Box5Opinion

Congratulations to Vanguard Cadets on a great season, amazing show! Shout to the Spartans design team, loved the show concept and execution!

Exactly, someone else gets it!

What? Some one needs to see more BOA shows!

I was responding to the critique of Babylon and innovation from another thread but the forum GOD's wouldn't let me break it down per corp - so I had to lump them all together!

ah-ha! You get it!

Out of the current top four drum corps (Santa Clara Vanguard, Blue Devils, Bluecoats and Crown, which show (show design, execution, engagement, complexity) is most innovative for the 2018 season?

Santa Clara Vanguard show is different, they changed from last year, they are altering the physical landscape of the field (staging - close proximity drill and being effective at it and use of platforms (moving for drill and staging)), it abstract in concept yet there is structure, costumes and use of color, the music is cohesive with drill and what they are trying to portray and overall they are making a breakthrough (with judges and audiences alike) and they have developed a new method to show design that is engaging and entertaining.

Shouldn't one know what they are looking for first?

I've seen comments throughout the season calling Crowns show this year innovative and ahead of its time. Admittedly, I don't see it. To me, they seem to be doing the same things that Bloo, BD, and SCV have been pioneering the past decade Body movement, dance breaks, follow the leader, (fantastic) staging, mic'd soloists/ensembles, long melodic ballad, mysterious voiceovers, interactive props, mellophone rips, screamers, no helmets, flexible costuming, etc etc. None of these are necessarily bad things. The show itself is fantastic and deserved frontrunner for 1st place. I'm just confused on where people are seeing the innovation Anyone have some insight?

I've seen comments throughout the season calling Bluecoat's show this year innovative and ahead of its time. Admittedly, I don't see it. To me, they seem to be doing the same things that SCV, BD, and Crown have been pioneering the past decade Body movement, dance breaks, follow the leader, (fantastic) staging, mic'd soloists/ensembles, long melodic ballad, mysterious voiceovers, interactive props, mellophone rips, screamers, no helmets, flexible costuming, etc etc. None of these are necessarily bad things. The show itself is fantastic and deserved frontrunner for 1st place. I'm just confused on where people are seeing the innovation Anyone have some insight?

I've seen comments throughout the season calling BD's show this year innovative and ahead of its time. Admittedly, I don't see it. To me, they seem to be doing the same things that Bloo, SCV, and Crown have been pioneering the past decade Body movement, dance breaks, follow the leader, (fantastic) staging, mic'd soloists/ensembles, long melodic ballad, mysterious voiceovers, interactive props, mellophone rips, screamers, no helmets, flexible costuming, etc etc. None of these are necessarily bad things. The show itself is fantastic and deserved frontrunner for 1st place. I'm just confused on where people are seeing the innovation Anyone have some insight?

in·no·va·tion ˌinəˈvāSH(ə)n/ noun the action or process of innovating. synonyms: change, alteration, revolution, upheaval, transformation, metamorphosis, breakthrough;More a new method, idea, product, etc. plural noun: innovations "technological innovations designed to save energy" The show has so much "IT" factor, congratulations on a great season!

in·no·va·tion ˌinəˈvāSH(ə)n/ noun the action or process of innovating. synonyms: change, alteration, revolution, upheaval, transformation, metamorphosis, breakthrough;More a new method, idea, product, etc. plural noun: innovations "technological innovations designed to save energy" I hope this helps!

Star had tons of "IT" factor (the show is talked about every season and is a standard to this day) but the judges didn't agree. I think that's why they changed the scoring criteria for show now.

