Scadescontra

I work for Marriott in the front office and as long as you have a credit card put down for your room it is guarenteed for you until 6:00AM the next morning. It is a good idea to call ahead and let them know when you will be arriving. As far as early check-ins go, if you arrive at the hotel early and (now this is the key) BE NICE TO THE FRONT DESK PERSON, they will do their best to get the room cleaned. Most cases they will call the housekeeping department and ask them to put a rush on the room and they will begin to clean it immediately or as soon as they are done cleaning the previous room. On average it takes about 25-35 minutes to clean the room, based on size and different amenities that are in the room. One more thing, please remember to tip your valet, bellmen, servers, room service, front desk, concierge, etc... They live off their tips will have a bad impression on drum corps if you don't tip accordingly... Thank you, and I hope everyone enjoys their stay in Madison.

Kinda off topic...but I went to go see Superman a few days ago and hey showed the trailer for the DCI Telecast at the theatre before the movie. I felt enlightened to be (probably) the only one in the theatre that knew what it was. And of course after it was over there were a few snickers from the crowd and a few "band camp" references but its cool that Regal is promoting it!

Yeah, it felt really long. I was sitting there watching the screen saying "and start....and start....please start?...." and then Terryl saluted... I'm glad there was a penalty because if the spread between them and magic really was over a full point I was going to be mad.

I was really impressed with the new ending. The new music change before the back field stuff is great! Thanks for the change. YEAH CASCADES!!! That show has come amzing lengths since I saw it last in Spokane!!!

I wouldn't give my Div II/III experience for the world. It was my introduction to the world of drum corps and it really molded my leadership and character that I used in my later drum corps days and use now in real life. 2000 Cascades changed my life forever. I felt more emotion in 2000 and 2001 than I did the rest of my drum corps career. You form a unique bond with everyone in a smaller corps. 2001 was the last year that I knew everyone's name in the corps. We gave our performances a new level because of that emotion and performed better with that emotional element. Div II/III is definately a different world. But it is one that I have a ton of respect for...

Ah, Newport High School...So you must know Jimmy Fursman, Jeremy Kelly, Jon Brown, and a load of other former Cascades who taught there! PM me if you ever think about marching 'Scades (which you should B) ) and need any advice... Oh yeah, and don't let Terrance scare you, he may be strange but he doesn't bite!!

Any word yet? Spirt finished their show about 10 minutes ago so scores should be soon!

Thank you for the kind words! I too, was very impressed with what I saw in San Antonio and if they continue to jump in scores the way they have the last few days, they will make a serious push for semis. Plus PC hasn't had a show is how long now? Who knows where their score is going be once they finally join the tour again. Anyway, I can't wait to see how it all ends up!!

There isn't a clip for Cascades either...just a repeat clip of Pioneer's performance...also, on their ADP it says they are playing music from City of Angels...other than that I thought everything was great! I missed the evening show and was really happy just to see clips of the show, let alone the 2 complete shows that are on there. I think everyone needs to relax and realize that accidents happen. They happen in every line of profession and if people were more understanding when it happens to them, it makes it easier on the ones that are trying to fix it. Its not like DCI wanted this to happen. Did they get the feed back up and running? Yes they did. Was it their fault? Maybe if you want to go into the "back up" situation, but unless you can see the future, no one could have predicted this would happen. So, just enjoy what you got out of it and if you feel he need to be ###### off then that really is just sad.

First off, on Season Pass they do not have a vid clip for Cascades...its a repeat of Pioneer. And second when I went to buy the ADP it says that they are playing music from City of Angels...WTF???

I like Crossmen's show...I think the end needs to be about 10 - 20 beats faster...but I like it fast!!

A little love for the kids representing the North West? If you make one for the Cascades I know I 'd put it up!

This topic has been beaten with a dead horse. Go back and look at the show reviews they will tell you what the "experts" on here think about their show. They are getting better, the show is coming together nicely and will they will climb the ranks the last couple weeks of the season tp hopefully grab the last semis spot...

Yeah, Cascades!!! Keep on getting better and moving up the ranks!!! I want a 70 in San Antonio!!!

In Orlando during finals week in '03 we had to stay in a motel and practice in a Target parking lot a long a busy road... We caused like 4 car accidents that week it was awesome... But it sucked not having a school or a real field to march on...

So you are saying that they are not going to break 70 all season? That is the most ignorant thing I have ever heard! How long has it been since a Div 1 corps has not broken 70 all season? It simply doesn't happen. This show is coming together very nicely now and I believe they will make a huge push and really contend for a spot in Semis. It is were they belong. This show may not be the best show Casscades as put on the field, but they will make it their own and take it were it deserves to be. Also, I'm not expecting a big jump from Esperanza tonight. The first show out after a long lay over is usually not their best quality. They will be tired from the long trip and not as customed to the high temps that other corps have had to endure the past few weeks. California has been in the 70s - 80 the whole time. Just my opinion, but I think they will come out flat...

Oh, so that's why I went from being a vet to a rookie...I thought I got demoted or something...

Fran, I'm always in contact with the corps and no one has really had any issues that I've heard about. They took the evening off tonight and went to the movies!! It too was a perfect 78 degrees here in Portland today...the kids are going to be spoiled next year with perfect NW weather!!!

