Tobias

Has he taught Cadets before?

He said, " if you can't play real well and run real well, then you'll have a hard time".

A few corps are having auditions this weekend. Any info you want to share with us? It's November, this is all we have..

BDs brass line amazing. I loved Coats show but Cadets should have been over them. Much more depth and complexity with the marching and guard near flawless. Maybe Crown's design wasn't without issues but would have had them over SCV. Brass and musical arrangements stunning. BK's show just really wonderful. Looking forward to the 2015 season!

Just from the past few year trends, I'd have to put BD up top but would argue Cadets/Crown over SCV and Bluecoats only based on design for SCV (nice shows but nothing earth shattering) and Bluecoats ( great 2014 but can we design something that great without being Tilt 2)? From Cadets posts, there are doing some wickedly hard stuff so if they can clean it, I think they'll be in the running and Crown with a beefed up percussion team and a design team that usually gets it right, I'd have to put these two with BD for top 3. (Nov prediction FWIW).

Haven't really been wowed by the champion since Cavies domination. I love visual and BD's visual doesn't do it for me at all. I love frenetic movement which we just don't see anymore. Crown wowed me musically in 2013 but visual was not remarkable. Cadets 2011 had an overall package that pulled me in more than the above two champions.

Not sure he would still be writing drills with the evolution of the activity. I see him more of a design consultant with maybe some input in drill. Would fit in well with Cadets, Crown, Coats or may have jumped in with Cavies.

My point was R&J, Tarandot, we've seen this before from them. I would like to see the PR of sheer power back.

Hmmm, 1. Cadets (this show will be uber demanding and new music for them, great combo for Cadets). 2. Crown (stellar brass, improved percussion and better show design) 3. BD ( only vulnerable when ^^^ are on their game which I think both will be). 4. SCV (consistently knocking at top 3 but to get in they need something new and innovative). 5. Cavies (there is a slow but steady improvement there caption and design wise). 6. Bluecoats (always a powerhouse caption wise, but design can be hit or miss. My favorite show last year). 7. Boston ( always strong but I'm waiting for that great design that pushes them up). 8. Phantom (one of favorite all time corps but in need of a fresh energetic design. They've done enough emotion, I want PR power now) 9. BK ( was last year the beginning of a new trend for them?). 10. Blue Stars ( always solid and again, design is key). 11. Madison ( the design now needs to go to the next level. Again a corps known for sheer power, I would like to see a show built around power, movement, masculinity). No rehashes. 12. Crossmen ( need to continue on last years design direction but can't continue to come in and out of finals. Dig in and claim it).

They did an amazing job with 50% of a corps. They allotted each section perfectly with the members available. I had no doubt they would make the alumni, DCI and America proud as they toured Japan.

I always thought that the stripe on the pants looked amazing. George Hopkins said they really can cause visual dirt when the marchers are changing angles and directions at different times depending on drill design. I can understand that and the fact that Cadets are really the only group that marches with light color pants that exposes everything, I can see the concern BUT, they tend to be the strongest marching corps most years so I think they would work out the kinks if they decide to use them.

Boston threw it out their last summer and maybe it wasn't as competitive as they had hoped, but, I thought the show was intriguing and I like risk taking corps. They learned a lot I'm sure and will take the experience of last summer into account when designing the 2015 program, what the judges are willing to appreciate and what they won't. I'll take that over a vanilla show that's under a given corps abilities.

I was certainly more "wowed" during the Cavies domination. Those winning shows were amazing, judges and fans alike loved them. The current BD domination has produced some of the most bizarre gold medal winning shows. I liked last year although arguably that spread was very generous over the next two corps but Dada and that 2010 show, yuck. I would have thought One of those great Cavies shows would have nabbed the highest score ever.

There is no way to "tame" this show if they stick with this and why wouldn't they. I think from a design point, the multiples of ten used can let them play and March which they do extremely well and and looselt tie in the concept throughout the show without having to beat us over the head with a concept. I'm tentively very optimistic and if nothing else, it will be a Cadets show that will take all season to clean and that's when they are the most dangerous. (Dear Lord, please no Bo Derrick tarps at the end of the show).

It's only October so I won't predict design but from a music standpoint, this has lots of meat to it and I for one am glad they are doing something they haven't played before. They also said that their arranger is doing some original music to add some diversity to it. I thought last year they peaked early so this more complex program will be something that perhaps peaks in August at finals.