Caption: General Effect (GE) Number of judges: Two for most of the season, plus a doubled panel of four during Premier Events (e.g. San Antonio, Atlanta, Allentown) and the World Championships. Points allotted: 40, 20 from each of the two judges. The scores of the two Effect captions are counted for full value. When the panel is doubled, the score of all four judges is divided in half. Responsibilities: One of the GE judges has a music background and the other has a visual background, but each utilizes the same judging sheet because they are effectively judging the entire show, not just the effect of the music offering or the effect of the visual production. GE judges must be the most experienced, most knowledgeable, and most flexible members of the audience. Plus, they know how to manage numbers in order to give a proper score. The GE judges are doing the romantic job, they’re feeling what the show is offering and responding to what the show is. There are three parts to GE, the intellectual, the aesthetic, and the emotional. The corp that is able to package their show (may not have the best brass/guard/percussion but has the GE/music/visual aspects) and is able to connect with the intellectual, aesthetic and emotional has the "IT" factor any given season!

THE SHOW IS SCREAMING "IT" FACTOR! BOX 5 SCORES ACROSS THE BOARD ON FINALS NIGHT!

Ott: Crown Zingali: BD or Boston Crusaders - it depends on the panel judges Sanford: SCV Brazale: BD Angelica: SCV

One of the better years of DCI! - so many outstanding shows - from artistic to abstract! No thumbs up/thumbs down rating of the shows: I'll let you decide, no snarky comments from me ;) 1. Santa Clara Vanguard 93.675 - Babylon - "in a time when words fail, music and movement become the foundation upon which to communicate, and serve as the building blocks to once again unite humanity using steel boxes that more around the field". 2. Blue Devils 93.250 - Dreams and Nighthawks - based and inspired entirely in a painting done by Edward Hopper, called "Nighthawks." The instantly recognizable painting depicts four people sitting in a diner at night. "In a whirlwind of puzzle pieces, a cast of characters assembles a plot line of timeless speculation. A conversation of where, when, and why unfolds to a contemporary, eclectic soundtrack from John Adams to Carole King to Simon Dobson, with props that move to depict the painting at the end". 3. Bluecoats 92.775 - Session 44 - Based on a Billie Holliday recording session this show is accompanied by paintbrush strokes of bright colors, a hasty drum beat, and some lazy growl tones from the brass, the screen fills with name after name of jazz greats and they use big chairs as props. 4. Carolina Crown 91.525 - Beast - Is it a monster? Are we all the beast? Who cares, the show is a true beast with great, loud and technical music and drill, with bones on the field and platform that teeter totters. 5. Boston Crusaders - 89.950 - SOS - Lost (tv show) meets DCI set to the music of Amazing Grace, complicated drill with stunning visuals, they even spell out words on the field and that platform that they used last year is back, I guess they needed a lifeline. 6. Cavaliers - 89.925 - On Madness and Creativity - Maurice Ravel and Rufus Wainwright interwoven to Rorschach visuals, I am still trying to picture it. 7. The Cadets - 87.487 - The Unity Project - The show reveals that it was largely inspired by a quote from Mahatma Gandhi which says: "unity, to be real, must stand the severest strain without breaking."Using a mix of original music with contemporary, the show is following "a trajectory and evolution from disjunction to cohesion, through the synergy of design and performers coming together, minus GH." 8. Blue Stars - 86.250 - The Once and Future Carpenter - The show uses music related to and revolving around trade skills like woodworking and metalworking and includes music from the Carpenters, sponsored by HomeDepot, this show is a visual work in progress and under construction. 9. Blue Knights - 85.925 - Fall and Rise - The show takes inspiration from the sun god Ra "as a springboard to go deeper and explore the invincible human spirit." From the description on the corps' website, the show will be another high-brow concept, but with some easily understandable imagery to set the stage, which include several pyramids. I think I fixed the original post, If not, then someone moved it.

Best comment EVER!

How about looking at the recaps so you can see what is going on in the judges mind. Have an open mind, not everyone sees things your way.

You are not going to get a BOX1 comment from me, I always give a BOX5 comment! All in or nothing!

I agree with that assumption!

So the only show you connected with was about being stranded, lost and needing help?

This guy gets it!

I can't like this more! AMEN! PREACH!