If they play cool, hip music behind a montage of drum corps it will make drum corps seem cooler to those who are in the marching band field or not in music at all...just trying to reach a broader audience...

I've always said if VK were to come back that they should play the music from South Park. It would be hilarious. I hope I can see Dutch Boy's interpretation of the music!

One more thing in response to Fran's suggestion about pulling the corps out for the rest of the year...That would never happen. There are kids that have put 3, 4, 5 years into this corps and deserve to age-out properly. Also, I can't believe you would even mention that. It's obsurd to even think that would be an option. Its even more obsurd that you, Fran, one of Seattle's biggest supporters seem to have given up on them when they need all the love and support they can get. I know you said in your post, "wait until Denver" but what does that mean? If they are still scoring low are you going stop supporting them? I thank the many people that have offered their support and assurances that things will get better. I'm not trying to say that you don't support the Cascades, Fran, because you have done a lot, but that comment is rediculous and it seems like you are giving up on our corps. The corps had a laundry day today and some had access to the internet. How do you think they'd feel if they read that quote, especially the age-outs? Scores are not everything, but they do mean a lot. Will the Cascades make finals? No, most likely not. Does that mean we as alumni and supporters should give up and make the corps stop touring? ####, NO! I guarentee that the staff isn't going to give up. They may not be the most experienced staff in DCI, but I'll tell you now that the staff and performers of this show will never give up on this season and neither should you. I encourage all supporters of the Cascades to send them e-mails of encouragement, they need to know that we are behind them no matter what. Please send them to tour@seattlecascades.org. -End of rant-

I feel I need to chime in on this. My observations after watching 3 of the last 4 shows is that it is a combination of the show design/member performance and poor judging. I feel the theme "Redemtion" could be portrayed a little better in the guard. Also, the 3 captions (brass, drums, and CG), i feel, do not seem to work together very well. It seems to me like the 3 captions are out there performing different shows... I do not pretend to know anything about percussion but I don't really notice the drumline until their drum break late in the show, and even that leaves me wanting more. Maybe that's because I'm a tuba player and I spend most of the show looking at the hornline's feet and individuals, but usually when I watch a show I listen for how the drumline fits in with what the horns are playing and i feel some re-writes are in order, and probably will come soon. The 3 sections are good individually, but I don't think the overall product is being expressed well to the audience. The whole show leaves me wanting more, and when you think you are going to get it at the end, it doesn't happen. The ballad hit needs to be extended, the last chord before the quiet ending needs to feel like the end and right now it doesn't express that. The entire quiet ending needs to be longer and expressed more in the guard. These are my observations and I hope that things get fixed quickly. I am never one to criticize judging but how can you not in this situation. Yes, the show needs work, but shouldn't they be given credit for the demand of this show. There are moments when I am blown away with what is on the field and others that make me want to close my eyes and pretend I'm not seeing what I'm seeing, but early season dirt is coming off and they have improved a lot since Wednesday in Salem. In the judges eyes they haven't improved at all. From what I've heard some of the judges are only following the less talented kids the entire show and only pointing out their mistakes and not looking for positive things to comment on. Last time I checked we weren't using the tick system anymore, and it feels like that is what they are doing. The NW judging is never kind to us though, if you look back to previous years Cascades never improve very much score wise when in the NW...why is that?? It is frusterating because I know as soon as they leave the NW their score will go up to were it should be, and I don't understand how what I have seen the last few days is bottom tier drum corps, because honestly, with out any corps bias at all, i do not think that it is. On a good note the holes in the hornline are being filled with quality vets that have marched multiple years with this organization and will improve the show once they learn it and start performing. Also, Steve Menaffe, who was Brass Caption Head for Seattle from '99-'03 joined up with the corps on Sunday and will be with them for 2 weeks!! He will be able to fix those intonation issues and help tremendiously with how the brass play, how they sound, and how they act. Sorry for the really long post but I needed to vent my frustrations and opinion on a corps I hold very close to my heart.

Thank you for the kind words. 2001 was a hard show for a div II corps and it was one of the most emotional show for us as a corps. If you ever get the pleasure and find someone who recorded the Greenville MI show in August 2001 I would ###### it up. That was the most emotional drum corps show that I have ever performed in and very likely could have been the best performance of my marchng career. If we could have matched that intensity at finals i believe we could have taken it...

Spirit is going to drop 10 points tomorrow?? Is their percussion bus going to break down on the way to the show leaving only the hornline and guard to perform the show? Or is possible its a typo on your part...you decide...

Sal Leone was the glue that held this corps together. He almost single handedly brought this corps back from extintion in 1997. He was one of the most involved Executive Directors in DCI. From 2000 - 2002 he was there everyday on tour making sure things got done and that we were on time and pretty much everthing else. Some members thought poorly of him for always being there and getting on us, but in '03 when he began to not be able to tour with us the whole time, things didn't run as smoothly, kids didn't have as good a time, our return rate dropped. Now that he has resigned Jimmy Fursman is doing his best to fill in and try to be there as much as possible. There is no doubt in my mind that the key ingredient to our success from 2000 - 2002 was due to Sal and his determination to not let us fail...