Foxboro) on ?

    DC show in Bristol on the 3rd? Parades on the 4th

    BSO is in Tanglewood (Lenox) for only the 3rd

    Boston Pops rehearsal is at the Esplanade (Boston) on the 3rd

    Boston Pops performance is at the Esplanade on the 4th (full Pops orchestra with Keight Lockhart)

    BAC & BD with the Pops at Tanglewood on the 6th

    If you want to see BAC at Gillette, the BSO, Bristol, Esplanade events, then Tanglewood again, you'll be doing a lot of running around. But if your wife wants to see the BSo, you have one shot at it.

    Staff Performance Reactions at Finals

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    The Bluecoats staff did that on a regular basis this season and were constantly criticized by some a**holes for doing so. My high school band director always went crazy during our shows and I definitely think it's so great to watch the staff appreciate all the hard work they and the whole corps has put in to perfect that big impact moment.

    I don't miss them there. As a fan/spectator they are distracting and look silly, as a fellow staff member I'd say act like you've been there before, as an MM I would be mortified that they would seem to be so immature, high schoolish. I wouldn't need a cheerleader. Just my opinion.

    Audition: Phantom or Cavies

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    The Cavaliers have more fun and get more done in less rehearsal time because they use their time efficiently. The staff and administration largely treats the members like adults. The group is fed well, receives tons of long water breaks, and generally keeps things in perspective. The Cavaliers largely laugh in the face of, and ignore the ridiculous militaristic crap that drum corps still do that make them "bando".

    Then there is the Phantom Regiment.................

    I think many other corps supporters on DCP would say you could insert any other corps names where you have "Cavaliers", and still be equally descriptive of an MM's experience, although the comment "laugh in the face of, and ignore the ridiculous militaristic crap that drum corps still do" is a head scratcher. How does that make them "bando"? Not seeing a connection.
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